NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION. THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION.
Company announcement no. 22/2021
Accelerated bookbuild offering of
approximately
DKK
900
million worth of
existing shares in
Alm. Brand A/S
Alm. Brand A/S, has received the following information from Danske Bank A/S, J.P. Morgan AG and Nordea Danmark, Filial af Nordea Bank Abp, Finland.
Danske Bank A/S (“Danske Bank”), J.P. Morgan AG (“J.P. Morgan”) and Nordea Danmark, Filial af Nordea Bank Abp, Finland (”Nordea”) (together the “Managers”), on behalf of Alm. Brand af 1792 fmba (the “Association”), announce the launch of an accelerated bookbuild offering to institutional investors (the “Transaction”) of approximately DKK 900 million worth of existing shares in Alm. Brand A/S (“Alm. Brand”).
This announcement is made with reference to the announcement published by Alm. Brand on 11 June 2021 in which Alm. Brand announced its binding agreement to acquire Codan Forsikring A/S’s Danish business (the “Acquisition”) from Intact Financial Corporation and Tryg A/S, through their jointly-owned subsidiary Scandi JV Co 2 A/S and its intention to launch an offering of new shares with pre-emptive rights to its existing shareholders in the second half of 2021 to finance part of the Acquisition (the “Rights Issue”). As disclosed in the announcement by Alm. Brand on 11 June 2021, the Association has irrevocably undertaken to:
-
subscribe for new shares in the Rights Issue for a total subscription amount of approximately DKK 3,750 million (the “Commitment”), and;
-
subscribe for new shares on a cash-neutral basis by sale of existing shares in Alm. Brand and/or pre-emptive rights intended to be sold in one or more placings prior to closing of the Rights Issue
In addition, Alm. Brand announced on 19 August 2021 that the Association expects to obtain financing of around DKK 500 million to increase the Commitment to participate in the Rights Issue from DKK 3,750 million to DKK 4,250 million.
The proceeds from the Transaction (assuming all shares offered are sold), together with the Association’s Commitment is expected to cover the cash requirements for the Association to be able to participate in the Rights Issue pro-rata to its holding in Alm. Brand following the Transaction.
In connection with the Transaction, the Association has undertaken to the Managers that, subject to certain exceptions, for a specific period of time (the “Lock-Up Period”) it will not dispose of any Alm. Brand shares which are not sold in the Transaction without the prior written consent of the Managers. The Lock-Up Period means the earlier of (i) 360 calendar days after the payment date which is expected to occur two business days following pricing of the Transaction, and (ii) 180 calendar days after the first day of trading of the new shares issued in connection with the Rights Issue on Nasdaq Copenhagen.
The Association remains fully supportive of the Acquisition and is conducting the Transaction with the sole purpose of maximising its participation in the Rights Issue and to ensure that it will remain the largest shareholder in Alm. Brand following the Rights Issue. The Association’s ownership of Alm. Brand is expected to decrease below 50% following completion of the Rights Issue with the intention to increase the ownership to above 50% of the shares in Alm. Brand over time.
The bookbuilding will commence immediately and the Managers reserve the right to close the books at any time.
Danske Bank, J.P. Morgan and Nordea are acting as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners in the Transaction. A further announcement will be made following completion of the bookbuilding and pricing of the Transaction.
Alm. Brand will not receive any proceeds from the Transaction.
This announcement includes “forward-looking statements”, which include all statements other than statements of historical facts. Words such as “intend”, “assess”, “expect”, “may”, “plan”, “estimate” and other expressions involving indications or predictions regarding future development or trends, not based on historical facts, identify forward-looking statements and reflect
the Association’s and/or
Alm. Brand’s beliefs and expectations and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual events and performance to differ materially from any expected future events or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. The information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice and, except as required by applicable law, Alm. Brand does not assume any responsibility or obligation to update publicly or review any of the forward-looking statements contained in it and nor does it intend to. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. As a result of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future events or otherwise.
Danske Bank, J.P. Morgan and Nordea do not accept any responsibility whatsoever and make no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by any party referred to in this announcement, and nothing in this announcement is or shall be relied upon as a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. Danske Bank, J.P. Morgan and Nordea accordingly disclaim to the fullest extent permitted by law all and any responsibility and liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which they might otherwise have in respect of this document and any such statement.
Danske Bank, J.P. Morgan and Nordea are acting exclusively for the Association and no one else in connection with the Transaction. Danske Bank, J.P. Morgan and Nordea will not regard any other person as a client in relation to the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Association for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for the giving of advice in relation to the Transaction.
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. Any offer (if made) will be made solely by certain offer documentation which will contain the full terms and conditions of any offer (if made), including details of how such offer may be accepted.
No prospectus or offering document has been or will be prepared in connection with the Transaction.
With respect to the member states of the European Economic Area subject to regulation 2017/1129/EU (together with any applicable implementing measures, the “Prospectus Regulation”) (each a “Relevant Member State”), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities referred to herein requiring the publication of a prospectus in any Relevant Member State. As a result, these securities may only be offered or sold in any Relevant Member State pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation.
This announcement is only addressed to, and directed at, persons in Relevant Member States of the European Economic Area who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”).
In the United Kingdom, this announcement is directed only at, qualified investors (i) who are “investment professionals” falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (financial promotion) order 2005, as amended (the “Order”), or (ii) persons falling within article 49(2)(a)-(d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc
.
”) of the Order all such persons together being referred to as (“Relevant Persons”). Under no circumstances should persons who are not Relevant Persons rely or act upon the contents of this announcement. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates in the United Kingdom is available only to, and will be engaged only with, Relevant Persons.
In Denmark, this press release is directed only at persons who are Qualified Investors.
This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan, or any jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of the local securities laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. This announcement is not an offer of securities into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. Further, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan or under the applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of such laws.
