Ahlstrom considers issuance of a new hybrid bond and announces invitation to tender its outstanding hybrid bond
Ahlstrom Corporation STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE September 19, 2013 at 9.45
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, HONG KONG, SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
Ahlstrom, a global high performance fiber-based materials company, is considering issuance of a new hybrid bond. The potential issue is expected to be launched in the near future subject to market conditions. The targeted size of the issue is approximately EUR 80 million.
At the same time, Ahlstrom announces an invitation to tender for cash (subject to restrictions as provided for in a Tender Offer Memorandum) its outstanding EUR 80 million hybrid bond (ISIN: FI4000006929) up to the aggregate amount of the new hybrid bond to be issued. The outstanding hybrid bond was issued in November 2009, and Ahlstrom may exercise an early redemption option in November 2013.
The purchase price for the outstanding hybrid bond will be 101 percent of the nominal amount of such notes. The Offer is due to expire at 4 p.m. EET on September 26, 2013. The settlement date is expected to be October 2, 2013. The tender offer is subject to the successful completion of the issue of the new hybrid bond.
A hybrid bond is an instrument which is subordinated to the company's other debt obligations and which is treated as equity in the IFRS financial statements. The hybrid bond does not confer to its holders the rights of a shareholder or the right to vote at shareholders' meetings and does not dilute the holdings of the current shareholders.
Nordea Markets is acting as the exclusive dealer manager and tender agent for the Tender Offer and as the coordinator, a joint lead manager and a bookrunner for the potential new issue. Pohjola Markets is acting as a joint lead manager and bookrunner for the potential new issue. Hannes Snellman Attorneys Ltd acts as a legal advisor to Ahlstrom.
For more information, please contact:
Liisa Nyyssönen
Vice President, Communications
Tel. +358 10 888 4757
Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a high performance fiber-based materials company, partnering with leading businesses around the world to help them stay ahead. Our products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, medical gowns and drapes, diagnostics, wallcoverings, flooring and food packaging. We have a leading market position in the businesses in which we operate. In 2012, Ahlstrom's net sales from the continuing operations (excluding Label and Processing business) amounted to EUR 1 billion. Our 3,800 employees serve customers in 24 countries. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. More information available at www.ahlstrom.com.
Disclaimer
This release is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer to purchase or sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell with respect to any hybrid bonds. The distribution of this release and the related material concerning the issuance of the new hybrid bond and the invitation to tender the outstanding hybrid bond are prohibited by law in certain countries. The new hybrid bonds are not being offered and the tender offer for the outstanding hybrid bonds is not made to the public either inside or outside of Finland. Persons resident outside of Finland may receive this release and the related hybrid bond documentation only in compliance with applicable exemptions or restrictions. Persons into whose possession this release and the related hybrid bond documentation may come are required to inform themselves about and comply with such restrictions. This release and the related hybrid bond documentation may not be distributed or published in any country or jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction or would require actions under the laws of a state or jurisdiction other than Finland, including the USA, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa and Japan. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or tender, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the Issuer's hybrid bonds to any persons in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale or tender would be unlawful. Ahlstrom's representatives assume no legal responsibility for such violations, regardless of whether the parties contemplating investing in or divesting the Issuer's hybrid bonds are aware of these restrictions or not. Ahlstrom's hybrid bonds have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, nor under any securities legislation of any state in the United States, and they may not be offered, sold, resold delivered, distributed, bought or transferred in the United States or to US citizens or on behalf of US citizens, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and any applicable state law legislation.