EANS-News: K+S Aktiengesellschaft
Take-up ratio of new shares of 99.42%
Rights issue of K+S positively received by shareholders
Take-up ratio of new shares of 99.42% Rights issue of K+S positively received by shareholders
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Capital measures/Financing, Stock Offerings (IPO)/Stock Activity
Subtitle: Take-up ratio of new shares of 99.42% Rights issue of K+S positively received by shareholders
Kassel (euro adhoc) - Kassel, 11 December 2009
Take-up ratio of new shares of 99.42% Rights issue of K+S positively received by shareholders
The capital increase of K+S Aktiengesellschaft, the subscription period of which terminated yesterday, was positively received by the shareholders of the company. "We see this as a clear demonstration of the confidence that our shareholders and the capital market have in the strategy and future of K+S", explains Norbert Steiner, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors.
Within the framework of the capital increase, 26.4 million new ordinary bearer shares with no-par value, each such share representing a notional value of EUR 1.00 of the share capital, and carrying full dividend rights as of January 1, 2009 were issued against cash contributions. The consortium of banks consisting of Deutsche Bank AG, Morgan Stanley Bank AG and other banks had underwritten the new shares at the subscription price of EUR 26.00 per share and offered them to the shareholders at a ratio of 25:4. The take-up ratio was 99.42%, with the remaining shares being sold on the stock exchange. From today, the new shares are being included in K+S Aktiengesellschaft´s existing quotation on the Frankfurt stock exchange as well as on the regional stock exchanges of Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart. With the registration of the completion of the capital increase in the commercial register on 9 December 2009, the share capital of K+S Aktiengesellschaft has risen by EUR 26.4 million from EUR 165.0 million to EUR 191.4 million.
"As a result of this capital measure, we assume that we will secure our investment grade rating and, in the medium term, again move towards the goals we have set ourselves for our capital structure", says CFO Jan Peter Nonnenkamp. The gross proceeds from the issue of about EUR 689 million will primarily be used to improve the Company's equity base. The proceeds from the capital increase of the Company are intended to create the option of paying off the bank loans taken out to finance the acquisition of Morton Salt and to provide financial and strategic flexibility for additional growth in the future.
The two largest shareholders of K+S Aktiengesellschaft, MCC/EuroChem and BASF, have fully participated in the capital increase, so that their share ratio in relation to the share capital of the company has not changed.
Experience growth The K+S Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of standard and speciality fertilizers. In the salt business, measured by production capacity, K+S, with sites in Europe as well as North and South America, is the world´s leading producer. K+S offers a comprehensive range of goods and services for agriculture, industry and private consumers which provides growth opportunities in virtually every sphere of daily life. The K+S Group employs more than 15,000 people worldwide and achieved revenues of about EUR 5 billion in 2008. The K+S share - the only commodities stock on the German DAX® index - is listed on all German stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0007162000, symbol: SDF). More information about K+S is available at www.k-plus-s.com.
Your contact persons: Press: Michael Wudonig phone: +49 561 9301-1262 fax: +49 561 9301-1666 michael.wudonig@k-plus-s.com
Investor Relations: Christian Herrmann phone: +49 561 9301-1460 fax: +49 561 9301-2425 christian.herrmann@k-plus-s.com
This information neither constitutes a prospectus, nor an offer or an invitation to purchase shares or other securities of K+S Aktiengesellschaft nor does it replace the prospectus. Subject to the approval of the Federal Agency for Financial Services Supervision (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungs- aufsicht; BaFin), a prospectus was published before the commencement of the subscription period, which is available free of charge from K+S Aktiengesellschaft and the underwriting banks. This information does not constitute an offer to sell or buy securities in the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. The shares of K+S Aktiengesellschaft are allowed to be offered or sold in the USA only after prior registration in accordance with the provisions of the U.S. Securities Act 1993, as amended, or on the basis of a registration exemption. There will be no public offering of shares in the USA.
This information contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current views and assumptions of K+S Aktiengesellschaft ´s management and were made to its best knowledge. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the earnings position, profitability, performance or the results of K+S Aktiengesellschaft to differ materially from the earnings position, profitability, performance or the results expressly or implicitly assumed or described in these forward- looking statements. In consideration of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, persons receiving these documents are advised not to unreasonably rely on these forward-looking statements. K+S Aktiengesellschaft does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements and to adjust them to any future results and developments.
end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further inquiry note:
Your contact persons:
Press:
Michael Wudonig
phone: +49 561 9301-1262
fax: +49 561 9301-1666
michael.wudonig@k-plus-s.com
Investor Relations:
Christian Herrmann
phone: +49 561 9301-1460
fax: +49 561 9301-2425
christian.herrmann@k-plus-s.com
Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE0007162000
WKN: 716200
Index: DAX, Midcap Market Index, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / regulated dealing
Hamburg / regulated dealing
Stuttgart / regulated dealing
Düsseldorf / regulated dealing
Hannover / regulated dealing
München / regulated dealing
Original content of: K+S Aktiengesellschaft, transmitted by news aktuell