Ad-hoc | 5 December 2003 15:20
SGL Carbon: Ad hoc notification pursuant to §15, German Securities Trading Act
Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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SGL Carbon resolves strengthening of equity base and long-term capital measures
WIESBADEN, December 05, 2003. The Executive Committee of SGL Carbon AG has
resolved, with the consent of the Supervisory Board, to implement a
comprehensive re-financing plan designed to strengthen the company’s equity base
and secure mid-/long-term financing. The financing plan consists of a capital
increase and senior and subordi-nated debt. The total financing plan will
generate proceeds of approximately Euro 830 million and is expected to be
completed in early to mid-February 2004. This financing plan is designed to
provide SGL Carbon with a broad financial base.
SGL Carbon has called an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting for January 15,
2004, to seek shareholder approval for the capital increase with subscription
rights for share-holders. SGL Carbon has appointed an international bank
syndicate to implement the capital increase and rights issue that has agreed to
fully underwrite approximately 33 million shares at a minimum subscription price
of Euro 6 per share, subject to customary conditions. The minimum subscription
price represents an approximately 50% discount to the volume weighted average
share price of the last thirty days. The company expects to receive cash
proceeds from this capital increase with subscription rights for share-holders
in an amount of at least Euro 200 million.
The senior debt will be comprised of a Euro 330 million syndicated loan
facility, which has a term of up to six years and will replace the syndicated
facility that we established at the end of 2002. The subordinated debt is
expected to be comprised of a long-term bond generating proceeds of up to Euro
300 million which will be backstopped through a subor-dinated bridge loan
facility. Subject to the successful completion of the capital increase and the
fulfillment of customary conditions, the bank syndicate has committed to pro-
vide the funds under the new syndicated credit facility and to back up the
subordinated debt with a bridge loan.
end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 05.12.2003
Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement:
Information and explanations from the issuers for this ad-hoc announcement:
No distribution in the U.S.A., Canada, Japan and Australia:
This press release and the information contained herein is not being
distributed, and is not for distribution, in the United States of America, to
U.S. persons (including legal entities), or to publications with a gen-eral
circulation in the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia.
No offer:
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer to buy the securities described herein. Securities may not be offered or
sold in the United States absent registration or an ex-emption from
registration; any public offering of securities in the United States must be
made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer and that
contains detailed information about the company and management as well as
financial statements. The securities of SGL Carbon described herein have not
been and will not be registered under the U.S. securities laws. The rights will
not be available to U.S. persons, and the offering will not be directed at those
persons.
Forward-looking statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect
the current belief of SGL Carbon’s management as well as assumptions made by,
and information available to, the SGL Group. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual
future results and developments could differ materially from those set forth in
these statements due to various factors. These factors include, among others,
changes in the general economic and competitive situation, particularly in SGL
Carbon’s businesses and markets; changes resulting from acquisitions and the
subsequent integration of companies; and changes resulting from restructuring
measures. In addition, future results and developments could be affected by the
performance of financial markets, fluctuations in exchange rates and changes in
national and supranational law, particularly with regard to tax regulations. The
company assumes no obligation to update future statements.
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WKN: 723530; ISIN: DE0007235301; Index: MDAX
Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-
Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart
051520 Dez 03