November 3, 2022- Bain Capital, Security Trading Oy, Fennogens Investments S.A. and Corbis S.A form a consortium (the “Consortium”) for the purposes of the voluntary recommended public cash tender offer for all the issued and outstanding shares in Caverion Corporation. The announcement release with more detailed information is available at www.caverion.com/investors
Commenting on the Tender Offer, Ivano Sessa, Managing Director, Head of Industrial Vertical, Bain Capital & Halvor Horten, Managing Director, Head of Nordics, Bain Capital:
“We have followed Caverion closely for several years and believe that to ensure that the Company reaches its full potential, an extensive transformation plan under a period of private ownership is needed. To this end, we have formed a consortium that is exceptionally well-suited to support the successful transformation of the Company. Bain Capital has a strong track record of successfully developing and transforming industrial companies through a period of private ownership, including in the Nordic region. One of our core values revolves around partnerships with management teams to offer insights and expertise that challenge conventional thinking, helping to build great businesses and improve the way they operate and serve customers, while Security Trading, Fennogens and Corbis remain as core owners providing cultural and historical continuity. Together, this unique group of investors intends to invest a significant amount of time and capital resources to deliver its strategic initiatives, to pursue an ambitious investment program and to support the Company, its management and employees in the transformation and long-term development of the Company.”
Commenting on the Tender Offer, Mats Paulsson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Caverion:
“Over the past years, Caverion’s management and employees have strengthened the company’s profitability gradually year-by-year. In May this year we announced our updated strategy and targets until the end of 2025, including a renewed focus to grow sustainably and responsibly. I am proud of our dedicated employees, who are delivering high quality service to our customers. Our investment in our skilled people as well as digital innovation and energy management solutions will enable us to remain at the forefront of our industry. The interest from the Consortium underlines the relevance of our strategy. Nonetheless, the Board of Directors also recognizes that continued execution is required to realize the full potential of the business and to meet the targets, with the current socio-political and macro-economic environment creating a number of uncertainties. For our shareholders, the offer represents a substantial premium to Caverion’s share price and reflects a fair offer when considering our long-term prospects and targets due to the aforementioned risks.”
Commenting on the Tender Offer, Jacob Götzsche, President and CEO of Caverion:
“Since I joined Caverion, I have been very proud of the transformation that our organization has achieved and continues to do so. I believe that Caverion has come a long way and has truly built a strong foundation from which it can capitalize on its potential. Our innovative and industry-leading digital and energy management offerings are even more relevant in today’s complex environment. The offer made by the Consortium provides clear evidence that Caverion’s goal to achieve “Sustainable Growth” by delivering to our customers along the building’s lifecycle and assisting in their Smart Building and green transitions is an attractive strategy for the future. I believe that with the support and resources from Bain Capital and the Consortium we will be able to further accelerate our business and deliver value to all stakeholders. We at Caverion continue our daily work as usual, focusing on serving our customers and working together across the company.”
The Offer Price
The Offer Price is EUR 7.00 in cash for each Share validly tendered in the Tender Offer, subject to any adjustments as set out below.
The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately:
• 49.3 percent compared to EUR 4.69, i.e. the closing price of the Caverion share on Nasdaq Helsinki on November 2, 2022, the last trading day immediately preceding the announcement of the Tender Offer;
• 48.6 percent compared to EUR 4.71, i.e. the three-month volume-weighted average trading price of the Caverion share on Nasdaq Helsinki immediately preceding the announcement of the Tender Offer; and
• 49.9 percent compared to EUR 4.67, i.e. the six-month volume-weighted average trading price of the Caverion share on Nasdaq Helsinki immediately preceding the announcement of the Tender Offer.
The Offer Price has been determined based on 136,472,645 issued and outstanding Shares. Should the Company increase the number of Shares that are issued and outstanding on the date hereof as a result of a new share issue, reclassification, stock split (including a reverse split) or any other similar transaction with dilutive effect, or should the Company distribute a dividend or otherwise distribute funds or any other assets to its shareholders, or if a record date with respect to any of the foregoing occurs prior to any of the settlements of the completion trades (whether after the expiry of the offer period or any subsequent offer period), resulting in the distribution of funds not being payable to the Offeror, the Offer Price payable by the Offeror shall be reduced accordingly on a euro-for-euro basis.
The offer period under the Tender Offer is expected to commence on or about November 24, 2022, and to expire on or about January 12, 2023.
Recommendation by the Board of Directors of Caverion
The Board of Directors of Caverion, represented by a quorum comprising the non-conflicted members of the Board of Directors, has unanimously decided to recommend that the shareholders of Caverion accept the Tender Offer. The Board of Directors will issue its statement on the Tender Offer in accordance with the Finnish Securities Markets Act (746/2012, as amended, the “Finnish Securities Markets Act”) before the commencement of the offer period and it will be appended to the Tender Offer Document. The Board of Directors of Caverion received an opinion, dated November 3, 2022, of Caverion’s exclusive financial adviser, Bank of America Europe DAC, Stockholm branch (“BofA Securities”), to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, the Offer Price to be paid to holders of Shares (other than Security Trading, Fennogens and Corbis and their respective affiliates) pursuant to the Tender Offer, was fair from a financial point of view, to such holders, which opinion was based upon and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations and qualifications on the review undertaken as more fully described in such opinion. The opinion of BofA Securities was provided for the use and benefit of the Board of Directors of Caverion and does not constitute a recommendation as to how any holders of Shares should act in connection with the Tender Offer or any related matter. The complete opinion will be attached to the statement of the Board of Directors of Caverion.
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Markus Ehrnrooth, who is closely associated with two of the parties of the Consortium, Fennogens and Corbis, has not participated in any assessment or review of the implications of the Tender Offer by the Board of Directors or in any decision-making concerning the recommendation of the Board of Directors or the Combination Agreement. In line with the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Caverion, Markus Ehrnrooth has not participated in and has refrained from the work of the Board of Directors in Caverion during the pendency of the discussions between the Consortium and Caverion concerning the Tender Offer due to his material connections to and interests in the Offeror.
Support by certain shareholders of Caverion
Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Mandatum Life Insurance Company Limited and Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company, together representing approximately 15.4 percent of all outstanding Shares and votes in Caverion, as well as Antti Herlin, Hisra Consulting and Finance Oy and Autumn Spirit Oü, which are not part of the Consortium but are related parties to the Consortium members and together represent approximately 0.5 percent of all outstanding Shares and votes in Caverion, have irrevocably undertaken to accept the Tender Offer. These irrevocable undertakings may be terminated among other terms in the event that the Offeror withdraws the Tender Offer, or in the event that a competing offer is announced by a third party with a consideration of at least EUR 7.70 per share and the Offeror does not match or exceed the consideration offered in such competing offer within a certain period of time.
Together with the Shares directly held by the Consortium members, the irrevocable undertakings represent approximately 42.5 percent of all the Shares and votes in Caverion in aggregate.
About the Consortium
Bain Capital is one of the most experienced and successful private investment firms globally, having made more than 1,230 primary and add-on investments with approximately USD 160 billion assets under management. The firm has more than 620 investment professionals worldwide spread throughout its global network in Europe, Asia and North America. Bain Capital has made numerous successful and value-enhancing investments and exits in the Nordic region over the past years. Notably, the company led the successful take-private of Ahlstrom-Munksjö, a global leader in innovative and sustainable fiber-based materials, which was delisted from Nasdaq Helsinki last year. Further, from 2012 Bain Capital was the owner of Bravida, a leading Nordic technical installation and services provider, listing the business on Nasdaq Stockholm in 2015.
Security Trading is an investment company owned by the Antti Herlin family. As at the date of this announcement, Antti Herlin, Security Trading and Hisra Consulting and Finance Oy, which is a company fully owned by Security Trading, together hold approximately 15.43 percent of the Shares and votes in Caverion (excluding shares held in treasury by Caverion).
Fennogens is an investment company owned by the Georg Ehrnrooth, Henrik Ehrnrooth and Carl-Gustaf Ehrnrooth families. As at the date of this announcement, Fennogens holds approximately 10.38 percent of the Shares and votes in Caverion (excluding shares held in treasury by Caverion).
Corbis is an investment company owned by the Henrik Ehrnrooth family. As at the date of this announcement, Corbis holds approximately 1.27 percent of the Shares and votes in Caverion (excluding shares held in treasury by Caverion).
About Caverion
Caverion is a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Finland with its shares listed on the official list of Nasdaq Helsinki. Caverion is a Northern & Central European-based expert for smart and sustainable built environments, enabling performance and people’s well-being. Caverion offers expert guidance during the entire life cycle of buildings, infrastructure or industrial sites and processes: from design & build to projects, technical and industrial maintenance, facility management as well as advisory services. Caverion’s more than 14,000 professionals serve customers in 10 countries.
• The transaction will enable Caverion to undertake an extensive transformation to sustainably improve its long-term performance.
• The Consortium intends to support the development of the Company with significant financial resources and industrial expertise.
• Opportunity for Caverion Corporation’s shareholders to realize their investment in the Company at an attractive premium.
• The Consortium's existing shareholding combined with irrevocable undertakings to support the offer received from Caverion’s shareholders represent approximately 42.5 percent of Caverion’s outstanding shares in aggregate.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THIS RELEASE MAY NOT BE RELEASED OR OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE TENDER OFFER WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
THIS RELEASE IS NOT A TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT AND AS SUCH DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR INVITATION TO MAKE A SALES OFFER. IN PARTICULAR, THIS RELEASE IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND IS NOT AN EXTENSION OF THE TENDER OFFER, IN, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH AFRICA. INVESTORS SHALL ACCEPT THE TENDER OFFER FOR THE SHARES ONLY ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN A TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT. OFFERS WILL NOT BE MADE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE EITHER AN OFFER OR PARTICIPATION THEREIN IS PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR WHERE ANY TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT OR REGISTRATION OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS WOULD APPLY IN ADDITION TO THOSE UNDERTAKEN IN FINLAND.
THE TENDER OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW AND, WHEN PUBLISHED, THE TENDER OFFER DOCUMENT AND RELATED ACCEPTANCE FORMS WILL NOT AND MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED, FORWARDED OR TRANSMITTED INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS. IN PARTICULAR, THE TENDER OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO, OR BY USE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE OF, OR BY ANY MEANS OR INSTRUMENTALITY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION, TELEX, TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET) OF INTERSTATE OR FOREIGN COMMERCE OF, OR ANY FACILITIES OF A NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE OF, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH AFRICA. THE TENDER OFFER CANNOT BE ACCEPTED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY ANY SUCH USE, MEANS OR INSTRUMENTALITY OR FROM WITHIN, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR SOUTH AFRICA AND ANY PURPORTED ACCEPTANCE OF THE TENDER OFFER RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM A VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INVALID.