Fortum to acquire City of Oslo?s shares
Fortum Corporation STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE
10 May 2004 at 8.30 1 ()
Fortum to acquire City of Oslos shares in Hafslund
- Major step in Nordic power and heat strategy
Fortum has agreed to acquire City of Oslos 53.7% share of capital
in Hafslund ASA for EUR 660 million (NOK 5.4 billion). On 9 May,
the Oslo City Board (Byrådet) signed the agreement and recommended
it to the City Council (Bystyret) for approval. With Hafslund,
Fortum can take a major step in the development of the leading pan-
Nordic power and heat company with significant skills and scale in
Norway, Sweden and Finland.
The acquisition of City of Oslos shares will enable Fortum to
gain control of Hafslund and is a major step in Fortums Nordic
power & heat strategy:
- Positions Fortum as #1 in Nordic and Norwegian retail
- Strengthens Fortums #1 market position in Nordic distribution
and positions Fortum as #1 in Norwegian distribution
- Strengthens Fortums #2 position in Nordic power generation
- Increases cash flows from stable distribution activities,
creates a larger customer base and broader geographic scope
- Provides EUR 20 million of annual synergy benefits by 2006
Oslo City Board has approved the agreement and it remains subject
to approval by Oslo City Council and that there are no higher
offers prior to early July. The transaction is expected to close
during the summer after which Fortum will own 87.8% of Hafslunds
capital and will launch a mandatory tender offer to the remaining
minority shareholders at the same price.
I am delighted that we can continue to deliver on our pan-Nordic
strategy, and that we have reached an agreement with the City
board of Oslo. We are an owner with strong industrial competence
and financial resources to develop Hafslunds business in Norway
and beyondö, says Mikael Lilius, President and CEO of Fortum.
Hafslund is a fine company with a long history and strong market
position. It fits excellently into our strategy. Together we can
combine key skills in the two companies in a way that will enhance
our competitiveness not only in Norway, but in all Nordic markets.
With this transaction we can continue to leverage skills and
experience in our Nordic organization to the long term benefit of
customers, employees and owners.ö Mikael Lilius concluded.
Transaction overview
Fortum has agreed to acquire City of Oslos 67,524,647 A-shares
and 37,342,907 B-shares in Hafslund ASA at a cash price of NOK
53.0 for A-shares and NOK 48.0 for B-shares for a total of EUR 660
million (NOK 5.4 billion). These shares represent 53.7% of
Hafslunds share capital.
Fortums total acquisition price for 100% of Hafslund will be NOK
45.4 per share (EUR 1.1 billion or NOK 8.9 billion) including the
price paid for Fortums existing 34.1% holding in Hafslund and the
price to be paid to remaining minority shareholders. In addition,
Fortum will assume EUR 1.4 billion (NOK 10.9 billion) of net
financial debt.
The combination of Hafslund and Fortum, and the integration of
Fortums existing Norwegian assets with Hafslund, will create
significant business opportunities and are also expected to
generate EUR 20 million of annual synergy benefits by 2006. The
synergy benefits are in addition to Hafslunds own announced
efficiency improvement target of approximately EUR 50 million. The
synergy benefits will be realised through the sharing of best
practices in operation and maintenance, economies of scale (e.g.
combined purchasing) and combination of competencies. The
transaction is expected to be accretive to Fortums earnings in
2006. The Aggregate Value / last twelve months EBITDA as of March
31, 2004 is 9.6x post synergies.
Due to Norwegian regulations governing ownership of hydroelectric
assets, Fortum will initially through the agreement with City of
Oslo and the tender offer acquire shares resulting in an aggregate
ownership of 89.9% of Hafslund. The acquisition of the remaining
City of Oslos shares remains subject to obtaining an exemption
from the regulatory concession requirement. If such exemption is
not granted, City of Oslo will remain a minority shareholder in
the hydroelectricity generation business while Fortum will fully
own all the remaining assets and operations of Hafslund.
The acquisition will be financed through bank borrowings. Fortum
is committed to manage Hafslund in full recognition of its
obligations to bondholders and other lenders. Over the medium
term, Fortum plans to repay debt incurred in the acquisition by
internal cash flows.
Hafslund
Hafslund is the largest power company in Norway in terms of
electricity distribution and sales with 540,000 electricity
distribution customer connections and 614,000 retail customers.
Hafslund also has 9 hydroelectric generation stations which
produce a total of 2.9 TWh in a normal year. For the 12 months
ending 31 March 2004, Hafslund had sales of NOK 8.1 billion and
operating profit of NOK 727 million.
Fortum
Fortum is a leading energy company in the Nordic countries and the
other parts of the Baltic Rim. Fortum's activities cover the
generation, distribution and sale of electricity and heat, the
production, refining and marketing of oil, the operation and
maintenance of power plants as well as energy-related services.
The main products are electricity, heat and steam, traffic fuels
and heating oils.
Fortum's competitiveness in the power and heat business is based
on a pan-Nordic concept which is characterised by a high level of
operational efficiency and a broad customer base. As an oil
refiner, Fortum is the leading manufacturer of environmentally
benign petroleum products.
For the 12 months ending 31 March 2004, Fortum's net sales
totalled EUR 10.6 billion and operating profit stood at EUR 1.5
billion. Fortum's shares are quoted on the Helsinki Exchanges.
Fortum will arrange a press conference in relation to the
announcement today at 12 am Finnish time simultaneously at its
head office in Keilaniemi, Espoo, and at 11 am CET in Oslo
(Teatersalen in Hotel Continental). A teleconference for
international analysts and investors will be arranged at 5 pm
Finnish time (GMT+2). To listen to the call please dial +44 (0)
1452 569 103.
Fortum Corporation
Carola Teir-Lehtinen
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
For further information please contact:
Mikael Lilius, President & Chief Executive Officer +358 10 452
9100
Juha Laaksonen, Chief Financial Officer +358 10 452 4519
Distribution:
Helsinki Exchanges
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