Statement by Carlsberg Group regarding Britvic plc

Source: RNS
RNS Number : 5535T
Carlsberg A/S
24 June 2024
 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

24 June 2024

Statement by Carlsberg Group ("Carlsberg") regarding Britvic plc ("Britvic")

 

Further to the speculation in the weekend press, Carlsberg confirms that it has reached agreement with PepsiCo, Inc. ("PepsiCo") whereby PepsiCo has agreed to waive the change of control clause in the bottling arrangements it has with Britvic. This waiver will come into effect should an acquisition of Britvic by Carlsberg, which has the recommendation of Britvic's board, proceed to completion.

 

Carlsberg is considering its position. There can be no certainty that any offer will be made.

 

A further announcement will be made as appropriate.

 

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, Carlsberg is required, by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 19 July 2024, either to: (a) announce a firm intention to make an offer, subject to conditions or pre-conditions if relevant, for Britvic in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code; or (ii) announce that it does not intend to make an offer for Britvic, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

 

Enquiries

 

Carlsberg

Investor Relations:   Peter Kondrup

 

Media Contact:

Brunswick Group

Max McGahan

Diana Vaughton

Tom Pigott

Carlsberg@brunswickgroup.com

 

 

Tel: +45 2219 1221

 

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7404 5959

Nomura International plc

Adrian Fisk

Henry Phillips
Oliver Donaldson

Tel: +44 (0)20 7102 1000

 

Baker McKenzie LLP is retained as legal adviser to Carlsberg.

 


Important Notice

Nomura International plc ("Nomura"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting as financial adviser to Carlsberg and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and Nomura, its affiliates and its respective officers, employees, agents, representatives and/or associates will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to anyone other than Carlsberg for providing the protections afforded to clients of Nomura nor for giving advice in relation to any matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement.

 

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

 

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

 

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

 

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

 

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

 

Publication on Website

A copy of this announcement will be made available subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted jurisdictions on the Carlsberg websites at www.carlsberggroup.com and by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following the date of this announcement. The content of these websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.

 

Overseas Jurisdictions

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom and Denmark may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom and Denmark should inform themselves about, and observe any applicable requirements. This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the Code as well as the obligations of Carlsberg pursuant to the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR) and the information disclosed in this announcement may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom or Denmark.

 

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1993, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States.

 

Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains certain "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding our intent, belief, or current expectations with respect to Carlsberg's business and operations, market conditions, results of operations and financial condition, and risk management practices. The words "likely", "expect", "aim", "should", "could", "may", "anticipate", "predict", "believe", "plan", "forecast" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future earnings, anticipated production, life of mine and financial position and performance are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Carlsberg's actual results, performance and achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements, or industry results, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Relevant factors may include (but are not limited to) changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which Carlsberg operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. Forward-looking statements are based on Carlsberg's good faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect Carlsberg's business and operations in the future. Carlsberg does not give any assurance that the assumptions will prove to be correct. There may be other factors that could cause actual results or events not to be as anticipated, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of Carlsberg. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, particularly in the significantly volatile and uncertain current economic climate. Forward-looking statements in this document speak only at the date of issue. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Carlsberg does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements or to advise of any change in assumptions on which any such statement is based. Except for statutory liability which cannot be excluded, each of Carlsberg, its officers, employees and advisors expressly disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the material contained in these forward-looking statements and excludes all liability whatsoever (including in negligence) for any loss or damage which may be suffered by any person as a consequence of any information in forward-looking statements or any error or omission.

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