Euler Hermes: Simplified cash tender offer for Euler Hermes shares
GlobeNewswire
Not for distribution in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, South Africa, or Italy This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase any securities.
Simplified cash tender offer for Euler Hermes shares
PARIS - 27 NOVEMBER 2017 -
The Supervisory Board of Euler Hermes convened on November 26, 2017 to review the simplified cash tender offer (the "Offer") that Allianz, the controlling shareholder, intends to file at a price of 122 euros per Euler Hermes share. During the meeting, the Supervisory Board welcomed the principle of such an offer by Allianz. It was already noted that:
the price proposed by Allianz would offer a liquidity to the minority shareholders under terms implying a premium of 20.7% over Euler Hermes` last closing price[1], and of 22.9%, 22.2% and 30.8% over the three, six and twelve-month average share prices[2] , and exceeds the price objectives of analysts covering the company;
Allianz already secured the purchase of 11.34% of Euler Hermes share capital at the same price of 122 euros per Euler Hermes share through share purchase agreements concluded on November 24, 2017;
the Offer would not impact the composition of the Supervisory Board of Euler Hermes, nor its strategy and operating model beyond ordinary course of business.
The Supervisory Board of Euler Hermes decided, by a unanimous vote of its independent members, to appoint Finexsi, represented by Olivier Péronnet, as independent expert in order to prepare a report regarding the financial terms of the Offer and the squeeze-out as the case may be pursuant to Articles 261-1 et seq. of the General Regulations of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).
Furthermore, the Supervisory Board decided to set up an ad-hoc committee made up of three independent members of the Supervisory Board. The mission of this sub-committee will consist in monitoring the independent expert`s mission and issuing a recommendation to the Supervisory Board regarding the Offer.
In accordance with applicable regulations, the Supervisory Board will meet again to deliver a formal opinion ("avis motivé") regarding the Offer after having reviewed the independent expert`s report and the recommendation issued by the ad-hoc committee. Such formal opinion could be issued in the last days of December 2017.
Euler Hermes will hold a telephone conference regarding the Offer for analysts today at 10 am Paris time.
Disclaimer:
This press release is not an offer to purchase securities. The offer will be made only pursuant to the offer documentation which will contain the full terms and conditions of the offer. The offer documentation will be subject to review by the AMF and the offer will only be opened once the AMF has granted its clearance. Any decision in respect of the offer should be made only on the basis of the information contained in such offer documentation.
This press release was prepared for informational purpose only. The diffusion of this press release, the offer and its acceptance may be subject to specific regulations or restrictions in certain countries. The offer is not made for persons subject to such restrictions, neither directly nor indirectly, and may not be accepted in any way from a country where the offer would be subject to such restrictions. Consequently, persons in possession of this press release shall inquire about potential applicable local restrictions and comply with them.
Euler Hermes excludes all liability in the event of any breach of the applicable legal restrictions by any person.
Euler Hermes is the global leader in trade credit insurance and a recognized specialist in the areas of bonding, guarantees and collections. With more than 100 years of experience, the company offers business-to-business (B2B) clients financial services to support cash and trade receivables management. Its proprietary intelligence network tracks and analyzes daily changes in corporate solvency among small, medium and multinational companies active in markets representing 92% of global GDP. Headquartered in Paris, the company is present in over 50 countries with 5,800+ employees. Euler Hermes is a subsidiary of Allianz, listed on Euronext Paris (ELE.PA) and rated AA- by Standard & Poor`s and Dagong Europe. The company posted a consolidated turnover of €2.6 billion in 2016 and insured global business transactions for €883 billion in exposure at the end of 2016. Further information: www.eulerhermes.com, LinkedIn or Twitter @eulerhermes..
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management`s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. In addition to statements which are forward-looking by reason of context, the words "may", "will", "should", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to, without limitation, (i) general economic conditions, including in particular economic conditions in the Euler Hermes Group`s core business and core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, and including market volatility, liquidity and credit events (iii) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, including from natural catastrophes and including the development of loss expenses, (iv) persistency levels, (v) the extent of credit defaults, (vi) interest rate levels, (vii) currency exchange rates including the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate, (viii) changing levels of competition, (ix) changes in laws and regulations, including monetary convergence and the European Monetary Union, (x) changes in the policies of central banks and/or foreign governments, (xi) the impact of acquisitions, including related integration issues, (xii) reorganization measures, and (xiii) general competitive factors, in each case on a local, regional, national and/or global basis. Many of these factors may be more likely to occur, or more pronounced, as a result of terrorist activities and their consequences. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement
[1] Closing market price of Euler Hermes share on November 24, 2017.
[2] Premium over the volume weighted average share price of Euler Hermes.
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: EULER HERMES via GlobeNewswire HUG#2151988
