HELSINKI, Jan. 25,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion Corporation
Tender Offer 24 January 2023 at
11.10 p.m. EET
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG
KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH
AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE TENDER
OFFER WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
North Holdings 3 Oy (the "Bain Consortium") announced on
24 January 2023 an improved voluntary
recommended public cash tender offer for all of the issued and
outstanding shares in Caverion Corporation ("Caverion") that
are not held by Caverion or its subsidiaries (the "Shares"
or individually a "Share") (the "Revised Bain Consortium
Offer"). The Board of Directors of Caverion (the
"Board") has unanimously decided to maintain its
recommendation for the Bain Consortium tender offer based on the
improved terms of the Revised Bain Consortium Offer.
Revised Bain Consortium Offer
The Revised Bain Consortium Offer gives shareholders the right
to choose freely between either (1)
EUR 8.00 in cash consideration for each Share validly
tendered in the Revised Bain Consortium Offer (the "Revised
Offer Price") payable at the completion of the offer, increased
from EUR 7.00 per Share as in the
Bain Consortium's offer announced on 3
November 2022 (the "Initial Bain Consortium Offer"),
or (2) a debt instrument issued by the Bain Consortium entitling to
a fixed cash payment of EUR 8.50 per
Share in nine months after the completion of the offer
(alternatives (1) and (2) jointly the "Alternatives"). The
Revised Bain Consortium Offer remains subject to the following key
conditions to completion:
- An acceptance condition of 66.67% of the Shares (lowered from
90%)
- Foreign direct investment approval in Finland
According to the announcement by the Bain Consortium on
24 January 2023, the Revised Bain
Consortium Offer is expected to be completed in the second half of
March 2023. The Board also notes that
the offer period is extended to 28 February
2023, which will, in the Board's view, provide shareholders
with sufficient time to evaluate the new offer.
The Board's Assessment
The Board has compared the Revised Bain Consortium Offer with
the announced voluntary cash tender offer for all the Shares in
Caverion announced by Crayfish BidCo Oy ("Triton") on
10 January 2023 (the "Triton
Offer"). The offer price in the Triton Offer is EUR 8.00 per Share plus 3.00% interest payable
from the beginning of July 2023
onwards if the Triton Offer has not been declared unconditional by
4:00 p.m. EEST on 30 June 2023. The Triton Offer is subject to the
following key conditions to completion:
- An acceptance condition of 90% of the Shares
- EU merger clearance and the necessary foreign direct investment
approvals
· All conditions to completion having been fulfilled or
waived no later than at such time as is required for the settlement
of the completion trades in the tender offer to occur on or before
8 January 2024, such date being the
agreed long-stop date under the offeror's financing arrangements
for the tender offer
In its assessment of the Triton Offer, the Board has noted, as
referenced in the Board's release dated 13
January 2023, that:
- The Triton Offer would likely be completed in approximately
8-12 months; however, it is possible that the completion would take
longer
- There is a reasonably high likelihood that the merger control
process will result in structural remedies (e.g. divestments) being
required as a condition for completion of the Triton Offer, which
can be expected to introduce risks both in relation to timing and
feasibility of obtaining relevant merger clearances
Both the Revised Bain Consortium Offer and the Triton Offer have
been compared to the potential opportunities and risks for Caverion
to continue as an independent listed company.
The unanimous decision to recommend the Revised Bain Consortium
Offer is based, among other things, on the following factors:
- The value offered by the Alternatives in the Revised Bain
Consortium Offer is higher than the value of the price in the
Triton Offer when considering the expected timelines to
completion
- The risks related to timing of completion and potential
non-completion of the Revised Bain Consortium Offer are
significantly lower than the corresponding risks in relation to the
Triton Offer
The Board intends to supplement its recommendation statement
issued on 18 November 2022 to the
above effect after having received a substantially final draft of
the Bain Consortium's supplement to the tender offer document
required to amend the terms and conditions of the tender offer.
Vice Chairman of the Board Markus Ehrnrooth, who is closely
associated with two of the parties of the Bain Consortium, has not
participated in any assessment or review of the implications of the
Revised Bain Consortium Offer or the Triton Offer by the Board or
in any decision-making concerning the recommendation of the Board.
Further, Markus Ehrnrooth has not participated in and has refrained
from the work of the Board in Caverion during the pendency of the
discussions with the Bain Consortium and Triton concerning the
tender offers due to his material connections to and interests in
the Bain Consortium.
The Board received an opinion, dated 24
January 2023, from Caverion's exclusive financial adviser,
Bank of America Europe DAC, Stockholm branch ("BofA Securities"),
to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, the
Alternatives to be paid to holders of Shares (other than Security
Trading Oy, Fennogens Investments S.A. and Corbis S.A. and their
respective affiliates) pursuant to the Revised Bain Consortium
Offer, were fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders,
which opinion was based upon and subject to the assumptions made,
procedures followed, matters considered and limitations and
qualifications on the review undertaken as more fully described in
such opinion (the "Opinion"). The Opinion was provided for
the use and benefit of the Board and does not constitute a
recommendation as to whether any holders of Shares should tender
such Shares in connection with the Revised Bain Consortium Offer,
how any holders of Shares should act in connection with the Revised
Bain Consortium Offer or any related matter.
CAVERION CORPORATION
Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki, key media, www.caverion.com
ABOUT CAVERION
Caverion is a public limited liability company incorporated
under the laws of Finland with its
shares listed on the official list of Nasdaq Helsinki. Caverion is
a Northern & Central European-based expert for smart and
sustainable built environments, enabling performance and people's
well-being. Caverion offers expert guidance during the entire life
cycle of buildings, infrastructure or industrial sites and
processes: from design & build to projects, technical and
industrial maintenance, facility management as well as advisory
services. At the end of September
2022, there were more than 15,000 professionals serving
customers at the service of Caverion Group in 10 countries.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE MAY NOT BE RELEASED OR OTHERWISE
DISTRIBUTED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR
INTO, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG
KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH
AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE TENDER
OFFER WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE IS NOT A TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT OR A
SUPPLEMENT DOCUMENT TO TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT AND AS SUCH DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR INVITATION TO MAKE A SALES OFFER. IN
PARTICULAR, THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR
THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED
HEREIN, AND IS NOT AN EXTENSION OF THE TENDER OFFER, IN,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG
KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH
AFRICA. INVESTORS SHALL ACCEPT THE TENDER OFFER FOR THE
SHARES ONLY ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE TENDER
OFFER DOCUMENT AND THE POSSIBLE SUPPLEMENT DOCUMENTS TO THE TENDER
OFFER DOCUMENT. OFFERS WILL NOT BE MADE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN
ANY JURISDICTION WHERE EITHER AN OFFER OR PARTICIPATION THEREIN IS
PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR WHERE ANY TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT OR
REGISTRATION OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS WOULD APPLY IN ADDITION TO THOSE
UNDERTAKEN IN FINLAND.
THE TENDER OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN ANY
JURISDICTION WHERE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW AND THE TENDER
OFFER DOCUMENT AND RELATED ACCEPTANCE FORMS WILL NOT AND MAY NOT BE
DISTRIBUTED, FORWARDED OR TRANSMITTED INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS. IN PARTICULAR,
THE TENDER OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR
INTO, OR BY USE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE OF, OR BY ANY MEANS OR
INSTRUMENTALITY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, FACSIMILE
TRANSMISSION, TELEX, TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET) OF INTERSTATE OR
FOREIGN COMMERCE OF, OR ANY FACILITIES OF A NATIONAL SECURITIES
EXCHANGE OF, AUSTRALIA,
CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW
ZEALAND OR SOUTH AFRICA.
THE TENDER OFFER CANNOT BE ACCEPTED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY ANY
SUCH USE, MEANS OR INSTRUMENTALITY OR FROM WITHIN, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG
KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH
AFRICA AND ANY PURPORTED ACCEPTANCE OF THE TENDER OFFER
RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM A VIOLATION OF THESE
RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INVALID.
THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE HAS BEEN PREPARED IN COMPLIANCE WITH
FINNISH LAW, THE RULES OF NASDAQ HELSINKI LTD AND THE HELSINKI TAKEOVER CODE AND THE INFORMATION
DISCLOSED MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS THAT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN
DISCLOSED IF THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE HAD BEEN PREPARED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF JURISDICTIONS OUTSIDE OF FINLAND.
Information for shareholders of Caverion in the United States
Shareholders of Caverion in the United
States are advised that the Shares are not listed on a U.S.
securities exchange and that Caverion is not subject to the
periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and is not required to,
and does not, file any reports with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder.
The Tender Offer will be made for the issued and outstanding
shares of Caverion, which is domiciled in Finland, and is subject to Finnish disclosure
and procedural requirements. The Tender Offer is made in
the United States pursuant to
Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, subject to
the exemption provided under Rule 14d-1(c) under the Exchange Act,
for a Tier I tender offer (the "Tier I Exemption"), and otherwise
in accordance with the disclosure and procedural requirements of
Finnish law, including with respect to the Tender Offer timetable,
settlement procedures, withdrawal, waiver of conditions and timing
of payments, which are different from those of the United States.
In particular, the financial information included in this stock
exchange release has been prepared in accordance with applicable
accounting standards in Finland, which may not be comparable to the
financial statements or financial information of U.S. companies.
The Tender Offer is made to Caverion's shareholders resident in the
United States on the same terms and conditions as those made to all
other shareholders of Caverion to whom an offer is made. Any
informational documents, including this stock exchange release, are
being disseminated to U.S. shareholders on a basis comparable to
the method that such documents are provided to Caverion's other
shareholders.
As permitted under the Tier I Exemption, the settlement of the
Tender Offer is based on the applicable Finnish law provisions,
which differ from the settlement procedures customary in
the United States, particularly as
regards to the time when payment of the consideration is rendered.
The Tender Offer, which is subject to Finnish law, is being made to
the U.S. shareholders in accordance with the applicable U.S.
securities laws, and applicable exemptions thereunder, in
particular the Tier I Exemption. To the extent the Tender Offer is
subject to U.S. securities laws, those laws only apply to U.S.
shareholders and will not give rise to claims on the part of any
other person. U.S. shareholders should consider that the offer
price for the Tender Offer is being paid in EUR and that no
adjustment will be made based on any changes in the exchange
rate.
To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulations,
the Offeror and its affiliates or its brokers and its brokers'
affiliates (acting as agents for the Offeror or its affiliates, as
applicable) may from time to time after the date of this stock
exchange release and during the pendency of the Tender Offer, and
other than pursuant to the Tender Offer, directly or indirectly
purchase or arrange to purchase Shares or any securities that are
convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for Shares. These
purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices
or in private transactions at negotiated prices. To the extent
information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is
made public in Finland, such
information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other
means reasonably calculated to inform U.S. shareholders of Caverion
of such information. In addition, the financial advisers to the
Offeror may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in
securities of Caverion, which may include purchases or arrangements
to purchase such securities. To the extent required in Finland, any information about such purchases
will be made public in Finland in
the manner required by Finnish law.
Neither the SEC nor any U.S. state securities commission has
approved or disapproved the Tender Offer, passed upon the merits or
fairness of the Tender Offer, or passed any comment upon the
adequacy, accuracy or completeness of the disclosure in relation to
the Tender Offer. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence in the United States.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Tender Offer by a U.S.
holder of Shares 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 holder of Shares is urged
to consult its independent professional advisers immediately
regarding the tax and other consequences of accepting the Tender
Offer.
To the extent the Tender Offer is subject to U.S. securities
laws, those laws only apply to U.S. holders of Shares and will not
give rise to claims on the part of any other person. It may be
difficult for Caverion's shareholders to enforce their rights and
any claims they may have arising under the U.S. federal securities
laws, since the Offeror and Caverion are located in non-U.S.
jurisdictions and some or all of their respective officers and
directors may be residents of non-U.S. jurisdictions. Caverion
shareholders may not be able to sue the Offeror or Caverion or
their respective officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for
violations of the U.S. federal securities laws. It may be difficult
to compel the Offeror and Caverion and their respective affiliates
to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment.
NEITHER THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY U.S.
STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TENDER
OFFER, PASSED ANY COMMENTS UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE
TENDER OFFER, PASSED ANY COMMENT UPON THE ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS
OF THE TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT OR PASSED ANY COMMENT ON WHETHER THE
CONTENT IN THE TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT IS CORRECT OR COMPLETE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
Disclaimer
BofA Securities, a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation, is
acting exclusively for Caverion and no one else in connection with
the Revised Bain Consortium Offer and the Initial Bain Consortium
Offer and the matters set out in this stock exchange release, and
will not be responsible to anyone other than Caverion for providing
the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Revised Bain Consortium Offer and the Initial Bain
Consortium Offer or any matter or arrangement referred to in this
stock exchange release.
Investor and Media enquiries:
Milena Hæggström, Head of Investor Relations and External
Communications, Caverion, tel. +358 40 5581 328,
milena.haeggstrom@caverion.com
The following files are available for download:
https://mb.cision.com/Main/14078/3702071/1802000.pdf
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