Scitex Commences $32 Million Self Tender Offer
15 May 2004 - 6:33AM
PR Newswire (US)
Scitex Commences $32 Million Self Tender Offer TEL AVIV, Israel,
May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scitex Corporation Ltd. (NASDAQ
& TASE: SCIX) announced today that it is commencing a
previously-announced self tender offer to purchase up to 5,643,739
of its ordinary shares for $5.67 per share (up to $32 million in
the aggregate), net to the seller in cash, less any required
withholding taxes and without interest. The initial period of the
tender offer and withdrawal rights are scheduled to expire at 5:00
p.m., New York time, or 12:00 midnight, Israel time, on Monday,
June 14, 2004, unless the initial period is extended by Scitex. As
required by Israeli law, if the conditions to the offer have been
satisfied as of the completion of the initial offer period, Scitex
will provide an additional period of four calendar days during
which shareholders may tender their shares. However, shareholders
will have no withdrawal rights during such additional four-calendar
day period. The tender offer is conditioned upon: (1) at least
3,226,381 ordinary shares, representing 7.5% of Scitex's voting
power, being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the
completion of the initial offer period, (2) as required by Israeli
law, at the completion of the initial offer period, the aggregate
number of shares tendered in the offer (excluding shares tendered
by our affiliates) being greater than the number of shares
represented by notices of objection to the offer, and (3) certain
other conditions specified in the Offer to Purchase relating to the
tender offer. The tender offer is not conditioned on the receipt of
financing. Scitex's two principal shareholders, Clal Industries and
Investments Ltd. (Clal) and Discount Investment Corporation Ltd.
(Discount), who currently hold, in the aggregate, approximately 44%
of Scitex's share capital, have informed Scitex of their intention,
subject to market conditions, to tender, an aggregate of
approximately 260,000 shares in the offer. As a result, Clal and
Discount will hold approximately 47% of Scitex's voting power if
the tender offer is consummated with the minimum required
participation of 7.5% of Scitex's voting power, and in excess of
50%, up to 50.6%, of Scitex's voting power if the tender offer is
fully subscribed. In addition, Clal and Discount, under applicable
Israeli law, may then purchase shares in the open market or through
private transactions, and not solely through a tender offer, to
further increase their stake in Scitex up to 90%. The complete
terms and conditions of the tender offer, including important U.S.
and Israeli income and withholding tax considerations relating to
the tender offer, are contained in the Offer to Purchase included
as an exhibit to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed
today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and
with the Israeli Securities Authority (ISA). American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company is the U.S. Depositary for the offer
and Clal Finance Batucha Investment Management Ltd. is the Israeli
Depositary for the offer. Scitex also announced that it intends to
effect its previously-announced cash distribution of approximately
$86 million to its shareholders following the completion of the
tender offer. Prior to the distribution, Scitex will issue a press
release announcing the final per share distribution amount, the
record date for shareholders entitled to receive the distribution
and the distribution date. Important Notice and Information
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE RELATING TO TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO
SCITEX'S SELF TENDER OFFER AND PLANNED CASH DISTRIBUTION TO
SHAREHOLDERS, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF AN APPROVAL OBTAINED FROM
THE ISRAELI TAX AUTHORITY THAT IMPACTS THE WITHHOLDING TAX RATES
APPLICABLE THERETO, IS INCLUDED IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE.
SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO REVIEW THIS DISCLOSURE CAREFULLY AND TO
CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM
OF TENDERING SHARES IN THE TENDER OFFER AND/OR RECEIVING THE
PLANNED CASH DISTRIBUTION. This is not an offer to buy or the
solicitation of an offer to sell any ordinary shares. The tender
offer that is described in this press release will only be made
through the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and related
tender offer documents. All shareholders should read the tender
offer materials, which are being filed today by Scitex with the SEC
and the ISA. Shareholders should read the tender offer materials
because they contain important information about the offer. The
tender offer materials and other filed documents are available at
no charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/ and on the
ISA's website at http://www.magna.isa.gov.il/, and will also be
made available without charge to all shareholders by contacting
MacKenzie Partners, Inc., the information agent for the tender
offer, at (212) 929-5500 or toll free (800) 322-2885. Shareholders
are urged to read these materials carefully before making any
decision with respect to the tender offer. Scitex Corporation Ltd.
Scitex shares trade on Nasdaq and The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under
the symbol "SCIX". For more information, please visit our Web site
at http://www.scitex.com/. Forward Looking Statements Except for
the historical information herein, the matters discussed in this
news release include forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements that are
based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond the
Company's control) may be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology, such as "may", "can be", "will", "expects",
"anticipates", "intends", "believes", "projects", "potential", "are
optimistic", "view" and similar words and phrases. Actual results
could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking
statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited
to, (1) risks in product and technology development, (2) market
acceptance of new products and continuing product demand, (3) the
impact of competitive products and pricing, (4) changes in domestic
and foreign economic and market conditions, (5) timely development
and release of new products by strategic suppliers, (6) the impact
of the Company's accounting policies, (7) risks relating to the
integration of new businesses, (8) uncertainty of outcome of
shareholders litigation, (9) uncertainty as to the completion or
timing of the self tender offer and the contemplated cash
distribution and (10) the other risk factors detailed in the
Company's most recent annual report and other filings with the US
Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by
law, the Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims,
any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions
which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the
occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances
after the date of such forward-looking statements. Scitex and the
Scitex logo are registered trademarks and registered service marks
of Scitex Corporation Ltd. Contacts Scitex Corporation Ltd. Yahel
Shachar Chief Financial Officer Tel: +972-3-607-5855 Fax:
+972-3-607-5884 E-mail: DATASOURCE: Scitex Corporation Ltd CONTACT:
Scitex Corporation Ltd.,Yahel Shachar, Chief Financial Officer,
Tel: +972-3-607-5855,Fax: +972-3-607-5884,E-mail:
Copyright