EANS-Adhoc: Lenzing AG
Lenzing and B & C announce plans for Public Offering of
Lenzing shares
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Information
08.03.2011
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN
Vienna/Lenzing, 8 March 2011 - Lenzing AG ("Lenzing") and B & C Group (together with its affiliates "B & C") are announcing the intention to conduct an offer of new and existing shares of Lenzing in a planned "Re-IPO" in Q2 2011.
Lenzing plans to offer new shares from a capital increase of approx. EUR 75 million to existing shareholders by means of a subscription offer and to new shareholders with a view to supporting its announced capacity expansion program. Lenzing´s current 90.5% shareholder B & C is planning to offer existing shares through a partial sell-down of its stake. New and existing shares are expected to be offered to private and institutional investors in Austria and to institutional investors internationally. Lenzing will apply for a listing of all new shares on the Vienna Stock Exchange and the inclusion of all existing and new shares in the Prime Market segment. If implemented as planned, the contemplated "Re-IPO" is expected to substantially increase Lenzing´s free float and improve the Company´s long-term access to the capital market. In particular, the capital increase would optimize Lenzing´s funding mix for its planned investment program and future growth. The details regarding the possible offer size, expected free float and the exact timing of any transaction will also depend on prevailing market conditions. B & C plans to retain its active role as a long-term core and majority shareholder of Lenzing in the future.
B & C and Lenzing have mandated Morgan Stanley as Sole Global Coordinator for the planned transaction. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and UniCredit have been mandated as Joint Bookrunners for the planned transaction.
About Lenzing Group The Lenzing Group is an international group of companies with its headquarters in Austria, production sites in all major markets and a global network of sales and marketing offices. Lenzing provides the global textile and nonwovens industry with high-quality cellulose fibers.
About B & C Group The objective of B & C Foundation, the parent company of B & C Group, is fostering Austrian entrepreneurship. B & C Industrieholding GmbH, the management holding of B & C Group, is one of the largest Austrian investment companies and currently holds, among others, controlling stakes in the listed industrial companies Lenzing AG (90.5%) and Semperit AG Holding (54.2%), as well as a substantial stake in the construction company A. Porr AG (38.7% of the voting rights). The management board of B & C Industrieholding GmbH consists of Dr. Michael Junghans, chairman of the management board, Dr. Walter Lederer and Mag. Patrick F. Prügger. Further information on B & C Industrieholding GmbH can be found at www.bcholding.at.
For more information please contact:
Lenzing AG: Mag. Angelika Guldt Head of Corporate Communications Telefon: +43 (0) 7672 701-2713 E-Mail: a.guldt@lenzing.com
B & C Group: Dr. Michael Junghans Chairman of the Managing Board B & C Industrieholding GmbH Telefon: +43 (0) 1 533 2 533-16 E-Mail: m.gruensteidl@bcholding.at
Disclaimer: These materials are not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia). These materials do not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States of America. The shares of Lenzing AG (the "Shares") mentioned herein may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act and will not be offered or sold in the United States, except on the basis of applicable exemptions from the registration requirement. There will be no public offering of securities in the United States or anywhere outside of Austria. This press release is directed only at persons (i) who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order") or (iii) who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any person who is not a Relevant Person must not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. This information is not an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Lenzing AG. A public offer may only be made in Austria after publication of a prospectus prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Austrian Capital Markets Act. Any securities orders received prior to the commencement of a public offer will be rejected. If a public offer is to be made in Austria, a prospectus will be prepared in accordance with the Austrian Capital Markets Act. Such prospectus will be available free of charge at the Company´s registered office during usual business hours.
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Contact:
Lenzing AG
Mag. Angelika Guldt
Tel.: +43 (0) 7672-701-2713
Fax: +43 (0) 07672-918-2713
mailto:a.guldt@lenzing.com
Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: AT0000644505
WKN: 852927
Index: WBI
Börsen: Berlin / free trade
Wien / official market