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 IN THAT JURISDICTION
Amsterdam, 15 November 2007 - Heineken and Carlsberg (the "Consortium") announce that they have today made an increased proposal to the Board of Scottish & Newcastle plc ("S&N") under which the Consortium would offer to acquire S&N for 750 pence per share in cash (the "Increased Proposal"). The Consortium believes it is important that S&N shareholders are fully informed of the merits of the Consortium's Increased Proposal in advance of S&N's trading update on 20 November 2007.
Key highlights of the Consortium's Increased Proposal are:
S&N Board recommendation and limited confirmatory due diligence continue to be pre-conditions.
Commenting on the Increased Proposal, Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, Chairman and CEO of Heineken said:
"The Increased Proposal represents a very attractive opportunity for S&N shareholders to obtain a price which is materially higher than the standalone value of the group. Heineken will act in a financially disciplined manner in its pursuit of this transaction."
Commenting on the Increased Proposal, Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, CEO of Carlsberg said:-
"The Consortium's Increased Proposal of 750 pence per share offers S&N shareholders the opportunity to secure a full and fair price for the entire business. Carlsberg will only proceed with a transaction if it believes it is in the interests of its shareholders."
Following the S&N Board's cursory dismissal of the Consortium's initial proposal and their refusal to engage in discussions to date, the Consortium has decided to provide details of its increased and full and fair proposal directly to the market. This will enable S&N shareholders to take this into account when evaluating S&N's current trading and future strategy update on 20 November 2007.
With regard to current trading, the Consortium has noted S&N's statement on the "challenging conditions" across Western Europe in its press release of 7 November 2007. S&N shareholders are reminded that Western Europe provides the significant majority of S&N's revenues, operating profits and operating cash flows.
The Consortium's Increased Proposal represents a 2006 EV / EBITDA multiple of 13.6x for the entire S&N group and compares very favourably to the prices S&N has itself paid to create the group. S&N acquired Hartwall (including Hartwall's 50% interest in BBH) in 2002 on a historic transaction multiple of 10.1x EBITDA. In 2003 S&N acquired the Centralcer business in Portugal for a historic transaction multiple of 9.6x EBITDA and in 2000 S&N purchased the Kronenbourg and Alken-Maes operations for a historic transaction multiple of 11.3x EBITDA.
The Increased Proposal continues to offer a high degree of certainty for S&N shareholders, with:
- committed financing in place (due diligence is not a condition to the banking facilities);
- a transaction structure that avoids any substantive anti-trust issues;
- the support of Carlsberg's and Heineken's controlling shareholders; and
- limited pre-conditions.
Under the Increased Proposal, the making of any offer would continue to be subject to certain pre-conditions, all of which are waivable at the discretion of the Consortium, and all of which the Consortium believes to be customary. These pre-conditions continue to include satisfactory confirmatory due diligence, the recommendation of the S&N Board and assurance from the trustees of S&N's UK pension schemes regarding the level of contributions that Heineken would be expected to make going forwards. The Consortium requires only limited confirmatory due diligence access, in particular for verification of its separation assumptions.
The Consortium notes the speculation about a possible sale of Elidis in France. Whilst this may result in a short term financial gain for S&N, Carlsberg believes that such a divestment may be detrimental to the valuation of the French business. We would therefore encourage the S&N Board to postpone entering into any binding agreement on such a divestment until Carlsberg has had an opportunity to assess the full implications of such a divestment.
Under the Increased Proposal, the economic contributions by Carlsberg and Heineken to Bidco will remain approximately 54% and 46% respectively.
The Consortium notes that since the release of the BBH quarterly results on 7 November 2007, S&N has requested that Carlsberg consent to the release of additional forecast financial information relating to BBH over and above the level of information that BBH has historically been comfortable releasing at the time of publication of the Q3 results. Carlsberg has made clear that it continues to support the level of disclosure which in the past both S&N and Carlsberg had felt was appropriate, ensuring the highest standards of corporate governance and protecting the ongoing interests of the BBH group. However, subject to obtaining the consent of the BBH Board, Carlsberg has offered to cooperate with S&N in the provision of the necessary BBH information required to prepare and report on a consolidated profit forecast for the S&N Group as a whole for 2007 and 2008. Whilst the release of a S&N consolidated profit forecast is a matter for the Board of S&N, it would, in the view of Carlsberg, provide substantial further information for the market whilst not jeopardising the interests of BBH.
This announcement does not constitute an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.5 of the Code. There can be no certainty that any offer will be made even if the pre-conditions referred to above are satisfied or waived.
The Consortium looks forward to the opportunity to meet with the S&N Board to progress to announcing a full recommended offer as soon as practicable.
Press enquiries
Véronique Schyns
Tel: +31 (0)20 52 39 355
Investor and analyst enquiries
Jan van de Merbel
Tel: +31 (0)20 52 39 590
Financial adviser and Corporate Broker to the Consortium and to Heineken
Credit Suisse
Bertrand Facon
Stuart Upcraft
James Leigh Pemberton (Corporate Broking)
Tel: +44 20 7888 8888
Sources and bases:
a. the equity value based on an offer price of 750 pence per share and fully diluted share capital of 974.6 million comprising 946.6 million shares in issue as stated in S&N's total voting rights announcement released on 12 November 2007 and 28m options as at 31 December 2006 sourced from S&N's 2006 annual report; plus
b. the sum of (i) S&N's financial net debt as at 31 December 2006 of £1,912 million sourced from S&N's 2006 annual report, (ii) £221 million being 50% of BBH net debt as at 31 December 2006, sourced from S&N's 2006 preliminary results presentation and converted into sterling at the euro sterling exchange rate of 0.6738 as at 31 December 2006 sourced from Factset, (iii) net pension deficit of £280 million sourced from S&N's 2006 annual report, (iv) £74 million being the proceeds from options and cash proceeds from shares held in trusts as per S&N's 2006 annual report, and (v) minority interests in joint ventures of £77 million and minority interests in associates of £1 million sourced from S&N's 2006 annual report.
Lehman Brothers Europe Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser and corporate broker to the Consortium and Carlsberg and no one else in connection with the possible offer referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Consortium and Carlsberg for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lehman Brothers Europe Limited nor for providing advice in relation to this announcement or any matter referred to herein.
Credit Suisse, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for the Consortium and Heineken and no one else in connection with the possible offer referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Consortium and Heineken for providing the protections afforded to clients of Credit Suisse nor for providing advice in relation to this announcement or any matter referred to herein.
Dealing Disclosure Requirements
Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code"), if any person is, or becomes, "interested" (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of "relevant securities" of S&N plc, all "dealings" in any "relevant securities" of that company (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such "relevant securities") must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period" otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an "interest" in "relevant securities" of S&N plc, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all "dealings" in "relevant securities" of S&N plc by Carlsberg or Heineken or S&N, or by any of their respective "associates", must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction.
A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose "relevant securities" "dealings" should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in issue, can be found on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
"Interests in securities" arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an "interest" by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.
Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a "dealing" under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel.
This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute or form part of an offer or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction.
Editorial information:
Heineken N.V. is the most international brewer in the world. The Heineken brand is sold in almost every country in the world and the company owns over 115 breweries in more than 65 countries. With a Group beer volume of 132 million hectolitres Heineken ranks fourth in the world beer market by volume. Heineken strives for an excellent sustainable financial performance through marketing a portfolio of strong local and international brands with the emphasis on the Heineken brand, through a carefully selected combination of broad and segment leadership positions and through a continuous focus on cost control. In 2006, revenues amounted to EUR 12 billion and net profit before exceptional items and amortisation of brands amounted to EUR 930 million. Heineken employs over 57,500 people. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares are listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS.
Additional information is available on Heineken's home page: http//www.heinekeninternational.com.
