01/23/2019 9:10 a.m. CET
Today, the management board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has signed an invest-ment agreement with a strategic investor. Masterwork Group Co., Ltd. (Masterwork) based in the Chinese city of Tianjin intends to acquire a stake in Heidelberg in an amount of approx. 8.5 percent of Heidelberg's share capital by way of a cash capital increase from authorized capital with an exclusion of shareholders' subscription rights. The implementation of such capital measure is subject to approval by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG's supervisory board. The proposed capital increase provides the opportunity for Heidelberg to acquire a further strategic anchor shareholder with a long-term investment horizon as well as to strengthen its equity. Furthermore, in the context of pending negotiations Heidelberg will examine whether Heidelberg can significantly expand its long-standing strategic distribution partnership with Masterwork, China's largest manufacturer of die-cutters and hot-foil embossing machines. Thereby, Heidelberg aims to further enhance its market position in the growing area of packaging printing.
Subject to approval by the relevant bodies on both sides and the Chinese authorities, the corresponding capital measure is expected to be implemented by the end of the first calendar quarter 2019. The issue price of the new shares is set to be EUR 2.68. If the development of the market price significantly exceeds the envisaged issue price, there will be renegotiations taking into account the applicable statutory requirements. Heidelberg intends to use the funds received from the capital increase to accelerate its digital agenda (digitizing products, processes and business models, for example) and for the financing of the general business.
Further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 6222 82-67123
Fax: +49 6222 82-67129
E-mail: Thomas.Fichtl@heidelberg.com
Investor Relations
Robin Karpp
Phone: +49 6222 82-67120
Fax: +49 6222 82-99 67120
E-mail: robin.karpp@heidelberg.com
Important note:
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimations by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the Management Board is of the opinion that those assumptions and estimations are realistic, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the macro-economic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates, and in the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktieng-esellschaft gives no warranty and does not assume liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
