Friedrichshafen / Stockholm – ZF Friedrichshafen AG, through its wholly-owned subsidiary ZF International B.V. (“ZF”), announced today that it has withdrawn its recommended public cash offer (the “Offer”) to the shareholders of Haldex Aktiebolag (publ) (“Haldex”). The increased Offer of SEK 120 in cash per Haldex share had been made public on 16 September 2016.
The acceptance period for the Offer ended on 3 October 2016. As of this date, ZF’s offer has been accepted by shareholders representing 4,238,980 shares or 9.59 percent of the total share capital in Haldex.
The Offer was conditional upon being accepted by Haldex’s shareholders to such an extent that ZF would become the owner of shares representing more than 50 percent of Haldex’s total share capital. As this condition has not been satisfied, ZF has decided to no longer pursue the Offer.
ZF recognises the decision of Haldex shareholders not to accept the recommended Offer and remains committed to the success of Haldex. With total shareholdings in Haldex of 21.67 percent, ZF is now the biggest shareholder in Haldex.
Dr Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF, said: “We look forward to constructive talks with the other shareholders of Haldex over the future development of the company.”
“We will stay true to our Strategy 2025. To meet future megatrends of the industry, we will continue to invest in and expand ZF’s diverse product portfolio. However, we do not depend on any single acquisition to achieve those aims,” Sommer continued.
Any Haldex shares tendered already will not be acquired by ZF and will remain in the respective holder’s ownership. Shareholders do not need to take any further action.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Forward-looking statements
Statements in this press release relating to future status or circumstances, including statements regarding future performance, growth and other trend projections as well as benefits of the Offer, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “seeks,” “could,” or the negative of such terms, and other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the expected future business of Haldex resulting from and following the Offer. 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 ZF and Haldex, including but not limited to the effect of changes in general economic conditions, the level of interest rates, fluctuations in product demand, competition, technological change, employee relations, planning and property regulations, natural disasters and the potential need for increased capital expenditure (such as resulting from increased demand, new business opportunities and deployment of new technologies). Any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and neither ZF nor Haldex has (or undertakes) any 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.
Offer Restrictions
The Offer is not being made to persons whose participation in the Offer requires that any additional offer document is prepared or registration effected or that any other measures are taken in addition to those required under Swedish law. This press release and any documentation relating to the Offer are not being published in or distributed to or into and must not be mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into any country in which the distribution or offering would require any such additional measures to be taken or would be in conflict with any law or regulation in such country. Persons who receive this communication (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) and are subject to the law of any such jurisdiction will need to inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable restrictions or requirements. Any failure to do so may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. ZF, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, disclaims any responsibility or liability for the violations of any such restrictions by any person. Any purported acceptance of the Offer resulting directly or indirectly from a violation of these restrictions may be disregarded.
The Offer is not being made, and will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa by use of mail or any other means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, or of any facilities of a national securities exchange, of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa. This includes, but is not limited to facsimile transmission, electronic mail, telex, telephone, the internet and other forms of electronic transmission. The Offer cannot be accepted and shares may not be tendered in the Offer by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility of, or from within, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa or by persons located or resident in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa. Accordingly, this press release and any related Offer documentation are not being and should not be mailed or otherwise transmitted, distributed, forwarded or sent in or into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa or to any Australian, Canadian, Hong Kong, Japanese, New Zealand or South African persons or any persons located or resident in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa.
ZF will not deliver any consideration from the Offer into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa.
Any purported acceptance of the Offer resulting directly or indirectly from a violation of these restrictions will be invalid and any purported acceptance by a person located in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa or any agent, fiduciary or other intermediate acting on a non-discretionary basis for a principal giving instructions from within Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa will be invalid and will not be accepted. Each holder of shares participating in the Offer will represent that it is not an Australian, Canadian, Hong Kong, Japanese, New Zealand or South African person, is not located in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa and is not participating in such Offer from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa or that it is acting on a non-discretionary basis for a principal that is not an Australian, Canadian, Hong Kong, Japanese, New Zealand or South African person, that is located outside Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa and that is not giving an order to participate in such Offer from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa.
This press release is not being, and must not be, sent to shareholders with registered addresses in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa. Banks, brokers, dealers and other nominees holding shares for persons in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa must not forward this press release or any other document received in connection with the Offer to such persons.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, ZF reserves the right to permit the Offer to be accepted by persons not resident in Sweden if, in its sole discretion, ZF is satisfied that such transaction can be undertaken in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Citi is acting as financial adviser to ZF Friedrichshafen, and no one else, in connection with the Offer. Citi will not be responsible to anyone other than ZF Friedrichshafen for providing advice in relation to the Offer. The information has been provided by ZF Friedrichshafen and, with respect to Haldex, by Haldex and taken from Haldex’s publicly available information. Citi has not assumed any obligation to independently verify, and disclaims any liability with respect to, the information herein.
Neither Citi nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Citi in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, the Offer or otherwise.
The figures reported in this press release have been rounded off as appropriate.
