EANS-Adhoc: ams AG / ams submitted a proposal to OSRAM for a takeover offer at a price of €38.50 per share

PR Newswire/euro adhoc/ --

Disclosed inside information pursuant to article 17 Market Abuse Regulation
  (MAR) transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution.
  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.

Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers
11.08.2019

Premstaetten -

Combination of ams and OSRAM creates a global leader in sensor solutions and photonics with tangible benefits for customers\nStep change for both companies, leveraging European sensor and photonics technology to drive growth, margin improvement and continued investment\nOffer price of EUR38.50 reflects premium of 33% to undisturbed OSRAM share price (EUR28.92) and 10% to the offer from Bain Capital and The Carlyle Group (EUR35.00)\nCost and revenue synergies with an expected annual pre-tax run-rate in excess of EUR300 million, representing significant value creation\nExpected to be accretive to ams' earnings per share from the first year post completion; returns expected to exceed ams' cost of capital from the second year post completion\nEUR4.2bn committed bridge facility and EUR1.5bn underwritten equity issuance, resulting in pro-forma Dec-2019 net debt/EBITDA ratio of 4.3x or 3.2x adjusted for run-rate synergies\nHigher quality cash flows, underpinned by diversified revenue mix and synergies, drive deleveraging and facilitate further investment in the business\nPlan to identify the best owner for the Digital division and gradually phase-out of the Consumer General Lighting LED business\nReady to enter into a binding agreement with protective covenants and commitments for employees and further investment in Germany\nams has requested OSRAM to waive the standstill agreement to enable the launch of a takeover offer which is attractive for all stakeholders\nPremstaetten, Austria (11 August 2019) -- ams AG (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide
supplier of high performance sensor solutions, has today submitted a fully
financed proposal (the "Proposal") to OSRAM Licht AG ("OSRAM") for an all-cash
takeover offer (the "Offer") for 100% of the share capital of OSRAM at a price
of EUR38.50 per share (the "Transaction"). The Proposal includes a comprehensive
commitment package addressing all stakeholders of OSRAM. ams is confident that
the Proposal enables OSRAM to waive the standstill agreement, dated 4 June 2019,
and subsequently plans to launch the Offer.

Consistent with ams' M&A criteria
The Transaction fulfils all criteria that ams has publicly stated for large
transactions, i.e. it is strategically compelling, demonstrably value enhancing,
financially accretive, achievable with a sustainable capital structure, and fits
with ams' financial model.

Strategically compelling: the combination of ams and OSRAM creates a global
leader in sensor solutions and photonics with approximately EUR5 billion of
revenue. This accelerates ams to win in new breakthrough optical solutions,
expedites the diversification of ams' revenue mix, enhances its manufacturing
footprint with clear scale and cost advantages, and leverages the complementary
go-to-market strengths of the two companies.

Demonstrably value enhancing: the Transaction results in significant value
creation from cost and revenue synergies with an expected annual pre-tax run-
rate in excess of EUR240 million and EUR60 million, respectively. The expected
COGS synergies of more than EUR120 million, primarily relate to the
consolidation of the combined global manufacturing footprint. The expected OPEX
synergies of more than EUR120 million, primarily relate to the alignment of
corporate functions, IT and R&D programs. The expected revenue synergies of more
than EUR60 million are driven by leveraging joint go-to-market opportunities.
ams expects the majority of these synergies to be delivered within the first 24
months post completion. In order to realise these synergies, ams expects to
incur one-off integration costs of approx. EUR400 million. In the longer term,
ams anticipates significant additional revenue synergies from accelerating
roadmaps in new optical solution and photonic areas. The Transaction values
OSRAM at an enterprise value of EUR4.3 billion, equivalent to 14.6x Sep-2019
adjusted EBITDA based on consensus estimates (EUR297 million), and 7.3x Sep-2019
adjusted EBITDA after run-rate cost and revenue synergies (EUR597 million).

Financially accretive: the Transaction is expected to be accretive to ams'
earnings per share from the first year post completion adjusted for cost
synergies. The returns from the Transaction including cost synergies are
expected to exceed the weighted average cost of capital of ams from the second
year post completion.

Sustainable capital structure: the financing of the Transaction has been secured
through a EUR4.2 billion acquisition bridge facility fully underwritten by HSBC
and UBS as joint global coordinators, mandated lead arrangers and physical
bookrunners. ams is committed to maintaining a sustainable capital structure and
intends to refinance the acquisition bridge facility through a combination of
equity and debt issuances. ams intends to raise EUR1.5 billion (issue currency
CHF) of new equity which has been fully underwritten by HSBC and UBS as joint
global coordinators and joint bookrunners, primarily in form of a rights issue.
ams intends to seek approval for the rights issue at an extraordinary general
meeting in the fourth quarter of 2019. Pro-forma for the equity issuance, ams
expects that the Transaction will result in pro-forma Dec-2019 leverage of
approximately 4.3x net debt/EBITDA, or approximately 3.2x net debt/EBITDA
adjusted for run-rate cost and revenue synergies.

Fits with ams' financial model: the Transaction fits with the financial model of
ams, with the combined business targeted to show a double digit revenue growth
rate supporting ams' medium term adjusted EBIT margin (excluding acquisition-
related and share-based compensation costs) target in excess of 25%.

Compelling strategic rationale
Creates a global leader in sensor solutions and photonics: the Transaction
enables ams to enhance its sensor solutions and photonics offering in terms of
performance, size, energy efficiency and costs. This builds upon the trend that
sensors and light sources are increasingly packaged into one solution,
comprising emitter, optical path, receiver, and driver ICs with embedded
algorithms and application layer software. OSRAM adds a market leading position
in high-power and infrared LEDs and EEL, which completes ams' emitter portfolio
of high-performance VCSELs and VCSEL arrays. ams will become a leading player in
the optical semiconductor market and the only provider of a complete solution
offering for new high-growth applications, including 3D sensing, in-cabin
sensing, industrial imaging, assisted and autonomous driving, automotive human-
machine interface, automotive digital lighting, consumer AR/VR and personal
healthcare.

Accelerates ams to win in new breakthrough optical solutions: the Transaction
positions ams to win in large new breakthrough innovation areas including: 1)
next generation consumer and automotive displays: small microLED displays with
full sensor-display integration, applicable for smart watches, AR/VR and
vehicles; 2) autonomous driving: LIDAR solutions with both VSCEL and EEL
offering, leveraging front and rear lighting systems as LIDAR hubs; 3) digital
automotive lighting: miniaturized light projectors for exterior and interior
lighting solutions; 4) next generation imaging: ultra small wafer-level cameras
for AR/VR glasses as well as displays in automotive; and 5) bio-sensing: on-skin
and in-ear bio-sensing based on lasers and detectors, and solutions to take on
the challenge of non-invasive glucose monitoring.

Expedites diversification of revenue mix: the Transaction will materially
diversify the revenue composition of ams translating into a more balanced, less
volatile earnings and cash flow mix, with 35% revenue exposure to Consumer and
45% to Automotive (pro-forma for the contribution from OSRAM). The combined
Automotive business will be a leader in new high-growth markets such as assisted
and autonomous driving, automotive human-machine interface and automotive
digital lighting, where revenue growth is driven by market penetration of new
features rather than car volume growth.

Enhances manufacturing footprint with clear scale and cost advantages: the
Transaction builds upon the recent significant capital expenditures by both
companies into state-of-the-art production lines. OSRAM has invested in large,
low labour cost facilities in Malaysia and China which complements ams footprint
in Singapore. Combining and optimising the manufacturing capacities of the two
companies will result in better utilization rates and facilitates insourcing of
selected components, underpinning medium term revenue synergies. Specifically,
ams intends to consolidate all front-end LED production and development in
Regensburg. This will lead to meaningful job creation as well as continued
investment in technology development in the area. In addition, ams intends to
consolidate the back-end LED production in Asia, which will optimise the Asian
manufacturing footprint and addresses the capacity utilisation headroom.

Leverages complementary go-to-market strengths: the Transaction combines two
organizations with highly complementary go-to-market channels and established,
deep customer relationships with leading global mobile and consumer OEMs,
medical imaging vendors, automotive OEMs and industrial clients. Together, ams
will be ideally placed to serve the combined customer base by offering sensor
solutions and photonics that leverage the complementary product offerings of the
two companies, based on European developed technology and global manufacturing.

Attractive offer to OSRAM
ams has been closely following the development of OSRAM and its strategic
transformation process over an extended period of time. In this spirit, ams
approached the Management Board of OSRAM at the beginning of May 2019 with a
view to explore the basis for a potential acquisition of OSRAM, which was
welcomed by OSRAM.

On 29 May 2019, ams submitted a non-binding proposal to the Management Board of
OSRAM. The non-binding proposal remained subject to, amongst other things,
satisfactory completion of customary due diligence. OSRAM subsequently granted
ams access to due diligence. On 4 June 2019, as a pre-condition for gaining
access to due diligence, ams entered into a customary confidentiality agreement
with OSRAM which includes a 12-month standstill agreement. The standstill
agreement hinders ams today from launching a takeover offer for OSRAM unless
such standstill agreement is waived by OSRAM.

On 11 August 2019, ams submitted the Proposal to OSRAM and is ready to launch
the Offer by 15 August 2019 conditional upon OSRAM waiving the standstill
agreement. In parallel, ams looks forward to agreeing a business combination
agreement with OSRAM as soon as reasonably possible. As part thereof, ams would
be pleased to include protective covenants for the German workforce and
production sites in Germany.

"The Proposal is compelling for all stakeholders of OSRAM. Therefore, we trust
that OSRAM will waive the standstill agreement and allow its shareholders to
benefit from our Offer. This will clear the way for OSRAM and ams to create a
winning combination. Together, we can rely on great employees, products and
technology to become a global leader in sensor solutions and photonics,
delivering tangible value to our customers. We offer a long term plan which we
can execute from a position of strength, based on continuous investment and
growth," says Alexander Everke, CEO of ams.

Comprehensive commitments to all stakeholders of OSRAM
The Proposal comes with comprehensive commitments aimed at safeguarding
employees and production facilities of OSRAM in Germany. As part thereof, ams
commits to support the continuation of the cornerstones laid out in the document
"Future Concept Germany" which was agreed in July 2017 with the trade union IG
Metall and the workforce of OSRAM.

ams intends to invest in the Regensburg manufacturing site by consolidating
front-end LED production there, thus enabling job creation, which benefits the
local economy. This strategy is augmented by the commitment to not change, for a
period of five years, the collective bargaining agreements, existing shop and
other similar agreements. ams also commits not to change the existing pension
plans.

Moreover, ams intends to enter into location safeguarding agreements
(Standortsicherungs-vereinbarung) for all German manufacturing sites for a
period of three years.

ams regards the Digital division of OSRAM as non-core. Identifying the best
owner for whom the business is strategic, will in ams' view allow investment
into that business, which is the best way to secure jobs in the long term.
ams agrees with OSRAM's assessment that the Consumer General Lighting LED
business requires optimisation. Therefore, ams plans to gradually phase out of
this business, freeing up financial resources which can be invested in advancing
the European technology base of the combined company.

ams commits to maintain a meaningful presence in Munich and host important
corporate functions across Munich and Premstaetten.

Timeline
Conditional upon OSRAM waiving the standstill agreement, ams plans to launch the
Offer by 15 August 2019, with the offer period commencing prior to 5 September
2019.

The Offer would be subject to a 70% minimum acceptance threshold and customary
closing conditions, including regulatory clearance. ams expects to complete the
Transaction in first half of 2020.

Advisers
UBS is acting as lead financial adviser, together with HSBC in conjunction with
the Transaction. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is acting as financial adviser to
the Supervisory Board of ams. Linklaters, Schellenberg Wittmer and Herbst Kinsky
are acting as legal advisers to ams. Brunswick is acting as communication
adviser to ams. PwC provided financial due diligence as well as accounting and
tax advice to ams.

Analyst call
An analyst and investor call will take place on 12 August 2019 at 9.00am CEST
and can be accessed via the following website http://bit.ly/2YEPeqg [http://
bit.ly/2YEPeqg]

or via phone:

Germany: +49 (0) 89 2444 32975
Austria: +43 (0) 1 25349 78223
UK: +44 (0) 20 3003 2666
France: +33 (0) 1 7037 7166
Switzerland: +41 (0) 43 456 9986
Singapore: +65 6494 8889
HongKong: +852 5808 3370
USA: +1 212 999 6659

###

About ams
ams is a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced sensor
solutions. Our mission is to shape the world with sensor solutions by providing
a seamless interface between humans and technology.
ams' high-performance sensor solutions drive applications requiring small form
factor, low power, highest sensitivity and multi-sensor integration. Products
include sensor solutions, sensor ICs, interfaces and related software for
consumer, communications, industrial, medical, and automotive markets.
With headquarters in Austria, ams employs about 9,000 people globally and serves
more than 8,000 customers worldwide. ams is listed on the SIX Swiss stock
exchange (ticker symbol: AMS). More information about ams can be found at https:
//ams.com [https://ams.com/]

Join ams social media channels:
>Twitter [https://twitter.com/amsAnalog] >LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/
company/ams-ag] >Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amsAnalog] >YouTube [https:/
/www.youtube.com/user/amsAnalog]

Important notice:
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer
to sell shares in OSRAM Licht AG ("OSRAM Shares"). The terms and further
provisions regarding the potential takeover offer by Blitz F19-534 GmbH (in
future operating under the name Opal BidCo GmbH) to the shareholders of Osram AG
(the "Offer") would be set forth in the offer document which would be published,
amongst others, following approval of its publication by the German Federal
Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für
Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht). Holders of OSRAM Shares would be strongly
recommended to read any such offer document and to seek independent advice,
where appropriate, in relation to the matters therein. Moreover, this
announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to
purchase shares in ams AG.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain
jurisdictions other than the Federal Republic of Germany and Switzerland may be
restricted by law. Persons who are resident in, or are subject to, other
jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable
requirements.
If made, the Offer would be made in the United States of America in reliance on,
and compliance with, Section 14(e) of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Exchange Act") and Regulation 14E thereunder, as exempted thereunder by
Rule 14d-1(d).
To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulation, and in accordance
with German market practice, Blitz F19-534 GmbH (in future operating under the
name Opal BidCo GmbH) or brokers acting on its behalf may, outside of the United
States of America and in compliance with applicable law, from time to time make
certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, directly or indirectly, OSRAM
Shares or any securities that are immediately convertible into, exchangeable
for, or exercisable for, OSRAM Shares, other than pursuant to the Offer, before,
during or after the period in which the Offer would remain open for acceptance.
These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in
private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases
would be disclosed as required by law or regulation in Germany or other relevant
jurisdictions.
The shares of ams AG have not been and will not be registered under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold
within the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in
a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act. There will be no public offering of shares in the United States.
This announcement may contain statements about ams AG and/or its subsidiaries
(together the "ams Group") or OSRAM Licht AG and/or its subsidiaries (together
the "OSRAM Group") that are or may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-
looking statements include, without limitation, statements that typically
contain words such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend",
"plan", "believe", "hope", "aims", "continue", "will", "may", "should", "would",
"could", or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and
depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. ams AG cautions
you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the occurrence of such
future events or of future performance and that in particular the actual results
of operations, financial condition and liquidity, the development of the
industry in which ams Group and OSRAM Group operate and the outcome or impact of
the potential acquisition and related matters on ams Group and/or OSRAM Group
may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking
statements contained in this announcement. Any forward-looking statements speak
only as at the date of this announcement. Except as required by applicable law,
ams AG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
ams is a registered trademark of ams AG. In addition many of our products and
services are registered or filed trademarks of ams Group. All other company or
product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate
at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

end of announcement                         euro adhoc

issuer:       ams AG
              Tobelbader Strasse   30
              A-8141 Premstaetten
phone:        +43 3136 500-0
FAX:          +43 3136 500-931211
mail:         investor@ams.com
WWW:          www.ams.com
ISIN:         AT0000A18XM4
indexes:
stockmarkets: SIX Swiss Exchange
language:     English

Digital press kit: http://www.ots.at/pressemappe/2901/aom

Rückfragehinweis:
Moritz M. Gmeiner
Vice President Investor Relations
Tel: +43 3136 500-31211
Fax: +43 3136 500-931211
Email: investor@ams.com

The content and accuracy of news releases published on this site and/or
distributed by PR Newswire or its partners are the sole responsibility of the
originating company or organisation. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the
accuracy of our services, such releases are not actively monitored or reviewed
by PR Newswire or its partners and under no circumstances shall PR Newswire or
its partners be liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of such
information. All information should be checked prior to publication.