ASPO Plc STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE May 5, 2011, at 9:30
Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States,
Australia, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong or Singapore.
The final outcome of Aspo Plc's ("Aspo" or the "Company") rights offering
("Rights Offering") shows that 3,785,900 shares, representing 98.6% of the total
number of shares offered in the Rights Offering, were subscribed for with
subscription rights. The remaining 52,243 shares were subscribed for without
subscription rights.
The total subscription percentage of the new shares offered in the Rights
Offering was 120.8%. The allotment of the new shares subscribed for without
subscription rights due to the oversubscription was determined in proportion to
the subscription rights exercised by investors for the subscription of the
offered shares, according to the terms and conditions of the Rights Offering.
The Board of Directors of Aspo has today approved all subscriptions made
according to the terms and conditions of the Rights Offering with subscription
rights and the subscriptions made without subscription rights in accordance with
above described allocation principles. On or about 6 May 2011, the Company will
send letters confirming the number of offered shares, if any, allocated to
investors that have subscribed for such shares without subscription rights. The
subscription price will be returned to investors on or about 6 May 2011 to the
extent that their subscription without subscription rights exceeds the allocated
amount of the offered shares.
Interim shares representing the new shares trade on OMX NASDAQ Helsinki until 6
May 2011. All shares to be issued based on subscriptions approved in the Rights
Offering are expected to be registered with the Finnish Trade Register on or
about 6 May 2011, after which the interim shares will be combined with Aspo's
existing shares and the shares subscribed for without subscription rights will
be registered into the book entry accounts. Trading in the new shares together
with the existing shares is expected to commence on or about 9 May 2011.
As a result of the Rights Offering, the number of Aspo's shares will increase by
3,838,143 shares to 30,959,376 shares. The total net proceeds of the Rights
Offering will amount to approximately EUR 19.5 million.
Since the Rights Offering was completed as planned, the changes made to the
convertible capital loan, disclosed on 5 April 2011, will become effective as
such as of their registration with the Finnish Trade Register which is expected
to take place on or about 6 May 2011.
Pohjola Corporate Finance acted as the Lead Manager for the Rights Offering.
Helsinki, 5 May 2011
ASPO Plc
Aki Ojanen
CEO
Further information:
Aki Ojanen, CEO, Aspo Plc, +358 9 5211
Harri Seppälä, Group Treasurer, Aspo Plc, +358 9 5211 or +358 400 617 201,
harri.seppala(a)aspo.com
Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Key media
www.aspo.com
Aspo is a conglomerate that owns and develops businesses in Northern Europe and
growth markets focusing on demanding B-to-B customers. The aim of our strong
corporate brands - ESL Shipping, Leipurin, Telko and Kaukomarkkinat - is to be
the market leaders in their sectors. They are responsible for their own
operations, customer relationships and the development of these. Together they
generate Aspo's goodwill. Aspo's Group structure and business operations are
developed persistently without any predefined schedules.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
This press release is not an offer for subscription for shares in the Company. A
prospectus relating to the Rights Offering referred to in this press release and
the subsequent listing of the Offer Shares on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki has been filed
with the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority.
The distribution of this press release in certain jurisdictions may be
restricted by law and persons into whose possession it or any part of it comes
should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. The
information in this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities
referred to herein in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale
would require preparation of further prospectuses or other offer documentation,
or be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
This press release has not been approved by any regulatory authority. This press
release is not a prospectus and investors should not subscribe for or purchase
any securities referred to in this press release except on the basis of
information provided in the prospectus to be published by the Company on its
website in due course.
Pohjola Corporate Finance is acting for the Company and no one else in
connection with the rights offering and will not be responsible to anyone other
than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective
clients or for providing advice in relation to the Rights Offering and/or any
other matter referred to in this announcement.
Pohjola Corporate Finance accepts no 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 it, or on its behalf, in
connection with the Company and the Offer Shares, or the Rights Offering, 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.
Pohjola Corporate Finance disclaims 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 announcement or any
such statement.
United States
This press release does not constitute or form part of an offer or solicitation
of an offer to purchase or subscribe for 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"), and may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities
Act or an exemption therefrom. No public offering of the securities referred to
herein is being made in the United States. Copies of this announcement are not
being, and may not be, distributed or sent, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, into the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan or
Singapore.
European Economic Area
The Company has not authorised any offer to the public of shares or rights in
any Member State of the European Economic Area other than Finland. With respect
to each Member State of the European Economic Area other than Finland (each, a
"Relevant Member State"), no action has been undertaken to date to make an offer
to the public of shares or rights requiring a publication of a prospectus in any
Relevant Member State. As a result, the shares or rights may only be offered in
Relevant Member States in circumstances, not requiring the company to publish a
prospectus as provided under the Directive 2003/71/EC.
United Kingdom
This communication is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United
Kingdom or (ii) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to
investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") and (iii) high net worth
entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling
within Article 49(2) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to
as "relevant persons"). Any investment activity to which this communication
relates will only be available to and will only be engaged with, relevant
persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this
document or any of its contents.
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