NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY
PERSON RESIDENT AND/OR LOCATED IN, ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IS UNLAWFUL
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 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY
VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT
2018
VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY ANNOUNCES PRICING OF ITS
CASH TENDER OFFERS FOR UP TO $440,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF ITS 6.150% NOTES DUE FEBRUARY 2037 AND UP TO $730,000,000
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS 4.375% NOTES DUE FEBRUARY
2043
(Newbury, Berkshire - England) -
July 10, 2024 - Vodafone Group Plc ("Vodafone" or the "Company")
announced today the pricing of its previously announced offer to
purchase for cash (i) up to $440,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of its 6.150% Notes due February 2037 (the "2037 Notes") and (ii)
up to $730,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.375% Notes
due February 2043 (the "2043 Notes" and, together with the 2037
Notes, the "Maximum Tender Offer Notes") upon the terms of, and
subject to the conditions in, the offer to purchase dated June 25,
2024 (the "Offer to Purchase"), including the New Financing
Condition.
The offers to purchase for cash the
Maximum Tender Offer Notes are referred to herein as the "Maximum
Tender Offers". Capitalised terms not otherwise defined in this
announcement have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Offer
to Purchase.
Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, the Maximum Tender
Total Consideration and Late Maximum Tender Offer Consideration (as
defined in the Offer to Purchase) for the Maximum Tender Offer
Notes are set forth in the following table:
Title of
Security
|
CUSIP /
ISIN
|
Outstanding Principal
Amount
|
Series Tender
Cap(1)
|
Reference U.S. Treasury
Security
|
Bloomberg Reference
Page(2)
|
Reference Yield
(%)
|
Fixed Spread (basis
points)
|
Late Maximum Tender Offer
Consideration(3)(4)
|
Maximum Tender Total
Consideration(3)(5)
|
6.150%
Notes due February 2037
|
92857WAQ3/ US92857WAQ33
|
$1,700,000,000
|
$440,000,000
|
4.375%
U.S. Treasury due May 15, 2034
|
FIT1
|
4.294
|
100
|
$1,028.02
|
$1,078.02
|
4.375%
Notes due February 2043
|
92857WBD1
/ US92857WBD11
|
$1,400,000,000
|
$730,000,000
|
4.625%
U.S. Treasury due May 15, 2044
|
FIT1
|
4.597
|
80
|
$830.90
|
$880.90
|
(1) The Maximum Tender
Offers are subject to the applicable series tender cap (each a
"Series Tender Cap"), which is specified as an aggregate principal
amount of the relevant series of Maximum Tender Offer Notes. The
Company will purchase Maximum Tender Offer Notes subject to the
applicable Series Tender Caps set forth in the table above. Subject
to applicable law, the Company reserves the right, but is under no
obligation, to increase, decrease or eliminate any Series Tender
Cap with respect to a particular series at any time and in its sole
discretion. Any such increase, decrease or elimination could result
in the Company purchasing an aggregate principal amount of a series
of Maximum Tender Offer Notes having a greater or lesser aggregate
principal amount than the applicable amounts set out
above.
(2) The page on
Bloomberg from which the Dealer Managers quoted the bid-side price
of the applicable Reference U.S. Treasury Security.
(3) The Maximum Tender
Total Consideration and Late Maximum Tender Offer Consideration in
respect of each series of the Maximum Tender Offer Notes were
calculated at or around 10:00 a.m., New York City time, today (the
"Maximum Tender Price Determination Time") in accordance with
standard market practice, as described in the Offer to
Purchase.
(4) For each $1,000
principal amount of Maximum Tender Offer Notes validly tendered
after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 9, 2024 (the "Early
Tender Time") and at or prior to the Maximum Tender Expiration Time
(as defined below), and accepted for purchase.
(5) For each $1,000
principal amount of Maximum Tender Offer Notes validly tendered at
or prior to the Early Tender Time, not validly withdrawn and
accepted for purchase. The amounts shown already include the Early
Tender Premium.
Results of the Maximum Tender Offers
at the Early Tender Time were announced on July 10, 2024.
Because the aggregate principal amount of 2037
Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the
Early Tender Time exceeded the applicable Series Tender Cap, 2037
Notes will be accepted by the Company on a prorated basis as described in the Offer
to Purchase. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Maximum Tender
Offers, Holders that validly tendered and did not validly withdraw
their Maximum Tender Offer Notes at or prior to the Early Tender
Time and whose Maximum Tender Offer Notes are accepted for purchase
by the Company will be eligible to receive the Maximum Tender Total
Consideration, which is inclusive of the Early Tender Premium,
together with an amount equal to the Accrued Interest.
The Company expects the Early Tender Settlement
Date to occur on the third business day after the Early Tender
Time, July 12, 2024.
The offer with respect to the 2043
Notes will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
July 24, 2024 (such date
and time, as the same may be extended, the "Maximum Tender
Expiration Time"). Holders that validly tender their 2043 Notes
after the Early Tender Time and at or prior to the Maximum Tender
Expiration Time will be eligible to receive the Late Maximum Tender
Offer Consideration, together with an amount equal to Accrued
Interest thereon. Because the Series Tender
Cap has been reached with respect to the 2037 Notes as of the Early
Tender Time, 2037 Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender
Time will not be accepted.
The "Maximum Tender Results
Announcement Date" is expected to be July
25, 2024, unless the
Maximum Tender Offers are extended. In respect of Maximum Tender
Offer Notes that are validly tendered after the Early Tender Time
and at or prior to the Maximum Tender Expiration Time and accepted
for purchase, the Company expects the Maximum Tender Settlement
Date to occur on the second business day after the Maximum Tender
Expiration Time, July 26, 2024.
On June
28, 2024, the Company closed the offering
of $2,000,000,000 5.750% Notes due 2054 and $1,000,000,000 5.875%
Notes due 2064 (together, the "New Notes"). The Company intends to
use the cash proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes, together
with existing cash balances, to fund the Maximum Tender
Offers. As a result, the New Financing
Condition has been satisfied with respect to the Maximum Tender
Offers.
In addition to the Maximum Tender
Total Consideration and Late Maximum Tender Offer Total
Consideration, as applicable, Holders whose Maximum Tender Offer
Notes are accepted for purchase will be paid the Accrued Interest
thereon. Interest will cease to accrue on the applicable Settlement
Date for all Maximum Tender Offer Notes accepted in the Maximum
Tender Offers.
The consummation of the Maximum
Tender Offers and the Company's obligation to accept and pay for
the Maximum Tender Offer Notes validly tendered (and not validly
withdrawn) pursuant to the Maximum Tender Offers are subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described in the Offer
to Purchase and subject to the applicable Series Tender Cap. The
Company reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to amend or
waive any and all conditions to the Maximum Tender
Offers.
Holders are advised to check with any intermediary (as defined
in the Offer to Purchase) through which they hold Notes as to when
such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Holder
in order for that Holder to be able to participate in, or (in the
circumstances in which revocation is permitted) revoke their
instruction to participate in the Maximum Tender Offers before the
deadlines specified herein and in the Offer to Purchase. The
deadlines set by any such intermediary and DTC for participation in
the Maximum Tender Offers may be earlier than the relevant
deadlines specified herein and in the Offer to
Purchase.
The Company has retained Merrill
Lynch International and Santander US Capital Markets LLC as Dealer
Managers and Kroll Issuer Services
Limited as Information and Tender Agent
(the "Information and Tender Agent") for the purposes of the
Maximum Tender Offers.
Questions regarding procedures for
tendering the Maximum Tender Offer Notes may be directed to the
Information and Tender Agent at +44 20 7704 0880 or by email to
vodafone@is.kroll.com, Attention: Owen Morris. Questions regarding
the Maximum Tender Offers may be directed to Merrill Lynch
International at +1 (888) 292-0070 (toll free), +1 (980) 387-3907
or +44 20 7996 5420 (in London) or by email to DG.LM-EMEA@bofa.com
and to Santander US Capital Markets LLC at +1 (855) 404-3636 (toll
free) or +1 (212) 350-0660 or by email to
AmericasLM@santander.us.
This announcement is for
informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to
buy, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, any security. No offer,
solicitation, or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which
such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Maximum
Tender Offers are only being made pursuant to the Offer to
Purchase. Holders of the Maximum Tender Offer Notes are urged to
carefully read the Offer to Purchase before making any decision
with respect to the Maximum Tender Offers.
The New Notes were issued pursuant
to a registration statement (File No. 333-273441) filed on Form
F-3ASR with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any investment decision to purchase any New Notes should be made
solely on the basis of the information contained in the prospectus
dated July 26, 2023, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement
dated June 25, 2024 (together, the "Company Prospectus"), and no
reliance is to be placed on any representations other than those
contained in the Company Prospectus. The distribution of this
announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law.
Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required
by each of the Company, the Dealer Managers and the Information and
Tender Agent to inform themselves about and to observe any such
restrictions.
This announcement is made by
Vodafone Group Plc and contains information that qualified or may
have qualified as inside information for the purposes of Article
7(1) of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part
of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European
Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "EUWA") ("UK MAR"), encompassing
information relating to the Maximum Tender Offers. For the purposes
of UK MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU)
2016/1055 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by
virtue of the EUWA, this announcement is made by Maaike de Bie,
Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of Vodafone.
Offer and Distribution Restrictions
Italy
None of the Maximum Tender Offers,
this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other document or
material relating to the Maximum Tender Offers has been or will be
submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale
per le Società e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and
regulations. The Maximum Tender Offers are each being carried out
in the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as an exempt offer pursuant to
article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58
of February 24, 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and
article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May
14, 1999, as amended. Holders or beneficial owners of the Maximum
Tender Offer Notes that are resident or located in Italy can tender
Maximum Tender Offer Notes for purchase in the Maximum Tender
Offers through authorised 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 February 15, 2018, as amended from time to
time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 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
the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties
vis-à-vis its clients in connection with the Maximum Tender Offer
Notes and/or the Maximum Tender Offers.
United Kingdom
The communication of this
announcement and the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or
materials relating to the Maximum 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 ("FSMA 2000"). 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 "Financial Promotion
Order");(3) those persons who are existing members or creditors of
the Company or other persons falling within Article 43(2) of the
Financial Promotion Order; or (4) any other persons to whom such
documents and/or materials may lawfully be communicated in
accordance with the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons
together referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement, the
Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to
the Maximum 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 Maximum Tender Offers are not
being made, directly or indirectly, and neither this announcement,
the Offer to Purchase nor any other document or material relating
to the Maximum Tender Offers has been or shall be distributed, to
the public in the Republic of France other than to qualified
investors as defined in Article 2(e) of the Regulation (EU)
2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation"). Neither this announcement,
the Offer to Purchase nor any other document or material relating
to the Maximum Tender Offers has been or will be submitted for
clearance to nor approved by the Autorité des Marchés
Financiers.
Belgium
Neither this announcement, the Offer
to Purchase nor any other brochure, documents or materials relating
to the Maximum Tender Offers has 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"). In Belgium, the Maximum Tender Offers do not
constitute a public offering within the meaning of Articles 3, §1,
1 and 6, §1 of the Belgian Law of April 1, 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 Maximum Tender Offers may not be, and are
not being advertised, and this announcement, the Offer to Purchase,
as well as any brochure, or any other material or document relating
thereto (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure
or any similar document) may not, has not and will not be
distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any
person located and/or resident within Belgium, other than to
"qualified investors" ("investisseurs qualifiés"/"qekwalificeerde
belegge"), within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the
Prospectus Regulation acting on their own account. Insofar as
Belgium is concerned, the Maximum 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 brochure or any other document or material
relating thereto may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed
or distributed to any other person in Belgium.
General
This announcement does not
constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell
the Maximum Tender Offer Notes (and tenders of Maximum Tender Offer
Notes in the Maximum Tender Offers will not be accepted from
Holders) in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation
or acceptance is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the
securities, blue sky or other laws require the Maximum Tender
Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any Dealer
Manager or any of the Dealer Managers' affiliates is such a
licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the Maximum
Tender Offers shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager or
such Dealer Manager's affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of
the Company in such jurisdiction.
Each tendering Holder participating
in the Maximum Tender Offers will be deemed to give certain
representations in respect of the jurisdictions referred to above
and generally as set out in the section titled "Description of the
Offers-Procedures for Tendering Notes-Other Matters" in the Offer
to Purchase. Any tender of the Maximum Tender Offer Notes for
purchase pursuant to the Maximum Tender Offers from a Holder that
is unable to make these representations will not be accepted. Each
of the Company, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender
Agent reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to
investigate, in relation to any tender of Maximum Tender Offer
Notes for purchase pursuant to the Maximum Tender Offers, whether
any such representation given by a Holder is correct and, if such
investigation is undertaken and as a result the Company determines
(for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such
tender shall not be accepted.
Forward-Looking Information
This announcement contains certain
forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's intent,
beliefs or current expectations about the future and can be
recognised by the use of words such as "expects," "will,"
"anticipate," or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of any future performance and are
necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the senior
management of the Company and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. As a
consequence, these forward-looking statements should be considered
in light of various important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from estimates or projections
contained in the forward-looking statements, which include, without
limitation, the risk factors set forth in the Offer to Purchase.
The Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement
will be realised, although it believes it has been prudent in its
plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to
risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove to be
inaccurate. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties
materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate,
actual results could vary materially from those anticipated,
estimated or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to
update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by
applicable law.