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SAS — Share Issue/Capital Change 2020
Aug 17, 2020
2961_rns_2020-08-17_2466f75c-5eae-4e32-bd15-a64dc2b74bbc.html
Share Issue/Capital Change
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SAS' revised recapitalization plan approved by European Commission
SAS' revised recapitalization plan approved by European Commission
Not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into
the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or any other jurisdiction where such
action would be unlawful.
The European Commission has today declared the participation of the Danish and
Swedish governments in the SAS' recapitalization plan compatible with applicable
EU state aid rules[1] (http://#_ftn1).
As announced on 14 August 2020, the Board of Directors of SAS AB ("SAS" or the
"Company") has approved a revised recapitalization plan to tackle the effects of
the COVID-19 pandemic (the "Recapitalization Plan"), which amongst others has
the support of the Company's two largest shareholders, the governments of Sweden
and Denmark (jointly the "Major Shareholders").
The European Commission has today declared the participation of the Major
Shareholders in the Recapitalization Plan compatible with applicable EU state
aid rules. The European Commission has approved the participation of the Major
Shareholders on certain conditions, including bans on payment of dividends,
aggressive commercial expansion and acquisitions above certain thresholds, as
well as limitations on management remuneration. These conditions will be
released as the Major Shareholders' aid to the Company is repaid.
The European Commission's approval is further based on the participation by
private investors in the Recapitalization Plan, including the conversion of SAS
MSEK 1,500 subordinated perpetual floating rate capital securities and the SAS
MSEK 2,250 senior unsecured fixed rate bond due November 2022.
The conditions of the European Commission's approval will be further described
in the prospectus to be made public on or around 1 October 2020.
For further information, please contact:
SAS press office, +46 8 797 2944
Michel Fischier, VP Investor Relations, +46 70 997 0673
Advisors to the Company
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB is financial advisor to SAS, Global Coordinator
and Bookrunner in connection with the recapitalization plan.
Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå AB and Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP are
legal advisors to SAS.
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), Danske Bank A/S, Danmark, Sverige
Filial and Swedbank AB (publ) have been appointed Solicitation Agents. Danske
Bank A/S, Danmark, Sverige Filial and Swedbank AB (publ) are Joint Bookrunners
in the Rights Issue.
The information was submitted by Michel Fischier for publication on 17
August 2020 at 09:10 p.m. CEST.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This press release and the information herein is not for publication, release or
distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other state or
jurisdiction in which publication, release or distribution would be unlawful or
where such action would require additional prospectuses, filings or other
measures in addition to those required under Swedish law.
The press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an
offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire, or
subscribe for, any of the securities mentioned herein (collectively, the
"Securities") or any other financial instruments in SAS. Any offer in respect of
any securities in connection with the Rights Issue will only be made through the
prospectus that SAS expects to publish on or about 1 October 2020. The offers
under the Initial Recapitalization Plan and the Revised Recapitalization Plan
are not made to, and application forms will not be approved from, subscribers
(including shareholders), or persons acting on behalf of subscribers, in any
jurisdiction where applications for such subscription would contravene
applicable laws or regulations, or would require additional prospectuses,
filings, or other measures in addition to those required under Swedish law.
Measures in violation of the restrictions may constitute a breach of relevant
securities laws.
None of the Securities have been or will be registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities
laws of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States, and may not be
offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or
indirectly, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in
compliance with applicable other securities laws. There will not be any public
offering of any of the Securities in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, this press release is directed only at, and communicated
only to, persons who are qualified investors within the meaning of article 2(e)
of the Prospectus Regulation (2017/1129) who are (i) persons who fall within the
definition of "investment professional" in article 19(5) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the
"Order"), or (ii) persons who fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order,
or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such
persons referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above together being referred to as
"Relevant Persons"). This press release must not be acted on or relied on by
persons in the UK who are not Relevant Persons.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect SAS' current
view of future events as well as financial and operational development. Words
such as "intend", "assess", "expect", "may", "plan", "estimate" and other
expressions involving indications or predictions regarding future development or
trends, not based on historical facts, identify forward-looking statements and
reflect SAS' beliefs and expectations and involve a number of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual events and performance to
differ materially from any expected future events or performance expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statement. The information contained in this
press release is subject to change without notice and, except as required by
applicable law, SAS does not assume any responsibility or obligation to update
publicly or review any of the forward-looking statements contained in it and nor
does it intend to. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. As a result
of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future
events or otherwise.
[1] (http://#_ftnref1)
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Article 107(3)(b) and the
COVID-19 Temporary Framework for State Aid Measures