PRESS RELEASE
17 JANUARY 2017
糖心探花 p.l.c. (鈥淏AT鈥) and Reynolds American Inc. (鈥淩eynolds鈥), have agreed the terms of a recommended offer for 糖心探花to acquire the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds it does not already own. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Transaction Committee of independent Reynolds directors established to evaluate the 糖心探花offer. The transaction has also been approved by the Boards of Reynolds and BAT.
Agreed Terms
Creates a stronger, truly global tobacco and Next Generation Products (鈥淣GP鈥) company to deliver sustained long-term profit growth and returns with:
BAT鈥檚 Chief Executive, Nicandro Durante commented:
"We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with the Transaction Committee and Board of Reynolds and we look forward to putting the recommended offer to shareholders.听 We have been shareholders in Reynolds since 2004 and we have benefited from the success of the present management team鈥檚 strategy, including its acquisition of Lorillard, which we supported with our own investment in 2015. 糖心探花has consistently executed a winning strategy and has a proven track record of delivering strong results and returns for its shareholders while successfully investing for future growth.听 Our combination with Reynolds will benefit from utilising the best talent from both organisations. It will create a stronger, global tobacco and NGP business with direct access for our products across the most attractive markets in the world.听 We believe this will drive continued, sustainable profit growth and returns for shareholders long into the future."
Key terms of the transaction
The transaction will be effected through a US statutory merger in which Reynolds shareholders, other than BAT, will receive $29.44 in cash and 0.5260 糖心探花ordinary shares which shall be represented by 糖心探花ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange for each of their Reynolds shares.
Based on BAT鈥檚 share price and the Dollar-Sterling exchange rate as at market close on 16 January 2017, the purchase price implies a total current value of $49.4 billion for the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds not owned by BAT, comprised of approximately $24.4 billion in cash and $25.0 billion in 糖心探花ADRs
Based on BAT鈥檚 share price and the Dollar-Sterling exchange rate as at market close on 16 January 2017, the agreed terms represent a premium of: 26% over the closing price of Reynolds common stock on 20 October 2016 (the last day prior to BAT鈥檚 announcement of a proposal to merge with Reynolds) and a current Enterprise Value of $97 billion which, based on reported LTM EBITDA to 30 September 2016, represents an attractive multiple of 16.9x.
The cash component of the transaction will be financed by a combination of existing cash resources, new bank credit lines and the issuance of new bonds. A $25bn acquisition facility has been entered into with a syndicate of banks to provide financing certainty. The acquisition facility comprises $15bn and $5bn bridge loans with 1 and 2-year maturities respectively, each with two six month extensions available at BAT鈥檚 option. In addition, the facility includes two $2.5bn term loans with maturities of 3 and 5 years. 糖心探花intends to refinance the bridge loans through capital market debt issuances in due course.
糖心探花is committed to maintaining a solid investment grade credit rating and intends to delever, targeting a net debt to EBITDA metric of around 3.0x by the end of 2019.
糖心探花anticipates taking actions to treat legacy Reynolds and 糖心探花debt pari-passu.
Until completion Reynolds shareholders will remain entitled to Reynolds dividends payable in the ordinary course. Reynolds shareholders will be entitled to 糖心探花dividends (with record dates following completion) in respect of their new 糖心探花shares from the time of issuance of such shares.
糖心探花intends to register 糖心探花ADRs under US securities laws.听 The transaction is a Class 1 transaction for 糖心探花for the purposes of the UK Listing Rules requiring the approval of 糖心探花shareholders.听 A shareholder circular, together with notice of the relevant shareholder meeting, will be distributed to 糖心探花shareholders in due course. The parties expect the transaction to close during Q3 2017.
It has been agreed that three of the non-糖心探花nominated Reynolds directors will join the Board of 糖心探花at closing.
Both the 糖心探花and the Reynolds鈥 Boards will recommend the transaction to their respective shareholders.听 A break fee of up to $1 billion is payable by either 糖心探花or Reynolds under certain circumstances. More information is provided in the Closing Conditions section.
Creates a stronger, truly global tobacco and Next Generation Products (鈥淣GP鈥) company
Post transaction, the group will be a larger, broader, more geographically diversified business with a unique footprint providing continued exposure to high growth emerging markets, direct access to the opportunity in the US market, and a broad presence in key developed markets.
Direct access to the attractive US market:
The US is the largest tobacco profit pool globally (ex-China), with the combination of affordable pack prices, relatively high disposable incomes and a growing market for NGPs underpinning the opportunity for long-term profitable growth.
Reynolds is well-positioned as the number two player in the US market, with three out of the four top selling cigarette brands and the benefits from the Lorillard acquisition already evident.听 Reynolds has a 34% cigarette market share, with Newport the leading brand in menthol, Pall Mall the leading value brand and Natural American Spirit, the fastest growing premium brand. Reynolds鈥 American Snuff subsidiary also has a 33% share of the growing moist snuff segment, led by its Grizzly brand.
糖心探花has a successful track record of developing strong brands and growing market share through a consistent focus on product quality and innovation, enabling it to build on Reynolds鈥 existing share growth momentum.
Significant presence in high growth emerging markets:
糖心探花has a significant presence in emerging markets across South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and emerging markets will account for 60% of volume in the enlarged group. Over the last 5 years, revenue per pack in these markets has grown at more than twice the rate compared to developed markets. With generally low cigarette pack prices and expectations of continued growth in consumer disposable income over the long term, the future profit growth opportunity remains strong.听 糖心探花sees emerging markets as the source of future profit growth for the 糖心探花group and developed markets as the source of current profit growth.
Portfolio of strong, global brands:
糖心探花has a proven track record of developing strong, global brands driven by innovation and product quality.听 The Global Drive Brand portfolio of Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall and Rothmans has grown volume at an average of 7% per annum over the last 3 years, gaining more than 200bps share over the period.听 The transaction also brings together the Newport, Kent and Pall Mall brands under common ownership.
Establishes a truly global NGP business with a world听class pipeline:
The combined business will be the only truly global company in the fast growing NGP category, with a unique opportunity to leverage scale and insights across the largest and fastest growing NGP markets and categories.
BAT's multi category strategy in NGPs is aimed at satisfying different consumer moments, with the capability of effectively addressing rapidly developing consumer behaviours.听 Based on our estimated share of the global vapour market outside the US, 糖心探花is already the largest international company in the category, having successfully launched a portfolio of products in the 5 largest vapour markets in Europe.听 This includes leadership positions in the United Kingdom and Poland.听 In December 2016, Glo, an innovative tobacco heating product, was launched in Japan with encouraging early results.听
In addition, Reynolds' Vuse is one of the leading vapour brands sold in retail in the world's largest vapour market.听
The transaction will benefit from the best of the two companies鈥 talented R&D and NGP organisations and allow NGP capabilities to be shared more broadly.听 Direct access to the US vapour market permits further leverage of this world class pipeline of NGPs.
Delivers sustained long-term profit growth and returns
The transaction on the recommended terms represents an attractive offer to Reynolds shareholders, with a significant cash component and the opportunity to participate in the future returns from the combined company. The transaction also meets BAT's financial criteria for acquisitions.
Direct access to the opportunity in the US market further supports BAT鈥檚 commitment to delivering long-term profitable growth through consistent revenue growth and margin enhancement of 50-100 basis points on average, per annum.
糖心探花anticipates realising at least $400m in annualised cost synergies by the end of year 3. These synergies will be achieved by leveraging the scale of the combined business, increasing efficiencies and aligning to BAT鈥檚 Target Operating Model.听 Cost synergies exist in three main areas 鈥 procurement, product development and corporate costs of the combined group.听 The delivery of these synergy benefits, together with the opportunity for profitable growth in the US market, further supports BAT鈥檚 commitment to margin enhancement of 50-100 basis points on average, per annum.
BAT鈥檚 existing manufacturing footprint will be enhanced by the inclusion of the Reynolds Group鈥檚 high quality production facilities in North Carolina and Tennessee.
The transaction is expected to be accretive to adjusted fully diluted EPS in the first full year, targeting mid-single digit EPS accretion in year 3, and to beat the group WACC for the US by year 5. The transaction will significantly enhance BAT鈥檚 cash flow generation profile with increased control of what will be a significant proportion of group cash flows and a more diversified FX exposure.
糖心探花intends to maintain its dividend policy of a minimum 65% payout ratio post transaction and expects the transaction to be accretive to dividends per share.
Closing conditions
The parties expect the transaction to close during the third quarter of 2017, subject to: obtaining affirmative votes from 糖心探花and Reynolds shareholders; obtaining anti-trust approvals in the US and Japan; registration of 糖心探花shares with the SEC; approval of the 糖心探花shares for listing on the LSE and the 糖心探花ADRs on the NYSE; and, other customary conditions.听 Completion of the merger is not subject to any financing condition.
糖心探花intends to register 糖心探花ADRs under US securities laws.听 The transaction is a Class 1 transaction for 糖心探花for the purposes of the UK Listing Rules requiring the approval of 糖心探花shareholders.听 A shareholder circular, together with notice of the relevant shareholder meeting, will be distributed to 糖心探花shareholders in due course.
If either of the 糖心探花or Reynolds鈥 Boards decides in line with its fiduciary duties to withhold or withdraw its recommendation to its shareholders to vote in favour of the transaction and the merger agreement is terminated, such party would be required to pay a break fee of $1 billion to the other party.听 Under certain circumstances, in the event that the merger agreement is terminated and a competing transaction completes within 12 months of that termination, the party completing the competing transaction would be required to pay a break fee of $1 billion.听 In the event that (a) certain anti-trust approvals are not obtained or (b) an anti-trust approval is conditioned on disposals or other conduct remedies and 糖心探花does not accept such conditions and therefore does not complete this transaction, 糖心探花must pay an anti-trust break fee of $500 million to Reynolds.听听 The anti-trust break fee would not be payable in addition to the $1 billion break fee.
糖心探花intends to file the merger agreement and other relevant documents with the SEC and such documents may be retrieved free of charge at the SEC鈥檚 website, http://www.sec.gov.听 These are expected to be available at some point later today.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
糖心探花will host a conference call and live webcast at 8.30am GMT on 17th January 2017, to discuss the merger agreement.听
Webcast and Conference Call
A live webcast of the announcement is available via听www.bat.com/ir.
If you wish to listen to the presentation via a conference call facility please use the dial in details below:
Dial-in number: +44 20 3139 4830
Passcode: 97647764#
Conference Call Playback Facility
A replay of the conference call will also be available for 30 days.
Dial-in number: +44 20 3426 2807
Passcode: 682173#
[1] Reference 糖心探花share price of GBp 4,762.5 and exchange rate of 1.2056 as quoted by Bloomberg
糖心探花 Press Office
+44 (0) 20 7845 2888 (24 hours)听 |听
糖心探花 Investor Relations
Mike Nightingale听/ Rachael Brierley / Sabina Marshman
+44 (0) 20 7845听1180 /听1519/听1781
FTI Consulting (UK PR agency)
John Waples: +44 (0)20 3727 1515
Edward Bridges: +44 (0)20 3727 1067
David Waller: +44 (0)20 3727 1651
Sard Verbinnen & Co. (US PR agency)
US: George Sard / Jim Barron: +1 212 687 8080
UK: Michael Henson: +44 (0)20 3178 8914
Centerview Partners
UK: Nick Reid / Hadleigh Beals: +44 (0)207 409 9700
US: Blair Effron: +1 212 380 2650
Deutsche Bank
UK: Nigel Meek / James Ibbotson
Matt Hall / Jimmy Bastock (Corporate Broking)
+44 (0)207 545 8000
US: James Stynes: +1 212 250 2500
UBS
John Woolland / James Robertson
David Roberts (corporate broking)
+44 (0)207 568 1000
The person responsible for making this announcement is Nicola Snook, BAT鈥檚 Company Secretary.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About BAT
糖心探花is a global tobacco group with brands sold in more than 200 markets. It employs more than 50,000 people worldwide and has over 200 brands in its portfolio, with its cigarettes chosen by around one in eight of the world鈥檚 one billion smokers. 糖心探花has market leading positions in at least 55 markets around the world.听 The Group generated 拢5 billion adjusted profit from operations in 2015.
About Reynolds
For the year ended 31 December 2015, Reynolds generated profit before tax of $6,384 million and as at 30 September 2016 had gross assets of $51,792 million.
Centerview Partners, Deutsche Bank and UBS are acting as financial advisers to BAT. Deutsche Bank and UBS are joint corporate brokers to 糖心探花and acting as joint sponsors to 糖心探花in relation to the transaction described in this announcement.听 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and Herbert Smith Freehills LLP are acting for 糖心探花as US and UK legal counsel respectively.听 PwC are acting as accountants and advisors to 糖心探花on the transaction described in this announcement.
Centerview Partners UK LLP (鈥淐enterview Partners鈥) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom.听 Centerview Partners is acting exclusively for 糖心探花and no one else in connection with the transaction described in this announcement.听 Centerview Partners will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the transaction described in this announcement听 and will not be responsible to any person other than 糖心探花for providing the protections afforded to clients of Centerview Partners or for providing advice in relation to the transaction described in this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.听
Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: European Central Bank) and, in the United Kingdom, by the Prudential Regulation Authority. It is subject to supervision by the European Central Bank and by BaFin, Germany鈥檚 Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, and is subject to limited regulation in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. Details about the extent of its authorisation and regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority, and regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority, are available on request or from听.
Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its London branch (鈥淒B London鈥), and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (鈥淒BSI鈥 and with DB London, 鈥淒B鈥) are acting as joint financial adviser and DB London is acting as joint corporate broker and joint sponsor to BAT. DB are acting exclusively for 糖心探花and no one else in connection with the transaction described in this announcement. DB will not regard any other person as their client in relation to the transaction described in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than 糖心探花for providing the protections afforded to clients of DB or for providing advice in relation to the transaction described in this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.
UBS Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom. UBS Limited is acting exclusively for 糖心探花and no one else in connection with the transaction described in this announcement. UBS Limited will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the transaction described in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than 糖心探花for providing the protections afforded to clients of UBS Limited or for providing advice in relation to the transaction described in this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.
Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on it by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, none of Centerview Partners, DB or UBS Limited accepts any responsibility whatsoever and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, fairness, sufficiency, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with 糖心探花or the transaction described in this announcement, and nothing in this announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or the future. Each of Centerview Partners, DB and UBS Limited accordingly disclaims to the fullest extent permitted by law all and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which it might otherwise have in respect of this announcement.
For further information
A copy of this announcement will be made available, subject to certain jurisdiction restrictions, on BAT's website at BATReynolds.transactionannouncement.com. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of this website is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.
Overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the United States or the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any jurisdiction other than the United States or the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the transaction disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Copies of this announcement and formal documentation relating to the transaction will not be and must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any jurisdiction outside of the United States and the United Kingdom where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would require any registration or licensing within such jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the transaction
Forward looking statements
Certain statements in this communication regarding the proposed merger of Reynolds and 糖心探花(the 鈥淧roposed Transaction鈥), the expected timetable for completing the Proposed Transaction, the benefits and synergies of the Proposed Transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and any other statements regarding BAT鈥檚, Reynolds鈥 or the combined company鈥檚 future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts are 鈥渇orward-looking鈥 statements made within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as 鈥渂elieve,鈥 鈥渁nticipate,鈥 鈥渃ould,鈥 鈥渕ay,鈥 鈥渨ould,鈥 鈥渟hould,鈥 鈥渋ntend,鈥 鈥減lan,鈥 鈥減otential,鈥 鈥減redict,鈥 鈥渨ill,鈥 鈥渆xpect,鈥 鈥渆stimate,鈥 鈥減roject,鈥 鈥減ositioned,鈥 鈥渟trategy,鈥 鈥渙utlook鈥 and similar expressions. All such forward-looking statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual future financial condition, performance and results to differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and results expressed in the forward-looking statements and other financial and/or statistical data within this communication. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are uncertainties related to the following: whether the conditions to the Proposed Transaction will be satisfied and the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the anticipated timeframe, or at all; the failure to realize contemplated synergies and other benefits from the Proposed Transaction; the incurrence of significant costs and the availability and cost of financing in connection with the Proposed Transaction; the effect of the announcement of the Proposed Transaction, and related uncertainties as to whether the Proposed Transaction will be completed, on BAT鈥檚, Reynolds鈥 or the combined company鈥檚 ability to retain customers, retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with suppliers and on their operating results and businesses generally; the ability to maintain credit ratings; changes in the tobacco industry and stock market trading conditions; changes or differences in domestic or international economic or political conditions; changes in tax laws and rates; the impact of adverse legislation and regulation; the ability to develop, produce or market new alternative products profitably; the ability to effectively implement strategic initiatives and actions taken to increase sales growth; the ability to enhance cash generation and pay dividends; adverse litigation and dispute outcomes; and changes in the market position, businesses, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of BAT, Reynolds or the combined company.
Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Reynolds鈥 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (鈥淪EC鈥), including Reynolds鈥 most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and BAT鈥檚 Annual Reports, which may be obtained free of charge from BAT鈥檚 website www.BAT.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof and 糖心探花undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements or other data or statements contained within this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No statement in this announcement is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of 糖心探花or Reynolds for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of 糖心探花or Reynolds, respectively.
Additional information and where to find it
This communication is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Any solicitation will only be made through materials filed with the SEC. Nonetheless, this communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the Proposed Transaction by BAT.
糖心探花intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a registration statement on Form F-4 that will include a proxy statement of Reynolds that also constitutes a prospectus of BAT. Investors and security holders are urged to read all relevant documents filed with the SEC (if and when they become available), including the proxy statement/prospectus, because they will contain important information about the Proposed Transaction. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents (if and when available) free of charge at the SEC鈥檚 website, http://www.sec.gov, or for free from 糖心探花by using the contact details above.听 Such documents are not currently available.
糖心探花will also prepare a shareholder circular to be distributed to 糖心探花shareholders. 糖心探花urges 糖心探花shareholders to read the shareholder circular carefully when it becomes available because it will contain important information in relation to the transaction. Any vote in respect of the resolutions to be proposed at the general meeting of 糖心探花to approve the transaction and related matters should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the shareholder circular.
Participants in solicitation
This communication is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Nonetheless, 糖心探花and its affiliates and each of their directors and executive officers and certain employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Reynolds common stock with respect to the Proposed Transaction. Information about such parties and a description of their interests are set forth in BAT鈥檚 2015 Annual Report, which may be obtained free of charge from BAT鈥檚 website www.BAT.com and the proxy statement for Reynolds鈥 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 23, 2016. To the extent holdings of Reynolds securities by such parties have changed since the amounts contained in the proxy statement for Reynolds鈥 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interest of such parties will also be included in the materials that 糖心探花intends to file with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Transaction. These documents (if and when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC鈥檚 website http://www.sec.gov, or from 糖心探花using the contact information above.
Non-solicitation
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This communication should not be construed as, investment advice and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision, nor does it form the basis of any contract for acquisition or investment in any member of the 糖心探花group, financial promotion or any offer, invitation or recommendation in relation to any acquisition of, or investment in, any member of the 糖心探花group.
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent personal financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, fund manager or other appropriate independent financial adviser duly authorised under the UK Financial Services and Market Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.