SBB controls 98.0 percent of shares in Offentliga Hus following the mandatory public offer
The Offer is not being made, and this press release may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into, nor will any tender of shares be accepted from or on behalf of holders in, any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer, the distribution of this press release or the acceptance of any tender of shares would contravene applicable laws or regulations or require further registration documents, filings or other measures in addition to those required under Swedish law.
On 18 December 2020, SBB announced an acquisition corresponding to 54.3 percent of the total shares and votes in Offentliga Hus i Norden AB (publ) (“Offentliga Hus”). On 23 December 2020, SBB announced that they had completed the acquisition of 44.2 percent of the shares and votes in Offentliga Hus, whereby the completion of the remaining shares, corresponding to 10.1 percent of the shares and votes, was subject to the approval of relevant competition authorities. On 17 February 2021, SBB announced that they had received an approval from the Swedish Competition Authority (Sw. Konkurrensverket) and on 1 March 2021, SBB announced that they had completed the acquisition of the remaining shares that had been acquired.
Further, the completion on 23 December 2020 entailed an obligation for SBB to announce a public offer regarding the remaining shares in Offentliga Hus pursuant to the Takeover rules for certain trading platforms issued by the Swedish Corporate Governance Board (the “Takeover rules”). On 20 January 2021, SBB announced a mandatory public offer to the shareholders in Offentliga Hus (the “Offer”). The acceptance period commenced on 16 March 2021 and ended on 13 April 2021. On 14 April 2021, SBB announced that the acceptance period was extended. The extended acceptance period ended 29 April 2021. Today, SBB declares that the Offer has been accepted to such an extent that SBB following the Offer controls 250,843,941 shares in Offentliga Hus, corresponding to approximately 98.0 percent of the total shares and votes in Offentliga Hus.
After the end of the initial acceptance period on 13 April 2021, SBB controlled 247,949,492 shares in Offentliga Hus, corresponding to approximately 96.9 percent of the total shares and votes in Offentliga Hus. During the extended acceptance period, 2,766,630 shares have been tendered in the Offer, corresponding to approximately 1.1 percent of the total shares and votes in Offentliga Hus. Shareholders of Offentliga Hus representing in total 2,537,697 shares chose to receive the cash consideration and shareholders representing in total 228,933 shares chose to receive the share consideration during the extended acceptance period of the Offer. In addition, SBB has, since 14 April 2021, acquired 127,819 shares in the market (at prices not exceeding the price in the Offer). As of today, SBB thus controls 250,843,941 shares in Offentliga Hus, corresponding to approximately 98.0 percent of the total shares and votes in Offentliga Hus. SBB may acquire additional shares in Offentliga Hus in the market.
Settlement for shares tendered during the extended acceptance period is expected to take place on or around 7 May 2021. SBB has decided not to extend the acceptance period any further.
SBB has initiated a compulsory acquisition procedure under the Swedish Companies Act to acquire all shares not tendered in the Offer. In addition, Offentliga Hus has, on request of SBB, applied for de-listing of Offentliga Hus’ shares from Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market. The last day of trading in Offentliga Hus’ shares will be on 14 May 2021.
For further information, please contact:
Ilija Batljan, CEO and Founder of Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB, ilija@sbbnorden.se
The information was sent for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on 3 May 2021 at 17:20 CET.
Important information
This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or sell shares, nor does it constitute an invitation to offer to buy or sell shares.
The Offer, pursuant to the terms and conditions presented in this press release, is not being made to persons whose participation in the Offer requires that an additional registration document be prepared or registration effected or that any other measures be taken in addition to those required under Swedish law.
The distribution of this press release and any related offer documentation in certain jurisdictions may be restricted or affected by the laws of such jurisdictions. Accordingly, copies of this communication are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any such jurisdiction. Therefore, persons who receive this communication (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) and are subject to the laws of any such jurisdiction will need to inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable restrictions or requirements. Any failure to do so may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, SBB disclaims any responsibility or liability for the violations of any such restrictions by any person.
This press release is not an offer for sale of securities in the United States. The shares to be delivered in connection with the Offer have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States, and may not be offered, sold, pledged, delivered or otherwise transferred in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws.
The Offer is not being made, and this press release may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into, nor will any tender of shares be accepted from or on behalf of holders in, any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer, the distribution of this press release or the acceptance of any tender of shares would contravene applicable laws or regulations or require further registration documents, filings or other measures in addition to those required under Swedish law.
The Offer is not directed to shareholders resident in jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area, with exception for professional investors in the United Kingdom and, consequently, the Offer is not being made, and this press release may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into, nor will any tender of shares be accepted from or on behalf of holders from such jurisdiction. Professional investors in the United Kingdom refers to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”)), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are existing Noteholders or other persons falling within Article 43 of the Financial Promotion Order, (iv) are outside the United Kingdom, or (v) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated.
Statements in this press release relating to future status or circumstances, including statements regarding future performance, growth and other trend projections and the other benefits of the Offer, are forward-looking statements. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates”, “intends”, “expects”, “believes”, or similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to many factors, many of which are outside the control of SBB. Any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and SBB has no obligation (and undertakes no such obligation) to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except for in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB (publ) (SBB) is the Nordic region’s leading property company in social infrastructure. The Company’s strategy is to long term own and manage social infrastructure properties in the Nordics and rent regulated residential properties in Sweden, and to actively work with property development. Through SBB’s commitment and engagement in community participation and social responsibility, municipalities and other stakeholders find the Company an attractive long-term partner. The Company’s series B shares (ticker SBB B) and D shares (ticker SBB D) are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Large Cap. Further information about SBB is available at www.sbbnorden.se.