Update on offer for Skandia
Old Mutual PLC
01 December 2005
Old Mutual plc
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This announcement and the information contained herein are restricted and are
not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into
the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan
Update on offer for Skandia
Old Mutual amends acceptance level to more than 50 per cent
Old Mutual plc, (Old Mutual), announces today that it has partially waived the
condition relating to the level of acceptances required under its offer for
Forsakringsaktiebolaget Skandia (publ), (Skandia) (the 'Offer') from 90 per
cent to more than 50 per cent of the total number of shares and votes in Skandia
(on a fully diluted basis). All other outstanding terms and conditions of the
Offer remain unchanged and as previously announced, the Offer remains open for
acceptance until 16 December 2005.
Old Mutual would not extend the Offer beyond 16 December 2005 unless valid
acceptances had been received in respect of more than 50 per cent of the total
number of shares and votes in Skandia (on a fully diluted basis) by that date.
In any event, the mix and match facility (including the cash guarantee for
shareholders with not more than 1,000 Skandia shares) will not be extended
beyond that date. If Old Mutual receives valid acceptances in respect of more
than 50 per cent of the total number of shares and votes in Skandia (on a fully
diluted basis) by that date, Old Mutual reserves the right to extend the
acceptance period and to defer the date for settlement of the Offer.
Jim Sutcliffe, Chief Executive said
'Our own shareholders have demonstrated their overwhelming support for this
transaction. A significant number of Skandia's shareholders remain equally
supportive. Therefore we are accelerating the Offer process by clarifying the
acceptance level we require by 16 December. Regulatory applications are
progressing well and we remain utterly committed to bringing this transaction to
a close as soon as possible. '
1 December 2005
ENQUIRIES:
Old Mutual plc (UK)
Andrew Parkins, Investors Tel: +44 (0)20 7002 7000
Miranda Bellord (UK), Media Tel: +44 (0)20 7002 7000
Nad Pillay (SA), Media Tel: +27 (0)21 504 8026
College Hill Tel: +44 (0)20 7457 2020
Alex Sandberg
Tony Friend
An interview with Jim Sutcliffe, Chief Executive in video, audio and text is now
available on: http://www3.oldmutual.com and on http://www.cantos.com
For further information about Old Mutual plc visit www.oldmutual.com
Deutsche Bank AG London is acting for Old Mutual plc and no one else in
connection with the Transaction and will not regard any other person (whether or
not a recipient of this announcement) as its client in relation to the
Transaction and will not be responsible for providing the protections afforded
to its clients nor for giving advice in relation to the Transaction or any
transaction or arrangement referred to, or information contained in this
announcement.
Merrill Lynch International is acting for Old Mutual plc and no one else in
connection with the Transaction and will not regard any other person (whether or
not a recipient of this announcement) as its client in relation to the
Transaction and will not be responsible for providing the protections afforded
to its clients nor for giving advice in relation to the Transaction or any
transaction or arrangement referred to, or information contained in this
announcement.
Lazard & Co., Limited is acting for Old Mutual plc and no one else in connection
with the Transaction and will not regard any other person (whether or not a
recipient of this announcement) as its client in relation to the Transaction and
will not be responsible for providing the protections afforded to its clients
nor for giving advice in relation to the Transaction or any transaction or
arrangement referred to, or information contained in this announcement.
The Offer, all acceptances and withdrawals thereof or pursuant thereto and all
contracts made pursuant thereto and action taken or made or deemed to be taken
or made under any of the foregoing shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with Swedish law.
The Offer is, subject to certain exceptions, not being made, directly or
indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any other
jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such
jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality
(including without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the
internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national
securities exchange, of the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Accordingly, copies of this announcement or any accompanying documents are not
being, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise distributed, forwarded or
transmitted in, into or from the United States. Any persons receiving such
documents (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees)
should observe these restrictions and should not, subject to certain exceptions,
mail or otherwise distribute, forward or transmit them in, into or from the
United States or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a
violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or use such means, instrumentality
or facility in connection with the Offer, and so doing may render invalid any
related purported acceptance of the Offer. Any persons (including, without
limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees) who would or otherwise intend to,
or may have a contractual or other legal obligation to, forward this
announcement or any accompanying documents to the United States should seek
appropriate advice before taking any action.
These materials are not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the
United States. They are not an offer of securities for sale into the United
States. There will be no public offer of the Old Mutual Shares in the United
States.
The New Old Mutual Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the
US Securities Act of 1933 (the 'Securities Act') or with any securities
regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States or
under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia and Japan.
Accordingly, subject to certain exceptions, the New Old Mutual Shares may not be
offered or sold within the United States or Canada, Australia and Japan or any
other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of
such jurisdiction, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the
United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
This announcement includes forward-looking statements about Old Mutual, Skandia
and the Enlarged Group. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Old Mutual cautions you
that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the
Old Mutual Group's actual results of operations, financial condition and
liquidity, and the development of the industry in which the Old Mutual Group
operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the
forward-looking statements contained in this document. Events that may cause
actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to: fluctuations in the capital markets; fluctuations in interest
rate and exchange rates; increased regulation or regulatory scrutiny; the
occurrence of unforeseen disasters or catastrophes; political or economic
instability in their principal markets; adverse outcomes in litigation; and
failure to achieve the benefits of the proposed Transaction. These
forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement.
Except as required by the UK Listing Authority, the London Stock Exchange or
applicable law, Old Mutual does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Except as required by the UK Listing Authority, the
London Stock Exchange or applicable law, Old Mutual expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Old Mutual's
expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based. In addition, even if the Old
Mutual Group's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the
development of the industry in which the Old Mutual Group operates are
consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement,
those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments
in subsequent periods.
To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulation, and in accordance
with normal Swedish market practice, Old Mutual or its brokers (acting as
agents) may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to
purchase, directly or indirectly, Skandia Shares or any securities that are
immediately convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable for, Skandia
Shares, other than pursuant to the Offer, before, during or after the period in
which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in
the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated
prices. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required by
law or regulation in Sweden or other relevant jurisdictions.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
ND
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