Combination of Siltronic and GlobalWafers clears first important hurdles – minimum acceptance threshold reached and clearance from German Federal Cartel Office
The combination of Siltronic and GlobalWafers has cleared the first important hurdles. The minimum acceptance threshold of 50 percent of GlobalWafers' voluntary public tender offer was reached with 56,92 percent. The Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Siltronic AG had recommended that shareholders accept the tender offer at a price of 145 EUR per share in cash. Siltronic shareholders who have not yet accepted the voluntary public tender offer from GlobalWafers can still tender their shares until March 1, 2021, within the statutory additional acceptance period.
The German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) had also given its clearance for the business combination on February 9, 2021, as it saw no indications that competition in the wafer industry could be impeded by this transaction. In the view of the German Federal Cartel Office, semiconductor producers will have sufficient current and potential procurement alternatives after the business combination.
Siltronic and GlobalWafers have thus come closer to their goal of establishing one of the world's leading wafer producers capable of operating successfully in the global semiconductor market of the future. The product portfolios of both companies complement each other in many areas and form a strong basis to benefit from the long-term growth drivers in the wafer industry.
"Our starting point is very good: a strong combined product portfolio, technology know-how and many years of expertise in leading-edge technology of two complementary teams, as well as a competitive cost structure. Together we will serve our customers better," said Dr. Christoph von Plotho, CEO of Siltronic AG.
In a business combination agreement signed at the beginning of December, the two companies agreed on a guarantee for the German Siltronic sites and protection against compulsory redundancies for employees in Germany until the end of 2024. The social partnership with the German employee representatives and the existing collective bargaining agreements and works agreements will also be maintained. The Burghausen site will remain Siltronic's technology and R&D center. Sufficient investment budgets will be available to an appropriate extent in order to maintain and further develop existing production capacities. The established Siltronic brand will also be retained in the combined company.
Based on the binding commitments of GlobalWafers, Siltronic will continue to exist within the GlobalWafers Group as one of the technology leaders in the global wafer industry. Very good development opportunities will be created for the employees of both companies.
Siltronic and GlobalWafers expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2021 subject to the receipt of required merger control and foreign investment approvals.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of Siltronic’s Executive Board. Although we assume the expectations in these forward-looking statements are realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual figures to differ considerably from the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among other things, changes in the economic and business environment, variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services, and changes in corporate strategy. Siltronic does not plan to update the forward looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do so.
The contents of this press information refer equally to men and women. To aid readability, the male pronoun has been used (e.g. he/his).
