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VALLOUREC ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF A RIGHTS ISSUE FOR C. €300 MILLION WITH SHAREHOLDERS’ PREFERENTIAL SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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VALLOUREC ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF A RIGHTS ISSUE FOR C. €300 MILLION WITH SHAREHOLDERS’ PREFERENTIAL SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
Subscription ratio: 37 new shares for 8 existing shares
Subscription price: €5.66 per new share
Subscription commitments from Nippon Steel Corporation et Bpifrance Participations for an aggregate amount of €55 million
Trading period of the subscription rights: from 4 to 17 June 2021 inclusive
Subscription period: from 8 to 21 June 2021 inclusive
Boulogne-Billancourt (France), 3 June 2021 – Vallourec S.A. (Euronext Paris: VK) (“Vallourec” or the “Company”) announces today the launch of a share capital increase with shareholders’ subscription rights for an amount of c. €300 million (the “Rights Issue”), the last stage of the Company’s financial restructuring whose safeguard plan was approved by the commercial court of Nanterre by judgment made on 19 May 2021 (the “Safeguard Plan”).
The proceeds of the Rights issue will be used to for the partial repayment of the Other Claims in proportion to their holdings by the creditors of the Company under the various RCF and bonds, but excluding the commercial banks1 (the “Converting Creditors”). Any New Shares not subscribed in the Rights Issue will be subscribed by the Converting Creditors, with the subscription price paid by way of setoff against their claims.
Main terms of the Rights Issue
The Rights Issue will be carried out with preservation of the shareholders’ preferential subscription rights (the “Rights”), pursuant to the 16th resolution of the combined general meeting of 20 April 2021, and will result in the issuance of 52,954,807 new shares (the “New Shares”), at a subscription price of €5.66 per share (i.e. a nominal value of €0.02 plus an issue premium of €5.64), to be fully paid up upon subscription, representing gross proceeds, including the issue premium of €299,724,207.62.
On 4 June 2021, each of the Company’s shareholders will receive one (1) Right per share recorded at the end of the accounting day on 3 June 2021. 8 (eight) Rights will entitle their holder to subscribe for 37 (thirty-seven) New Shares on an irreducible basis (à titre irréductible).
Subscriptions on a reducible basis (à titre réductible) will be accepted but are subject to reduction in the event of oversubscription. Any New Shares not covered by subscriptions on an irreducible basis (à titre irréductible) will be divided up and allocated to holders of Rights having submitted additional subscription orders on a reducible basis (à titre réductible) but are subject to reduction.
On the basis of the closing price of the Vallourec share on the regulated market of Euronext Paris on 1st June 2021, i.e. €28.98, the theoretical value of one (1) Right is €19.17 and the theoretical value of the share ex-rights is €.9.81. For information purposes, the issue price represents a discount of 42.3% to the theoretical value of the Vallourec share ex-rights based on the volume-weighted average share price as of 1st June 2021 and a 80.5% discount to the share price at the close of trading as of 1st June 2021.
These values do not necessarily reflect the value of the Rights during their trading period and the value of the Vallourec share ex-rights, as determined in the market (see the independent expert’s report, an extract of which is reproduced in section 5.1.3.2 of the Securities Note).
The Rights Issue will be open to the public in France only.
BNP Paribas and Natixis act as Global Coordinators, Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners and CIC Market Solutions acts as Joint Bookrunner for the Rights Issue.
Indicative timetable of the Rights Issue
The subscription for the New Shares will be open from 8 June 2021 until the close of trading on 21 June 2021. The Rights will be detached and tradeable from 4 June 2021 until 17 June 2021 on the regulated market of Euronext Paris under the ISIN code FR00140030J9. Unexercised Rights will automatically lapse at the end of the subscription period, i.e. 21 June 2021 at the close of trading.
The issue of the New Shares, settlement-delivery and admission of the New Shares to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris are expected to take place on 30 June 2021, together with the settlement of the Reserved Capital Increase and the issuance of Warrants which were the subject of a prospectus approved by the AMF on 31 March 2021, under number 21-093.
New Shares will immediately entitle their holders to receive dividends declared by Vallourec as from the date of issuance. They will be immediately fungible with existing shares of the Company and will be traded on the same line under the ISIN code FR0013506730.
Subscription commitments for the Rights Issue
Nippon Steel Corporation (which currently holds 14.6 % of the share capital and 14.9 % of the voting rights of the Company) undertook, subject to customary conditions, to subscribe to New Shares of Vallourec in the amount of approximately €35 million in the context of the Rights Issue (representing approximately 11.68% of the total amount of the Rights Issue).
Bpifrance Participations (which currently holds 14.6 % of the share capital and 14.8 % of the voting rights of the Company) undertook, subject to customary conditions, to subscribe to New Shares of Vallourec in the amount of approximately €20 million in the context of the Rights Issue (representing approximately 6.67% of the total amount of the Rights Issue).
It is furthermore recalled that the Converting Creditors undertook to subscribe to the Rights Issue as a guarantee (in proportion to their respective holdings on the Other Claims), by way of setoff against their claims.
Edouard Guinotte and Olivier Mallet have indicated their intention to participate in the Rights Issue, at least by exercising all the Preferential Subscription Rights attached to the shares they hold.
As at the date of this press release, the Company is not aware of the subscription intentions of any other shareholders or managers in the context of the Rights Issue.
Lock-up commitments
Subject to certain exceptions, each of Apollo and SVPGlobal has agreed not to transfer its New Shares for a period of six (6) months after the Completion Date.
Apollo and SPVGlobal have further undertaken with respect to the Company, not to sell during any one trading session an amount of shares of the Company representing more than 25% of the average daily number of shares traded during the 30 days preceding the date of the proposed sale (subject to certain exceptions).
Further, the Company will maintain a right of first offer in the event of a proposed disposal of shares by Apollo or SPVGlobal to a competitor.
Nippon Steel Corporation has undertaken not to transfer shares of the Company that it holds or comes to hold from 3 February 2021 and for a period of six months after the Completion Date (subject to certain exceptions).
Bpifrance Participations has undertaken to retain shares of the Company that it holds or comes to hold from 3 February 2021 until the completion of the Rights Issue, it being specified that the New Shares held by Bpifrance Participations will be retained for a period of six months after the Completion Date (subject to certain exceptions).
The Company has also agreed to a lock-up period ending 180 calendar days after the completion of the Rights Issue, subject to certain exceptions.
Dilution
For illustrative purposes only, a shareholder holding 1% of the Company’s share capital and who does not participate in the Rights Issue, would hold 0.18% of the capital following the issuance of the New Shares and hold 0.04% of the capital following the issuance of the new shares resulting from the Rights Issue, the Reserved Capital Increase and the exercise of all the Warrants.
Guarantee of the Rights Issue
The Rights Issue is not secured by a bank syndicate or underwriting agreement.
However, the Rights issue is secured, pursuant to the Safeguard Plan, by subscription commitments from Converting Creditors (in proportion to their holdings in the Other Claims), by way of setoff against their claims. This guarantee covers the full amount of the Rights Issue.
These undertakings do not constitute a performance guarantee (garantie de bonne fin) within the meaning of Article L. 225-145 of the French Commercial Code.
Availability of the Prospectus
The prospectus (the “Prospectus”) approved by the French Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”) under number 21-199 on 2 June consists of (i) Vallourec’s universal registration document filed with the AMF on 29 March 2021 under number D21.0226 (the “Universal Registration Document”), (ii) the amendment of the Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 2 June 2021 under number D.21-0226-A01 (the “Amendment”), (iii) a securities note dated 2 June 2021 (the “Securities Note”) and (iv) the summary of the Prospectus (included in the Securities Note).
The Prospectus may be consulted on the AMF’s website (www.amf-france.org) and on the Company’s website (www.vallourec.com/en/investors). Copies of the Prospectus are available free of charge at the Company's registered office (27, avenue du Général Leclerc – 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France).
Risk Factors
Investors' attention is drawn to the risk factors included in chapter 5 "Risk Factors" of the Universal Registration Document, as amended in section 3 " Risk Factors" of the Amendment, and in chapter 2 " Risk Factors" of the Securities Note.
Disclaimer
This press release includes "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding Vallourec’s financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Vallourec, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Vallourec’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which Vallourec will operate in the future. Additional factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially.
The contents of this press release have been prepared by and are the sole responsibility of Vallourec.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of ordinary shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
The distribution of this document may, in certain jurisdictions, be restricted by local legislations. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such potential local restrictions.
This press release is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”). Potential investors are advised to read the prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. The approval of the Prospectus by the AMF should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market.
With respect to the member states of the European Economic Area (other than France) (each a “Relevant State”), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities referred to herein requiring a publication of a prospectus in any Relevant State. As a result, the securities may not and will not be offered in any Relevant State except in accordance with the exemptions set forth in Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation or under any other circumstances which do not require the publication by Vallourec of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and/or to applicable regulations of that Relevant State.
The distribution of this press release has not been made, and has not been approved, by an “authorised person” within the meaning of Article 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that (i) are “investment professionals” falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.”) of the Order, or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Article 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”). Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. With respect to the United Kingdom, securities may not be offered or sold absent the publication of a prospectus in the United Kingdom or an exemption from such publication under the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as amended, as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”). As a consequence, this document is directed only at persons who are “qualified investors” as defined in Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
This press release may not be published, distributed or transmitted in the United States (including its territories and dependencies).
This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer of securities for sale or any solicitation to purchase or to subscribe for securities or any solicitation of sale of securities in 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”) or the law of any State or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Vallourec does not intend to register all or any portion of the Securities in the United States under the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.
This announcement may not be published, forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Australia, Canada or Japan.
Vallourec, as well as BNP Paribas, CIC Market Solutions and Natixis (together, the “Joint Bookrunners”) and any of their respective affiliates expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
The Joint Bookrunners are acting exclusively for Vallourec and no one else in connection with the offer of new shares and will not regard any other person as their respective clients and will not be responsible to anyone other than Vallourec for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients in connection with any offer of new shares of Vallourec or otherwise, nor for providing any advice in relation to the offer of new shares, the content of this press release or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.
In connection with the offering of ordinary shares of Vallourec, the Joint Bookrunners and any of their affiliates may take up a portion of the ordinary shares as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such shares and other securities of the Vallourec or related investments in connection with the offer of ordinary shares of Vallourec or otherwise. Accordingly, references in the Prospectus to the new ordinary shares being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by the Joint Bookrunners and any of their affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, the Joint Bookrunners and any of their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which they may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of shares. The Joint Bookrunners do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.
None of the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this press release (or whether any information has been omitted from this press release) or any other information relating to Vallourec, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.
About Vallourec
Vallourec is a world leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high performance mechanical equipment. Vallourec's pioneering spirit and cutting edge R&D open new technological frontiers. With close to 17,000 dedicated and passionate employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works hand-in-hand with its customers to offer more than just tubes: Vallourec delivers innovative, safe, competitive and smart tubular solutions, to make every project possible.
Listed on Euronext in Paris (ISIN code: FR0013506730, Ticker VK), Vallourec is part of the SBF 120 index and is eligible for Deferred Settlement Service Long Only.
In the United States, Vallourec has established a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program (ISIN code: US92023R4074, Ticker: VLOWY). Parity between ADR and a Vallourec ordinary share has been set at 5:1.
For further information, please contact:
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1 The Commercial Banks refer to BNP Paribas, Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel / CIC and Natixis.
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