Acquisition

RNS Number : 3670W

ABB Ltd

30 January 2012

 



ABB to acquire Thomas & Betts for $3.9 billion to become major player in North American low-voltage products market

·      ABB and Thomas & Betts announce agreement pursuant to which ABB will acquire Thomas & Betts for $72 per share in cash 

·      ABB gains access to Thomas & Betts network of more than 6,000 distributor locations and wholesalers in North America

·      Transaction doubles ABB's addressable low-voltage products market to approximately $24 billion in North America and enables distribution of Thomas & Betts products through ABB's extensive global network

·      Furthers ABB's 2015 strategy to expand its geographic and product scope in one of its most profitable businesses

·      Approximately $200 million in expected annual synergies by 2016

Zurich, Switzerland, and Memphis, TN, US, Jan. 30, 2012 - ABB (NYSE: ABB), the leading power and automation technology group, and Thomas & Betts Corporation (NYSE: TNB), a North American leader in low voltage products, today announced that both companies' boards of directors have agreed to a transaction in which ABB will acquire Thomas & Betts for $72 per share in cash or approximately $3.9 billion.

The acquisition price represents a 24 percent premium to Thomas & Betts' closing stock price on Jan. 27, 2012 and a 35 percent premium to the volume weighted average stock price over the past 60 trading days. The transaction is subject to approval by Thomas & Betts shareholders as well as to customary regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the middle of 2012.

The complementary combination of Thomas & Betts' electrical components and ABB's low-voltage protection, control and measurement products would create a broader low voltage portfolio that can be distributed through Thomas & Betts' network of more than 6,000 distributor locations and wholesalers in North America, and through ABB's well established distribution channels in Europe and Asia. The combined product portfolio and enhanced distribution network will enable ABB to double its addressable market in North America to approximately $24 billion.

"Thomas & Betts is a well-run company with strong brands and excellent distribution channels in the world's largest low-voltage products market," said Joe Hogan, ABB's CEO. "Because our products are complementary, we'll go to market with one of the broadest offerings in the industry. That creates strong growth opportunities for both ABB and Thomas & Betts, and gives customers and distributors one-stop access to one of the widest ranges of low voltage products.

"Strategically, it's a great fit," Hogan added. "This is another big step toward our goal of expanding our presence in the key North American market. The transaction clearly supports our 2015 growth and profitability targets, and meets all of our return-on-investment criteria for creating shareholder value."

"This transaction delivers significant value to our shareholders and will enable Thomas & Betts to accelerate our global growth strategy," said Thomas & Betts Chairman and CEO Dominic J. Pileggi. "The combination will also enable us to provide our North American customers and distributor network with a broader portfolio of products and will provide long-term opportunities to our employees. This is the right time for this transaction and I believe strongly that ABB is the right partner for our business going forward."

Thomas & Betts, combined with ABB's North American low-voltage products business, will become a new global business unit led out of Memphis, TN, under the leadership ofPileggi.

Thomas & Betts employs approximately 9,400 people and is estimated to report 2011 revenues of approximately $2.3 billion and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of approximately $390 million. The company will report its full-year results later today Central European Time. Its main business is the manufacture of low-voltage and ultralow-voltage electrical products such as connectors, conduits and fittings as well as wiring management products for the construction, industrial and utilities markets. These are complementary to the offering of ABB's Low Voltage Products division, which includes products such as breakers and switches. In addition, Thomas & Betts has a leading logistics model with its distributors that allows simple, single invoicing and fast delivery of its full product scope. Thomas & Betts also supplies towers for electrical power transmission and has a business that produces heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, both new to ABB but related to its core power and automation focus.

ABB has secured a $4 billion, fully underwritten bridge financing commitment from Bank of America Merrill Lynch which will be repaid through a combination of cash and the issuance of debt. The transaction is expected to be accretive within the first year after it closes prior to one-time charges and implementation costs. ABB expects the transaction will deliver approximately $200 million in annual synergies by 2016. The majority of cost synergies are expected to come from sourcing and purchasing efficiencies.

"This is a unique opportunity for ABB to grow in the largely untapped North American low-voltage products market," said Tarak Mehta, Executive Committee member responsible for ABB's Low Voltage Products division, into which Thomas & Betts will be integrated as a stand-alone unit. "We plan to keep and build on Thomas & Betts' strong brand and product names. We have complementary products that can be sold together already today and other products that will take some time to introduce to customers."

"ABB and Thomas & Betts share a common culture. We admire the in-depth industry expertise and enthusiasm of the Thomas & Betts team and their excellent long-term relationship with distributors and wholesalers," Mehta said. "We will continue Thomas & Betts' successful business model with its distribution, wholesalers and OEM customers and the Thomas & Betts executive team will lead and drive the successful development of the new business unit."

Under the terms of the agreement, the transaction is structured as a merger requiring approval of a majority of Thomas & Betts shareholders at a special meeting, which is expected to take place in the second quarter. Closure of the transaction is also conditioned on customary regulatory approvals, including in both North America and Europe.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as financial adviser to ABB and will provide the bridge financing facility and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. acted as financial adviser to Thomas & Betts and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as legal advisor.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 130,000 people. The company's North American operations, headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, employ over 18,000 people in multiple manufacturing, service and other major facilities and reported approximately $5 billion in revenue for the first nine months of 2011.

Thomas & Betts (NYSE: TNB) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of essential components used to manage the connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of electrical power in industrial, construction and utility applications. With a portfolio of over 200,000 products marketed under more than 45 premium brand names, Thomas & Betts products are found wherever electricity is used. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, Thomas & Betts has manufacturing facilities in 20 countries and approximately 9,400 employees. For more information, please visit www.tnb.com.

More information
ABB and Thomas & Betts will host an analyst, investors and media conference call starting at 09:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET) (08.00 a.m. in the UK, 03.00 a.m. EST, 02.00 a.m. CST). UK callers should dial [phone]. From Sweden, [phone], and from the rest of Europe, [phone]. Lines will be open 15 minutes before the start of the conference. Audio playback of the call will start one hour after the call ends and will be available for 24 hours: Playback numbers: [phone] (UK), [phone] (rest of Europe) or [phone] (US/Canada). The code is 17475 followed by the # key. A podcast of the call will be available on www.abb.com/news.

A further conference call for US analysts, investors and media is scheduled to begin today at 14:30 p.m. CET (13:30 p.m. in the UK, 08:30 a.m. EST, 07.30 a.m. CST). Callers should dial [phone] (from the US/Canada) or [phone] (Europe and the rest of the world). Callers are requested to phone in 15 minutes before the start of the call. The audio playback of the call will start one hour after the end of the call and be available for 24 hours commencing one hour after the conference call. Playback numbers: [phone] (US/Canada) or [phone] (Europe and the rest of the world). The code is 19163, followed by the # key. A podcast of the call will be available on www.abb.com/news.

Pictures are available at www.abb.com/news

ABB forward-looking statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to the acquisition of Thomas & Betts by ABB. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations but are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of ABB, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Among other risks and uncertainties, there can be no guarantee that the acquisition will be completed, or if it is completed, that it will close within the anticipated time frame. Additional risks and uncertainties relating to the acquisition include: required regulatory approvals may not be obtained in a timely manner, if at all; the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, including synergies, may not be realized; and the integration of Thomas & Betts operations with those of ABB may be materially delayed or more costly or difficult than expected. Forward-looking statements in the press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect ABB's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in ABB's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010. ABB undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Thomas & Betts forward-looking statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements which make assumptions regarding the company's operations, business, economic and political environment. Actual results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Additional information
In connection with the meeting of Thomas & Betts shareholders to be held with respect to the proposed merger, Thomas & Betts will file a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). INVESTORS AND SECURITYHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other relevant documents filed by Thomas & Betts with the SEC from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and from Thomas & Betts by directing a request to Thomas & Betts, 8155 T&B Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38125. Attention: Investor Relations.

Thomas & Betts and its directors, executive officers and certain other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Thomas & Betts shareholders in connection with the proposed merger. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Thomas & Betts directors and executive officers by reading Thomas & Betts' proxy statement for its 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 11, 2011. Additional information regarding potential participants in such proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the proxy statement and other relevant materials filed by Thomas & Betts with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger when they become available.

For more information please contact:

ABB Media Relations:                       ABB Investor Relations:                      Thomas & Betts Media and Investor Relations:

Thomas Schmidt, Antonio Ligi        Switzerland: Tel. [phone]    Tricia Bergeron, Tel. [phone]

(Zurich, Switzerland)                          USA: Tel. [phone]                 [e-mail]

Tel. [phone]                        [e-mail]

[e-mail]

 

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