Shareholders Meeting Approves Termination of American Depositary Receipts Program
02 Juni 2005 - 5:12AM
PR Newswire (US)
Shareholders Meeting Approves Termination of American Depositary
Receipts Program - By Vote of 99.85% of the Company's Shares -
MEXICO CITY, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TV Azteca, S.A. de
C.V. (BMV: TVAZTCA; NYSE: TZA; Latibex: XTZA), one of the two
largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the
world, announced that the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting held
today approved, by the vote of 99.85% of the Company's shares
represented by minority shareholders and Ricardo B. Salinas, to
terminate the American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) program that the
Company has in the United States, listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE). The Shareholders' Meeting made the decision after
an analysis and discussion of the costs and benefits of continuing
with the ADR program in the capital markets of the United States.
The shareholders considered that the Mexican capital and debt
markets have become a robust source of financing in pesos, with
considerable levels of liquidity for investors. The shareholders
also anticipated that future investment plans of the Company will
be financed through the generation of its own cash flow and if
necessary through local debt markets. At the same time, it was
noted that interested parties that are legally able, may continue
to invest in the Company through shares listed on the Mexican Stock
Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV)). The company considers
that the Mexican Stock Exchange has an index that reflects the
macroeconomic stability and economic growth of the country, and has
a legal framework with the purpose of protecting all shareholders.
In order to implement the Shareholders' Meeting resolution, the
Company will immediately take the following actions: i) notify the
NYSE and The Bank of New York (BONY) of the termination of the ADR
program, ii) amend the Deposit Agreement to reduce to 60 days the
period for exchanging ADRs for CPOs, of which BONY should notify
the ADR holders, and iii) amend the Company's Form F-6
(registration of ADRs) to reduce the number of ADRs to zero. The
trading of the ADRs in the United States shall continue for the
next 30 days from the date on which BONY notifies the termination
of the Deposit Agreement to ADR holders. During such period, ADR
holders may exchange ADRs for CPOs that are listed on the BMV.
After the 30-day period, the NYSE will suspend trading of the ADRs
in the United States. It is anticipated that the NYSE will request
the delisting of the ADRs with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), and the ADR holders will have 60 days to
exchange their ADRs for CPOs that are traded on the BMV. ADR
holders that wish to exchange their ADRs for CPOs should request
that their brokers or dealers in the United States perform all acts
necessary so that the CPOs received pursuant to the exchange are
held by a securities intermediary in Mexico. Upon the expiration of
the 60-day period, BONY will be entitled to sell the remaining
CPOs, corresponding to ADRs that were not surrendered, in the BMV
and distribute the proceeds of the sale to holders. In the event
that there are less than 300 United States resident shareholders in
the future, the Company could request the cancellation of its
securities registry in the United States. In this case, TV Azteca
would cease to have reporting obligations with SEC and realize a
substantial cost savings related to this registry. The Company
noted that the registration with the SEC and the listing with the
NYSE are separate and independent events. Company Profile TV Azteca
is one of the two largest producers of Spanish language television
programming in the world, operating two national television
networks in Mexico, Azteca 13 and Azteca 7, through more than 300
owned and operated stations across the country. TV Azteca
affiliates include Azteca America Network, a new broadcast
television network focused on the rapidly growing US Hispanic
market, and Todito.com, an Internet portal for North American
Spanish speakers. Except for historical information, the matters
discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those projected. Risks
that may affect TV Azteca are identified in its Form 20-F and other
filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. DATASOURCE:
TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. CONTACT: Investor Relations: Bruno Rangel,
+52-55-1720-9167, ; or Rolando Villarreal, +52-55-1720-0041, ;
Press Relations: Daniel McCosh, +52-55-1720-0059, Web site:
http://www.tvazteca.com.mx/
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