Magna Amends Substantial Issuer Bid Terms
06/09/2007 22:12
PR Newswire
AURORA, Canada, September 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG.A, MG.B; NYSE: MGA) today announced
that it has amended its Offer to Purchase Class A Subordinate Voting Shares
dated August 13, 2007 (the "Offer"), from an offer to purchase up to
20,000,000 of its Class A Subordinate Voting Shares for an aggregate
purchase price not exceeding US$1,536,600,000 into an offer to purchase for
cash up to US$1,536,600,000 in value of its Class A Subordinate Voting
Shares. As a result, the amended Offer is no longer subject to the
limitation of 20,000,000 Class A Subordinate Voting Shares on the aggregate
number of shares that Magna would be required to purchase. Accordingly, if
the purchase price is determined to be the minimum purchase price possible
under the Offer, the maximum number of Class A Subordinate Voting Shares
that will be purchased under the Offer will be 20,086,274. Assuming that
the Offer is fully subscribed, if the purchase price is determined to be
the maximum possible purchase price under the Offer, the minimum number of
Class A Subordinate Voting Shares that will be purchased under the Offer will
be 16,793,442. The purchase price range under the Offer remains between
US$76.50 and US$91.50 per share.
The expiration date of the Offer remains unchanged with the result that
the Offer will expire at 5:00 pm (Toronto time) on September 20, 2007, or at
such later time and date to which the Offer may be extended.
We are the most diversified automotive supplier in the world. We design,
develop and manufacture automotive systems, assemblies, modules and
components, and engineer and assemble complete vehicles, primarily for sale
to original equipment manufacturers of cars and light trucks in North
America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Our capabilities include
the design, engineering, testing and manufacture of automotive interior
systems; seating systems; closure systems; metal body and chassis systems;
vision systems; electronic systems; exterior systems; powertrain systems;
roof systems; as well as complete vehicle engineering and assembly.
We have approximately 83,000 employees in 229 manufacturing operations
and 62 product development and engineering centres in 23 countries.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain statements that, to the extent that they
are not recitations of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation.
Forward-looking statements may include financial and other projections, as
well as statements regarding our future plans, objectives or economic
performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. We use words
such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate",
"believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate" and similar
expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our
experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and
expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are
appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and
developments will conform with our expectations and predictions is subject to
a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties. These risks, assumptions
and uncertainties include, without limitation, those related to the strategic
alliance with Russian Machines, including: the risk that the benefits, growth
prospects and strategic objectives expected to be realized from the
investment by, and strategic alliance with, Russian Machines may not be fully
realized, realized at all or may take longer to realize than expected; we will
be governed by a board of directors on which the Stronach Trust and Russian
Machines each, indirectly, have the right to designate an equal number of
nominees, in addition to the current co-chief executive officers, with the
result that we may be considered to be effectively controlled, indirectly, by
the Stronach Trust and Russian Machines for so long as the governance
arrangements remain in place between them; our Russian strategy involves
making investments and carrying on business and operations in Russia, which
will expose us to the political, economic and regulatory risks and
uncertainties of that country; the possibility that Russian Machines may
exercise its right to withdraw its investment in Newco and Newco II and exit
from the governance arrangements in connection with the Arrangement at any
time after two years; the possibility that the Stronach Trust may exercise
its right to require Russian Machines to withdraw its investment in Newco and
Newco II and exit from such arrangements at any time after three years; the
possibility that Russian Machines' lender may require Russian Machines to
withdraw its investment in Newco and Newco II and exit from such arrangements
at any time if such lender is entitled to realize on its loan to Russian
Machines; the conditions precedent to completion of the Arrangement may not
be satisfied or, if satisfied, the timing of such satisfaction may be
delayed; and the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that
could give rise to the termination of the Transaction Agreement, the delay of
the completion of the Arrangement or failure to complete the Arrangement for
any other reason. In addition to the risks, assumptions and uncertainties
related to the proposed strategic alliance, there are additional risks and
uncertainties relating generally to Magna and its business and affairs,
including the impact of: declining production volumes and changes in consumer
demand for vehicles; a reduction in the production volumes of certain
vehicles, such as certain light trucks; the termination or non-renewal by our
customers of any material contracts; our ability to offset increases in the
cost of commodities, such as steel and resins, as well as energy prices;
fluctuations in relative currency values; our ability to offset price
concessions demanded by our customers; our dependence on outsourcing by our
customers; our ability to compete with suppliers with operations in low cost
countries; changes in our mix of earnings between jurisdictions with lower
tax rates and those with higher tax rates, as well as our ability to fully
benefit tax losses; other potential tax exposures; the financial distress of
some of our suppliers and customers; the inability of our customers to meet
their financial obligations to us; our ability to fully recover
pre-production expenses; warranty and recall costs; product liability claims
in excess of our insurance coverage; expenses related to the restructuring
and rationalization of some of our operations; impairment charges; our
ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions;
risks associated with new program launches; legal claims against us; risks
of conducting business in foreign countries; unionization activities at our
facilities; work stoppages and labour relations disputes; changes in laws
and governmental regulations; costs associated with compliance with
environmental laws and regulations; potential conflicts of interest
involving our controlling shareholder, the Stronach Trust; and other
factors set out in our Annual Information Form filed with securities
commissions in Canada and our annual report on Form 40-F filed with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and subsequent
filings. In evaluating forward-looking statements, readers should
specifically consider the various factors which could cause actual events
or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we
do not intend, nor do we undertake any obligation, to update or revise
any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent information, events,
results or circumstances or otherwise.
About The Substantial Issuer Bid
This release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to
purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase Magna Class A Subordinate
Voting Shares, nor is it an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell
any other securities of Magna. The substantial issuer bid referred to above
is made solely by means of the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of
Transmittal and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, each dated August 13, 2007, as
amended by the Notice of Variation, dated September 6, 2007.
For further information: about this press release, please contact Vincent J. Galifi, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Magna at +1-905-726-7100