BAT-Reynolds - U.S. antitrust condition satisfied

RNS Number : 9961Y

British American Tobacco PLC

09 March 2017

 

Proposed acquisition of Reynolds - U.S. antitrust condition satisfied

The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ("HSR") with regard to British American Tobacco p.l.c.'s proposed acquisition of Reynolds American Inc. expired on 8 March 2017.   Expiry of the HSR waiting period constitutes satisfaction of the condition to closing relating to antitrust approval in the United States.

The filing process to obtain antitrust clearance from the Japanese authorities is underway.  Both parties continue to expect the transaction to close during the third quarter of 2017, subject to satisfaction or waiver of the other closing conditions specified in the merger agreement.

Nicola Snook

Company Secretary

British American Tobacco p.l.c.

09 March 2017

Enquiries:

Investor Relations

Mike Nightingale/Rachael Brierley/Sabina Marshman        

[phone]/1519/1781

British American Tobacco Press Office

Anna Vickerstaff                           

[phone] 

Forward looking statements

Certain statements in this communication regarding the proposed merger of Reynolds and BAT (the "Proposed Transaction"), the expected timetable for completing the Proposed Transaction, the benefits and synergies of the Proposed Transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and any other statements regarding BAT's, Reynolds's or the combined company's future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts are "forward-looking" statements made within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "believe," "anticipate," "could," "may," "would," "should," "intend," "plan," "potential," "predict," "will," "expect," "estimate," "project," "positioned," "strategy," "outlook" and similar expressions. All such forward-looking statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual future financial condition, performance and results to differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and results expressed in the forward-looking statements and other financial and/or statistical data within this communication. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are uncertainties related to the following: whether the conditions to the Proposed Transaction will be satisfied and the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the anticipated timeframe, or at all; the failure to realize contemplated synergies and other benefits from the Proposed Transaction; the incurrence of significant costs and the availability and cost of financing in connection with the Proposed Transaction; the effect of the announcement of the Proposed Transaction, and related uncertainties as to whether the Proposed Transaction will be completed, on BAT's, Reynolds's or the combined company's ability to retain customers, retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with suppliers and on their operating results and businesses generally; the ability to maintain credit ratings; changes in the tobacco industry and stock market trading conditions; changes or differences in domestic or international economic or political conditions; changes in tax laws and rates; the impact of adverse legislation and regulation; the ability to develop, produce or market new alternative products profitably; the ability to effectively implement strategic initiatives and actions taken to increase sales growth; the ability to enhance cash generation and pay dividends; adverse litigation and dispute outcomes; and changes in the market position, businesses, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of BAT, Reynolds or the combined company.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Reynolds's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including Reynolds's most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and BAT's Annual Reports, which may be obtained free of charge from BAT's website www.BAT.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof and BAT undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements or other data or statements contained within this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No statement in this communication is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this communication should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of BAT or Reynolds for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of BAT or Reynolds, respectively.

Additional information and where to find it

This communication is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Any solicitation will only be made through materials filed with the SEC. Nonetheless, this communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the Proposed Transaction by BAT.

BAT intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a registration statement on Form F-4 that will include a proxy statement of Reynolds that also constitutes a prospectus of BAT. Investors and security holders are urged to read all relevant documents filed with the SEC (if and when they become available), including the proxy statement/prospectus, because they will contain important information about the Proposed Transaction. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents (if and when available) free of charge at the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov, or for free from BAT at [e-mail] / [phone].  Such documents are not currently available.

Participants in solicitation

This communication is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Nonetheless, BAT, and its affiliates and each of their directors and executive officers and certain employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Reynolds common stock with respect to the Proposed Transaction. Information about such parties and a description of their interests are set forth in BAT's 2015 Annual Report, which may be obtained free of charge from BAT's website www.BAT.com and the proxy statement for Reynolds's 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 23, 2016, Reynolds's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2016, which was filed on Form 10-K with the SEC on February 9, 2017 and Reynolds's Form 10-K/A, which is to be filed with the SEC on or before May 1, 2017 (such filings by Reynolds, collectively, "Reynolds SEC filings"). To the extent holdings of Reynolds securities by such parties have changed since the amounts contained in the Reynolds SEC filings, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interest of such parties will also be included in the materials that BAT intends to file with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Transaction. These documents (if and when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website http://www.sec.gov, or from BAT using the contact information above.

Non-solicitation

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This communication should not be construed as, investment advice and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision, nor does it form the basis of any contract for acquisition or investment in any member of the BAT group, financial promotion or any offer, invitation or recommendation in relation to any acquisition of, or investment in, any member of the BAT group.

 

END

 

 

MSCUGUAWWUPMGUB