- Complementary offerings to provide customers with expanded range of
professional hygiene products and services
- Businesses will benefit from combined innovation, sales, and logistics
capabilities
- Enhances SCA’s Away-from-Home premium tissue portfolio, extends North
American footprint and production capacity
- Deal expected to generate annual synergies of approximately USD 40
million
Stockholm, Sweden and Mosinee, Wisconsin October 13, 2015--SCA (NASDAQ OMX
Stockholm: SCA), a leading global hygiene and forest products company, and
Wausau Paper Corp. (“Wausau Paper”) (NYSE: WPP), a North American Away-from-Home
tissue company, announced today that SCA will acquire Wausau Paper for USD 10.25
per share or total consideration of USD 513 million (approximately SEK 4.2
billion) in cash. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously
approved a definitive merger agreement. The merger consideration represents a
premium of 40.6% to Wausau Paper’s closing price on October 12, 2015 and a
premium of 11.3% to the Wausau Paper 52 week volume weighted average price. SCA
has funding available.
Wausau Paper is one of the largest Away-from-Home tissue companies in North
America. With approximately 900 employees, the company manufactures and markets
Away-from-Home towel and tissue products along with soap and dispensing systems
through its Artisan™, DublNature®, DublSoft® and EcoSoft® brands. Wausau Paper’s
advanced tissue technology with manufacturing flexibility enables it to produce
its towels and tissue entirely from recycled paper, which will further
contribute to SCA’s efforts to create environmentally-friendly products and
extend its sustainability commitment. The combined operations will provide
customers with access to a comprehensive portfolio of food service offerings and
premium tissue and washroom products. Following completion of the acquisition,
SCA will continue to honor Wausau Paper’s existing customer contracts and
programs.
“SCA is the world leading supplier of Away-from-Home tissue with the global
brand Tork®. The acquisition of Wausau Paper is an excellent strategic fit and
strengthens our presence in North America. The Wausau Paper product portfolio
complements SCA’s offerings in North America and gives us access to premium
tissue in that region. We expect the acquisition to generate benefits for SCA
and our customers,” says Magnus Groth, President and CEO, SCA.
“Our Board has undertaken a thorough process to explore all of Wausau Paper’s
options and has determined SCA’s offer creates substantial value and is in the
best interests of the company and its shareholders. This transaction is a
testament to our talented team of employees and the strong, focused company that
they have worked to create. Our customers will benefit from expanded products
and services from a company that shares similar values around customer service
and sustainability,” says Michael C. Burandt, Chairman and CEO of Wausau Paper.
Wausau Paper’s reported sales for the first half year 2015 amounted to USD 175
million (SEK 1.5 billion), EBITDA of USD 32 million (SEK 268 million) and
operating profit of USD 11 million (SEK 94 million). Wausau Paper’s reported
sales in 2014 amounted to USD 352 million (SEK 2.4 billion), EBITDA of USD 38
million (SEK 263 million) and operating profit of USD -3 million (SEK -19
million). On a pro forma basis, giving effect to the acquisition, SCA’s sales
for the full year 2014 would have increased from SEK 104.1 billion to SEK 106.5
billion. Pro forma operating profit for the full year 2014, excluding items
affecting comparability, would have been on a similar level and amounted to
approximately SEK 11.8 billion.
“This acquisition will benefit customers by providing access to the superior
sales, service, innovation and logistics that the combined business can provide.
It will expand SCA’s premium tissue and washroom assortment and give Wausau
Paper customers the ability to purchase products from SCA’s industry-leading
food service offerings - in essence offering customers a ‘one-stop shop’ for all
professional hygiene needs. Furthermore, we look forward to welcoming Wausau
Paper’s employees to the SCA family,” says Don Lewis, President, SCA Americas.
The acquisition is expected to generate annual synergies amounting to
approximately USD 40 million with full effect three years after closing.
Synergies are expected in sourcing, production, logistics, reduced imports,
increased volumes of premium products and reduced SG&A costs. The restructuring
costs are expected to amount to approximately USD 50 million.
The completion of the transaction is subject to Wausau Paper shareholder and
regulatory approvals. The Wausau Paper board will recommend that its
shareholders vote in favor of the acquisition by SCA. Closing is expected to
take place during Q1 2016.
BofA Merrill Lynch is serving as financial advisor to SCA and Morgan, Lewis &
Bockius LLP is serving as SCA's legal advisor. Evercore Group LLC is serving as
financial advisor to Wausau Paper and Shearman & Sterling LLP is serving as
Wausau Paper’s legal advisor.
Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. We make these forward-looking
statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements
of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or
developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the
future, including our statements relating to the proposed acquisition and its
anticipated benefits if consummated, are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are
reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and
industry conditions and trends affecting our business. However, whether actual
results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that, among other things, could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward
-looking statements, including the risk factors described in Wausau Paper’s
reports with the SEC, including Wausau Paper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and
subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the following:
Proposed Acquisition Risks and Uncertainties
• SCA’s business and the business of Wausau Paper may not be integrated
successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly
than expected;
• Expected combination benefits from the proposed acquisition may not be
fully-realized or realized within the expected time frame;
• Wausau Paper’s shareholders may not approve the acquisition;
• The regulatory approvals and any other required approvals in connection
with the acquisition may not be obtained on the proposed terms or on the
anticipated schedule;
• Revenues following the acquisition may be lower than expected; and
• Operating costs, customer loss and business disruption, including
difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or
suppliers, may be greater than expected following the acquisition.
New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements emerge from time to time, and it is not
possible to predict all such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or
combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from those contained
in any
forward-looking statement. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise.