Regulatory Filings • Nov 16, 2012
Regulatory Filings
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(incorporated with limited liability in the Kingdom of Sweden)
(incorporated with limited liability in the Kingdom of Sweden)
unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed in the case of Notes issued by ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB (publ) by ASSA ABLOY AB (publ)
On 20 September 2001 ASSA ABLOY AB (publ) (AA) established this €1,500,000,000 Global Medium Term Note Programme (the Programme). On 24 May 2007 ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB (publ) (AAFS) acceded as an issuer under the Programme. This Offering Circular supersedes all previous offering circulars. Any Notes (as defined below) issued under the Programme on or after the date of this Offering Circular are issued subject to the provisions described herein. This does not affect any Notes already in issue. Pursuant to the Programme, AA and AAFS (each an Issuer and together the Issuers) may from time to time issue notes (the Notes) denominated in any currency agreed between the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer (as defined below). The payments of all amounts owing in respect of the Notes issued by AAFS (Guaranteed Notes) will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by AA (the Guarantor).
Notes may be issued in bearer or registered form (respectively Bearer Notes and Registered Notes). The maximum aggregate nominal amount of all Notes from time to time outstanding under the Programme will not exceed €1,500,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies calculated as described herein), subject to increase as described herein.
The Notes may be issued on a continuing basis to one or more of the Dealers specified under "Overview of the Programme" and any additional Dealer appointed under the Programme from time to time by AA (each a Dealer and together the Dealers), which appointment may be for a specific issue or on an ongoing basis. References in this Offering Circular to the relevant Dealer shall, in the case of an issue of Notes being (or intended to be) subscribed by more than one Dealer, be to all Dealers agreeing to purchase such Notes.
Application has been made to the Financial Services Authority in its capacity as competent authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the UK Listing Authority) for Notes issued under the Programme during the period of 12 months from the date of this Offering Circular to be admitted to the official list of the UK Listing Authority (the Official List) and to the London Stock Exchange plc (the London Stock Exchange) for such Notes to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market.
References in this Offering Circular to Notes being listed (and all related references) shall mean that such Notes have been admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market and have been admitted to the Official List. The London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market is a regulated market for the purposes of Directive 2004/39/EC (the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive).
Notice of the aggregate nominal amount of Notes, interest (if any) payable in respect of Notes, the issue price of Notes and certain other information which is applicable to each Tranche (as defined under "Terms and Conditions of the Notes") of Notes will be set out in a final terms document (the Final Terms) which, with respect to Notes to be listed on the London Stock Exchange will be delivered to the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange. Copies of Final Terms in relation to Notes to be listed on the London Stock Exchange will also be published on the website of the London Stock Exchange through a regulatory information service.
The Programme provides that Notes may be listed or admitted to trading as the case may be on such other or further stock exchanges or markets as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and the relevant Dealer. The relevant Issuer may also issue unlisted Notes and/or Notes not admitted to trading on any market.
Application may also be made to have certain Series of Notes accepted for trading in the Private Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automated Linkages System (PORTAL) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Neither the Notes nor the Guarantee have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and the Notes may include Bearer Notes that are subject to U.S. tax law requirements. The Notes may not be offered or sold or, in the case of Bearer Notes, delivered in the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act (Regulation S)) unless the Notes are registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. See "Form of the Notes" for a description of the manner in which Notes will be issued. Registered Notes are subject to certain restrictions on transfer, see "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions".
AA has been rated A2 (short-term rating) and A- (long-term rating) by Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services Europe Limited (S & P) and P2 (shortterm rating) by Moody's Investors Service Limited (Moody's). The Programme has been rated A- by S & P. For the purposes of any credit ratings included and referred to in this Offering Circular and/or the applicable Final Terms, each of Moody's and S&P is established in the European Union and is registered under Regulation (EC) No. 1060/2009 (as amended) (the CRA Regulation). Notes issued under the Programme may be rated or unrated by either of the rating agencies referred to above. Where a Tranche of Notes is rated, such rating will be disclosed in the applicable Final Terms and will not necessarily be the same as the rating assigned to the Programme by the relevant rating agency. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.
Arranger The Royal Bank of Scotland Dealers
BNP PARIBAS Deutsche Bank
Citigroup SEB
The date of this Offering Circular is 16 November 2012.
This Offering Circular comprises a base prospectus for the purposes of Article 5.4 of Directive 2003/71/EC as amended (which includes the amendments made by Directive 2010/73/EU to the extent that such amendments have been implemented in a relevant Member State of the European Economic Area) (the Prospectus Directive). Each Issuer and the Guarantor accept(s) responsibility for the information contained in this Offering Circular and the Final Terms for each Tranche of Notes issued under the Programme. To the best of the knowledge of each of the Issuers and the Guarantor (each having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this Offering Circular is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
Copies of Final Terms will be available from the registered office of the relevant Issuer and the specified office set out below of each of the Paying Agents (as defined below). In addition, copies of each Final Terms relating to Notes which are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market will be available at the website of the Regulatory News Service operated by the London Stock Exchange. Copies of each Final Terms relating to Notes which are admitted to trading on any other regulated market in the European Economic Area or offered in any other Member State of the European Economic Area in circumstances where a prospectus is required to be published under the Prospectus Directive will be available for viewing in accordance with Article 14(2) of the Prospectus Directive and the rules and regulations of the relevant regulated market.
This Offering Circular is to be read in conjunction with all documents which are deemed to be incorporated herein by reference (see "Documents Incorporated by Reference" below). This Offering Circular shall be read and construed on the basis that such documents are incorporated and form part of this Offering Circular.
Save for the Issuers, no other party has separately verified the information contained herein. Accordingly, no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made and no responsibility or liability is accepted by the Dealers as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained or incorporated in this Offering Circular or any other information provided by the relevant Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor in connection with the Programme. No Dealer accepts any liability in relation to the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Offering Circular or any other information provided by any of the Issuers or the Guarantor in connection with the Programme.
No person is or has been authorised by any of the Issuers or the Guarantor to give any information or to make any representation not contained in or not consistent with this Offering Circular or any other information supplied in connection with the Programme or the Notes and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorised by any Issuer, the Guarantor or any of the Dealers.
Neither this Offering Circular nor any other information supplied in connection with the Programme or any Notes (i) is intended to provide the basis of any credit or other evaluation or (ii) should be considered as a recommendation by any of the Issuers, the Guarantor or any of the Dealers that any recipient of this Offering Circular or any other information supplied in connection with the Programme or any Notes should purchase any Notes. Each investor contemplating purchasing any Notes should make its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs, and its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the relevant Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor. Neither this Offering Circular nor any other information supplied in connection with the Programme or the issue of any Notes constitutes an offer or invitation by or on behalf of the relevant Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor or any of the Dealers to any person to subscribe for or to purchase any Notes.
The Notes may not be a suitable investment for all investors. Each potential investor in the Notes must determine the suitability of that investment in light of its own circumstances. In particular, each potential investor may wish to consider, either on its own or with the help of its financial and other professional advisers, whether it :
Legal investment considerations may restrict certain investments. The investment activities of certain investors are subject to legal investment laws and regulations, or review or regulation by certain authorities. Each potential investor should consult its legal advisers to determine whether and to what extent (1) Notes are legal investments for it, (2) Notes can be used as collateral for various types of borrowing and (3) other restrictions apply to its purchase or pledge of any Notes. Financial institutions should consult their legal advisors or the appropriate regulators to determine the appropriate treatment of Notes under any applicable risk-based capital or similar rules.
Neither the delivery of this Offering Circular nor the offering, sale or delivery of any Notes shall in any circumstances imply that the information contained herein concerning any of the Issuers or the Guarantor is correct at any time subsequent to the date hereof or that any other information supplied in connection with the Programme is correct as of any time subsequent to the date indicated in the document containing the same. The Dealers expressly do not undertake to review the financial condition or affairs of any of the Issuers or the Guarantor during the life of the Programme or to advise any investor in the Notes of any information coming to their attention. Investors should review, inter alia, the most recently published documents incorporated by reference into this Offering Circular when deciding whether or not to purchase any Notes.
This Offering Circular does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any Notes in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The distribution of this Offering Circular and the offer or sale of Notes may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the Issuers, the Guarantor and the Dealers do not represent that this Offering Circular may be lawfully distributed, or that any Notes may be lawfully offered, in compliance with any applicable registration or other requirements in any such jurisdiction, or pursuant to an exemption available thereunder, or assume any responsibility for facilitating any such distribution or offering. In particular, no action has been taken by any of the Issuers, the Guarantor or the Dealers which is intended to permit a public offering of any Notes or distribution of this Offering Circular in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, no Notes may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this Offering Circular nor any advertisement or other offering material may be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations. Persons into whose possession this Offering Circular or any Notes may come must inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions on the distribution of this Offering Circular and the offering and sale of Notes. In particular, there are restrictions on the distribution of this Offering Circular and the offer or sale of Notes in the United States, the European Economic Area (including the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden)) and Japan, see "Subscription and Sale".
This Offering Circular has been prepared on a basis that would permit an offer of Notes with a denomination of less than €100,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) only in circumstances where there is an exemption from the obligation under the Prospectus Directive to publish a prospectus. As a result, any offer of Notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State) must be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of Notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer of Notes in that Relevant Member State may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the relevant Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive, in each case, in relation to such offer. Neither the relevant Issuer nor any Dealer have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of Notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the relevant Issuer or any Dealer to publish or supplement a prospectus for such offer.
In making an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the relevant Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor and the terms of the Notes being offered, including the merits and risks involved. Neither the Notes nor the Guarantee have been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have the foregoing authorities approved this Offering Circular or confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of the information contained in this Offering Circular. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.
None of the Dealers, the Issuers or the Guarantor makes any representation to any investor in the Notes regarding the legality of its investment under any applicable laws. Any investor in the Notes should be able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Notes for an indefinite period of time.
The Notes in bearer form are subject to U.S. tax law requirements and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or its possessions or to United States persons, except in certain transactions permitted by U.S. tax regulations. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
This Offering Circular is being submitted on a confidential basis in the United States to a limited number of QIBs and Institutional Accredited Investors (each as defined under "Form of the Notes") for informational use solely in connection with the consideration of the purchase of certain Notes issued under the Programme. Its use for any other purpose in the United States is not authorised. It may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part nor may it be distributed or any of its contents disclosed to anyone other than the prospective investors to whom it is originally submitted.
Registered Notes may be offered or sold within the United States only to QIBs or to Institutional Accredited Investors, in either case in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Each U.S. purchaser of Registered Notes is hereby notified that the offer and sale of any Registered Notes to it may be being made in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act (Rule 144A).
Purchasers of Definitive IAI Registered Notes will be required to execute and deliver an IAI Investment Letter (as defined under "Terms and Conditions of the Notes"). Each purchaser or holder of Definitive IAI Registered Notes, Notes represented by a Rule 144A Global Note or any Notes issued in registered form in exchange or substitution therefor (together Legended Notes) will be deemed, by its acceptance or purchase of any such Legended Notes, to have made certain representations and agreements intended to restrict the resale or other transfer of such Notes as set out in "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions". Unless otherwise stated, terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them in "Form of the Notes".
NEITHER THE FACT THAT A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE HAS BEEN FILED UNDER CHAPTER 421-B OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REVISED STATUTES WITH THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE NOR THE FACT THAT A SECURITY IS EFFECTIVELY REGISTERED OR A PERSON IS LICENSED IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTITUTES A FINDING BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT ANY DOCUMENT FILED UNDER CHAPTER 421-B IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. NEITHER ANY SUCH FACT NOR THE FACT THAT AN EXEMPTION OR EXCEPTION IS AVAILABLE FOR A SECURITY OR A TRANSACTION MEANS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS PASSED IN ANY WAY UPON THE MERITS OR QUALIFICATIONS OF, OR RECOMMENDED OR GIVEN APPROVAL TO, ANY PERSON, SECURITY OR TRANSACTION. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE, OR CAUSE TO BE MADE, TO ANY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER, CUSTOMER OR CLIENT ANY REPRESENTATION INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
To permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with any resales or other transfers of Notes that are "restricted securities" within the meaning of the Securities Act, each Issuer and the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) has undertaken in a deed poll dated 22 September 2008 (the Deed Poll) to furnish, upon the request of a holder of its Notes or any beneficial interest therein, to such holder or to a prospective purchaser designated by him, the information required to be delivered under Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act if, at the time of the request, any of the relevant Notes remain outstanding as "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) of the Securities Act and the Guarantor is neither a reporting company under Section 13 or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) nor exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder.
Each Issuer and the Guarantor are corporations organised under the laws of Sweden. The majority of the officers and directors of each Issuer and the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) reside outside the United States and all or a substantial portion of the assets of each of the Issuers and the Guarantor and of such officers and directors are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process outside Sweden upon the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) or such persons, or to enforce judgments against them obtained in courts outside Sweden predicated upon civil liabilities of the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) or such directors and officers under laws other than Swedish law, including any judgment predicated upon United States federal securities laws. Each of the Issuers and the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) has been advised by Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå AB, their Swedish counsel, that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Sweden in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of United States courts of civil liabilities.
AAFS maintains its financial books and records and prepares its financial statements in SEK and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Sweden.
AA maintains its financial books and records and prepares its financial statements in SEK and its consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union.
All references in this document to "U.S. dollars", "U.S.\$", "USD" and "\$" refer to United States dollars and to "Swedish krona" and "SEK" refer to the currency of Sweden. In addition, references to "CAD" refer to the currency of Canada, references to "CNY" refer to the lawful currency of the PRC, references to "Sterling", "GBP" and "£" refer to pounds sterling and to "EUR", "euro" and "€" refer to the currency introduced at the start of the third stage of European economic and monetary union pursuant to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as amended.
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| OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME 7 | |
| RISK FACTORS 11 | |
| DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 18 | |
| FORM OF THE NOTES 19 | |
| FORM OF FINAL TERMS 24 | |
| TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES 30 | |
| USE OF PROCEEDS 59 | |
| ASSA ABLOY AB (publ) 60 | |
| ASSA ABLOY FINANCIAL SERVICES AB (publ) 70 | |
| BOOK-ENTRY CLEARANCE SYSTEMS 72 | |
| TAXATION 76 | |
| SUBSCRIPTION AND SALE AND TRANSFER AND SELLING RESTRICTIONS 77 | |
| GENERAL INFORMATION 83 |
| Appendix I – ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ASSA ABLOY FINANCIAL SERVICES AB | |
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| (publ) AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2010 85 | |
| Appendix II – ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ASSA ABLOY FINANCIAL SERVICES AB | |
| (publ) AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2011 87 | |
| _________________ |
In connection with the issue of any Tranche of Notes, one or more relevant Dealers (the Stabilising Manager(s)) (or persons acting on behalf of any Stabilising Manager(s)) may over-allot Notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilising Manager(s) (or persons acting on behalf of a Stabilising Manager) will undertake stabilisation action. Any stabilisation action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the relevant Tranche of Notes is made and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue date of the relevant Tranche of Notes and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the relevant Tranche of Notes. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment must be conducted by the relevant Stabilising Manager(s) (or person(s) acting on behalf of any Stabilising Manager(s)) in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.
This Overview of the Programme must be read as an introduction to this Offering Circular and any decision to invest in any Notes should be based on a consideration of this Offering Circular as a whole including documents incorporated by reference.
Words and expressions defined in "Form of the Notes" and "Terms and Conditions of the Notes" shall have the same meanings in this Overview.
| Issuers: | ASSA ABLOY AB (publ) ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB (publ) |
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| Guarantor: | ASSA ABLOY AB (publ) (in respect of Guaranteed Notes) |
| Risk Factors: | There are certain factors that may affect AA's and/or AAFS's ability to fulfil its obligations under Notes issued under the Programme or the Guarantor's ability to fulfil its obligations under the Guarantee. In addition, there are certain factors which are material for the purpose of assessing the market risks associated with Notes issued under the Programme, see "Risk Factors". |
| Description: | Global Medium Term Note Programme |
| Arranger: | The Royal Bank of Scotland plc |
| Dealers: | BNP PARIBAS Citigroup Global Markets Limited Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and any other Dealers appointed in accordance with the Programme Agreement. |
| Certain Restrictions: | Each issue of Notes denominated in a currency in respect of which particular laws, guidelines, regulations, restrictions or reporting requirements apply will only be issued in circumstances which comply with such laws, guidelines, regulations, restrictions or reporting requirements from time to time (see "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions") including the following restrictions applicable at the date of this Offering Circular. |
| Notes having a maturity of less than one year | |
| Notes having a maturity of less than one year will, if the proceeds of the issue are accepted in the United Kingdom, constitute deposits for the purposes of the prohibition on accepting deposits contained in section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 unless they are issued to a limited class of professional investors and have a denomination of at least £100,000 or its equivalent, see "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions". |
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| Issuing and Principal Paying Agent: |
Citibank, N.A., London Branch |
| Registrar: | Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG |
| Programme Size: | Up to €1,500,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies calculated as described in the Programme Agreement) outstanding at any time. The Issuers and the Guarantor may increase the amount of the Programme in accordance with the terms of the Programme Agreement. |
| Distribution: | Notes may be distributed by way of private or public placement and in each case on a syndicated or non-syndicated basis. |
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| Currencies: | Notes may be denominated in euro, Sterling, U.S. dollars, yen and subject to any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions, any other currency agreed between the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and the relevant Dealer. |
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| Maturities: | The Notes will have such maturities as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer, subject to such minimum or maximum maturities as may be allowed or required from time to time by the relevant central bank (or equivalent body) or any laws or regulations applicable to the relevant Issuer or the relevant Specified Currency. |
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| Issue Price: | Notes will be issued on a fully-paid basis and at an issue price which is at par or at a discount to, or premium over, par. |
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| Form of Notes: | The Notes will be issued in bearer or registered form as described in "Form of the Notes". Registered Notes will not be exchangeable for Bearer Notes and vice versa. |
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| Fixed Rate Notes: | Fixed interest will be payable on such date or dates as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer and, on redemption, will be calculated on the basis of such Day Count Fraction as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer. |
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| Floating Rate Notes: | Floating Rate Notes will bear interest at a rate determined: | ||
| (i) | on the same basis as the floating rate under a notional interest rate swap transaction in the relevant Specified Currency governed by an agreement incorporating the 2006 ISDA Definitions (as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., and as amended and updated as at the Issue Date of the first Tranche of the Notes of the relevant Series); or |
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| (ii) | on the basis of a reference rate appearing on the agreed screen page of a commercial quotation service; or |
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| (iii) | on such other basis as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer. |
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| Notes. | The margin (if any) relating to such floating rate will be agreed between the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer for each Series of Floating Rate |
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| Floating Rate Notes may also have a maximum interest rate, a minimum interest rate or both. |
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| Interest on Floating Rate Notes in respect of each Interest Period, as agreed prior to issue by the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer, will be payable on such Interest Payment Dates, and will be calculated on the basis of such Day Count Fraction, as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer and the relevant Dealer. |
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| Zero Coupon Notes: | Zero Coupon Notes will be offered and sold at a discount to their nominal amount and will not bear interest. |
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| Redemption: | The applicable Final Terms will indicate either that the relevant Notes cannot be redeemed prior to their stated maturity (other than for taxation reasons or following an Event of Default) or that such Notes will be redeemable at the option of the relevant Issuer and/or the Noteholders upon giving notice to the Noteholders or the relevant Issuer, as the case may be, |
| on a date or dates specified prior to such stated maturity and at a price or prices and on such other terms as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and the relevant Dealer. |
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| Notes having a maturity of less than one year may be subject to restrictions on their denomination and distribution, see "Certain Restrictions – Notes having a maturity of less than one year" above. |
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| Denomination of Notes: | The Notes will be issued in such denominations as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and the relevant Dealer save that the minimum denomination of each Note will be such as may be allowed or required from time to time by the relevant central bank (or equivalent body) or any laws or regulations applicable to the relevant Specified Currency, see "Certain Restrictions – Notes having a maturity of less than one year" above and save that the minimum denomination of each Note admitted to trading on a regulated market within the European Economic Area or offered to the public in a Member State of the European Economic Area in circumstances which would otherwise require the publication of a prospectus under the Prospectus Directive will be €100,000 (or, if the Notes are denominated in a currency other than euro, the equivalent amount in such currency). |
| Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Final Terms, the minimum denomination of each Definitive IAI Registered Note will be U.S.\$500,000 or its approximate equivalent in other Specified Currencies. |
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| Taxation: | All payments in respect of the Notes will be made without deduction for or on account of withholding taxes imposed by any Tax Jurisdiction, subject as provided in Condition 9. In the event that any such deduction is made, the relevant Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) will, save in certain limited circumstances provided in Condition 9, be required to pay additional amounts to cover the amounts so deducted. |
| Negative Pledge: | The terms of the Notes will contain a negative pledge provision as further described in Condition 4. |
| Cross Default: | The terms of the Notes will contain a cross default provision as further described in Condition 11. |
| Status of the Notes: | The Notes will constitute direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and, subject to the provisions of Condition 4, unsecured obligations of the relevant Issuer and will rank pari passu among themselves and (save for certain obligations required to be preferred by law) equally with all other unsecured obligations (other than subordinated obligations, if any) of the relevant Issuer, from time to time outstanding. |
| Status of the Guarantee: | Only Notes issued by AAFS will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Guarantor. |
| The obligations of AAFS and the Guarantor under the Guaranteed Notes will constitute direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and, subject to the provisions of Condition 4, unsecured obligations of AAFS and the Guarantor and will rank pari passu amongst themselves and (save for certain obligations required to be preferred by law) equally with all other unsecured obligations (other than subordinated obligations, if any) of |
AAFS and the Guarantor, from time to time outstanding.
| Rating: | The Programme has been rated A- by S & P. Series of Notes issued under the Programme may be rated or unrated. Where a Series of Notes is rated, such rating will be disclosed in the applicable Final Terms and will not necessarily be the same as the ratings assigned to the Programme. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. |
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| Listing and admission to trading: |
Application has been made for Notes issued under the Programme to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. |
| Notes may be listed or admitted to trading, as the case may be, on such other or further stock exchange(s) or market(s) as may be agreed between the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and the relevant Dealer in relation to the Series. Notes which are neither listed nor admitted to trading on any market may also be issued. |
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| In particular, whilst it is not their intention to do so concurrently with the approval of this Offering Circular, the Issuers and the Guarantor may request that the UKLA provide a certificate of approval to the competent authorities in Luxembourg and Sweden, which (subject to compliance with any requirements in connection with such listing) will permit Notes to be listed on the regulated markets in Luxembourg and Sweden. |
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| The applicable Final Terms will state whether or not the relevant Notes are to be listed and, if so, on which stock exchange(s). |
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| Governing Law: | The Notes and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with them are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law. |
| Selling Restrictions: | There are restrictions on the offer, sale and transfer of the Notes in the United States, the European Economic Area (including the United Kingdom and Sweden) and Japan and such other restrictions as may be required in connection with the offering and sale of a particular Tranche of Notes, see "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions". |
| United States Selling Restrictions: |
Regulation S, Category 2 – TEFRA C or D/TEFRA not applicable, as specified in the applicable Final Terms. |
Each of AA and AAFS believes that the following factors may affect its ability to fulfil its obligations under Notes issued under the Programme. All of these factors are contingencies which may or may not occur and neither AA nor AAFS is in a position to express a view on the likelihood of any such contingency occurring.
In addition, factors which are material for the purpose of assessing the market risks associated with Notes issued under the Programme are also described below.
Each of AA and AAFS believes that the factors described below represent the principal risks inherent in investing in Notes issued under the Programme, but the inability of the relevant Issuer or the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) to pay interest, principal or other amounts on or in connection with any Notes may occur for other reasons and none of the Issuers nor the Guarantor represents that the statements below regarding the risks of holding any Notes are exhaustive. Prospective investors should also read the detailed information set out elsewhere in this Offering Circular (including the documents incorporated by reference) and reach their own views prior to making any investment decision.
AAFS is responsible for interest-bearing assets and liabilities, currency trading, derivatives and borrowing within the Group (as defined in the business description of AA). AAFS operations are carried out according to centrally determined risk mandates and limits, intended to limit the currency, interest rate, financing and credit risks in relation to financial instruments to which the Group is exposed.
In conducting its operations, AAFS is exposed to various types of financial risks (as further described under the heading "Financial risks" on page 13 of this Offering Circular). One of the risks that can affect AAFS's obligations under the Programme is credit risk; a counterparty's failure to fulfil its contractual obligations under loan agreements and/or derivative contracts. Other risks that can be encountered are currency risk, interest rate risk, financing risk and risk related to financial instruments.
As an international group with a wide geographic spread, the Group is exposed to various forms of strategic, operational and financial risks. Strategic risks refer to changes in the business environment with potentially significant effects on the Group's operations and business objectives. Operational risks comprise risks directly attributable to business operations, entailing a potential impact on the Group's financial position and performance. Financial risks mainly comprise currency risk, interest rate risk, financing risk, credit risk, and risk associated with the Group's pension obligations. Both strategic risks and operational risks entail a potential impact on the Group's financial position and performance.
AA cannot guarantee that the Group can meet all local environmental laws, controls and regulations or that all such laws, controls and regulations have been met in the past. In the event of changes to environmental laws, regulations, enforcement policies or of the legal environment or in case of accidental environmental pollution, there can be no assurance that increased costs and liabilities will not be incurred, which could have an adverse effect on the Group's business, operational results and financial condition.
Actions of competitors may affect demand for different products and their profitability. In recent years lowprice competition, mainly from Asia, has increased in some segments. Quality features, total solutions and breadth of product range have become natural responses to reduce such risks.
The Group regularly engages in the acquisition of companies operating in the same or adjacent line of business. Growth by acquisition is a risk factor due to the difficulties of integrating different businesses and employees. From time to time the Group may also divest parts that do not, in the long-term, fit the Group's operations. The Group may encounter large administrational cost as well as restructuring costs connected with acquisitions and divestments. AA cannot guarantee that acquisitions or divestments are successful or that the Group will succeed in integrating acquired businesses or that they will perform as expected once acquired.
The Group implements specific restructuring programmes, which entail some production units changing focus, mainly to final assembly, while certain units are closed. The restructuring programmes are carried on as a series of projects with stipulated activities and schedules. The various projects are systematically monitored on a regular basis. However, there can be no assurances that these measures will generate the level of cost savings that the Group has estimated going forward.
The Group is exposed to price risk related to purchases of certain commodities (primarily metals) used as raw materials in its business. Unanticipated increases in the prices of raw material or components could adversely affect the financial results of the Group's business, even though the Group historically has been successful in passing on such increases to distributors and end-customers.
The Group owns or otherwise has rights to a number of patents and trademarks, relating to the products it manufactures, which have been obtained over a period of years. These patents and trademarks have been of value in the growth of the Group's business and may continue to be of value in the future. AA does not regard any of the Group's businesses as being dependent upon any single patent or trademark (or group of patents or group of trademarks). However, an inability to protect intellectual property may have an adverse effect on the Group's business, operational results and financial condition.
The Group has insurance programmes with respect to, among other things, the Group's property, business interruption and product liability risks. As a natural part of the Group's different activities, measures to limit the effects of damages are continually taken, often in co-operation with external insurance advisors. In such context, standards for desired safeguard levels are established in order to reduce the probability of material damage and to guarantee deliveries to the customers. While the Group holds property insurance, including business interruption, and product liability insurance, in amounts AA believes to be appropriate, there can be no assurances that the Group will be able to fully recover such amounts or that recovered amounts will be sufficient to cover the Group's losses.
AA continuously monitors anticipated and implemented changes in legislation in the countries in which it operates. From time to time the Group is involved in legal disputes, mainly concerned with such matters as product liability, protection of intangible rights, the environment, and the interpretation of supplier, distribution and employment contracts. Where it is considered necessary, local legal expertise is engaged to deal with these matters. With the aim of charting and controlling legal risks, there is a system of regular Group-wide reporting of outstanding legal matters. This is managed and coordinated by the Group's central legal function. At present there are no legal disputes that it is believed could lead to significant costs for the Group. However, there can be no assurance that the Group will not become subject to legal disputes that may have an adverse effect on the Group's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Group has global market penetration, with sales and production in a large number of countries, and is subject to the effects of general global economic conditions as well as conditions unique to a specific country or region. The emphasis is on West Europe and North America, but the proportion of sales in Asia and in Central and East Europe has increased in recent years. Its business operations in emerging markets may to a greater extent be subject to various political, economic and social conditions which may include nationalisation of assets, social, political or economical instability, volatility in currency exchange rates and restrictions on repatriation of profits and transfers of cash which all could have an adverse effect on the Group's business, operational results and financial condition.
Changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers, price or exchange controls or other governmental policies in the countries where the Group is doing business could limit its operations and make the repatriation of profits difficult. In addition, the uncertainty of the legal environment in some regions could limit the Group's ability to enforce its rights. In addition the Group must comply with the export control regulations of the countries and any trade embargoes in force. Although the Group seeks to comply with all such regulations, there can be no assurance that the Group will be compliant with all relevant regulations and such violations, even unintentional violations could have an adverse effect on its business and operational results.
Since the Group sells its products in countries worldwide and has companies all over the world, the Group is exposed to the effects of exchange rate fluctuations. Such changes affect Group earnings when the income statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated to Swedish krona (translation exposure), and when products are exported and sold in countries outside the country of production (transaction exposure). Translation exposure is primarily related to earnings in U.S. dollars and euro. This type of exposure is not hedged. Currency risk in the form of transaction exposure, i.e. the relative values of exports and imports of goods, is fairly limited in the Group, though it is expected to increase over time due to rationalisation in production and purchasing. In accordance with the financial policy, the Group in principle does not currently hedge any transaction currency flows. As a result exchange rate fluctuations may have a direct impact on the Group's business, operational results and financial condition.
Exchange rate fluctuations also affect the Group's debt-equity ratio and equity. The difference between the assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries in the respective foreign currency is affected by exchange rate fluctuations and causes a translation difference which affects the Group's comprehensive income. A general weakening of the Swedish krona leads to an increase in net debt, but at the same time increases Group equity.
Interest rate fluctuations have a direct impact on the Group's net interest expense. The net interest expense is also impacted by the size of the Group's net debt and its currency composition.
The Group manages its exposure to changes in interest rates through a mix of fixed rate debt and variable rate debt in its total debt portfolio. To manage this mix, the Group may enter into interest rate swap agreements. There can no be assurance, however, that existing or future swap agreements will manage the interest rate risk successfully, if at all.
Financing risk refers to the risk that financing the Group's capital requirements and refinancing outstanding loans become more difficult or more expensive. The Group strives to have access, on every occasion, to both short-term and long-term loan facilities. However, there can be no guarantee that the Group would be able to obtain external credit or at prices acceptable to the Group. The Group's access to funding is dependant upon its credit rating and may decrease or become more expensive as a result of the Group's operational and financial condition and market conditions.
Credit risk arises in ordinary business operations and as a result of the financial transactions carried out by Group Treasury. Accounts receivable are spread across a large number of customers, which reduces the credit risk. Credit risks relating to operational business activities are managed locally at company level and reviewed at division level.
Financial risk management exposes the Group to certain counterparty risks. Such exposure may arise, for example, from the placement of surplus cash, borrowings and derivative financial instruments.
The Group's policy is to limit the potential credit risk from cash surplus by having limited cash in bank accounts and by using cash available from subsidiaries to amortise AA's debt. Credit risk in derivative financial instruments is monitored and calculated according to risk factors set in the Group policy to limit counterparty risk.
Derivative financial instruments such as currency and interest-rate forwards are used to the extent necessary. The use of derivative financial instruments is to reduce exposure to financial risks. Derivative financial instruments are not used with speculative intent.
The value of goodwill and other intangible assets of the Group as well as other fixed assets is evaluated regularly to determine whether events or circumstances indicate that the value of the fixed assets are impaired. These evaluations include judgments made by management. Future events could cause the Group to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that a fixed asset is impaired. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on the Group's business, financial condition and operational results.
As of 31 December 2011 the Group had provision for pensions and similar obligations of SEK 1,173 million. Calculating pension and similar obligations require management to make assumptions on discount rate, expected return on plan assets and rate of compensation increase. Actual results could differ from the assumptions made. Contribution of additional amounts to the Group's pension schemes may be required which could have a negative effect on the Group's operational results and financial condition.
A range of Notes may be issued under the Programme. A number of these Notes may have features which contain particular risks for potential investors. Set out below is a description of the most common such features:
If the relevant Issuer has the right to redeem any Notes at its option, this may limit the market value of the Notes concerned and an investor may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a manner which achieves a similar effective return
An optional redemption feature of Notes is likely to limit their market value. During any period when the relevant Issuer may elect to redeem Notes, the market value of those Notes generally will not rise substantially above the price at which they can be redeemed. This also may be true prior to any redemption period.
The relevant Issuer may be expected to redeem Notes when its cost of borrowing is lower than the interest rate on the Notes. At those times, an investor generally would not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the Notes being redeemed and may only be able to do so at a significantly lower rate. Potential investors should consider reinvestment risk in light of other investments available at that time.
If the relevant Issuer has the right to convert the interest rate on any Notes from a fixed rate to a floating rate, or vice versa, this may affect the secondary market and the market value of the Notes concerned
Fixed/Floating Rate Notes are Notes which may bear interest at a rate that converts from a fixed rate to a floating rate, or from a floating rate to a fixed rate. Where the relevant Issuer has the right to effect such a conversion, this will affect the secondary market and the market value of the Notes since the relevant Issuer may be expected to convert the rate when it is likely to produce a lower overall cost of borrowing. If the relevant Issuer converts from a fixed rate to a floating rate in such circumstances, the spread on the Fixed/Floating Rate Notes may be less favourable than then prevailing spreads on comparable Floating Rate Notes tied to the same reference rate. In addition, the new floating rate at any time may be lower than the rates on other Notes. If the relevant Issuer converts from a floating rate to a fixed rate in such circumstances, the fixed rate may be lower than then prevailing market rates.
Notes which are issued at a substantial discount or premium may experience price volatility in response to changes in market interest rates
The market values of securities issued at a substantial discount (such as Zero Coupon Notes) or premium to their nominal amount tend to fluctuate more in relation to general changes in interest rates than do prices for more conventional interest-bearing securities. Generally, the longer the remaining term of such securities, the greater the price volatility as compared to more conventional interest-bearing securities with comparable maturities.
Set out below is a brief description of certain risks relating to the Notes generally:
The conditions of the Notes contain provisions for calling meetings of Noteholders to consider matters affecting their interests generally. These provisions permit defined majorities to bind all Noteholders including Noteholders who did not attend and vote at the relevant meeting and Noteholders who voted in a manner contrary to the majority.
The conditions of the Notes also provide that the Agent, the relevant Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor may agree, without the consent of the Noteholders or Couponholders, to:
Any such modification shall be binding on the Noteholders and the Couponholders.
Under EC Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income, Member States are required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest (or similar income) paid by a person within its jurisdiction to an individual resident in that other Member State or to certain limited types of entities established in that other Member State. However, for a transitional period, Luxembourg and Austria are instead required (unless during that period they elect otherwise) to operate a withholding system in relation to such payments (the ending of such transitional period being dependent upon the conclusion of certain other agreements relating to information exchange with certain other countries). A number of non-EU countries and territories (including Switzerland) have adopted similar measures (a withholding system in the case of Switzerland). The European Commission has proposed certain amendments to the Directive which may, if implemented, amend or broaden the scope of the requirements described above.
If a payment were to be made or collected through a Member State which has opted for a withholding system and an amount of, or in respect of, tax were to be withheld from that payment, neither the relevant Issuer nor any Paying Agent nor any other person would be obliged to pay additional amounts with respect to any Note as a result of the imposition of such withholding tax. AA and AAFS are required to maintain a Paying Agent in a Member State that will not be obliged to withhold or deduct tax pursuant to the Directive.
The conditions of the Notes are based on English law in effect as at the date of this Offering Circular. No assurance can be given as to the impact of any possible judicial decision or change to English law or administrative practice after the date of this Offering Circular and any such change could materially adversely impact the value of any Notes affected by it.
In relation to any issue of Notes which have denominations consisting of a minimum Specified Denomination plus one or more higher integral multiples of another smaller amount, it is possible that such Notes may be traded in amounts that are not integral multiples of such minimum Specified Denomination. In such a case a holder who, as a result of trading such amounts, holds an amount which is less than the minimum Specified Denomination in his account with the relevant clearing system at the relevant time may not receive a definitive Note in respect of such holding (should definitive Notes be printed) and would need to purchase a nominal amount of Notes such that its holding amounts to a Specified Denomination.
If such Notes in definitive form are issued, holders should be aware that definitive Notes which have a denomination that is not an integral multiple of the minimum Specified Denomination may be illiquid and difficult to trade.
Notes issued under the Programme will be represented on issue by one or more Global Notes that may be deposited with a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or may be deposited with a nominee for DTC (each as defined under "Form of the Notes"). Except in the circumstances described in each Global Note, investors will not be entitled to receive Notes in definitive form. Each of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg and their respective direct and indirect participants will maintain records of the beneficial interests in each Global Note held through it. While the Notes are represented by a Global Note, investors will be able to trade their beneficial interests only through the relevant clearing systems and their respective participants.
While the Notes are represented by Global Notes, the relevant Issuer will discharge its payment obligation under the Notes by making payments through the relevant clearing systems. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the relevant clearing system and its participants to receive payments under the Notes. The relevant Issuer has no responsibility or liability for the records relating to, or payments made in respect of, beneficial interests in any Global Note.
Holders of beneficial interests in a Global Note will not have a direct right to vote in respect of the Notes so represented. Instead, such holders will be permitted to act only to the extent that they are enabled by the relevant clearing system and its participants to appoint appropriate proxies.
Set out below is a brief description of the principal market risks, including liquidity risk, exchange rate risk, interest rate risk and credit risk:
Notes may have no established trading market when issued, and one may never develop. If a market does develop, it may not be very liquid. Therefore, investors may not be able to sell their Notes easily or at prices that will provide them with a yield comparable to similar investments that have a developed secondary market. This is particularly the case for Notes that are especially sensitive to interest rate, currency or market risks.
The relevant Issuer will pay principal and interest on the Notes in the Specified Currency. This presents certain risks relating to currency conversions if an investor's financial activities are denominated principally in a currency or currency unit (the Investor's Currency) other than the Specified Currency. These include the risk that exchange rates may significantly change (including changes due to devaluation of the Specified Currency or revaluation of the Investor's Currency) and the risk that authorities with jurisdiction over the Investor's Currency may impose or modify exchange controls. An appreciation in the value of the Investor's Currency relative to the Specified Currency would decrease (1) the Investor's Currency-equivalent yield on the Notes, (2) the Investor's Currency equivalent value of the principal payable on the Notes and (3) the Investor's Currency equivalent market value of the Notes.
Government and monetary authorities may impose (as some have done in the past) exchange controls that could adversely affect an applicable exchange rate or the ability of the relevant Issuer to make payments in respect of the Notes. As a result, investors may receive less interest or principal than expected, or no interest or principal.
Investment in Fixed Rate Notes involves the risk that if market interest rates subsequently increase above the rate paid on the Fixed Rate Notes, this will adversely affect the value of the Fixed Rate Notes.
One or more independent credit rating agencies may assign credit ratings to the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor or the Notes. The ratings may not reflect the potential impact of all risks related to structure, market, additional factors discussed above, and other factors that may affect the value of the Notes. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised, suspended or withdrawn by its assigning rating agency at any time.
In general, European regulated investors are restricted under the CRA Regulation from using credit ratings for regulatory purposes, unless such ratings are issued by a credit rating agency established in the EU and registered under the CRA Regulation (and such registration has not been withdrawn or suspended), subject to transitional provisions that apply in certain circumstances whilst the registration application is pending. Such general restriction will also apply in the case of credit ratings issued by non-EU credit rating agencies, unless the relevant credit ratings are endorsed by an EU-registered credit rating agency or the relevant non-EU rating agency is certified in accordance with the CRA Regulation (and such endorsement action or certification, as the case may be, has not been withdrawn or suspended). The list of registered and certified rating agencies published by the ESMA on its website in accordance with the CRA Regulation is not conclusive evidence of the status of the relevant rating agency included in such list, as there may be delays between certain supervisory measures being taken against a relevant rating agency and the publication of the updated ESMA list. Certain information with respect to the credit rating agencies and ratings is set out on the cover of this Offering Circular.
The following documents, which have previously been filed with the Financial Services Authority, shall be incorporated in and form part of the Offering Circular:
The financial statements, auditors reports and Interim Report referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above constitute direct and accurate English translations of the original documents.
For the avoidance of doubt, information, documents or statements expressed to be incorporated by reference into any, or expressed to form part of any, of the documents referred to above do not form part of this Offering Circular.
Certain information contained in the documents listed above has not been incorporated by reference in this Offering Circular. Such information is either (i) not considered by the Issuer to be relevant for prospective investors in the Notes to be issued under the Programme or (ii) is covered elsewhere in this Offering Circular.
Following the publication of this Offering Circular a supplement may be prepared by the Issuers and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor and approved by the UK Listing Authority in accordance with Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive. Statements contained in any such supplement (or contained in any document incorporated by reference therein) shall, to the extent applicable (whether expressly, by implication or otherwise), be deemed to modify or supersede statements contained in this Offering Circular or in a document which is incorporated by reference in this Offering Circular. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not, except as so modified or superseded, constitute a part of this Offering Circular.
Copies of documents incorporated by reference in this Offering Circular are available for viewing at, and copies may be obtained from, the registered office of the relevant Issuer and the specified office of the Paying Agents in London. In addition, copies of the documents will be available at the website of the Regulatory News Service operated by the London Stock Exchange.
The Issuers and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor will, in the event of any significant new factor, material mistake or inaccuracy relating to information included in this Offering Circular which is capable of affecting the assessment of any Notes, prepare a supplement to this Offering Circular or publish a new Offering Circular for use in connection with any subsequent issue of Notes.
The Notes of each Series will either be in bearer form, with or without interest coupons attached, or registered form, without interest coupons attached. Bearer Notes will be issued outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (Regulation S) and Registered Notes will be issued both outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S and within the United States in reliance on Rule 144A or otherwise in private transactions that are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Each Tranche of Bearer Notes will be initially issued in the form of either a temporary bearer global note (a Temporary Bearer Global Note) or a permanent bearer global note (a Permanent Bearer Global Note and together with a Temporary Bearer Global Note, each a Bearer Global Note) as indicated in the applicable Final Terms, which, in either case, will (i) if the Bearer Global Notes are intended to be issued in new global note (NGN) form, as stated in the applicable Final Terms, be delivered on or prior to the original issue date of the Tranche to a common safekeeper (the Common Safekeeper) for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (Euroclear) and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (Clearstream, Luxembourg) and (ii) if the Bearer Global Notes are not intended to be issued in NGN form, be delivered on or prior to the original issue date of the Tranche to a common depositary (the Common Depositary) for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg.
Where the Global Notes issued in respect of any Tranche are in NGN form, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will be notified by or on behalf of the relevant Issuer whether or not such Global Notes are intended to be held in a manner which would allow Eurosystem eligibility.
Any indication that the Global Notes are to be so held does not necessarily mean that the Notes of the relevant Tranche will be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra-day credit operations by the Eurosystem either upon issue or at any times during their life as such recognition depends upon satisfaction of the Eurosystem eligibility criteria.
The Common Safekeeper for NGNs will either be Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or another entity approved by Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg.
Whilst any Bearer Note is represented by a Temporary Bearer Global Note, payments of principal, interest (if any) and any other amount payable in respect of the Notes due prior to the Exchange Date (as defined below) will be made (against presentation of the Temporary Bearer Global Note if the Temporary Bearer Global Note is not intended to be issued in NGN form) only to the extent that certification (in a form to be provided) to the effect that the beneficial owners of interests in Bearer Note are not U.S. persons or persons who have purchased for resale to any U.S. person, as required by U.S. Treasury regulations, has been received by Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as applicable, has given a like certification (based on the certifications it has received) to the Principal Paying Agent.
On and after the date (the Exchange Date) which is 40 days after a Temporary Bearer Global Note is issued, interests in such Temporary Bearer Global Note will be exchangeable (free of charge) upon a request as described therein either for (i) interests in a Permanent Bearer Global Note of the same Series or (ii) for definitive Bearer Notes of the same Series with, where applicable, interest coupons and talons attached (as indicated in the applicable Final Terms and subject, in the case of definitive Bearer Notes, to such notice period as is specified in the applicable Final Terms, provided that the applicable Final Terms may not specify the option described in paragraph (ii) above if the Specified Denominations of the Notes consists of a minimum Specified Denomination plus one or more higher integral multiples of another smaller amount), in each case against certification of beneficial ownership as described above unless such certification has already been given, provided that purchasers in the United States and certain U.S. persons will not be able to receive definitive Bearer Notes. The holder of a Temporary Bearer Global Note will not be entitled to collect any payment of interest, principal or other amount due on or after the Exchange Date unless, upon due certification, exchange of the Temporary Bearer Global Note for an interest in a Permanent Bearer Global Note or for definitive Bearer Notes is improperly withheld or refused.
Payments of principal, interest (if any) or any other amounts on a Permanent Bearer Global Note will be made through Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg (against presentation or surrender (as the case may be) of the Permanent Bearer Global Note if the Permanent Bearer Global Note is not intended to be issued in NGN form) without any requirement for certification.
The applicable Final Terms will specify that a Permanent Bearer Global Note will be exchangeable (free of charge), in whole but not in part, for definitive Bearer Notes with, where applicable, interest coupons and talons attached upon either (i) not less than 60 days' written notice from Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg (acting on the instructions of any holder of an interest in such Permanent Bearer Global Note) to the Principal Paying Agent as described therein or (ii) only upon the occurrence of an Exchange Event, provided that the applicable Final Terms may not specify the option described in paragraph (i) above if the Specified Denominations of the Notes consists of a minimum Specified Denomination plus one or more higher integral multiples of another smaller amount. For these purposes, Exchange Event means that (i) an Event of Default (as defined in Condition 11) has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the relevant Issuer has been notified that both Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg have been closed for business for a continuous period of 14 days (other than by reason of holiday, statutory or otherwise) or have announced an intention permanently to cease business or have in fact done so and no successor clearing system is available or (iii) the relevant Issuer has or will become subject to adverse tax consequences as a result of legislative changes in the domicile of the relevant Issuer which would not be suffered were the Notes represented by the Permanent Bearer Global Note in definitive form. The relevant Issuer will promptly give notice to Noteholders in accordance with Condition 15 if an Exchange Event occurs. In the event of the occurrence of an Exchange Event, Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg or the common depositary or the common safekeeper for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, on their behalf (acting on the instructions of any holder of an interest in such Permanent Bearer Global Note) may give notice to the Principal Paying Agent requesting exchange and, in the event of the occurrence of an Exchange Event as described in (iii) above, the relevant Issuer may also give notice to the Principal Paying Agent requesting exchange. Any such exchange shall occur not later than 45 days after the date of receipt of the first relevant notice by the Principal Paying Agent.
The following legend will appear on all Bearer Notes which have an original maturity of more than one year and on all interest coupons relating to such Notes:
"ANY UNITED STATES PERSON WHO HOLDS THIS OBLIGATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS UNDER THE UNITED STATES INCOME TAX LAWS, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 165(j) AND 1287(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE."
The sections referred to provide that United States holders, with certain exceptions, will not be entitled to deduct any loss on Bearer Notes or interest coupons and will not be entitled to capital gains treatment in respect of any gain on any sale, disposition, redemption or payment of principal in respect of such Notes or interest coupons.
Notes which are represented by a Bearer Global Note will only be transferable in accordance with the rules and procedures for the time being of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be.
The Registered Notes of each Tranche offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S, which will be sold to non-U.S. persons outside the United States, will initially be represented by a global note in registered form (a Regulation S Global Note). Prior to expiry of the distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) applicable to each Tranche of Notes, beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Note may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person save as otherwise provided in Condition 2 and may not be held otherwise than through Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg and such Regulation S Global Note will bear a legend regarding such restrictions on transfer.
The Registered Notes of each Tranche may only be offered and sold in the United States or to U.S. persons in private transactions (i) to "qualified institutional buyers" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act (QIBs) or (ii) to "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(l), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that are institutions (Institutional Accredited Investors) and who execute and deliver an IAI Investment Letter (as defined under "Terms and Conditions of the Notes") in which they agree to purchase the Notes for their own account and not with a view to the distribution thereof. The Registered Notes of each Tranche sold to QIBs will be represented by a global note in registered form (a Rule 144A Global Note and, together with a Regulation S Global Note, each a Registered Global Note).
Registered Global Notes will either (i) be deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of a nominee of, The Depository Trust Company (DTC) for its own account or for the accounts of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or (ii) be deposited with a common depositary or a common safekeeper, as the case may be, for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, and registered in the name of a common nominee of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or in the name of a nominee of the common safekeeper, as specified in the applicable Final Terms. Persons holding beneficial interests in Registered Global Notes will be entitled or required, as the case may be, under the circumstances described below, to receive physical delivery of definitive Notes in fully registered form.
The Registered Notes of each Tranche sold to Institutional Accredited Investors will be in definitive form, registered in the name of the holder thereof (Definitive IAI Registered Notes). Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Final Terms, Definitive IAI Registered Notes will be issued only in minimum denominations of U.S.\$500,000 and integral multiples of U.S.\$1,000 in excess thereof (or the approximate equivalents in the applicable Specified Currency). Definitive IAI Registered Notes will be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth therein and will bear the restrictive legend described under "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions". Institutional Accredited Investors that hold Definitive IAI Registered Notes may not elect to hold such Notes through DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, but transferees acquiring such Notes in transactions exempt from Securities Act registration pursuant to Regulation S or Rule 144A under the Securities Act (if available) may do so upon satisfaction of the requirements applicable to such transfer as described under "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions". The Registered Global Notes and the Definitive IAI Registered Notes will be subject to certain restrictions on transfer set forth therein and will bear a legend regarding such restrictions.
Payments of principal, interest and any other amount in respect of the Registered Global Notes will, in the absence of provision to the contrary, be made to the person shown on the Register (as defined in Condition 7(d)) as the registered holder of the Registered Global Notes. None of the Issuers, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) any Paying Agent or the Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments or deliveries made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Registered Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Payments of principal, interest or any other amount in respect of the Registered Notes in definitive form will, in the absence of provision to the contrary, be made to the persons shown on the Register on the relevant Record Date (as defined in Condition 7(d)) immediately preceding the due date for payment in the manner provided in that Condition.
Interests in a Registered Global Note will be exchangeable (free of charge), in whole but not in part, for definitive Registered Notes without interest coupons or talons attached only upon the occurrence of an Exchange Event. For these purposes, Exchange Event means that (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) in the case of Notes registered in the name of a nominee for DTC, either DTC has notified the relevant Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as depository for the Notes and no alternative clearing system is available or DTC has ceased to constitute a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and no alternative clearing system is available, (iii) in the case of Notes registered in the name of a nominee for a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or in the name of a nominee of the common safekeeper, as the case may be, the relevant Issuer has been notified that both Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg have been closed for business for a continuous period of 14 days (other than by reason of holiday, statutory or otherwise) or have announced an intention permanently to cease business or have in fact done so and, in any such case, no successor clearing system is available or (iv) the relevant Issuer has or will become subject to adverse tax consequences which would not be suffered were the Notes represented by the Registered Global Note in definitive form. The relevant Issuer will promptly give notice to Noteholders in accordance with Condition 15 if an Exchange Event occurs. In the event of the occurrence of an Exchange Event, DTC, Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any person acting on their behalf (acting on the instructions of any holder of an interest in such Registered Global Note) may give notice to the Registrar requesting exchange and, in the event of the occurrence of an Exchange Event as described in (iv) above, the relevant Issuer may also give notice to the Registrar requesting exchange. Any such exchange shall occur not later than 10 days after the date of receipt of the first relevant notice by the Registrar.
Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will be notified by or on behalf of the relevant Issuer whether or not Registered Global Notes are intended to be held in a manner which would allow Eurosystem eligibility.
Any indication that the Registered Global Notes are to be so held does not necessarily mean that the Notes of the relevant Tranche will be recognised as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra-day credit operations by the Eurosystem either upon issue or at any times during their life as such recognition depends upon satisfaction of the Eurosystem eligibility criteria.
Interests in a Registered Global Note may, subject to compliance with all applicable restrictions, be transferred to a person who wishes to hold such interest in another Registered Global Note or in the form of a Definitive IAI Registered Note and Definitive IAI Registered Notes may, subject to compliance with all applicable restrictions, be transferred to a person who wishes to hold such Notes in the form of an interest in a Registered Global Note. No beneficial owner of an interest in a Registered Global Note will be able to transfer such interest, except in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, in each case to the extent applicable. Registered Notes are also subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth therein and will bear a legend regarding such restrictions, see "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions".
Pursuant to the Agency Agreement (as defined under "Terms and Conditions of the Notes"), the Principal Paying Agent shall arrange that, where a further Tranche of Notes is issued which is intended to form a single Series with an existing Tranche of Notes at a point after the Issue Date of the further Tranche, the Notes of such further Tranche shall be assigned a common code and ISIN and, where applicable, a CUSIP and CINS number which are different from the common code, ISIN, CUSIP and CINS assigned to Notes of any other Tranche of the same Series until such time as the Tranches are consolidated and form a single Series, which shall not be prior to the expiry of the distribution compliance period (as defined under Regulation S) applicable to the Notes of such Tranche.
For so long as any of the Notes is represented by a Global Note held on behalf of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg each person (other than Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg) who is for the time being shown in the records of Euroclear or of Clearstream, Luxembourg as the holder of a particular nominal amount of such Notes (in which regard any certificate or other document issued by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg as to the nominal amount of such Notes standing to the account of any person shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes save in the case of manifest error) shall be treated by the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and their respective agents as the holder of such nominal amount of such Notes for all purposes other than with respect to the payment of principal or interest on such nominal amount of such Notes, for which purpose the bearer of the relevant Bearer Global Note or the registered holder of the relevant Registered Global Note shall be treated by the relevant Issuer, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and their respective agents as the holder of such nominal amount of such Notes in accordance with and subject to the terms of the relevant Global Note and the expressions Noteholder and holder of Notes and related expressions shall be construed accordingly.
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner or holder of a Registered Global Note, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by such Registered Global Note for all purposes under the Agency Agreement and such Notes except to the extent that in accordance with DTC's published rules and procedures any ownership rights may be exercised by its participants or beneficial owners through participants.
Any reference herein to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or DTC shall, whenever the context so permits, be deemed to include a reference to any additional or alternative clearing system specified in the applicable Final Terms.
A Note may be accelerated by the holder thereof in certain circumstances described in Condition 11. In such circumstances, where any Note is still represented by a Global Note and the Global Note (or any part thereof) has become due and repayable in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of such Notes and payment in full of the amount due has not been made in accordance with the provisions of the Global Note then holders of interests in such Global Note credited to their accounts with Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or DTC, as the case may be, will become entitled to proceed directly against the relevant Issuer on the basis of statements of account provided by Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg and DTC on and subject to the terms of a deed of covenant (the Deed of Covenant) dated 22 September 2008 and executed by each of the Issuers. In addition, holders of interests in such Global Note credited to their accounts with DTC may require DTC to deliver definitive Notes in registered form in exchange for their interest in such Global Note in accordance with DTC's standard operating procedures.
Set out below is the form of Final Terms which will be completed for each Tranche of Notes issued under the Programme.
[Date]
[Terms used herein shall be deemed to be defined as such for the purposes of the conditions set forth in the Offering Circular dated 16 November 2012 ([the Offering Circular together with the supplement[s] to it dated [date] [and [date]], ]the Offering Circular). The Offering Circular constitutes a base prospectus for the purposes of Directive 2003/71/EC as amended (which includes the amendments made by Directive 2010/73/EU to the extent that such amendments have been implemented in a relevant Member State of the European Economic Area) (the Prospectus Directive). This document constitutes the Final Terms of the Notes described herein for the purposes of Article 5.4 of the Prospectus Directive and must be read in conjunction with the Offering Circular. Full information on the Issuer and the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and the offer of the Notes is only available on the basis of the combination of these Final Terms and the Offering Circular. The Offering Circular has been published on the website of the London Stock Exchange through a regulatory information service (www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-newshome.html).]
The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) unless an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available and in accordance with all applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and any other jurisdiction.
Terms used herein shall be deemed to be defined as such for the purposes of the Conditions (the Conditions) set forth in the Offering Circular dated [original date] which are incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular dated 16 November 2012. This document constitutes the Final Terms of the Notes described herein for the purpose of Article 5.4 of Directive 2003/71/EC as amended (which includes the amendments made by Directive 2010/73/EU to the extent that such amendments have been implemented in a relevant Member State of the European Economic Area) (the Prospective Directive) and must be read in conjunction with the Offering Circular dated 16 November 2012, [and the supplement[s] to it dated [date] [and [date]]] (the Offering Circular) which [together] constitute[s] a base prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive, including the Conditions incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular. Full information on the Issuer and the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) and the offer of the Notes is only available on the basis of the combination of these Final Terms and the Offering Circular. The Offering Circular has been published on the website of the London Stock Exchange through a regulatory information service (www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html).]
| 1. | (i) | Issuer: | [ASSA ABLOY AB (publ)/ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB (publ)] |
|---|---|---|---|
| (ii) | [Guarantor: | [ASSA ABLOY AB (publ)]] |
| 2. | (i) | Series Number: | [ | ] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (ii) | Tranche Number: | [ | ] | |
| (iii) | Date on which the Notes will be consolidated and form a single Series: |
[ | The Notes will be consolidated and form a single Series with [ ] on [the Issue Date/exchange of the Temporary Global Note for interests in the Permanent Global Note, as referred to in paragraph 20 below, which is expected to occur on or about ]][Not Applicable] |
|
| 3. | Specified Currency or Currencies: | [ | ] | |
| 4. | Aggregate Nominal Amount: | |||
| (i) | Series: | [ | ] | |
| (ii) | Tranche: | [ | ] | |
| 5. | Issue Price of Tranche: | [ | ] per cent. of the Aggregate Nominal Amount [plus accrued interest from [ ]] |
|
| 6. | (i) | Specified Denominations: | [ | ] |
| (ii) | Calculation Amount: | [ | ] | |
| 7. | (i) | Issue Date: | [ | ] |
| (ii) | Interest Commencement Date: | [[ | ]/Issue Date/Not Applicable] |
|
| 8. | Maturity Date: | [ [ |
] / [Interest Payment Date falling in or nearest to ]] |
|
| 9. | Interest Basis: | [[ [[ |
] per cent. Fixed Rate] ] +/– [ ] per cent. Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] (see paragraph 13/14/15 below) |
|
| 10. | Redemption Basis: | Subject to any purchase and cancellation or early redemption, the Notes will be redeemed on the Maturity Date at [ ] per cent. of their nominal amount |
||
| 11. | Change of Interest Basis: | [Not Applicable][For the period from (and including) the Interest Commencement Date, up to (but excluding) [ ] paragraph [13/14] applies and for the period from (and including) [ ], up to (and including) the Maturity Date, paragraph [13/14] applies] |
||
| 12. | Put/Call Options: | [Investor Put] [Issuer Call] [(see paragraph [16/17] below)] |
||
| PROVISIONS RELATING TO INTEREST (IF ANY) PAYABLE | ||||
| 13. | Fixed Rate Note Provisions | [Applicable/Not Applicable] |
| (i) | Rate(s) of Interest: | [ ] per cent. per annum payable in arrear on each Interest Payment Date |
|---|---|---|
| (ii) | Interest Payment Date(s): | [ ] in each year up to and including the Maturity Date |
(iii) Fixed Coupon Amount(s): [ ] per Calculation Amount
(i) Specified Period(s)/Specified Interest Payment Dates:
(iii) Additional Business Centre(s): [ ]
(iv) Broken Amount(s): [[ ] per Calculation Amount, payable on the Interest Payment Date falling [in/ on][ ]][Not Applicable]
(v) Day Count Fraction: [30/360] [Actual/ Actual (ICMA)]
(vi) Determination Date(s): [[ ] in each year] [Not Applicable]
[ ]
(ii) Business Day Convention: [Floating Rate Convention/Following Business Day Convention/Modified Following Business Day Convention/ Preceding Business Day Convention]
[Screen Rate Determination/ISDA Determination]
[ ]
Specified Time: [ ]
Relevant Financial Centre:
[London/Brussels/Stockholm/Oslo/Copenhagen/ Tokyo/Budapest/Prague/Warsaw/Istanbul/Bucharest/ Singapore/Hong Kong/Shanghai/Johannesburg/ Mexico City]
| [Actual/360] [30/360][360/360][Bond Basis] [30E/360][Eurobond Basis] [30E/360 (ISDA)] |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | Zero Coupon Note Provisions | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |||
| (i) | Accrual Yield: | [ | ] per cent. per annum |
||
| (ii) | Reference Price: | [ | ] | ||
| (iii) | Day Count Fraction in relation to Early Redemption Amounts: |
[30/360] [Actual/360] [Actual/365] |
|||
| PROVISIONS RELATING TO REDEMPTION | |||||
| 16. | Issuer Call: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |||
| (i) | Optional Redemption Date(s): | [ | ] | ||
| (ii) | Optional Redemption Amount: | [ | ] per Calculation Amount |
||
| (iii) | If redeemable in part: | ||||
| (a) | Minimum Redemption Amount: |
[ | ] | ||
| (b) | Maximum Redemption Amount: |
[ | ] | ||
| 17. | Investor Put: | [Applicable/Not Applicable] | |||
| (i) | Optional Redemption Date(s): | [ | ] | ||
| (ii) | Optional Redemption Amount: | [ | ] per Calculation Amount |
||
| 18. | Final Redemption Amount: | [ | ] per Calculation Amount |
||
| 19. | default: | Early Redemption Amount payable on redemption for taxation reasons or on event of |
[ | ] per Calculation Amount |
| 20. | Form of Notes: | [Bearer Notes: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | Form: | [Temporary Bearer Global Note exchangeable for a Permanent Bearer Global Note which is exchangeable for Definitive Notes [on 60 days' notice given at any time/only upon an Exchange Event]] |
|
| [Temporary Bearer Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes on and after the Exchange Date] |
|||
| [Permanent Bearer Global Note exchangeable for Definitive Notes [on 60 days' notice given at any time/only upon an Exchange Event]]] |
|||
| Notes shall not be physically delivered in Belgium, except to a clearing system, a depository or other institution for the purpose of their immobilisation in accordance with article 4 of the Belgian Law of 14 |
| December 2005. | ||
|---|---|---|
| [Registered Notes: [Regulation S Global Note (U.S.\$[ ] nominal amount) registered in the name of a nominee for [DTC/a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg/a common safekeeper for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg]]/[Rule 144A Global Note (U.S.\$[ ] nominal amount) registered in the name of a nominee for [DTC/a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg/a common safekeeper for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg]]/[Definitive IAI Registered Notes]] |
||
| (ii) New Global Note: |
[Yes] [No] | |
| 21. | Additional Financial Centre(s): | [Not Applicable/[ ]] |
| 22. | Talons for future Coupons to be attached to Definitive Bearer Notes: |
[Yes, as the Notes have more than 27 coupon payments, Talons may be required if, on exchange into definitive form, more than 27 coupon payments are still to be made /No.] |
[[Relevant third party information] has been extracted from [specify source]. The Issuer confirms that such information has been accurately reproduced and that, so far as it is aware and is able to ascertain from information published by [specify source], no facts have been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading.]
Signed on behalf of [ASSA ABLOY AB (publ)/ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB (publ)]:
By: ______________________
Duly authorised
[Signed on behalf of ASSA ABLOY AB (publ):
By: ______________________
Duly authorised]
| (i) | Listing and admission to trading: | [London][Luxembourg][Stockholm][Not Applicable] |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| (ii) | Estimate of total expenses related to admission to trading: |
[ | ] |
Ratings: [The Notes to be issued [[have been]/[are expected to be]] rated:][The following rating[s] reflect[s] ratings assigned to Notes of this type issued under the Programme generally:]
| [Moody's: | [ | ]] |
|---|---|---|
| [S & P: | [ | ]] |
[Save for any fees payable to the [Managers/Dealers], so far as the Issuer is aware, no person involved in the issue of the Notes has an interest material to the offer. The [Managers/Dealers] and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment banking and/or commercial banking transactions with, and may perform other services for, the Issuer and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.]
Indication of yield: [ ]
The yield is calculated at the Issue Date on the basis of the Issue Price. It is not an indication of future yield.
| (i) | ISIN Code: | [ ] |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| (ii) | Common Code: | [ ] |
|
| (iii) | Any clearing system(s) other than DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg and the relevant identification number (s): |
[Not Applicable/[ | ]] |
| (iv) | Names and addresses of initial Paying Agent(s) (if any): |
[ ] |
|
| (v) | Names and addresses of additional Paying Agent(s) (if any): |
[ ] |
U.S. Selling Restrictions: [Reg. S Compliance Category 2; TEFRA D/TEFRA C/TEFRA not applicable]
The following are the Terms and Conditions of the Notes which will be incorporated by reference into each Global Note (as defined below) and each definitive Note, in the latter case only if permitted by the relevant stock exchange (if any) and agreed by the Issuer, (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor and the relevant Dealer at the time of issue but, if not so permitted and agreed, such definitive Note will have endorsed thereon or attached thereto such Terms and Conditions. The applicable Final Terms (or the relevant provisions thereof) will be endorsed upon, or attached to, each Global Note and definitive Note. Reference should be made to "Form of Final Terms" for a description of the content of Final Terms which will specify which of such terms are to apply in relation to the relevant Notes.
This Note is one of a Series (as defined below) of Notes issued by the Issuer named in the applicable Final Terms (as defined below) (the Issuer) pursuant to the Agency Agreement (as defined below).
References herein to the Notes shall be references to the Notes of this Series and shall mean:
The Notes and the Coupons (as defined below) have the benefit of an Amended and Restated Agency Agreement dated 16 November 2012 (as amended and/or supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the Agency Agreement) each made between ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB (publ) (AAFS) as an issuer, ASSA ABLOY AB (publ) (AA) as an issuer and as a guarantor of Notes issued by AAFS (in its capacity as such, the Guarantor), Citibank, N.A., London Branch as issuing and principal paying agent and agent bank (the Principal Paying Agent, which expression shall include any successor principal paying agent) and the other paying agents named therein (together with the Principal Paying Agent, the Paying Agents, which expression shall include any additional or successor paying agents) and Citibank, N.A., London Branch as exchange agent (the Exchange Agent, which expression shall include any successor exchange agent) and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG as registrar (the Registrar, which expression shall include any successor registrar) and a transfer agent and the other transfer agents named therein (together with the Registrar, the Transfer Agents, which expression shall include any additional or successor transfer agents).
Interest bearing definitive Bearer Notes have interest coupons (Coupons) and, in the case of Notes which, when issued in definitive form, have more than 27 interest payments remaining, talons for further Coupons (Talons) attached on issue. Any reference herein to Coupons or coupons shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to include a reference to Talons or talons. Registered Notes and Global Notes do not have Coupons or Talons attached on issue.
The final terms for this Note (or the relevant provisions thereof) are set out in Part A of the Final Terms attached to or endorsed on this Note which supplement these Terms and Conditions. References to the applicable Final Terms are, unless otherwise stated, to Part A of the Final Terms (or the relevant provisions thereof) attached to or endorsed on this Note.
If this Note is issued by AA, references in these Terms and Conditions to Guarantor and Guarantee, and related expressions, are not applicable.
Notes issued by AAFS (Guaranteed Notes) will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to a guarantee (such guarantee as modified and/or supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the Guarantee) dated 22 September 2008 and executed by the Guarantor. The original of the Guarantee is held by the Principal Paying Agent on behalf of the Noteholders and the Couponholders at its specified office.
Any reference to Noteholders or holders in relation to any Notes shall mean (in the case of Bearer Notes) the holders of the Notes and (in the case of Registered Notes) the persons in whose name the Notes are registered and shall, in relation to any Notes represented by a Global Note, be construed as provided below. Any reference herein to Couponholders shall mean the holders of the Coupons and shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include the holders of the Talons.
As used herein, Tranche means Notes which are identical in all respects (including as to listing and admission to trading) and Series means a Tranche of Notes together with any further Tranche or Tranches of Notes which are (i) expressed to be consolidated and form a single series and (ii) identical in all respects (including as to listing and admission to trading) except for their respective Issue Dates, Interest Commencement Dates and/or Issue Prices.
The Noteholders and the Couponholders are entitled to the benefit of the Deed of Covenant (such Deed of Covenant as modified and/or supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the Deed of Covenant) dated 22 September 2008 and made by, inter alia, the Issuer. The original of the Deed of Covenant is held by the common depositary for Euroclear (as defined below) and Clearstream, Luxembourg (as defined below).
Copies of the Agency Agreement, the Guarantee, a deed poll (the Deed Poll) dated 22 September 2008 and made by the Issuer and the Deed of Covenant are available for inspection during normal business hours at the registered office of each of the Principal Paying Agents, the Registrar and the other Paying Agents and Transfer Agents (such Agents and the Registrar being together referred to as the Agents). If the Notes are to be admitted to trading on the regulated market of the London Stock Exchange the applicable Final Terms will be published on the website of the London Stock Exchange through a regulatory information service. If this Note is neither admitted to trading on a regulated market in the European Economic Area nor offered in the European Economic Area in circumstances where a prospectus is required to be published under the Prospectus Directive, the applicable Final Terms will only be obtainable by a Noteholder holding one or more unlisted Notes of that Series and such Noteholder must produce evidence satisfactory to the Issuer and the relevant Agent as to its holding of such Notes and identity. In addition, copies of each Final Terms relating to the Notes which are either admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market or offered in the United Kingdom in circumstances where a prospectus is required to be published under the Prospectus Directive will be available at the website of the Regulatory News Service operated by the London Stock Exchange. Copies of each Final Terms relating to Notes which are admitted to trading on any other regulated market in the European Economic Area or offered in any other Member State of the European Economic Area in circumstances where a prospectus is required to be published under the Prospectus Directive will be available for viewing in accordance with Article 14(2) of the Prospectus Directive and the rules and regulations of the relevant regulated market. The Noteholders and the Couponholders are deemed to have notice of, and are entitled to the benefit of, all the provisions of the Agency Agreement, the Guarantee, the Deed Poll, the Deed of Covenant and the applicable Final Terms which are applicable to them. The statements in these Terms and Conditions include summaries of, and are subject to, the detailed provisions of the Agency Agreement.
Words and expressions defined in the Agency Agreement or used in the applicable Final Terms shall have the same meanings where used in these Terms and Conditions unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise stated and provided that, in the event of inconsistency between the Agency Agreement and the applicable Final Terms, the applicable Final Terms will prevail.
In these Terms and Conditions, euro means the currency introduced at the start of the third stage of European economic and monetary union pursuant to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as amended.
The Notes are in bearer form or in registered form as specified in the applicable Final Terms and, in the case of definitive Notes, serially numbered, in the currency (the Specified Currency) and the denominations (the Specified Denomination(s)) specified in the applicable Final Terms. Notes of one Specified Denomination may not be exchanged for Notes of another Specified Denomination and Bearer Notes may not be exchanged for Registered Notes and vice versa.
This Note may be a Fixed Rate Note, a Floating Rate Note or a Zero Coupon Note or a combination of any of the foregoing, depending upon the Interest Basis shown in the applicable Final Terms.
Definitive Bearer Notes are issued with Coupons attached, unless they are Zero Coupon Notes in which case references to Coupons and Couponholders in these Terms and Conditions are not applicable.
Subject as set out below, title to the Bearer Notes and Coupons will pass by delivery and title to the Registered Notes will pass upon registration of transfers in accordance with the provisions of the Agency Agreement. The Issuer, the Guarantor and any Agent will (except as otherwise required by law) deem and treat the bearer of any Bearer Note or Coupon and the registered holder of any Registered Note as the absolute owner thereof (whether or not overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon or notice of any previous loss or theft thereof) for all purposes but, in the case of any Global Note, without prejudice to the provisions set out in the next succeeding paragraph.
For so long as any of the Notes is represented by a Global Note held on behalf of Euroclear Bank S.A./ N.V. (Euroclear) and/or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (Clearstream, Luxembourg), each person (other than Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg) who is for the time being shown in the records of Euroclear or of Clearstream, Luxembourg as the holder of a particular nominal amount of such Notes (in which regard any certificate or other document issued by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg as to the nominal amount of such Notes standing to the account of any person shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes save in the case of manifest error) shall be treated by the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Agents as the holder of such nominal amount of such Notes for all purposes other than with respect to the payment of principal or interest on such nominal amount of such Notes, for which purpose the bearer of the relevant Bearer Global Note or the registered holder of the relevant Registered Global Note shall be treated by the Issuer, the Guarantor and any Agent as the holder of such nominal amount of such Notes in accordance with and subject to the terms of the relevant Global Note and the expressions Noteholder and holder of Notes and related expressions shall be construed accordingly.
For so long as the Depository Trust Company (DTC) or its nominee is the registered owner or holder of a Registered Global Note, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by such Registered Global Note for all purposes under the Agency Agreement and the Notes except to the extent that in accordance with DTC's published rules and procedures any ownership rights may be exercised by its participants or beneficial owners through participants.
Notes which are represented by a Global Note will be transferable only in accordance with the rules and procedures for the time being of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be. References to DTC, Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg shall, whenever the context so permits, be deemed to include a reference to any additional or alternative clearing system specified in Part B of the applicable Final Terms.
Transfers of beneficial interests in Registered Global Notes will be effected by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, and, in turn, by other participants and, if appropriate, indirect participants in such clearing systems acting on behalf of beneficial transferors and transferees of such interests. A beneficial interest in a Registered Global Note will, subject to compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory restrictions, be transferable for Notes in definitive form or for a beneficial interest in another Registered Global Note only in the authorised denominations set out in the applicable Final Terms and only in accordance with the rules and operating procedures for the time being of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, and in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the Agency Agreement. Transfers of a Registered Global Note registered in the name of a nominee for DTC shall be limited to transfers of such Registered Global Note, in whole but not in part, to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or such successor's nominee.
Subject as provided in paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) below, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agency Agreement, a Registered Note in definitive form may be transferred in whole or in part (in the authorised denominations set out in the applicable Final Terms). In order to effect any such transfer (i) the holder or holders must (A) surrender the Registered Note for registration of the transfer of the Registered Note (or the relevant part of the Registered Note) at the specified office of the Registrar or any Transfer Agent, with the form of transfer thereon duly executed by the holder or holders thereof or his or their attorney or attorneys duly authorised in writing and (B) complete and deposit such other certifications as may be required by the Registrar or, as the case may be, the relevant Transfer Agent and (ii) the Registrar or, as the case may be, the relevant Transfer Agent must, after due and careful enquiry, be satisfied with the documents of title and the identity of the person making the request and that the transfer is in compliance with the transfer restrictions set forth in such Registered Note. Any such transfer will be subject to such reasonable regulations as the Issuer and the Registrar may from time to time prescribe (the initial such regulations being set out in Schedule 10 to the Agency Agreement). Subject as provided above, the Registrar or, as the case may be, the relevant Transfer Agent will, within three business days (being for this purpose a day on which banks are open for business in the city where the specified office of the Registrar or, as the case may be, the relevant Transfer Agent is located) of the request (or such longer period as may be required to comply with any applicable fiscal or other laws or regulations), authenticate and deliver, or procure the authentication and delivery of, at its specified office to the transferee or (at the risk of the transferee) send by uninsured mail, to such address as the transferee may request, a new Registered Note in definitive form of a like aggregate nominal amount to the Registered Note (or the relevant part of the Registered Note) transferred. In the case of the transfer of part only of a Registered Note in definitive form, a new Registered Note in definitive form in respect of the balance of the Registered Note not transferred will be so authenticated and delivered or (at the risk of the transferor) sent to the transferor.
In the event of a partial redemption of Notes under Condition 8, the Issuer shall not be required to register the transfer of any Registered Note, or part of a Registered Note, called for partial redemption.
(d) Costs of registration
Noteholders will not be required to bear the costs and expenses of effecting any registration of transfer as provided above, except for any costs or expenses of delivery other than by regular uninsured mail and except that the Issuer may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp duty, tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation to the registration.
Prior to expiry of the applicable Distribution Compliance Period, transfers by the holder of, or of a beneficial interest in, a Regulation S Global Note to a transferee in the United States or who is a U.S. person will only be made:
and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.
In the case of (A) above, such transferee may take delivery through a Legended Note in global or definitive form and, in the case of (B) above, such transferee may take delivery only through a Legended Note in definitive form. After expiry of the applicable Distribution Compliance Period (i) beneficial interests in Regulation S Global Notes registered in the name of a nominee for DTC may be held through DTC directly, by a participant in DTC, or indirectly through a participant in DTC and (ii) such certification requirements will no longer apply to such transfers.
Transfers of Legended Notes or beneficial interests therein may be made:
and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.
Notes transferred by Institutional Accredited Investors to QIBs pursuant to Rule 144A or outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S will be eligible to be held by such QIBs or non-U.S. investors through DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as appropriate, and the Registrar will arrange for any Notes which are the subject of such a transfer to be represented by the appropriate Registered Global Note, where applicable.
Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Legended Notes, or upon specific request for removal of the Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Legended Notes or refuse to remove the Legend, as the case may be, unless there is delivered to the Issuer such satisfactory evidence as may reasonably be required by the Issuer, which may include an opinion of U.S. counsel, that neither the Legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
(g) Exchanges and transfers of Registered Notes generally
Holders of Registered Notes in definitive form, other than Institutional Accredited Investors, may exchange such Notes for interests in a Registered Global Note of the same type at any time.
(h) Definitions
In this Condition, the following expressions shall have the following meanings:
Distribution Compliance Period means the period that ends 40 days after the completion of the distribution of each Tranche of Notes, as certified by the relevant Dealer (in the case of a non-syndicated issue) or the relevant Lead Manager (in the case of a syndicated issue);
Institutional Accredited Investor means accredited investors (as defined in Rule 501(a)(l), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that are institutions;
Legended Notes means Registered Notes in definitive form that are issued to Institutional Accredited Investors and Registered Notes (whether in definitive form or represented by a Registered Global Note) issued to QIBs which bear certain legends regarding U.S. restrictions on transfer;
QIB means a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A;
Regulation S means Regulation S under the Securities Act;
Regulation S Global Note means a Registered Global Note representing Notes sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S;
Rule 144A means Rule 144A under the Securities Act;
Rule 144A Global Note means a Registered Global Note representing Notes sold in the United States to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A or otherwise in private transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and
Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(a) Status of the Notes
The Notes and any relative Coupons are direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and (subject to the provisions of Condition 4) unsecured obligations of the Issuer and rank pari passu among themselves and (save for certain obligations required to be preferred by law) equally with all other unsecured obligations (other than subordinated obligations, if any) of the Issuer, from time to time outstanding.
(b) Status of the Guarantee
The obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee in respect of the Notes are direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and (subject to the provisions of Condition 4) unsecured obligations of the Guarantor and rank pari passu among themselves and (save for certain obligations required to be preferred by law) equally with all other unsecured obligations (other than subordinated obligations, if any) of the Guarantor, from time to time outstanding.
So long as any of the Notes remains outstanding (as defined in the Agency Agreement):
without, in any such case, at the same time (i) securing the outstanding Notes or procuring that the outstanding Notes are secured equally and rateably therewith by the same security or by such other security as the Noteholders may by Extraordinary Resolution (as defined in the Agency Agreement) approve or (ii) according to the Guarantee or causing to be accorded to the Guarantee the same security or such other security as the Noteholders may by Extraordinary Resolution (as defined in the Agency Agreement) approve.
an encumbrance shall be construed as a reference to (a) a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other encumbrance securing any obligation of any person or (b) any other type of preferential arrangement (including title transfer and retention arrangements) having a similar effect;
Group means at any time the Issuer and its Subsidiaries or (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries;
a Permitted Securitisation means any transaction or series of transactions where the Debt Obligations are incurred by a member of the Group in connection with a Securitisation and:
Subsidiary means a subsidiary within the meaning of the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551); and
Debt Obligations means any indebtedness, which is in the form of, or represented by, notes, bonds or other securities which are, or are to be, or are capable of being, quoted, listed or dealt in or on any stock exchange or over-the-counter market.
This Condition 5 has been deleted intentionally.
(a) Interest on Fixed Rate Notes
Each Fixed Rate Note bears interest from (and including) the Interest Commencement Date at the rate(s) per annum equal to the Rate(s) of Interest. Interest will be payable in arrear on the Interest Payment Date(s) in each year up to (and including) the Maturity Date.
If the Notes are in definitive form, except as provided in the applicable Final Terms, the amount of interest payable on each Interest Payment Date in respect of the Fixed Interest Period ending on (but excluding) such date will amount to the Fixed Coupon Amount. Payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date will, if so specified in the applicable Final Terms, amount to the Broken Amount so specified.
As used in these Terms and Conditions, Fixed Interest Period means the period from (and including) an Interest Payment Date (or the Interest Commencement Date) to (but excluding) the next (or first) Interest Payment Date.
Except in the case of Notes in definitive form where an applicable Fixed Coupon Amount or Broken Amount is specified in the applicable Final Terms, interest shall be calculated in respect of any period by applying the Rate of Interest to:
and, in each case, multiplying such sum by the applicable Day Count Fraction, and rounding the resultant figure to the nearest sub-unit of the relevant Specified Currency, half of any such sub-unit being rounded upwards or otherwise in accordance with applicable market convention. Where the Specified Denomination of a Fixed Rate Note in definitive form is a multiple of the Calculation Amount, the amount of interest payable in respect of such Fixed Rate Note shall be the product of the amount (determined in the manner provided above) for the Calculation Amount and the amount by which the Calculation Amount is multiplied to reach the Specified Denomination, without any further rounding.
Day Count Fraction means, in respect of the calculation of an amount of interest, in accordance with this Condition 6(a):
In these Terms and Conditions:
Determination Period means each period from (and including) a Determination Date to but excluding the next Determination Date (including, where either the Interest Commencement Date or the final Interest Payment Date is not a Determination Date, the period commencing on the first Determination Date prior to, and ending on the first Determination Date falling after, such date);
sub-unit means, with respect to any currency other than euro, the lowest amount of such currency that is available as legal tender in the country of such currency and, with respect to euro, one cent.; and
Relevant Notes means all Notes where the applicable Final Terms provide for a minimum Specified Denomination in the Specified Currency which is equivalent to at least €100,000 and which are admitted to trading on a regulated market in the European Economic Area.
Each Floating Rate Note bears interest from (and including) the Interest Commencement Date and such interest will be payable in arrear on either:
Such interest will be payable in respect of each Interest Period. In these Terms and Conditions, Interest Period means the period from (and including) an Interest Payment Date (or the Interest Commencement Date) to (but excluding) the next (or first) Interest Payment Date.
If a Business Day Convention is specified in the applicable Final Terms and (x) if there is no numerically corresponding day on the calendar month in which an Interest Payment Date should occur or (y) if any Interest Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day which is not a Business Day, then, if the Business Day Convention specified is:
In these Terms and Conditions, Business Day means a day which is both:
The Rate of Interest payable from time to time in respect of Floating Rate Notes will be determined in the manner specified in the applicable Final Terms.
Where ISDA Determination is specified in the applicable Final Terms as the manner in which the Rate of Interest is to be determined, the Rate of Interest for each Interest Period will be the relevant ISDA Rate plus or minus (as indicated in the applicable Final Terms) the Margin (if any). For the purposes of this sub-paragraph (A), ISDA Rate for an Interest Period means a rate equal to the Floating Rate that would be determined by the Principal Paying Agent under an interest rate swap transaction if the Principal Paying Agent were acting as Calculation Agent for that swap transaction under the terms of an agreement incorporating the 2006 ISDA Definitions, as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. and as amended and updated as at the Issue Date of the first Tranche of the Notes (the ISDA Definitions) and under which:
For the purposes of this sub-paragraph (A), Floating Rate, Calculation Agent, Floating Rate Option, Designated Maturity and Reset Date have the meanings given to those terms in the ISDA Definitions.
(B) Screen Rate Determination for Floating Rate Notes
Where Screen Rate Determination is specified in the applicable Final Terms as the manner in which the Rate of Interest is to be determined, the Rate of Interest for each Interest Period will, subject as provided below, be either:
(expressed as a percentage rate per annum) for the Reference Rate which appears or appear, as the case may be, on the Relevant Screen Page as at the Specified Time in the Relevant Financial Centre on the Interest Determination Date in question plus or minus (as indicated in the applicable Final Terms) the Margin (if any), all as determined by the Principal Paying Agent. If five or more of such offered quotations are available on the Relevant Screen Page, the highest (or, if there is more than one such highest quotation, one only of such quotations) and the lowest (or, if there is more than one such lowest quotation, one only of such quotations) shall be disregarded by the Principal Paying Agent for the purpose of determining the arithmetic mean (rounded as provided above) of such offered quotations.
If the Relevant Screen Page is not available or if, in the case of (1) above, no offered quotation appears or, in the case of (2) above, fewer than three offered quotations appear, in each case as at the Specified Time in the Relevant Financial Centre, the Principal Paying Agent shall request each of the Reference Banks to provide the Principal Paying Agent with its offered quotation (expressed as a percentage rate per annum) for the Reference Rate at approximately the Specified Time in the Relevant Financial Centre on the Interest Determination Date in question. If two or more of the Reference Banks provide the Principal Paying Agent with offered quotations, the Rate of Interest for the Interest Period shall be the arithmetic mean (rounded if necessary to the fifth decimal place, with 0.000005 being rounded upwards) of the offered quotations plus or minus (as appropriate) the Margin (if any), all as determined by the Principal Paying Agent.
If on any Interest Determination Date one only or none of the Reference Banks provides the Principal Paying Agent with an offered quotation as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Rate of Interest for the relevant Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which the Principal Paying Agent determines as being the arithmetic mean (rounded if necessary to the fifth decimal place, with 0.000005 being rounded upwards) of the rates, as communicated to (and at the request of) the Principal Paying Agent by the Reference Banks or any two or more of them, at which such banks were offered, at approximately the Specified Time in the Relevant Financial Centre on the relevant Interest Determination Date, deposits in the Specified Currency for a period equal to that which would have been used for the Reference Rate by leading banks in the London inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is LIBOR) or the Euro-zone interbank market (if the Reference Rate is EURIBOR) or the Stockholm inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is STIBOR) or the Oslo inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is NIBOR) or the Copenhagen inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is CIBOR) or the Tokyo inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is TIBOR) or the Budapest interbank market (if the reference rate is BUBOR) or the Prague inter-bank market (if the reference rate is PRIBOR) or the Warsaw inter-bank market (if the reference rate is WIBOR) or the Istanbul inter-bank market (if the reference rate is TRYIBOR) or the Bucharest inter-bank market (if the reference rate is ROBOR) or the Singapore interbank market (if the reference rate is SIBOR) or the Hong Kong inter-bank market (if the reference rate is HIBOR) or the Shanghai inter-bank market (if the reference rate is SHIBOR) or the Johannesburg inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is JIBAR) or the Mexico City inter-bank market (if the reference rate is TIIE) plus or minus (as appropriate) the Margin (if any) or, if fewer than two of the Reference Banks provide the Principal Paying Agent with offered rates, the offered rate for deposits in the Specified Currency for a period equal to that which would have been used for the Reference Rate, or the arithmetic mean (rounded as provided above) of the offered rates for deposits in the Specified Currency for a period equal to that which would have been used for the Reference Rate, at which, at approximately the Specified Time in the Relevant Financial Centre on the relevant Interest Determination Date, any one or more banks (which bank or banks is or are in the opinion of the Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor suitable for the purpose) informs the Principal Paying Agent it is quoting to leading banks in the London inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is LIBOR) or the Euro-zone inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is EURIBOR) or the Stockholm inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is STIBOR) or the Oslo inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is NIBOR) or the Copenhagen interbank market (if the Reference Rate is CIBOR) or the Tokyo inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is TIBOR) or the Budapest inter-bank market (if the reference rate is BUBOR) or the Prague inter-bank market (if the reference rate is PRIBOR) or the Warsaw inter-bank market (if the reference rate is WIBOR) or the Istanbul inter-bank market (if the reference rate is TRYIBOR) or the Bucharest inter-bank market (if the reference rate is ROBOR) or the Singapore inter-bank market (if the reference rate is SIBOR) or the Hong Kong inter-bank market (if the reference rate is HIBOR) or the Shanghai inter-bank market (if the reference rate is SHIBOR) or the Johannesburg inter-bank market (if the Reference Rate is JIBAR) or the Mexico City inter-bank market (if the reference rate is TIIE) plus or minus (as appropriate) the Margin (if any), provided that, if the Rate of Interest cannot be determined in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the Rate of Interest shall be determined as at the last preceding Interest Determination Date (though substituting, where a different Margin is to be applied to the relevant Interest Period from that which applied to the last preceding Interest Period, the Margin relating to the relevant Interest Period in place of the Margin relating to that last preceding Interest Period).
In these Terms and Conditions:
Interest Determination Date means the date specified as such in the Final Terms or if none is so specified:
(2) if the Reference Rate is Sterling LIBOR, the first day of each Interest Period;
(3) if the Reference Rate is Euro LIBOR or the Euro-zone interbank offered rate (EURIBOR), the second day on which the TARGET2 System is open prior to the start of each Interest Period;
Reference Banks means (i) in the case of a determination of LIBOR, the principal London office of four major banks in the London inter-bank market, (ii) in the case of a determination of EURIBOR, the principal Euro-zone office of four major banks in the Euro-zone inter-bank market, (iii) in the case of a determination of STIBOR, the principal Stockholm office of four major banks in the Stockholm inter-bank market, (iv) in the case of a determination of NIBOR, the principal Oslo office of four major banks in the Oslo inter-bank market, (v) in the case of a determination of CIBOR, the principal Copenhagen office of four major banks in the Copenhagen inter-bank market, (vi) in the case of a determination of TIBOR, the principal Tokyo office of ten major banks in the Tokyo inter-bank market, (vii) in the case of a determination of BUBOR, the principal Budapest office of four major banks in the Budapest inter-bank market, (viii) in the case of a determination of PRIBOR, the principal Prague office of four major banks in the Prague inter-bank market, (ix) in the case of a determination of WIBOR, the principal Warsaw office of five major banks in the Warsaw inter-bank market, (x) in the case of a determination of TRYIBOR, the principal Istanbul office of five major banks in the Istanbul inter-bank market, (xi) in the case of a determination of ROBOR, the principal Bucharest office of four major banks in the Bucharest interbank market, (xii) in the case of a determination of SIBOR, the principal Singapore office of four major banks in the Singapore inter-bank market, (xiii) in the case of a determination of HIBOR, the principal Hong Kong office of four major banks in the Hong Kong inter-bank market, (xiv) in the case of a determination of SHIBOR, the principal Shanghai office of four major banks in the Shanghai inter-bank market, (xv) in the case of a determination of JIBAR, the principal Johannesburg office of four major banks in the Johannesburg inter-bank market and (xvi) in the case of a determination of TIIE, the principal Mexico City office of four major banks in the Mexico City inter-bank market, in each case selected by the Principal Paying Agent;
Reference Rate means (i) LIBOR, (ii) EURIBOR, (iii) STIBOR, (iv) NIBOR, (v) CIBOR, (vi) TIBOR, (vii) BUBOR, (viii) PRIBOR, (ix) WIBOR, (x) TRYIBOR, (xi) ROBOR, (xii) SIBOR, (xiii) HIBOR, (xiv) SHIBOR, (xv) JIBAR or (xvi) TIIE, in each case for the relevant period, as specified in the applicable Final Terms;
Relevant Financial Centre means (i) London, in the case of a determination of LIBOR, (ii) Brussels, in the case of a determination of EURIBOR, (iii) Stockholm, in the case of a determination of STIBOR, (iv) Oslo, in the case of a determination of NIBOR, (v) Copenhagen, in the case of a determination of CIBOR, (vi) Tokyo, in the case of a determination of TIBOR, (vii) Budapest, in the case of a determination of BUBOR, (viii) Prague, in the case of a determination of PRIBOR, (ix) Warsaw, in the case of a determination of WIBOR, (x) Istanbul, in the case of a determination of TRYIBOR, (xi) Bucharest, in the case of a determination of ROBOR, (xii) Singapore, in the case of a determination of SIBOR, (xiii) Hong Kong, in the case of a determination of HIBOR, (xiv) Shanghai, in the case of a determination of SHIBOR, (xv) Johannesburg, in the case of a determination of JIBAR and (xvi) Mexico City, in the case of a determination of TIIE, as specified in the applicable Final Terms; and
Specified Time means (i) in the case of LIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (ii) in the case of EURIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (iii) in the case of STIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (iv) in the case of NIBOR, 12.00 noon, (v) in the case of CIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (vi) in the case of TIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (vii) in the case of BUBOR, 12.30 p.m., (viii) in the case of PRIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (ix) in the case of WIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (x) in the case of TRYIBOR, 11.15 a.m., (xi) in the case of ROBOR, 11.00 a.m., (xii) in the case of SIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (xiii) in the case of HIBOR, 11.00 a.m., (xiv) in the case of SHIBOR, 11.30 a.m., (xv) in the case of JIBAR, 11.00 a.m. and (xvi) in the case of TIIE, 11.00 a.m., as specified in the applicable Final Terms.
If the applicable Final Terms specifies a Minimum Rate of Interest for any Interest Period, then, in the event that the Rate of Interest in respect of such Interest Period determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (ii) above is less than such Minimum Rate of Interest, the Rate of Interest for such Interest Period shall be such Minimum Rate of Interest.
If the applicable Final Terms specifies a Maximum Rate of Interest for any Interest Period, then, in the event that the Rate of Interest in respect of such Interest Period determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (ii) above is greater than such Maximum Rate of Interest, the Rate of Interest for such Interest Period shall be such Maximum Rate of Interest.
The Principal Paying Agent will at or as soon as practicable after each time at which the Rate of Interest is to be determined, determine the Rate of Interest for the relevant Interest Period.
The Principal Paying Agent will calculate the amount of interest (the Interest Amount) payable on the Floating Rate Notes for the relevant Interest Period by applying the Rate of Interest to:
and, in each case, multiplying such sum by the applicable Day Count Fraction, and rounding the resultant figure to the nearest sub-unit of the relevant Specified Currency, half of any such sub-unit being rounded upwards or otherwise in accordance with applicable market convention. Where the Specified Denomination of a Floating Rate Note in definitive form is a multiple of the Calculation Amount, the Interest Amount payable in respect of such Note shall be the product of the amount (determined in the manner provided above) for each Calculation Amount and the amount by which the Calculation Amount is multiplied to reach the Specified Denomination, without any further rounding.
Day Count Fraction means, in respect of the calculation of an amount of interest in accordance with this Condition 6(b):
Day Count Fraction =
$$
\frac{[360 \times (Y_2 - Y_1)] + [30 \times (M_2 - M_1)] + (D_2 - D_1)}{360}
$$
where:
"Y1" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;
"Y2" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"M1" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;
"M2 is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"D1" is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless such number is 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and
"D2" is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31 and D1 is greater than 29, in which case D2 will be 30;
(vi) if "30E/360" or "Eurobond Basis" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the number of days in the Interest Period divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as follows:
Day Count Fraction =
$$
\frac{[360 \times (Y_2 - Y_1)] + [30 \times (M_2 - M_1)] + (D_2 - D_1)}{360}
$$
where:
"Y1" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;
"Y2" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"M1" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;
"M2" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"D1" is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and
"D2" is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31, in which case D2 will be 30;
(vii) if "30E/360 (ISDA)" is specified in the applicable Final Terms, the number of days in the Interest Period divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as follows:
Day Count Fraction =
$$
\frac{[360 \times (Y_2 - Y_1)] + [30 \times (M_2 - M_1)] + (D_2 - D_1)}{360}
$$
where:
"Y1" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;
"Y2" is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"M1" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;
"M2" is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day of the Interest Period falls;
"D1" is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless (i) that day is the last day of February or (ii) such number would be 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and
"D2" is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period, unless (i) that day is the last day of February but not the Maturity Date or (ii) such number would be 31, in which case D2 will be 30.
The Principal Paying Agent will cause the Rate of Interest and each Interest Amount for each Interest Period and the relevant Interest Payment Date to be notified to the Issuer, (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor and any stock exchange on which the relevant Floating Rate Notes are for the time being listed and notice thereof to be published in accordance with Condition 15 as soon as possible after their determination but in no event later than the fourth London Business Day thereafter. Each Interest Amount and Interest Payment Date so notified may subsequently be amended (or appropriate alternative arrangements made by way of adjustment) without prior notice in the event of an extension or shortening of the Interest Period. Any such amendment will be promptly notified to each stock exchange on which the relevant Floating Rate Notes are for the time being listed and to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 15. For the purposes of this paragraph, the expression London Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks and foreign exchange markets are open for general business in London.
(vi) Certificates to be final
All certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions of this Condition 6(b) by the Principal Paying Agent shall (in the absence of wilful default, bad faith or manifest error) be binding on the Issuer, (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor, the Principal Paying Agent, the other Agents and all Noteholders and Couponholders and (in the absence as aforesaid) no liability to the Issuer, (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor, the Noteholders or the Couponholders shall attach to the Principal Paying Agent in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by it of its powers, duties and discretions pursuant to such provisions.
Each Note (or in the case of the redemption of part only of a Note, that part only of such Note) will cease to bear interest (if any) from the date for its redemption unless payment of principal is improperly withheld or refused. In such event, interest will continue to accrue until whichever is the earlier of:
(a) Method of payment
Subject as provided below:
Payments will be subject in all cases to any fiscal or other laws and regulations applicable thereto in the place of payment, but without prejudice to the provisions of Condition 9.
(b) Presentation of definitive Bearer Notes and Coupons
Payments of principal in respect of definitive Bearer Notes will (subject as provided below) be made in the manner provided in paragraph (a) above only against presentation and surrender (or, in the case of part payment of any sum due, endorsement) of definitive Bearer Notes, and payments of interest in respect of definitive Bearer Notes will (subject as provided below) be made as aforesaid only against presentation and surrender (or, in the case of part payment of any sum due, endorsement) of Coupons, in each case at the specified office of any Paying Agent outside the United States (which expression, as used herein, means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia and its possessions)).
Fixed Rate Notes in definitive bearer form (other than Long Maturity Notes (as defined below)) should be presented for payment together with all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto (which expression shall for this purpose include Coupons falling to be issued on exchange of matured Talons), failing which the amount of any missing unmatured Coupon (or, in the case of payment not being made in full, the same proportion of the amount of such missing unmatured Coupon as the sum so paid bears to the sum due) will be deducted from the sum due for payment. Each amount of principal so deducted will be paid in the manner mentioned above against surrender of the relative missing Coupon at any time before the expiry of 10 years after the Relevant Date (as defined in Condition 9) in respect of such principal (whether or not such Coupon would otherwise have become void under Condition 10) or, if later, five years from the date on which such Coupon would otherwise have become due, but in no event thereafter.
Upon any Fixed Rate Note in definitive bearer form becoming due and repayable prior to its Maturity Date, all unmatured Talons (if any) appertaining thereto will become void and no further Coupons will be issued in respect thereof.
Upon the date on which any Floating Rate Note or Long Maturity Note in definitive bearer form becomes due and repayable, unmatured Coupons and Talons (if any) relating thereto (whether or not attached) shall become void and no payment or, as the case may be, exchange for further Coupons shall be made in respect thereof. A Long Maturity Note is a Fixed Rate Note (other than a Fixed Rate Note which on issue had a Talon attached) whose nominal amount on issue is less than the aggregate interest payable thereon provided that such Note shall cease to be a Long Maturity Note on the Interest Payment Date on which the aggregate amount of interest remaining to be paid after that date is less than the nominal amount of such Note.
If the due date for redemption of any definitive Bearer Note is not an Interest Payment Date, interest (if any) accrued in respect of such Note from (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date or, as the case may be, the Interest Commencement Date shall be payable only against surrender of the relevant definitive Bearer Note.
Payments of principal and interest (if any) in respect of Notes represented by any Global Note in bearer form will (subject as provided below) be made in the manner specified above in relation to definitive Bearer Notes or otherwise in the manner specified in the relevant Global Note, where applicable against presentation or surrender, as the case may be, of such Global Note at the specified office of any Paying Agent outside the United States. A record of each payment made, distinguishing between any payment of principal and any payment of interest, will be made either on such Global Note by the Paying Agent to which it was presented or in the records of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, as applicable.
Payments of principal in respect of each Registered Note (whether or not in global form) will be made against presentation and surrender (or, in the case of part payment of any sum due, endorsement) of the Registered Note at the specified office of the Registrar or any of the Paying Agents. Such payments will be made by transfer to the Designated Account (as defined below) of the holder (or the first named of joint holders) of the Registered Note appearing in the register of holders of the Registered Notes maintained by the Registrar (the Register) (i) where in global form, at the close of the business day (being for this purpose a day on which Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg are open for business) before the relevant due date, and (ii) where in definitive form, at the close of business on the third business day (being for this purpose a day on which banks are open for business in the city where the specified office of the Registrar is located) before the relevant due date. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, if (i) a holder does not have a Designated Account or (ii) the nominal amount of the Notes held by a holder is less than U.S.\$250,000 (or its approximate equivalent in any other Specified Currency), payment will instead be made by a cheque in the Specified Currency drawn on a Designated Bank (as defined below). For these purposes, Designated Account means the account (which, in the case of a payment in Japanese yen to a non-resident of Japan, shall be a non-resident account) maintained by a holder with a Designated Bank and identified as such in the Register and Designated Bank means (in the case of payment in a Specified Currency other than euro) a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of such Specified Currency (which, if the Specified Currency is Australian dollars or New Zealand dollars, shall be Sydney or Auckland, respectively) and (in the case of a payment in euro) any bank which processes payments in euro.
Payments of interest in respect of each Registered Note (whether or not in global form) will be made by a cheque in the Specified Currency drawn on a Designated Bank and mailed by uninsured mail on the business day in the city where the specified office of the Registrar is located immediately preceding the relevant due date to the holder (or the first named of joint holders) of the Registered Note appearing in the Register (i) where in global form, at the close of the business day (being for this purpose a day on which Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg are open for business) before the relevant due date, and (ii) where in definitive form, at the close of business on the fifteenth day (whether or not such fifteenth day is a business day) before the relevant due date (the Record Date) at his address shown in the Register on the Record Date and at his risk. Upon application of the holder to the specified office of the Registrar not less than three business days in the city where the specified office of the Registrar is located before the due date for any payment of interest in respect of a Registered Note, the payment may be made by transfer on the due date in the manner provided in the preceding paragraph. Any such application for transfer shall be deemed to relate to all future payments of interest (other than interest due on redemption) in respect of the Registered Notes which become payable to the holder who has made the initial application until such time as the Registrar is notified in writing to the contrary by such holder. Payment of the interest due in respect of each Registered Note on redemption will be made in the same manner as payment of the nominal amount of such Registered Note.
Holders of Registered Notes will not be entitled to any interest or other payment for any delay in receiving any amount due in respect of any Registered Note as a result of a cheque posted in accordance with this Condition arriving after the due date for payment or being lost in the post. No commissions or expenses shall be charged to such holders by the Registrar in respect of any payments of principal or interest in respect of the Registered Notes.
All amounts payable to DTC or its nominee as registered holder of a Registered Global Note in respect of Notes denominated in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars shall be paid by transfer by the Registrar to an account in the relevant Specified Currency of the Exchange Agent on behalf of DTC or its nominee for conversion into and payment in U.S. dollars in accordance with the provisions of the Agency Agreement.
None of the Issuer, (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor or the Agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the Registered Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
The holder of a Global Note shall be the only person entitled to receive payments in respect of Notes represented by such Global Note and the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantor will be discharged by payment to, or to the order of, the holder of such Global Note in respect of each amount so paid. Each of the persons shown in the records of Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or DTC as the beneficial holder of a particular nominal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note must look solely to Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or DTC, as the case may be, for his share of each payment so made by the Issuer to, or to the order of, the holder of such Global Note.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Condition, if any amount of principal and/or interest in respect of Bearer Notes is payable in U.S. dollars, such U.S. dollar payments of principal and/or interest in respect of such Notes will be made at the specified office of a Paying Agent in the United States if:
(i) the Issuer and (if applicable) the Guarantor have appointed Paying Agents with specified offices outside the United States with the reasonable expectation that such Paying Agents would be able to make payment in U.S. dollars at such specified offices outside the United States of the full amount of principal and interest on the Bearer Notes in the manner provided above when due;
If the date for payment of any amount in respect of any Note or Coupon is not a Payment Day, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to payment until the next following Payment Day in the relevant place and shall not be entitled to further interest or other payment in respect of such delay. For these purposes, Payment Day means any day which (subject to Condition 10) is:
Any reference in these Terms and Conditions to principal in respect of the Notes shall be deemed to include, as applicable:
Any reference in these Terms and Conditions to interest in respect of the Notes shall be deemed to include, as applicable, any additional amounts which may be payable with respect to interest under Condition 9.
Unless previously redeemed or purchased and cancelled as specified below, each Note will be redeemed by the Issuer at its Final Redemption Amount specified in the applicable Final Terms in the relevant Specified Currency on the Maturity Date specified in the applicable Final Terms.
Subject to Condition 8(e), the Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer in whole, but not in part, at any time (if this Note is not a Floating Rate Note) or on any Interest Payment Date (if this Note is a Floating Rate Note), on giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to the Principal Paying Agent and, in accordance with Condition 15, the Noteholders (which notice shall be irrevocable), if:
provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantor would be obliged to pay such additional amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due.
Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to this Condition, the Issuer shall deliver to the Principal Paying Agent to make available at its specified office to the Noteholders (i) a certificate signed by two Directors of the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantor stating that the Issuer is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Issuer so to redeem have occurred, and (ii) an opinion of independent legal advisers of recognised standing to the effect that the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantor has or will become obliged to pay such additional amounts as a result of such change or amendment.
Notes redeemed pursuant to this Condition 8(b) will be redeemed at their Early Redemption Amount referred to in paragraph (e) below together (if appropriate) with interest accrued to (but excluding) the date of redemption.
If Issuer Call is specified as being applicable in the applicable Final Terms, the Issuer may, having given not less than 15 nor more than 30 days' notice to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 15 (which notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date fixed for redemption), redeem all or some only of the Notes then outstanding on any Optional Redemption Date and at the Optional Redemption Amount(s) specified in the applicable Final Terms together, if appropriate, with interest accrued to (but excluding) the relevant Optional Redemption Date. Any such redemption must be of a nominal amount not less than the Minimum Redemption Amount and not more than the Maximum Redemption Amount in each case as may be specified in the applicable Final Terms.
In the case of a partial redemption of Notes, the Notes to be redeemed (Redeemed Notes) will be selected individually by lot, in the case of Redeemed Notes represented by definitive Notes, and in accordance with the rules of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg (to be reflected in the records of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg as either a pool factor or a reduction in nominal amount, at their discretion) and/or DTC, in the case of Redeemed Notes represented by a Global Note, not more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption (such date of selection being hereinafter called the Selection Date). In the case of Redeemed Notes represented by definitive Notes, a list of the serial numbers of such Redeemed Notes will be published in accordance with Condition 15 not less than 15 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. No exchange of the relevant Global Note will be permitted during the period from (and including) the Selection Date to (and including) the date fixed for redemption pursuant to this paragraph (c) and notice to that effect shall be given by the Issuer to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 15 at least five days prior to the Selection Date.
If Investor Put is specified as being applicable in the applicable Final Terms, upon the holder of any Note giving to the Issuer in accordance with Condition 15 not less than 15 nor more than 30 days' notice the Issuer will, upon the expiry of such notice, redeem such Note on the Optional Redemption Date and at the Optional Redemption Amount together, if appropriate, with interest accrued to (but excluding) the Optional Redemption Date. Registered Notes may be redeemed under this Condition 8(d) in any multiple of their lowest Specified Denomination.
To exercise the right to require redemption of this Note the holder of this Note must, if this Note is in definitive form and held outside Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg and (in the case of Registered Notes) DTC, deliver, at the specified office of any Paying Agent (in the case of Bearer Notes) or the Registrar (in the case of Registered Notes) at any time during normal business hours of such Paying Agent or, as the case may be, the Registrar falling within the notice period, a duly completed and signed notice of exercise in the form (for the time being current) obtainable from any specified office of any Paying Agent or, as the case may be, the Registrar (a Put Notice) and in which the holder must specify a bank account (or, if payment is required to be made by cheque, an address) to which payment is to be made under this Condition and, in the case of Registered Notes, the nominal amount thereof to be redeemed and, if less than the full nominal amount of the Registered Notes so surrendered is to be redeemed, an address to which a new Registered Note in respect of the balance of such Registered Notes is to be sent subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Condition 2(b), accompanied by this Note or evidence satisfactory to the Paying Agent concerned that this Note will, following delivery of the Put Notice, be held to its order or under its control. If this Note is represented by a Global Note or is in definitive form and held through Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or (in the case of Registered Notes) DTC, to exercise the right to require redemption of this Note, the holder of this Note must, within the notice period, give notice to the Agent (in the case of Bearer Notes) or the Registrar (in the case of Registered Notes) of such exercise in accordance with the standard procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or DTC (as the case may be) (which may include notice being given on his instruction by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any common depositary or common safekeeper, as the case may be, for them or by DTC (as the case may be) to the Agent or the Registrar (as the case may be) by electronic means) in a form acceptable to Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or DTC (as the case may be) from time to time and, if this Note is represented by a Global Note the terms of which require presentation for recording changes to its nominal amount, at the same time present or procure the presentation of the relevant Global Note to the Agent or the Registrar (as the case may be) for notation accordingly.
Any Put Notice or other notice given in accordance with the standard procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg given by a holder of any Note pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be irrevocable except where prior to the due date of redemption an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing in which event such holder, at its option, may elect by notice to the Issuer to withdraw the notice given pursuant to this paragraph and instead to declare such Note forthwith due and payable pursuant to Condition 11.
For the purpose of paragraph (b) above and Condition 11, each Note will be redeemed at its Early Redemption Amount calculated as follows:
(i) in the case of a Note with a Final Redemption Amount equal to the Issue Price, at the Final Redemption Amount thereof;
Early Redemption Amount = RP x (1 + AY) y
where:
RP means the Reference Price; and
AY means the Accrual Yield expressed as a decimal; and
y is the Day Count Fraction specified in the applicable Final Terms which will be either (i) 30/360 (in which case the numerator will be equal to the number of days (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each) from (and including) the Issue Date of the first Tranche of the Notes to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption or (as the case may be) the date upon which such Note becomes due and repayable and the denominator will be 360) or (ii) Actual/360 (in which case the numerator will be equal to the actual number of days from (and including) the Issue Date of the first Tranche of the Notes to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption or (as the case may be) the date upon which such Note becomes due and repayable and the denominator will be 360) or (iii) Actual/365 (in which case the numerator will be equal to the actual number of days from (and including) the Issue Date of the first Tranche of the Notes to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption or (as the case may be) the date upon which such Note becomes due and repayable and the denominator will be 365).
The Issuer, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Issuer or the Guarantor may at any time purchase Notes (provided that, in the case of definitive Bearer Notes, all unmatured Coupons and Talons appertaining thereto are purchased therewith) at any price in the open market or otherwise. All Notes so purchased will be surrendered to a Paying Agent for cancellation.
(g) Cancellation
All Notes which are redeemed will forthwith be cancelled (together with all unmatured Coupons and Talons attached thereto or surrendered therewith at the time of redemption). All Notes so cancelled and the Notes purchased and cancelled pursuant to paragraph (f) above (together with all unmatured Coupons and Talons cancelled therewith) shall be forwarded to the Principal Paying Agent and cannot be reissued or resold.
If the amount payable in respect of any Zero Coupon Note upon redemption of such Zero Coupon Note pursuant to paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) above or upon its becoming due and repayable as provided in Condition 11 is improperly withheld or refused, the amount due and repayable in respect of such Zero Coupon Note shall be the amount calculated as provided in paragraph (e)(iii) above as though the references therein to the date fixed for the redemption or the date upon which such Zero Coupon Note becomes due and payable were replaced by references to the date which is the earlier of:
All payments of principal and interest in respect of the Notes and Coupons by the Issuer or by the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) will be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes or duties of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of any Tax Jurisdiction unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. In such event, the Issuer or the Guarantor, as the case may be, will pay such additional amounts as shall be necessary in order that the net amounts received by the holders of the Notes or Coupons after such withholding or deduction shall equal the respective amounts of principal and interest which would otherwise have been receivable in respect of the Notes or Coupons, as the case may be, in the absence of such withholding or deduction; except that no such additional amounts shall be payable with respect to any Note or Coupon:
As used herein:
The Notes (whether in bearer or registered form) and Coupons will become void unless claims in respect of principal and/or interest are made within a period of 10 years (in the case of principal) and five years (in the case of interest) after the Relevant Date (as defined in Condition 9) therefor.
There shall not be included in any Coupon sheet issued on exchange of a Talon any Coupon the claim for payment in respect of which would be void pursuant to this Condition or Condition 7(b) or any Talon which would be void pursuant to Condition 7(b).
(a) Events of Default
If any one or more of the following events (each an Event of Default) shall occur and be continuing:
(i) Failure to Pay: the Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor fails to pay in the Specified Currency any amount of principal or interest in respect of the Notes on the due date for payment thereof and such failure is not remedied within five Swedish Business Days; or
(x) Illegality: at any time it is or becomes unlawful for the Issuer to perform or comply with any or all of its obligations under or in respect of the Notes or any of the obligations of the Issuer thereunder are not or cease to be legal, valid and binding or (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantee is terminated or ceases to be in full force and effect,
then any Note may, by written notice addressed by the holder thereof to the Issuer and delivered to the Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor or the Principal Paying Agent, effective upon the date of receipt thereof by the Issuer or the Guarantee, as the case may be or the Principal Paying Agent, be declared immediately due and payable, whereupon it shall become immediately due and payable at the Early Redemption Amount (as described in Condition 8(e)), together with accrued interest (if any) to the date of repayment, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind.
(b) Definitions
For the purposes of this Condition:
a Principal Subsidiary of the Issuer or the Guarantor at any time shall mean a Subsidiary of the Issuer or the Guarantor:
in the case of a Subsidiary of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as calculated from the then latest financial statements (consolidated or, as the case may be, unconsolidated), audited if prepared, of that Subsidiary and, if that Subsidiary has been acquired after the period with respect to which the then latest published audited consolidated financial statements of the Group were drawn up, such statements shall be adjusted as if such Subsidiary had been a member of the Group during such period.
A report by two of the Directors of the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Guarantor that, in their opinion, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or, as the case may be the Guarantor is or is not or was or was not at any particular time or throughout any specified period a Principal Subsidiary, shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Noteholders.
Net Worth means the aggregate, immediately prior to a Permitted Merger, of the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on the issued share capital of the Group (other than any redeemable shares) and the aggregate amount of the reserves of the Group including:
(B) any dividend or distribution declared, recommended or made by any member of the Group to the extent payable to a person who is not a member of the Group and such distribution is not provided for in the most recent financial statements,
and so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once; and
Swedish Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks and foreign exchange markets are open for business in Stockholm.
Should any Note, Coupon or Talon be lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced or destroyed, it may be replaced at the specified office of the Principal Paying Agent (in the case of Bearer Notes or Coupons) or the Registrar (in the case of Registered Notes) upon payment by the claimant of such costs and expenses as may be incurred in connection therewith and on such terms as to evidence and indemnity as the Issuer may reasonably require. Mutilated or defaced Notes, Coupons or Talons must be surrendered before replacements will be issued.
The names of the initial Agents and their initial specified offices are set out below. If any additional Paying Agents are appointed in connection with any Series, the names of such Paying Agents will be specified in Part B of the applicable Final Terms.
The Issuer is entitled to vary or terminate the appointment of any Agent and/or appoint additional or other Agents and/or approve any change in the specified office through which any Agent acts, provided that:
In addition, the Issuer shall forthwith appoint a Paying Agent having a specified office in New York City in the circumstances described in Condition 7(e). Any variation, termination, appointment or change shall only take effect (other than in the case of insolvency, when it shall be of immediate effect) after not less than 30 nor more than 45 days' prior notice thereof shall have been given to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 15.
In acting under the Agency Agreement, the Agents act solely as agents of the Issuer and the Guarantor and do not assume any obligation to, or relationship of agency or trust with, any Noteholders or Couponholders. The Agency Agreement contains provisions permitting any entity into which any Agent is merged or converted or with which it is consolidated or to which it transfers all or substantially all of its assets to become the successor agent.
On and after the Interest Payment Date on which the final Coupon comprised in any Coupon sheet matures, the Talon (if any) forming part of such Coupon sheet may be surrendered at the specified office of the Principal Paying Agent or any other Paying Agent in exchange for a further Coupon sheet including (if such further Coupon sheet does not include Coupons to (and including) the final date for the payment of interest due in respect of the Note to which it appertains) a further Talon, subject to the provisions of Condition 10.
All notices regarding the Bearer Notes will be deemed to be validly given if published in a leading English language daily newspaper of general circulation in London. It is expected that any such publication will be made in the Financial Times. The Issuer shall also ensure that notices are duly published in a manner which complies with the rules of any stock exchange (or any other relevant authority) on which the Bearer Notes are for the time being listed or by which they have been admitted to trading. Any such notice will be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication or, where required to be published in more than one newspaper, on the date of the first publication in all required newspapers.
All notices regarding the Registered Notes will be deemed to be validly given if sent by first class mail or (if posted to an address overseas) by airmail to the holders (or the first named of joint holders) at their respective addresses recorded in the Register and will be deemed to have been given on the fourth day after mailing and, in addition, for so long as any Registered Notes are listed on a stock exchange and the rules of that stock exchange (or any other relevant authority) so require, such notice will be published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the place or places required by those rules.
Until such time as any definitive Notes are issued, there may, so long as any Global Notes representing the Notes are held in their entirety on behalf of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or DTC, be substituted for such publication in such newspaper(s) or such mailing the delivery of the relevant notice to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or DTC for communication by them to the holders of the Notes and, in addition, for so long as any Notes are listed on a stock exchange or admitted to trading by another relevant authority and the rules of that stock exchange (or any other relevant authority) so require, such notice will be published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the place or places required by those rules. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given to the holders of the Notes on the third day after the day on which the said notice was given to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or DTC.
Notices to be given by any Noteholder shall be in writing and given by lodging the same, together (in the case of any Note in definitive form) with the relative Note or Notes, with the Principal Paying Agent (in the case of Bearer Notes) or the Registrar (in the case of Registered Notes). Whilst any of the Notes are represented by a Global Note, such notice may be given by any holder of a Note to the Principal Paying Agent or the Registrar through Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or DTC, as the case may be, in such manner as the Principal Paying Agent, the Registrar and Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or DTC, as the case may be, may approve for this purpose.
The Agency Agreement contains provisions for convening meetings of the Noteholders to consider any matter affecting their interests, including the sanctioning by Extraordinary Resolution of a modification of the Notes, the Coupons or any of the provisions of the Agency Agreement or the Guarantee. Such a meeting may be convened by the Issuer or the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) or Noteholders holding not less than 5 per cent. in nominal amount of the Notes for the time being remaining outstanding. The quorum at any such meeting for passing an Extraordinary Resolution is one or more persons holding or representing not less than 50 per cent. in nominal amount of the Notes for the time being outstanding, or at any adjourned meeting one or more persons being or representing Noteholders whatever the nominal amount of the Notes so held or represented, except that at any meeting the business of which includes the modification of certain provisions of the Notes or the Coupons (including modifying the date of maturity of the Notes or any date for payment of interest thereon, reducing or cancelling the amount of principal or the rate of interest payable in respect of the Notes or altering the currency of payment of the Notes or the Coupons), the quorum shall be one or more persons holding or representing not less than two-thirds in nominal amount of the Notes for the time being outstanding, or at any adjourned such meeting one or more persons holding or representing not less than one-third in nominal amount of the Notes for the time being outstanding. An Extraordinary Resolution passed at any meeting of the Noteholders shall be binding on all the Noteholders, whether or not they are present at the meeting, and on all Couponholders.
The Principal Paying Agent and the Issuer may agree, without the consent of the Noteholders or Couponholders, to:
Any such modification shall be binding on the Noteholders and the Couponholders and any such modification shall be notified to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 15 as soon as practicable thereafter.
The Issuer shall be at liberty from time to time without the consent of the Noteholders or the Couponholders to create and issue further notes having terms and conditions the same as the Notes or the same in all respects save for the amount and date of the first payment of interest thereon and so that the same shall be consolidated and form a single Series with the outstanding Notes.
No rights are conferred on any person under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Note, but this does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is available apart from that Act.
(a) Governing law
The Agency Agreement, the Guarantee, the Deed of Covenant, the Deed Poll, the Notes and the Coupons (and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with any of the aforementioned) are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.
(b) Submission to jurisdiction
The Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor agree, for the exclusive benefit of the Noteholders and the Couponholders, that the courts of England are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with the Notes and/or the Coupons or the Guarantee (including a dispute relating to any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with the Notes and/or the Coupons or the Guarantee) and that accordingly any suit, action or proceedings (together referred to as Proceedings) arising out of or in connection with the Notes and the Coupons or the Guarantee may be brought in such courts.
The Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor hereby irrevocably waive any objection which it may have now or hereafter to the laying of the venue of any such Proceedings in any such court and any claim that any such Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and hereby further irrevocably agrees that a judgment in any such Proceedings brought in the English courts shall be conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
Nothing contained in this Condition shall limit any right to take Proceedings against the Issuer or the Guarantor in any other court of competent jurisdiction, nor shall the taking of Proceedings in one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of Proceedings in any other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.
The Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor appoint ASSA ABLOY Limited at its registered office at School Street, Willenhall, West Midlands WV13 3PW as its agent for service of process, and undertake that, in the event of ASSA ABLOY Limited ceasing so to act or ceasing to be registered in England, they will appoint another person as their respective agent for service of process in England in respect of any Proceedings. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve proceedings in any other manner permitted by law.
The Issuer has in the Agency Agreement, the Deed of Covenant and the Deed Poll and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor has in the Agency Agreement and the Guarantee submitted to the jurisdiction of the English courts and appointed an agent for service of process in terms substantially similar to those set out above.
The net proceeds from each issue of Notes will be applied by the relevant Issuer for its general corporate purposes which include making a profit.
AA was formed in 1994 as a public limited liability company through the merger of the lock companies of ASSA AB (formerly owned by Securitas AB, Sweden) and ABLOY OY (formerly owned by Metra Oyj Abp, Finland). On 8 November 1994, AA was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (now NASDAQ OMX Stockholm). Since then, AA and its subsidiaries (together the Group) have expanded both organically and by further acquisitions.
AA was incorporated as a legal entity on 2 April 1954 under the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551) for an indefinite period of time and its Corporate Organisation number is 556059-3575. AA's registered office is located at P.O. Box 70340 (Klarabergsviadukten 90), SE-107 23 Stockholm, Sweden. Its telephone number is +46 (0)8 506 485 00.
The Group is an international manufacturer and supplier of door opening solutions dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. In the fiscal year 2011, the Group's sales amounted to SEK 41,786 million.
The Group has grown rapidly through both acquisition and organic growth, from a regional company to an international group. Since its formation in 1994 the Group's sales have grown from around SEK 3,600 million in the year ended 31 December 1994 to SEK 41,786 million in the year ended 31 December 2011. The growth in Group profit has been in line with the growth in sales. In each year since 1994 the Group's operating cash flow has been above income before tax.
The Group is represented in both mature and emerging markets worldwide, with a leading position in much of Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In the fast-growing electromechanical security segment, the Group operates in areas such as access control, identification technology, entrance automation and hotel security.
The security market consists primarily of security services and electromechanical and mechanical security products. The Group has focused its operations on electromechanical and mechanical security products as well as security doors. The mechanical security product range includes lock cylinders, lock cases, door closers, industrial locks, emergency exit devices and window hardware. The Group is also a major manufacturer of steel security doors and door hardware. In the fast growing electromechanical security segment, the Group's product range includes electronic cylinders, automatic doors, secure identification and various access control products, some of which use radio frequency identification (RFID). Keyless entries are part of the Group's door security solutions with, for example, Seos mobile access. Seos is an ecosystem of interoperable products and services for issuing, delivering and revoking digital keys on NFC (Near Field Communication) mobile devices so they can be used to open doors to homes, hotels, offices, hospitals, universities, industries and commercial buildings. The Seos solution is just one example of how technologies such as NFC and RFID are integrated into locks and keyless or even remote keyless entries. As the business of door opening solutions is the Group's only business, all companies within the Group can benefit from a transfer of know-how and from extensive benchmarking activities designed to spread best practices and promote excellence.
The Group's main customer segment is the commercial segment comprising institutional and commercial customers, such as schools, hospitals, universities, airports and large office buildings. This commercial segment accounts for around 75 per cent. of Group sales, while the residential segment accounts for around 25 per cent.
In today's market, the Group's products mainly reach the end-customer through a variety of distribution channels, particularly locksmiths, building and lock wholesalers, door and window manufacturers and security system integrators.
AA believes that there is a global trend towards higher security, although levels of security differ throughout the world depending on factors such as local culture and economic development. The Group sees its role as educating its customers and offering products that both meet the world's greater security needs and are more convenient to use.
The overall focus of the Group is to spearhead the trend towards increasing security with a product-driven offering centred on the customer. The primary product areas are the traditional segments of mechanical locks and security doors, as well as the fast-growing segments of electromechanical and electronic locks, access control, identification technology and entrance automation.
The Group's strong development is based on long-term structural growth in demand in mature markets in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, increasing demand in emerging markets in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America, and success in fast-growing product segments.
The strategic action plans of the Group have been divided into three focus areas: market presence, product leadership and cost-efficiency.
The Group's strategy to increase its market presence has three main areas:
Exploiting the strength of the brand portfolio
As a result of its many acquisitions, the Group owns a variety of well-known brands. In order to exploit and manage this valuable asset while benefiting from the Group's size, ASSA ABLOY's logotype is combined with the individual product brands. This approach preserves the link to the installed lock base, while increasing the visibility of the ASSA ABLOY master brand. The master brand is complemented by four global brands, which are among the leaders in their respective market segments. These brands are HID in access control, secure card issuance and identification technology, Yale in the residential market, Mul-T-Lock for locksmiths, and ABLOY in high-security locks. The growing visibility of ASSA ABLOY as the master brand for complete security solutions demonstrates the considerable breadth of the Group's product range as a leading supplier of security solutions.
In order to compete effectively in a global market, the sales force operates as an integrated organisation under the ASSA ABLOY master brand. The sales staff represent ASSA ABLOY and create solutions for the customer using different products manufactured under established local brands. Consequently, customers can be offered total door opening solutions, while recognising the local brands.
Increasing growth in the core business
Growth in the core business is promoted through close collaboration with architects, security consultants, major end-users and distributors. Continued clear market segmentation is also vital for offering relevant solutions to the customer.
The Group intends to expand into new markets and segments by establishing the Group on new geographical markets, developing the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) market, exploiting opportunities on the residential market, and introducing new technology. Geographical expansion is achieved principally through acquisitions. By establishing the Group in markets with rising population and developing economies, the Group can build a strong platform for future growth. The Group's position in the OEM market in door and window manufacturing varies between markets, and there is considerable potential for market penetration. The door automation market is another area with potential. Traditionally the Group has only been active in door automation for pedestrians. Through the recent acquisitions within the Entrance Systems division, the Group has entered the much larger entrance automation market, which includes industrial doors, systems for loading docks and garage doors. Efforts to develop products and distribution channels for the residential market are continuing, with digital locks as a high-priority area. The increased demand for electromechanical products is one of the clearest trends in the security market. This product area is also seeing increased technical standardisation in which different components in the security solution can be easily integrated with one another. The Group's products aim for open standards to facilitate integration with the customer's other security and administrative systems. Interesting new growth areas are created by exploiting the Group's strength in specific technologies. One example is RFID, which is now adapted to special applications such as contactless hotel locks opened by a card or a mobile phone.
The Group's vision is to be the most innovative supplier of total door opening solutions, and investments in R&D have increased substantially in recent years. Product leadership is maintained and achieved through the continuous development of products offering enhanced customer value and lower product costs. A vital activity for achieving this is the use of common product platforms with fewer components. To enhance customer value, the Group also develops new products in close collaboration with end-users and distributors. The product development process is under constant improvement and renewal. ASSA ABLOY Future Lab is an internet forum in which the Group can ask customers questions to obtain information on long-term trends and product initiatives. The implementation of Lean Innovation has shown that development time can be halved and results improved. Using this new approach, the Group has also seen the benefit of continuous parallel technology development. Customers are increasingly demanding more advanced lock and door products and the technical level is constantly rising, with electromechanical door opening solutions growing considerably faster than traditional mechanical products. Global common product platforms adapted to the local markets have therefore become increasingly important. These platforms are developed by the Group product development function, Shared Technologies, and through collaboration within and between divisions.
The Group focuses on cost-efficiency in the production structure, in production costs and in the administrative flow in the Group. The efforts towards common product platforms, fewer components and common product development have been covered above.
The process of change in the production structure began with restructuring programmes launched in 2006, 2008 and 2009. These have been very successful resulting in large savings and increased efficiency in the Group's production units. One consequence is that an increasing volume of standard production has been transferred to internal and external units in low-cost countries. The production process has been improved, while local presence in end-customer markets ensures fast delivery and efficient assembly of customised products. A new restructuring programme to further improve the efficiency of existing and acquired production units in high-cost countries was launched in 2011. This programme covers all five divisions and entails closure of 17 production units and a switch to final assembly in a further number of units.
In parallel with the reorganisation of production in high-cost countries, the Group has maintained rapid expansion of the production base in low-cost countries. More than 50 percent of the Group's total employees are now employed in low-cost countries.
Cost-cutting lean methods are being implemented in the Group's divisions. Many of the Group companies have followed these principles for some years, resulting in greater efficiency.
In purchasing, a comprehensive supply management project covering both raw materials and components is in progress. This is increasingly important as areas of component supply are outsourced to external suppliers in low-cost countries, while the Group is striving to increasingly exploit economies of scale.
With regard to the Group's administrative flow, efforts are focused on automated and standardised solutions, also known as "Seamless Flow". Manual work is to be reduced or completely eliminated in all processes, creating a seamless flow from the customer through the Group's various processes to the suppliers. Seamless Flow is a process project in which a coordinated and optimised IT structure is fundamental for implementation. The most important activities in IT optimisation include a reduction in the number of ERP systems. The implementation of Seamless Flow and the coordination and optimisation of the IT structure will also enable the efficient coordination of support functions.
The Group aims to achieve organic growth through intensive development of mature as well as new markets. In addition, organic growth can be made through cross-selling among Group companies to expand and enhance product portfolios. In markets where the Group is well established, organic growth is achieved through increased sales to existing customers whereas in new markets, where there are no strong local providers, new Group companies are established in order to achieve growth. In both mature and new markets, the key to organic growth within the Group lies in its wide product range, ownership of strong internationally respected brands and new, more efficient forms of distribution.
A large part of the Group's historical growth and present size is explained by acquisitions. Acquisitions will continue to be an important growth factor for expansion into new markets (and markets where the Group's market share is currently low) as well as expansion into new technologies. Additional acquisitions in existing markets may also become appropriate.
On 13 December 2010 AA announced a public offer for the Cardo Group for a total price of SEK 11,340 million. The shares in Cardo AB, the parent company of the Cardo Group, were listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm, Mid Cap. The Cardo Group is a leading provider of industrial doors and logistic systems, systems for wastewater treatment and process equipment for the pulp and paper industry. The company had annual sales of SEK 7,973 million in the financial year ended 2010. At the announcement of the public offer AA communicated its intention to consolidate Cardo Entrance Solutions (a division of the Cardo Group) in the Entrance Systems division and to sell the other businesses within the Cardo Group, i.e. Cardo Flow Solutions and Lorentzen & Wettre, that do not, in the long-term, fit the Group's operations. The acquisition of the Cardo Group closed in March 2011 and Cardo Entrance Solutions was consolidated from 18 March 2011.
In April 2011, AA signed an agreement with Sulzer Ltd to sell Cardo Flow Solutions for SEK 5,900 million on a cash and debt free basis. The company had annual sales of SEK 3,181 million in the financial year ended 2010. The divestment was completed in July 2011.
In July 2011, AA signed an agreement with ABB to sell Lorentzen & Wettre for SEK 750 million on a cash and debt free basis. The company had annual sales of SEK 307 million in the financial year ended 2010. The divestment was completed in September 2011.
In January 2011, the business unit HID Global completed the acquisition of LaserCard Corporation, which was signed in December 2010. LaserCard Corporation is a U.S. company which provides secure ID solutions to governments and commercial clients. The company had annual sales of around USD 59 million in the financial year ended 2009.
In March 2011, the EMEA division completed the acquisition of Swesafe, the largest locksmith in Sweden, which was signed in November 2010. The company had annual sales of SEK 443 million in the financial year ended 2010. The acquisition was finalised in March 2011.
In April 2011, the Entrance Systems division acquired FlexiForce, a Dutch company specialised in components for industrial sectional doors and residential garage doors. The company had annual sales of around EUR 62 million in the financial year ended 2010.
In October 2011, it was announced that the Entrance Systems division had signed an agreement to acquire the U.S. entrance-automation company Albany Door Systems, a leader in high-speed doors. Albany Door Systems had annual sales of USD 149 million in the financial year ended 2010. The acquisition was completed in January 2012.
A total of 18 acquisitions were consolidated during 2011.
In January 2012, it was announced that the Entrance Systems division had signed an agreement to acquire Dynaco in Belgium. Dynaco is a leading producer of high-speed doors specialised in sales to a global network of distributors. The company had annual sales of EUR 48 million in the financial year 2011. The acquisition was completed in February 2012.
In May 2012, the Entrance Systems division acquired the Canadian company Helton, a manufacturer of hardware for sectional doors for residential and industrial customers. The Helton group operates in the Canadian and U.S. markets. The company had annual sales of CAD 47 million in the financial year 2011.
In May 2012, the Asia Pacific division acquired Shandong Guoqiang Hardware in China. Guoqiang offers a full range of window hardware predominantly in the Chinese market. The company had annual sales of CNY 450 million in the financial year 2011.
A total of 11 acquisitions were consolidated during the first nine months of 2012.
Although some consolidation has taken place over the past ten years, the security industry is still fragmented in a global perspective. Some countries have one strong manufacturer with a large share of the local market. These companies often focus on their domestic market and have limited international operations.
The Group's main competitors are four other major players, which operate in part in the Group's segment: Ingersoll-Rand, Stanley Black & Decker, Dorma and Kaba. Two of these are based in the U.S. and two in Europe. All these competitors are strongest on their home markets as well as having a presence on some other markets. The Asian market is still very fragmented; even the largest manufacturers have modest market shares.
The Group owns approximately 1,800 active patent families registered throughout the world. Patents provide an important role for the Group to protect not only own technologies and keyways, but also end users' assets and distributors' businesses. On top of the Group's vast number of patents around cylinder technologies, the Group's latest patents cover a wide range of development for mechanical and electromechanical security, safety and convenience. With the increasing amount of virtual keys used in the Group's RFID and NFC solutions, the Group's latest patent filing covers also areas related to software, firmware and their applications.
AA's Annual General Meeting 2012 resolved to implement a Long-Term Incentive Programme for senior executives and other key personnel in the Group (LTI 2012). LTI 2012 entails that the participants will invest in Series B shares in AA at market price. Such personal investment will thereafter be matched free of charge by the AA through granting of so called matching awards and performance awards. Under the terms of LTI 2012, employees have bought 90,038 AA Series B shares during the second quarter of 2012.
Similar Long-Term Incentive Programmes for senior executives and other key personnel in the Group were also implemented in 2010 (LTI 2010) and in 2011 (LTI 2011).
In 2007, a five-year global incentive programme for employees in the Group, Incentive 2007, was implemented. Under Incentive 2007, AA issued four series of convertible bonds of EUR 25 million each to a company especially established for this purpose. Conversions under Incentive 2007 were completed during the conversion period in June 2012 and were managed by an external party. Half of the convertible bonds related to Incentive 2007 were converted into Series B shares and a total of 2,608,400 new Series B shares were issued in June 2012.
AA's share capital at 30 September 2012 amounted to SEK 370,858,778 divided into two classes of which 19,175,323 shares were Series A and 351,683,455 were Series B. All of AA's shares have a par value of SEK 1.00 and provide each holder with an equal right to share in AA's assets and earnings. Each Series A share carries 10 votes and each Series B share carries one vote. As at 30 September 2012, AA's authorised share capital was SEK 800,000,000.
The market capitalisation at year-end (2011) was SEK 63,560 million.
During the second quarter of 2012 a repurchase of AA shares took place. AA acquired 200,000 Series B shares at a total purchase price of SEK 38 million. The purpose was to ensure AA's undertakings, including social security costs, in connection with LTI 2012. At 30 September 2012, AA held a total of 600,000 Series B shares after repurchases to secure its undertakings in connection with LTI 2010, LTI 2011 and LTI 2012.
As at 31 December 2011, AA had 18,697 shareholders. AA's principal shareholders as of 30 September 2011 are Investment AB Latour (9.5 per cent. of the capital and 29.5 per cent. of the votes) and Melker Schörling AB (3.9 per cent. of the capital and 11.5 per cent. of the votes). The ten largest shareholders as of 30 September 2012 account for 35.3 per cent. of the share capital and 55.9 per cent. of the votes.
A shareholders' agreement that includes pre-emption rights in the event of sale of Series A shares by any party exists between Gustaf Douglas, Melker Schörling and companies closely related to them. Apart from this, AA is not aware of any shareholders' agreements or other arrangements between shareholders of AA.
The Group consists of over 400 legal entities, out of which more than 250 are active and operating, located in over 60 countries. AA is the holding company of all the companies in the Group, directly or indirectly, and its assets are substantially comprised of shares in those companies. AA does not conduct business itself and is accordingly dependent on the Group companies and the revenues received by them.
The Group's operations are decentralised, a deliberate strategic choice based on the local nature of the lock industry and a conviction of the benefits of a divisional control model. Another contributing factor is that the Group has been built up over a relatively short period through a large number of acquisitions.
The Group's operating structure is designed to create maximum transparency, to facilitate financial and operational monitoring and to promote the flow of information and communication across the Group. The Group consists of five divisions, which are divided into some 30 business units. These consist in turn of a large number of sales and production units, depending on the structure of the business unit concerned. Apart from monitoring by unit, monitoring of products and markets is also carried out.
The Group consists of the following five divisions, which are further described below:
The Executive Team of the Group consists of the CEO, the heads of the Group's divisions, the CFO and the CTO. In principle the five divisions should be responsible, as far as possible, for business operations, while various functions at the headquarters of the Group are responsible for coordination, monitoring, policies and guidelines at an overall level. The Group's structure results in a geographical and strategic spread of responsibility ensuring short decision-making paths. The Group's management philosophy is based on trust and respect for local cultures and conditions.
In accordance with the Swedish Companies Act, the AA Board of Directors is responsible for the organisation and administration of the Group and for ensuring satisfactory control of bookkeeping, asset management and other financial circumstances. The Board of Directors decides on the Group's overall objectives, strategies and policies, as well as on acquisitions, divestitures and investments.
The Americas division manufactures and sells mechanical and electromechanical locks, cylinders, security doors and door frames in North and South America. The majority of the division's sales are in North America where the Group has an extensive sales organisation and sells its products through distributors. The two largest end-user segments are the institutional and commercial segments while the residential segment accounts for only a minor part of sales. Sales in South America and Mexico take place mainly through distributors, wholesalers and DIY stores and are more evenly distributed between the residential and commercial segments in these markets. Some of the division's leading brands are Ceco, Corbin Russwin, Curries, Emtek, Medeco, Phillips, SARGENT and La Fonte.
The EMEA division manufactures and sells mechanical, electromechanical and electronic locks, cylinders, security doors and accessories in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The EMEA division consists of a number of Group companies which have good knowledge of their local, often diversified, markets and which sell products under some of the most respected brands in the industry, such as ABLOY, ASSA, IKON, TESA, Yale, Mul-T-Lock, UNION and Vachette.
The Asia Pacific division manufactures and sells mechanical and electromechanical locks, digital door locks, high-security doors and hardware. China accounts for around 50 per cent., Australia and New Zealand for around 30 per cent., and the other markets, dominated by South Korea, for around 20 per cent. of the division's sales. In Asia, the division's major brands are the Chinese brands Baodean, Guli, Pan Pan, Shenfei Liyi, Doormax, Beijing Tianming, Wangli and Longdian, the South Korean brands Gateman, Angel and King and the global brand Yale. In Australia and New Zealand, the largest brands are Lockwood and Interlock. The markets in Australia and New Zealand are mature, with established lock standards. The majority of sales are for renovations and upgrades. The Asian markets do not yet have such established security standards, and the majority of products are sold for new construction. In China, the same types of lock, handle and hardware are often used for both homes and offices. The production units in China also supply the Group's other divisions.
The Global Technologies division has a leading position as a supplier of electronic security solutions worldwide. The division consists of two business units, HID Global and ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, with sales mainly to the commercial segment. HID Global is a leader in secure identity solutions, primarily in identity and access management and in contactless identification technology solutions under the HID brand. ASSA ABLOY Hospitality is a leader in electronic lock systems and safes for hotels and cruise ships under the Vingcard Elsafe brand.
The Entrance Systems division is a leader in entrance automation products, components and service. The product range includes automatic swing, sliding and revolving doors, air curtains, gate automation, garage doors, industrial doors, docking solutions and hangar doors. The acquisition of Albany Door Systems greatly strengthens the position within high-performance doors. The products are sold through both a direct and an indirect sales channel. In the former, equipment and a comprehensive service offering are sold direct to endcustomers, while in the latter products and components are sold to end-customers through distributors. The products are sold under the global leading brands of Besam, Crawford, Albany, FlexiForce, Normstahl, Henderson, Ditec and EM.
The Board of Directors consists of eight members, two employee representatives and two deputy employee representatives. Set out below are brief details of the members of AA's Board of Directors:
Mr Renström was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2008. He has been the President and CEO of Alfa Laval AB since 2004. He was President and CEO of Seco Tools AB 2000-2004. He was President and Head of Division of Atlas Copco Rock Drilling Tools 1997-2000. Prior to that, he held a number of senior posts at ABB and Ericsson. Other appointments: Board member of Alfa Laval AB and TeliaSonera AB. Mr Renström holds a Master of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics.
Mr Molin was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2006. He has been the President and CEO of the Group since 2005. He was CEO of Nilfisk-Advance 2001-2005. Various posts, mainly in finance and marketing, later divisional head in the Atlas Copco Group 1983-2001. Other appointments: Chairman of Nobia AB. Mr Molin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics.
Mr Douglas was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2004. He is self-employed. Other appointments: Vice Chairman of Securitas AB. Board member of Investment AB Latour and Swegon AB. Mr Douglas holds a Bachelor of Arts.
Mr Nilsson was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2001. He was President and CEO of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson 1998-1999 and held various executive positions, mainly in marketing and general management in the Ericsson Group 1982-1997. Other appointments: Chairman of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FVM). Board member of Sprint Nextel Corporation and CEVA, Inc. Mr Nilsson holds a Bachelor of Science.
Mr Svensson was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2008. He is the CEO of Melker Schörling AB. He was CFO of Swiss International Airlines Ltd. 2003-2006, CFO of Esselte AB 2000-2003 and Controller/CFO of the Stenbeck group's foreign telecoms ventures 1992-2000. Other appointments: Board member of AarhusKarlshamn AB, Loomis AB, Hexagon AB, Hexpol AB and Flughafen Zürich AG. Mr Svensson holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
Mrs Lindqvist was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2008. She was Senior Vice President of Mobile Business at TeliaSonera AB 2006-2007. Prior to that, she held a number of senior posts at TeliaSonera AB, including President and Head of Business Operation International Carrier, and various positions in the Ericsson Group 1981-1999. Other appointments: Board member of companies including Tieto Oy, Transmode AB and Episerver AB. She is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). Mrs Lindqvist holds a Master of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics.
Mrs Klasén was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2008. She is an Independent IT consultant (Senior IT Advisor). She was Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Head of Information Management at EADS (European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company) 2004-2005. She was CIO and Senior Vice President of Pharmacia 1996-2001 and prior to that, CIO at Telia. She held various posts at IBM 1976-1994. Other appointments: Board member of Acando AB and IFS AB. Mrs Klasén holds a Master of Science in Engineering.
Mr Svensson was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2012. He has been President and CEO of Investment AB Latour since 2003. Other appointments: Chairman of AB Fagerhult, Nederman Holding AB and Oxeon AB. Board member of Loomis AB and Tomra Systems ASA. Mr Svensson holds a Mechanical Engineering degree and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics.
Mr Liimatainen was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2003. He is an employee representative and a member of the Federation of Salaried Employees in Industry and Service.
Mr Persson was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1994. He is an employee representative, and a member of the Swedish Metal Workers' Union.
Deputy members – employee representatives
Mr Hjälm was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2005. He is an employee representative, a member of the Swedish Metal Workers' Union and Chairman of EWC, European Work Council in the ASSA ABLOY Group.
Mr Nyström was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1994. He is an employee representative, and a member of the Swedish Metal Workers' Union.
Set out below are brief details of the members of AA's Executive Team:
President and CEO and member of the Board of Directors. Employed and member of the Executive Team since 2005. Mr Molin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics. Born 1959.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Employed and member of the Executive Team since 2012. Mrs Dybeck Happe holds a Masters Degree in Finance. Born 1972.
Executive Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific Division. Employed since 2009 and a member of the Executive team since 2009. Mr Persson holds a Master of Science in Engineering. Born 1969.
Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Technologies business unit HID Global. Employed since 2002 and member of the Executive Team since 2007. Denis Hébert holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration. Born 1956.
Executive Vice President and Head of Americas division. Employed since 1996 and member of the Executive Team since 2000. Mr Molokotos holds a Master of Science in Engineering. Born 1958.
Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Technologies business unit ASSA ABLOY Hospitality. Employed since 2004 and member of the Executive Team since 2007. Tim Shea holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Business Administration. Born 1959.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Employed since 2000 and member of the Executive Team since 2006. Ulf Södergren holds a Master of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics. Born 1953.
Executive Vice President and Head of ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems division. Employed since 2002 and member of the Executive Team since 2005. Mr Vargues holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration. Born in 1959.
Executive Vice President and Head of EMEA division. Employed since 2000 and member of the Executive Team since 2006. Mr Wiesenfeld holds a Bachelor in Industrial Engineering and holds a Master of Business Administration. Born in 1958.
The business address of each of the board members and the executive officers is P.O. Box 70340, (Klarabergsviadukten 90), 107 23 Stockholm, Sweden.
AA is not aware of any potential conflicts of interest between the duties to AA of the members of the Board of Directors and the Management and their private interests or other duties.
AAFS is, indirectly, a wholly owned subsidiary of AA and was incorporated on 8 September 1986. AAFS is registered as a public limited liability, company under the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551) for an indefinite period of time and its Corporate Organisation number is 556283-0264. AAFS's registered office is located at P.O. Box 70340 (Klarabergsviadukten 90), SE-107 23 Stockholm, Sweden. Its telephone number is +46 (0)850648500. As at 30 September 2012, the issued share capital of AAFS amounted to SEK 1,000,000 divided into ten shares, and the authorised share capital amounted to SEK 4,000,000.
AAFS acts as an internal bank for the Group. It supports the Group with services related to treasury, cash management and derivatives. AAFS conducts external financial transactions and internal financial transactions within the Group, handles transactions involving foreign currencies and interest rates and acts as master account holder in the Group's cash pooling arrangements.
In addition to being an issuer under the Global Medium Term Note Programme, AAFS is a party to the Group's syndicated loan facility agreement, is the issuer under a "Global Commercial Paper Programme", a Swedish "Commercial Paper Programme" as well as under a "Master Note and Guarantee Agreement" in connection with private placements in the U.S. All debt obligations of AAFS under the above mentioned facilities have the benefit of a guarantee from AA. AAFS is also a party to a number of ISDA Master Agreements. All the financing raised by AAFS is used for general corporate purposes of the Group.
AAFS is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY OY (Finland), Filial (a branch of ASSA ABLOY OY registered in Sweden), and is, indirectly, a wholly owned subsidiary of AA. AAFS is part of the Group's treasury organisation and, in its role as internal bank of the Group, it is dependent on the performance of the other Group companies to which it provides finance.
The Board of Directors consists of three members. Set out below are brief details of the members of AAFS Board of Directors:
Mrs Dybeck Happe was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2012. She is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Group as well as member of the Executive Team.
Mr Gårdmark was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2008. He is the Corporate Treasurer of the Group.
Mr Wahlberg was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2005. He is the General Counsel of the Group.
CEO of AAFS and Group Tax Manager. Employed since 2010.
The business address of the above mentioned persons is P.O. Box 70340 (Klarabergsviadukten 90), 107 23 Stockholm, Sweden.
AAFS is not aware of any potential conflicts of interest between the duties to AAFS of the members of the Board of Directors and the Management and their private interests or other duties.
The information set out below is subject to any change in or reinterpretation of the rules, regulations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg (together, the "Clearing Systems") currently in effect. The information in this section concerning the Clearing Systems has been obtained from sources that each of the Issuers and the Guarantor believe to be reliable, but none of the Issuers, the Guarantor, nor any Dealer takes any responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Investors wishing to use the facilities of any of the Clearing Systems are advised to confirm the continued applicability of the rules, regulations and procedures of the relevant Clearing System. None of the Issuers, the Guarantor, nor any other party to the Agency Agreement will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the Notes held through the facilities of any Clearing System or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
DTC has advised each of the Issuers and the Guarantor that it is a limited purpose trust company organised under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organisation" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (Direct Participants) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Direct Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerised book-entry changes in Direct Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organisations. DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC System is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (Indirect Participants and, together with Direct Participants, Participants).
Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and its operations (the Rules), DTC makes book-entry transfers of Registered Notes among Direct Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to Notes accepted into DTC's book-entry settlement system (DTC Notes) as described below and receives and transmits distributions of principal and interest on DTC Notes. The Rules are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Direct Participants and Indirect Participants with which beneficial owners of DTC Notes (Owners) have accounts with respect to the DTC Notes similarly are required to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit such payments on behalf of their respective Owners. Accordingly, although Owners who hold DTC Notes through Direct Participants or Indirect Participants will not possess Registered Notes, the Rules, by virtue of the requirements described above, provide a mechanism by which Direct Participants will receive payments and will be able to transfer their interest in respect of the DTC Notes.
Purchases of DTC Notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the DTC Notes on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each DTC Note (Beneficial Owner) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the DTC Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in DTC Notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the DTC Notes is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all DTC Notes deposited by Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of DTC Notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the DTC Notes; DTC's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such DTC Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the DTC Notes within an issue are being redeemed, DTC's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to DTC Notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to the relevant Issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the DTC Notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Principal and interest payments on the DTC Notes will be made to DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the due date for payment in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the due date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC or the relevant Issuer, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to DTC is the responsibility of the relevant Issuer, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
Under certain circumstances, including if there is an Event of Default under the Notes, DTC will exchange the DTC Notes for definitive Registered Notes, which it will distribute to its Participants in accordance with their proportionate entitlements and which, if representing interests in a Rule 144A Global Note, will be legended as set forth under "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions".
Since DTC may only act on behalf of Direct Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, any Owner desiring to pledge DTC Notes to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC, or otherwise take actions with respect to such DTC Notes, will be required to withdraw its Registered Notes from DTC as described below.
Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg each holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions by electronic book-entry transfer between their respective account holders. Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg provide various services including safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg also deal with domestic securities markets in several countries through established depository and custodial relationships. Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg have established an electronic bridge between their two systems across which their respective participants may settle trades with each other.
Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg customers are world-wide financial institutions, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. Indirect access to Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg is available to other institutions that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with an account holder of either system.
The relevant Issuer may apply to DTC in order to have any Tranche of Notes represented by a Registered Global Note accepted in its book-entry settlement system. Upon the issue of any such Registered Global Note, DTC or its custodian will credit, on its internal book-entry system, the respective nominal amounts of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Registered Global Note to the accounts of persons who have accounts with DTC. Such accounts initially will be designated by or on behalf of the relevant Dealer. Ownership of beneficial interests in such a Registered Global Note will be limited to Direct Participants or Indirect Participants, including, in the case of any Regulation S Global Note, the respective depositaries of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Registered Global Note accepted by DTC will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to the interests of Direct Participants) and the records of Direct Participants (with respect to interests of Indirect Participants).
Payments in U.S. dollars of principal and interest in respect of a Registered Global Note accepted by DTC will be made to the order of DTC or its nominee as the registered holder of such Note. In the case of any payment in a currency other than U.S. dollars, payment will be made to the Exchange Agent on behalf of DTC or its nominee and the Exchange Agent will (in accordance with instructions received by it) remit all or a portion of such payment for credit directly to the beneficial holders of interests in the Registered Global Note in the currency in which such payment was made and/or cause all or a portion of such payment to be converted into U.S. dollars and credited to the applicable Participants' account.
The relevant Issuer expects DTC to credit accounts of Direct Participants on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings as shown in the records of DTC unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on such payment date. The relevant Issuer also expects that payments by Participants to beneficial owners of Notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers, and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not the responsibility of DTC, the Principal Paying Agent, the Registrar or the relevant Issuer. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Notes to DTC is the responsibility of the relevant Issuer.
Transfers of any interests in Notes represented by a Registered Global Note within DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will be effected in accordance with the customary rules and operating procedures of the relevant clearing system. The laws in some States within the United States require that certain persons take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Consequently, the ability to transfer Notes represented by a Registered Global Note to such persons may depend upon the ability to exchange such Notes for Notes in definitive form. Similarly, because DTC can only act on behalf of Direct Participants in the DTC system who in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a person having an interest in Notes represented by a Registered Global Note accepted by DTC to pledge such Notes to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system or otherwise to take action in respect of such Notes may depend upon the ability to exchange such Notes for Notes in definitive form. The ability of any holder of Notes represented by a Registered Global Note accepted by DTC to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer such Notes may be impaired if the proposed transferee of such Notes is not eligible to hold such Notes through a direct or indirect participant in the DTC system.
Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Registered Notes described under "Subscription and Sale and Transfer and Selling Restrictions", cross-market transfers between DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear accountholders, on the other, will be effected by the relevant clearing system in accordance with its rules and through action taken by the Registrar, the Principal Paying Agent and any custodian (Custodian) with whom the relevant Registered Global Notes have been deposited.
On or after the Issue Date for any Series, transfers of Notes of such Series between accountholders in Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and transfers of Notes of such Series between participants in DTC will generally have a settlement date three business days after the trade date (T+3). The customary arrangements for delivery versus payment will apply to such transfers.
Cross-market transfers between accountholders in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear and DTC participants will need to have an agreed settlement date between the parties to such transfer. Because there is no direct link between DTC, on the one hand, and Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear, on the other, transfers of interests in the relevant Registered Global Notes will be effected through the Registrar, the Principal Paying Agent and the Custodian receiving instructions (and, where appropriate, certification) from the transferor and arranging for delivery of the interests being transferred to the credit of the designated account for the transferee. In the case of cross-market transfers, settlement between Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg accountholders and DTC participants cannot be made on a delivery versus payment basis. The securities will be delivered on a free delivery basis and arrangements for payment must be made separately.
DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear have each published rules and operating procedures designed to facilitate transfers of beneficial interests in Registered Global Notes among participants and accountholders of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued or changed at any time. None of the Issuers, the Guarantor, the Agents or any Dealer will be responsible for any performance by DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear or their respective direct or indirect participants or accountholders of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations and none of them will have any liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in the Notes represented by Registered Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.
Prospective purchasers of Notes are advised to consult their tax advisers as to the consequences, under the tax laws of the countries of their respective citizenship, residence or domicile, of a purchase of Notes, including, but not limited to, the consequences of receipt of payments under the Notes and their disposal or redemption.
The statements below are of a general nature in respect of Noteholders and Couponholders who are neither resident for tax purposes in Sweden nor for any other reason subject to Swedish income tax or any other Swedish taxes (collectively non-residents of Sweden) and are based on certain aspects of current tax laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change. Neither such statements nor any other statements in this Offering Circular are to be regarded as advice on the tax position of any Noteholder or any person purchasing, selling or otherwise dealing in Notes. Prospective holders of Notes and Noteholders who are in doubt about their tax position should consult their own professional advisers.
Each of the Issuers and the Guarantor have been advised that under Swedish tax laws in effect on the date of this Offering Circular there is no withholding tax in respect of payments of interest or principal or payment received on redemption of any Notes to non-residents of Sweden made by the relevant Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor in Sweden in respect of any Notes or Coupons or, as the case may be, the Guarantee nor are any Swedish taxes payable by Noteholders or Couponholders which are non-residents of Sweden on interest or principal received in respect of any Notes or Coupons or payment received on redemption of any Notes. Thus Noteholders and Couponholders who are neither resident for tax purposes in Sweden nor for any other reason subject to Swedish income tax or any other Swedish taxes are not liable to Swedish tax on receipt of interest or principal on, or redemption of, or on capital gains on the sale of, any Notes or Coupons.
Under EC Council Directive 2003/48/EC (the Directive) on the taxation of savings income, Member States, including Belgium from 1 January 2010, are required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest (or similar income) paid by a person within its jurisdiction to an individual resident in that other Member State or to certain limited types of entities established in that other Member State. However, for a transitional period, Luxembourg and Austria are instead required (unless during that period they elect otherwise) to operate a withholding system in relation to such payments (the ending of such transitional period being dependent upon the conclusion of certain other agreements relating to information exchange with certain other countries). A number of non-EU countries and territories (including Switzerland) have adopted similar measures (a withholding system in the case of Switzerland).
The European Commission has proposed certain amendments to the Directive which may, if implemented, amend or broaden the scope of the requirements described above.
The Dealers have, in an amended and restated programme agreement (such amended and restated programme agreement as further modified and/or supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the Programme Agreement) dated 16 November 2012, agreed with the Issuers and the Guarantor a basis upon which they or any of them may from time to time agree to purchase Notes. Any such agreement will extend to those matters stated under "Form of the Notes" and "Terms and Conditions of the Notes". In the Programme Agreement, the Issuers (failing which, the Guarantor (in the case of Guaranteed Notes)) have agreed to reimburse the Dealers for certain of their expenses in connection with the update of the Programme and the issue of Notes under the Programme and to indemnify the Dealers against certain liabilities incurred by them in connection therewith.
Each purchaser of Registered Notes (other than a person purchasing an interest in a Registered Global Note with a view to holding it in the form of an interest in the same Global Note) or person wishing to transfer an interest from one Registered Global Note to another or from global to definitive form or vice versa, will be required to acknowledge, represent and agree, and each person purchasing an interest in a Registered Global Note with a view to holding it in the form of an interest in the same Global Note will be deemed to have acknowledged, represented and agreed, as follows (terms used in this paragraph that are defined in Rule 144A or in Regulation S are used herein as defined therein):
"THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE U.S. STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (A) REPRESENTS THAT (1) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) PURCHASING THE SECURITIES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ONE OR MORE QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS OR (2) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN "INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR"); (B) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGENCY AGREEMENT AND, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE LAST ISSUE DATE FOR THE SERIES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITIES OTHER THAN (1) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF, (2) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (3) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (4) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND ANY OTHER JURISDICTION; AND (C) IT AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144A FOR RESALES OF THE SECURITY.
THIS SECURITY AND RELATED DOCUMENTATION (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE AGENCY AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF, BUT UPON NOTICE TO, THE HOLDERS OF SUCH SECURITIES SENT TO THEIR REGISTERED ADDRESSES, TO MODIFY THE RESTRICTIONS ON AND PROCEDURES FOR RESALES AND OTHER TRANSFERS OF THIS SECURITY TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION (OR THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF) OR IN PRACTICES RELATING TO RESALES OR OTHER TRANSFERS OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES GENERALLY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OR PURCHASE HEREOF, TO HAVE AGREED TO ANY SUCH AMENDMENT OR SUPPLEMENT (EACH OF WHICH SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING ON THE HOLDER HEREOF AND ALL FUTURE HOLDERS OF THIS SECURITY AND ANY SECURITIES ISSUED IN EXCHANGE OR SUBSTITUTION THEREFOR, WHETHER OR NOT ANY NOTATION THEREOF IS MADE HEREON).";
(vii) if it is outside the United States and is not a U.S. person, that if it should resell or otherwise transfer the Notes prior to the expiration of the distribution compliance period (defined as 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the closing date with respect to the original issuance of the Notes), it will do so only (a)(i) outside the United States in compliance with Rule 903 or 904 under the Securities Act or (ii) to a QIB in compliance with Rule 144A and (b) in accordance with all applicable U.S. state securities laws; and it acknowledges that the Regulation S Global Notes will bear a legend to the following effect unless otherwise agreed to by the relevant Issuer:
"THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE U.S. STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGENCY AGREEMENT AND PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS LEGEND SHALL CEASE TO APPLY UPON THE EXPIRY OF THE PERIOD OF 40 DAYS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ALL THE NOTES OF THE TRANCHE OF WHICH THIS NOTE FORMS PART."; and
(viii) that the relevant Issuer and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgements, representations and agreements and agrees that if any of such acknowledgements, representations or agreements made by it are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the relevant Issuer; and if it is acquiring any Notes as a fiduciary or agent for one or more accounts it represents that it has sole investment discretion with respect to each such account and that it has full power to make the foregoing acknowledgements, representations and agreements on behalf of each such account.
Institutional Accredited Investors who purchase Registered Notes in definitive form offered and sold in the United States in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by the Securities Act are required to execute and deliver to the Registrar an IAI Investment Letter. Upon execution and delivery of an IAI Investment Letter by an Institutional Accredited Investor, Notes will be issued in definitive registered form, see "Form of the Notes".
The IAI Investment Letter will state, among other things, the following:
No sale of Legended Notes in the United States to any one purchaser will be for less than U.S.\$100,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) nominal amount or, in the case of sales to Institutional Accredited Investors, U.S.\$500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) nominal amount and no Legended Note will be issued in connection with such a sale in a smaller nominal amount. If the purchaser is a non-bank fiduciary acting on behalf of others, each person for whom it is acting must purchase at least U.S.\$100,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) or, in the case of sales to Institutional Accredited Investors, U.S.\$500,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) nominal amount of Registered Notes.
The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The Notes in bearer form are subject to U.S. tax law requirements and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person, except in certain transactions permitted by U.S. Treasury regulations. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder. The applicable Final Terms will identify whether TEFRA C rules or TEFRA D rules apply or whether TEFRA is not applicable.
In connection with any Notes which are offered or sold outside the United States in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided under Regulation S (Regulation S Notes), each Dealer has represented and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that it will not offer, sell or deliver such Regulation S Notes (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the completion of the distribution, as determined and certified by the relevant Dealer or, in the case of an issue of Notes on a syndicated basis, the relevant lead manager, of all Notes of the Tranche of which such Regulation S Notes are a part, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons. Each Dealer has further agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to agree, that it will send to each dealer to which it sells any Regulation S Notes during the distribution compliance period a confirmation or other notice setting forth the restrictions on offers and sales of the Regulation S Notes within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Until 40 days after the commencement of the offering of any Series of Notes, an offer or sale of such Notes within the United States by any dealer (whether or not participating in the offering) may violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act if such offer or sale is made otherwise than in accordance with an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
Dealers may arrange for the resale of Notes to QIBs pursuant to Rule 144A and each such purchaser of Notes is hereby notified that the Dealers may be relying on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A. The minimum aggregate nominal amount of Notes which may be purchased by a QIB pursuant to Rule 144A is U.S.\$100,000 (or the approximate equivalent thereof in any other currency). Each of the Issuers and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor agree that, for so long as any of the Notes are "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, to the extent that the relevant Issuer and the Guarantor are not subject to or do not comply with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or the information furnishing requirements of Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder, the relevant Issuer and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor will furnish to holders of Notes and to prospective purchasers designated by such holders, upon request, such information as may be required by Rule 144A(d)(4).
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each Dealer has represented and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this Offering Circular as completed by the final terms in relation thereto to the public in that Relevant Member State except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of such Notes to the public in that Relevant Member State:
provided that no such offer of Notes referred to in (a) to (c) above shall require the relevant Issuer or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an offer of Notes to the public in relation to any Notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/ EU.
Each Dealer has represented and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that:
Each Dealer has represented and agreed and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer for subscription or purchase or issue invitations to subscribe for or buy or sell any Notes or distribute any draft or definitive document in relation to any such offer, invitation or sale in Sweden except in circumstances that will not result in a requirement to prepare a prospectus pursuant to the provisions of the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument).
The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended; the FIEA) and each Dealer has represented and agreed, and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that it will not offer or sell any Notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (as defined under Item 5, Paragraph 1, Article 6 of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (Act No. 228 of 1949, as amended)), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Each Dealer has represented and agreed and each further Dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to represent and agree that it will (to the best of its knowledge and belief) comply with all applicable securities laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Notes or possesses or distributes this Offering Circular and will obtain any consent, approval or permission required by it for the purchase, offer, sale or delivery by it of Notes under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes such purchases, offers, sales or deliveries and neither the Issuers, the Guarantor nor any of the other Dealers shall have any responsibility therefor.
None of the Issuers, the Guarantor and the Dealers represents that Notes may at any time lawfully be sold in compliance with any applicable registration or other requirements in any jurisdiction, or pursuant to any exemption available thereunder, or assumes any responsibility for facilitating such sale.
The current update of the Programme, the issue of Notes thereunder and the giving of the Guarantee in respect of Guaranteed Notes have been duly authorised by resolutions of the Board of Directors of AA dated 23 April 2008 and 26 September 2012 and the Board of Directors of AAFS dated 12 October 2012.
It is expected that each Tranche of Notes which is to be admitted to the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market will be admitted separately as and when issued, subject only to the issue of one or more Global Notes initially representing the Notes of such Tranche. Application has been made to the UK Listing Authority for Notes issued under the Programme to be admitted to the Official List and to the London Stock Exchange for such Notes to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market. The listing of the Programme in respect of Notes is expected to be granted on or around 21 November 2012.
For the period of 12 months following the date of this Offering Circular, copies of the following documents will, when published, be available for inspection only from the registered office of the Issuers and (in the case of Guaranteed Notes) the Guarantor and from the specified office of the Paying Agent for the time being in London:
In addition, copies of this Offering Circular, each Final Terms relating to Notes which are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Regulated Market and each document incorporated by reference are available at the website of the Regulatory News Service operated by the London Stock Exchange.
The English translations of the audit reports and financial statements referred to in (ii) and (iii) above are direct and accurate translations of the original documents.
The Notes in bearer form have been accepted for clearance through Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg which are the entities in charge of keeping the records. The appropriate Common Code and ISIN for each Tranche of Bearer Notes allocated by Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will be specified in the applicable Final Terms. In addition, the relevant Issuer may make an application for any Notes in registered form to be accepted for trading in book-entry form by DTC. The CUSIP and/or CINS numbers for each Tranche of Registered Notes, together with the relevant ISIN and common code, will be specified in the applicable Final Terms. If the Notes are to clear through an additional or alternative clearing system the appropriate information will be specified in the applicable Final Terms.
The address of Euroclear is Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., 1 Boulevard du Roi Albert II, B-1210 Brussels, the address of Clearstream, Luxembourg is Clearstream Banking, 42 Avenue JF Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg and the address of DTC is 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041, United States of America.
The price and amount of Notes to be issued under the Programme will be determined by the relevant Issuer and each relevant Dealer at the time of issue in accordance with prevailing market conditions.
There has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of AA or the Group since 30 September 2012 and there has been no material adverse change in the prospects of AA since 31 December 2011.
There has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of AAFS since 31 December 2011 and there has been no material adverse change in the prospects of AAFS since 31 December 2011.
There have been no governmental, legal or arbitration proceedings (including such proceedings which are pending or threatened of which either AA or AAFS is aware) in the 12 months preceding the date of this document which may have or have in such period had a significant effect on the financial position or profitability of AA, AAFS or the Group.
The consolidated financial statements of AA for the two financial years ended on 31 December 2010 and 2011 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union and audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden with unqualified opinions reported thereon by PricewaterhouseCoopers AB. The Interim Report of AA dated 30 September 2012 has not been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers AB. PricewaterhouseCoopers AB is associated with FAR in Sweden, the institute for the accounting profession in Sweden.
The annual financial statements of AAFS for the two financial years ended on 31 December 2010 and 2011 have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Sweden and audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden with unqualified opinions reported thereon by PricewaterhouseCoopers AB. PricewaterhouseCoopers AB is associated with FAR in Sweden, the institute for the accounting profession in Sweden.
Neither AA nor AAFS intend to provide any post-issuance information in relation to any issues of Notes or Guaranteed Notes.
Certain of the Dealers and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment banking and/or commercial banking transactions with, and may perform other services for, the Issuers, the Guarantor and their respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
2010-01-01 -- 2010-12-31
This document has been accurately translated from Swedish to English.
Stockholm $\frac{26}{10}$ for $\frac{1}{2011}$
PricewaterhouseCoopers AB/ Peter Nyllinge
$\hat{\mathcal{L}}$
W.
How Me
The Board of Directors and the Managing Director for ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB submit the folllowing administration report for the fiscal year 2010
The company carries out internal banking operations within the ASSA ABLOY group.
The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY OY, Joensuu, Finland, which, in its turn, is wholly owned by ASSA ABLOY AB, org. no. 556059-3575, Stockholm, Sweden.
At an Extraordinary General Meeting the company decided on a dividend amounting to 665 000 000 SEK.
In accordance with the Group's currency policy, where the main principle is that foreign exchange rate should have direct impact on the business, the company has a limited number of currency contracts.
The company carries out continous follow-up and hedging of newly formed exchange positions and normally has at best limited net positions in foreign currency.
| Balanced earnings | 12 590 283 438 | |
|---|---|---|
| Year-end result | 518 672 559 | |
| Total | SFK | 13 108 955 997 |
The Board of Directors and the Managing Director propose available earnings to be allocated as follows:
| Carried forward to new financial year | 13 108 955 997 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | SEK | 13 108 955 997 |
It is the opinion of the Board that the dividend paid will neither prevent the company from meeting its commitments in the short and long term, nor from making the required investments. The transfer of value is therefore justifible in view of the provisions of chapter 17 section 3 paras 2-3 of the Swedish Companies Act. Of total equity, 67 835 272 SEK is derived from fair value of financial derivatives in accordance with chapter 4 section 14 of the Annual Accounts Act.
| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating profit (MSEK) | 706 | 616 | 78 | 59 | $-439$ |
| Total assets (MSEK) | 33 455 33 164 43 378 13 425 15 097 | ||||
| Return on shareholders' equity (%) | Ü | 26 | 43 | ||
| Equity (MSEK) | 13 110 13 116 13 286 | 159 | 123 | ||
| Net debt (MSEK) | $-13442 - 3795 - 17969$ | $-36$ | $-122$ | ||
| External gross debt (MSEK) | 5877 | 5 2 4 5 | 8 0 9 7 | 8 1 6 4 | 9 5 9 2 |
556283-0264
| kSEK | Note | 2010-12-31 | 2009-21-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| Operating income | |||
| Interest from group companies | 1 0 3 4 8 5 9 | 1 090 764 | |
| External interest | 7 540 | 13 195 | |
| Exchange rate differences from group companies | 1801 | 0 | |
| External exchange rate differences | 412 320 | 210 688 | |
| Other operating income | $\overline{2}$ | 17 681 | 363 |
| Total operating income | 1 474 201 | 1 3 1 5 0 1 0 | |
| Operating expenses | |||
| Interest to group companies | $-121982$ | $-145943$ | |
| External interest | $-198531$ | $-291457$ | |
| Exchange rate differences to group companies | $-155083$ | $-72938$ | |
| External exchange differences | $-267752$ | $-164836$ | |
| Administrative expenses | 3 | $-15065$ | $-15922$ |
| Amortization and write-downs | $-6211$ | - 637 | |
| Other operating expenses | $-3600$ | $-6816$ | |
| Total operating expenses | $-768224$ | $-698550$ | |
| Operating profit | 705 977 | 616 460 | |
| Appropriations | |||
| Tax | $\overline{4}$ | $-187304$ | $-172665$ |
| Net result for the year | 518 673 | 443 795 |
556283-0264
| Balance Sheet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||
| kSEK | Note | 2010-12-31 | 2009-12-31 |
| 1 | |||
| Fixed assets | |||
| Equipment | ۰ | ||
| Total fixed assets | |||
| Current assets | |||
| Receivables from group companies | 33 204 436 | 32 007 135 | |
| Other receivables | 5 | 1 747 | 317 561 |
| Deferred expenses and | |||
| accrued income | 6 | 248 462 | 186 890 |
| Cash and bank | 0 | 652 247 | |
| Total assets | 33 454 645 | 33 163 833 | |
| Total assets | 33 454 645 | 33 163 833 |
-55
556283-0264
$\infty$
| kSEK | Not | 2009-12-31 | 2009-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $\mathbf{1}$ | |||
| Equity | |||
| Restricted equity | |||
| Share capital | 1 000 | 1 000 | |
| Statutory reserve | 200 | 200 | |
| Total restricted equity | 1 200 | 1 200 | |
| Unrestricted equity | |||
| Balanced earnings | 12 590 283 | 12 671 382 | |
| Net profit for the year | 518 673 | 443 795 | |
| Total unrestricted equity | 13 108 956 | 13 115 177 | |
| Total equity | 13 110 156 | 13 116 377 | |
| Long-term liabilities | |||
| Liabilities to external institutions | 7 | 4 063 770 | 4 615 679 |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Liabilities to external institutions | 1813451 | 629 208 | |
| Liabilities to group companies | 14 337 435 | 14 715 160 | |
| Accrued expenses and | |||
| deferred income | 8 | 129 833 | 87 409 |
| Total current liabilities | 16 280 719 | 15 431 777 | |
| Total equity and liabilities | 33 454 645 | 33 163 833 | |
| Contingent liabilities | None | None | |
| Pledged assets | None | None |
556283-0264
| ASSA ABLOY Financial Services cash flow statement | ||
|---|---|---|
| kSEK | 2009 | 2009 |
| Operating activities | ||
| Operating profit | 705 977 | 616 460 |
| Amortization and write-downs | 0 | 637 |
| Paid tax | 0 | $-29727$ |
| Cash flow from operating activities | ||
| before changes in working capital | 705 977 | 587 370 |
| Increase (-) decrease (+) current receivables | - 943 059 | 10 643 775 |
| Increase (+) decrease (-) current operating liabilities | $-335302$ | $-7183470$ |
| Cash flow from operating activities | $-572384$ | 4 047 675 |
| Investing activities | ||
| Sales intangible fixed assets | ||
| Cash flow from investing activities | ||
| Financing activities | ||
| Borrowings | 632 335 | $-2861153$ |
| Shareholder's contribution | ||
| Group contribution | $-47198$ | $-543492$ |
| Dividend | $-665000$ | $-212508$ |
| Cash flow from financing activities | $-79863$ | $-3617153$ |
| Cash flow for the year | $-652247$ | 430 522 |
| Liquid funds at beginning of year | 652 247 | 221725 |
| Exchange rate difference on liquid funds | ||
| Liquid funds at end of year | 0 | 652 247 |
×
6
556283-0264
| Share | Statutory | Unrestricted | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kSEK | capital | reserve | equity | equity |
| Equity 2007-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 157892 | 159 092 |
| Group contribution | $-40000$ | $-40000$ | ||
| Tax effect of group contribution | 11 200 | 11 200 | ||
| Year-end result | 66 331 | 66 331 | ||
| Shareholder contribution | 13 089 020 | 13 089 020 | ||
| Equity 2008-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 13 284 444 | 13 285 644 |
| Group contribution | $-543492$ | $-543492$ | ||
| Tax effect of group contribution | 142 938 | 142 938 | ||
| Dividend | $-212508$ | $-212508$ | ||
| Year-end result | 443 795 | 443 795 | ||
| Equity 2009-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 13 115 177 | 13 116 377 |
| Group contribution | $-47198$ | $-47198$ | ||
| Distribution of profit Tax effect of profit distribution |
$-665000$ | $-665000$ | ||
| and group contribution | 187 305 | 187 305 | ||
| Year-end result | 518 673 | 518 673 | ||
| Equity 2010-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 13 108 956 | 13 101 106 |
15
The share capital consists of 10 shares with a par value of 100 000 SEK.
ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB follows the recommendations and statements of the Annual Accounts Act and the Swedish Accounting Standards Council. The company's accounting principles are unchanged from previous years.
Receivables and liabilities in foreign currencies are valued at closing rate. The forward rate has been used for hedging of accounts receivable and accounts payable while hedging of borrowing and lending to subsidiaries is made at spot rate. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the rate current on the transaction date.
Interest income is accounted for in accordance with effective yield.
Reported tax includes tax that is to be paid or received for the current year, adjustments relating to tax due for previous years, and changes in deferred tax.
Tax amounts have been calculated as nominal amounts in accordance with the tax regulations and in accordance with tax rates that have either been decided or have been notified and can confidently be expected to be confirmed.
For items reported in the income statement, associated tax effects are also reported in the income statement. The tax effect of items reported directly against shareholders' equity are themselves reported against shareholders' equity.
Deferred tax is accounted for under the balance sheet method. This means that deferred tax is accounted for on all temporary differences between the book values of assets and liabilities and their taxable values.
Deferred tax receivables relating to tax losses carryforward or other future tax allowances are reported to the extent that it is probable that the allowance can be set against taxable income in future taxation.
Receivables are valued at the amounts that after individual assessment are expected to be received.
Depreciation according to plan is based on the historical cost of assets, with due consideration of the estimated economic life of the asset. A depreciation period of five years is applied for intangible rights.
Intangible and tangible fixed assets are reported at acquisition value after deduction for accumulated depreciation. Expenditure on improvements that raise an asset's performance above its original level increases the book value of the asset. Expenditure on repairs and maintenance is carried as an expense.
The cash flow statement has been prepared according to the indirect method. The reported cash flow includes only transactions involving cash payments.
The companiy carries out internal banking operations within the ASSA ABLOY group.
Financial instruments recorded in the balance sheet include financial assets, other financial assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and loan debts. The fair value of the financial instruments are calculated using market quotations on the balance sheet day. Market interest rates form the basis for the calculation of market values of long term loans. For other financial instruments, primarily short term loans and deposits where market quotations are not available, the fair value is set at book value.
All transactions with financial assets are recorded on the business day.
Loans are initially recorded at the amount received after deduction of transactional costs. If the booked amount is different from the amount that has to be repaid at maturity the difference is amortized as interest cost over the duration of the loan. By doing so the booked amount is equal to the amount that has to repaid at maturity. The booking of financial liabilities is discontinued only after the debts have been repaid in full or forgiven by the lender.
The company uses derivative instruments to cover risks related to foreign exchange movements and to hedge its interest rate exposure.
The company applies hedge accounting (fair value hedge) for parts of the long term debt. Changes in fair value of both the hedged item as the hedging instrument are reported in the income statement. When the transaction is entered into, the company documents the relationship between the hedge instrument and the hedged item, as well as the companies risk management objectives and risk management strategy as regards the hedging.
The company's pension obligations are accounted for in accordance with FAR SRS RedR4. The pension obligations are covered by external insurance companies.
Return on shareholders' equity as shown in the multi-year summary is calculated as: net profit after tax, divided by shareholders' equity at year-end.
| kSEK | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous | 17681 | 363 |
| Total | 17 681 | 363 |
The fees for audit and audit related services performed by PwC AB amount to 194 kSEK (269 kSEK). The company has not had any other costs related to services performed by PwC AB. No services has been purchased from other auditing firms.
There has been no remuneration to the board of directors.
| kSEK | 2010 | 2009 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries and other benefits |
Social costs (of which pension costs) |
Salaries and other benefits |
Social costs (of which pension costs) |
|
| Managing Director | 738 | 380 (144) | 567 | 266 (90) |
| Employees | 2 5 5 8 | 1 439 (366) | 2 3 6 7 | 1 099 (340) |
| Total | 3 296 1 819 (510) | 2 934 1 365 (430) |
Average number of employees per country and gender
| 2010 | 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Women | Men | Women | Men |
| Sweden | $\overline{\phantom{a}}$ | 2,83 | 4,04 | 2,79 |
| kSEK | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Current tax | $-187304$ | $-19202$ |
| Tax attributable to prior year | 0 | $-10.525$ |
| Effect of group contribution | 0 | $-142938$ |
| Total | $-187304$ | $-172665$ |
| Nominal tax rate (%) | 26,3 | 26,3 |
| Effective tax rate $(\% )$ | 26,5 | 5 |
| Operating profit | 705 977 | $\Omega$ |
| Tax at nominal tax rate | $-185672$ | $-162129$ |
| Tax attributable to prior year | $-10525$ | |
| Effect of non-deducible expsense | $-1633$ | |
| Effect of appropriations and group contribution | $-11$ | |
| Tax on operating profit | ||
| as in income statement | $-187304$ | $-172665$ |
| kSEK | [1] 2014년 2014년 2014년 2월 20일 20일 20일 20일 20일 20일 20일 20일 20일 20일 | 2010-12-31 2009-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Short term deposit | 1 1 6 7 | 316879 |
| Other receivables | 580 | 682 |
| Total | 1747 | 317 561 |
| kSEK | 2010-12-31 2009-12-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accrued interest income from group companies | 77 071 | 76 530 |
| Market value interes rate swaps | 166 903 | 105 459 |
| Market value currency forwards | 4 2 8 9 | 4 6 1 7 |
| Miscellaneous | 199 | 284 |
| Total | 248 462 | 186 890 |
| kSEK | 2010-12-31 2008-12-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Liabilities to credit institutions | 4 063 770 | 4 615 679 |
| Total | 4 063 770 | 4 6 1 5 6 7 9 |
| kSEK | Year | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Private Placement | 2011 | 358 939 | |
| US Private Placement | 2012 | 597 294 | 620 828 |
| US Private Placement | 2013 | 358 648 | 376 885 |
| US Private Placement | 2015 | 597 294 | 620 829 |
| US Private Placement | 2016 | 515 770 | 541 997 |
| US Private Placement | 2017 | 683 139 | 717877 |
| US Private Placement | 2018 | 833 429 | 875 810 |
| US Private Placement | 2020 | 478 197 | 502 514 |
| Total | 4 063 771 | 4 615 679 |
| kSEK | 2010-12-31 2009-12-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accrued interest expenses to group companies | 20 121 | 25 968 |
| Accrued interest expenses to credit institutions | 34 608 | 29 005 |
| Market value currency forwards | 62 136 | 14 349 |
| Market value interest rate swaps and FRA | 9 7 0 7 | 17 513 |
| Miscellaneous | 3 2 6 1 | 574 |
| Total | 129833 | 87 409 |
Parent company in the group of which ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB is a subsidiary, and where the Group's Annual Report is established, is ASSA ABLOY AB, 556059-3575, from where the Group's Annual Report can be obtained.
Currency risks affect ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB mainly through translation of capital employed and net debt. To neutralize the translation and transaction exposure arising between net debt and internal needs currency forward contracts are used.
Average interest fixing period on financial assats was 18,0 month and 10,5 month for financial liabilities at closing day.
Financing and liquidity risks are defined as the risks of being unable to meet payment obligations as a result of inadequate liquidity or difficulties in obtaining credit from external sources. ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB strives to have access, on every occasion, to both short-term and long-term loan facilities.
Financial risk management exposes ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB to certain counterparty risk. This exposure arises, for instance, from the placement of surplus cash and through the use of derivative instruments. ASSA ABLOY's policy is to minimize the potential credit risk by using cash available from subsidiaries to amortize external debt. This objective is mainly controlled through the cash pool network for which ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB is responsible. Nevertheless the Group may deposit surplus funds on a short-term basis with banks to match maturities. Derivative instruments are allocated to banks according to risk factors set in the Treasury Policy to limit counterparty risk.
| 2010-12-31 | 2009-12-31 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument | Positive market | Positive | Positive | Positive value market value market value market value |
| Currency forwards - funding | 41 603 | $-62136$ | 4617 | $-14126$ |
| Interest rate swaps | 104 125 | $-9707$ | 95 080 | $-15652$ |
| Forward Rate Agreement | $-2084$ | |||
| Total | 145 728 | $-71843$ | 99 697 | $-31862$ |
The Income statement and Balance sheet shall be presented at the Shareholders' meeting.
Stockholm 2011-04-26
$\tau_{_{\rm V}}$
Tomas Eliasson
7 am Jonas Gårdmark
る Jacob Wahlberg
ren Gunnar Sjöberg Managing Director
Our audit report has been submitted 2011 (4-26
PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
$\mathbf{z}$ Peter Nyllinge
Authorized Public Accountant
Corporate identity number 556283-0264
We have audited the annual accounts, the accounting records and the administration of the board of directors and the managing director of ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB for the year 2010. These accounts and the administration of the company and the application of the Annual Accounts Act when preparing the annual accounts are the responsibility of the board of directors and the managing director. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the annual accounts and the administration based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance that the annual accounts are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the accounts. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and their application by the board of directors and the managing director and significant estimates made by the board of directors and the managing director when preparing the annual accounts as well as evaluating the overall presentation of information in the annual accounts. As a basis for our opinion concerning discharge from liability, we examined significant decisions, actions taken and circumstances of the company in order to be able to determine the liability, if any, to the company of any board member or the managing director. We also examined whether any board member or the managing director has, in any other way, acted in contravention of the Companies Act, the Annual Accounts Act or the Articles of Association. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion set out below.
The annual accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act and give a true and fair view of the company's financial position and results of operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Sweden. The statutory administration report is consistent with the other parts of the annual accounts.
We recommend to the annual meeting of shareholders that the income statement and balance sheet be adopted, that the profit be dealt with in accordance with the proposal in the administration report and that the members of the board of directors and the managing director be discharged from liability for the financial year.
Stockholm the $26$ of April 2011
PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
Peter Nyllinge
Authorized Public Accountant
for
2011-01-01 -- 2011-12-31
This document has been accurately translated from Swedish to English.
Stockholm-
PricewaterhouseCoopers AB/ Peter Nyllinge
The Board of Directors and the Managing Director for ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB submit the folllowing administration report for the fiscal year 2011.
The company carries out internal banking operations within the ASSA ABLOY group.
The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY OY, Joensuu, Finland, which, in its turn, is wholly owned by ASSA ABLOY AB, org. no. 556059-3575, Stockholm, Sweden.
The company carries out continous follow-up and hedging of newly formed exchange positions and normally has at best limited net positions in foreign currency.
Further information regarding financial risk management and financial instruments is found in note 10.
| Balanced earnings | 12 204 916 256 | |
|---|---|---|
| Year-end result | 727 012 669 | |
| Total | SEK | 12 931 928 925 |
At an Extraordinary General Meeting 2011-12-08 the company decided on a dividend amounting to 660 000 000 SEK.
The Board of Directors and the Managing Director propose available earnings to be allocated as follows:
| Carried forward to new financial year | 12 931 928 925 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | SEK | 12 931 928 925 |
The financial statement means that a group contribution of kSEK 312 652 was paid to ASSA ABLOY Kredit AB.
The proposed value transfer in the form of group contribution reduces the company's solidity by less than 1%. The solidity is comforting given the company's business continue to be run profitably.
It is the opinion of the Board that the dividend paid will neither prevent the company from meeting its commitments in the short and long term, nor from making the required investments. The transfer of value is therefore justifible in view of the provisions of chapter 17 section 3 paragraph 2-3 of the Swedish Companies Act.
The Board of Directors propose available earnings to be carried forward to the new financial year.
Concerning the company's result and position in general, the following income statement and balance sheet including notes and comments, are referred to.
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating profit (MSEK) | 986 | 706 | 616 | 78 | 59 |
| Total assets (MSEK) | 40 598 33 460 33 164 43 378 13 425 | ||||
| Return on shareholders' equity (%) | 6 | 26 | |||
| Equity (MSEK) | 12 933 13 110 13 116 13 286 | 159 | |||
| Net debt (MSEK) | $-33052 - 13442 - 3795 - 17969$ | $-36$ | |||
| External gross debt (MSEK) | 9 642 | 5877 | 5 2 4 5 | 8 0 9 7 | 8 1 6 4 |
556283-0264
$w^{\rm W}$ .
3
| kSEK | Note | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $\mathbf{1}$ | |||
| Operating income | |||
| Interest from group companies | 1 503 575 | 1 034 859 | |
| External interest | 13 384 | 7 540 | |
| Exchange rate differences from group companies | 35 898 | 1801 | |
| External exchange rate differences | 140 565 | 412 320 | |
| Other operating income | $\overline{2}$ | 1 1 5 0 | 17 681 |
| Total operating income | 1694573 | 1474201 | |
| Operating expenses | |||
| Interest to group companies | $-203627$ | $-121982$ | |
| External interest | $-305448$ | $-198531$ | |
| Exchange rate differences to group companies | $-52468$ | $-155083$ | |
| External exchange differences | $-126066$ | $-267752$ | |
| Administrative expenses | 3 | $-14027$ | $-15065$ |
| Amortization and write-downs | 0 | $-6211$ | |
| Other operating expenses | $-6486$ | $-3600$ | |
| Total operating expenses | $-708122$ | $-768224$ | |
| Operating profit | 986 451 | 705 977 | |
| Tax | 4 | $-259439$ | $-187304$ |
| Net result for the year | 727 013 | 518 673 |
556283-0264
| Balance Sheet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||
| kSEK | Note | 2011-12-31 | 2010-12-31 |
| 1 | |||
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible fixed assets | |||
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | |
| Total tangible fixed assets | 0 | 0 | |
| Financial fixed assets | |||
| Other long-term receivables | 464 | ||
| Total financial fixed assets | 464 | ||
| Total fixed assets | 464 | 0 | |
| Current assets | |||
| Receivables from group companies | 40 222 982 | 33 204 435 | |
| Other receivables | 5 | 6859 | 1747 |
| Deferred expenses and | |||
| accrued income | 6 | 347 980 | 248 462 |
| Cash and bank | 19 470 | 5 3 8 6 | |
| Total current assets | 40 597 291 | 33 460 030 | |
| Total assets | 40 597 755 | 33 460 030 |
556283-0264
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
| kSEK | Not | 2011-12-31 | 2010-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $\mathbf{1}$ | |||
| Equity | |||
| Restricted equity | |||
| Share capital | 1 000 | 1 000 | |
| Statutory reserve | 200 | 200 | |
| Total restricted equity | 1 200 | 1 200 | |
| Unrestricted equity | |||
| Balanced earnings | 12 204 916 | 12 590 283 | |
| Net profit for the year | 727 013 | 518 673 | |
| Total unrestricted equity | 12 931 929 | 13 108 956 | |
| Total equity | 12 933 129 | 13 110 156 | |
| Long-term liabilities | |||
| Liabilities to external institutions | 7 | 4 513 320 | 4 0 63 7 7 0 |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Liabilities to external institutions | 5 131 962 | 1818837 | |
| Liabilities to group companies | 17 598 107 | 14 337 435 | |
| Income tax liability | 177 211 | ||
| Accrued expenses and | |||
| deferred income | 8 | 244 025 | 129 833 |
| Total current liabilities | 23 151 306 | 16 286 104 | |
| Total equity and liabilities | 40 597 755 | 33 460 030 | |
| Contingent liabilities | None | None | |
| Pledged assets | None | None |
556283-0264
| ASSA ABLOY Financial Services cash flow statement | ||
|---|---|---|
| kSEK | 2011 | 2010 |
| Operating activities | ||
| Operating profit | 986 451 | 705 977 |
| Paid tax | 0 | 0 |
| Cash flow from operating activities | ||
| before changes in working capital | 986 451 | 705 977 |
| Increase $(-)$ decrease $(+)$ current receivables | -7 107 040 | $-943059$ |
| Increase (+) decrease (-) current operating liabilities | 3 079 659 | $-382500$ |
| Cash flow from operating activities | -3 040 930 | - 619 582 |
| Investing activities | ||
| Investments other financial fixed assets | $-464$ | |
| Cash flow from investing activities | - 464 | |
| Financing activities | ||
| Borrowings | 3 762 676 | 622 576 |
| Group contribution | $-47198$ | 0 |
| Dividend | $-660000$ | $-665000$ |
| Cash flow from financing activities | 3 055 478 | $-4242$ |
| Cash flow for the year | 14 084 | - 662 006 |
| Liquid funds at beginning of year | 5 3 8 6 | 667 392 |
| Exchange rate difference on liquid funds | ||
| Liquid funds at end of year | 19 470 | 5 3 8 6 |
556283-0264
| Share | Statutory | Unrestricted | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kSEK | capital | reserve | equity | equity |
| Equity 2008-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 13 284 444 | 13 285 644 |
| Group contribution | $-543492$ | $-543492$ | ||
| Tax effect of group contribution | 142 938 | 142 938 | ||
| Year-end result | $-212508$ | $-212508$ | ||
| Shareholder contribution | 443 795 | 443 795 | ||
| Equity 2009-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 13 115 177 | 13 116 377 |
| Group contribution | $-47198$ | $-47198$ | ||
| Distribution of profit | $-665000$ | $-665000$ | ||
| Tax effect of profit distribution and group contribution | 187 304 | 187 304 | ||
| Year-end result | 518 673 | 518 673 | ||
| Equity 2010-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 13 108 956 | 13 110 156 |
| Hedge reserve | $-13615$ | $-13615$ | ||
| Group contribution | $-312652$ | $-312652$ | ||
| Distribution of profit | $-660000$ | $-660000$ | ||
| Tax effect of group contribution | 82 227 | 82 227 | ||
| Year-end result | 727 013 | 727 013 | ||
| Equity 2011-12-31 | 1 000 | 200 | 12 931 929 | 12 933 129 |
The share capital consists of 10 shares with a par value of 100 000 SEK.
ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB follows the recommendations and statements of the Annual Accounts Act and the Swedish Accounting Standards Council. The company's accounting principles are unchanged from previous years.
Receivables and liabilities in foreign currencies are valued at closing rate. The forward rate has been used for hedging of accounts receivable and accounts payable while hedging of borrowing and lending to subsidiaries is made at spot rate. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the rate current on the transaction date.
Interest income is accounted for in accordance with effective vield.
Reported tax includes tax that is to be paid or received for the current year, adjustments relating to tax due for previous years, and changes in deferred tax.
Tax amounts have been calculated as nominal amounts in accordance with the tax regulations and in accordance with tax rates that have either been decided or have been notified and can confidently be expected to be confirmed.
For items reported in the income statement, associated tax effects are also reported in the income statement. The tax effect of items reported directly against shareholders' equity are themselves reported against shareholders' equity.
Deferred tax is accounted for under the balance sheet method. This means that deferred tax is accounted for on all temporary differences between the book values of assets and liabilities and their taxable values.
Deferred tax receivables relating to tax losses carryforward or other future tax allowances are reported to the extent that it is probable that the allowance can be set against taxable income in future taxation.
Receivables are valued at the amounts that after individual assessment are expected to be received.
Depreciation according to plan is based on the historical cost of assets, with due consideration of the estimated economic life of the asset. A depreciation period of five years is applied for intangible rights.
556283-0264
Intangible and tangible fixed assets are reported at acquisition value after deduction for accumulated depreciation. Expenditure on improvements that raise an asset's performance above its original level increases the book value of the asset. Expenditure on repairs and maintenance is carried as an expense.
The cash flow statement has been prepared according to the indirect method. The reported cash flow includes only transactions involving cash payments.
The companiy carries out internal banking operations within the ASSA ABLOY group.
Financial instruments recorded in the balance sheet include financial assets, other financial assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and loan debts. The fair value of the financial instruments are calculated using market quotations on the balance sheet day. Market interest rates form the basis for the calculation of market values of long term loans. For other financial instruments, primarily short term loans and deposits where market quotations are not available, the fair value is set at book value.
All transactions with financial assets are recorded on the business day.
Loans are initially recorded at the amount received after deduction of transactional costs. If the booked amount is different from the amount that has to be repaid at maturity the difference is amortized as interest cost over the duration of the loan. By doing so the booked amount is equal to the amount that has to repaid at maturity. The booking of financial liabilities is discontinued only after the debts have been repaid in full or forgiven by the lender.
The company uses derivative instruments to cover risks related to foreign exchange movements and to hedge its interest rate exposure.
The company applies hedge accounting (fair value hedge and cash flow hedge) for parts of the long term debt. Changes in fair value of both the hedged item as the hedging instrument are reported in the income statement. For cash flow hedges changes in values are recorded in the Hedge reserve. When the transaction is entered into, the company documents the relationship between the hedge instrument and the hedged item, as well as the companies risk management objectives and risk management strategy as regards the hedging.
The company's pension obligations are accounted for in accordance with FAR SRS RedR4. The pension obligations are covered by external insurance companies.
Return on shareholders' equity as shown in the multi-year summary is calculated as: net profit after tax, divided by shareholders' equity at year-end.
The net debt comprise all internal and external interest-bearing financial instruments, including positive and negative market values of derivatives.
External gross debt consists of all interest-bearing external loans including negative market values of derivatives.
556283-0264
| kSEK | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous | 1 1 5 0 | 17 681 |
| Total | 1 150 | 17681 |
| Note 3 Administrative expenses |
||
| Audit fees | ||
| kSEK | 2011 | 2010 |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers AB | ||
| Audit assignment | 413 | 194 |
| Audit other than the audit assignment | 0 | 0 |
| Tax consultancy | $\Omega$ | 0 |
| Other services | O | O |
| Total | 413 | 194 |
The fees for audit and audit related services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers AB amount to 413 kSEK (194 kSEK). The company has not had any other costs related to services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers AB. No services has been purchased from other auditing firms.
There has been no remuneration to the board of directors.
| kSEK | 2011 | 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries and other benefits |
Social costs (of which pension costs) |
Salaries and other benefits |
Social costs (of which pension costs) |
|
| Managing Director | 0 | 0(0) | 738 | 380 (144) |
| Employees | 2 641 | 1 361 (334) | 2 5 5 8 | 1 439 (366) |
| Total | 2 641 1 361 (334) | 3 296 1 819 (510) |
Average number of employees per country and gender
| Country | 2011 | 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Men | Women | Men | |
| Sweden |
556283-0264
| kSEK | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Current tax | $-259439$ | $-187304$ |
| Total | - 259 439 | $-187304$ |
| Nominal tax rate (%) | 26,3 | 26,3 |
| Effective tax rate $(\% )$ | 26,3 | 26,5 |
| Operating profit | 986 451 | 705 977 |
| Tax at nominal tax rate | $-259437$ | $-185672$ |
| Effect of non-deducible expsense | $-2$ | $-1632$ |
| Tax on operating profit | ||
| as in income statement | - 259 439 | - 187 304 |
Total
| kSEK | 2011-12-31 2010-12-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Short term deposit | 0 | 1 1 6 7 |
| Other receivables | 6859 | 580 |
| Total | 6859 | 1747 |
| kSEK | 2011-12-31 2010-12-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accrued interest income from group companies | 95 091 | 77 071 |
| Market value interes rate swaps | 145 168 | 166 903 |
| Market value currency forwards | 106 068 | 4 2 8 9 |
| Miscellaneous | 1 6 5 4 | 199 |
| Total | 347 980 | 248 462 |
| Note 7 Long-term liabilities | ||
| kSEK | 2011-12-31 2010-12-31 | |
| Liabilities to credit institutions | 4 513 320 | 4 063 770 |
4 513 320 4 063 770
556283-0264
| kSEK | Year | 2011-12-31 2010-12-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Private Placement | 2012 | 597 294 | |
| US Private Placement | 2013 | 363 324 | 358 648 |
| US Private Placement | 2015 | 621 636 | 597 294 |
| US Private Placement | 2016 | 522 494 | 515 770 |
| US Private Placement | 2017 | 692 045 | 683 139 |
| US Private Placement | 2018 | 844 295 | 833 429 |
| US Private Placement | 2020 | 484 431 | 478 197 |
| EIB | 2021 | 985 095 | |
| Total | 4 513 320 | 4 063 771 |
| kSEK | 2011-12-31 2010-12-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accrued interest expenses to group companies | 20 856 | 20 121 |
| Accrued interest expenses to credit institutions | 26 360 | 34 608 |
| Market value currency forwards | 126 271 | 62 136 |
| Market value interest rate swaps and FRA | 69 011 | 9 7 0 7 |
| Miscellaneous | 1 5 2 7 | 3 2 6 1 |
| Total | 244 025 | 129833 |
Parent company in the group of which ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB is a subsidiary, and where the Group's Annual Report is established, is ASSA ABLOY AB, 556059-3575, from where the Group's Annual Report can be obtained.
Currency risks affect ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB mainly through translation of capital employed and net debt. To neutralize the translation and transaction exposure arising between net debt and internal needs currency forward contracts are used.
Average interest fixing period on financial assets was 13,0 months and 8,6 months for financial liabilities at closing day.
Financing and liquidity risks are defined as the risks of being unable to meet payment obligations as a result of inadequate liquidity or difficulties in obtaining credit from external sources. ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB strives to have access, on every occasion, to both short-term and long-term loan facilities.
Financial risk management exposes ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB to certain counterparty risk. This exposure arises, for instance, from the placement of surplus cash and through the use of derivative instruments. ASSA ABLOY's policy is to minimize the potential credit risk by using cash available from subsidiaries to amortize external debt. This objective is mainly controlled through the cash pool network for which ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB is responsible. Nevertheless the Group may deposit surplus funds on a short-term basis with banks to match maturities. Derivative instruments are allocated to banks according to risk factors set in the Treasury Policy to limit counterparty risk.
| 2011-12-31 | 2010-12-31 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument | Positive market | Positive | Positive value market value market value market value |
Positive |
| Currency forwards - funding | 106 068 | $-126271$ | 41 603 | $-62136$ |
| Interest rate swaps | 145 168 | $-69011$ | 104 125 | -9 707 |
| Total | 251 236 | $-195282$ | 145 728 | $-71843$ |
Outstanding derivative instruments at 2011-12-31 (kSEK)
556283-0264
v,
The Income statement and Balance sheet shall be presented at the Shareholders' meeting.
Stockholm 2012-07-25 Carolina Dybeck Happe Chairman
Jonas Gårdmark
Jacob Wahlberg
Our audit report has been submitted 2012-CH-25
PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
Gunnar Sjöberg Managing Director
Peter Nyllinge
Authorized Public Accountant
To the annual meeting of the shareholders of ASSABLOY Financial Services AB, corporate identity number 556283-0264
We have audited the annual accounts of ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB for the year 2011.
The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these annual accounts in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act, and for such internal control as the Board of Directors and the Managing Director determine is necessary to enable the preparation of annual accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these annual accounts based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the annual accounts are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the annual accounts. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the annual accounts, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the company's preparation and fair presentation of the annual accounts in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company's internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the Board of Directors and the Managing Director, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the annual accounts.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
In our opinion, the annual accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act and present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB as of 31 December 2011 and of its financial performance and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act. The statutory administration report is consistent with the other parts of the annual accounts
We therefore recommend that the annual meeting of shareholders adopt the income statement and balance sheet.
In addition to our audit of the annual accounts, we have examined the proposed appropriations of the company's profit or loss and the administration of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director of ASSA ABLOY Financial Services AB for the year 2011.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the proposal for appropriations of the company's profit or loss, and the Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for administration under the Companies Act.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion with reasonable assurance on the proposed appropriations of the company's profit or loss and on the administration based on our audit. We conducted the audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden.
As a basis for our opinion on the Board of Directors' proposed appropriations of the company's profit or loss, we examined whether
the proposal is in accordance with the Companies Act.
As a basis for our opinion concerning discharge from liability, in addition to our audit of the annual accounts, we examined significant decisions, actions taken and circumstances of the company in order to determine whether any member of the Board of Directors or the Managing Director is liable to the company. We also examined whether any member of the Board of Directors or the Managing Director has, in any other way, acted in contravention of the Companies Act, the Annual Accounts Act or the Articles of Association.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
We recommend to the annual meeting of shareholders that the profit be appropriated dealt with in accordance with the proposal in the statutory administration report and that the members of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director be discharged from liability for the financial year.
Stockholm $25$ April 2012
PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
Peter Nyllinge
Authorized Public Accountant
P.O. Box 70340 P.O. Box 70340 Klarabergsviadukten 90 Klarabergsviadukten 90 107 23 Stockholm 107 23 Stockholm Sweden Sweden
Citigroup Centre Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5LB United Kingdom
Germany
Citigroup Centre Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5LB United Kingdom
To the Issuers and the Guarantor as to Swedish law
Mannheimer Swartling P.O. Box 4291 Södergatan 22 SE-203 14 Malmö Sweden
To the Dealers as to English law Allen & Overy LLP One Bishops Square London El 6AD United Kingdom
To the Issuers PricewaterhouseCoopers AB Torsgatan 21 113 97 Stockholm Sweden
London NW1 6AA Canada Square United Kingdom Canary Wharf
10 Harewood Avenue Citigroup Centre London E14 5LB United Kingdom
1 Great Winchester Street 106 40 Stockholm London EC2N 2DB Sweden United Kingdom
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