Regulatory News:
This announcement is not an offer, whether directly or
indirectly, in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, or South
Africa or in any other jurisdiction where such offer pursuant to
legislation and regulations in such relevant jurisdiction would be
prohibited by applicable law. Shareholders not resident in Sweden
who wish to accept the Offer (as defined below) must make inquiries
concerning applicable legislation and possible tax consequences.
Shareholders should refer to the offer restrictions included in the
section titled “Important information” at the end of this
announcement and in the offer document, which has been published on
the Offer website (www.smokefree-offer.com). Shareholders in the
United States should also refer to the section entitled “Special
notice to shareholders in the United States” at the end of this
announcement.
On May 11, 2022, Philip Morris Holland Holdings B.V.1
(“PMHH”), an affiliate of Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”),
announced a recommended public offer to the shareholders of Swedish
Match AB (“Swedish Match”) to tender all shares in Swedish Match2
to PMHH (the “Offer”). An offer document regarding the Offer
was made public on June 28, 2022 (the “Offer Document”) and a
supplement to the Offer Document was made public on July 22, 2022.
On October 20, 2022, PMHH increased the price in the Offer from SEK
106 to SEK 116 in cash per share, and announced that it will not
further increase the price in the Offer. Today, PMHH announces that
PMHH has received all necessary approvals from authorities and that
this condition for completion of the Offer has been satisfied. In
addition, PMHH is obligated to remind the shareholders of Swedish
Match of certain U.S. regulatory requirements, including with
regard to PMHH’s right to waive or reduce the acceptance level
condition after the acceptance period ends, and reminds the
shareholders of Swedish Match of the terms of the Offer.
Today, PMHH announces that the European Commission has approved,
under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Swedish
Match, subject to PMHH’s divestiture of Swedish Match’s subsidiary
SMD Logistics AB following the completion of the Offer. PMHH does
not believe that Swedish Match’s earnings and operations will be
materially affected by the divestiture and the continued operation
of SMD Logistics AB by a third-party outside of the Swedish Match
Group. Hence, with respect to the Offer and completion of the
acquisition of Swedish Match, PMHH has obtained all necessary
regulatory, governmental or similar clearances, approvals,
decisions and other actions from authorities or similar, including
from competition authorities, on terms which, in PMHH’s opinion,
are acceptable. Accordingly, this condition for completion of the
Offer has been satisfied.
“We are pleased to have received all necessary regulatory
approvals, and believe the best and final price in our revised
offer for Swedish Match provides very compelling value for the
shareholders of both Swedish Match and PMI,” said Jacek Olczak,
Chief Executive Officer of PMI. “The revised offer retains a 90%
acceptance condition, which is critical to capture the full
potential of the combination. Should the offer fail, we are well
prepared to proceed autonomously to develop IQOS and the rest of
our smoke-free portfolio in the U.S.”
The acceptance period for the Offer expires on November 4, 2022.
All other conditions for completion of the Offer are still
applicable to the Offer as set forth in the Offer Document.
Reminder of certain terms of the Offer and required reminder
of certain U.S. regulatory requirements, including with regard to
PMHH’s right to waive or reduce the acceptance level condition
after the acceptance period ends
As stated in the Offer Document, completion of the Offer is
conditional upon, inter alia, the Offer being accepted to such
extent that PMHH becomes the owner of shares representing more than
90 percent of the total number of outstanding shares in Swedish
Match (on a fully diluted basis)3 (the “acceptance level
condition”). PMHH has reserved the right to waive, in whole or
in part, one or more of the conditions set out in the Offer
Document (including, with respect to the acceptance level
condition, to complete the Offer at a lower level of
acceptance).
The acceptance period under the current Offer timetable expires
on November 4, 2022. To satisfy U.S. regulatory requirements, PMHH
is obligated to announce the possibility of any waiver or reduction
of the acceptance level condition via a press release issued at
least 5 business days prior to the end of the acceptance period
(i.e., October 28, 2022, under the current Offer timetable). While
as of today there has been no decision to reduce or waive the
acceptance level condition, with the purpose of satisfying U.S.
regulatory requirements, PMHH hereby reminds the shareholders of
Swedish Match that it may (but is not obligated to) reduce or waive
the acceptance level condition after the expiration of the
acceptance period on November 4, 2022, and complete the Offer at a
lower level of acceptance. In the event of such a reduction or
waiver, (i) PMHH would not reduce or waive the acceptance level
condition below 50 percent of the total number of registered shares
in Swedish Match and (ii) PMHH would grant an additional acceptance
period of at least 5 business days from announcement of the waiver
of the acceptance level condition, whereby the Offer is declared
unconditional.
In compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements, PMHH informs
the shareholders of Swedish Match that if they have already
tendered their shares in the Offer, but their willingness to tender
will be affected by a possible reduction or waiver of the
acceptance level condition as described herein, they should
withdraw their tenders immediately, but in any event, before the
expiration of the acceptance period on November 4, 2022. To be
valid, such withdrawal must have been received in writing by
Handelsbanken Issue department (address: Handelsbanken Capital
Markets, Offerings & Issue Services, SE-106 70 Stockholm,
Sweden) not later than 17.00 CET on the last day of the acceptance
period on November 4, 2022. Shareholders of Swedish Match holding
nominee-registered shares wishing to withdraw acceptance shall do
so in accordance with instructions from the nominee.
This announcement is not an indication of current or expected
acceptance levels. For further information on the potential effects
of a reduction or waiver of the acceptance level condition, PMHH
refers shareholders of Swedish Match to the description thereof
included in the Offer Document.
For administrative questions regarding the Offer, please contact
your bank or the nominee registered as holder of your shares.
The information was submitted for publication on October 25,
2022 at 8.00 p.m. (CEST).
Information about the
Offer
www.smokefree-offer.com
Important information
This press release has been published in Swedish and English.
In the event of any discrepancy in content between the two language
versions, the Swedish version shall prevail.
This announcement is not an offer, whether directly or
indirectly, in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, or South
Africa or in any other jurisdiction where such offer pursuant to
legislation and regulations in such relevant jurisdiction would be
prohibited by applicable law (each a “Restricted Jurisdiction”).
This offer constitutes an "exempt take-over bid" for purpose of
applicable Canadian securities laws and shareholders resident in
Canada are entitled to participate in the Offer on the same terms
as shareholders in other applicable jurisdictions.
The release, publication, or distribution of this press
release in or into jurisdictions other than Sweden may be
restricted by law, and therefore any persons who are subject to the
laws and regulations of any jurisdiction other than Sweden should
inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements. In
particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in Sweden
to accept the Offer may be affected by the laws and regulations of
the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Any failure
to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a
violation of the securities laws and regulations of any such
jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws
and regulations, the companies and persons involved in the Offer
disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such
restrictions by any person.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of
complying with Swedish law, the Takeover Rules, and the Swedish
Securities Council’s rulings regarding interpretation and
application of the Takeover Rules, and the information disclosed
may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this
press release had been prepared in accordance with the laws and
regulations of jurisdictions other than Sweden.
Unless otherwise determined by PMHH or required by Swedish
law, the Takeover Rules and the Swedish Securities Council’s
rulings regarding interpretation and application of the Takeover
Rules, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer
will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into, or
from a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where to
do so would violate the laws and regulations in that jurisdiction,
and no person may accept the Offer by any use, means, or
instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, email,
or other electronic transmission, telex, or telephone) of
interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a
national, state, or other securities exchange of any Restricted
Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where to do so would
constitute a violation of the laws and regulations of that
jurisdiction, and the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any
such use, means, instrumentality, or facilities. Accordingly,
copies of this press release and any formal documentation relating
to the Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or
indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed, or sent in
or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other
jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the
laws and regulations of that jurisdiction, and persons receiving
such documents (including custodians, nominees, and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise forward, distribute, or send them in or into
or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where
to do so would constitute a violation of the laws and regulations
of that jurisdiction.
The availability of the Offer to shareholders of Swedish
Match who are not resident in and citizens of Sweden may be
affected by the laws and regulations of the relevant jurisdictions
in which they are respectively located or of which they are
citizens. Persons who are not resident in or citizens of Sweden
should inform themselves of, and abide by, any applicable legal or
regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions.
The Offer and the information and documents contained in this
press release are not being made and have not been approved by an
authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the U.K.
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”). Accordingly,
the information and documents contained in this press release are
not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general
public in the United Kingdom, unless an exemption applies. The
communication of the information and documents contained in this
press release is exempt from the restriction on financial
promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is a
communication by or on behalf of a body corporate that relates to a
transaction to acquire day-to-day control of the affairs of a body
corporate or to acquire 50 percent or more of the voting shares in
a body corporate, within article 62 of the U.K. Financial Services
and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005.
This press release contains statements relating to future
status or circumstances, including statements regarding the
remaining transactional steps and requirements and the ultimate
success of the acquisition, that are forward-looking statements
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may
generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such
as “anticipates,” “intends,” “expects,” “believes,” or similar
expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve
risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that will occur in the future. There can be no
assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to
many factors, many of which are outside the control of PMI and
PMHH. Any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date
on which they are made, and PMI and PMHH have no obligation (and
undertake no such obligation) to update or revise any of them,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise, except for in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations.
Merrill Lynch International (“BofA Securities”) and Citigroup
Global Markets Limited (“Citi”), which are authorized by the
Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) and regulated in the U.K.
by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and the PRA, are acting
as financial advisers for PMHH and for no one else in connection
with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than
PMHH for providing the protections afforded to their respective
clients or for providing advice in connection with the Offer or any
other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither BofA
Securities, Citi, nor any of their respective affiliates,
directors, or employees owes or accepts any duty, liability, or
responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect,
consequential, whether in contract, in tort, in delict, under
statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of BofA
Securities or Citi, respectively, in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein, the Offer, or
otherwise.
Special notice to shareholders in the United States
The Offer described in this press release is made for the
issued and outstanding shares of Swedish Match, a company
incorporated under Swedish law, and is subject to Swedish
disclosure and procedural requirements, which may be different from
those of the United States. In the United States, the Offer will
also be made in accordance with certain provisions of the United
States federal securities laws, to the extent applicable, including
Section 14(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and Regulation 14E thereunder (“Regulation 14E”);
provided that PMHH has requested, and the Division of
Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) has granted, relief exempting the Offer from certain
requirements of Regulation 14E in order to align aspects of the
Offer in which Swedish laws and market practice conflict with U.S.
federal securities laws. Accordingly, the disclosure and procedures
regarding the Offer, including with respect to withdrawal rights,
the Offer timetable, notices of extensions, announcements of
results, settlement procedures (including as regards to the time
when payment of the consideration is rendered), and waivers of
conditions, may be different from requirements or customary
practices in relation to U.S. domestic tender offers. Holders of
the shares of Swedish Match domiciled or resident in the United
States (the “U.S. Holders”) are encouraged to consult with their
advisers regarding the Offer.
Swedish Match’s financial statements and all financial
information included herein, or any other documents relating to the
Offer, have been or will be prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and may not be
comparable to the financial statements or financial information of
companies in the United States or other companies whose financial
statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles. The Offer is made to the U.S. Holders on the
same terms and conditions as those made to all other shareholders
of Swedish Match to whom the Offer is being made. Any information
documents, including the Offer Document, are being disseminated to
U.S. Holders on a basis comparable to the method pursuant to which
such documents are provided to Swedish Match’s other
shareholders.
The U.S. Holders should consider that the price for the Offer
is being paid in SEK and that no adjustment will be made based on
any changes in the exchange rate.
It may be difficult for U.S. Holders to enforce their rights
and any claims they may have arising under the U.S. federal or U.S.
state securities laws in connection with the Offer, since Swedish
Match and PMHH are located in countries other than the United
States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be
residents of countries other than the United States. U.S. Holders
may not be able to sue Swedish Match or PMHH or their respective
officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S.
securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel Swedish
Match or PMHH and/or their respective affiliates to subject
themselves to the jurisdiction or judgment of a U.S. court.
To the extent permissible under applicable law or
regulations, and in reliance on relief granted by the SEC exempting
the Offer from certain of the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under
Regulation 14E, PMHH and its affiliates or its brokers and its
brokers’ affiliates (acting as agents for PMHH or its affiliates,
as applicable) may from time to time and during the pendency of the
Offer, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly
purchase or arrange to purchase shares of Swedish Match outside the
United States (or securities that are convertible into,
exchangeable for, or exercisable for such shares). These purchases
may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in
private transactions at negotiated prices, and information about
such purchases will be disclosed by means of a press release or
other means reasonably calculated to inform U.S. Holders of such
information, to the extent required by applicable laws and
regulations. In addition, affiliates to the financial advisers to
PMHH may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in
securities of Swedish Match, which may include purchases or
arrangements to purchase such securities as long as such purchases
or arrangements comply with applicable laws and regulations. Any
information about such purchases will be announced in Swedish and
in an English translation available to the U.S. Holders through
relevant electronic media, including the Offer website at
www.smokefree-offer.com, if, and to the extent, such announcement
is required under applicable Swedish or U.S. law, rules, or
regulations.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a U.S. Holder
may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes
and under applicable U.S. state and local, as well as foreign and
other, tax laws. Each shareholder is urged to consult an
independent professional adviser regarding the tax consequences of
accepting the Offer. Neither PMHH nor any of its affiliates and
their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents or any
other person acting on their behalf in connection with the Offer
shall be responsible for any tax effects or liabilities resulting
from acceptance of this Offer.
NEITHER THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY
U.S. STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE
OFFER, MADE ANY COMMENT UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE OFFER,
MADE ANY COMMENT UPON THE ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS PRESS
RELEASE, OR MADE ANY COMMENT ON WHETHER THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS
RELEASE IS CORRECT OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN THE UNITED STATES.
For the purposes of this press release, “United States” and
“U.S.” mean the United States of America, including its territories
and possessions and all states of the United States of America and
the District of Columbia.
________________________ 1 A Dutch private limited
liability company (besloten vennootschap), with corporate
registration number 20028955 and corporate seat in Bergen op Zoom,
the Netherlands, indirectly wholly owned by PMI. 2 Excluding any
treasury shares held by Swedish Match (currently 4,285,810 shares).
3 Excluding any treasury shares held by Swedish Match (currently
4,285,810 shares).
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025005987/en/
Philip Morris International
For additional information:
Investor Relations: New York: +1 (917) 663 2233 Lausanne:
+41 (0)58 242 4666 Email: InvestorRelations@pmi.com
Media Relations: David Fraser Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242
4500 Email: David.Fraser@pmi.com
Philip Morris (NYSE:PM)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Mär 2024 bis Apr 2024
Philip Morris (NYSE:PM)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Apr 2023 bis Apr 2024