Ecolab Inc. (“Ecolab”) (NYSE:ECL) today announced results as of the
expiration of the early participation period at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on November 30, 2017 (the “Early Participation Date”), of its
offer (“Exchange Offer”) to certain eligible holders to exchange its
outstanding 5.500% Notes due 2041 (CUSIP 278865 AM2) (the “Old Notes”)
for up to $375 million aggregate principal amount (the “Exchange Cap”)
of its newly issued 3.950% Notes due 2047 (“New Notes”). The 3.950%
Notes due 2047 being offered in the Exchange Offer will be a further
issuance of, and will be in addition to, the 3.950% Notes due 2047 (the
“Original 2047 Notes”) Ecolab issued for cash on November 27, 2017, in
the aggregate principal amount of $325 million.
The Exchange Offer is being conducted on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in a confidential offering memorandum dated
November 16, 2017, and related letter of transmittal (together, the
“Exchange Offer Documents”).
As of the Early Participation Date, according to D.F. King & Co., Inc.,
the exchange agent for the Exchange Offer, the aggregate principal
amount of the Old Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in the
Exchange Offer was $338,087,000. Holders of such Old Notes may no longer
validly withdraw tenders of Old Notes. Since the aggregate principal
amount of Old Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or
prior to the Early Participation Date is expected to result in the
Exchange Cap being exceeded, Old Notes tendered will be subject to the
proration procedures described in the Exchange Offer Documents, there
will be no Final Settlement Date with respect to the Exchange Offer and
no additional tenders of Old Notes will be accepted for purchase in the
Exchange Offer after the Early Participation Date. Ecolab expects to
announce pricing information for the Exchange Offer, including the
aggregate principal amount of Old Notes accepted for exchange, the Total
Exchange Consideration and the New Notes Value, after the Pricing Time.
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Outstanding Principal
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Amount at Commencement of
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Principal Amount Tendered as of the
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CUSIP No.
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Title of Series
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the Exchange Offer
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Early Participation Date
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278865 AM2
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5.500% Notes due 2041
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$750,000,000
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$338,087,000
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Although participants in the Exchange Offer will not hold New Notes
prior to the applicable settlement date, the first interest payment on
the New Notes will include the interest accrued from the issuance date
of the Original 2047 Notes to the applicable settlement date. Further,
each holder whose Old Notes are accepted for exchange will receive a
cash payment (reduced as described in the following sentence)
representing interest, if any, that has accrued from the most recent
interest payment date in respect of the Old Notes up to, but not
including, the applicable settlement date; provided, that, holders of
Old Notes will not receive accrued and unpaid interest that is due and
payable on the applicable settlement date if the accrued and unpaid
interest that is due and payable on the applicable settlement date on
the New Notes exceeds the accrued and unpaid interest that is payable on
the applicable settlement date on the Old Notes. Interest payable on the
Old Notes up to, but not including, the applicable settlement date will
be reduced by the interest accrued on the New Notes up to, but not
including, the applicable settlement date. The Exchange Offer will
expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 14, 2017, unless
extended.
Only holders who have duly completed and submitted an eligibility letter
(which may be found at www.dfking.com/ecl)
are authorized to receive the Exchange Offer Documents and participate
in the Exchange Offer. The eligibility letters include certifications
that the holders are either (1) a “qualified institutional buyer” as
defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), or (2) a non-“U.S. person” (as defined in Rule 902
under the Securities Act) located outside of the United States who are
(i) not acting for the account or benefit of a U.S. person, (ii) a
“non-U.S. qualified offeree” (as defined in the Exchange Offer
Documents), and (iii) not resident in Canada.
Consummation of the Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions
as set forth in the confidential offering memorandum relating to the
Exchange Offer.
If and when issued, the New Notes will not be registered under the
Securities Act or any state securities laws. Therefore, the New Notes
may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or
an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Ecolab entered
into a registration rights agreement with respect to the New Notes and
the Original 2047 Notes.
D.F. King & Co., Inc. will act as the Information Agent and the Exchange
Agent for the Exchange Offer. Questions or requests for assistance
related to the Exchange Offer or for additional copies of the Exchange
Offer Documents may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (877)
478-5039 (toll free) or (212) 269-5550 (collect) or ecl@dfking.com
(email). You may also contact your broker, dealer commercial bank, trust
company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.
This announcement is for informational purposes only. This announcement
is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase
any Old Notes or New Notes. The Exchange Offer is being made solely
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Documents. The Exchange Offer is not
being made to holders of Old Notes in any jurisdiction in which the
making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the
securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any
jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the
Exchange Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Exchange
Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of Ecolab by the dealer
managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed
under the laws of such jurisdiction.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain “forward-looking statements.” In this release
we discuss expectations regarding our business, financial condition and
results of operations. Without limiting the foregoing, words or phrases
such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is
anticipated,” “we believe,” “we expect,” “estimate,” “project”
(including the negative or variations thereof) or similar terminology,
generally identify forward looking statements. Forward looking
statements may also represent challenging goals for us. These
statements, which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning
various future events, are based on current expectations that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those of such forward looking statements. We
caution that undue reliance should not be placed on such forward looking
statements, which speak only as of the date made.
Additional risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from
those expressed in any forward looking statements are set forth under
Item 1A, entitled Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2016, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
the periods ended March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017,
and include the vitality of the markets we serve including the impact of
oil price fluctuations on the markets served by our Global Energy
segment; the impact of economic factors such as the worldwide economy,
capital flows, interest rates, foreign currency risk and reduced sales
and earnings in our international operations resulting from the
weakening of local currencies versus the U.S. dollar; our ability to
attract and retain high caliber management talent to lead our business;
our ability to execute key business initiatives, including information
system upgrades; potential information technology infrastructure
failures or breaches in data security; exposure to global economic,
political and legal risks related to our international operations
including with respect to anti-corruption law compliance; the costs and
effects of complying with laws and regulations, including those relating
to the environment and to the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale
and use of our products; the occurrence of litigation or claims,
including related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill; our ability to
develop competitive advantages through innovation; difficulty in
procuring raw materials or fluctuations in raw material costs; our
substantial indebtedness; our ability to acquire complementary
businesses and to effectively integrate such businesses; restraints on
pricing flexibility due to contractual obligations; pressure on
operations from consolidation of customers, vendors or competitors;
public health epidemics; potential losses arising from the impairment of
goodwill or other assets; potential loss of deferred tax assets; changes
in tax law and unanticipated tax liabilities; potential chemical spill
or release; potential class action lawsuits; the loss or insolvency of a
major customer or distributor; acts of war or terrorism; natural or
manmade disasters; water shortages; severe weather conditions; and other
uncertainties or risks reported from time to time in our reports to the
SEC. We do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty to update our
forward looking statements.
(ECL-C)
Ecolab Inc.
Michael Monahan, 651-250-2809
or
Andrew Hedberg, 651-250-2185