AKER BP ASA ANNOUNCES PRICING OF SENIOR NOTES OFFERING
Aker BP ASA (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has priced its offering (the “Offering”) of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due 2025 at par (the “Notes”). Interest will be payable semi-annually. The Offering is expected to close on or about March 22, 2018, subject to customary conditions precedent for similar transactions. In connection with the Offering, the initial purchasers may engage in stabilizing transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. Any stabilization action must be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to partially repay (without cancelling) drawn commitments under the Company’s reserves-based lending facility (the “RBL Facility”) and pay the costs, fees and expenses related to the Offering.
For further information, please contact:
John Ole Hægeland, VP Corporate Finance, +47 90 606 169
Kjetil Bakken, VP Investor Relations, +47 91 889 889
Cautionary Statements
This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute any offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or applicable state or foreign securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under federal or applicable state securities laws or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The Notes will be offered in the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.
This press release may include projections and other “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any such projections or statements reflect the current views of the Company about further events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from these projections.
This communication is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Any investment activity to which this communication relates will only be available to, and will only be engaged in with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended (“MiFID II”); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the “MiFID II Product Governance Requirements”), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any “manufacturer” (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the notes which are the subject of the Offering (the “Securities”) have been subject to a product approval process, which has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Securities is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Securities to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending such Securities (a “distributor”) should take into consideration the manufacturers’ target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Securities (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers’ target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.
Neither the content of the Company’s website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company’s website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement. The distribution of this announcement into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.