19
March 2024
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV
ANNOUNCES TENDER OFFERS
TO PURCHASE EUR NOTES FOR CASH
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (the
"EUR Offeror") has today
launched separate invitations to holders of its outstanding
€1,000,000,000 2.700% Notes due 2026 (ISIN: BE6265142099),
€1,000,000,000 2.125% Notes due 2027 (ISIN: BE6320934266) and
€3,000,000,000 2.000% Notes due 2028 (ISIN: BE6285455497)
(together, the "EUR
Notes") to tender such EUR Notes for purchase by the EUR
Offeror for cash subject to the Offer Cap, the relevant Acceptance
Priority Levels and the Financing Condition (each as defined below)
(each such invitation a "EUR
Tender Offer" and, together, the "EUR Tender Offers" and, together with
the US Tender Offers (as defined below), the "Tender Offers"). The
Tender Offers are being made on the terms and subject to the
conditions contained in the offer to purchase dated 19 March 2024
(the "Offer to Purchase")
and are subject to the offer restrictions set out below and as more
fully described in the Offer to Purchase.
Copies of the Offer to Purchase are (subject to
offer and distribution restrictions) available from the Tender and
Information Agent as set out below. Capitalised terms used and not
otherwise defined in this announcement have the meanings given in
the Offer to Purchase.
Summary of the
EUR Tender Offers
The EUR Offeror offers to purchase for cash the
outstanding EUR Notes listed below subject to the Offer
Cap(1) of $2,000,000,000 (subject to increase or
decrease as set out in the Offer to Purchase):
|
Principal Amount
Outstanding
|
|
|
Acceptance Priority
Level(2)
|
Interpolated Mid-Swap
Rate(3)
|
Fixed Spread (Basis
Points)(4)
|
|
|
2.700%
Notes due 2026
|
€1,000,000,000
|
BE6265142099
|
31 March
2026
|
2
|
2026
Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate
|
-
7
|
€30
|
IRSB
EU
(Pricing
Source: BGN)
|
2.125%
Notes due 2027
|
€1,000,000,000
|
BE6320934266
|
2
December 2027
|
3
|
2027
Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate
|
+
5
|
€30
|
IRSB
EU
(Pricing
Source: BGN)
|
2.000%
Notes due 2028
|
€3,000,000,000
|
BE6285455497
|
17 March
2028
|
5
|
2028
Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate
|
+
15
|
€30
|
IRSB
EU
(Pricing
Source: BGN)
|
Notes:
(1) The offers with respect to the Notes (including the EUR Notes
and the Notes subject to the US Tender Offers) are subject to an
"Offer Cap" equal to an
aggregate purchase price (excluding Accrued Interest) of up to
$2,000,000,000, subject to the terms and conditions described in
the Offer to Purchase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, if the aggregate purchase price for the EUR Notes
and the Notes subject to the US Tender Offers validly tendered and
not validly withdrawn by Holders prior to the Early Tender Time
exceeds the Offer Cap, subject to the Financing Condition the
Offerors intend (but are not obligated) to increase the Offer Cap
by some or all of the amount of such excess, provided it will not
be increased by more than $500,000,000 to a maximum amount of
$2,500,000,000.
(2) We will accept Notes in the order of their respective
Acceptance Priority Level specified in the Offer to Purchase (each,
an "Acceptance Priority
Level" with "1" being the highest Acceptance Priority Level
and "5" being the lowest Acceptance Priority Level), subject to the
terms and conditions described in the Offer to Purchase. Investors
should be aware that the principal amount outstanding of the Notes
subject to the US Tender Offers with Acceptance Priority Level 1 is
greater than the Offer Cap and therefore, if such Notes are validly
tendered prior to the Early Tender Time and accepted for purchase
in a principal amount that would result in an aggregate purchase
price greater than the Offer Cap, unless the Offer Cap is increased
(in the sole discretion of the Offerors), no EUR Notes would be
accepted for purchase.
(3) The applicable Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate will be used to
calculate the applicable Total Consideration (as defined below)
payable for each series of EUR Notes. The Total Consideration
payable pursuant to the Tender Offers will be calculated and
determined as set forth in the Offer to Purchase.
(4) The applicable Fixed Spread will be used to calculate the
applicable Total Consideration payable for each series of EUR
Notes, which already
includes the Early Tender Payment.
(5) The Total Consideration payable for each series of EUR Notes
will be at a price per €1,000 principal
amount of such series of Notes validly tendered and not validly
withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Time and accepted for
purchase, which is calculated using the applicable Fixed Spread,
and when calculated in such a manner already includes the
applicable Early Tender Payment.
(6) The EUR Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by
Anheuser-Busch Companies LLC, Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc.,
Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance Inc., Brandbev S.à r.l., Brandbrew
S.A. and Cobrew NV (the "Guarantors").
THE EUR TENDER
OFFERS COMMENCE ON 19 MARCH 2024 AND WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW
YORK CITY TIME, ON 17 APRIL 2024, UNLESS EXTENDED OR EARLIER
TERMINATED (SUCH TIME AND DATE, AS THE SAME MAY BE EXTENDED, THE
"EXPIRATION TIME"). HOLDERS WHO TENDER THEIR NOTES MAY WITHDRAW
SUCH NOTES AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE (AS
SPECIFIED HEREIN). TO RECEIVE THE TOTAL CONSIDERATION (AS DEFINED
BELOW), WHICH INCLUDES AN EARLY TENDER PAYMENT OF €30 PER €1,000
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SUCH EUR NOTES ACCEPTED FOR PURCHASE, PURSUANT
TO THE TENDER OFFERS (THE "EARLY TENDER PAYMENT"), HOLDERS MUST
VALIDLY TENDER AND NOT VALIDLY WITHDRAW THEIR NOTES PRIOR TO 5:00
P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON 2 APRIL 2024, UNLESS EXTENDED (SUCH
TIME, AS THE SAME MAY BE EXTENDED, THE "EARLY TENDER TIME" AND THE
"WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE"). HOLDERS WHO VALIDLY TENDER THEIR NOTES
AFTER THE EARLY TENDER TIME BUT AT OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION TIME
WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ONLY THE TENDER OFFER CONSIDERATION (AS
DEFINED BELOW), WHICH IS AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE TOTAL CONSIDERATION
MINUS THE EARLY TENDER PAYMENT. AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE
TENDERS WILL BE IRREVOCABLE, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE ADDITIONAL WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS ARE REQUIRED BY
LAW.
Custodians,
direct participants in Euroclear Bank SA/NV and/or Clearstream
Banking S.A. (together, the "Clearing Systems") and the Clearing
Systems will have deadlines for receiving instructions prior to the
Expiration Time and holders should contact the intermediary through
which they hold their EUR Notes as soon as possible to ensure
proper and timely delivery of instructions.
In
order to be eligible to participate in the EUR Tender Offers in the
manner specified in the Offer to Purchase, Holders that hold EUR
Notes directly in the NBB-SSS
or through a
direct participant of the NBB-SSS (other than a
Clearing System) must arrange for the EUR
Notes which they wish to tender to be transferred to an account in
either Euroclear Bank SA/NV and/or Clearstream Banking
S.A.
Purpose of the
EUR Tender Offers
The purpose of the EUR Tender Offers is to
improve the maturity profile of the EUR Offeror's outstanding debt
by refinancing a portion of its near-term maturities.
Concurrently with the EUR Tender Offers,
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc. and Anheuser-Busch Companies,
LLC announced on 19 March 2024 separate invitations to holders of
certain series of their outstanding U.S. dollar denominated
securities to tender such securities for cash (together such
separate invitations, the "US
Tender Offers"). The US Tender Offers are also the subject
of the Offer to Purchase but are being made by Anheuser-Busch InBev
Worldwide Inc. and Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, as applicable,
and not the EUR Offeror. For details on the US Tender
Offers please refer to the Offer to Purchase.
EUR Notes purchased by the EUR Offeror pursuant
to the EUR Tender Offers will be
cancelled and will not be re-issued or re-sold. EUR Notes which
have not been validly submitted and accepted for purchase pursuant
to the EUR Tender Offers will remain
outstanding.
Tender Consideration
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Offer to Purchase, Holders who validly tender and
who do not validly withdraw EUR Notes at or prior to the Early
Tender Time, subject in each case to the tender being in the
applicable Authorized Denominations, and whose EUR Notes are
accepted for purchase by the EUR Offeror, will receive the Total
Consideration equal to:
• the value per
€1,000 principal amount of EUR Notes of the relevant series of all
the remaining payments of principal thereof and interest thereon
required to be made through the maturity date of such EUR Notes
(assuming all such payments are made in full when due), discounted
to the Settlement Date for such EUR Notes (in a manner consistent
with the methodology underlying the respective formula for the
Total Consideration set forth in Annex A-2 of the Offer to
Purchase), at a discount rate equal to the sum (the "Offer Yield") of:
o for
each series of EUR Notes, the applicable Interpolated Mid-Swap
Rate, as of the Price Determination Time, plus
o the
applicable Fixed Spread for the relevant series of EUR Notes set
forth on the front cover of the Offer to Purchase;
• minus Accrued
Interest on the relevant series of EUR Notes per €1,000 principal
amount of Notes to, but not including, the Settlement
Date.
The Total Consideration, when calculated as set
out above, already includes the Early Tender Payment of €30 per
€1,000 principal amount of EUR Notes. Holders that validly tender
and who do not validly withdraw EUR Notes following the Early
Tender Time but at or prior to the Expiration Time, and whose EUR
Notes are accepted for purchase, will receive only the Tender Offer
Consideration, which is an amount equal to the Total Consideration
minus the Early Tender Payment.
The Dealer Managers will calculate the Offer
Yield, Total Consideration, Tender Offer Consideration and Accrued
Interest on behalf of the EUR Offeror for each series of EUR Notes
as set forth in the formula in Annex A-2 to the Offer to Purchase,
and their calculation will be final and binding, absent manifest
error.
The EUR Offeror will publicly announce by press
release the Total Consideration for each series of EUR Notes
subject to the EUR Tender Offers promptly after it is
determined (provided that, if the Offer Cap is reached
at the Early Tender Time, and the Offerors have not exercised their
right to increase the Offer Cap to an amount in excess of the
aggregate purchase price for those Notes tendered as of the Early
Tender Time, then the applicable Offer Yield and Total
Consideration shall be only determined with respect to those series
of EUR Notes accepted for purchase as at the Early Tender
Time) and will also announce at the same time the
applicable exchange rate used to convert the aggregate purchase
price for the EUR Notes validly tendered into U.S. Dollars for the
purpose of determining whether the Offer Cap has been
reached.
Because each of the Total Consideration and
Tender Offer Consideration for the EUR Notes is based on a fixed
spread pricing formula linked to the relevant Interpolated Mid-Swap
Rate, the actual amount of cash that may be received by Holders
whose EUR Notes are purchased pursuant to the EUR Tender Offers
will be affected by changes in such Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate
during the term of the EUR Tender Offers before the Price
Determination Time. After the Price Determination Time, when the
applicable Total Consideration and the applicable Tender Offer
Consideration will no longer be linked to the relevant Interpolated
Mid-Swap Rate, the actual amount of cash that may be received by a
tendering Holder (if any EUR Notes are accepted) pursuant to the
EUR Tender Offers will be known and Holders will be able to
ascertain the Total Consideration and Tender Offer Consideration in
the manner described above.
Accrued Interest
In addition to the Total Consideration or
Tender Offer Consideration paid to Holders of EUR Notes, Holders
will be paid the Accrued Interest per €1,000 principal amount of
EUR Notes tendered, and not validly withdrawn, and accepted
pursuant to the EUR Tender Offers, rounded to the nearest cent
(with half a cent rounded upwards).
Offer
Cap
The Offerors will only accept for purchase
Notes up to a combined aggregate purchase price (excluding Accrued
Interest) across the EUR Notes and the Notes subject to the US
Tender Offers of $2,000,000,000 (such amount as the same may be
increased or decreased, the "Offer
Cap").
Note that the Offer Cap applies across a
combination of the EUR Notes and the Notes subject to the US Tender
Offers and therefore Holders should refer to the Offer to Purchase
for full information. Subject to applicable law, the Offerors
expressly reserve the right in their sole discretion to increase or
decrease the Offer Cap after setting the Total Consideration at the
Price Determination Time without extending the Withdrawal Deadline
or otherwise reinstating withdrawal rights, however there can be no
assurance that the Offerors will do so.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, if the aggregate purchase price for the EUR Notes
and the Notes subject to the US Tender Offers validly tendered and
not validly withdrawn by Holders prior to the Early Tender Time
exceeds the Offer Cap, subject to the Financing Condition the
Offerors intend (but are not obligated) to increase the Offer Cap
by some or all of the amount of such excess, provided it will not
be increased by more than $500,000,000 to a maximum amount of
$2,500,000,000.
To determine whether the Offer Cap has been
reached, the Offerors will first convert the aggregate purchase
price for the EUR Notes validly tendered into U.S. Dollars using
the applicable exchange rate on the Bloomberg screen page "BFIX
EURUSD" at the time corresponding to the Price Determination Time
(or, if such screen is unavailable, a generally recognised source
for currency quotations selected by the Dealer Managers with quotes
as of a time as close as reasonably possible).
Priority of
Acceptance and Proration
The principal amount of each series of Notes
that is purchased in the Tender Offers will be determined in
accordance with the Acceptance Priority Levels, with Acceptance
Priority Level 1 being the highest and Acceptance Priority Level 5
being the lowest, provided
that, Notes tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time
will be purchased before any Notes tendered after the Early Tender
Time, regardless of the Acceptance Priority Level. Note that the
Acceptance Priority Levels apply to the EUR Notes and the Notes
subject to the US Tender Offers and therefore Holders should refer
to the Offer to Purchase for full information and, in particular,
that the principal amount outstanding of the Notes subject to the
US Tender Offers with Acceptance Priority Level 1 is greater than
the Offer Cap and therefore, if such Notes are validly tendered
prior to the Early Tender Time and accepted for purchase in a
principal amount that would result in an aggregate purchase price
greater than the Offer Cap, unless the Offer Cap is increased (in
the sole discretion of the Offerors), no EUR Notes would be
accepted for purchase. Except as provided above with respect to
Notes tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time, all Notes
validly tendered in the Tender Offers having a higher Acceptance
Priority Level will be accepted before any validly tendered Notes
having a lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted. If the
aggregate purchase price of the principal amount of Notes tendered
in each of the Tender Offers would, if such Notes were accepted for
purchase in full, result in the Offer Cap being exceeded, the
amount of Notes purchased may be subject to proration (as described
in the Offer to Purchase).
If the Offer Cap is reached at the Early Tender
Time, then no Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time will be
purchased pursuant to the Tender Offers unless the Offerors
increase the Offer Cap, regardless of the Acceptance Priority Level
of such Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time.
If the Tender Offers are not oversubscribed at
the Early Tender Time but the purchase of all Notes validly
tendered after the Early Tender Time and at or prior to the
Expiration Time, when added to the Notes that were accepted for
purchase by the Offerors at the Early Tender Time, would cause the
Offerors to purchase Notes of a combined aggregate purchase price
in excess of the Offer Cap, then the Tender Offers will be
oversubscribed at the Expiration Time and the Offerors will accept
for purchase (assuming satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to
the Offers, including the Financing Condition) the principal amount
of each series of Notes in accordance with the Acceptance Priority
Levels (provided that Notes validly tendered and not validly
withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Time will be purchased
prior to any Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time, regardless
of the Acceptance Priority Level of such Notes), with Acceptance
Priority Level 1 being the highest and Acceptance Priority Level 5
the lowest, and the amount of Notes purchased will be subject to
proration (as described in the Offer to Purchase) such that the
Offerors will not purchase Notes which when combined have an
aggregate purchase price in excess of the Offer Cap.
If the purchase of all Notes validly tendered
and not validly withdrawn by Holders would, if such Notes were
accepted for purchase in full, result in an aggregate purchase
price greater than the Offer Cap, then the Tender Offers will be
oversubscribed and if the Offerors accept Notes in the Tender
Offers, any Notes accepted for purchase in the lowest Acceptance
Priority Level in which Notes are accepted for purchase will be
accepted for tender on a prorated basis, with the aggregate
principal amount of each Holder's validly tendered Notes accepted
for purchase determined by multiplying each Holder's tender of
Notes of such Acceptance Priority Level by the proration factor,
and rounding the product down to the nearest €1,000 principal
amount, as applicable.
In the event of any such proration:
(a) the EUR Offeror
intends to apply the applicable proration factor to each valid
tender of EUR Notes in such a manner as will result in both (i) the
relevant Holder transferring EUR Notes to the EUR Offeror in an
aggregate principal amount of at least €100,000 (in the case of the
2.700% Notes due 2026 and the 2.125% Notes due 2027) or €1,000 (in
the case of the 2.000% Notes due 2028) (each, the "Minimum Denomination") of the relevant
EUR Notes (unless the relevant EUR Tender Instruction is rejected
in its entirety, as described in paragraph (b) below) and (ii) the
relevant Holder's residual amount of EUR Notes (being the principal
amount of the EUR Notes the subject of the relevant EUR Tender
Instruction that are not accepted for purchase by virtue of such
scaling) amounting to either (A) at least the relevant Minimum
Denomination or (B) zero, and (subject as provided in paragraph (b)
below) the EUR Offeror therefore intends to adjust the relevant
proration factor applicable to any EUR Tender Instruction
accordingly; and
(b) if following the
application of the applicable proration factor (prior to any
adjustment as referred to in paragraph (a) above), the principal
amount of EUR Notes otherwise due to be accepted for purchase from
a Holder pursuant to a EUR Tender Instruction would be less than
the relevant Minimum Denomination, the EUR Offeror may in its sole
discretion choose to (i) accept at least the relevant Minimum
Denomination or (ii) reject the relevant EUR Tender Instruction in
its entirety.
Financing Condition
As a condition to the Tender Offers, the Offerors must
satisfy the "Financing
Condition", by which is meant the completion of one or more
offerings of new debt securities that close no later than the
Expiration Time, on terms satisfactory to the Offerors (in their
discretion), including but not limited to, the amount of net
proceeds raised by such offerings being sufficient, in the
aggregate, to effect the repurchase of the Notes validly tendered
and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offers. The
Offerors reserve the right, in their discretion, to use some only
(and not all of) the net proceeds of the issue of any such new debt
securities to purchase Notes pursuant to the Tender Offers and to
apply the remainder of such proceeds towards other corporate
purposes.
Expiration Time; Extension; Amendment;
Termination
The EUR Tender Offers
will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on 17 April
2024, unless extended or earlier terminated by the EUR Offeror in
its sole discretion. In the event a Tender Offer is extended,
the term "Expiration Time"
with respect to such extended Tender Offer shall mean the time and
date on which such Tender Offer as so extended, shall expire. The
EUR Offeror reserves the right to extend any Tender Offer from time
to time or for such period or periods as they may determine in its
sole discretion. If the EUR Offeror exercises any such right, it
will give written notice thereof to the Tender and Information
Agent and will make a public announcement thereof as promptly as
practicable. Such announcement, in the case of an extension of the
Expiration Time or Early Tender Time, will be issued no later than
9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the
previously scheduled Expiration Time or Early Tender Time,
respectively. During any extension of the EUR Tender Offers, all
EUR Notes previously tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and not
accepted for purchase will remain subject to the EUR Tender Offers
and, subject to the terms and conditions of the EUR Tender Offers,
may be accepted for purchase by the EUR Offeror.
Subject to applicable law, the EUR Offeror
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time prior to
the Expiration Time, to waive any condition of the EUR Tender
Offers, to amend any of the terms of the EUR Tender Offer, and to
modify the Total Consideration or Tender Offer
Consideration.
Subject to applicable law, the EUR Offeror
reserves the right, in their sole discretion to terminate the EUR
Tender Offers. Any such termination will be followed promptly
by public announcement thereof. In the event the EUR Offeror
terminates a Tender Offer, it shall give immediate notice thereof
to the Tender and Information Agent. In the event that the EUR
Tender Offers are terminated, withdrawn or otherwise not
consummated prior to the Early Tender Time or Expiration Time,
respectively, the Total Consideration or the Tender Offer
Consideration (as applicable) will not become payable pursuant
thereto.
If a EUR Tender Offer is
terminated, all EUR Tender Instructions in respect of EUR Notes of
the relevant series will be deemed to be withdrawn
automatically.
All references in this announcement to the
Expiration Time of the EUR Tender Offers are to such Expiration
Time, as such date may be extended or terminated.
Withdrawal of Tenders
You may withdraw your tender of
EUR Notes at any time at or prior to the Withdrawal Deadline, but
tenders will thereafter be irrevocable, except in certain limited
circumstances where the EUR Offeror determines that additional
withdrawal rights are required by law.
Tenders may not be validly withdrawn
after the Withdrawal Deadline, other than as set forth in the
Offer to Purchase or unless the EUR Offeror amends the
applicable Tender Offer, in which case
withdrawal rights may be extended as the EUR
Offeror determines, to the extent required by law,
appropriate to allow tendering Holders a reasonable opportunity to
respond to such amendment.
Summary of Action to be Taken
To tender EUR Notes in a EUR Tender Offer, a
holder of EUR Notes should deliver, or arrange to have delivered on
its behalf, via the relevant Clearing System and in accordance with
the requirements of such Clearing System, a valid EUR Tender
Instruction that is received in each case by the Tender and
Information Agent by the Expiration Time.
EUR Tender Instructions must be submitted in
respect of a principal amount of EUR Notes of no less than the
relevant Minimum Denomination and may be submitted in integral
multiples of €1,000 thereafter. Holders who tender less than all of
their Notes must continue to hold their Notes in Authorized
Denominations.
Holders holding EUR Notes directly in the
NBB-SSS or through a direct
participant of the NBB-SSS (other than a Clearing
System) must, in order to be eligible to participate in the EUR Tender
Offers in the manner specified in the Offer to Purchase, (i)
arrange for the EUR Notes which they wish to tender to be
transferred to an account in either of the Clearing Systems, and
(ii) maintain, or where relevant, procure, access to an account in
either of the Clearing Systems through which such EUR Notes can be
traded, and to which the Total Consideration or Tender Offer
Consideration (as applicable) and the applicable Accrued Interest
may be credited by the EUR Offeror.
Holders who do not have access to an account, as described
above, in either of the Clearing Systems (either directly or
through a direct participant or other intermediary), or who do not
transfer the EUR Notes which they wish to tender to a direct
participant in either Clearing System, will not be able to submit a
EUR Tender Instruction to the Tender and Information Agent and will
not be eligible to participate in the EUR Tender Offers in the
manner specified in the Offer to Purchase.
Any
Holder who (i) holds its EUR Notes directly, or through a direct
participant of the NBB-SSS, in an "N account" within
the NBB-SSS, (ii) is not eligible, in
accordance with Article 4 of the Belgian Royal Decree of 26 May
1994, to hold its EUR Notes (directly or indirectly) in an "X
account" within the NBB-SSS, and who is therefore unable to
transfer the relevant EUR Notes with to account in either of the
Clearing Systems and (iii) who is eligible to view the Offer to
Purchase and make an investment decision with respect to the EUR
Tender Offers, may contact the Tender and Information Agent for
further information, using the contact details set out
below.
Holders are advised to check with any bank,
securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold EUR
Notes when such intermediary would require to receive instructions
from a Holder in order for that Holder to be able to participate
in, or (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is
permitted) revoke their instruction to participate in, the EUR
Tender Offers before the deadlines specified in the Offer to
Purchase. The deadlines set by any
such intermediary and each Clearing System for the submission of
EUR Tender Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines
specified in the Offer to Purchase.
Significant
Dates and Times
Please take note of the following significant
dates and times in connection with the EUR Tender
Offers.
|
|
Time and Calendar Date
|
|
|
Launch Date
|
|
19 March 2024
|
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Commencement of the
EUR Tender Offers upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Offer to Purchase.
Offer to
Purchase available (subject to the restrictions set out in
"Offer and Distribution
Restrictions") from the Tender and Information
Agent.
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Early Tender Time
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5:00 p.m., New York City time, on 2
April 2024, unless extended.
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The deadline for Holders to tender
Notes to be eligible for the Total Consideration, which includes
the Early Tender Payment (in addition to the Accrued
Interest).
The EUR Offeror will issue a press
release announcing the results of the EUR Tender Offers as of the
Early Tender Time as soon as reasonably practicable after the Early
Tender Time.
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Withdrawal Deadline
|
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5:00 p.m., New York City time, on 2
April 2024, unless extended.
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The deadline for Holders to validly withdraw
tenders of their Notes. If a tender of Notes is
validly withdrawn, the Holder will not receive any consideration on
the Settlement Date (unless that Holder validly re-tenders such
Notes at or prior to the Expiration Time and the Notes are accepted
by the EUR Offeror).
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Price Determination Time
|
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The EUR Offeror expects that this
time will be at or about 2:00 p.m., London time, on 3 April 2024,
unless extended.
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The Dealer Managers will determine
the applicable Reference Yield (as defined herein) for each series
of Notes eligible for tendering and calculate the applicable Total
Consideration and applicable Tender Offer Consideration (provided
that, if the Offer Cap is reached at the Early Tender Time, and the
Offerors have not exercised their right to increase the Offer Cap
to an amount in excess of the aggregate purchase price for those
Notes tendered as of the Early Tender Time, then the applicable
Reference Yield and Total Consideration shall be only determined
with respect to those series of Notes accepted for purchase as at
the Early Tender Time).
The EUR Offeror will issue a press
release announcing the applicable Reference Yield, the Total
Consideration and the Tender Offer Consideration for each series of
Notes eligible for the EUR Tender Offers as soon as reasonably
practicable after the determination thereof (provided that, if the
Offer Cap is reached at the Early Tender Time, and the Offerors
have not exercised their right to increase the Offer Cap to an
amount in excess of the aggregate purchase price for those Notes
tendered as of the Early Tender Time, then the applicable Reference
Yield and Total Consideration shall be only determined with respect
to those series of Notes accepted for purchase as at the Early
Tender Time).
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Expiration Time
|
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The Tender Offers will expire at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on 17 April 2024, unless extended or
earlier terminated.
|
|
The last time and date for Notes to be tendered
pursuant to the EUR Tender Offers. Unless the Offer Cap is reached
at the Early Tender Time (and not increased by the Offerors to an
amount in excess of the aggregate purchase price for those Notes
tendered as of the Early Tender Time), the EUR Offeror expects to
publish a press release promptly following the Expiration Time
announcing the amount of EUR Notes, if any, to be accepted for
purchase on the Settlement Date.
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Settlement Date
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The EUR Offeror expects the
Settlement Date will occur on 22 April 2024, unless the EUR Tender
Offers are extended or earlier terminated.
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The date the EUR Offeror will
deposit with Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, as applicable,
the amount of cash necessary to pay, and Euroclear and Clearstream,
Luxembourg, as applicable, will pay, to each Holder whose EUR Notes
are accepted for purchase (i) the applicable Tender Offer
Consideration for Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time and
(ii) the applicable Total Consideration for EUR Notes tendered and
not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Time, plus,
in each case, Accrued Interest in respect of such EUR
Notes.
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Unless stated otherwise, announcements in
connection with the Tender Offers in respect of the EUR Notes will
be made via the Regulatory News Service of the London Stock
Exchange plc ("RNS") and may also
be made through Euroclear Bank SA/NV ("Euroclear") and
Clearstream Banking S.A. ("Clearstream,
Luxembourg") (including through the securities
settlement system operated by the National Bank of Belgium (the
"NBB-SSS") for
delivery to participants in the NBB-SSS). Announcements may
also be made by the issue of a press release on a widely
disseminated news service. Copies of all such announcements, press
releases and notices can also be obtained from the Tender and
Information Agent, the contact details for whom are set out below.
Significant delays may be experienced where notices are delivered
to Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the NBB-SSS and Holders
are urged to contact the Tender and Information Agent for the
relevant announcements relating to the Tender Offers.
The above times and dates are subject to our
right to extend, amend and/or terminate any or all of the EUR
Tender Offers (subject to applicable law and as provided in the
Offer to Purchase). Holders of EUR Notes are advised to check with
any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which
they hold EUR Notes as to when such intermediary would need to
receive instructions from a beneficial owner in order for that
beneficial owner to be able to participate in, or withdraw their
instruction to participate in, one or more EUR Tender Offers,
before the deadlines specified in the Offer to Purchase.
The deadlines set by any
such intermediary or Clearing Systems for the submission of EUR
Tender Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines
specified above.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
THAT QUALIFIED OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN
THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU)
596/2014 ("MAR").
FOR
THE PURPOSES OF MAR AND ARTICLE 2 OF COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING
REGULATION (EU) 2016/1055, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE BY PATRICK
RYAN, GLOBAL DIRECTOR (TREASURY) OF THE EUR
OFFEROR.
Further Information
A complete description of the terms and
conditions of the EUR Tender Offers is set out in the Offer to
Purchase. Before making a decision with respect to the
EUR Tender Offers, Holders should carefully consider all of the
information in the Offer to Purchase.
BofA Securities, Inc., Deutsche Bank
Aktiengesellschaft, J.P. Morgan SE, Mizuho Securities Europe GmbH
and SMBC Bank EU AG are the lead dealer managers (the
"Lead Dealer Managers" and,
together with the dealer managers appointed in respect of the US
Tender Offers and any additional dealer managers appointed by the
Offerors, the "Dealer
Managers") for the EUR Tender Offers, and Global Bondholder
Services Corporation is the tender agent (the "Tender and Information Agent") for the
EUR Tender Offers.
Questions and requests for assistance in
connection with the EUR Tender Offers may be directed by Relevant
Holders (as defined below) to BofA Securities, Inc.,
Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, J.P. Morgan SE, Mizuho Securities
Europe GmbH and SMBC Bank EU AG. Requests for
additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, or questions or
requests for assistance from Holders that are not Relevant Holders,
should be directed to the Tender and Information Agent. Beneficial
owners may also contact their Custodian for assistance concerning
the Tender Offers.
LEAD DEALER MANAGERS
(in respect of the EUR Tender Offers as
made to Relevant Holders (as defined below) only)
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BofA Securities, Inc.
620 S Tryon Street,
20th Floor
Charlotte
North Carolina
28255
United States of
America
Attention: Liability
Management Group
Collect: (980)
387-3907
Toll-Free: (888)
292-0070
Email:
debt_advisory@bofa.com
In
Europe:
Telephone: +33 1 877
01057
Email:
DG.LM-EMEA@bofa.com
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Deutsche Bank
Aktiengesellschaft
Mainzer Landstr. 11-17
60329 Frankfurt am
Main
Germany
Attn: Liability Management Group
Telephone: +44 20
7545 8011
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J.P. Morgan SE
Taunustor
1
(TaunusTurm)
60310
Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Attn:
Liability Management
Collect:
+44 20 7134 2468
Email:
Liability_Management_EMEA@jpmorgan.com
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Mizuho Securities Europe
GmbH
Taunustor
1
60310
Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Attention: Liability Management
Telephone: +34 91 790 7559
Toll
Free: +1 (866) 271-7403
Email:
liabilitymanagement@uk.mizuho-sc.com
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SMBC Bank EU AG
Neue Mainzer Str.
52-58
60311 Frankfurt am
Main
Germany
Attn: Liability
Management
Telephone: +49 69
2222 9 8481
Email:
liability.management@smbcnikko-cm.com
THE TENDER AND INFORMATION
AGENT
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Global Bondholder Services
Corporation
By Facsimile (Eligible Institutions
Only):
+1 (212) 430-3775 or
+1 (212) 430-3779
By Mail or Hand:
65 Broadway-Suite
404
New York, New York
10006
Attention: Corporate
Actions
Banks and Brokers
Call Collect: +1 (212) 430-3774
All Others, Please
Call Toll-Free: +1 (855) 654-2014
By E-mail:
contact@gbsc-usa.com
Tender Offer Website:
https://gbsc-usa.com/registration/abi
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None of the Dealer Managers, the
Tender and Information Agent, the EUR Offeror, the Guarantors, nor
any director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of any such
person, is acting for any Holder, or will be responsible to any
Holder for providing any protections which would be afforded to its
clients or for providing advice in relation to the Tender Offers,
and accordingly none of the Dealer Managers, the Tender and
Information Agent, the EUR Offeror, the Guarantors, nor any
director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of, any such person
makes any recommendation whether Holders should tender EUR Notes in
the Tender Offers. If any Holder is in any doubt as to the action
it should take or is unsure of the impact of the EUR Tender Offers,
it is recommended that the Holder seek its own financial and legal
advice, including as to any tax consequences, from its securities
broker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent
financial, tax or legal adviser.
None of the Dealer Managers (nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates)
has any role in relation to any part of the EUR Tender Offers made
to Holders that are not Relevant Holders, where "Relevant Holders" means a Holder of EUR
Notes that is:
(a) if resident or
located in a member state of the European Union (the "EU"), an "eligible counterparty" or a
"professional client", each as defined in Directive No. 2014/65/EU
on markets in financial instruments (as amended from time to
time);
(b) if
resident or located in the UK, an "eligible counterparty", as
defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook, or a
"professional client" as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of
Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018; or
(c) if
resident or located in a jurisdiction outside of the EU and the UK,
an institutional holder under applicable local law and not a retail
holder.
Offer and Distribution Restrictions
The EUR
Offeror has not filed this announcement or the Offer to Purchase
with, and neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase has
been reviewed by, any federal or state securities commission or
regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon
the accuracy or adequacy of this announcement or the Offer to
Purchase, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make
any representation to the contrary. No person has been authorized
to give any information or to make any representations other than
those contained or incorporated by reference in the Offer to
Purchase. Holders must comply with all laws that apply to them in
connection with the Offer to Purchase. Holders must also obtain any
consents or approvals that they need in order to tender EUR Notes
pursuant to the EUR Tender Offers. None of the EUR Offeror, the
Guarantors, the Dealer Managers or the Tender and Information Agent
is responsible for Holders' compliance with these legal
requirements.
Neither this
announcement nor the Offer to Purchase constitutes an offer to
purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell EUR Notes in any
jurisdiction in which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it
is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation under applicable
securities or blue sky laws. In those jurisdictions where the
securities, blue sky or other laws require the EUR Tender Offers to
be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any of the Dealer
Managers or any of the Dealer Managers' respective affiliates is
such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the EUR
Tender Offers shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager or
affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the EUR Offeror in such
jurisdiction (but only to any Holder that is a Relevant Holder).
Neither the delivery of the Offer to Purchase nor any purchase of
EUR Notes will, under any circumstances, create any implication
that the information contained in the Offer to Purchase is current
as of any time subsequent to the date of such
information.
United
Kingdom. The communication of this
announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or
materials relating to the EUR Tender Offers is not being made by
and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an
"authorised person" for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"). Accordingly, such documents
and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be
passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The
communication of such documents and/or materials is exempt from the
restriction on financial promotions under section 21(1) of the FSMA
on the basis that it is only directed at and may only be
communicated to: (1) persons who are outside of the United Kingdom;
(2) investment professionals falling within the definition
contained in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (3) those persons who are
existing members or creditors of the EUR Offeror or other persons
falling within Article 43(2) of the Order; or (4) any other persons
to whom such documents and/or materials may lawfully be
communicated in accordance with the Order (all such persons
together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement, the Offer
to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the
EUR Tender Offers are only available to relevant persons. Any
person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this
document or any of its contents.
France. The Tender
Offers are not being made, directly or indirectly, in the Republic
of France (other than to qualified investors as described below).
This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other document or
material relating to the EUR Tender Offers have only been, and
shall only be, distributed in the Republic of France to qualified
investors as defined in Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129
(the "Prospectus
Regulation"). Neither this announcement, the Offer to
Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the EUR
Tender Offers have been or will be submitted for clearance to the
Autorité des marchés
financiers.
Italy. None of the
EUR Tender Offers, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any
other documents or materials relating to the EUR Tender Offers have
been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the
Commissione Nazionale per le
Società e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to applicable Italian
laws and regulations. The Tender Offers are being carried out in
the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as exempted offers pursuant to
article 101-bis, paragraph
3-bis of the Legislative
Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article
35-bis, paragraph 4 of
CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended. Holders or
beneficial owners of the EUR Notes that are resident or located in
Italy can tender their EUR Notes for purchase through authorized
persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial
intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in
accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No.
20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended, and Legislative Decree No.
385 of 1 September 1993, as amended) and in compliance with any
other applicable laws and regulations and with any requirements
imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary
must comply with applicable laws and regulations concerning
information duties vis-à-vis its clients in connection
with the EUR Notes or the Offer to Purchase.
Belgium.
Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase
nor any other documents or materials relating to the EUR
Tender Offers have been, or will be, submitted or
notified to, or approved or recognized by, the Belgian Financial
Services and Markets Authority ("Autorité des services et marchés
financiers"/"Autoriteit
voor Financiële Diensten en Markten"). The Tender Offers are
not being made in Belgium by way of a public offering within the
meaning of Articles 3, §1, 1° and 6, §1
of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on public
takeover bids ("loi relative aux
offres publiques d'acquisition"/ "wet op de openbare
overnamebiedingen"), as amended or replaced from time to
time. Accordingly, the EUR Tender Offers may not be, and are not being, advertised and the EUR
Tender Offers will not be extended and this
announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or
materials relating to the EUR Tender Offers
(including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any
similar documents) may not, have not, and will not, be distributed
or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium
other than to "qualified
investors" ("investisseur qualifié"/"gekwalificeerde
belegger") within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the
Prospectus Regulation acting on their own account. Insofar as
Belgium is concerned, the EUR Tender Offers
are made only to qualified investors, as this term is defined
above. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement,
the Offer to Purchase or in any other documents or materials
relating to the EUR Tender Offers may not
be used for any other purpose or disclosed or distributed to any
other person in Belgium.