AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 7, 2003
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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ALCAN INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
CANADA 3334 NOT APPLICABLE
(State or other jurisdiction of (Primary Standard Industrial (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation Classification
or organization) Code Number)
1188 SHERBROOKE STREET WEST
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA H3A 3G2
TELEPHONE: (514) 848-8000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
Registrant's principal executive offices)
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ROY MILLINGTON, SECRETARY
ALCAN INC.
1188 SHERBROOKE STREET WEST
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA H3A 3G2
(514) 848-8000
(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of
agent for service)
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COPIES TO:
DONALD R. CRAWSHAW SCOTT D. MILLER
SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP
125 BROAD STREET 1870 EMBARCADERO ROAD
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004 PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94303
(212) 558-4000 (650) 461-5600
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and all other
conditions to the consummation of the transaction described herein have been
satisfied or waived.
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If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. [ ]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE OFFERING AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED(2) PER SHARE PRICE(3) REGISTRATION FEE(3)
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Alcan Common Shares, without nominal or par
value, together with Alcan Common Share
Purchase Rights(1)......................... 26,769,782 Not Applicable $632,780,900.11 $51,192
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(1) Each Alcan Common Share includes one right to purchase additional Alcan
Common Shares pursuant to Alcan's Shareholder Rights Plan, as described
under "Comparison of Shareholders' Rights." The value attributable to the
Alcan Common Share purchase rights, if any, is reflected in the market price
of Alcan Common Shares, and no separate consideration will be received for
these Alcan Common Share purchase rights.
(2) Based on (a)(i) 37,131,156 Pechiney Common Shares, nominal value E15.25 per
share, estimated to be held by U.S. persons as of the date hereof (including
Pechiney Common Shares underlying the outstanding American Depositary Shares
of Pechiney), and (ii) the exchange ratio of 3 Alcan Common Shares for every
5 Pechiney Common Shares pursuant to the offer, (b)(i) 490,968 Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights estimated to be held by U.S. persons as of the date
hereof, each exchangeable for Pechiney Common Shares at a ratio of 10
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights per Pechiney Common Share and (ii) the
exchange ratio of 3 Alcan Common Shares for every 50 Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights pursuant to the offer, and (c) an additional 4,461,630
Alcan Common Shares that may be resold in the United States following the
offer. Paragraphs (a) and (b) represent the number of Alcan Common Shares
issuable in exchange for all Pechiney securities held by U.S. persons upon
consummation of the offer assuming that 45% of the Pechiney Common Shares
and Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are held by U.S. persons. The Alcan
Common Shares are not being registered for the purpose of sales outside the
United States.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(f), and solely for the purpose of
calculating the registration fee, the registration fee was computed on the
basis of the market value of: (a) the total number of Pechiney Common Shares
estimated to be held by U.S. persons as of the date hereof (including
Pechiney Common Shares underlying Pechiney's outstanding American Depositary
Shares) to be acquired by Alcan upon the consummation of the offer if all of
such Pechiney Common Shares are acquired in the offer and based on the
average of the high and low prices of the Pechiney Common Shares reported on
Euronext Paris on July 1, 2003; (b) the total number of Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights estimated to be held by U.S. persons as of the date hereof
to be acquired by Alcan upon the consummation of the offer if all of such
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are acquired in the offer and based on the
average of the high and low prices of the Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
reported on Euronext Paris on July 1, 2003, and (c) an additional 4,461,630
Alcan Common Shares that may be resold in the United States following the
offer, less $949,171,350.16, the estimated maximum aggregate amount of cash
to be paid by Alcan in the offer in exchange for such securities.
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THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
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THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS
NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF
THESE SECURITIES, IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE
IS NOT PERMITTED OR WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION
UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.
PROSPECTUS U.S. OFFER TO EXCHANGE
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. DATED JULY , 2003.
(ALCAN LOGO)
OFFER TO EXCHANGE PECHINEY COMMON SHARES,
PECHINEY BONUS ALLOCATION RIGHTS, PECHINEY
OCEANES AND PECHINEY AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
We are offering to exchange:
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash for every 5 Pechiney Common
Shares;
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash for every 50 Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights (10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights being exchangeable
for one Pechiney Common Share);
- E81.70 in cash for each Pechiney OCEANE (obligations a option de
conversion en actions nouvelles et/ou d'echange en actions existantes);
and
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash for every 10 Pechiney American
Depositary Shares, or Pechiney ADSs (each Pechiney ADS representing
one-half of one Pechiney Common Share), tendered.
If you hold Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney
ADSs, then, in lieu of this mix of Alcan Common Shares and cash, you may make
the following elections with respect to the consideration you wish to receive:
- You may elect to receive 3 Alcan Common Shares for each 2 Pechiney Common
Shares, each 20 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or each 4 Pechiney ADSs
that you tender; or
- You may elect to receive E41 in cash for each Pechiney Common Share, each
10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or each 2 Pechiney ADSs that you
tender.
You are not required to make the same election for all of the Pechiney
securities that you tender, and you may make either of these elections for all
or some of the Pechiney securities that you tender. However, these elections are
subject to a proration and allocation procedure that will ensure that 40% of the
tendered Pechiney Common Shares (including, for the purposes of this
calculation, the Pechiney Common Shares underlying the tendered Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs) are exchanged for Alcan Common Shares and
60% are exchanged for cash (excluding the effect of the treatment of fractional
shares that would otherwise be issued). See "The Offers-Terms of the Offers" on
page 45.
The cash consideration payable in this offer will be paid in U.S. dollars
calculated by converting the applicable amount in euros into U.S. dollars using
the noon buying rate, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on
the business day prior to the settlement date.
In this prospectus, the Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation
Rights, Pechiney OCEANEs and Pechiney ADSs are referred to collectively as the
Pechiney securities.
THIS OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT , NEW YORK CITY TIME ON ,
2003, UNLESS IT IS EXTENDED OR UNLESS IT LAPSES OR IS WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THAT
TIME PURSUANT TO THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. YOU MAY WITHDRAW
ANY PECHINEY SECURITIES TENDERED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION.
Alcan's offer to acquire all of the outstanding Pechiney securities is being
made through two separate offers:
- a U.S. offer open to all holders of Pechiney securities who are located
in the United States, and
- a French offer open to all holders of Pechiney securities who are located
in France and to holders of Pechiney securities who are located outside
of France if, pursuant to the local laws and regulations applicable to
such holders, they are permitted to participate in the French offer.
These offers together are being made for all issued and outstanding Pechiney
securities, as well as for all Pechiney Common Shares that are held as treasury
stock and all Pechiney Common Shares that are or may become issuable prior to
the expiration of the offers due to the conversion of outstanding Pechiney
OCEANEs or the exercise of Pechiney stock options. The completion of the offers
is subject to certain conditions. For a discussion of the conditions, see "The
Offers -- Conditions Precedent." Subject to applicable law and regulation, we
reserve the right to modify or waive certain of these conditions in our
discretion.
Pechiney Common Shares are listed on Euronext Paris and quoted on SEAQ
International in London. Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney OCEANEs
are listed on Euronext Paris and Pechiney ADSs are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange. Euronext Paris has announced that Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
will no longer be listed after August 4, 2003.
Alcan Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"AL", the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AL.TO", the London Stock
Exchange under the symbol "ALq.L" and the SWX Swiss Exchange under the symbol
"AL.S". Alcan will apply to list its Alcan Common Shares on Euronext Paris,
subject to the successful completion of the offers.
This prospectus contains detailed information concerning the U.S. offer for
Pechiney securities and the proposed combination of Alcan and Pechiney. We
recommend that you read this prospectus carefully.
The Dealer Manager for the U.S. offer is Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
FOR A DISCUSSION OF RISK FACTORS THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN EVALUATING THIS
OFFER, SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 19.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFER OR HAS PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE
DISCLOSURE IN THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS PROSPECTUS HAS NOT RECEIVED THE VISA OF THE FRENCH COMMISSION DES
OPERATIONS DE BOURSE. ACCORDINGLY, THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO MAKE
OFFERS OR SALES IN FRANCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER DESCRIBED HEREIN.
THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN
OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OR PURCHASE OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT HERETO, IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE
IS NOT PERMITTED OR WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION
UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS , 2003
CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
Unless otherwise specified or if the context so requires:
- References in this prospectus to "ALCAN," the "COMPANY," "WE," "US" or
"OUR" refer to Alcan Inc., a Canadian corporation, and, where applicable,
its consolidated subsidiaries.
- References to "PECHINEY" refer to Pechiney, a French societe anonyme,
and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about
Alcan and Pechiney by reference and, as a result, this information is not
included in or delivered with this prospectus. Documents incorporated by
reference are available from us without charge. You may also obtain documents
incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the Securities Exchange
Commission Internet site at the URL (or "uniform resource locator")
http://www.sec.gov or by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the
information agent for these offers:
TO OBTAIN TIMELY DELIVERY OF THESE DOCUMENTS, YOU MUST REQUEST THEM NO LATER
THAN , 2003. For a list of those documents that are incorporated by
reference into this prospectus, see "Additional Information for
Securityholders -- Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" on page 109.
In addition, you may obtain additional information on Alcan and Pechiney from
various public sources. For a list of such sources, please see "Additional
Information for Securityholders -- Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference" on page 109.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESENTATION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION..... iii
Accounting Principles..................................... iii
Currencies................................................ iii
No Internet Site is Part of This Prospectus............... iii
Pechiney Information...................................... iv
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE OFFERS...................... v
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS................................................ 1
SUMMARY..................................................... 2
Alcan..................................................... 2
Pechiney.................................................. 2
Reasons for the Offers.................................... 3
Terms of the Offers....................................... 4
Summary Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data of
Alcan.................................................. 13
Summary Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data of
Pechiney............................................... 14
Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial
Information; Unaudited Pro Forma Combined
Capitalization......................................... 15
Comparative Per Share Market Information.................. 17
Summary Selected Comparative Historical and Pro Forma Per
Share Data............................................. 18
RISK FACTORS................................................ 19
THE OFFERS.................................................. 27
Reasons for the Offer..................................... 27
History of Alcan and Background of the Offers; Past
Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.... 31
Chronology of the Decision-Making Process for the
Offers................................................. 32
Financial Analysis of the Offers.......................... 34
Source and Amount of Funds................................ 44
Terms of the Offers....................................... 45
Conditions Precedent...................................... 47
Grounds for Withdrawing the Offers........................ 48
Expiration Date; Subsequent Offering Period............... 48
Compulsory Acquisition.................................... 49
Effect of the Offers on the Market for Pechiney
Securities............................................. 49
Fractional Shares......................................... 50
Procedures for Tendering Pechiney Securities.............. 51
Withdrawal Rights......................................... 55
Acceptance and Return of Pechiney Securities.............. 55
Delivery of Alcan Common Shares and Cash.................. 56
Fees and Expenses......................................... 56
Listing of Alcan Common Shares............................ 57
Treatment of Pechiney Stock Options and Pechiney Employee
Shareholding Plan...................................... 57
Future Dividend Policy of Pechiney........................ 57
Regulatory Approvals...................................... 57
Comparison of the Rights of Pechiney Shareholders and
Alcan Shareholders..................................... 57
Accounting Treatment...................................... 58
i
TAXATION.................................................... 59
Tax Consequences of Exchanging Pechiney Securities........ 60
Tax Consequences of Owning and Disposing of Alcan Common
Shares................................................. 63
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting.............. 65
INFORMATION ABOUT ALCAN..................................... 67
INFORMATION ABOUT PECHINEY.................................. 68
PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALCAN AND
PECHINEY.................................................. 70
REGULATORY MATTERS.......................................... 79
DESCRIPTION OF ALCAN'S SHARE CAPITAL........................ 83
Outstanding Series of Share Capital....................... 83
Description of Alcan Preference Shares.................... 83
Description of Alcan Common Shares........................ 84
COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHTS.......................... 85
ALCAN'S DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.................... 104
Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Alcan and
Pechiney............................................... 104
Additional Information Regarding Alcan's Directors and
Executive Officers..................................... 104
MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND DATA.............................. 105
Market Prices............................................. 105
Dividends................................................. 107
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES.................................. 108
EXPERTS..................................................... 108
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SECURITYHOLDERS.................. 109
Where You Can Find More Information....................... 109
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference........... 109
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION................................... 111
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
UNDER U.S SECURITIES LAWS................................. 112
WHO CAN HELP ANSWER MY QUESTIONS?........................... 112
ii
PRESENTATION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
ALCAN
Alcan prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with Canadian
generally accepted accounting principles, which differ in certain significant
respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States,
commonly referred to as U.S. GAAP. Please see Note 7 to Alcan's audited
consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2002 (the "2002 10-K"), which is incorporated by
reference into this prospectus, and Note 4 to Alcan's unaudited financial
statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003 (the "2003 First Quarter 10-Q"), which is also incorporated by
reference into this prospectus, for a description of the principal differences
between Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP as they relate to Alcan's consolidated
financial statements and for a reconciliation of certain relevant balance sheet
accounts, net income, comprehensive loss and accumulated other comprehensive
loss as of the dates and for the periods indicated.
PECHINEY
Pechiney prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles in France, which differ in certain
significant respects from U.S. GAAP. Please see Note 25 to Pechiney's audited
consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for
the year ended December 31, 2002 (the "2002 20-F"), which is incorporated by
reference into this prospectus, and the Appendix to the First Quarter Results
2003 filed with the SEC on Form 6-K on April 30, 2003, which is also
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a description of the
principal differences between French GAAP and U.S. GAAP as they relate to
Pechiney's consolidated financial statements and for Pechiney's condensed U.S.
GAAP financial statements and a reconciliation of consolidated net income and
shareholders' equity for the periods indicated.
CURRENCIES
In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise
requires:
- "$," "USD" or "U.S. dollar" each refer to the United States dollar;
- "E" or "euro" each refer to the euro, the single currency established for
participants in the European Economic and Monetary Union, or the EMU,
commencing January 1, 1999; and
- "CAN $" refers to the Canadian dollar.
Alcan publishes its financial statements in U.S. dollars, and Pechiney publishes
its financial statements in euros. This prospectus contains translations of some
euro amounts into U.S. dollars. These amounts are provided solely for your
convenience. Unless otherwise indicated, translations of euro amounts into U.S.
dollars were made at the rate of E1.00 = $1.1503, which was the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York noon buying rate on July 3, 2003. See "Exchange Rate
Information" for additional information regarding the exchange rates between the
U.S. dollar and the euro.
NO INTERNET SITE IS PART OF THIS PROSPECTUS
Each of Alcan and Pechiney maintains an Internet site. The Alcan Internet site
is at the URL http://www.alcan.com. The Pechiney Internet site is at URL
http://www.pechiney.com. Information contained in or otherwise accessible
through these Internet sites is not a part of this prospectus. All references in
this prospectus to these Internet sites are inactive textual references to these
URLs and are for your information only.
iii
PECHINEY INFORMATION
Alcan has included in this prospectus information concerning Pechiney known to
Alcan based on publicly available information (primarily filings by Pechiney
with the SEC and the French Commission des operations de bourse, or COB).
However, Alcan is not affiliated with Pechiney, and Pechiney has not granted
Alcan requested permission to have access to Pechiney's books and records or any
other non-public information regarding Pechiney. Therefore, non-public
information concerning Pechiney was not available to Alcan for the purpose of
preparing this prospectus. Publicly available information concerning Pechiney
may contain typographical or other errors. For example, the table on page 91 of
the 2002 20-F appears to contain an incorrect number for the line item of "net
cash used in investing activities" for the year ended December 31, 2002. Except
as discussed in the preceding sentences, Alcan has no knowledge that would
indicate that statements relating to Pechiney contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus are inaccurate or incomplete. However, Alcan was
not involved in the preparation of those statements and cannot verify them.
iv
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE OFFERS
Q: WHY IS ALCAN MAKING THESE OFFERS? (PAGE 27)
A: The purpose of the offers is to enable Alcan to acquire all of the
outstanding Pechiney securities. Alcan is pursuing its offers for Pechiney
because of the significant value-creating opportunities the offers present
to both Alcan and Pechiney shareholders. The transaction is intended to
enable Alcan to build upon its position as one of the world's leading
aluminum and packaging companies and to benefit from the combined entity's
enhanced scale, financial strength and technological resources as well as
its increased capability to serve customers worldwide. Alcan will also
benefit from a larger and more diversified low-cost global position in
primary aluminum production with opportunities for profitable growth, an
advanced aluminum fabricating business with facilities around the world and
a leading position in flexible packaging. The addition of Pechiney will
enhance Alcan's research and development and product and process development
capabilities across all of its business sectors.
Reflecting Alcan's significantly increased industrial presence in France,
Alcan intends to locate the global headquarters of the combined entity's
packaging business in Paris and has identified France as the headquarters
for its European primary aluminum business and the future global
headquarters for new cell technology development in primary aluminum. Alcan
is also considering the business logic relating to the possibility of
establishing the global headquarters of the aerospace and engineered
products group in France.
Alcan believes that its enhanced size and scope as a result of its
acquisition of Pechiney will enable it to capitalize on a greater variety of
strategic options. Alcan intends to continue pursuing value-maximizing
strategies consistent with its Value Based Management system through a
careful analysis of the expanded opportunity set that Alcan will benefit
from following the transaction.
The reasons for the offers and combination are described in greater detail
under "The Offers -- Reasons for the Offers" beginning on page 27.
Q: WHAT WILL I RECEIVE IF THESE OFFERS ARE COMPLETED? (PAGE 45)
A: If you tender Pechiney Common Shares, you will receive 3 Alcan Common Shares
and E123 in cash for every 5 Pechiney Common Shares you tender. If you
tender Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights, you will receive 3 Alcan Common
Shares and E123 in cash for every 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights (10
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights being exchangeable for one Pechiney Common
Share) you tender. If you tender Pechiney OCEANEs, you will receive E81.70
in cash for each Pechiney OCEANE you tender. If you tender Pechiney ADSs,
you will receive 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash for every 10
Pechiney ADSs (each Pechiney ADS representing one-half of one Pechiney
Common Share) you tender. The value of the consideration offered for each
Pechiney security is referred to as an "exchange ratio." The exchange ratios
will not change even if the market price of Alcan Common Shares or any of
Pechiney securities increases or decreases.
If you hold Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or
Pechiney ADSs, then, in lieu of the above mix of Alcan Common Shares and
cash, you may make the elections described in this paragraph with respect to
the consideration you wish to receive. If you prefer to receive Alcan Common
Shares, you may elect to receive 3 Alcan Common Shares for each 2 Pechiney
Common Shares, each 20 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or each 4 Pechiney
ADSs that you tender. If you prefer to receive cash, you may elect to
receive E41 in cash for each Pechiney Common Share, each 10 Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights or each 2 Pechiney ADSs that you tender. You are not
required to make the same election for all of the Pechiney Common Shares,
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs that you tender, and you
may make any of these elections for all or some of the Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs that you tender.
However, these election options are subject to a proration and allocation
procedure that will ensure that 40% of the tendered Pechiney Common Shares
(including, for the purposes
v
of this calculation, the Pechiney Common Shares underlying the tendered
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs) are exchanged for Alcan
Common Shares and 60% are exchanged for cash (excluding the effect of the
treatment of fractional shares that would otherwise be issued). See "The
Offers -- Terms of the Offers" on page 45. If holders of such Pechiney
securities elect to receive cash in exchange for more than 60% of the
tendered Pechiney Common Shares (including Pechiney Common Shares underlying
the tendered Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs), the amount
of cash that will be paid for each Pechiney Common Share, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Right and Pechiney ADS will be reduced pro rata for each holder
of such Pechiney securities (treating each 10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation
Rights or each 2 Pechiney ADSs as equivalent to each Pechiney Common Share).
If holders of Pechiney securities elect to receive Alcan Common Shares in
exchange for more than 40% of the tendered Pechiney Common Shares (including
Pechiney Common Shares underlying the tendered Pechiney Bonus Allocation
Rights and Pechiney ADSs), the number of Alcan Common Shares that will be
issued in exchange for each Pechiney Common Share, Pechiney Bonus Allocation
Right and Pechiney ADS will be reduced pro rata for each holder of such
Pechiney securities (treating each 10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or
each 2 Pechiney ADSs as equivalent to each Pechiney Common Share). This
adjustment procedure is described under "The Offers -- Terms of the
Offers -- Proration and Allocation Procedures" beginning on page 46.
The cash consideration payable in this offer will be paid in U.S. dollars
calculated by converting the applicable amount in euros into U.S. dollars
using the noon buying rate, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York, on the business day prior to the settlement date. Settlement is
currently expected to take place approximately 12 to 18 French trading days
following the expiration date of the offers.
No fractional Alcan Common Shares will be issued in connection with the
offers. Alcan will aggregate the fractional Alcan Common Shares that would
otherwise be issued to tendering holders of Alcan securities and arrange for
them to be sold on the market. You will receive a pro rata portion of the
net proceeds of this sale (converted, to the extent necessary, at the spot
rate of exchange into U.S. dollars) instead of any fractional Alcan Common
Shares that would otherwise have been issued to you.
Q: ARE THERE ANY CONDITIONS TO ALCAN'S OBLIGATION TO COMPLETE THESE OFFERS?
(PAGE 47)
A: Yes. Alcan's obligation to complete the offers is subject to the conditions
set forth on page 47, including the condition that valid acceptances, that
have not been withdrawn at the end of the offering period, in respect of
Pechiney securities representing more than 50% of the total share capital
and voting rights in Pechiney on the closing date, calculated on a fully
diluted basis (taking into account Pechiney treasury stock and the Pechiney
Common Shares underlying Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney OCEANEs, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights and all outstanding Pechiney stock options) are tendered
in this offer and in the French offer, on a combined basis. If this
condition is not met these offers will not be successful and will not be
completed. Thus, Alcan will not accept or pay for any Pechiney securities
tendered pursuant to this offer and will return your Pechiney securities to
you promptly thereafter. We may only waive this minimum tender condition on
or prior to the date that is five French trading days prior to the
expiration of the offer period. If this condition is not met the offers will
lapse.
In addition, the offers are conditional upon receipt of competition approval
from the European Commission under European Union merger control
legislation. In certain limited circumstances, a Member State of the
European Union may request that the European Commission refer to its
national competition authorities jurisdiction to review all or part of the
transaction. To the extent that jurisdiction to review all or part of the
transaction is referred by the European Commission to the competition
authorities of any Member States of the European Union ("Relevant National
Authorities"), the transaction is subject to receipt of approval from those
Relevant National Authorities. The offers are also conditional on
vi
an antitrust review by the Department of Justice and Federal Trade
Commission in the United States. If any of these reviewing authorities
determines that the transaction requires investigation that extends beyond
the relevant initial period of investigation (i.e., enter into a "Phase II
review"), the offers will lapse. Furthermore, the offers cannot close until
the transaction has been approved by the European Commission and the
Relevant National Authorities, if any, and until all applicable regulatory
waiting periods in the United States have been terminated or expired without
any action being commenced in any U.S. court seeking to prohibit the offers.
If the offers lapse because any of the conditions precedent are not met,
Alcan reserves the right to commence a new offer, or not to commence a new
offer, in its discretion. If the offers are withdrawn or lapse, the Pechiney
securities that you tendered will be promptly returned to you, without
interest or any other payment being due.
Q: WILL I KNOW WHETHER THE MORE THAN 50% MINIMUM SHARE CAPITAL AND VOTING
RIGHTS CONDITION HAS BEEN SATISFIED BEFORE MY RIGHT TO WITHDRAW PECHINEY
SECURITIES FROM THESE OFFERS EXPIRES? (PAGE 55)
A: No, under the terms of the offers, your withdrawal rights extend only to the
expiration date. The definitive results of the offers for Pechiney
securities will not be known until approximately nine French trading days
after the expiration date of the offer period.
Q: WHEN DO THESE OFFERS EXPIRE? (PAGE 48)
A: The offers will expire at , New York City time, on , 2003,
unless they are extended by the French Conseil des Marches Financiers, or
CMF, or unless they lapse or are withdrawn prior to that time on the basis
of the conditions of the offers described in this prospectus. You must
tender your Pechiney securities and deliver all required instructions and
documents before the expiration date in order to accept this offer.
Q: MAY ALCAN EXTEND OR TERMINATE THESE OFFERS OR CHANGE THEIR TERMS? (PAGE 48)
A: The tender period for these offers has been established by the CMF, which
solely determines whether or not to extend the offer period. Alcan may not
itself extend the offer period. If the offer period is extended by the CMF,
this offer will be likewise extended and you will have until the expiration
of this offer, as so extended, to decide whether to tender.
Pursuant to the laws and regulations applicable to the offers in France,
Pechiney's home jurisdiction and the primary market for its securities,
Alcan reserves the right to withdraw the offers (i) within five French
trading days following the date of the publication by the CMF of the offer
calendar for a competing offer for Pechiney or an increased bid by a
competing bidder, or (ii) with the prior approval of the CMF if, during
these offers, Pechiney adopts definitive measures that modify Pechiney's
substance ("modifiant sa consistance") or that render the offers irrelevant
("sans effet") under French law. In addition, as mentioned above, if the
conditions precedent of the offers are not satisfied, the offers will lapse.
Alcan is not permitted to change the terms of the offers, except under
certain conditions, such as the launch of a competing offer for Pechiney.
Subject to these restrictions, and in accordance with applicable law and
regulation, we reserve the right, at any time or from time to time, to
terminate these offers or to amend their terms in any respect, although we
do not currently intend to terminate these offers unless, in our reasonable
judgment, the conditions precedent to completion set forth in this
prospectus are not met.
If, through these offers, we acquire at least two-thirds of Pechiney's total
share capital and voting rights, or more than 50% if there is a concurrent
competing offer, we may elect, subject to applicable laws and regulations,
to provide a subsequent offering period. We have not, however, yet made a
final decision as to whether we will provide for a subsequent offering
period. As permitted by applicable law, we will promptly accept all
securities tendered during that subsequent offering period and we will
provide the same consideration being offered during this initial offering
period. Elections to receive all Alcan Common Shares or all cash in any
subsequent offering period will be subject to the same proration and
allocation procedures that apply to this initial offering
vii
period, to ensure that 40% of the Pechiney Common Shares (including Pechiney
Common Shares underlying the Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney
ADSs) tendered in the subsequent offering period are exchanged for Alcan
Common Shares and 60% are exchanged for cash.
Q: IF THE OFFERS FOR PECHINEY SECURITIES ARE SUCCESSFUL, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO
PECHINEY SECURITIES THAT WERE NOT TENDERED OR THAT WERE TENDERED BUT
SUBSEQUENTLY WITHDRAWN? DOES ALCAN INTEND TO "SQUEEZE OUT" FOR CASH OR OTHER
CONSIDERATION ANY PECHINEY SECURITIES THAT REMAIN OUTSTANDING FOLLOWING
COMPLETION OF THE OFFERS? (PAGE 49)
A: The purpose of the offers is to enable Alcan to acquire all of the
outstanding Pechiney securities. If Alcan acquires less than all Pechiney
securities pursuant to the offers, Alcan may exercise its statutory right,
to the extent available, and all other means legally available to it, to
acquire Pechiney securities not tendered. Alcan may also engage in
subsequent transactions with Pechiney to combine and integrate the two
businesses. The financial strategies and dividend policies of Pechiney
subsequent to a successful offer may differ from those that would be
followed by Pechiney if it remained an independent company.
If Alcan acquires at least 95% of the total share capital and voting rights
in Pechiney, Alcan may launch, to the extent permitted by French law, a
withdrawal offer or offers (offre publique de retrait), or "buy-out",
followed by a compulsory acquisition (retrait obligatoire), or
"squeeze-out", of the remaining Pechiney securities not held by Alcan.
Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY PECHINEY OCEANES OR PECHINEY BONUS ALLOCATION RIGHTS
IF I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS OFFER? (PAGE 49)
A: Any Pechiney OCEANEs that you do not tender in this offer will remain
convertible into Pechiney Common Shares unless Pechiney is merged with, or
absorbed by, another entity, which is not contemplated in connection with
these offers.
If Alcan acquires sufficient Pechiney Common Shares in the offers to cause
their delisting, then, pursuant to the terms of the Pechiney OCEANEs, the
holders of the Pechiney OCEANEs may require Pechiney to redeem the Pechiney
OCEANEs for a make-whole payment.
If Alcan acquires at least 95% of the total share capital and voting rights
in Pechiney, Alcan may, as noted above, launch a buy-out and a squeeze-out
of the remaining Pechiney securities not held by Alcan, including the
Pechiney OCEANEs. Also, if less than 10% of the number of issued Pechiney
OCEANEs remains outstanding following the consummation of these offers,
Alcan may cause Pechiney to redeem the remaining outstanding Pechiney
OCEANEs at the redemption price determined pursuant to the terms of the
Pechiney OCEANEs. This redemption price may be lower than the consideration
offered to holders of the Pechiney OCEANEs pursuant to these offers.
Similarly, any Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights that you do not tender in
this offer will remain exchangeable for Pechiney common shares. If Alcan
acquires at least 95% of the total share capital and voting rights in
Pechiney, Alcan may decide to launch a buy-out and a squeeze-out of the
remaining Pechiney securities not held by Alcan, including the Bonus
Allocation Rights.
Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY PECHINEY STOCK OPTIONS AND PECHINEY COMMON SHARES
HELD IN MY PECHINEY EMPLOYEE SHAREHOLDING PLAN ACCOUNT IF THESE OFFERS ARE
SUCCESSFUL? (PAGE 57)
A: Alcan has not had access to important information relating to Pechiney's
stock option plans and employee shareholding plans, including the terms of
these plans. If these offers are consummated, Alcan will determine the
treatment of stock options (including stock purchase options and stock
subscription options) and of Pechiney Common Shares held in the Pechiney
employee shareholding plan that could not be tendered.
Q: IF ALCAN ACQUIRES ALL THE PECHINEY SECURITIES IN THESE OFFERS, WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF ALCAN WILL BE OWNED BY FORMER HOLDERS OF PECHINEY SECURITIES?
(PAGE 47)
A: Assuming acceptance in full of Alcan's offers for the Pechiney securities,
the former holders of Pechiney securities would own approximately 12.7% of
Alcan's outstanding Common
viii
Shares, on a fully diluted basis, immediately after the offers.
After completion of these offers, you will hold securities of a company
larger than Pechiney. Accordingly, you will have lower ownership and voting
percentages of Alcan than you now have in Pechiney.
Q: WILL I RECEIVE MY 2003 DIVIDENDS OR INTEREST, OR DIVIDENDS OR INTEREST WITH
RESPECT TO LATER PERIODS, ON MY PECHINEY SECURITIES? (PAGE 55)
A: You will retain the dividend or interest rights associated with your
Pechiney securities after you tender them and, in any case, until we accept
them pursuant to this offer. Once the settlement of the offers has taken
place, we will become the owner of your Pechiney securities and will acquire
all rights associated with those securities. Pechiney has already paid its
declared dividend for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, and, as of
the date hereof, has not declared the payment of any dividends for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. If any dividends are declared on the
Pechiney Common Shares or Pechiney ADSs tendered in these offers before the
date on which we acquire ownership, the registered holder of those
securities as of the record date specified or applicable in connection with
such dividend declaration will receive the dividends. If any interest
becomes payable on the Pechiney OCEANEs tendered in this offer before the
date on which we acquire ownership, the registered holder of those
securities as of the record date specified in accordance with such interest
payment obligation will receive the interest.
Q: WILL I RECEIVE DIVIDENDS ON THE ALCAN SHARES I RECEIVE IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS OFFER? (PAGE 57)
A: The new Alcan Common Shares issued in connection with this offer will have
the same dividend and other rights as our other Common Shares. If any
dividends are declared on the Alcan Common Shares before the date on which
you acquire ownership pursuant to this offer, you will not be entitled to
receive those dividends. See "Market Price and Dividend Data -- Dividends."
Q: WHAT IS ALCAN'S EXPECTED DIVIDEND POLICY AFTER THE OFFERS? (PAGE 57)
A: Alcan currently expects to continue to pursue a policy of paying quarterly
dividends on the Alcan Common Shares. The amount of such future dividends
will be determined by Alcan's board of directors in light of Alcan's
earnings from operations, capital requirements and financial condition.
Dividends paid on Alcan Common Shares held by non-residents of Canada will
generally be subject to Canadian withholding tax which is levied at the
basic rate of 25%, although this rate may be reduced depending on the terms
of any applicable tax treaty. For residents of the U.S. or France, the
treaty-reduced rate is currently 15%.
Q: WILL I BE SUBJECT TO TAX AS A CONSEQUENCE OF EXCHANGING MY PECHINEY
SECURITIES FOR ALCAN COMMON SHARES, FOR CASH OR FOR A COMBINATION OF BOTH?
(PAGE 59)
A: If you are a non-resident of France for French tax purposes, you will not be
subject to French tax on any capital gain or loss that you recognize upon
exchanging your Pechiney securities, unless you have a permanent
establishment or fixed base in France and the Pechiney securities exchanged
are part of the business property of that permanent establishment or fixed
base. The gain or loss, if any, generally will equal the difference between
the value of the Alcan Common Shares and any cash received and your tax
basis in your Pechiney securities exchanged.
If you are a non-Canadian holder (as defined in "Taxation" below), then you
will not be subject to Canadian federal tax on any gain that you realize
upon exchanging your Pechiney securities for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a
combination of both.
If you are a U.S. holder (as defined in "Taxation" below), you will be
subject to United States federal income tax on the gain or loss, if any,
that you recognize upon exchanging your Pechiney securities for Alcan
Common Shares, cash or a combination of both. You will generally recognize
gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market
value of any Alcan Common Shares plus any amount of cash that you receive
in the exchange and
ix
the U.S. dollar value of your adjusted tax basis in your Pechiney security
exchanged. Any such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss,
except that in the case of an exchange of a Pechiney OCEANE, any gain
attributable to accrued interest or market discount will generally be
treated as ordinary income and any gain or loss attributable to changes in
the U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate will generally be treated as ordinary
gain or loss. If you are a non-U.S. holder (also as defined in "Taxation"
below), you generally will be subject to United States federal income tax
only in very limited circumstances.
For detailed information on the French, Canadian and United States federal
income tax consequences of exchanging your Pechiney securities and of
holding Alcan Common Shares, see "Taxation" beginning on page 59.
Q: WHAT WILL BE THE ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF THE OFFERS? (PAGE 58)
A: The acquisition of the Pechiney securities will be accounted for using the
purchase method under both Canadian and U.S. GAAP. The unaudited pro forma
combined financial information set forth in this prospectus has been
prepared to demonstrate the possible outcome under U.S. GAAP. For a more
detailed description of the accounting treatment, please see "The
Offers -- Accounting Treatment" on page 58.
Q: I HOLD CERTIFICATES FOR PECHINEY ADSS. HOW DO I ACCEPT THIS OFFER? (PAGE 51)
A: If you hold certificates for Pechiney ADSs, complete and sign the letter of
transmittal and send it, together with your American depositary share
certificates and any other required documents, to the U.S. exchange agent
before the expiration of this offer. If your certificates are not available,
you may also follow guaranteed delivery procedures described in this
prospectus. Do not send your certificates to Alcan, the dealer manager or
the information agent.
Q: I HOLD PECHINEY ADSS IN BOOK-ENTRY FORM. HOW DO I ACCEPT THIS OFFER? (PAGE
51)
A: If you hold Pechiney ADSs in book-entry form, complete the confirmation of a
book-entry transfer of your Pechiney ADSs into the U.S. exchange agent's
account at The Depository Trust Company, commonly known as DTC, and send
either an agent's message or a letter of transmittal and any other required
documents to the U.S. exchange agent before the expiration of this offer.
Q: I HOLD PECHINEY COMMON SHARES, PECHINEY BONUS ALLOCATION RIGHTS OR PECHINEY
OCEANES THROUGH A U.S. CUSTODIAN, SUCH AS A BROKER, BANK OR TRUST COMPANY.
HOW DO I ACCEPT THIS OFFER? (PAGE 53)
A: If you hold Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or
Pechiney OCEANEs through a U.S. custodian, you do not need to complete the
letter of transmittal. Instead, your U.S. custodian should either forward to
you the transmittal materials and instructions sent by the French financial
intermediary that holds the shares on behalf of the U.S. custodian as record
owner or send you a separate form prepared by the U.S. custodian. If you
have not yet received instructions from your U.S. custodian, please contact
your U.S. custodian directly. If your Pechiney securities are held in pure
registered form (nominatif pur), you will first have to request that your
shares be converted to administered registered form (nominatif administre).
Q: I HOLD PECHINEY COMMON SHARES, PECHINEY BONUS ALLOCATION RIGHTS OR PECHINEY
OCEANES THROUGH A FRENCH FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY. HOW DO I ACCEPT THIS OFFER?
(PAGE 53)
A: If your Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney
OCEANEs are held through a French financial intermediary, you do not need to
complete the letter of transmittal. Instead, your French financial
intermediary should send you transmittal materials and instructions for
accepting this offer before the last day of the acceptance period. If you
have not yet received instructions from your French financial intermediary,
please contact your French financial intermediary directly. If your Pechiney
securities are held in pure registered form (nominatif pur), you will first
have to request that your shares be converted to administered registered
form (nominatif administre).
x
Q: WILL I HAVE TO PAY ANY BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS OR TRANSACTION FEES? (PAGE 56)
A: Alcan will pay the brokerage fees and related value added taxes incurred by
Pechiney securityholders tendering into this offer, up to a limit of 0.3% of
the value of each Pechiney security tendered, and subject to a maximum
amount of E150 per account. Pechiney securityholders will not be reimbursed
for any brokerage fees in any event that the offer is withdrawn or lapses.
Financial intermediaries will be paid a fee, net of tax, of E0.50 per
Pechiney Common Share tendered into this offer, up to a maximum amount of
E200 per account. This fee will not be paid in the event that the offer is
withdrawn or lapses. For more information regarding brokerage commissions
and fees, see "The Offers -- Fees and Expenses."
Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF I CHANGE MY MIND AFTER I TENDER MY PECHINEY SECURITIES?
(PAGE 55)
A: You may withdraw your tender of Pechiney securities by providing the
exchange agent with written notice of your withdrawal at any time before the
expiration date, which has initially been set as , New York City time,
on , 2003, unless extended. If the expiration date is extended you may
also withdraw your securities during the extension period. If you change
your mind again, you can retender your securities by following the tender
procedures again before this offer expires.
Q: DO I NEED TO DO ANYTHING IF I WANT TO RETAIN MY PECHINEY SECURITIES? (PAGE
55)
A: No. If you want to retain your Pechiney securities, you do not need to take
any action.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF THE OFFERS LAPSE OR ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL? (PAGE 56)
A: If the offers for Pechiney securities are not successful, Alcan will return
your Pechiney securities to you promptly after determining the outcome of
the offers.
Q: WHEN WILL I KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THE OFFERS? (PAGE 55)
A: The CMF should publish the results of the offers for Pechiney securities on
a preliminary basis six or seven French trading days after the expiration
date and on a definitive basis not more than nine French trading days after
the expiration date of the offers. Alcan will issue a press release
announcing the results of the offers promptly after each announcement by the
CMF. We will file those press releases with the SEC.
Q: WHO CAN HELP ANSWER MY QUESTIONS? (PAGE 12)
A: If you have more questions about this offer, you should contact:
xi
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements concerning industry growth and other trend
projections, anticipated financial or operating performance, business and
financial prospects, strategies, objectives, goals, targets and synergies, and
the savings and benefits anticipated to be realized from the combination of
Alcan and Pechiney. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus are sometimes
preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes", "expects",
"estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "may", "could", "should", "will"
or similar expressions. Although Alcan's management believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable,
readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements by their nature
involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that will occur in the future. Many factors, in addition to those
discussed elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by
reference, could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from
the results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are
not necessarily limited to, those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors"
beginning on page 19 hereof, as well as, among other things:
- changes in global aluminum supply and demand conditions;
- changes in aluminum ingot prices;
- changes in raw materials costs and availability;
- changes in the relative values of various currencies;
- cyclical demand and pricing within the principal markets for Alcan's and
Pechiney's products;
- changes in government regulations, particularly those affecting
environmental, health or safety compliance;
- fluctuations in the supply of and prices for energy in the areas in which
Alcan or Pechiney maintains production facilities;
- the effect of integrating acquired businesses (including Pechiney) and
the ability to realize anticipated savings and benefits;
- potential catastrophic damage, increased insurance and security costs and
general uncertainties associated with the increased threat of terrorism
or war;
- the effect of international trade disputes on Alcan's or Pechiney's
ability to import materials, export its products and compete
internationally;
- relationships with, and financial and operating conditions of, customers
and suppliers;
- economic, regulatory and political factors within the countries in which
Alcan or Pechiney operate or sell products; and
- factors affecting Alcan's or Pechiney's operations, such as litigation,
labor relations and negotiations and fiscal regimes.
1
SUMMARY
To understand this offer and the businesses of Alcan and Pechiney more fully,
you should read carefully this entire prospectus and any documents incorporated
by reference into this prospectus, including the "Cautionary Statement
Concerning Forward-Looking Statements," "Risk Factors," Alcan's consolidated
financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, and Pechiney's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
ALCAN PECHINEY
We are a Canadian corporation and the parent Pechiney operates in two core businesses:
company of an international group operating the production of primary aluminum and
in many aspects of the aluminum and fabricated aluminum products and the
specialty packaging businesses. Our production of packaging materials.
operations include:
ALUMINUM: Pechiney's aluminum business is
- the mining and processing of bauxite, comprised of two segments: Primary Aluminum
the basic aluminum ore; Metal and Aluminum Conversion. Aluminum Con-
version includes the activities of four
- the refining of bauxite into alumina; divisions, which include activities
organized around industrial or commercial
- the generation of electricity for use goals shared in common:
in smelting aluminum;
- The Aerospace, Transport, Industry
- the smelting of aluminum from alumina; division;
- the recycling of process and - The Cans, Automotive, Standard Rolled
post-consumer aluminum; Products division;
- the fabrication of aluminum, aluminum - The Foil and Thin Foil/Specialty
alloys and non-aluminum materials into Products division; and
semi-finished and finished products;
- The Extrusions, Casting Alloys,
- the fabrication of aluminum and Automotive division.
non-aluminum engineered products;
PACKAGING: Pechiney's Packaging sector
- the production and conversion of includes the following activities:
specialty packaging and packaging
products for many industries including - Plastic Packaging;
the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, per-
sonal care and tobacco sectors; - Cebal Tubes Europe and Cebal Tubes
Americas;
- the distribution and marketing of
aluminum and packaging products; and - Cebal Aerosols;
- in connection with our alumina - Techpack International (TPI); and
operations, the production and sale of
industrial chemicals. - Pechiney Capsules.
We have a network of operations in 42 OTHER ACTIVITIES: Pechiney's other business
countries with approximately 54,000 also includes Ferroalloys and International
dedicated employees, a global customer base, Trade, where Pechiney operates the following
innovative products and advanced three lines of business: a worldwide network
technologies. of sales agencies, which markets products
manufactured by Pechiney and third parties;
For additional information about us, see a non-ferrous metal and other basic material
"-- Summary Selected Historical Consolidated trading operation; and the distribution of
Financial Data of Alcan" below and the Alcan semi-finished aluminum products.
documents incorporated by reference into
this prospectus. For additional information about Pechiney,
see "-- Summary Selected Historical
Our principal executive offices are located Consolidated Financial Data of Pechiney"
at 1188 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, below and the Pechiney documents
Quebec, Canada H3A 3G2, and our telephone incorporated by reference into this
number is 514-848-8000. prospectus.
2
Pechiney's principal offices are located at
7, Place du Chancelier Adenauer, 75116
Paris, France, and its telephone number is
33-1-5628-2000.
REASONS FOR THE OFFERS........ The purpose of the offers is to enable Alcan to
acquire all of the outstanding Pechiney
securities. Alcan is pursuing its offers for
Pechiney because of the significant
value-creating opportunities the offers present
to both Alcan and Pechiney shareholders. The
transaction is intended to enable Alcan to
build upon its position as one of the world's
leading aluminum and packaging companies and to
benefit from the combined entity's enhanced
scale, financial strength and technological
resources as well as its increased capability
to serve customers worldwide. Alcan will also
benefit from a larger and more diversified
low-cost global position in primary aluminum
production with opportunities for profitable
growth, an advanced aluminum fabricating
business with facilities around the world and a
leading position in flexible packaging. The
addition of Pechiney will enhance Alcan's
research and development and product and
process development capabilities across all of
its business sectors.
Reflecting Alcan's significantly increased
industrial presence in France, Alcan intends to
locate the global headquarters of the combined
entity's packaging business in Paris and has
identified France as the headquarters for its
European primary aluminum business and the
future global headquarters for new cell
technology development in primary aluminum.
Alcan is also considering the business logic
relating to the possibility of establishing the
global headquarters of the aerospace and
engineered products group in France.
Alcan believes that its enhanced size and scope
as a result of its acquisition of Pechiney will
enable it to capitalize on a greater variety of
strategic options. Alcan intends to continue
pursuing value-maximizing strategies consistent
with its Value Based Management system through
a careful analysis of the expanded opportunity
set that Alcan will benefit from following the
transaction.
3
TERMS OF THE OFFERS
CONSIDERATION................. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this prospectus and the related
letter of transmittal and form of acceptance,
we are offering to exchange:
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash
for every 5 Pechiney Common Shares;
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash
for every 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation
Rights (10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation
Rights being exchangeable for one
Pechiney Common Share);
- E81.70 in cash for each Pechiney OCEANE;
and
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash
for every 10 Pechiney ADSs (each
Pechiney ADS representing one-half of
one Pechiney Common Share) tendered.
If you hold Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs, then,
in lieu of this mix of Alcan Common Shares and
cash, you may make the following elections with
respect to the consideration you wish to
receive:
- You may elect to receive 3 Alcan Common
Shares for each 2 Pechiney Common
Shares, each 20 Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights or each 4 Pechiney
ADSs that you tender; or
- You may elect to receive E41 in cash for
each Pechiney Common Share, each 10
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or each
2 Pechiney ADSs that you tender.
You are not required to make the same election
for all of the Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs that
you tender, and you may make any of these
elections for all or some of the Pechiney
Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
or Pechiney ADSs that you tender. However,
these election options are subject to a
proration and allocation procedure that will
ensure that 40% of the tendered Pechiney Common
Shares (including, for the purposes of this
calculation, the Pechiney Common Shares
underlying the tendered Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs) are
exchanged for Alcan Common Shares and 60% are
exchanged for cash (excluding the effect of the
treatment of fractional shares that would
otherwise be issued). See "The Offers -- Terms
of the Offers" on page 45. If holders of such
Pechiney securities elect to receive cash in
exchange for more than 60% of the tendered
Pechiney Common Shares (including Pechiney
Common Shares underlying the tendered Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs), the
amount of cash that will be paid for each
Pechiney Common Share, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Right and Pechiney ADS will be
reduced pro rata for each holder of such
Pechiney securities (treating each 10 Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights or each 2 Pechiney ADSs
as equivalent to each Pechiney Common Share).
If holders of Pechiney securities elect to
receive
4
Alcan Common Shares in exchange for more than
40% of the tendered Pechiney Common Shares
(including Pechiney Common Shares underlying
the tendered Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
and Pechiney ADSs), the number of Alcan Common
Shares that will be issued in exchange for each
Pechiney Common Share, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Right and Pechiney ADS will be
reduced pro rata for each holder of such
Pechiney securities (treating each 10 Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights or each 2 Pechiney ADSs
as equivalent to each Pechiney Common Share).
This adjustment procedure is described under
"The Offers -- Terms of the Offers -- Proration
and Allocation Procedures" beginning on page
46.
The cash consideration payable in this offer
will be paid in U.S. dollars calculated by
converting the applicable amount in euros into
U.S. dollars using the noon buying rate, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York, on the business day prior to the
settlement date.
For legal and regulatory reasons, Alcan's
offers to acquire all of the Pechiney
securities are being made through two separate
offers:
-- a U.S. offer open to all holders of Pechiney
securities who are located in the United
States, and
-- a French offer open to all holders of
Pechiney securities who are located in
France and to holders of Pechiney securities
who are located outside of France if,
pursuant to the local laws and regulations
applicable to such holders, they are
permitted to participate in the French
offer.
The U.S. and French offers for Pechiney
securities are being made at the same time and
on the same terms and completion of the offers
are subject to the same conditions. This
prospectus covers only Alcan's U.S. offer for
Pechiney securities.
The U.S. offer will begin on , 2003 and
end at , New York City time (or
Central European time), on , 2003, unless
it is extended or it lapses or is withdrawn
prior to that time on the basis of the
conditions of the offers as described in this
prospectus. The French Conseil des Marches
Financiers, or CMF, may decide to extend the
offer period under certain circumstances
related to, among other things, the success of
the offers or the initiation of a competing
offer, in which case the U.S. offer period will
be likewise extended. You must tender your
Pechiney securities before the expiration of
the U.S. offer to participate.
If all of the Pechiney securities are tendered
and exchanged pursuant to the terms of these
offers, the current holders of Pechiney
securities will own approximately 12.7% of
Alcan's outstanding Common Shares, on a fully
diluted basis, immediately after the exchange
and the current Alcan shareholders will own
approximately 87.3% of Alcan's outstanding
Common Shares, on a fully diluted basis,
immediately after the exchange.
5
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.......... The offers are subject to the following
conditions precedent:
- Valid acceptances, that have not been
withdrawn at the end of the offering
period, in respect of Pechiney
securities representing more than 50% of
the total share capital and voting
rights in Pechiney, calculated on a
fully diluted basis, are tendered in
this offer and the French offer, on a
combined basis. For the purpose of
calculating whether this threshold has
been met, the numerator will include all
the Pechiney securities tendered in this
offer and the French offer, on a
combined basis, including all (i)
Pechiney Common Shares tendered and
Pechiney ADSs tendered (each Pechiney
ADS representing one-half of one
Pechiney Common Share), (ii) Pechiney
Common Shares underlying all tendered
Pechiney OCEANEs (taking into account
the number of Pechiney Common Shares
into which the tendered Pechiney OCEANEs
could be converted on the expiration
date of the offers), and (iii) Pechiney
Common Shares underlying all tendered
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights (each
10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
being exchangeable for one Pechiney
Common Share). The denominator for this
calculation will be comprised of
Pechiney's fully diluted share capital,
including all:
- issued and outstanding Pechiney Common
Shares and treasury stock held by
Pechiney;
- Pechiney ADSs (each Pechiney ADS
representing one-half of one Pechiney
Common Share); and
- Pechiney Common Shares underlying
Pechiney OCEANEs, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights, and all outstanding
Pechiney stock subscription options
(whether or not exercisable during the
offer period).
Under French law and regulations, Alcan
may only waive this minimum tender
condition on or prior to the date that
is five French trading days prior to the
expiration of the offer period. If this
condition is not met the offers will
lapse.
- The offers are also conditional upon
receipt of competition approval from the
European Commission and, to the extent
that jurisdiction to review all or a
part of the transaction is referred by
the European Commission to the national
competition authorities of any Member
States of the European Union ("Relevant
National Authorities"), receipt of
approval from those Relevant National
Authorities, as well as an antitrust
review by the Department of Justice and
Federal Trade Commission in the United
States. If any of these reviewing
authorities determines that the
transaction requires investigation that
extends beyond the relevant initial
period of investigation (i.e., enter
into a "Phase II review"), the offers
will lapse. Furthermore, the offers
cannot close until the transaction has
been approved by the European Commission
and the Relevant National Authorities,
if any, and until the waiting period
under the Hart-
6
Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 has been terminated or expired
without any action being commenced in any U.S. court seeking to prohibit the
offers.
If the offers lapse because any of the
conditions precedent are not met, Alcan
reserves the right to commence a new offer, or
not to commence a new offer, in its discretion.
If the offers are withdrawn or lapse, the
Pechiney securities that you tendered in this
offer will be promptly returned to you, without
interest or any other payment being due.
GROUNDS FOR WITHDRAWING THE
OFFERS........................ In accordance with French law and regulation,
Alcan reserves the right to withdraw the
offers:
- within five French trading days
following the date of the publication by
the CMF of the offer calendar for a
competing offer for Pechiney or an
increased bid by a competing bidder; or
- with the prior approval of the CMF if,
during the exercise period of these
offers, Pechiney adopts definitive
measures that modify Pechiney's
substance ("modifiant sa consistance")
or that render the offers irrelevant
("sans objet") under French law.
In addition, as mentioned above, if the
conditions precedent of the offers, including
the tender threshold and the clearance from
competition and antitrust authorities in Europe
and the United States, are not satisfied, the
offers will lapse.
Under French law, if, during the period of
these offers, another offer for Pechiney, or an
increased bid by a competing bidder, is
approved by the CMF, your tenders of Pechiney
securities will be deemed null and void. In
this event, in order to tender your Pechiney
securities in this offer, whether or not it has
been modified, you will be required to
re-tender your Pechiney securities.
If the offers are withdrawn or lapse, the
Pechiney securities that you tendered in this
offer will be promptly returned to you, without
interest or any other payment being due.
EXPIRATION DATE; SUBSEQUENT
OFFERING PERIOD............... The tender period for this offer has been
established by the CMF, which solely determines
whether or not to extend the offer period.
Alcan may not itself extend the offer period.
This offer will expire at , New York City
time (or , Central European time) on ,
2003, unless the offer period is extended, or
unless the offer lapses or is withdrawn prior
to that time. The CMF may decide to extend the
offer period under certain circumstances
related to, among other things, the success of
the offer or the initiation of a competing
offer.
If, through this offer and the French offer, on
a combined basis, we acquire at least
two-thirds of Pechiney's total share capital
and voting rights, or more than 50% if there is
a concurrent competing
7
offer for the Pechiney securities, we may
elect, subject to applicable law and
regulations, to provide a subsequent offering
period of at least 10 days. We have not,
however, yet made a final decision as to
whether we will provide a subsequent offering
period. We will promptly accept all securities
tendered during that subsequent offering period
and we will offer the same consideration being
offered during this initial offering period.
Elections to receive all Alcan Common Shares or
all cash in any subsequent offering period will
be subject to the same proration and allocation
procedures that apply to this initial offering
period, to ensure that 40% of the Pechiney
Common Shares (including Pechiney Common Shares
underlying the Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
and Pechiney ADSs) tendered in the subsequent
offering period are exchanged for Alcan Common
Shares and 60% are exchanged for cash.
COMPULSORY ACQUISITION........ If Alcan acquires Pechiney securities
representing more then 95% of the total share
capital and voting rights in Pechiney, Alcan
may launch, subject to applicable law and
obtaining the requisite approvals, a withdrawal
offer or offers (offre publique de retrait), or
buy-out, followed by a compulsory acquisition
(retrait obligatoire), or squeeze-out, of all
remaining Pechiney securities not held by
Alcan, including all Pechiney Common Shares,
Pechiney OCEANEs, Pechiney Bonus Allocation
Rights and Pechiney ADSs.
MARKET FOR PECHINEY SECURITIES
AFTER THE OFFERS.............. If, as a result of these offers, there is no
longer an active trading market for the
Pechiney Common Shares or the Pechiney OCEANEs
and the liquidity of these Pechiney securities
is materially adversely affected, Alcan may
petition Euronext Paris to cause the delisting
of the Pechiney Common Shares and/or Pechiney
OCEANEs. Any such petition for delisting would
be subject to the approval of the French
Commission des operations de bourse, or COB.
Furthermore, subject to the completion of the
offers, Alcan intends to cause Pechiney to
terminate its deposit agreement with the
depositary for the Pechiney ADSs, and to
petition, or cause Pechiney to petition, the
New York Stock Exchange to delist the Pechiney
ADSs.
If Alcan acquires sufficient Pechiney Common
Shares in the offers to cause the delisting of
the Pechiney Common Shares, then, pursuant to
the terms of the Pechiney OCEANEs, the holders
of the Pechiney OCEANEs may require Pechiney to
redeem the Pechiney OCEANEs for a make-whole
payment. In addition, if less than 10% of the
number of issued Pechiney OCEANEs remains
outstanding following the consummation of these
offers, Alcan may cause Pechiney to redeem the
Pechiney OCEANEs at a redemption price
determined pursuant to the terms of the
Pechiney OCEANEs (such redemption price would
equal an amount that would provide the holder
of a Pechiney OCEANE with a return equal to the
gross yield to maturity that would have been
realized by such holder at maturity). This
redemption price
8
may be lower than the consideration offered to
holders of the Pechiney OCEANEs in these
offers.
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING
PECHINEY SECURITIES........... The procedure for tendering Pechiney securities
varies depending on a number of factors,
including (i) whether you hold Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights,
Pechiney OCEANEs or Pechiney ADSs, (ii) whether
you possess physical certificates or a
financial intermediary holds physical
certificates for you, (iii) whether you hold
your securities in book-entry form and (iv)
whether you hold your Pechiney securities
through a financial intermediary in the United
States or France. You should read carefully the
procedures for tendering your securities
beginning on page 46 of this prospectus as well
as the transmittal materials.
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS............. You will be able to withdraw your tender of
Pechiney securities at any time prior to the
expiration date. For withdrawal to be
effective, the exchange agent must receive,
prior the expiration of the offer period, a
timely written notice of withdrawal at its
address set forth on the back cover of this
prospectus. Withdrawn securities may be
retendered prior to the expiration of the offer
period by following the tender requirements set
forth below under "The Offers -- Terms of the
Offers -- Procedures for Tendering Pechiney
Securities" at page 46.
DELIVERY OF ALCAN COMMON
SHARES AND CASH............... In the event that these offers are successful,
the exchange agent will deliver Alcan Common
Shares and cash to tendering holders promptly
following the publication by the CMF of the
final results of the offers. The publication of
the results of the offers should occur
approximately six to nine French trading days
following the expiration date of the offers. If
the offers are consummated, settlement is
currently expected to take place approximately
12 to 18 French trading days following the
expiration date of the offers. The cash
consideration payable in this offer will be
paid in U.S. dollars calculated by converting
the applicable amount in euros into U.S.
dollars using the noon buying rate, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York, on the business day prior to the
settlement date.
COMPARISON OF THE RIGHTS OF
PECHINEY SHAREHOLDERS AND
ALCAN SHAREHOLDERS............ Depending on the consideration you elect and
the results of the proration and allocation
procedures, you may receive Alcan Common Shares
if you tender your Pechiney Common Shares,
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney
ADSs in this offer. There are numerous
differences between the rights of a shareholder
in Pechiney, a French societe anonyme, and the
rights of a shareholder in Alcan, a Canadian
corporation. We urge you to review the
discussion under "Comparison of Shareholders'
Rights" beginning on page 85 for a summary of
these differences.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT.......... The acquisition of the Pechiney securities will
be accounted for using the purchase method
under both Canadian and U.S. GAAP. Under the
purchase method, the cost of the purchase will
be based
9
on the cash paid to Pechiney securityholders,
the market value of Alcan Common Shares issued
to Pechiney securityholders, fair value of any
stock options of Pechiney replaced with stock
options of Alcan and the direct transaction
costs. In Alcan's consolidated financial
statements, the cost of the purchase will be
allocated to the Pechiney assets acquired and
liabilities assumed, based on their estimated
fair values at the acquisition date, with any
excess of the cost over the amounts allocated
being recognized as goodwill. This method may
result in the carrying value of assets,
including goodwill, acquired from Pechiney
being substantially different from the former
carrying values of those assets.
REGULATORY APPROVALS.......... Completion of the offers is conditional upon
receipt of regulatory approvals from the
European Commission and any Relevant National
Authorities to whom the Commission has referred
jurisdiction to review all or part of the
transaction and the U.S. antitrust authorities.
There can be no assurance that the necessary
approvals will be granted or that they will be
granted on favorable terms. It is possible that
certain regulatory approvals will be subject to
conditions and obligations, which may include
the disposal of certain significant assets or
businesses. It is possible that such conditions
and obligations will have a material effect on
certain of the financial assumptions upon which
the information in this prospectus is based. We
may choose to proceed with the offers even
though we are required to comply with such
conditions and obligations.
The offers are also subject to the prior
approval of France's Minister of the Economy,
Finance and Industry.
LISTING OF ALCAN COMMON
SHARES........................ Alcan Common Shares are currently listed on the
New York, Toronto, London and Swiss stock
exchanges. Alcan will apply to list its Alcan
Common Shares on Euronext Paris, subject to the
successful completion of these offers. Alcan
will also apply for the supplemental listing of
the Alcan Common Shares to be issued in these
offers on the New York, Toronto, Paris, London
and Swiss stock exchanges, and will comply with
all of the usual requirements of such exchanges
within the time periods specified by such
exchanges.
INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ALCAN
AND PECHINEY.................. Based on the number of Alcan Common Shares
issued and outstanding on June 30, 2003, the
directors and officers of Alcan, individually
and the group as a whole, held less than one
percent of the issued and outstanding Alcan
Common Shares.
Pechiney's 2002 20-F states that, as of
December 31, 2002, none of Pechiney's directors
and executive officers held Pechiney securities
that, combined with options to purchase
Pechiney Common Shares they held, would have
entitled them to beneficially own one percent
or more of any class of Pechiney securities.
10
MATERIAL FRENCH, CANADIAN AND
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE
EXCHANGE......................
French Taxation.......... If you are a non-resident of France for French
tax purposes, you generally will not be subject
to French tax on any capital gain or loss
recognized, for French tax purposes, as a
result of exchanging your Pechiney securities
for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a combination
of both, unless you have a permanent
establishment or fixed base in France and the
Pechiney securities exchanged are part of the
business property of that permanent
establishment or fixed base. The gain or loss,
if any, generally will equal the difference
between the value of the Alcan Common Shares
and any cash received and your tax basis in
your Pechiney securities exchanged.
Canadian Taxation........ If you are a non-Canadian holder (as defined in
"Taxation" below), then you will not be subject
to Canadian federal tax on any gain that you
realize upon exchanging your Pechiney
securities for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a
combination of both.
United States Federal
Income Taxation.......... If you are a U.S. holder (as defined in
"Taxation" below), you generally will recognize
gain or loss, if any, for United States federal
income tax purposes as a result of exchanging
your Pechiney securities for Alcan Common
Shares, cash or a combination of both. You will
generally recognize gain or loss in an amount
equal to the difference between the fair market
value of any Alcan Common Shares plus any
amount of cash that you receive in the exchange
and the U.S. dollar value of your adjusted tax
basis in your Pechiney securities exchanged.
Any such gain or loss will generally be capital
gain or loss, except that in the case of an
exchange of a Pechiney OCEANE, any gain
attributable to accrued interest or market
discount will generally be treated as ordinary
income and any gain or loss attributable to
changes in the U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate
will generally be treated as ordinary gain or
loss. Long-term capital gain of a noncorporate
U.S. holder currently is taxable at a maximum
rate of 15%.
If you are a non-U.S. holder (as defined in
"Taxation" below), you generally will not be
subject to United States federal income
taxation on any gain or loss recognized or on
the interest or other amounts of ordinary
income received in exchanging your Pechiney
securities. Exceptions, however, are described
under "Taxation -- Tax Consequences of
Exchanging Pechiney Securities -- United States
Taxation -- Non-U.S. holders" below.
THE EXCHANGE AGENT............ has been appointed exchange agent in
connection with this offer. The Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile copies thereof) and
certificates for Pechiney ADSs should be sent
by each tendering Pechiney securityholder or
his or her broker, dealer, bank or other
nominee to the exchange agent at the addresses
set forth on the back cover of this prospectus.
11
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE....... If you have questions or want copies of
additional documents, you may contact:
The information agent, , at
or
The dealer manager, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, at
1585 Broadway Avenue
New York, New York 10036
(212) 761-4000
12
SUMMARY SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF ALCAN
The following statements of income data for each of the three years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 2002 and the balance sheet data at December
31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 have been derived from Alcan's consolidated financial
statements incorporated by reference into this document, which have been audited
by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.
The statement of income data for each of the three-month periods ended March 31,
2003 and 2002 and the balance sheet data at March 31, 2003 have been derived
from Alcan's unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003, which have been incorporated by reference into this document.
Balance sheet data at March 31, 2002 has been derived from Alcan's unaudited
consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, which
have not been incorporated by reference into this document.
You should read the data below in conjunction with Alcan's consolidated
financial statements (including the notes thereto) and Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Alcan 2002
10-K and Alcan's 2003 First Quarter 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference
into this document.
Alcan reports its financial results in U.S. dollars and in conformity with
Canadian GAAP, with a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP. A description of the
principal differences between Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP as they relate to
Alcan's consolidated financial statements is set forth in Note 7 of the "Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements", included in Alcan's 2002 10-K and in Note
4 to the 2003 First Quarter 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------- --------------------------------------------
2003 2002 2002 2001 2000 1999(2) 1998(2)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- -------
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
CANADIAN GAAP INFORMATION(3)
Sales and operating revenues.............. 3,273 2,937 12,540 12,626 9,148 7,324 7,789
Net income................................ 13 86 374 2 610 448 400
Total assets.............................. 17,517 16,534(1) 17,538 17,458 18,389 9,839 9,948
Long-term debt (including current
portion)................................ 3,439 3,521 3,482 3,536 3,528 1,322 1,703
Other debt................................ 352 410 385 555 1,080 167 86
Cash and time deposits.................... 111 96 110 119 261 315 615
Shareholders' equity...................... 8,611 8,080(1) 8,625 8,770 9,009 5,531 5,566
Net income (loss) per Share............... 0.04 0.26 1.15 (0.02) 2.42 2.01 1.71
Cash dividends per Share.................. 0.15 0.15 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60
U.S. GAAP INFORMATION
Net income (loss)......................... (25) (595)(1) (336) (54) 606 455 417
Net income (loss) per Share............... (0.08) (1.86) (1.06) (0.19) 2.40 2.04 1.79
Total assets.............................. 17,728 16,580(1) 17,538 17,458 18,389 9,839 9,901
Shareholders' equity...................... 8,254 7,951(1) 8,291 8,570 9,005 5,550 5,561
---------------
(1) On January 1, 2002, Alcan adopted new accounting standards concerning
goodwill and other intangible assets. Beginning in 2002, goodwill is no
longer amortized but is subject to annual testing for impairment. For the
years 2001 and 2000, net income included amortization of goodwill amounting
to $73 and $16 million, respectively, in accordance with accounting
standards in effect prior to 2002. In addition, the March 31, 2002
information includes retroactive restatement of goodwill impairment of $748
million reported in Alcan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2002.
(2) Canadian GAAP information for the years 1999 and 1998 has been restated to
reflect the change in accounting policy, made in 2002, for exchange gains
and losses on the translation of long-term monetary assets and liabilities.
(3) The information above reflects the combination of Alcan and Alusuisse Group
AG on October 17, 2000. For the years 2001 and 2000 Canadian GAAP net income
per common share before amortization of goodwill was $0.21 and $2.47,
respectively.
13
SUMMARY SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF PECHINEY
The following statements of income data for each of the three years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 2002 and the balance sheet data at December
31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 have been derived from Pechiney's consolidated financial
statements incorporated by reference into this document. These financial
statements were accompanied by an audit report dated January 29, 2003, issued by
Pechiney's independent accountants, who have not yet consented to the use of
their report in this Registration Statement and may not consent to such use. The
statements of income data for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the
balance sheet data at December 31, 1999 and 1998 have been derived from
Pechiney's audited consolidated financial statements for those years, which have
not been incorporated by reference into this document.
The statement of income data for each of the three-month periods ended March 31,
2003 and 2002 and the balance sheet data at March 31, 2003 have been derived
from Pechiney's unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter
ended March 31, 2003, which have been incorporated by reference into this
document. Balance sheet data at March 31, 2002 has been derived from Pechiney's
unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31,
2002, which have not been incorporated by reference into this document.
You should read the data below in conjunction with Pechiney's consolidated
financial statements (including the notes thereto) and the "Operating and
Financial Review and Prospects" in Pechiney's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the
year ended December 31, 2002, as filed with the SEC on March 25, 2003, and in
Pechiney's Current Report on Form 6-K, dated April 30, 2003, which are
incorporated into this document by reference.
Pechiney reports its financial results in euros and in conformity with French
GAAP, with a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP. Pechiney also publishes condensed U.S.
GAAP information. A description of the principal differences between French GAAP
and U.S. GAAP as they relate to Pechiney's consolidated financial statements is
set forth in Note 25 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements"
included in Pechiney's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December
31, 2002, as filed with the SEC on March 25, 2003, and the Appendix to the First
Quarter Results 2003 filed on Form 6-K on April 30, 2003.
FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------- -----------------------------------------
2003 2002 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
----- ----- ------ ------ ------ ----- ------
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS OF EUROS EXCEPT PER SHARE AND PER ADS
AMOUNTS)
FRENCH GAAP INFORMATION
Net sales and other operating revenues........ 2,850 2,844 12,053 11,204 10,827 9,646 10,012
Net income (loss)............................. (2) 37 (50) 233 314 260 311
Total assets.................................. 8,230 8,793 8,234 8,683 8,073 7,687 9,282
Long-term debt (including current portion).... 1,483 988 1,504 1,008 765 1,076 1,932
Other debt.................................... 373 784 390 912 592 456 1,188
Cash and marketable securities................ 471 443 436 434 461 468 1,033
Shareholders' equity.......................... 2,969 3,332 3,014 3,395 3,273 3,026 2,624
Net income (loss) per Pechiney Common Share... (0.03) (0.47) (0.66) 2.92 3.90 3.17 3.80
Net income (loss) per Pechiney ADS............ (0.02) (0.23) (0.33) 1.46 1.95 1.58 1.90
Cash dividends per Pechiney Common Share...... -- -- 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.81 0.80
Cash dividends per Pechiney ADS............... -- -- 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.40 0.40
U.S. GAAP INFORMATION
Net income (loss)............................. 6 31 (4) 194 314 260 311
Net income (loss) per Pechiney Common Share --
Basic....................................... 0.07 0.39 (0.07) 2.43 3.90 3.17 3.80
Net income (loss) per Pechiney Common Share --
Diluted..................................... N.A. N.A. (0.07) 2.42 3.88 3.16 3.80
---------------
N.A. -- Information not available
In 1998 the consolidated financial statements were initially prepared in French
francs and then translated to euros using the official exchange rate of 6.55957
French francs per euro which was fixed on December 31, 1998. The comparability
of Pechiney's consolidated financial statements from one year to another is not
affected by the translation to euros.
14
SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION;
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CAPITALIZATION
The following selected unaudited pro forma combined financial information, which
gives effect to the offers, is presented in U.S. dollars and reflects the
combination of Alcan and Pechiney using the purchase method under U.S. GAAP. The
pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain
assumptions that Alcan believes are reasonable, including the assumptions that
pursuant to the offers:
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Common Shares are exchanged for Alcan
Common Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are
exchanged for every 5 Pechiney Common Shares;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are exchanged for
Alcan Common Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are
exchanged for every 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney OCEANEs are exchanged for cash. Each
Pechiney OCEANE is exchanged for E81.70;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney ADSs are exchanged for Alcan Common
Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are exchanged for
every 10 Pechiney ADSs;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney stock options are exchanged for Alcan
stock options; and
- the cash consideration paid in the offers is financed by additional Alcan
debt.
The selected unaudited pro forma combined financial information is presented for
illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating
results or financial condition of the combined entities that would have been
achieved if the offers had been completed during the periods presented, nor is
the selected unaudited pro forma combined financial information necessarily
indicative of the future operating results or financial position of the combined
entities. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information does not
reflect any cost savings or other synergies which may result from the
combination. The pro forma financial information does not reflect any special
items such as payments pursuant to change of control provisions or restructuring
and integration costs which may be incurred as a result of the acquisition.
Because Alcan has access only to publicly available financial information about
Pechiney's accounting policies, there can be no assurance that the accounting
policies of Pechiney conform to those of Alcan.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information does not reflect the
impact of undertakings that Alcan expects to make in order to address
competition concerns, as there are no current agreements providing for
implementation of such undertakings, which, however, are expected to be carried
out shortly after the completion of the offers. See "The Offers-Reasons for the
Offers -- Possible Undertakings to Meet Regulatory Concerns".
This selected unaudited pro forma combined financial information has been
derived from and should be read in conjunction with the "Pro Forma Combined
Financial Statements of Alcan and Pechiney" on page 70 and the related notes
included herein, and with the respective consolidated financial information of
Alcan and Pechiney as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2003, and as
of and for the year ended December 31, 2002, which are incorporated herein by
reference. All amounts are stated in U.S. dollars. This pro forma information is
subject to risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under "Risk
Factors -- Risks Relating to the Offers -- We Have Not Been Given the
Opportunity to Conduct a Due Diligence Review of the Non-Public Records of
Pechiney. Therefore, We May Be Subject to Unknown Liabilities of Pechiney which
May Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Profitability And Results Of
Operations" and "Risk Factors -- Risks Relating to the Offers -- We Have Not
Verified the Reliability of the Pechiney Information Included in, or
Incorporated by Reference into, this Prospectus."
As noted above, Alcan prepares its financial statements in accordance with
Canadian GAAP, and provides a reconciliation of such financial statements to
U.S. GAAP. Since Pechiney does not prepare Canadian GAAP financial information,
but does prepare a U.S. GAAP reconciliation of its financial statements, the pro
forma financial information herein is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
15
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED
MARCH 31, 2003 DECEMBER 31, 2002
-------------------- -------------------
(UNAUDITED AND IN MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS
EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)
Sales and operating revenues....................... 6,313 23,871
Income from continuing operations.................. 17 425
Basic net income per Common Share.................. 0.04 1.14
AS OF MARCH 31, 2003
--------------------------
(UNAUDITED AND IN
MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS)
Total assets................................................ 27,272
Long-term debt (including current portion).................. 4,247
Short term borrowings....................................... 3,788
Cash and time deposits...................................... 423
Shareholders' equity........................................ 9,783
UNAUDITED CAPITALIZATION
PRO FORMA
ALCAN COMBINED ENTITY
MARCH 31, 2003 MARCH 31, 2003
(US GAAP) (US GAAP)
-------------- ---------------
(UNAUDITED AND IN MILLIONS OF
U.S. DOLLARS)
Short term borrowings................................... 342 3,788
Debt maturing within one year........................... 286 496
Debt not maturing within one year....................... 3,043 3,751
------ ------
Total debt.............................................. 3,671 8,035
Minority Interest....................................... 135 300
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preference shares....................................... 160 160
Common shares........................................... 4,708 6,172
Retained earnings....................................... 3,462 3,462
Other................................................... (76) (11)
------ ------
Total shareholders' equity.............................. 8,254 9,783
CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION............................. 12,060 18,118
====== ======
16
COMPARATIVE PER SHARE MARKET INFORMATION
Alcan Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"AL", the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AL.TO", the London Stock
Exchange under the symbol "ALq.L" and the SWX Swiss Exchange under the symbol
"AL.S". Pechiney Common Shares are listed on Euronext Paris under the ISIN code
FR0000132904 and quoted on SEAQ International in London under the symbol
"PECHaq.L", Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are listed on Euronext Paris under
the ISIN code FR0000951634 and Pechiney ADSs are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "PY". The following table presents the closing market
prices per security for Alcan Common Shares, Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs in euros or U.S. dollars, as the case
may be:
- as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for Alcan Common Shares;
- as reported on the Euronext Paris for Pechiney Common Shares and Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights;
- as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for Pechiney ADSs.
In each case the prices given are, first, as of July 3, 2003 or July 4, 2003,
which was the last full trading day on the New Year Stock Exchange and on
Euronext Paris, respectively, prior to the public announcement of these proposed
offers and, second, as of , 2003, the most recent practicable trading day
prior to the date of this prospectus. See "Market Price and Dividend Data" on
page 105 for further information about historical market prices and average
daily trading volumes of these securities.
The following table also presents the implied equivalent closing market prices
per security for Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and
Pechiney ADSs in U.S. dollars. These prices were calculated by multiplying the
closing market prices per share of Alcan Common Shares by the exchange ratio of
3 Alcan Common Shares for every 5 Pechiney Common Shares, 3 Alcan Common Shares
for every 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and 3 Alcan Common Shares for
every 10 Pechiney ADSs, and then adding to those amounts the U.S. dollar
equivalent of the cash portion of the exchange consideration of E123 for every 5
Pechiney Common Shares, E123 for every 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and
E123 for every 10 Pechiney ADSs. In calculating the equivalent basis market
value per Pechiney security, euro amounts have been translated into U.S. dollars
at a rate of E1.00 = $1.1503, which was the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
noon buying rate on July 3, 2003.
EQUIVALENT BASIS MARKET VALUE
PECHINEY PER PECHINEY SECURITY
ALCAN --------------------------- -------------------------------
------ BONUS BONUS
COMMON COMMON ALLOCATION COMMON ALLOCATION
SHARES SHARES RIGHTS) ADSS SHARES RIGHTS ADSS
------ ------ ---------- ----- -------- ---------- -------
(NYSE) (EURO) (EURO) (USD) (USD) (USD) (USD)
------ ------ ---------- ----- -------- ---------- -------
July 3 or July 4, 2003, as
applicable...................... 31.46 34.70 3.79 19.27 47.17 4.72 23.59
, 2003......................
The market prices of Alcan Common Shares and Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs are likely to fluctuate prior to the
expiration date of these offers and cannot be predicted. We urge you to obtain
current market information regarding Alcan Common Shares and Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs.
17
SUMMARY SELECTED COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA
The following tables set forth certain historical per share data for Alcan and
Pechiney as well as unaudited pro forma and equivalent pro forma combined per
share data to reflect the combination of Alcan and Pechiney. The pro forma
adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that
Alcan believes are reasonable, including the assumptions that pursuant to the
offers:
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Common Shares are exchanged for Alcan
Common Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are
exchanged for every 5 Pechiney Common Shares;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are exchanged for
Alcan Common Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are
exchanged for every 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney OCEANEs are exchanged for cash. Each
Pechiney OCEANE is exchanged for E81.70;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney ADSs are exchanged for Alcan Common
Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are exchanged for
every 10 Pechiney ADSs;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney stock options are exchanged for Alcan
stock options; and
- the cash consideration paid in the offers is financed by additional Alcan
debt.
The summary selected comparative historical and pro forma per share data is
presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of
the operating results or financial condition of the combined entities that would
have been achieved if the offers had been completed during the periods
presented, nor is the summary selected comparative historical and pro forma per
share data necessarily indicative of the future operating results or financial
position of the combined entities.
This summary selected comparative historical and pro forma per share data has
been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the "Pro Forma Combined
Financial Statements of Alcan and Pechiney" on page 70 and the related notes
included herein, and with the respective consolidated financial information of
Alcan and Pechiney as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2003, and as
of and for the year ended December 31, 2002, which are incorporated herein by
reference. All amounts are stated in U.S. dollars. This pro forma information is
subject to risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under "Risk
Factors -- Risks Relating to the Offers -- We Have Not Been Given the
Opportunity to Conduct a Due Diligence Review of the Non-Public Records of
Pechiney. Therefore, We May Be Subject to Unknown Liabilities of Pechiney Which
May Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Profitability and Results of
Operations" and "Risk Factors -- Risks Relating to the Offers -- We Have Not
Verified the Reliability of the Pechiney Information Included in, or
Incorporated by Reference into, this Prospectus."
ALCAN
------------------------- PECHINEY(1)
HISTORICAL PRO FORMA ---------------------------
PER COMBINED PER HISTORICAL PER
COMMON COMMON COMMON HISTORICAL
U.S. GAAP INFORMATION SHARE SHARE SHARE PER ADS
--------------------- ---------- ------------ -------------- ----------
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2003
Net income (loss) from continuing operations.... $ 0.04 $ 0.04 $ 0.08 $ 0.04
Dividends(2).................................... $ 0.15 $ 0.15 -- --
Book value...................................... $25.16 $26.12 $41.05 $20.52
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
Net income (loss) from continuing operations.... $ 1.26 $ 1.14 $(0.07) $(0.03)
Dividends(2).................................... $ 0.60 $ 0.60 $ 1.05 $ 0.52
Book value...................................... $25.79 $ N/A $39.76 $19.88
---------------
(1) Euro amounts were translated using the average rate of each financial period
for "Net income from continuing operations." Euro amounts were translated at
period-end rate for "Dividends" and "Book value." For more information on
historical currency exchange rates see "Exchange Rate Information" on page
111.
(2) The Alcan pro forma dividends per share represent the historical per share
dividends paid by Alcan.
18
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the following risks and the risk factors
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with the other
information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus,
before making any decision concerning the terms of this offer or whether to
accept it. Any of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations, which could in turn
affect the price of our Alcan Common Shares.
RISKS RELATING TO THE OFFERS
INTEGRATION OF THE COMPANIES MAY FAIL OR DISRUPT OPERATIONS.
The anticipated benefits and synergies expected to result from the offers will
depend in part upon whether the operations of Alcan can be integrated in an
efficient and effective manner with those of Pechiney. Successful integration
will require the integration of various aspects of each company's business.
There can be no assurances as to the extent to which the anticipated benefits
expected to result from this integration will be achieved, if at all. The
ability to achieve these anticipated benefits could be more difficult in an
unsolicited transaction opposed by or not supported by the Pechiney board of
directors. Failure to successfully integrate the business organizations could
have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of the
operations of Alcan and result in the failure to achieve certain of the expected
benefits from the combination, including synergies and other operating
efficiencies. The integration of the business organizations could interfere with
the activities of one or more of the businesses of the companies which could
have material adverse effects on their operations. In addition, the integration
of the business organizations may involve a number of other risks, including the
diversion of management's attention from the day-to-day operations of each
company's business.
EVEN IF ALCAN CONSUMMATES THE OFFERS, THERE MAY BE A DELAY BEFORE ALCAN CAN
OBTAIN CONTROL OF THE MANAGEMENT OF PECHINEY.
In order for Alcan to take management control of Pechiney following successful
completion of the offers, Alcan will need to take control of the board of
directors of Pechiney. Pursuant to Article L. 225-103, II, 4 of the French
Commercial Code, if Alcan gains control of Pechiney pursuant to the offers,
Alcan may request the board of directors of Pechiney to convene a shareholders'
meeting with an agenda which will provide for the election of the directors. If
Pechiney's board of directors fails to convene such a shareholders' meeting,
Alcan is permitted, after a reasonable delay and notice to Pechiney's board of
directors, to convene a meeting for the election of directors. This meeting may
be held no sooner than 30 days after the publication of a notice announcing the
meeting in the French official legal gazette.
FIXED EXCHANGE RATIO WILL NOT REFLECT MARKET FLUCTUATIONS AND EXCHANGE RATES MAY
FLUCTUATE.
Pechiney securityholders are being offered a fixed number of Alcan Common Shares
and cash in the offers, rather than Alcan Common Shares with a fixed market
value and cash. The market values of Alcan Common Shares and the Pechiney
securities at the time of the completion of the offers may vary significantly
from the value at the date of this prospectus or the date that you tender your
Pechiney securities. Furthermore, currency exchange rates may fluctuate and the
prevailing euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate on the settlement date may be
significantly different from the exchange rate on the date of this prospectus or
the date that you tender your Pechiney securities. These changes may
significantly affect the value of the consideration you receive for tendered
Pechiney securities.
REGULATORY APPROVALS MAY NOT BE OBTAINED OR MAY IMPOSE ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND
OBLIGATIONS.
Completion of the transaction is conditional upon receipt of regulatory
approvals from the European Commission, Relevant National Authorities (if any)
to whom jurisdiction to review all or part of the transaction has been referred
by the European Commission, and the U.S. antitrust authorities. See "Regulatory
Matters" beginning on page 79. There can be no assurance that all necessary
approvals will be granted or that they will be granted on favorable terms. It is
possible that certain regulatory approvals will be
19
subject to conditions and obligations that adversely affect the financial
position or operations of Alcan, which could include the divestiture of certain
assets or business divisions or the imposition of obligations on Alcan that
restrict the manner in which it can carry on business. Should any such
divestitures or obligations be required and implemented, there could be a
material effect upon the business of Alcan or Pechiney. Although such material
effect could be negative, Alcan may nevertheless elect to proceed with the
offers as being in its best financial and strategic interests. In connection
with the offers, Alcan has held preliminary discussions with the European
Commission concerning the possibility that it may need to offer divestiture
and/or other remedies in order to obtain approval from the European Commission,
as described under "The Offers -- Reasons for the Offers -- Possible
Undertakings to Meet Regulatory Concerns" below. However, there can be no
assurance that any divestiture and/or other remedies that may be offered by
Alcan will be accepted by the European Commission or any other relevant
regulatory authorities with jurisdiction to review the transaction. Such
remedies may include operations that account for significant amounts of revenues
and net income for Alcan or Pechiney. Furthermore, Alcan may decide that
significant amounts of additional assets should be disposed of in connection
with such divestitures for various business reasons. There can be no assurance
that any divestitures ultimately required for regulatory reasons, or any related
divestitures, will not have a material adverse effect upon our business or
results of operations in the future.
Other jurisdictions throughout the world claim jurisdiction under their
competition or antitrust laws in respect of acquisitions or mergers that have
the potential to affect their domestic marketplace. A number of these
jurisdictions will have or claim to have jurisdiction to review the transaction.
Although Alcan does not anticipate that there will be any investigations or
proceedings in any jurisdiction that would have a material impact on the
completion of the offers or the operations of Alcan or Pechiney, there can be no
assurance that such investigations or proceedings, whether by governmental
authorities or private parties, will not be initiated and, if initiated, will
not have a material adverse impact on the completion of the offers or the
operations of Alcan or Pechiney.
ALCAN IS A CANADIAN CORPORATION, AND BEING A SHAREHOLDER OF A CANADIAN
CORPORATION INVOLVES DIFFERENT RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THAN BEING A SHAREHOLDER OF
A FRENCH CORPORATION.
Alcan is governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act and by its restated
articles of incorporation and by-laws. The Canada Business Corporations Act
extends to shareholders certain rights and privileges that may not exist under
French law and, conversely, does not extend certain rights and privileges that
shareholders of a company governed by French law may have. For a more detailed
comparison of the rights of Alcan shareholders versus the rights of Pechiney
securityholders, see our discussion in the section captioned "Comparison of
Shareholders' Rights" beginning on page 85.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT A DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW OF THE
NON-PUBLIC RECORDS OF PECHINEY. THEREFORE, WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO UNKNOWN
LIABILITIES OF PECHINEY WHICH MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR
PROFITABILITY AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
In commencing the offers and determining their terms and conditions, we have
relied solely and exclusively upon publicly available information relating to
Pechiney, including periodic and other reports for Pechiney as filed with or
furnished to the SEC on Form 20-F and Form 6-K, as well as Pechiney's 2002
Document de reference, as filed with the COB. We have not conducted an
independent due diligence review of any non-public information about Pechiney.
On July 7, 2003, we sent letters to Pechiney and to Pechiney's independent
public accountants, requesting, among other things, information and cooperation
with respect to our registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not had access to due diligence
materials or the management or independent public accountants of Pechiney. As a
result, after the consummation of our offers, we may be subject to unknown
liabilities of Pechiney, which may have a material adverse effect on our
profitability, results of operations and financial position, which we might have
otherwise discovered if we had been permitted by Pechiney to conduct a complete
due diligence review.
20
WE HAVE NOT VERIFIED THE RELIABILITY OF THE PECHINEY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN, OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO, THIS PROSPECTUS.
In respect of information relating to Pechiney presented in, or incorporated by
reference into, this prospectus, including all Pechiney financial information,
we have relied exclusively upon publicly available information, including
information publicly filed by Pechiney with securities regulatory authorities.
Although we have no knowledge that would indicate that any statements contained
herein based upon such reports and documents are inaccurate, incomplete or
untrue, we were not involved in the preparation of such information and
statements and, therefore, cannot verify the accuracy, completeness or truth of
such information or any failure by Pechiney to disclose events that may have
occurred, but that are unknown to us, that may affect the significance or
accuracy of any such information. Pechiney has not provided representatives of
Alcan access to Pechiney's accounting records and has not permitted its
independent public accountants to provide us with any information, including an
independent public accountants' consent. This lack of cooperation has required
adjustments and assumptions to be made with respect to Pechiney's financial
information in preparing the pro forma financial information regarding Pechiney
presented in this prospectus. For example, in preparing pro forma information
for the first quarter of 2003 we have relied upon the U.S. GAAP financial
information that Pechiney has furnished to the SEC, which did not reflect any
adjustments as a result of the implementation of SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for
Asset Retirement Obligations," which was effective on January 1, 2003. Any
financial information regarding Pechiney that may be detrimental to the combined
entity and that has not been publicly disclosed by Pechiney (e.g., any charges
related to implementation of SFAS No. 143), or errors in our estimates due to
the lack of cooperation from Pechiney, may have an adverse effect on the
benefits we expect to achieve through the consummation of the offers and may
result in material inaccuracies in the pro forma information included in this
prospectus.
CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFERS MAY RESULT IN ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES.
We have not had access to information concerning Pechiney's tax situation. It is
possible that the consummation of the offers may result in adverse tax
consequences arising from a change of ownership of Pechiney. The tax
consequences of a change of ownership of a corporation can lead to an inability
to carry-over certain tax attributes, including but not limited to tax losses,
tax credits and/or tax basis of assets. In addition, the change of ownership may
result in other tax costs not normally associated with the ordinary course of
business. Such other tax costs include, but are not limited to, stamp duties,
land transfer taxes, franchise taxes and other levies. The fact that Alcan is
unaware of information relevant to a determination of the potential tax
consequences and related costs represents an additional transaction risk.
THE OFFERS COULD TRIGGER CERTAIN CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENTS IN THE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENTS OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF PECHINEY'S SENIOR MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS CHANGE
OF CONTROL PROVISIONS IN OTHER CONTRACTS OF PECHINEY.
The employment agreements of certain members of the Pechiney senior management
and other employees may contain change of control clauses providing for
compensation to be granted in the event the employment of these employees is
terminated following the consummation of the offers, either by Pechiney or by
those employees. If successful, the offers would effect such a change of
control, thereby giving rise to potential change of control payments, which
could be substantial and which could materially adversely affect our results of
operations in the period they become payable. In addition, other contracts to
which Pechiney is a party may contain change of control provisions that could be
triggered by the completion of the offers, possibly resulting in termination of
those contracts or increased obligations or loss of benefits to Pechiney.
THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ALCAN COMMON SHARES FOLLOWING THE
TRANSACTION MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THEIR MARKET PRICE.
Upon completion of the offers for Pechiney securities, assuming that all
Pechiney securities are acquired, additional Alcan Common Shares, representing
up to approximately 14.5% of the current share capital of Alcan, will be
available for trading in the public market. The increase in the number of Alcan
Common
21
Shares may lead to sales of such shares or the perception that such sales may
occur, either of which may adversely affect the market for, and the market price
of, the Alcan Common Shares.
THE MARKET FOR PECHINEY SECURITIES MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE OFFERS.
If the offers for Pechiney securities are successful, the liquidity and market
value of the remaining Pechiney securities held by the public could be adversely
affected by the fact that they will be held by a smaller number of holders.
Depending upon the number of Pechiney securities acquired pursuant to the
Pechiney offers, following the completion of the offers the Pechiney ADSs may no
longer meet the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange for continued
listing and the Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and
Pechiney OCEANEs may no longer meet the requirements of Euronext Paris for
continued listing. Moreover, to the extent permitted under applicable law and
stock exchange regulations, Alcan may seek to cause the delisting of the
Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and
Pechiney OCEANEs on such exchanges.
If the New York Stock Exchange were to delist the Pechiney ADSs, or if the
Euronext Paris were to delist the Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights or Pechiney OCEANEs, the market for these securities could be
adversely affected. Although it is possible that the Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney
Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney OCEANEs would be
traded on other securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter market, and the
price quotations would be reported by such exchanges, or through the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or by other
sources, there can be no assurance that any such trading quotations will occur.
In addition, the extent of the public market for the Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney
Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney OCEANEs and the
availability of such quotations would, however, depend upon the number of
holders and/or the aggregate market value of the Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney OCEANEs, as the case may
be, remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in the Pechiney
ADSs, Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney
OCEANEs, as the case may be, on the part of securities firms and the possible
termination of registration of ADSs under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If such registration is terminated, Pechiney could cease filing periodic reports
with the SEC, which could further impact the value of the Pechiney ADSs. To the
extent the availability of such listings or quotations depends on steps taken by
Alcan or Pechiney, Alcan or Pechiney may or may not take such steps. Therefore,
you should not rely on any such listing or quotation being available.
RISKS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF ALCAN IF THE OFFERS ARE SUCCESSFUL
The business of Alcan is and will continue to be subject to a number of risks,
including those listed below. Certain of these risks may be increased by the
completion of the transactions and the acquisition of Pechiney.
INCREASED EXPOSURE TO CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS MAY ADVERSELY IMPACT
FINANCIAL RESULTS.
A substantial portion of Alcan's revenue is determined in U.S. dollars while a
significant portion of its costs related to those revenues are incurred in
Canadian and Australian dollars. Additionally, Alcan's earnings from its
European subsidiaries are substantially denominated in euros. Fluctuations in
exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and these currencies give rise to
currency exposure. This exposure is generally favorable to Alcan when the U.S.
dollar strengthens against the Canadian and Australian dollars and unfavorable
when it weakens. Conversely, Alcan is disadvantaged when the U.S. dollar
strengthens against the euro and is advantaged when it weakens. Where judged
appropriate, Alcan seeks to manage a portion of the impact of this risk by
entering into forward currency contracts and options, but such hedging
activities are limited in nature, may be costly and in any event do not normally
extend beyond three years and therefore will not eliminate a material portion of
the potentially significant adverse effect that exchange rate fluctuations could
have on Alcan's results of operations or financial condition over an extended
period. Following completion of the offers, Alcan will be exposed to additional
possibly offsetting currency exchange risk, primarily with respect to the
22
euro, as a much more significant amount of its revenues generated in Europe is
expected to be generated in U.S. dollars while a more significant portion of its
operating expenses related to those revenues is expected to be incurred in
euros. There can be no assurance that such currency exchange risks will not have
a materially adverse effect on Alcan's operating results in the future.
ALCAN WILL BE EXPOSED TO TRADING AND BROKERAGE RISKS.
Pechiney engages in substantial trading and brokerage activities. For example,
Pechiney's 2002 financial statements indicate that E5,036 million, or 42%, of
Pechiney's 2002 net sales resulted from its trading and brokerage operations.
Alcan does not have comparable operations and if the offers are consummated,
will be exposed to the risks of these businesses, including credit and
derivatives risks and the risk of significant losses if prices move contrary to
the expectations of Pechiney at the time the related contracts were entered into
and if Pechiney's risk management procedures prove to be inadequate. There can
be no assurance that the risks of Pechiney's trading and brokerage businesses
will not result in material losses to Alcan after consummation of the offers or
that such losses will not materially adversely affect Alcan's results of
operations, liquidity and financial position.
ALCAN WILL BE EXPOSED TO INCREASED MARKET AND CREDIT RISK IN DERIVATIVES.
Each of Alcan and Pechiney uses derivatives to hedge, among other things, its
exposure to changes in exchange rates, interest rates and metals prices. In
addition, Pechiney's trading activities involve extensive use of derivatives.
Alcan will accordingly be subject to significantly increased market and credit
risks relating to derivatives after completion of the offers.
ALCAN MAY BE EXPOSED TO INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS AND LIABILITIES.
Each of Alcan and Pechiney is subject to a broad range of environmental laws and
regulations in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. These laws and
regulations, as interpreted by relevant agencies and the courts, impose
increasingly stringent environmental protection standards regarding, among other
things, air emissions, wastewater storage, treatment and discharges, the use and
handling of hazardous or toxic materials, waste disposal practices, and the
remediation of environmental contamination. The costs of complying with these,
including participation in assessments and remediation of sites, could be
significant. In addition, these standards can create the risk of substantial
environmental liabilities, including liabilities associated with divested assets
and past activities. Currently, each of Alcan and Pechiney is involved in a
number of compliance efforts and legal proceedings concerning environmental
matters. Each of Alcan and Pechiney has established reserves for environmental
remediation activities and liabilities. However, environmental matters cannot be
predicted with certainty, and there can be no assurance that these amounts will
be adequate, especially in light of potential changes in environmental
conditions or the discovery of previously unknown environmental conditions, the
risk of governmental orders to carry out additional compliance on certain sites
not initially included in remediation in progress, and the potential liability
of each of Alcan and Pechiney to remediate sites for which provisions have not
been previously established. Such future developments could result in increased
environmental costs and liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on
Alcan's financial position and results of operations.
Some of Alcan's and Pechiney's current and potential operations are located in
or near communities that may now, or in the future, regard such operations as
having a detrimental effect on their social and economic circumstances. Should
this occur, the consequences of such a development may have a material adverse
impact upon the profitability or, in extreme cases, the viability of an
operation. In addition, such developments may adversely affect Alcan's ability
to enter into new operations in such location or elsewhere.
ALCAN WILL BE EXPOSED TO INCREASED POTENTIAL RISKS OF LOSSES FROM OPERATIONS IN
LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
After the offers Alcan will have increased operations in developing countries
which may be more vulnerable to risks of war, civil disturbances and adverse
governmental action, such as nationalization, re-negotiation or
23
nullification of existing contracts, leases, permits or other agreements,
changes in laws, policy and currency restrictions, as well as other
unanticipated risks, which may disrupt or impede operations and markets,
restrict the movement of funds, impose limitations on foreign exchange
transactions or result in the expropriation of assets. Certain of the countries
in which Alcan will operate have recently been subject to economic or political
instability, which could adversely affect operations in such countries.
ALCAN MAY BE EXPOSED TO RISKS RELATING TO CAPITAL PROJECTS OF PECHINEY.
Pechiney has announced its involvement in a number of significant capital
projects for which there is little available information to identify and
quantify commitments and to determine potential financial impact. These include,
for example, Pechiney's Coega smelter project in South Africa and its Bauxilum
bauxite and alumina project in Venezuela. If the offers are completed, there can
be no assurance that Pechiney's commitments with respect to these capital
projects will not materially adversely affect Alcan's results of operations in
the future.
ALCAN WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXPOSED TO VOLATILITY IN THE ALUMINUM INDUSTRY.
Alcan is a leading global producer of aluminum and aluminum fabricated products.
The aluminum industry is highly cyclical, with prices subject to worldwide
market forces of supply and demand and other influences. Prices have been
volatile historically and Alcan expects such volatility to continue. Although
Alcan uses contractual arrangements with customers, employs certain measures to
manage its exposure to the volatility of London Metals Exchange based prices and
is product and segment diversified, Alcan's results of operations could be
materially adversely affected by material adverse changes in economic or
aluminum industry conditions generally. Aluminum end use markets, including the
automotive and building and construction sectors, are also cyclical. When
downturns occur in these sectors, decreased demand for aluminum may result in
lower prices for Alcan's products and may have a material adverse effect on
Alcan's results of operations.
ALCAN'S OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXPOSED TO CHANGES IN CERTAIN ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS AND GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.
Economic and other factors in the many countries in which Alcan operates,
including inflation, fluctuations in currency and interest rates, competitive
factors, civil unrest and labor problems, could affect Alcan's revenues,
expenses and results of operations. Alcan's operations could also be adversely
affected by government actions such as controls on imports, exports and prices,
new forms of taxation, and increased government regulation in the countries in
which Alcan operates or services customers.
ALCAN'S OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DEPENDENT ON SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF
ENERGY.
Alcan consumes substantial amounts of energy in its operations. Although Alcan
generally expects to meet the energy requirements for its aluminum smelters and
alumina refineries from internal sources or from long-term contracts, the
following factors could materially adversely affect its results of operations:
the unavailability of hydroelectric power due to droughts, significant increases
in costs of supplied electricity, interruptions in energy supply due to
equipment failure or other causes or the inability to extend contracts upon
expiration on economical terms. In addition, aluminum smelters generally require
an uninterrupted supply of intense electrical energy, and any interruption of
more than a very short duration, whatever the cause, may have a major technical,
commercial and financial impact on the activities of the facility concerned.
Pechiney currently obtains a significant portion of its electricity requirements
under contracts with Electricite de France. There can be no assurance that Alcan
would be able to renew or replace these contracts on comparable terms following
their expiry.
If energy costs were to rise, or if energy supplies or supply arrangements were
disturbed, Alcan's profitability may decline, which could lead to a reduction in
any dividends or cause the trading prices of Alcan Common Shares to decline.
24
ALCAN'S PROFITABILITY WILL BE AFFECTED BY CHANGES IN THE COST AND AVAILABILITY
OF RAW MATERIALS.
The raw materials that Alcan uses in manufacturing its products include caustic
soda and calcined petroleum coke and resins. The prices of many of the raw
materials Alcan uses depend on supply and demand relationships at a worldwide
level, and are therefore subject to variation.
Prices for the raw materials Alcan requires may increase and, if they do, Alcan
may not be able to pass on the entire cost of the increases to its customers or
to offset fully the effects of higher raw material costs through productivity
improvements, which may cause its profitability to decline. In addition, there
is a potential time lag between changes in prices under Alcan's purchase
contracts and the point when Alcan can implement a corresponding change under
its sales contracts with its customers. As a result, Alcan cannot necessarily
protect itself from fluctuations in raw materials prices since during the time
lag period Alcan may have to temporarily bear the additional cost of the change
under its purchase contracts, which could have a temporary negative impact on
its profitability.
THE MARKETS FOR ALCAN'S PRODUCTS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.
The markets for aluminum and packaging products are highly competitive. In
addition, aluminum competes with other materials, such as steel, plastics and
glass, among others, for various applications in Alcan's key customer sectors.
The willingness of customers to accept substitutions for the products sold by
Alcan, the ability of large customers to apply buyer power in the marketplace to
affect the pricing for fabricated aluminum or packaging products or other
developments could affect Alcan's results of operations.
ALCAN MAY BE EXPOSED TO CHANGES IN THE BUSINESS OR FINANCIAL CONDITION OF ITS
SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS.
Certain of Alcan's businesses rely, to varying degrees, upon a relatively small
number of major customers for a significant portion of their sales. A
significant downturn in the business or financial condition of a significant
customer or customers supplied by Alcan could materially adversely affect
Alcan's results of operations in a particular period. In addition, although
Alcan believes it has good working relationships with these customers, if
Alcan's existing relationships with them materially deteriorate or are
terminated in the future, and Alcan is not successful in replacing business lost
to such customers, Alcan's results of operations may be harmed, which could
materially adversely affect our results of operations and lead to a reduction in
dividends and cause the trading prices of Alcan Common Shares to decline.
ALCAN MAY BE SUBJECT TO LIABILITY RELATED TO THE USE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN
PRODUCTION.
Alcan uses a variety of materials and chemicals in its manufacturing processes,
as well in connection with maintenance work on its manufacturing facilities. In
the event that any of these substances or related residues proves to be toxic,
Alcan may be liable for increased costs for health-related claims or removal or
re-treatment of such substances.
Although Alcan does not currently use asbestos or its derivatives as raw
materials in its manufacturing processes, there is some risk of asbestos
exposure associated with the existence of asbestos-containing materials in its
manufacturing buildings and equipment.
ALCAN MAY BE EXPOSED TO SIGNIFICANT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR INVESTIGATIONS.
Alcan's results of operations or liquidity in a particular period could be
affected by significant legal proceedings or investigations adverse to Alcan,
including product liability, health and safety and other claims.
ALCAN IS EXPOSED TO PREVAILING INTEREST RATES AND EQUITY MARKET RETURNS IN
CONNECTION WITH ITS PENSION PLANS.
Alcan sponsors defined benefit pension plans for its employees in Canada, the
United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and certain other countries.
Alcan's pension plan assets consist primarily of listed stocks and bonds. Its
estimate of liabilities and expenses for pensions and other post-retirement
benefits incorporate significant assumptions, including interest rates used to
discount future benefits and expected
25
long-term rates of return on plan assets. Alcan's results of operations,
liquidity or shareholders' equity in a particular period could be materially
adversely affected by equity market returns that are less than their expected
long-term rate of return or a decline of the rate used to discount future
benefits.
If the assets of Alcan's pension plans do not achieve expected investment
returns for any fiscal year, such deficiency would result in one or more charges
against earnings. In addition, changing economic conditions, poor pension
investment returns or other factors may require Alcan to make substantial cash
contributions to the pension plans in the future, preventing the use of such
cash for other purposes. For example, we recently made a significant
contribution to one of our Canadian defined benefit plans as a result of recent
poor investment performance.
ALCAN'S PAST AND FUTURE ACQUISITIONS OR DIVESTITURES MAY AFFECT ITS FINANCIAL
CONDITION.
Alcan has grown partly through the acquisition of other businesses. There are
numerous risks commonly encountered in business combinations and Alcan cannot
ensure that the Alcan management will be able effectively to integrate
businesses acquired, or generate the cost savings and synergies anticipated.
Failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on Alcan's costs, earnings
and cash flows.
As part of its strategy for growth, Alcan may continue to make acquisitions,
divestitures or strategic alliances. There can be no assurance that these will
be completed or be ultimately beneficial to Alcan.
NEW TECHNOLOGY MAY AFFECT ALCAN'S PROFITABILITY.
Alcan has invested in and is involved with a number of technology and process
initiatives. Several technical aspects of these initiatives are still unproven
and the eventual commercial outcomes cannot be assessed with any certainty.
Accordingly, the costs and benefits from Alcan's investments in new technologies
and the consequent effects on Alcan's future earnings and financial results may
vary widely from present expectations.
Alcan is committed to protecting its trade secrets and investing in research and
development in order to maintain the benefits of its technology in the future.
However, Alcan may not be able to protect, or continue to develop, some of its
proprietary technology in the future. In addition, Alcan may be subject to
litigation in the future regarding the use of proprietary technology that it has
developed.
ALCAN IS SUBJECT TO THE RISK OF UNION DISPUTES AND ADVERSE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS.
The majority of our hourly-paid employees are represented by labor unions under
a large number of collective labor agreements. There can be no assurance that we
will be able to satisfactorily renegotiate our collective labor agreements when
they expire. In addition, existing labor agreements may not prevent a strike or
work stoppage at our facilities in the future, and any such work stoppage could
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations.
26
THE OFFERS
REASONS FOR THE OFFER
Alcan is pursuing its offers for Pechiney because of the significant
value-creating opportunities the offers present to both Alcan and Pechiney
shareholders. The transaction is intended to enable Alcan to build upon its
position as one of the world's leading aluminum and packaging companies and to
benefit from the combined entity's enhanced scale, financial strength and
technological resources as well as its increased capability to serve customers
worldwide. Alcan will also benefit from a larger and more diversified low-cost
global position in primary aluminum production with opportunities for profitable
growth, an advanced aluminum fabricating business with facilities around the
world and a leading position in flexible packaging. The addition of Pechiney
will enhance Alcan's research and development and product and process
development capabilities across all of its business sectors.
Reflecting Alcan's significantly increased industrial presence in France, Alcan
intends to locate the global headquarters of the combined entity's packaging
business in Paris and has identified France as the headquarters for its European
primary aluminum business and the future global headquarters for new cell
technology development in primary aluminum. Alcan is also considering the
business logic relating to the possibility of establishing the global
headquarters of the aerospace and engineered products group in France.
Alcan believes that its enhanced size and scope as a result of its acquisition
of Pechiney will enable it to capitalize on a greater variety of strategic
options. Alcan intends to continue pursuing value-maximizing strategies
consistent with its Value Based Management system through a careful analysis of
the expanded opportunity set that Alcan will benefit from following the
transaction.
In 1999, Alcan, Pechiney and Alusuisse-Lonza Group AG, or "algroup", proposed a
three-way combination (referred to as the "proposed APA transaction"). At that
time, Alcan, Pechiney and algroup identified a series of compelling strategic
benefits in connection with that transaction. These included:
- a sustainable low-cost position in primary aluminum production,
- the combination of their aluminum fabrication offerings,
- the creation of a world leader in the packaging business,
- leadership in core smelting technology,
- substantial synergies arising from scale, plant optimization, elimination
of duplication, and implementing best practices throughout the merged
group.
The proposed APA transaction was conditional upon, among other things, receipt
of merger approval from the European Commission. The inability to resolve
certain transaction issues (including agreeing upon the undertakings that would
have been required in order to secure regulatory approval from the European
Commission) led Alcan, algroup and Pechiney to jointly terminate the APA
transaction. Alcan was, however, able to subsequently complete its acquisition
of algroup and achieve many of the anticipated benefits from the proposed APA
transaction. Alcan is convinced that the fundamental strategic logic of the
proposed APA transaction, which was endorsed at the time by Pechiney's then and
current CEO, remains valid and compelling.
In assessing the merits of the transaction, Alcan has taken into account its
past experience with, and the statements of, the European Commission at the time
of the proposed APA transaction and has considered the likelihood that Alcan
will need to commit to divesting, demerging or otherwise disposing of certain
businesses or operations in order to obtain approval from the European
Commission. Alcan has further considered the impact of its Value-Based
Management systems on its strategic outlook and believes that the substantial
benefits of its enhanced size and scope, financial strength and improved
strategic flexibility following completion of the transaction substantially
outweigh the likely impact of the undertakings that may be required in order to
obtain regulatory approvals and the other risks associated with the transaction.
The final determination of the undertakings that Alcan may be required to offer
in order to obtain regulatory approval will be made through dialogue with the
appropriate authorities and after careful assessment of the best
27
interests of Alcan's shareholders. To this end, Alcan has already initiated
confidential discussions with the European Commission on appropriate
undertakings to resolve the competition issues that the transaction will likely
raise in Europe. See "-- Possible Undertakings to Meet Regulatory Concerns"
beginning on page 30.
Alcan's assessment of the merits of the transaction also recognizes that the
respective markets served by Alcan and Pechiney and the outlook for each company
have changed significantly since 1999. These changes result from a variety of
factors, including a revised industry view of lower aluminum prices, the
deterioration in demand from the aerospace industry, the increase in the
relative value of the euro to the dollar, and continued pressure in the
packaging sector as a result of customer consolidation. Alcan has also taken
into account its successful integration of algroup, as well as the complementary
profit enhancement initiatives already underway at both Alcan and Pechiney.
Furthermore, since the acquisition of algroup, Alcan has also successfully
executed the acquisitions of 30% of the Gove alumina refinery, 40% of the
Alouette smelter and VAW's FlexPac packaging business.
BUSINESS PLANS AND EXPECTED BENEFITS OF THE TRANSACTION
Following the transaction, the combined entity will benefit from the
complementary strengths of Alcan and Pechiney. Total revenues of the combined
entity on a pro forma basis will be approximately $24 billion based on 2002
revenues and Alcan will employ approximately 88,000 employees in 50 countries
around the world. The aluminum and packaging business units will be among the
largest companies in their respective industries, operating on a global scale.
The expected benefits from this enhanced size and scope and Alcan's plans are
outlined below.
Alumina. Alcan will benefit from:
- an increased ownership position (from 20.4% to 41.4%) in Queensland
Alumina Ltd., the largest and one of the lowest cost alumina producers in
the world,
- the integration of geographically complementary bauxite mining and
alumina refining capacities, and
- opportunities to extend and improve the alumina production technology of
the two companies.
Primary Aluminum. Alcan expects to benefit from the combined entity's larger
low-cost position and opportunities for low-cost growth in primary aluminum
production based on, among other things:
- the increased scale, geographic diversification and integration of the
two companies' low cost smelting systems,
- increased opportunities to sustain and enhance Pechiney's strong position
in new cell, high-amperage smelting technology and to extend its
implementation,
- opportunities to extend the best manufacturing practices of each company,
including anticipated higher production efficiency through amperage
increases and improved cell operation, and
- an increased ability to evaluate and participate in value-creating
brownfield and greenfield smelting projects worldwide.
Fabricated Aluminum. Following the transaction, Alcan will further enhance its
position as a world leader in the fabricated and rolled aluminum products
businesses. The addition of Pechiney's fabrication operations will provide Alcan
with opportunities to:
- participate, with a strong global position in the specialized and
strategic aerospace market,
- better serve the increasing demand for aluminum applications in the
automotive industry, in both North America and Europe,
- build upon Pechiney's technology and know-how, by applying its enhanced
capabilities to the enlarged group's expanded operations, and
- increase productivity through global implementation of best practices and
the usage of the world-class rolling technologies of both companies.
28
Packaging. The combination of Alcan's and Pechiney's flexible and specialty
packaging businesses will create one of the largest packaging companies in the
world with a leading position in flexible packaging, complementary market
positions in North America and Europe and a strong range of value-added
products. Alcan intends to locate the global headquarters of the combined
entity's packaging business in Paris. The combined packaging business will
benefit from:
- a geographically balanced operating platform offering a higher value,
enhanced global range of packaging products,
- improved capabilities to serve the needs of multinational customers,
- a strong platform from which Alcan can actively pursue growth
opportunities in this global industry, and
- combining the combined entity's research and development activities and
best practices in developing new products and improving manufacturing
processes.
International Trade. The International Trading business of Pechiney will be
continued as a stand-alone operation for a transitional period. Alcan intends to
evaluate the value creation alternatives for this business, including the
possibility of incorporating it into Alcan's existing operations.
Technology. Following completion of the transaction, Alcan intends to continue
to actively support Pechiney's technology facilities with continued and enhanced
investments to further develop Pechiney's world leading technologies,
particularly in aluminum smelting. Specifically, Alcan plans to retain and
enhance Pechiney's research and development capabilities in France, where it has
established and nurtured a recognized center of excellence. In this regard,
Alcan has identified France as the future global headquarters of new cell
technology for primary aluminum.
Benefits to Customers. The industries that Alcan and Pechiney serve are
themselves consolidating and becoming increasingly global in the scope of their
operations. Their global and regional customers are seeking financially stable,
full-service suppliers with the scale and regionally-based facilities required
to meet their needs. Following the transaction, Alcan will be better positioned
to work with its customers on a global basis to address their needs by supplying
them with existing products as well as by efficiently developing new
technologies and applications to serve their expanding needs.
Aluminum customers will benefit from working with a company that has a
strengthened low-cost position, enhanced research and development and
technological capabilities and the capacity and geographic scope to address
customers' aluminum fabrication needs around the world.
Packaging customers will benefit from working with a company recognized as a
leading supplier in its key markets, with enhanced technological capability
allowing for product innovation and customer support.
ANTICIPATED COST SYNERGIES FROM THE TRANSACTION
Alcan's management currently estimates that combining Alcan and Pechiney will
generate approximately $250 million in annual cost synergies, on a pre-tax
basis, that will be substantially achieved within two years of the completion of
the offers. By way of comparison, Alcan realized synergies of approximately $200
million per year, pre-tax, compared to an initial target of $150 million, from
the successful integration of Algroup. This experience, as well as the
experience of both Alcan and Pechiney in their own cost reduction programs
initiated since the proposed APA transaction, support Alcan's synergy estimates
in this transaction although there can be no assurance that synergies ultimately
realized will not be higher or lower than this estimate, as discussed under
"Risk Factors" beginning on page 19. In order to realize these synergies, Alcan
currently estimates that it will incur approximately $200 million in costs and
expend $50 million in capital within two years of the completion of the offers.
The cost synergies are expected to be achieved from:
- selling, general and administrative expenses: cost savings realized by
combining corporate and head office services and trading, sales and
distribution staff support services;
29
- operations: operating cost savings realized through the optimization of
production facilities and the extension of production runs;
- logistics and purchasing: raw material, operating and capital cost
savings realized through leveraging project management, purchasing
requirements and supply chain issues on a larger scale;
- research and development: research and development cost savings realized
by focusing research facilities, technical services and information
technology; and
- capital expenditure programs: optimizing the timing and the sequence of
investments available to Alcan and Pechiney to maximize shareholder
returns on these investments.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINED GROWTH
Following the transaction, Alcan will have substantially greater financial
resources than either Alcan or Pechiney alone. Alcan and Pechiney had combined
pro forma 2002 total revenues of approximately $24 billion using the purchase
method of accounting under U.S. GAAP. See "Pro Forma Combined Financial
Statements of Alcan and Pechiney" beginning on page 70.
The transaction is anticipated to be accretive in year one to EBITDA, earnings
per share, free cash flow and return on capital employed. Looking forward, Alcan
also expects to meet or exceed its previously announced targets of 15% compound
annual growth in earnings per share, minimum free cash flow of $400 million per
year, and positive Economic Value Added by 2006.
Upon completion of the transaction, Alcan will have a debt to capital ratio
above its long-term target of 35%. Alcan expects to be able to reduce this ratio
to below its target within three years while maintaining its financial
flexibility to assure Alcan's growth.
Alcan has also considered the potential adverse impact and risks of the
transaction, including the increased management attention that will be required
to integrate Pechiney, the costs and covenants associated with the bank
facilities required to pay for the cash element of the consideration, the risks
generally applicable with respect to an investment in Pechiney and the risks
associated with an unsolicited acquisition where there are substantial
limitations on the pre-acquisition due diligence process and increased danger of
difficulties with Pechiney's management and employees. For a further discussion
of these risks and uncertainties, please see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 19
and the "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" on page 1.
POSSIBLE UNDERTAKINGS TO MEET REGULATORY CONCERNS
The completion of the offers and the subsequent combination of the businesses of
Alcan and Pechiney are subject to certain regulatory approvals, including, among
others, receipt of merger control approval from the European Commission. See
"Regulatory Matters" beginning on page 79.
In view of Alcan's experience in respect of the competition regulatory matters
and the competition issues that the offers may raise in certain European markets
(notably certain flat-rolled products, aluminum aerosol cans and aluminum
cartridges), Alcan has already held confidential preliminary discussions with
the European Commission to discuss the types of undertakings that Alcan may need
to offer in relation to these markets in order for the European Commission to be
able to approve the transaction at the end of its initial ("Phase I") review of
the transaction. If required, these undertakings will likely include the
divestiture of certain European businesses, operations or assets of Alcan and/or
Pechiney, to be implemented by way of sale, demerger or other transaction of
similar effect within a relatively short period of time after the completion of
the offers.
In relation to flat-rolled products, Alcan's interpretation of the position that
the European Commission took in relation to the market shares that would have
resulted from the proposed APA transaction is that the competition concerns
arose primarily from bringing under common ownership and control Alcan's
interest in AluNorf (a 50% interest in a rolling mill held through a joint
venture with Norsk Hydro ASA) and Pechiney's Neuf-Brisach rolling mill. Alcan is
therefore willing, if required by the European Commission, to undertake that
these two rolling mill assets (in each case, together with certain other related
rolling mill assets) will not
30
both be held under common ownership and control. Alcan believes that such an
undertaking would resolve the principal competition concerns that may be raised
in relation to the Western European flat-rolled products markets, although there
can be no assurance that the European Commission would not require Alcan to
modify this proposed commitment. In relation to rigid packaging products, Alcan
is prepared to undertake to divest or demerge certain businesses relating to
aerosol cans and aluminum cartridges to resolve any regulatory concerns.
Alcan anticipates that the businesses that will likely be subject to any
regulatory undertakings described above represent approximately 4% to 5% of
total pro forma revenues (based on 2002 revenues).
Although Alcan expects to offer these undertakings with a view to securing
regulatory approvals promptly, there can be no assurance that the European
Commission will accept any remedies that Alcan offers in order to secure
approval of the transaction. Furthermore, Alcan may be required to offer
additional undertakings in relation to other products.
EMPLOYMENT MATTERS
Alcan recognizes the value of Pechiney's employees. Alcan will strive to retain
Pechiney's critical human resources following completion of the transaction.
Industrial Operations. Alcan does not currently intend to make material changes
to Pechiney's existing industrial workforce, beyond those that are contemplated
by Pechiney's current strategic restructuring plans and closure or workforce
reduction announcements. Alcan is committed to keeping both Alcan's and
Pechiney's employees' representatives informed throughout the offer process.
Pechiney's Senior Management and Head Office. Alcan currently plans to maintain
Pechiney's existing senior management team and head office operations in place
for a transitional period, after which Alcan expects to be able to achieve
significant cost synergies by rationalizing Pechiney's corporate head office.
Alcan hopes to maintain Pechiney's office in Paris, although its activities and
its size may be significantly changed. Certain business functions will no longer
require as great a physical presence in Paris. Alcan intends, however, to locate
the headquarters of its global packaging and European primary aluminum
businesses in France. Alcan is also considering the business logic relating to
the possibility of establishing the global headquarters of its aerospace and
engineered product group in France.
If the offers are successfully completed, the structure of Pechiney's board of
directors will be modified to reflect Pechiney's new shareholder base.
Alcan knows and values the quality of Pechiney's senior management team and
hopes that a large number of Pechiney's executives will be involved in the
management of the combined entity. Alcan's integration of the management of
algroup is a tangible example of the success of the 1999 transaction, and
indicates the potential opportunities for Pechiney's employees. Alcan intends to
work with Pechiney's management team to maintain and enhance the continued
efficient operation of the companies' business.
CONTEMPLATED DIVIDEND POLICY
Pechiney Securities. Alcan is not in a position at this stage to state what
Pechiney's dividend policy will be in respect of Pechiney securities remaining
outstanding after the offer, but it is likely that such policy will be
determined in the context of Pechiney's integration into the combined entity.
This policy could bring about a large reduction in the level of dividends paid
by Pechiney, or even an end to dividends being paid at all.
Alcan Common Shares. The new Alcan Common Shares issued in connection with the
offer will have the same dividend and other rights as existing Alcan Common
Shares.
31
HISTORY OF ALCAN AND BACKGROUND OF THE OFFERS; PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS,
NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
The Proposed Alcan-Pechiney-algroup Three-way Combination
In September 1999, the Company entered into a three-way combination agreement
with Pechiney and algroup. The structure of the proposed combination involved
two independent offers of the Company's Shares, one for all of the outstanding
shares of Pechiney and the other for all of the outstanding shares of algroup.
On November 22, 1999, Alcan's shareholders approved the issuance of Alcan Common
Shares under the two independent offers.
On March 13, 2000, following months of intensive work and negotiations with the
European and U.S. competition authorities, the three companies notified the
European Commission that they were withdrawing their notification of the
Pechiney related merger proposal and formally abandoned that proposal.
The European Commission rejected the commitments that the parties proposed to
remedy the competition issues identified by the European Commission with respect
to the combined entity's share of certain European markets (including aluminum
beverage can body and end stock, aluminum food can sheet and certain packaging
products). The European Commission issued a press release on March 14, 2000 that
explained the competition issues identified by it and the reasons for its
rejection of the commitments proposed by the parties.
The offer by Alcan for the algroup shares was approved by the European
Commission on March 14, 2000, subject to certain divestitures. On October 17,
2000, the combination of Alcan and algroup was completed, with Alcan acquiring
over 99% of the shares of algroup pursuant to its offer. Alcan acquired the
remaining outstanding algroup shares in 2001, and caused algroup to be de-listed
from the SWX Swiss Exchange.
Alcan-Pechiney Relationships
Alcan, through its Australian subsidiary Alcan South Pacific Pty Limited, holds
a 21.4% equity interest in Queensland Alumina Limited ("QAL") in which Pechiney,
through its subsidiary Pechiney Resources Pty Limited, holds a 20% equity
interest. QAL operates an alumina refinery at Gladstone, Australia, as a
cooperative for the benefit of its shareholders. Each participant in the
refinery supplies bauxite for toll conversion into alumina.
Alcan and Pechiney respectively hold 33% and 10% of Halco (Mining) Inc., which
in turn holds 51% of Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee ("CBG"), with the
remaining 49% held by the Republic of Guinea. CBG's mine in the Boke region of
Guinea has an operating capacity of about 12.7 million tonnes of bauxite a year.
Alcan's Alma smelter in Quebec, Canada uses Pechiney's electrolytic reduction of
alumina technology (AP-30) pursuant to a technology license agreement entered
into as of March 27, 1997. The Alouette smelter, also in Quebec, in which Alcan
recently acquired a total 40% interest, uses the same technology. Alcan's
smelter at Lochaber, Scotland uses an older Pechiney electrolytic reduction
technology (AP-18).
Alcan and Pechiney operate the Copal aluminum slug plant at Beaurepaire, France,
as a production joint venture. Each party provides its own aluminum for
processing at cost. Slugs are used to make aluminum aerosol cans.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR THE OFFERS
On October 7, 2002, Mr. Engen, Alcan's President and Chief Executive Officer,
met Mr. Jean-Pierre Rodier, Pechiney's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in
Paris and discussed on an informal basis the interest each company might have in
a renewed combination transaction. The parties agreed to speak further.
On October 23, 2002, Pechiney and Corus Group plc ("Corus") announced that they
had agreed in principle on Pechiney's purchase of Corus' aluminum rolled
products and extrusions businesses. Pechiney's acquisition
32
of this business would have led to significant additional regulatory
complications in an Alcan combination with Pechiney.
On November 6, 2002, Messrs. Engen and Rodier met in London. Mr. Rodier stated
that Pechiney's current priority was the Corus acquisition and that,
consequently, Pechiney did not wish to continue discussions with Alcan on the
subject of a possible combination at that time.
On March 11, 2003, Corus announced that the supervisory board of Corus Nederland
NV, a subsidiary of Corus that owns Corus' aluminum businesses, had rejected the
sale of the aluminum rolled products and extrusions businesses to Pechiney.
On March 19, 2003, in light of the cancellation of the Corus acquisition,
Messrs. Engen and Rodier again met in Paris to explore the potential for an
Alcan-Pechiney combination. Mr. Rodier said that prior to entering into any
further discussions on the subject, he would bring the matter up at a meeting
with some of Pechiney's directors already scheduled for the following Saturday,
March 23, 2003.
Approximately one week after their March 19 meeting, Mr. Rodier telephoned Mr.
Engen and advised him that he believed that the time was not right for further
consideration of any combination.
Mr. Engen reported on his meetings with Mr. Rodier at the March 27, 2003 and
April 24, 2003 meetings of the Alcan board of directors.
Beginning in May 2003, members of Alcan's management, assisted by advisors,
conducted a review of the feasibility of a transaction combining Alcan and
Pechiney. Alcan's management presented the results of its analysis and views
concerning the potential for an Alcan-Pechiney business combination to Alcan's
board of directors at a meeting held on June 3, 2003. At that meeting, Alcan's
board of directors requested additional information.
On June 5, 2003, a Goldman Sachs research analyst issued a report assigning
Pechiney shares an "outperform" rating, discussing Pechiney's attractiveness to
potential acquirers, focusing on Alcan as a potentially interested party and
stating that Pechiney could merit a value of at least E34 per share to an
acquirer. At the time Pechiney shares were trading at approximately E26 per
share.
On June 17, 2003, Reuters reported that Pechiney's Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer had commented on a combination of Alcan and Pechiney at an analysts'
presentation, stating, "today it would again be a good deal" but that he had no
reason to believe that the regulatory conditions set by competition authorities
would be different from those for the proposed APA transaction. At the time,
Pechiney shares were trading at approximately E29 per share.
Alcan's management made a presentation regarding a potential Alcan-Pechiney
transaction to Alcan's board of directors on June 26, 2003 at a
regularly-scheduled board meeting, to which Alcan's financial and legal advisors
were invited. This presentation reviewed the strategic rationale of the
transaction, initial findings from internal and external due diligence reviews,
and summaries of confidential discussions with the European Commission's Merger
Task Force.
Also on June 26, a Prudential Securities research analyst issued a report on
Alcan stating that the prior proposed Alcan-Pechiney merger could be as good or
better now than at the time of the proposed APA transaction.
On July 2, 2003, Alcan's board of directors held a meeting to discuss further
the potential combination and received additional input from Alcan's management.
After further review and discussion, the directors present unanimously provided
Mr. Engen with the discretion, at his election and with no obligation to act, to
determine and approve the terms of a transaction between Alcan and Pechiney
during the following 90 days, all within certain parameters discussed with the
board of directors.
On July 3, 2003, Mr. Engen's office arranged for a call with Mr. Rodier to be
scheduled for the following morning. Also on July 3, 2003, Reuters reported that
there were rumors concerning a potential tender offer for Pechiney by either
Alcan or Norsk Hydro, and Pechiney's share price rose from E32 to E33.70 on
higher than average volume.
33
On the morning of July 4, 2003 Mr. Engen spoke to Mr. Rodier and addressed the
developments in the trading markets for Pechiney shares, assured him that Alcan
was not, directly or indirectly, involved in any market purchases of any
Pechiney shares, and asked Mr. Rodier to meet with him that evening in Paris. At
the request of Mr. Rodier, the meeting was held at the offices of Pechiney's
attorneys.
At the July 4, 2003 meeting, Mr. Engen presented to Mr. Rodier the business case
for an Alcan-Pechiney combination, the changes in Alcan and Pechiney and the
aluminum and packaging industries since the proposed APA transaction, the
resulting change in Alcan's perspective which would now permit Alcan to commit
to certain undertakings to address competition concerns and his interest in
establishing the global headquarters of the combined packaging business in Paris
and in exploring the business logic relating to the possibility of establishing
the global headquarters of its aerospace and engineered products business in
Paris. Mr. Engen also discussed the protection Alcan would afford to Pechiney's
French industrial employees, establishing in France the research and development
headquarters for a new cell technology center, and his commitment to a
merit-based program to evaluate the management candidates in a combined company.
Mr. Engen emphasized the need to come to agreement before July 7, 2003, given
market speculation and recent movement in Pechiney's share price, his concern
with respect to the legal requirements and other pressures to disclose and
Alcan's need to protect its interests.
Mr. Rodier advised that he was not in a position to formally respond to Mr.
Engen but went over some of the difficulties Pechiney had endured as a result of
not being able to complete the proposed APA transaction. Mr. Rodier advised Mr.
Engen that Pechiney would have a negative reaction with respect to any
transaction that was subject to a competition regulatory approval condition.
Mr. Engen then presented for discussion the terms of a potential offer he was
considering on behalf of Alcan. That proposal was substantially the same as the
offers described herein. Mr. Rodier indicated that it would be necessary to
consider the duties to Pechiney shareholders, employees and customers to
determine whether the proposal was the best deal for Pechiney and its
stakeholders. He requested several weeks to consider the proposal. Mr. Engen
raised the issues around the impending need to disclose Alcan's interest in a
transaction with Pechiney and asked if they could continue their discussions the
next day. Mr. Rodier agreed to meet him Saturday afternoon.
On July 5, 2003, Mr. Engen met with Mr. Rodier at the offices of Publicis,
Alcan's communications firm, in Paris. Mr. Engen explained his understanding of
the timeframe related to the European Commission regulatory process, the
timeframe associated with a public tender offer process and the process and
timing for review of a public tender offer for Pechiney by Pechiney's management
and board of directors. Mr. Engen and Mr. Rodier together discussed the timeline
for a potential Alcan offer. Mr. Engen again expressed his concerns regarding
the potential need to disclose the Alcan-Pechiney discussions given market
speculation and other factors. Mr. Engen also expressed the need promptly to
commence the competition regulatory review in order to clarify the undertakings
required and permit the resolution of Alcan's and Pechiney's concerns in light
of each company's difficult experiences during the proposed APA transaction.
Mr. Rodier discussed the potential difficulties of the competition review
process. When asked by Mr. Engen, he indicated that informal discussions among
Pechiney's directors had begun. Mr. Rodier further indicated that the three key
criteria in assessing the merits of any offer would be price, the views of
Pechiney's key managers with respect to potential acquirers of Pechiney and
competition and antitrust issues.
After further discussion, Mr. Engen advised Mr. Rodier that Alcan might issue a
press release as early as Monday morning Paris time, on July 7, 2003, but was
clear that no final decision had yet been made.
On July 6, 2003, Mr. Engen discussed with members of the Alcan Executive
Committee his views with respect to the terms and conditions of the offers and
his decision to proceed with an announcement and filing of the offers on July 7,
2003.
34
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE OFFERS
Under French law and regulations applicable to the French offer, the French
information memorandum relating to the French offer must include a description
of the financial terms of the offers using a multi-criteria analysis. Morgan
Stanley & Co. International Ltd. and Lazard Freres Banque, as presenting banks
for the French offer, prepared such analysis. Since this analysis has been made
available to those holders of Pechiney securities eligible to participate in the
French offer in the French information memorandum, a direct translation of the
analysis is included in this prospectus. The analysis was performed solely in
connection with the preparation of the information memorandum for the French
offer and was not prepared with a view towards disclosure in a U.S.-style
document. This analysis was not relied on in any way by Alcan in its
negotiations with Pechiney or in connection with establishing the consideration
offered in this offer. In addition, this analysis does not constitute an opinion
of Morgan Stanley or Lazard Freres regarding the fairness of the consideration
offered in this offer from a financial point of view or otherwise. Moreover,
neither Morgan Stanley nor Lazard Freres has made any independent valuation or
appraisal of the assets or liabilities of Alcan or Pechiney, nor has Morgan
Stanley or Lazard Freres been furnished with any such appraisals.
The following is a translation from the original French of the disclosure
regarding the analysis of the offers set forth in the information memorandum for
the French offer.
In this analysis, the term "Principal Offer" means the offer to exchange Alcan
Common Shares and cash for Pechiney Common Shares, the term "Cash Offer" means
the offer to exchange cash for Pechiney Common Shares, and the term
"Share-Exchange Offer" means the offer to exchange Alcan Common Shares for
Pechiney Common Shares, all on the terms described in this prospectus.
ASSESSMENT OF THE OFFER PRICE FOR PECHINEY SHARES
The consideration proposed in the Principal Offer, the Cash Offer and the
Share-Exchange Offer has been assessed through a multicriteria analysis based on
customary valuation methods.
The principal sources of information and assumptions retained for the purpose of
this valuation are presented.
I.1.1 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
I.1.1.1 KEY FINANCIAL METRICS
The financial metrics used to assess the terms and conditions of the offer are
excerpted from the consolidated financial statements of Alcan and Pechiney for
the years 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Regarding each of Alcan and Pechiney, these financial statements have been
prepared based on generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") of their
respective countries (i.e., Canadian GAAP and French GAAP, respectively).
However, where comparing Alcan's and Pechiney's financial metrics, the items
used are those prepared in accordance to a common accounting standard (U.S.
GAAP) as disclosed in the financial statements of each company.
I.1.1.2 NUMBERS OF SHARES
The earnings per share presented in this analysis have been calculated using a
fully diluted number of shares based on the "treasury stock" method. Under this
method, it is assumed that the cash coming from the exercise of options is
entirely used to buy back shares on the market, at a price equal to the average
share price of the stock during the period, thus diminishing the number of
shares that is then used for calculation on a fully diluted basis.
Net book value per share in this analysis is calculated using the total number
of shares outstanding at the end of each period.
35
The table below summarizes the number of shares used for Alcan and Pechiney in
both cases:
PECHINEY ALCAN
---------- -----------
NET EARNINGS PER SHARE
Average number of shares in 2002............................ 78,520,814 322,423,189
Average number of shares in 2001............................ 79,667,263 321,287,219
Average number of shares in 2000............................ 80,729,120 249,077,756
NET BOOK VALUE PER SHARE
Number of shares as of 12/31/2002........................... 77,796,745 321,470,298
Number of shares as of 12/31/2001........................... 78,071,526 320,901,748
Number of shares as of 12/31/2000........................... 79,438,879 317,921,113
---------------
Source : Consolidated annual financial reports
I.1.1.3 EXCHANGE RATES
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is considered to be the primary market for
Alcan shares, due to the greater number of shares traded in New York compared to
that in Toronto. The share prices and financial metrics for Alcan, initially in
US dollars, have been converted into euros.
The average E/US$ exchange rates for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 have been
utilized to convert the earnings per share and the net dividends of Alcan for
these periods. Book value conversions have been based on year-end rates.
The following table summarizes the exchange rates used in both cases:
END OF
E/US$ EXCHANGE RATES AVERAGE PERIOD
-------------------- ------- -------------
Fiscal year 2002............................................ 0.95 1.05
Fiscal year 2001............................................ 0.90 0.89
Fiscal year 2000............................................ 0.92 0.94
---------------
Source: Datastream
I.1.2 ASSESSMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OFFER
For 5 Pechiney shares tendered, 3 Alcan shares and E 123 in cash will be given.
Since the NYSE is the primary market for the Alcan stock and July 4, 2003 was a
bank holiday in the United States of America, the reference stock price chosen
for Alcan is the closing price on the NYSE as of July 3, 2003. Based on this
price of US$31.46 and on a E/US$ exchange rate of 1.150 ("noon buy rate"), the
implied value of the Principal Offer equals E 41 (i.e. (3 X 31.46 /
1.150 + 123) / 5) for each Pechiney share.
It must also be noted that Pechiney's share price was affected, on July 3, 2003,
by market rumors on a potential take-over of Pechiney. The stock increased by
5.4% on that day compared to a flat index (SBF 120: +0.43%).
In order to assess the implicit value of the Principal Offer immediately prior
to the filing of the offers, two reference dates have been used: July 3, 2003
for Alcan's share price and July 4, 2003 for Pechiney's share price. However,
for both companies, the reference date used for all comparisons will be July 2,
2003 (the last date for unaffected prices for Pechiney). All the average share
prices, as of July 2, 2003, presented in this analysis are volume-weighted
averages. Alcan share prices have been converted into euros on a day-to-day
basis. Volumes used for the computation of Alcan's share price average are those
observed on the NYSE.
36
PECHINEY ALCAN IMPLIED VALUE
(EUROS/SHARE) (US$/SHARE) (E) PREMIUM
----------------- ------------ ------------------ -------
Last quoted price (July 4,
2003)......................... 34.0 31.5 41.0 20.5%
Last quoted price before rumors
(July 2, 2003)................ 32.0 31.6 41.0 28.3%
5-day average................... 31.1 31.3 41.0 31.7%
1-month average................. 29.6 31.7 40.9 38.4%
3-month average................. 26.8 30.2 40.6 51.7%
6-month average................. 26.4 29.5 40.7 54.3%
12-month average................ 30.7 28.9 41.5 35.1%
---------------
Source: Datastream
The implied value for the Principal Offer (i.e. E 41 per Pechiney share) is
consistent with the price of the Cash Offer (E 41 per Pechiney share). Moreover,
using the same references, the implicit exchange ratio for the Share Exchange
Offer is 1.5 (i.e. 41.0 X 1.150/31.46) and is also consistent with the exchange
ratio of the Share-Exchange Offer (i.e. 3 Alcan shares for 2 Pechiney shares).
Consequently, the terms and conditions of the Principal Offer may be assessed
based on the same criteria as the Cash Offer on the one hand and the
Share-Exchange Offer on the other hand.
I.1.3 ASSESSMENT OF THE CASH OFFER
The cash offer price of E 41 per Pechiney share may be assessed as follows:
I.1.3.1 MARKET VALUES
The table below indicates the implicit premiums of the Cash Offer based on (i)
the last quoted share price for Pechiney before the filing of the Offer, i.e.
July 4, 2003, (ii) the day prior to Pechiney's share price becoming explicitly
affected by market rumors, i.e. July 2, 2003, and (iii) historical share price
averages calculated as of July 2, 2003:
PECHINEY
(EUROS/SHARE) PREMIUM
------------- -------
Last quoted price (July 4, 2003)............................ 34.0 20.5%
Last quoted price before rumors (July 2, 2003).............. 32.0 28.1%
5-day average............................................... 31.1 31.8%
1-month average............................................. 29.6 38.6%
3-month average............................................. 26.8 53.1%
6-month average............................................. 26.4 55.4%
12-month average............................................ 30.7 33.4%
---------------
Source: Datastream
I.1.3.2 BOOK VALUE PER SHARE
The price of E 41 per Pechiney share corresponds to a premium of 5.8% on
Pechiney's book value per share (book value per share after allocation of
dividends) as of December 31, 2002.
I.1.3.4 ANALYSIS OF COMPARABLE COMPANIES
The companies in the aluminium industry are customarily valued on the basis of
their EBITDA multiples (defined as the enterprise value divided by earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA). The
enterprise value is the sum of the equity market value, plus financial debt,
plus minority interests and minus cash and cash equivalents.
37
The Cash Offer's implicit EBITDA multiple may be compared to that of Alcan and
Alcoa, two key listed players in the aluminum sector. Their multiples are
presented in the table below:
SHARE PRICE AS OF MARKET 2002 EBITDA 2002 EBITDA
JULY 2, 2003(1) EQUITY VALUE 2002 REVENUES MARGIN MULTIPLE
(E) (E BILLION) (E BILLION) (%) (X)
----------------- ------------ ------------- ----------- -----------
Alcoa...................... 22.1 18.8 21.3 13.1% 11.7x
Alcan...................... 27.4 8.8 13.2 14.3% 7.9x
Pechiney................... 32.0 2.5 11.9 6.4%(2) 5.4x
OFFER PRICE IMPLICIT
MULTIPLE................. 6.3X
---------------
Note:
1) Last trading day before rumors
2) The EBITDA margin, excluding trading activities, is estimated at 9.9%
The following items should be taken into account:
- Alcoa is the worldwide leader for aluminum in most key market segments.
Its revenues for 2002 amounted to E 20.5 billion vs. E 11.9 billion for
Pechiney (and E 6.9 billion excluding trading activities). The
profitability of Alcoa, defined as the EBITDA margin, amounted to 13.1%
in 2002, compared to 6.4% for Pechiney.
- Alcan is more comparable to Pechiney in terms of size (E 13.2 billion in
revenues for 2002). Alcan's profitability of 14.3%, differs materially
from that of Pechiney (6.4%), and Alcan's EBITDA growth of 20% over
2000-2002 differs materially compared to a decrease of EBITDA by 21% for
Pechiney over the same period.
- Over the last three years, Pechiney has traded at a multiple discount to
the multiples of Alcoa and Alcan.
Based on the reference unaffected share price of Pechiney on July 2, 2003 and of
the accounts as of December 31, 2002, the company was trading at a multiple of
5.4x EBITDA for 2002. The Cash Offer price of E 41.0 per Pechiney share
corresponds to an implicit EBITDA multiple for 2002 of 6.3x, i.e. 17.3% above.
It also represents a discount of 20.3% and 45.9% on the respective multiples of
Alcan and Alcoa.
I.1.3.5 ANALYSIS OF PRECEDENT TRANSACTIONS
This analysis consists of comparing the implicit EBITDA multiple of the Cash
Offer, i.e., 6.3x for Pechiney, with the multiples observed on a selection of
transactions that took place in the sector since 1998.
It must be noted that an analysis of such multiples offered in transactions
should take into account the cycle of the aluminium industry at any given time,
the key markets in which Pechiney participates and the market conditions
prevailing at the time of such transactions. Each transaction is, by definition,
specific and the prices offered for each transaction take into account the
dynamics of each transaction, the expected synergies and the pre-transaction
level of valuation of each company at the time of the transactions.
38
Subject to these conditions, the results of the analysis of precedent
transactions are summarized in the table below:
MULTIPLE OF
TRAILING FISCAL PREMIUM TO THE
YEAR IMPLICIT OFFER
DATE TARGET ACQUIRER EBITDA MULTIPLE MULTIPLE
---- -------- ----------- --------------- --------------
August 2002................... Sapa Elkem 5.4x
January 2002.................. VAW Norsk Hydro 5.5x
-------- ----------- ---- -----
February 2000................. Comalco Rio Tinto 8.2x
August 1999................... Algroup Alcan 9.5x
August 1999................... Reynolds Alcoa 8.9x
March 1998.................... Alumax Alcoa 8.5x
-------- ----------- ---- -----
2002 TRANSACTIONS AVERAGE..... 5.5X 14.6%
1998-2000 TRANSACTIONS
AVERAGE..................... 8.7X (28.3)%
HIGHEST....................... 9.5X (33.7)%
LOWEST........................ 5.4X 16.7%
The Cash Offer's implicit multiple corresponds to a premium of 16.7% compared to
the transaction with the lowest multiple (VAW/Norsk Hydro, August 2002) and a
discount of 33.7% compared to the transaction with the highest multiple
(Reynolds/Alcoa, August 1999). The implicit multiple of the Cash Offer is at a
discount of 28.3% compared with the average multiple for 1998-2000 transactions
but at a premium of 14.6% compared with the average multiple for most recent
transactions that took place in 2002.
In addition to the precedent transactions multiples analysis, the table below
summarizes the premiums to market prices observed at the time of such
transactions. These premiums are based on the average prices for the month
preceding the announcement of each transaction.
PREMIUM TO
1-MONTH
DATE TARGET ACQUIROR SHARE PRICE AVERAGE
---- -------- ----------- -------------------
August 2002................................ Sapa Elkem 1.2%
January 2002............................... VAW Norsk Hydro
February 2000.............................. Comalco Rio Tinto 15.3%
August 1999................................ Algroup Alcan 18.3%
August 1999................................ Reynolds Alcoa 7.8%
March 1998................................. Alumax Alcoa 17.0%
AVERAGE.................................... 17.0%
The average premium observed in the selection above is 17% and may be compared
to the implicit premium of the Cash Offer for Pechiney shares (38.6%, i.e. 2.3
times higher) based upon a 1 month share price average ending on July 2, 2003.
39
I.1.3.5 SUMMARY ASSESSMENT OF THE CASH OFFER
CRITERION PREMIUM
--------- -------
SHARE PRICE
Last quoted share price (July 4, 2003)...................... 20.5%
Last quoted price before rumors (July 2, 2003).............. 28.1%
5-day average............................................... 31.8%
1-month average............................................. 38.6%
3-month average............................................. 53.1%
6-month average............................................. 55.4%
12-month average............................................ 33.4%
COMPARABLE COMPANIES ANALYSIS
Implicit EBITDA multiple.................................... (45.9)%/(20.3)%
PRECEDENT TRANSACTIONS ANALYSIS
Implicit EBITDA multiple.................................... (33.7)%/16.7%
NET BOOK VALUE OF ASSETS
Fiscal year 2002............................................ 5.8%
I.1.4 ASSESSMENT OF THE SHARE-EXCHANGE OFFER
The exchange ratio proposed in the Share-Exchange Offer, i.e., 3 Alcan shares
for 2 Pechiney shares (or a ratio of 1.5) may be assessed as follows:
I.1.4.1 MARKET VALUES
In order to assess the implicit value of the Share-Exchange Offer just before
the filing of the Offer, two references have been used: July 3, 2003 for Alcan's
share price and July 4, 2003 for Pechiney's share price. However, for both
companies, the reference date used for all comparisons will be July 2, 2003 as
being the last date for unaffected prices for Pechiney. All the average share
prices, as of July 2, 2003, presented below are volume-weighted averages. Alcan
share prices have been converted into euros on a day-to-day basis. Volumes used
for the computation of Alcan's share price average are those observed on the
NYSE.
IMPLICIT
PECHINEY ALCAN VALUE
(EUROS/SHARE) (US$/SHARE) (E) PREMIUM
------------- ----------- -------- -------
Last quoted price (July 4, 2003).......... 34.0 31.5 41.0 20.5%
Last quoted price before rumors (July 2,
2003)................................... 32.0 31.6 41.1 28.5%
5-day average............................. 31.1 31.3 40.9 31.5%
1-month average........................... 29.6 31.7 40.9 38.1%
3-month average........................... 26.8 30.2 40.1 49.6%
6-month average........................... 26.4 29.5 40.2 52.5%
12-month average.......................... 30.7 28.9 42.3 37.5%
---------------
Source: Datastream
I.1.4.2 EARNINGS PER SHARE
The table below presents the levels of premiums calculated on the basis of the
ratio between the consolidated group net income per Pechiney share and per Alcan
share for the fiscal years 2000, 2001 and 2002. Pechiney's net earnings per
share refers to net earnings per common share.
40
PECHINEY/ALCAN
PECHINEY ALCAN AVERAGE EXCHANGE EXCHANGE
(EUROS/SHARE) (US$/SHARE) RATE (E/US$) RATIO PREMIUM
------------- ----------- ---------------- -------------- -------
Fiscal year 2002..... (0.07) (1.06) 0.95 NM(1) NM
Fiscal year 2001..... 2.42 (0.19) 0.90 NM NM
Fiscal year 2000..... 3.88 2.40 0.92 1.49 0.5%
---------------
Note 1: Not meaningful
I.1.4.3 BOOK VALUE PER SHARE.
The table below presents the levels of premiums calculated on the basis of the
ratio between the consolidated group book value per Pechiney share and per Alcan
share for the fiscal years 2000, 2001 and 2002. Pechiney's book value per share
refers to book value per common share.
AVERAGE
PECHINEY ALCAN EXCHANGE RATE PECHINEY/ALCAN
(EUROS/SHARE) (US$/SHARE) (E/US$) EXCHANGE RATIO PREMIUM
------------- ----------- ------------- -------------- -------
Fiscal year 2002....... 36.4 25.7 1.05 1.48 1.1%
Fiscal year 2001....... 40.4 26.2 0.89 1.37 9.4%
Fiscal year 2000....... 39.0 27.2 0.94 1.34 11.6%
I.1.4.4 NET DIVIDENDS
The table below presents the levels of premiums determined on the basis of the
ratio between net dividend per share published by Pechiney and that published by
Alcan for the fiscal years 2000, 2001 and 2002.
AVERAGE PECHINEY/ALCAN
PECHINEY ALCAN EXCHANGE RATE EXCHANGE
(EUROS/SHARE) (US$/SHARE) (E/US$) RATIO PREMIUM
------------- ----------- ---------------- -------------- -------
Fiscal year 2002..... 1.00 0.60 0.95 1.58 (4.8)%
Fiscal year 2001..... 1.00 0.60 0.90 1.49 0.5%
Fiscal year 2000..... 1.00 0.60 0.92 1.54 (2.5)%
41
I.1.4.5 SUMMARY ASSESSMENT OF THE SHARE-EXCHANGE OFFER
CRITERION PREMIUM
--------- -------
SHARE PRICE
Last quoted share price (July 4, 2003)...................... 20.5%
Last quoted price before rumors (July 2, 2003).............. 28.5%
5-day average............................................... 31.5%
1-month average............................................. 38.1%
3-month average............................................. 49.6%
6-month average............................................. 52.5%
12-month average............................................ 37.5%
NET GROUP EARNINGS PER SHARE
Fiscal year 2002............................................ NS
Fiscal year 2001............................................ NS
Fiscal year 2000............................................ 0.5%
NET BOOK VALUE OF GROUP ASSETS
Fiscal year 2002............................................ 1.1%
Fiscal year 2001............................................ 9.4%
Fiscal year 2000............................................ 11.6%
NET DIVIDEND
Fiscal year 2002............................................ (4.8)%
Fiscal year 2001............................................ 0.5%
Fiscal year 2000............................................ (2.5)%
I.1.5. ASSESSMENT OF THE OFFER FOR BONUS ALLOCATION RIGHTS
The extraordinary shareholder meeting held on April 3, 2003 adopted a project
resolution preparing the way for the conversion of the 1,091,040 'B' shares into
ordinary shares. The special assembly of 'B' shareholders, meeting on May 27,
2003 approved the following resolution: "The special assembly of 'B' preferred
shareholders, considering the applicable law and the project resolution
submitted to the mixed shareholder assembly, approves of the conversion of
1,091,040 'B' preferred shares into ordinary shares on the basis of 11 ordinary
shares, with full rights attached as of January 1st, 2003, for every 10 'B'
preferred shares."
Each 'B' share has therefore been automatically converted into one ordinary
share and the right to a free 0.10 additional ordinary share.
The terms of the offer made for Pechiney shares are identical to the terms of
the offer made for Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights, with a 10 to 1 ratio (as
each Pechiney Bonus Allocation Right leads to the attribution of 0.10 free
Pechiney shares, 10 attribution rights lead to the attribution of one free
Pechiney share). Consequently, the assessment of the offer for Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights is identical to the assessment of the offer for Pechiney
Shares.
ASSESSMENT OF THE OFFER PRICE FOR OCEANES
II.1.1 PECHINEY OCEANE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
Pechiney issued on April 11, 2002 a bond convertible into new shares and/or
exchangeable for existing ordinary shares due 2007 (maturity on January 1, 2007)
represented by 7,908,636 bonds of E75.25 nominal value each and bearing interest
at a rate of 1.25% per annum (i.e., E0.94 coupon payable in arrears on January
1st of each year). Bonds are redeemable at a price of E82.81 per bond on the
maturity date.
42
The OCEANE gross yield to maturity stands at 3.25% as at the issue date unless
previously converted, exchanged, or redeemed.
Each OCEANE could initially be converted or exchanged into one Pechiney ordinary
share. Since the conversion of Pechiney class B shares into ordinary shares
(i.e., class A) approved on May 27, 2003, each OCEANE can be converted or
exchanged into 1.001 Pechiney Common Shares for each bond, as defined in the
section "maintenance of bondholders' rights" of the prospectus referred to
below. The conversion option can be exercised at any time from May 21, 2002. In
addition, Pechiney has also the option to redeem the bonds prior to maturity:
- In whole or in part of the OCEANE, by way of tender offers or buy-back on
Euronext Paris or otherwise;
- For the outstanding bonds, in whole but not in part, at any time on or after
January 1, 2005 until the 7th working day prior to the redemption date (i.e.,
December 20, 2006) at a price representing for the holders a yield to maturity
identical to that applicable in the case of redemption on the maturity date
(i.e., 3.25%) if the arithmetic mean of the closing prices for the shares on
the Premier Marche of Euronext Paris during 20 consecutive trading days chosen
by Pechiney during the 40 trading days immediately preceding the date of
publication of the notice calling the bonds for redemption, multiplied by the
number of shares then issuable upon conversion or deliverable upon exchange of
one bond is greater than 130% of the early redemption price defined above;
- for the outstanding bonds, in whole but not in part at the redemption price
defined above, if the number of outstanding bonds is less than 10% of the
number of bonds originally issued.
A prospectus describing the bonds was approved by the Commission des operations
de bourse on April 3, 2002 under the number 02-306.
II.1.2 OFFER PRICE FOR THE OCEANE
The offer price per OCEANE is E81.7. This price compares to:
II.1.2.1 CONVERSION VALUE
The conversion value for the OCEANEs is determined by multiplying the conversion
ratio (i.e., 1.001) by the offer price for Pechiney's share of E41. As a result,
the conversion value is E41.04.
The offer price for Pechiney's OCEANE represents a 99.1% premium over the
conversion value.
II.1.2.2 TRADING PRICE
The offer price for the OCEANE compares to the OCEANE' trading price as follows:
PECHINEY
OCEANE PREMIUM
-------------- -------
(EUROS/OCEANE) (%)
Closing price (July 4, 2003)................................ 76.60 6.7%
Closing price before rumors (July 2, 2003) 76.38 7.0%
5-day average(1)............................................ 76.44 6.9%
1-month average(1).......................................... 76.21 7.2%
3-month average(1).......................................... 74.24 10.0%
6-month average(1).......................................... 72.44 12.8%
1-year average(1)........................................... 70.47 15.9%
---------------
Source: Bloomberg Generic Price (BGN)
(1) As of July 2, 2003.
43
II.1.2.3 YIELD TO MATURITY
At the offer price for the Pechiney OCEANE, the implied yield to maturity for a
bondholder as from the issue date (April 11, 2002) to the tender offer date
(July 7, 2003) stands at 7.61%.
The yield to maturity based on the offer price is 2.34% greater than the one
offered to a bondholder at the issue date (i.e., 3.25%) before conversion,
exchange or early redemption.
II.1.2.4 THEORETICAL VALUE
The theoretical value of the Pechiney OCEANE has been determined in relation to
the tender offer price (i.e., E41).
The value of the Pechiney OCEANE presented herein has been calculated using a
valuation model based on the Cox, Ross & Rubinstein method and according to the
market conditions prevailing on July 4, 2003. The following hypothesis have been
used:
1. Share price of Pechiney's share : E41, i.e., the tender offer price.
2. Discounting factor: 3.99% based on the interpolated euro swap curve for
identical maturities increased by a margin of 130 basis points, reflecting
Pechiney's credit spread as most currently assumed by investors ("Credit
Default Swap" or "Asset Swap").
3. Stock borrow: 50 basis points (annual cost).
4. Dividend yield : 2.44% based on the last dividend paid (1E per share) and on
the tender offer price (i.e., E41).
5. Volatility of Pechiney's share : 55.8% based on the 100-day historical share
price volatility at the tender offer date.
The computed value stands at E81.70; the offer price per Pechiney OCEANE being
equal to this value.
Using identical assumptions and a share price for Pechiney of E34.0 (closing
price on July 4, 2003), the theoretical value per OCEANE would stand at E79.4.
The offer price of E81.7 implies a 2.9% premium over the theoretical value on
July 4, 2003.
Using identical assumptions and a share price for Pechiney of E32 (closing price
on July 2, 2003), the theoretical value per OCEANE would stand at E78.8. The
offer price of E81.7 implies a 3.7% premium over the theoretical value on July
2, 2003.
44
II.1.2.5 SUMMARY
CRITERIA PREMIUM/(DISCOUNT)
-------- ------------------
CONVERSION VALUE
Conversion value based on the tender offer price............ 99.1%
TRADING PRICE
Closing price (July 4, 2003)................................ 6.7%
Closing price before rumors (July 2, 2003).................. 7.0%
5-trading day average(1).................................... 6.9%
1-month average(1).......................................... 7.2%
3-month average(1).......................................... 10.0%
6-month average(1).......................................... 12.8%
12-month average(1)......................................... 15.9%
12-month high............................................... 6.7%
12-month low................................................ 23.0%
---------------
(1) As of July 2, 2003
SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS
If all of the existing Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights,
Pechiney OCEANEs and Pechiney ADSs are tendered into the offers (including
Pechiney Common Shares issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Pechiney stock
options), we expect to pay approximately E2.6 billion in cash to holders of
Pechiney securities. This amount will be lower if less than 100% of the
currently outstanding Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights,
Pechiney OCEANEs and Pechiney ADSs are tendered in the offers. The amount also
may vary depending upon the number of Pechiney securities outstanding at the
time of the closing of the offers. In addition, we currently expect to pay
approximately $92 million to cover expenses incurred in connection with the
offers. We also may be required to refinance a yet-to-be-defined principal
amount of indebtedness of Pechiney and its subsidiaries as well as potentially
certain indebtedness of ours that we would otherwise have expected to renew
shortly. In connection with this transaction, we expect to enter into two new
credit facilities permitting borrowing in the aggregate amount of up to $5
billion. The credit facilities will be used to finance the acquisition of the
Pechiney securities pursuant to the offers, to refinance certain debt of
Pechiney and for our general corporate purposes.
Under the terms of a credit agreement that we have entered into with Morgan
Stanley Senior Funding (Nova Scotia) Co., this bank and its parent entity,
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., have agreed to underwrite the new credit
facilities prior to completion of the offers, subject to certain conditions.
The credit agreement states that the credit facilities will include two
facilities. One credit facility is a $4 billion 364-day senior bridge term
facility that will be used to finance the acquisition of the Pechiney securities
pursuant to the offers and to refinance certain debt of Pechiney. The other
credit facility is a $1 billion senior revolving credit facility that will be
used for our other general corporate purposes. The $1 billion credit facility
will take effect if our existing facility that expires in accordance with its
terms on July 8, 2003 is not renewed.
The bridge term facility will be made available to us immediately upon the point
at which all of the conditions to the offers have been satisfied and all
regulatory approvals or clearances have been obtained. The revolving credit
facility will be made available to us on the 30th day after finalization of
certain credit documentation, which took place on July 7, 2003 (the date of the
finalization is referred to as the effective date).
Borrowings under the bridge term facility will be available in U.S. dollars and,
subject to availability in the London market, in euros. Borrowings under the
revolving credit facility will be available in U.S. dollars and, subject to
availability in the London market, in Canadian dollars, pounds sterling, Swiss
francs, euros and, subject to the consent of the lenders, other eurocurrencies
which are freely transferable and convertible into
45
U.S. dollars in the London market. Alcan may refinance this debt through a
variety of means, including from proceeds received in connection with the sale
of assets, the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities, the issuance of
debt securities or substitute bank facilities.
The applicable margin varies for each of the credit facilities according to its
utilization and the credit rating assigned to Alcan at the relevant time, and
ranges from 0.375% per annum to 1.75% per annum for the bridge term facility and
from 0.30% per annum to 1.75% per annum for the revolving credit facility. From
the effective date, we will pay a commitment fee on any undrawn and uncanceled
amounts upon the credit facilities which varies according to the credit rating
assigned to Alcan at the relevant time, and ranges from 0.06% per annum to 0.25%
per annum for both the bridge term facility and the revolving credit facility.
Interest on committed LIBOR-based borrowing shall accrue at the applicable
margin plus LIBOR.
Interest on borrowing described in the credit facilities as U.S. dollars base
rate borrowings shall accrue at the higher of JPMorgan Chase Bank's prime rate
for U.S. dollar loans in the U.S. and 0.5% per annum above the Federal Funds
Rate, plus a margin 1.0% lower (but not less than zero) than the margin for
LIBOR-based borrowings.
Terms and conditions usual for facilities of this type apply to the credit
facilities, including prepayment provisions, representations and warranties,
covenants such as compliance with financial ratios, events of default,
indemnities and provisions to protect the margin receivable by the lenders.
TERMS OF THE OFFERS
Alcan is offering to acquire all of Pechiney's share capital and equity
securities, including:
- all issued and outstanding Pechiney Common Shares, and all Pechiney
Common Shares held as treasury stock;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney OCEANEs;
- all of the Pechiney Common Shares that are issuable prior to the
expiration of the offers upon the conversion of Pechiney OCEANEs;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney ADSs; and
- all Pechiney Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of Pechiney Common
Shares subscription options that are or may become exercisable prior to
the expiration of the offers.
Holders of Pechiney stock purchase options or Pechiney stock subscription
options who wish to tender into this offer must exercise their options, and the
Pechiney Common Shares must be credited to their accounts, prior to the
expiration date of the offer in order to be able to participate.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and
the related letter of transmittal and form of acceptance, we are offering to
exchange:
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash for every 5 Pechiney Common
Shares;
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash for every 50 Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights (10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights being exchangeable
for one Pechiney Common Share);
- E81.70 in cash for each Pechiney OCEANE; and
- 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash for every 10 Pechiney ADSs (each
Pechiney ADS representing one-half of one Pechiney Common Share)
tendered.
Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs that
are exchanged for the mix of Alcan Common Shares and cash described above are
referred to as "Mixed Consideration Shares"). However, if you hold Pechiney
Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs, then,
46
in lieu of the mix of Alcan Common Shares and cash described above, you may make
the following elections with respect to the consideration you wish to receive:
- You may elect to receive 3 Alcan Common Shares for each 2 Pechiney Common
Shares, each 20 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or each 4 Pechiney ADSs
that you tender (this is referred to as the "Stock Consideration" and all
Pechiney Common Shares for which this election is made, including for
this purpose all Pechiney Common Shares underlying Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs, are referred to as "Stock Election
Shares"); or
- You may elect to receive E41 in cash for each Pechiney Common Share, each
10 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or each 2 Pechiney ADSs that you
tender (this is referred to as the "Cash Consideration" and all Pechiney
Common Shares for which this election is made, including for this purpose
all Pechiney Common Shares underlying Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
and Pechiney ADSs, are referred to as "Cash Election Shares").
You are not required to make the same election for all of the Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs that you tender, and
you may make any of these elections for all or some of the Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs that you tender.
However, these election options are subject to a proration and allocation
procedure, described below, that will ensure that 40% of the tendered Pechiney
Common Shares (including, for the purposes of this calculation, the Pechiney
Common Shares underlying the tendered Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and
Pechiney ADSs) are exchanged for Alcan Common Shares and 60% are exchanged for
cash (excluding the effect of the treatment of fractional shares that would
otherwise be issued). Thus, with respect to the Stock Election Shares and the
Cash Election Shares, the amount of stock or cash that you actually receive will
depend upon the elections of other holders of Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs.
Proration and Allocation Procedures
If the total number of Cash Election Shares is not equal to 1.5 (60% divided by
40%, referred to as the "Ratio") times the total number of Stock Election
Shares, then the following proration and allocation adjustment will be applied
to the Cash Election Shares or the Stock Election Shares, as the case may be:
- In the event that the total number of Cash Election Shares divided by the
total number of Stock Election Shares exceeds the Ratio, then each Stock
Election Share will receive the Stock Consideration, while the number of
Cash Election Shares will be reduced to the number required to achieve
the Ratio. This reduction will be effected proportionately among the
holders of Cash Election Shares. The adjusted number of Cash Election
Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole Cash Election Share. All
tendered Pechiney securities deemed not to be Cash Election Shares as a
result of the operation of this proration and allocation procedure will
be deemed to be Mixed Consideration Shares.
- In the event that the total number of Cash Election Shares divided by the
total number of Stock Election Shares is less than the Ratio, then each
Cash Election Share will receive the Cash Consideration, while the number
of Stock Election Shares will be reduced to the number required to
achieve the Ratio. This reduction will be effected proportionately among
the holders of Stock Election Shares. The adjusted number of Stock
Election Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole Stock Election
Share. All tendered Pechiney securities deemed not to be Stock Election
Shares as a result of the operation of this proration and allocation
procedure will be deemed to be Mixed Consideration Shares.
If there is a subsequent offering period, the same proration and allocation
procedures described above will apply to all Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs tendered into the subsequent offering
period. See "-- Expiration Date; Subsequent Offering Period" below.
47
For legal and regulatory reasons, Alcan's offers to acquire all of the Pechiney
securities are being made through two separate offers:
- a U.S. offer open to all holders of Pechiney securities who are located
in the United States, and
- a French offer open to all holders of Pechiney securities who are located
in France and to holders of Pechiney securities who are located outside
of France if, pursuant to the local laws and regulations applicable to
such holders, they are permitted to participate in the French offer.
The U.S. and French offers for Pechiney securities are being made at the same
time and on the same terms and completion of the offers are subject to the same
conditions. This prospectus covers only Alcan's U.S. offer for Pechiney
securities.
The U.S. offer will begin on , 2003 and end at , New York City time
(or Central European time), on , 2003, unless it is extended or it
lapses or is withdrawn prior to that time on the basis of the conditions of the
offers as described in this prospectus. The CMF may decide to extend the offer
period under certain circumstances related to, among other things, the success
of the offers or the initiation of a competing offer, in which case the U.S.
offer period will be likewise extended. You must tender your Pechiney securities
before the expiration of the U.S. offer to participate.
If all of the Pechiney securities are tendered and exchanged pursuant to the
terms of the offers, the current holders of Pechiney securities will own
approximately 12.7% of Alcan's outstanding Common Shares, on a fully diluted
basis, immediately after the exchange and the current Alcan shareholders will
own approximately 87.3% of Alcan's outstanding Common Shares, on a fully diluted
basis, immediately after the exchange.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
The offers are subject to the following conditions precedent:
- Valid acceptances, that have not been withdrawn at the end of the
offering period, in respect of Pechiney securities representing more than
50% of the total share capital and voting rights in Pechiney, calculated
on a fully diluted basis, are tendered in this offer and the French
offer, on a combined basis. For the purpose of calculating whether this
threshold has been met, the numerator will include all the Pechiney
securities tendered in this offer and the French offer, on a combined
basis, including all (i) Pechiney Common Shares tendered and Pechiney
ADSs tendered (each Pechiney ADS representing one-half of one Pechiney
Common Share), (ii) Pechiney Common Shares underlying all tendered
Pechiney OCEANEs (taking into account the number of Pechiney Common
Shares into which the tendered Pechiney OCEANEs could be converted on the
expiration date of the offers), and (iii) Pechiney Common Shares
underlying all tendered Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights (each 10
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights being exchangeable for one Pechiney
Common Shares). The denominator for this calculation will be comprised of
Pechiney's fully diluted share capital, including all:
- issued and outstanding Pechiney Common Shares and treasury stock held
by Pechiney;
- Pechiney ADSs (each Pechiney ADS representing one-half of one Pechiney
Common Share); and
- Pechiney Common Shares underlying Pechiney OCEANEs, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights, and all outstanding Pechiney subscription stock
options (whether or not exercisable during the offer period).
Under French law and regulations, Alcan may only waive this minimum
tender condition on or prior to the date that is five French trading days
prior to the expiration of the offer period. If this minimum tender
condition is not met, the offers will lapse.
- The offers are also conditional upon receipt of competition approval from
the European Commission and, to the extent that jurisdiction to review
all or a part of the transaction is referred by the European Commission
to any Relevant National Authorities, receipt of approval from those
Relevant National
48
Authorities, as well as an antitrust review by the Department of Justice
and Federal Trade Commission in the United States. If any of these
reviewing authorities determines that the transaction requires
investigation that extends beyond the relevant initial period of
investigation (i.e., enter into a "Phase II review"), the offers will
lapse. Furthermore, the offers cannot close until the transaction has
been approved by the European Commission and the Relevant National
Authorities, if any, and until the waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 has been terminated
or expired without any action being commenced in any U.S. court seeking
to prohibit the offers.
If the offers lapse because any of the conditions precedent are not met, Alcan
reserves the right to commence a new offer, or not to commence a new offer, in
its discretion. If the offers are withdrawn or lapse, the Pechiney securities
that you tendered in this offer will be promptly returned to you, without
interest or any other payment being due.
GROUNDS FOR WITHDRAWING THE OFFERS
In accordance with French law and regulation, Alcan reserves the right to
withdraw the offers:
- within five French trading days following the date of the publication by
the CMF of the offer calendar for a competing offer for Pechiney or an
increased bid by a competing bidder; or
- with the prior approval of the CMF if, during the exercise period of
these offers, Pechiney adopts definitive measures that modify Pechiney's
substance ("modifiant sa consistance") or that render the offers
irrelevant ("sans objet") under French law.
In addition, as mentioned above, if the conditions precedent of the offers,
including the tender threshold and the clearance from competition and antitrust
authorities in Europe and the United States, are not satisfied, the offers will
lapse.
Under French law, if, during the period of these offers, another offer for
Pechiney, or an increased bid by a competing bidder, is approved by the CMF,
your tenders of Pechiney securities will be deemed null and void. In this event,
in order to tender your Pechiney securities in this offer, whether or not it has
been modified, you will be required to re-tender your Pechiney securities.
If the offers are withdrawn or lapse, the Pechiney securities that you tendered
in this offer will be promptly returned to you, without interest or any other
payment being due.
EXPIRATION DATE; SUBSEQUENT OFFERING PERIOD
The tender period for this offer has been established by the CMF, which solely
determines whether or not to extend the offer period. Alcan may not itself
extend the offer period.
The offers will expire at , New York City time (or , Central
European time) on , 2003, unless the offer period is extended, or
unless the offers lapse or are withdrawn prior to that time. The CMF may decide
to extend the offer period under certain circumstances related to, among other
things, the success of the offers, as described further in the next paragraph,
or the initiation of a competing offer, in which case the U.S. offer period will
be likewise extended.
If, through this offer and the French offer, on a combined basis, we acquire at
least two-thirds of Pechiney's total share capital and voting rights, or more
than 50% if there is a concurrent competing offer for the Pechiney securities,
we may elect, subject to applicable law and regulations, to provide a subsequent
offering period of at least 10 days. We have not, however, yet made a final
decision as to whether we will provide a subsequent offering period. We will
promptly accept all securities tendered during that subsequent offering period
and we will offer the same consideration being offered during this initial
offering period. Elections to receive all Alcan Common Shares or all cash in any
subsequent offering period will be subject to the same proration and allocation
procedures that apply to this initial offering period, to ensure that 40% of the
Pechiney Common Shares (including Pechiney Common Shares underlying the Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights and
49
Pechiney ADSs) tendered in the subsequent offering period are exchanged for
Alcan Common Shares and 60% are exchanged for cash.
COMPULSORY ACQUISITION
If, as a result of these offers, there is no longer an active trading market for
the Pechiney Common Shares or the Pechiney OCEANEs and the liquidity of these
Pechiney securities is materially adversely affected, Alcan may petition
Euronext Paris to cause the delisting of the Pechiney Common Shares and/or
Pechiney OCEANEs. Any such petition for delisting would be subject to the
approval of the French Commission des operations de bourse, or COB. Furthermore,
subject to the completion of the offers, Alcan intends to cause Pechiney to
terminate its deposit agreement, and to petition, or cause Pechiney to petition,
the New York Stock Exchange to delist the Pechiney ADSs.
If Alcan acquires Pechiney securities representing more then 95% of the total
share capital and voting rights in Pechiney, Alcan may launch, subject to
applicable law and obtaining the requisite approvals, a withdrawal offer or
offers (offre publique de retrait), or buy-out, followed by a compulsory
acquisition (retrait obligatoire), or squeeze-out, of all remaining Pechiney
securities not held by Alcan, including all Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney
OCEANEs, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs (including the
Pechiney Common Shares underlying the Pechiney ADSs).
EFFECT OF THE OFFERS ON THE MARKET FOR PECHINEY SECURITIES
If the offers for Pechiney securities are successful, there may no longer be an
active trading market for the Pechiney securities, and their liquidity could be
materially adversely affected.
Pechiney ADSs are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Pechiney
Common Shares are listed and traded on Euronext Paris and on the London Stock
Exchange, and Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and the Pechiney OCEANEs are
listed and traded on Euronext Paris. Euronext Paris has announced that the
Pechiney's Bonus Allocation Rights will no longer be listed after August 4,
2003. Depending upon the number of Pechiney securities acquired pursuant to the
offers, following their completion the Pechiney ADSs may no longer meet the
listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, the Pechiney Common Shares
and the Pechiney OCEANEs may no longer meet the requirements of Euronext Paris
for continued listing and the Pechiney Common Shares may no longer meet the
requirements of the London Stock Exchange for continued listing. To the extent
permitted under applicable law and stock exchange regulations, Alcan may seek to
cause the termination of Pechiney's deposit agreement relating to the Pechiney
ADSs, and the delisting of the Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney Common Shares and
Pechiney OCEANEs on these exchanges. Any petition for delisting Pechiney
securities on Euronext Paris is subject to the prior approval of the COB, which
will consider whether the market for the Pechiney securities has been materially
adversely affected and whether delisting is in the best interests of the market.
If Alcan acquires sufficient Pechiney Common Shares in the offers to cause the
delisting of the Pechiney Common Shares, then, pursuant to the terms of the
Pechiney OCEANEs, the holders of the Pechiney OCEANEs may require Pechiney to
redeem the Pechiney OCEANEs for a make-whole payment.
Furthermore, pursuant to the terms of the Pechiney OCEANEs, if less than 10% of
the number of issued Pechiney OCEANEs remains outstanding following the
consummation of these offers, Alcan may cause Pechiney to redeem the Pechiney
OCEANEs at a redemption price determined pursuant to the terms of the Pechiney
OCEANEs. This redemption price would equal an amount that would provide the
holder of the Pechiney OCEANE with a return equal to the gross yield to maturity
that would have been realized by such holder at maturity. This redemption price
may be lower than the consideration offered to holders of the Pechiney OCEANEs
in these offers. For example, had this redemption option been available to, and
exercised by, Pechiney on July 7, 2003, the redemption price per Pechiney OCEANE
would have been E77.60.
50
If one or more of the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris and SEAQ
International in London were to delist the Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney Common Shares
or Pechiney OCEANEs, the market therefor could be adversely affected. Although
it is possible that the Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney Common Shares and Pechiney
OCEANEs would be traded on other securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter
market, and the price quotations would be reported by such exchanges, or through
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System
or by other sources, there can be no assurance that any such trading quotations
will occur. The extent of the public market for the Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney
Common Shares and Pechiney OCEANEs and the availability of such quotations would
depend upon the number of holders and/or the aggregate market value of the
Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney Common Shares and Pechiney OCEANEs, as the case may be,
remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in such securities
on the part of securities firms and the possible termination of registration of
Pechiney ADSs under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If such registration is
terminated, Pechiney could cease filing periodic reports with the SEC, which
could further impact the value of the Pechiney securities. To the extent the
availability of such listings or quotations depends on steps taken by Alcan,
Alcan may or may not take such steps. Therefore, you should not rely on any such
listing or quotation being available following the successful completion of the
offers.
FRACTIONAL SHARES
No fractional Alcan Common Shares will be issued in connection with the offers.
As a result, if you would like to receive the mixed consideration of Alcan
Common Shares and cash in exchange for your Pechiney securities, you must tender
5 Pechiney Common Shares, 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or 10 Pechiney
ADSs, as the case may be, or multiples of those numbers of Pechiney securities
in this offer. If you tender a fraction of those numbers of Pechiney securities
(referred to as "remainder securities") you may elect, with respect to those
remainder securities, to tender them as Cash Election Shares or Stock Election
Shares.
If, without the application of the proration and allocation procedure described
above to reduce the total number of Stock Election Shares, the number of Stock
Election Shares tendered by each Pechiney securityholder is not a multiple of 2
(with respect to Pechiney Common Shares), 20 (with respect to Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights) or 4 (with respect to Pechiney ADSs), or if, as a result of
the proration and allocation procedure described above, the number of Mixed
Consideration Shares deemed tendered by the relevant Pechiney securityholder is
not a multiple of 5 (with respect to Pechiney Common Shares), 50 (with respect
to Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights) or 10 (with respect to Pechiney ADSs) or
the Stock Election Shares deemed tendered, as the case may be, is not a multiple
of 2 (with respect to Pechiney Common Shares), 20 (with respect to Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights) or 4 (with respect to Pechiney ADSs), then the
tendering Pechiney securityholder will receive, in respect of its Pechiney
securities tendered as Mixed Consideration Shares or Stock Election Shares:
- the number of Alcan Common Shares equal to the product of the number of
Pechiney securities tendered by the securityholder and the applicable
exchange ratio (1 Alcan Common Share for 1.67 Pechiney Common Shares or
16.67 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or 3.33 Pechiney ADSs in respect
of Mixed Consideration Shares; and 1 Alcan Common Share for 0.67 Pechiney
Common Shares or 6.67 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or 1.33 Pechiney
ADSs in respect of Stock Election Shares), rounded down to the nearest
whole Alcan Common Share; and
- in lieu of any fractional Alcan Common Share that would otherwise be
issued, an amount in cash (converted, to the extent necessary, at the
spot rate of exchange into U.S. dollars) equal to the product of the
relevant fraction of an Alcan Common Share multiplied by the average sale
price on the market of the aggregated fractional Alcan Common Shares that
would have otherwise been issued in the offers. These aggregated
fractional Alcan Common Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Alcan
Common Share) will be sold on the market by a registered intermediary, no
later than six French trading days following the listing of the Alcan
Common Shares on Euronext Paris; and
- as necessary, with respect to Mixed Consideration Shares, that portion of
the cash consideration payable with respect to Mixed Consideration Shares
corresponding to the number of Pechiney
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securities tendered as Mixed Consideration Shares multiplied by 24.6, for
Pechiney Common Shares, 2.46 for the Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or
12.30 for Pechiney ADSs.
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING PECHINEY SECURITIES
The following are the procedures to tender your Pechiney ADSs, Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney OCEANEs or Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights. The tender
materials described below provide for the election of Alcan Common Shares, cash
or a combination of Alcan Common Shares and cash in exchange for tendered
Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs in
accordance with the terms of the offer. If you validly tender Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs but fail to make an
election, you will be deemed to have elected to receive the standard
consideration with respect to such Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs. See "-- Terms of the Offers" on page 45.
Procedures for Tendering Pechiney ADSs
Pechiney ADS Certificates. If you hold Pechiney ADS certificates, you may
tender your Pechiney ADSs by delivering prior to the expiration date the
following materials to the exchange agent at one of its addresses set forth on
the back cover of this prospectus:
- your Pechiney ADS certificates;
- a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, or a
facsimile copy, with any required signature guarantees; and
- any other documents required by the letter of transmittal, including
instructions to the Bank of New York, the depositary for the Pechiney
ADSs, to tender the Pechiney Common Shares underlying the tendered
Pechiney ADSs as part of the French centralizing procedures within three
business days after the expiration of the offer period.
Pechiney ADSs in Book-Entry Form. If you hold your Pechiney ADSs in book-entry
form, you may tender your Pechiney ADSs following the procedure for book-entry
transfer described below. If you tender your Pechiney ADSs in this way, you must
deliver prior to the expiration date the following materials to the exchange
agent at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this prospectus:
- a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer (a "book-entry
confirmation") of such Pechiney ADSs into the exchange agent's account at
the Depositary Trust Corporation, or DTC, pursuant to the procedures
described below;
- a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, or a
facsimile copy, with any required signature guarantees, or an agent's
message (as defined below); and
- any other documents required by the letter of transmittal, including
instructions to The Bank of New York, the depositary for the Pechiney
ADSs, to tender the Pechiney Common Shares underlying the tendered
Pechiney ADSs as part of the French centralizing procedures within three
business days after the expiration of the offer period.
The exchange agent will establish an account with respect to Pechiney ADSs at
DTC for purposes of this offer within two business days after the date of this
prospectus. Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC's systems may
make book-entry delivery of Pechiney ADSs by causing DTC to transfer such
Pechiney ADSs into the exchange agent's account in accordance with DTC's
procedure for the transfer. You must deliver prior to the expiration date to the
exchange agent at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this
prospectus (1) the appropriate letter of transmittal, or a facsimile copy
thereof, properly completed and duly executed, together with any required
signature guarantees, or (2) an agent's message in lieu of the letter of
transmittal, and any other required documents. An "agent's message" is a message
transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the exchange agent as part of a
book-entry confirmation. The book-entry confirmation states that DTC has
received an express acknowledgment from the DTC participant tendering the
Pechiney ADSs
52
that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the
letter of transmittal and that we may enforce such agreement against such
participant.
Signature Guarantees. Signatures on all letters of transmittal must be
guaranteed by a firm that is a member of the Medallion Signature Guarantee
Program, or by any other "eligible institution", as such term is defined in Rule
17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act (each of the foregoing is referred to as an
"eligible institution"). Signature guarantees are not required in cases in which
Pechiney ADSs are tendered:
- by a registered holder of Pechiney ADSs who has not completed either the
box entitled "Special Registration Instructions" or the box entitled
"Special Delivery Instructions" on the letter of transmittal; or
- for the account of an eligible institution.
Pechiney ADSs Held in "Street Name." If you hold Pechiney ADSs in "street name"
through your broker, bank or custodian, you should contact your broker, bank or
custodian to discuss the appropriate procedures for tendering.
Pechiney ADS Certificates Registered in Another Name. If a Pechiney ADS
certificate is registered in the name of a person other than the signer of the
letter of transmittal, the certificate representing this security must be
endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers. The stock powers must be
signed exactly as the name or names of the registered owner or owners appear on
the Pechiney ADS certificate, with the signature(s) on the certificates or stock
powers guaranteed as described above.
Partial Tenders. If you wish to tender fewer than all of the Pechiney ADSs
evidenced by any ADRs delivered to the exchange agent, you must indicate this in
the letter of transmittal by completing the box entitled "Number of Pechiney
ADSs Tendered." In the case of a partial tender, you must surrender the old
Pechiney ADRs to the ADS depositary and withdraw the Pechiney Common Shares
underlying the remainder of the Pechiney ADSs before , New York City
time on the expiration date. Otherwise, the ADS depositary will automatically
tender your untendered Pechiney ADSs into this offer.
Guaranteed Delivery. If you desire to tender Pechiney ADSs pursuant to this
offer and your Pechiney ADS certificates are not immediately available or you
cannot deliver such certificates and all other required documents to the
exchange agent prior to the expiration date, or you cannot complete the
procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, you may nevertheless tender
such Pechiney securities provided that all of the following conditions are
satisfied:
- the tender is made by or through an eligible institution;
- a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery,
substantially in the form made available by us, is received by the
exchange agent as provided below on or prior to the expiration date; and
- the certificates for your tendered Pechiney securities or a confirmation
of a book-entry transfer of Pechiney securities into the exchange agent's
account at DTC as described above, in proper form for transfer, together
with a properly completed and duly executed transmittal letter or a
manually executed facsimile copy, with any required signature guarantee
or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an agent's message and all
other documents required by the letter of transmittal, are received by
the exchange agent within three New York Stock Exchange trading days
after the date of execution of such notice of guaranteed delivery.
The notice of guaranteed delivery may be delivered by hand or transmitted by
facsimile transmission or mailed to the exchange agent. The notice of guaranteed
delivery must in all cases include a guarantee by an eligible institution in the
form set forth in such notice. Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with
its procedures does not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.
53
Procedures for Tendering Pechiney Common Shares
Pechiney Common Shares held through French financial intermediaries. If your
Pechiney Common Shares are held through a French financial intermediary, you
should not complete the letter of transmittal. Instead, your French financial
intermediary should send you transmittal materials and instructions for
participating in this offer. If you have not yet received instructions from your
French financial intermediary, please contact your French financial intermediary
directly.
Pechiney Common Shares held through U.S. Custodians. If you hold your Pechiney
Common Shares through a U.S. custodian, you should not complete a letter of
transmittal. Instead, your U.S. custodian should either forward you the
transmittal materials and instructions sent by the French financial intermediary
that holds the shares on behalf of your U.S. custodian as record owner or send a
separate form prepared by your U.S. custodian. If you have not yet received
instructions from your U.S. custodian, please contact your U.S. custodian
directly.
If you hold Pechiney Common Shares in pure registered (nominatif pur) form, you
cannot tender them unless you first request that they be converted to
administered registered (nominatif administre) form. If you wish to tender such
shares, you must first make the necessary arrangements for such conversion with
your French financial intermediary or U.S. custodian, as applicable.
Procedures for Tendering Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights held through French financial
intermediaries. If your Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are held through a
French financial intermediary, you should not complete the letter of
transmittal. Instead, your French financial intermediary should send you
transmittal materials and instructions for participating in this offer. If you
have not yet received transmittal materials and instructions from your French
financial intermediary, please contact your French financial intermediary
directly.
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights held through U.S. Custodians. If you hold your
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights through a U.S. custodian, you should not
complete a letter of transmittal. Instead, your U.S. custodian should either
forward you the transmittal materials and instructions sent by the French
financial intermediary that holds the shares on behalf of your U.S. custodian as
record owner or send a separate form prepared by your U.S. custodian. If you
have not yet received instructions from your U.S. custodian, please contact your
U.S. custodian directly.
If you hold Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights in pure registered (nominatif pur)
form, you cannot tender them unless you first request that they be converted to
administered registered (nominatif administre) form. If you wish to tender such
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights, you must first make the necessary arrangements
for such conversion with your French financial intermediary or U.S. custodian,
as applicable.
Procedures for Tendering Pechiney OCEANEs
Pechiney OCEANEs held through French financial intermediaries. If your Pechiney
OCEANEs are held through a French financial intermediary, you should not
complete the letter of transmittal. Instead, your French financial intermediary
should send you transmittal materials and instructions for participating in this
offer. If you have not yet received instructions from your French financial
intermediary, please contact your French financial intermediary directly.
Pechiney OCEANEs held through U.S. Custodians. If you hold your Pechiney
OCEANEs through a U.S. custodian, you should not complete a letter of
transmittal. Instead, your U.S. custodian should either forward you the
transmittal materials and instructions sent by the French financial intermediary
that holds the shares on behalf of your U.S. custodian as record owner or send a
separate form prepared by your U.S. custodian. If you have not yet received
instructions from your U.S. custodian, please contact your U.S. custodian
directly.
If you hold Pechiney OCEANEs in pure registered (nominatif pur) form, you cannot
tender them unless you first request that they be converted to administered
registered (nominatif administre) form. If you wish to
54
tender such securities, you must first make the necessary arrangements for such
conversion with your French financial intermediary or U.S. custodian, as
applicable.
Other Requirements
By executing a letter of transmittal or form of acceptance, you will irrevocably
appoint us or our designees as your attorneys-in-fact and proxies. Your
appointment will be to the full extent of your rights with respect to the
Pechiney securities tendered by you and accepted for exchange by us and any and
all other Pechiney securities issued or issuable in respect of such Pechiney
securities on or after , 2003. Your appointment will be effective, and
your voting rights will be affected, only when we accept for exchange your
tendered Pechiney securities in accordance with the terms of the offer. Once we
accept for exchange your tendered Pechiney securities, your appointment will be
irrevocable. Upon the effectiveness of your appointment, all prior proxies given
by you will be revoked without further action, and you will not be able to give
powers of attorney, proxies or written consents with respect to the Pechiney
securities tendered by you and accepted by us. Our designees will have the
authority to exercise all your voting and other rights at any meeting of Alcan's
shareholders, by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise. Alcan
reserves the right to require that, in order for Pechiney securities to be
deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Alcan's acceptance of such Pechiney
securities for exchange, Alcan must be able to exercise all rights of ownership,
including full voting and disposition rights, with respect to such Pechiney
securities.
If the letter of transmittal, form of acceptance, notice of guaranteed delivery
or any certificates or stock powers are signed by trustees, executors,
administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or other
persons acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so
indicate when signing. Proper evidence of authority to act must be submitted by
such persons, although we may waive this requirement.
If any Pechiney Common Share, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Right, Pechiney OCEANE,
Pechiney ADS certificate or other evidence of ownership has been mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen, you must (1) furnish to the exchange agent
satisfactory evidence of ownership and of the destruction, loss or theft or such
certificate, (2) indemnify the exchange agent against loss, and (3) comply with
any other reasonable requirements.
Your tender of Pechiney securities pursuant to any of the procedures described
above will constitute your binding agreement with us to the terms and conditions
of this offer.
Determination of Validity
We will determine, in our discretion, all questions as to the validity, form and
eligibility for exchange of any tendered Pechiney securities. Our determination
will be final and binding on the holders of Pechiney securities. We reserve the
absolute right to reject any and all tenders that we determine are not in proper
form. We also reserve the right to waive any defect or irregularity in the
tender or any securities of any particular holder, whether or not similar
defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other securityholders.
Unless otherwise waived by you, your tender of securities will not be valid
until all defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. None of Alcan,
the exchange agent, the information agent, the dealer manager or any other
person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or
irregularities in the tender of any securities, or incur any liability for
failure to give any such notification. Our interpretation of the terms and
conditions of this offer will be final and binding on the holders of Pechiney
securities.
In addition, in tendering Pechiney securities you will represent and warrant
that you have full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer your
Pechiney securities (and any distributions) and, when the same are accepted for
exchange by Alcan, Alcan will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title
thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances,
and the same will not be subject to any adverse claim.
55
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
You may withdraw Pechiney securities tendered pursuant to this offer at any time
prior to the expiration date.
For a withdrawal to be effective, the exchange agent must receive a timely
written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal at one of its addresses
set forth on the back cover of this prospectus. Any such notice must specify the
name of the person who tendered the Pechiney securities being withdrawn, the
number of Pechiney securities being withdrawn and the name of the registered
holder if different from that of the person who tendered such Pechiney
securities.
If certificates evidencing Pechiney ADSs being withdrawn have been delivered or
otherwise identified to the exchange agent, then, prior to the physical release
of such certificates, (1) the exchange agent also must receive the name of the
registered holder and the serial numbers of the particular certificate
evidencing the Pechiney ADSs and (2) the signature(s) on the notice of
withdrawal must be guaranteed by an eligible institution unless such Pechiney
ADSs have been tendered for the account of an eligible institution. If Pechiney
securities have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer,
any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC
to be credited with the withdrawal of Pechiney ADSs. If you have tendered
Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney OCEANEs,
the notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the Euroclear
France account to be credited with the withdrawn Pechiney securities.
Under French law, if, during the period of these offers, another offer for
Pechiney, or an increased bid by a competing bidder, is approved by the CMF,
your tenders of Pechiney securities will be deemed null and void. In this event,
in order to tender your Pechiney securities in this offer, whether or not it has
changed, you will be required to re-tender your Pechiney securities.
We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions as to the form and
validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal. Our
determination shall be final and binding on the holders of the Pechiney
securities. None of Alcan, the exchange agent, the information agent, the dealer
manager or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any
defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for
failure to give any such notification. Any Pechiney securities properly
withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of this
offer. However, withdrawn Pechiney securities may be re-tendered at any time
prior to the expiration date by following the procedures described above under
"-- Procedures for Tendering Pechiney Securities."
ACCEPTANCE AND RETURN OF PECHINEY SECURITIES
Subject to the terms and conditions of the offer, we will exchange Pechiney
securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn for Alcan Common Shares
and/or cash, based on your elections (but only cash in the case of Pechiney
OCEANEs), or return such Pechiney securities as promptly as practicable under
French tender offer practice after the expiration date. Subject to applicable
rules of the SEC, we reserve the right to delay acceptance for exchange, or
delay exchange, of Pechiney securities in order to comply in whole or in part
with any applicable law.
Acceptance of Tendered Pechiney Securities
If the offer is successful, we will be deemed to have accepted for exchange
Pechiney securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn on the
expiration date, as set forth in the final results of the offers (avis de
resultat definitif) published in France in the French official legal gazette by
the CMF. Subject to the terms and conditions of the offers, the newly issued
Alcan Common Shares will be transferred to the account of the financial
intermediary who tendered the Pechiney securities.
Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the exchange of Pechiney
securities for Alcan Common Shares, regardless of any delay in making the
exchange.
56
Return of Tendered Pechiney Securities
In case any Pechiney securities tendered in accordance with the instructions set
forth in the offer materials are not accepted for exchange pursuant to the terms
and condition of this offer, we will cause these Pechiney securities to be
returned in accordance with the procedures outlined in such materials.
Miscellaneous
If we increase the consideration offered to any holder of Pechiney securities
prior to the expiration date, we will pay the increased consideration to all
holders of Pechiney securities that are exchanged in this offer, whether or not
such Pechiney securities were tendered prior to the announcement of such
increase. In addition, the CMF may require an extension of the offer period or
deem prior tenders invalid from the opening of the increased offer and require
re-tenders in such circumstances. No such increase is currently expected.
DELIVERY OF ALCAN COMMON SHARES AND CASH
In the event the offers are successful, the exchange agent will deliver Alcan
Common Shares and cash to tendering holders of Pechiney securities promptly
following the publication by the CMF of the final results of the offers for
Pechiney securities. The results of the offers should be published by the CMF
approximately six to nine French trading days following the expiration date of
the offers. If the offers are consummated, the final settlement date for the
offers is currently expected to be within approximately 12 to 18 French trading
days following the expiration date of the offers. The cash consideration payable
in this offer will be paid in U.S. dollars calculated by converting the
applicable amount in euros into U.S. dollars using the noon buying rate, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on the business day prior to
the settlement date.
FEES AND EXPENSES
Except as set forth below, we will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker
or other person soliciting tenders of Pechiney securities pursuant to this
offer.
Alcan will pay the brokerage fees and related value added taxes incurred by
Pechiney securityholders tendering into this offer, up to a limit of 0.3% of the
value of each Pechiney security tendered, and subject to a maximum amount of
E 150 per account. Pechiney securityholders will not be reimbursed for any
brokerage fees in any event that the offer is withdrawn or lapses. Financial
intermediaries will be paid a fee, net of tax, of E 0.50 per Pechiney Common
Share tendered into this offer, up to a maximum amount of E 200 per account.
This fee will not be paid in the event that the offer is withdrawn or lapses.
Morgan Stanley is acting as dealer manager in the United States in connection
with this offer and they or certain of their affiliates have provided certain
financial advisory services to Alcan in connection with the transactions. Morgan
Stanley will receive reasonable and customary compensation for its services as
financial advisor and dealer-manager. We will indemnify the financial advisor
against specified liabilities and expenses in connection with this offer,
including liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws.
We have also retained to act as information agent in connection with this
offer. The information agent may contact holders of Pechiney securities by mail,
telephone, telex, fax, e-mail and personal interview and may request brokers,
dealers and other nominee shareholders to forward these offer materials to
owners of Pechiney securities. The information agent will receive reasonable and
customary fees for these services, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
We have retained to act as exchange agent in connection with this offer. We
will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary compensation for its
services in connection with this offer, plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket
expenses. We will reimburse brokers, dealers commercial banks and trust
companies for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in
forwarding material to their customers.
We will indemnify the information agent and the exchange agent against certain
liabilities and expenses in connection with this offer, including liabilities
under the U.S. federal securities laws.
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Indemnification for liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws may be
unenforceable as against public policy.
The cash expenses to be incurred in connection with this offer will be paid by
Alcan and are estimated in the aggregate to be approximately $92 million. Such
expenses include registration fees, fees and expenses of the financial advisor
and dealer-manager, exchange agent and information agent, accounting and legal
fees and printing costs, among others.
LISTING OF ALCAN COMMON SHARES
Alcan Common Shares are currently listed on the New York, Toronto, London and
Swiss stock exchanges. Alcan will apply to list its Alcan Common Shares on
Euronext Paris, subject to the successful completion of these offers. Alcan will
also apply for the supplemental listing of the Alcan Common Shares to be issued
in these offers on the New York, Toronto, Paris, London and Swiss stock
exchanges, and will comply with all of the usual requirements of such exchanges
within the time periods specified by such exchanges.
TREATMENT OF PECHINEY STOCK OPTIONS AND PECHINEY EMPLOYEE SHAREHOLDING PLAN
Alcan has not had access to important information relating to Pechiney's stock
option plans and employee shareholding plans, including the terms of these
plans. If these offers are consummated, Alcan will determine the treatment of
stock options (including stock purchase options and stock subscription options)
and of Pechiney Common Shares held in the Pechiney employee shareholding plan
that could not be tendered.
FUTURE DIVIDEND POLICY OF PECHINEY
Alcan is not in a position at this stage to state what their dividend policy
will be in respect of Pechiney securities after successful offers, but it is
likely that such policy will be determined in the context of Pechiney's
integration into the combined entities. This policy could bring about a large
reduction in the level of dividends paid by Pechiney, or an end to dividends
being paid.
REGULATORY APPROVALS
Completion of the offers is conditional upon receipt of merger control approvals
from the European Commission and any Relevant National Authorities to whom the
Commission has referred jurisdiction to review all or part of the transaction
and the U.S. antitrust authorities. There can be no assurance that the necessary
approvals will be granted or that they will be granted on favorable terms. It is
possible that certain merger control approvals will be subject to conditions and
obligations, which may include the disposal of certain significant assets or
businesses, as discussed further under "-- Reasons for the Offers -- Possible
Undertakings to Meet Regulatory Concerns" on page 30. It is possible that such
conditions and obligations will have a material effect on certain of the
financial assumptions upon which the information in this prospectus is based. We
may choose to proceed with the offers even though we are required to comply with
such conditions and obligations.
The offers are also subject to the prior approval of France's Minister of the
Economy, Finance and Industry. See "Regulatory Matters -- Investment Controls"
on page 81.
COMPARISON OF THE RIGHTS OF PECHINEY SHAREHOLDERS AND ALCAN SHAREHOLDERS
You will receive Alcan Common Shares if you tender your Pechiney securities in
the offer. There are numerous differences between the rights of a shareholder in
Pechiney, a French societe anonyme, and the rights of a shareholder in Alcan, a
Canadian corporation. We urge you to review the discussion under "Comparison of
Shareholders' Rights" beginning on page 85 for a summary of these differences.
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ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
The acquisition of the Pechiney securities will be accounted for using the
purchase method under both Canadian and U.S. GAAP. Under the purchase method,
the cost of the purchase will be based on the cash paid to Pechiney
securityholders, the market value of Alcan Common Shares issued to Pechiney
securityholders, fair value of any stock options of Pechiney replaced with stock
options of Alcan and the direct transaction costs. In Alcan's consolidated
financial statements, the cost of the purchase will be allocated to the Pechiney
assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values at
the acquisition date, with any excess of the cost over the amounts allocated
being recognized as goodwill. This method may result in the carrying value of
assets, including goodwill, acquired from Pechiney being substantially different
from the former carrying values of those assets.
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TAXATION
This section describes the material United States federal income and certain
French and Canadian tax consequences of exchanging your Pechiney securities
pursuant to this offer and the material United States federal income and
Canadian tax consequences of owning and disposing of Alcan Common Shares
acquired pursuant to this offer. It applies to you only if you hold your
Pechiney securities, and will hold your Alcan Common Shares, as a capital asset
for United States federal income tax purposes. This section is the opinion of
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP insofar as it relates to United States federal income
and French tax law, and is the opinion of Hugh Berwick, Alcan's senior tax
counsel insofar, as it relates to matters of Canadian tax law. This section does
not apply to you if you are a resident of France for French tax purposes, or a
member of a special class of holders subject to special rules, including, with
respect to the French or United States federal income tax consequences:
- a dealer in securities or currencies,
- a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of
accounting for securities holdings,
- a tax-exempt organization,
- a life insurance company,
- a holder of Pechiney OCEANEs that is a bank,
- a person liable for alternative minimum tax,
- with respect to the tax consequences of exchanging Pechiney Common
Shares, Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights or Pechiney ADSs, a person that
actually or constructively owns 10% or more of Pechiney voting stock;
- with respect to the tax consequences of owning and disposing of Alcan
Common Shares, a person that actually or constructively will own 10% or
more of Alcan voting stock after the exchange,
- with respect to French taxation, a person that together with his or her
spouse, if any, and their ascendants and descendants, directly or
indirectly, hold or have held more than 25% of the rights to Pechiney's
earnings (droits aux benefices sociaux) at any time during the five years
preceding the exchange,
- a person that holds Pechiney securities, or, after the exchange, will
hold Alcan Common Shares, as part of a straddle or a hedging or
conversion transaction, and
- a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the
U.S. dollar.
This section is based on the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, published
rulings and court decisions, and the French tax laws, as well as on the income
tax conventions between the United States of America and the Republic of France
(the "French Treaty") and between the United States of America and Canada (the
"Canadian Treaty"), all as currently in effect. With respect to Canadian tax
matters, it is further based on the current provisions of the Income Tax Act
(Canada) (the "ITA"), the regulations thereunder, specific proposals to amend
the ITA, the regulations announced before the date of this prospectus and the
current administrative and assessing practices of the Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency. All of these laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive
basis.
You are a non-resident of France for French tax purposes if you are a beneficial
owner of Pechiney securities that exchanges its Pechiney securities for Alcan
Common Shares, cash or a combination of both pursuant to this offer, and, for
French income tax purposes, you are not:
- an individual (i) whose principal residence is located in France or who
resides in France for more than 183 days during a year, (ii) maintains
his or her household in France, (iii) carries out his or her principal
professional activity in France, or (iv) whose principal center of
economical interests is located in France, or
- an enterprise with its registered office located in France or operating a
business in France.
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You are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of Pechiney securities that
exchanges its Pechiney securities for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a combination
of both pursuant to this offer, and you are for United States federal income tax
purposes:
- a citizen or resident of the United States,
- a United States domestic corporation,
- an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax
regardless of its source, or
- a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over
the trust's administration and one or more United States persons are
authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
You are a non-U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of Pechiney securities
that exchanges Pechiney securities for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a
combination of both pursuant to this offer, and you are not a United States
person for United States federal income tax purposes.
You are a non-Canadian holder if you are a beneficial owner of Pechiney
securities that exchanges Pechiney securities for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a
combination of both pursuant to this offer and at any relevant time
- you are not and are not deemed to be resident in Canada for purposes of
the ITA;
- you do not hold or use and are not deemed to hold or use the Pechiney
securities in a business carried on in Canada; and
- you are not an insurer carrying on business in Canada and elsewhere.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL, AND THE CANADIAN, FRENCH AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
EXCHANGING YOUR PECHINEY SECURITIES AND OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF ALCAN COMMON
SHARES IN YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. IN PARTICULAR, YOU SHOULD CONFIRM
WHETHER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BENEFITS OF THE FRENCH TREATY OR CANADIAN
TREATY WITH YOUR ADVISOR AND SHOULD DISCUSS ANY POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING
TO BE SO ELIGIBLE.
This section does not constitute legal or tax advice to any particular holder of
Pechiney securities.
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF EXCHANGING PECHINEY SECURITIES
FRENCH TAXATION
Pechiney securities exchanged for cash or a combination of Alcan Common Shares
and cash if the cash received in the exchange exceeds 10% of the nominal value
of the Alcan Common Shares received
For French income tax purposes, if you are a French non-resident, you will not
be subject to French tax on any capital gain or loss recognized upon exchanging
your Pechiney securities for cash or a combination of Alcan Common Shares and
cash, unless you have a permanent establishment or fixed base in France and the
Pechiney securities exchanged is part of the business property of that permanent
establishment or fixed base. In that case, the gain or loss, if any, generally
will equal the difference between the value of the Alcan Common Shares and any
cash received, and your adjusted tax basis in your Pechiney securities
exchanged. Such gain or loss would be recognized upon the exchange and subject
to French income tax under the ordinary rules.
Pechiney securities exchanged for Alcan Common Shares or a combination of Alcan
Common Shares and cash if the cash received in the exchange does not exceed 10%
of the nominal value of the Alcan Common Shares received
For French income tax purposes, if you are a French non-resident, you will not
be subject to French tax on any capital gain or loss recognized upon exchanging
your Pechiney securities for Alcan Common Shares or a
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combination of Alcan Common Shares and cash, unless you have a permanent
establishment or fixed base in France and the Pechiney securities exchanged is
part of the business property of that permanent establishment or fixed base.
If that were the case, you will generally be
- subject to French tax under the ordinary rules on the gain realized upon
exchanging a Pechiney Bonus Allocation Right, a Pechiney OCEANE or a
Pechiney ADS, and
- subject to deferred French taxation, until future disposal of your Alcan
Common Share,
- on the gain realized upon exchanging a Pechiney Common Share, if you
are an individual, or
- on any portion of gain exceeding the amount of cash received, if you
are a corporation, and the portion of gain up to or equal to the amount
of cash received will be subject to corporate income tax at the normal
rate at the time of the exchange.
The amount subject to deferred French taxation will be determined by reference
to your tax basis in your Pechiney Common Share exchanged.
CANADIAN TAXATION
A non-Canadian holder will not be subject to Canadian federal tax in respect of
any gain or loss realized on Pechiney securities exchanged in the offer. In
addition, a person that is resident of Canada for purposes of the ITA, but that
is resident of the United States for purposes of the Canadian Treaty and is
otherwise eligible for the benefits of the Canadian Treaty, will not be subject
to Canadian federal tax in respect of any gain or loss realized on Pechiney
securities exchanged in the offer, provided that such person does not hold the
Pechiney securities in a manner that is effectively connected with or pertains
to a permanent establishment (as defined in the Canadian Treaty) through which
the holder carries on business in Canada or a fixed base through which the
holder performs independent personal services in Canada.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
U.S. HOLDERS. If you are a U.S. holder, you will recognize capital gain or
loss, if any, as a result of exchanging a Pechiney Common Share, Pechiney Bonus
Allocation Right or Pechiney ADS for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a combination
of both equal to the difference between
- the sum of the value of any Alcan Common Shares, determined in U.S.
dollars, and the amount of any cash payment you receive in the exchange
and
- your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in the Pechiney Common Share,
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Right or Pechiney ADS that you exchange.
For this purpose, the value of any Alcan Common Shares received will equal the
fair market value of such shares on the date of the exchange, determined in U.S.
dollars. You should generally be able to treat the mean between the highest and
lowest selling prices of Alcan Common Shares on the date of exchange on the
stock exchange where Alcan Common Shares are principally traded as the fair
market value of an Alcan Common Share on the date of exchange. Alcan believes
that, for this purpose, the New York Stock Exchange should be treated as the
stock exchange where Alcan Common Shares are principally traded.
If you receive any Alcan Common Shares pursuant to this offer, your tax basis in
each such share immediately after the exchange will equal its fair market value
and your holding period in each such share will begin on the day after the
exchange date.
If you exchange a Pechiney OCEANE for cash, you will be required to include in
ordinary income any cash that is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on
the Pechiney OCEANE and any original issue discount that has accrued on the
Pechiney OCEANE prior to the exchange. You will recognize gain or loss, if any,
in the exchange equal to the difference between
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- the amount of the cash payment you receive in the exchange, reduced by
the portion of the cash payment that is attributable to accrued interest,
and
- your adjusted tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars and after taking into
account any original issue discount that has accrued prior to the
exchange, in the Pechiney OCEANE that you exchange.
Any such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss except that (a) any
gain or loss that is attributable to changes in the U.S. dollar/euro exchange
rate during the period in which you held your Pechiney OCEANE will be ordinary
income or loss and (b) if you purchased your Pechiney OCEANE with market
discount in excess of a de minimis amount, any gain that you recognize will be
ordinary income to the extent of any accrued market discount on your Pechiney
OCEANE that you have not yet included in income.
For foreign tax credit purposes, gain or loss that you recognize upon an
exchange of Pechiney securities for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a combination
of both generally will be income or loss from sources within the United States
if such gain or loss is capital gain or loss or ordinary gain or loss that is
attributable to changes in the U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate. Any original
issue discount and accrued interest that you include in income with respect to a
Pechiney OCEANE will generally be treated as income from sources outside the
United States and any market discount that you include in income with respect to
a Pechiney OCEANE will likely be treated as income from sources outside the
United States. Any gain or loss that you recognize upon an exchange of Pechiney
securities for Alcan Common Shares, cash or a combination of both will generally
be treated as "passive income" or, in certain cases, "financial services
income," which is treated separately from other types of income for foreign tax
credit limitation purposes.
If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, capital gain will be taxable at a maximum
rate of 15% if your holding period in the Pechiney security that you exchange
exceeds one year on the date of exchange. The deductibility of capital losses is
subject to limitations.
If you recognize a loss upon an exchange of a Pechiney OCEANE for cash and the
portion of such loss that is attributable to changes in the U.S. dollar/euro
exchange rate is $50,000 or more, then you may be required to specially report
such loss on Internal Revenue Service Form 8886. You should consult with your
tax advisor as to whether you will be subject to any such reporting obligation.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS. Except as otherwise described below with respect to amounts
received in respect of accrued interest, if you are a non-U.S. holder, you will
not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain or loss
recognized as a result of exchanging your Pechiney securities for Alcan Common
Shares, cash or both unless
- the gain or loss is "effectively connected" with your conduct of a trade
or business in the United States, and the gain is attributable to a
permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States if that is
required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting
you to United States taxation on a net income basis, or
- you are an individual who is present in the United States for at least
183 days in the taxable year of the sale and
- your "tax home" for United States federal income tax purposes is in the
United States or
- the gain is attributable to an office or other fixed place of business
that you maintain in the United States.
If you are a non-U.S. holder of a Pechiney OCEANE, the amount of cash received
in exchange for your Pechiney OCEANE that is attributable to accrued interest is
exempt from United States federal income tax, whether or not you are engaged in
a trade or business in the United States, unless
- you are an insurance company carrying on a United States insurance
business to which the interest is attributable, within the meaning of the
Internal Revenue Code, or
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- you both
- have an office or other fixed place of business in the United States to
which the interest is attributable and
- derive the interest in the active conduct of a banking, financing or
similar business within the United States.
If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder that under the rules described above is
subject to United States federal income tax on the exchange of your Pechiney
securities, you may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an
additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are
eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower
rate.
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF ALCAN COMMON SHARES
TAXATION OF DIVIDENDS
CANADIAN TAXATION
Dividends (including deemed dividends) on Alcan Common Shares paid to a
non-Canadian holder will generally be subject to a Canadian non-resident
withholding tax. The general withholding tax rate of 25% may be reduced pursuant
to the provisions of a treaty entered into between Canada and the country in
which the recipient or beneficial owner of such dividends is a resident. Under
the Canadian Treaty the rate of such Canadian non-resident withholding tax is
reduced to 15%. In addition, under the Canadian Treaty, dividends on Alcan
Common Shares paid to certain pension, retirement or charitable organizations
that are eligible for the benefits of the Canadian Treaty and exempt from tax in
the United States will generally be exempt from Canadian withholding tax.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
U.S. HOLDERS. Under the United States federal income tax laws, if you are a
U.S. holder, the gross amount of any dividend Alcan pays with respect to its
Alcan Common Shares to you out of its current or accumulated earnings and
profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) is subject
to United States federal income taxation. If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder,
dividends paid to you in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009 that
constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to you at a maximum tax
rate of 15% provided that you hold the Alcan Common Shares for more than 60 days
during the 120-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meet
other holding period requirements. Dividends Alcan pays with respect to Alcan
Common Shares generally will be qualified dividend income.
You must include any Canadian tax withheld from the dividend payment in this
gross amount even though you do not in fact receive it. The dividend is taxable
to you when you receive it, actually or constructively. The dividend will not be
eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States
corporations in respect of dividends received from other United States
corporations. Distributions with respect to Alcan Common Shares in excess of
Alcan's current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for United
States federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a non-taxable return of
capital to the extent of your basis in the Alcan Common Shares and thereafter as
capital gain.
Subject to certain limitations, the Canadian tax withheld in accordance with the
Treaty and paid over to Canada will be creditable against your United States
federal income tax liability. Special rules apply in determining the foreign tax
credit limitation with respect to dividends that are subject to the maximum 15%
tax rate. To the extent a refund of the tax withheld is available to you under
Canadian law or under the Treaty, the amount of tax withheld that is refundable
will not be eligible for credit against your United States federal income tax
liability.
Dividends will be income from sources outside the United States, but generally
will be "passive income" or "financial services income," which is treated
separately from other types of income for purposes of computing the foreign tax
credit allowable to you.
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NON-U.S. HOLDERS. If you are a non-U.S. holder, dividends paid to you in
respect of Alcan Common Shares will not be subject to United States federal
income tax unless the dividends are "effectively connected" with your conduct of
a trade or business within the United States, and the dividends are attributable
to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States if that is
required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to
United States taxation on a net income basis. In such cases you generally will
be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. holder. If you are a corporate non-U.S.
holder, "effectively connected" dividends may, under certain circumstances, be
subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate or at a lower rate
if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a
lower rate.
TAXATION OF CAPITAL GAINS
CANADIAN TAXATION
Gains realized by a non-Canadian holder on a sale or other disposition of Alcan
Common Shares generally will not be subject to Canadian tax unless such shares
constitute "taxable Canadian property" to such non-Canadian holder. The Alcan
Common Shares may constitute "taxable Canadian property" to a non-Canadian
holder if:
- they are held or used in a business carried on in Canada; or
- at any time in the five years immediately preceding the disposition, the
non-Canadian holder, persons with whom the non-Canadian holder did not
deal at arm's length, or the non-Canadian holder and such non-arm's
length persons, owned or had under any option or right to acquire 25% or
more of the issued shares of any class or series of the capital stock of
Alcan.
Even where the Alcan Common Shares constitute "taxable Canadian Property" to a
non-Canadian holder, the gain from the sale or disposition of such shares may
also be exempt from Canadian tax pursuant to the provisions of a treaty entered
into by Canada and another country. Under the Canadian Treaty, such gain will
generally be exempt from Canadian tax unless the Alcan Common Shares derive
their value principally from real property situated in Canada (as defined in the
Canadian Treaty).
A disposition of Alcan Common Shares to Alcan (unless the shares are acquired in
the open market in the manner in which shares would normally be purchased by any
member of the public) will result in a deemed dividend to a non-Canadian holder
equal to the amount by which the consideration paid by Alcan for the Alcan
Common Shares exceeds the paid-up capital of such shares for purposes of the
ITA. The amount of such deemed dividend will be subject to the withholding tax
described under "-- Taxation of Dividends -- Canadian Taxation" above.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
U.S. HOLDERS. If you are a U.S. holder and you sell or otherwise dispose of
your Alcan Common Shares received pursuant to this offer, you will recognize
capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal to the
difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount that you realize and your
adjusted tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in your Alcan Common Shares. See
"Tax Consequences of Exchanging Pechiney Securities -- United States Federal
Income Taxation" above for your initial tax basis in, and the start of your
holding period of, the Alcan Common Shares received pursuant to this offer.
Capital gain of a noncorporate U.S. holder that is recognized before January 1,
2009 is generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% where the holder has a holding
period greater than one year. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss
from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation
purposes.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS. If you are a non-U.S. holder, you will not be subject to
United States federal income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other
disposition of your Alcan Common Shares unless:
- the gain is "effectively connected" with your conduct of a trade or
business in the United States, and the gain is attributable to a
permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States if that is
required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting
you to United States taxation on a net income basis, or
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- you are an individual, you are present in the United States for 183 or
more days in the taxable year of the sale and
- your "tax home" for United States federal income tax purposes is in the
United States or
- the gain is attributable to an office or other fixed place of business
that you maintain in the United States.
If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, "effectively connected" gains that you
recognize may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional
"branch profits tax" at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for
the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, information reporting requirements, on
Internal Revenue Service Form 1099, generally will apply to:
- dividend payments or other taxable distributions made to you within the
United States,
- cash payments made to you pursuant to an exchange of Pechiney securities
for cash pursuant to this offer, and
- the payment of proceeds to you from the sale of Alcan Common Shares
effected at a United States office of a broker.
Additionally, backup withholding may apply to such payments if you are a
noncorporate U.S. holder that:
- fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number,
- is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have failed to
report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal
income tax returns, or
- in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification
requirements.
If you are a non-U.S. holder, you are generally exempt from backup withholding
and information reporting requirements with respect to:
- dividend payments made to you outside the United States by Alcan or
another non-United States payor and
- other dividend payments and the payment of the proceeds from the sale of
Alcan Common Shares effected at a United States office of a broker, as
long as the income associated with such payments is otherwise exempt from
United States federal income tax, and:
- the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that
you are a United States person and you have furnished the payor or
broker:
- an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute
form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a
non-United States person, or
- other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payments as
made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury
regulations, or
- you otherwise establish an exemption.
Payment of the proceeds from the sale of Alcan Common Shares effected at a
foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information
reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale of Alcan
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Common Shares that is effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject
to information reporting and backup withholding if:
- the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the
United States,
- the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you
at a United States address, or
- the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as
provided in U.S. Treasury regulations,
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are
a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are
met or you otherwise establish an exemption.
In addition, a sale of Alcan Common Shares effected at a foreign office of a
broker will be subject to information reporting if the broker is:
- a United States person,
- a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes,
- a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively
connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a
specified three-year period, or
- a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year:
- one or more of its partners are "U.S. persons", as defined in U.S.
Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the
income or capital interest in the partnership, or
- such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States
trade or business,
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are
a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are
met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if
the sale is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual knowledge
that you are a United States person.
You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup
withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim
with the United States Internal Revenue Service.
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INFORMATION ABOUT ALCAN
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Alcan is the parent company of an international group involved in many aspects
of the aluminum, engineered products and packaging industries. Through
subsidiaries, joint ventures and related companies around the world, the
activities of Alcan include bauxite mining, alumina refining, production of
chemicals, power generation, aluminum smelting, manufacturing, recycling,
packaging, as well as research and development. Alcan employs approximately
54,000 people.
In the 101 years since it was established, Alcan has developed a unique
combination of competitive strengths. Alcan is a multicultural and multilingual
market-driven company reflecting the differing corporate and social
characteristics of the 42 countries in which it operates. Alcan is one of the
most international aluminum and packaging companies and is the global leader in
the production and sale of rolled aluminum products.
Alcan's six operating segments are:
BAUXITE, ALUMINA AND SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, headquartered in Montreal, Canada,
comprising Alcan's worldwide activities related to bauxite mining, alumina
refining and the production of specialty chemicals, operating seven bauxite
mines and deposits in five countries and five alumina plants in three countries;
PRIMARY METAL, also headquartered in Montreal, comprising smelting operations,
power generation and production of primary value-added ingot in the form of
sheet ingot, extrusion billet, rod and foundry ingot, as well as engineering
services and trading operations for alumina and aluminum, operating or having
interests in 16 smelters in seven countries;
ROLLED PRODUCTS AMERICAS AND ASIA, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.,
encompassing aluminum sheet and light gauge products, operating 16 plants in six
countries;
ROLLED PRODUCTS EUROPE, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, comprising
aluminum sheet, including automotive, can and lithographic sheet, plate and foil
stock operating 11 plants in four countries;
ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, producing
fabricated aluminum products, including wire and cable, components for the mass
transportation, automotive, building, display, eletromechanical and other
industrial markets, as well as sales and service centers throughout Europe,
operating 47 plants in 17 countries; and
PACKAGING, also headquartered in Zurich, consisting of Alcan's worldwide food
flexible, foil, specialty, pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging businesses,
operating 76 plants in 14 countries.
Alcan's corporate head office, located in Montreal, focuses on strategy
development and capital deployment, while overseeing governance, policy, legal,
compliance, human resources and finance matters.
HISTORY
Alcan is a limited liability Canadian company, incorporated on June 3, 1902,
with its headquarters and registered office in Montreal, Canada. It was formed
as a subsidiary of the Pittsburgh Reduction Company, one of the founding
companies of the aluminum industry, to establish a smelter and hydroelectric
power facility in Shawinigan, Quebec. In 1928, the international operations and
domestic U.S. operations were separated into two competing companies that became
Alcan and Alcoa Inc., respectively. During the Second World War, substantial
expansion of hydroelectric and smelting capacity took place in Quebec to supply
aluminum for the war effort. In the 1950s, Alcan added hydroelectric and
smelting in British Columbia. During the postwar period, Alcan expanded
internationally and invested in fabricating activities to stimulate demand for
its primary metal production.
In 2000, Alcan entered into a combination agreement with algroup, which
consisted of an independent offer of Alcan Common Shares for all of the
outstanding shares of algroup. On October 17, 2000, after clearance from
competition authorities, the combination was completed with Alcan acquiring over
99% of the shares of algroup by virtue of its offer. Alcan acquired the
remaining shares in algroup in 2001 by virtue of statutory right and caused
algroup to de-list from the SWX Swiss Exchange.
Today, Alcan is a multinational company engaged in all aspects of the aluminum
and packaging industries on an international scale.
68
INFORMATION ABOUT PECHINEY
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Pechiney operates in two core businesses (positions and market shares presented
in this section are based on internal estimates of Pechiney as discussed in
Pechiney's publicly available disclosure): the production of primary aluminum
and fabricated aluminum products and the production of packaging materials.
Pechiney's aluminum technology is recognized as a world leader. Pechiney
believes that it is also one of the world leaders in the production of packaging
materials for the food, healthcare and beauty industries on the basis of 2002
sales. It is the world's largest producer of collapsible tubes. Pechiney's other
activities include the production of ferroalloys and international trade.
ALUMINUM: Pechiney's aluminum business is comprised of two segments: Primary
Aluminum Metal and Aluminum Conversion.
Primary Aluminum is Europe's second and the world's fifth largest producer of
primary aluminum on the basis of 2002 obtainable production capacity. It also
holds interests in companies that produce bauxite and alumina. Primary Aluminum
also licenses alumina and aluminum production technology and related equipment.
Aluminum Conversion includes the activities of four divisions:
- The Aerospace, Transport, Industry division includes the production of
aluminum rolled products for transport markets (aerospace, sea and
ground, excluding automotive) and industry, as well as the production of
hard alloy extrusions;
- The Cans, Automotive, Standard Rolled Products division includes the
production of aluminum rolled products at Neuf Brisach for the can,
automotive and standard rolled products market;
- The Foil and Thin Foil/Specialty Products division includes Pechiney
Eurofoil's foil and thin foil activities at Dudelange, Flemalle and
Rugles, as well as different specialty activities (circles, precoated
sheets, etc.);
- The Extrusions, Casting Alloys, Automotive division manufactures and
markets aluminum soft alloy sections for the construction, transport and
equipment markets, as well as casting alloys used almost exclusively in
the automotive market. The division is also in charge of Pechiney
Automotive, a cross-division structure specially dedicated to the
automotive market.
PACKAGING: In 2002, Pechiney's Packaging sector included the following
activities:
- Plastic Packaging, an important North American and European producer of
flexible packaging for the food, healthcare and specialty markets;
- Cebal Tubes Europe and Cebal Tubes Americas, which together are the world
leader in the manufacture of flexible plastic, laminated and aluminum
tubes for the cosmetics, personal care and healthcare markets on the
basis of 2002 production;
- Cebal Aerosols, the world's largest manufacturer of seamless aluminum
aerosol and spray cans;
- Techpack International (TPI), one of the world's principal producers of
plastic packaging for makeup, perfume and cosmetics on the basis of 2002
sales;
- Pechiney Capsules, which produces caps and overcaps for wines and
spirits.
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Pechiney's other business also includes Ferroalloys, where
Pechiney mainly produces silicon and ferroalloys as well as abrasives and
refractories, and International Trade, where Pechiney operates the following
three lines of business: a worldwide network of sales agencies, which markets
products manufactured by Pechiney and third parties; a non-ferrous metal and
other basic material trading operation; and the distribution of semi-finished
aluminum products.
69
NEW ORGANIZATION: The aluminum activities of Pechiney were divided, effective
as of February 1, 2003, into two distinct sectors:
- the Primary Aluminum sector, which includes in a single entity
bauxite-alumina-aluminum production activities and ferroalloys;
- the Aluminum Conversion sector, comprised of rolled products, extrusions
and casting alloys used in a wide variety of markets: aerospace,
automotive, sea transport, rail, industry, industrial equipment,
construction and beverage cans.
CONVERSION OF PECHINEY PREFERRED SHARES "B" TO PECHINEY COMMON SHARES
Pursuant to resolutions adopted at an extraordinary meeting of Pechiney's
shareholders on April 3, 2003 and an extraordinary meeting of the holders of
Pechiney's Preferred Shares "B" on May 27, 2003, the 1,091,040 outstanding
Pechiney Preferred Shares "B" were converted into Pechiney Common Shares
effective June 4, 2003, at the exchange ratio of 11 Common Shares for 10
Preferred Shares "B." In this conversion, each Preferred Share "B" was
automatically converted into one Pechiney Common Share, with the holders of the
Pechiney Preferred Shares "B" also receiving one Bonus Allocation Right per
Preferred Share "B." Each Bonus Allocation Right gives the holder the right to
acquire 0.10 of a Pechiney Common Share, with 10 Bonus Allocation Rights being
required to acquire one Common Share. No fractional Common Shares will be issued
in exchange for Bonus Allocation Rights. The Bonus Allocation Rights are
exercisable by their holders for a period of two years from the date of
issuance. They will remain listed on Euronext Paris until August 4, 2003, after
which they will trade over-the-counter. In connection with the conversion of the
Pechiney Preferred Shares "B," the "A" designation formerly assigned to the
Pechiney Common Shares was eliminated.
70
PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALCAN AND PECHINEY
The following unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet and unaudited pro forma
combined statement of income, which give effect to the offers, are presented in
U.S. dollars and reflect the combination of Alcan and Pechiney using the
purchase method under U.S. GAAP. The pro forma adjustments are based upon
available information and certain assumptions that pursuant to the offers:
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Common Shares are exchanged for Alcan
Common Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are
exchanged for every 5 Pechiney Common Shares;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are exchanged for
Alcan Common Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are
exchanged for every 50 Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney OCEANEs are exchanged for cash. Each
Pechiney OCEANE is exchanged for E81.70;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney ADSs are exchanged for Alcan Common
Shares and cash. 3 Alcan Common Shares and E123 in cash are exchanged for
every 10 Pechiney ADSs;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney stock options are exchanged for Alcan
stock options; and
- the cash consideration paid in the offers is financed by additional Alcan
debt.
The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet and unaudited pro forma combined
statement of income are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not
necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial condition of the
combined entities that would have been achieved if the offers had been completed
during the periods presented, nor are the unaudited pro forma combined balance
sheet and unaudited pro forma combined statement of income necessarily
indicative of the future operating results or financial position of the combined
entities. The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet and unaudited pro forma
combined statement of income do not reflect any cost savings or other synergies
which may result from the combination. The pro forma financial information does
not reflect any special items such as payments pursuant to change of control
provisions or restructuring and integration costs which may be incurred as a
result of the acquisition.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information does not reflect the
impact of significant divestitures that Alcan expects to make pursuant to
undertakings with antitrust regulators, as there are no current agreements
providing for implementation of such dispositions, which, however, are expected
to be carried out shortly after the completion of the offers. See "The
Offers -- Reasons for the Offers -- Possible Divestitures to Meet Regulatory
Concerns."
The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet and unaudited pro forma combined
statement of income have been derived from and should be read in conjunction
with the respective consolidated financial information of Alcan and Pechiney as
of and for the three months ended March 31, 2003, and as of and for the year
ended December 31, 2002, which are incorporated herein by reference. All amounts
are stated in U.S. dollars. This pro forma information is subject to risks and
uncertainties, including those discussed under "Risk Factors -- Risks Relating
to the Offers -- We Have Not Been Given the Opportunity to Conduct a Due
Diligence Review of the Non-Public Records of Pechiney. Therefore, We May Be
Subject to Unknown Liabilities of Pechiney Which May Have a Material Adverse
Effect on Our Profitability and Results of Operations" and "Risk
Factors -- Risks Relating to the Offers -- We Have Not Verified the Reliability
of the Pechiney Information Included in, or Incorporated by Reference into, this
Prospectus."
As noted above, Alcan prepares its financial statements in accordance with
Canadian GAAP, and provides a reconciliation of such financial statements to
U.S. GAAP. Since Pechiney does not prepare Canadian GAAP financial information,
but does prepare a U.S. GAAP reconciliation of its financial statements, the pro
forma financial information herein is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
71
ALCAN AND PECHINEY -- U.S. GAAP
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 2003
FRENCH
GAAP
CANADIAN TRANSLATED
GAAP ALCAN US HISTORICAL
HISTORICAL GAAP ALCAN US PECHINEY
ALCAN ADJUSTMENTS GAAP (RECLASSIFIED)
---------- ----------- -------- --------------
(IN MILLIONS OF US DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and time deposits..... 111 (20) 91 332
Marketable securities...... -- -- -- 181
Receivables................ 1,913 (9) 1,904 1,611
Inventories................ 2,023 (92) 1,931 1,552
Deferred income taxes...... -- -- -- 55
------ ----- ------ -----
4,047 (121) 3,926 3,731
Deferred charges and other
assets................... 645 1,023 1,668 724
Property, plant and
equipment -- net......... 10,139 (948) 9,191 3,100
Other intangible
assets -- net............ 329 116 445 164
Goodwill................... 2,357 (190) 2,167 678
Excess of purchase price
over book value of net
assets acquired.......... -- -- -- --
Deferred income taxes...... -- -- -- 574
------ ----- ------ -----
Total assets............... 17,517 (120) 17,397 8,971
====== ===== ====== =====
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Payables................... 2,360 (58) 2,302 2,049
Short-term borrowings...... 352 (10) 342 407
Debt maturing within one
year..................... 334 (48) 286 210
------ ----- ------ -----
3,046 (116) 2,930 2,666
Debt not maturing within
one year................. 3,105 (62) 3,043 1,406
Deferred credits and other
liabilities.............. 1,454 665 2,119 1,286
Deferred income taxes...... 1,166 (250) 916 211
Minority interests......... 135 -- 135 165
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preference shares.......... 160 -- 160 17
Common shareholders' equity
Common shares............ 4,708 -- 4,708 2,019
Retained earnings........ 3,466 (4) 3,462 1,412
Other.................... 277 (353) (76) (211)
------ ----- ------ -----
8,611 (357) 8,254 3,237
------ ----- ------ -----
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity..... 17,517 (120) 17,397 8,971
====== ===== ====== =====
PECHINEY US
GAAP PECHINEY US PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
ADJUSTMENTS GAAP ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------
(IN MILLIONS OF US DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and time deposits..... -- 332 -- 423
Marketable securities...... -- 181 -- 181
Receivables................ 274 1,885 -- 3,789
Inventories................ (11) 1,541 -- 3,472
Deferred income taxes...... (9) 46 -- 46
--- ----- --------- ------
254 3,985 -- 7,911
Deferred charges and other
assets................... (69) 655 -- 2,323
Property, plant and
equipment -- net......... -- 3,100 -- 12,291
Other intangible
assets -- net............ -- 164 -- 609
Goodwill................... 32 710 (710)(c) 2,167
Excess of purchase price
over book value of net
assets acquired.......... -- -- 1,404(c) 1,404
Deferred income taxes...... (7) 567 -- 567
--- ----- --------- ------
Total assets............... 210 9,181 694 27,272
=== ===== ========= ======
LIABI LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Payables................... 240 2,289 -- 4,591
Short-term borrowings...... -- 407 3,039(a) 3,788
Debt maturing within one
year..................... -- 210 -- 496
--- ----- --------- ------
240 2,906 3,039 8,875
Debt not maturing within
one year................. -- 1,406 (698)(c) 3,751
Deferred credits and other
liabilities.............. 56 1,342 -- 3,461
Deferred income taxes...... -- 211 (25)(c) 1,102
Minority interests......... -- 165 -- 300
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preference shares.......... -- 17 (17)(b) 160
Common shareholders' equity
Common shares............ -- 2,019 (555)(b),(c) 6,172
Retained earnings........ 12 1,424 (1,424)(c) 3,462
Other.................... (98) (309) 374(c) (11)
--- ----- --------- ------
(86) 3,151 (1,622) 9,783
--- ----- --------- ------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity..... 210 9,181 694 27,272
=== ===== ========= ======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma combined
financial statements
See Note 6 for sensitivity analyses.
72
ALCAN AND PECHINEY -- U.S. GAAP
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2003.
FRENCH
GAAP
CANADIAN TRANSLATED
GAAP ALCAN US HISTORICAL
HISTORICAL GAAP ALCAN US PECHINEY
ALCAN ADJUSTMENTS GAAP (RECLASSIFIED)
----------- ----------- ----------- --------------
(IN MILLIONS OF US DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
REVENUES
Sales and operating
revenues........... 3,273 (21) 3,252 3,059
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of sales and
operating
expenses........... 2,585 20 2,605 2,707
Depreciation......... 231 (21) 210 90
Goodwill
amortization....... -- -- -- 8
Selling,
administrative and
general expenses... 165 -- 165 159
Research and
development
expenses........... 29 -- 29 26
Interest............. 49 (1) 48 23
Restructuring,
impairment and
other special
charges............ 2 2 54
Other expenses
(income)........... 57 (8) 49 1
----------- --- ----------- -----
3,118 (10) 3,108 3,068
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
other items........ 155 (11) 144 (9)
Income taxes......... 141 (3) 138 (6)
----------- --- ----------- -----
14 (8) 6 (3)
Equity income........ -- 9 9 1
Minority interests... (1) -- (1) (2)
----------- --- ----------- -----
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations......... 13 1 14 (4)
Dividends on
preference
shares............. 2 -- 2 --
----------- --- ----------- -----
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations
attributable to
common
shareholders....... 11 1 12 (4)
----------- --- ----------- -----
Income from
continuing
operations per
common share
Basic.............. 0.04 0.04
Diluted............ 0.04 0.04
Weighted average of
common shares
outstanding
Basic.............. 321,528,938 321,528,938
Diluted............ 321,835,255 321,835,255
PECHINEY
US GAAP PECHINEY US PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
ADJUSTMENTS GAAP ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(IN MILLIONS OF US DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
REVENUES
Sales and operating
revenues........... 2 3,061 -- 6,313
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of sales and
operating
expenses........... 7 2,714 -- 5,319
Depreciation......... -- 90 -- 300
Goodwill
amortization....... (8) -- -- --
Selling,
administrative and
general expenses... -- 159 -- 324
Research and
development
expenses........... -- 26 -- 55
Interest............. -- 23 4(d) 75
Restructuring,
impairment and
other special
charges............ -- 54 -- 56
Other expenses
(income)........... (3) (2) -- 47
-- ----- ------ -----------
(4) 3,064 4 6,176
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
other items........ 6 (3) (4) 137
Income taxes......... (2) (8) (1)(e) 129
-- ----- ------ -----------
8 5 (3) 8
Equity income........ 2 3 -- 12
Minority interests... (2) -- (3)
-- ----- ------ -----------
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations......... 10 6 (3) 17
Dividends on
preference
shares............. -- 2
-- ----- ------ -----------
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations
attributable to
common
shareholders....... 10 6 (3) 15
-- ----- ------ -----------
Income from
continuing
operations per
common share
Basic.............. 0.04
Diluted............ 0.04
Weighted average of
common shares
outstanding
Basic.............. -- 368,271,602
Diluted............ -- 368,718,266
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma combined
financial statements
This pro forma combined statement of income does not include any amortization of
the excess purchase price, which may be material. See Note 6 for sensitivity
analyses
73
ALCAN AND PECHINEY -- U.S. GAAP
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
FRENCH
GAAP
CANADIAN TRANSLATED
GAAP ALCAN US HISTORICAL
HISTORICAL GAAP ALCAN US PECHINEY
ALCAN ADJUSTMENTS GAAP (RECLASSIFIED)
----------- ----------- ----------- --------------
(IN MILLIONS OF US DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
REVENUES
Sales and operating
revenues.......... 12,540 (73) 12,467 11,395
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of sales and
operating
expenses.......... 9,934 81 10,015 10,032
Depreciation........ 859 (70) 789 317
Goodwill
amortization...... -- -- -- 29
Goodwill
impairment........ 93
Selling,
administrative and
general
expenses.......... 577 (1) 576 577
Research and
development
expenses.......... 115 115 85
Interest.......... 203 (5) 198 79
Restructuring,
impairment and other
special charges..... 69 69 137
Other expenses
(income)............ 116 (48) 68 60
----------- --- ----------- -----
11,873 (43) 11,830 11,409
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
other items......... 667 (30) 637 (14)
Income taxes.......... 293 (17) 276 37
----------- --- ----------- -----
374 (13) 361 (51)
Equity income......... 3 51 54 3
Minority interests.... (3) -- (3) --
----------- --- ----------- -----
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations.......... 374 38 412 (48)
Dividends on
preference shares... 5 -- 5 2
----------- --- ----------- -----
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations
attributable to
common
shareholders........ 369 38 407 (50)
=========== === =========== =====
Income from continuing
operations per
common shares
Basic............... 1.15 1.26
Diluted............. 1.14 1.26
Weighted average of
common shares
outstanding
Basic............... 321,208,914 321,208,914
Diluted............. 322,423,183 322,423,183
PECHINEY
US GAAP PECHINEY US PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
ADJUSTMENTS GAAP ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(IN MILLIONS OF US DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
REVENUES
Sales and operating
revenues.......... 9 11,404 -- 23,871
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of sales and
operating
expenses.......... (6) 10,026 -- 20,041
Depreciation........ -- 317 -- 1,106
Goodwill
amortization...... (29) -- --
Goodwill
impairment........ (20) 73 -- 73
Selling,
administrative and
general
expenses.......... -- 577 -- 1,153
Research and
development
expenses.......... -- 85 -- 200
Interest.......... 1 80 19(f) 297
Restructuring,
impairment and other
special charges..... -- 137 -- 206
Other expenses
(income)............ -- 60 -- 128
--- ----- ------ -----------
(54) 11,355 19 23,204
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
other items......... 63 49 (19) 667
Income taxes.......... 5 42 (8)(g) 310
--- ----- ------ -----------
58 7 (11) 357
Equity income......... 14 17 -- 71
Minority interests.... -- -- -- (3)
--- ----- ------ -----------
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations.......... 72 24 (11) 425
Dividends on
preference shares... 2 -- 7
--- ----- ------ -----------
Income (loss) from
continuing
operations
attributable to
common
shareholders........ 72 22 (11) 418
=== ===== ====== ===========
Income from continuing
operations per
common shares
Basic............... 1.14
Diluted............. 1.13
Weighted average of
common shares
outstanding
Basic............... 367,951,578
Diluted............. 368,306,194
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma combined
financial statements
This pro forma combined statement of income does not include any amortization of
the excess purchase price, which may be material. See Note 6 for sensitivity
analyses
74
ALCAN AND PECHINEY -- U.S. GAAP
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- U.S. GAAP
(IN MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
These unaudited pro forma combined financial statements have been prepared to
reflect the combination of Alcan and Pechiney using the purchase method.
Because Alcan has access only to publicly available financial information about
Pechiney's accounting policies, there can be no assurance that the accounting
policies of Pechiney conform to those of Alcan.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements are based on the following
assumptions related to the combination:
- conversion of Pechiney Preferred Shares "B" to Pechiney Common Shares at
the exchange ratio of 11 Common Shares for 10 Preferred Shares "B," which
occurred on June 4, 2003
- all of the outstanding Pechiney Common Shares (including Pechiney Common
Shares underlying the Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs
and excluding those held by Pechiney and one of its subsidiaries) are
tendered for exchange for a combination of Alcan Common Shares to the
extent of 40% of the purchase price, and cash to the extent of 60%;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney OCEANEs are tendered for exchange for
cash, including a premium of $45 million over book value;
- all of the outstanding Pechiney's stock options are replaced by Alcan
stock options based on the exchange ratio and at a strike price equal to
the market value of an underlying Alcan Common Share and no Pechiney
stock options are exercised in connection with the combination;
- the cash consideration for the offers is financed by additional Alcan
debt; and
- for purposes of calculating the purchase price, an exchange rate of
$1.1503 for E1.00 has been used.
The combination will be accounted for as a "purchase" in accordance with U.S.
GAAP with Alcan being identified as the acquirer. Under this approach, the fair
value of Alcan Common Shares to be issued for Pechiney securities will be based
on the market value of Alcan Common Shares when sufficient shares have been
tendered to make the offer binding on Alcan or when Alcan and Pechiney enter
into a purchase agreement. For the purpose of these unaudited pro forma combined
statements, an assumed fair value of $31.31 per Alcan Common Share has been used
based on the average of the closing price for the Alcan Common Shares on the New
York Stock Exchange for the six trading days beginning on June 26, 2003 and
ending on July 3, 2003. This estimate of value is preliminary and material
changes may occur before the conditions for establishing the accounting value
are met.
The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet is presented as if the
combination between Alcan and Pechiney had been effective March 31, 2003 while
the unaudited pro forma combined statements of income are presented as if the
combination between Alcan and Pechiney had been effective January 1, 2002.
The purchase price will be allocated to the Pechiney assets acquired and
liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair market value.
75
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --
U.S. GAAP -- (CONTINUED)
For the purpose of the unaudited pro forma combined financial statements, no
purchase price allocation has been performed since Alcan has limited information
about Pechiney.
PECHINEY
PECHINEY BONUS
COMMON ALLOCATION
SHARES RIGHTS TOTAL
----------- ---------- -----------
Number of Pechiney securities outstanding(1)........... 77,796,745 1,076,950
Alcan Common share per Pechiney security............... 0.6 0.06
----------- ----------
Alcan Common Shares to be issued....................... 46,678,047 64,617 46,742,664
=========== ========== ===========
Price per Alcan Common Share........................... $ 31.31 $ 31.31
=========== ==========
Consideration payable in Alcan Common Shares (in
millions)............................................ $ 1,462 $ 2 $ 1,464
Cash consideration for (in millions):
Pechiney Common Shares............................... 2,201 -- 2,201
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights..................... -- 3 3
Pechiney OCEANEs (7,908,636 bonds)................... -- -- 743
Transactions costs (net of tax of $25)(in millions).... -- -- 67
Assumed fair value of Alcan stock options issued to
replace Pechiney stock options (in millions)(2)...... -- -- 65
-----------
Total purchase price (in millions)..................... $ 4,543
-----------
Less (in millions):
Book value of Pechiney shareholders' equity
(excluding Pechiney's goodwill of $710)......... 2,441
Book value of Pechiney OCEANEs.................... 698
-----------
Excess of purchase price over book value of
shareholders' equity and Pechiney OCEANEs (in
millions)............................................ $ 1,404
-----------
---------------
(1) Excluding 4,716,938 Pechiney Common Shares held by Pechiney and one of its
subsidiaries.
(2) Includes 3,484,950 Pechiney stock options outstanding as at March 31, 2003.
The pro forma information is based on preliminary estimates and assumptions set
forth below in note 5. These adjustments and allocation of purchase price are
preliminary. Due to the limited financial and other information available to
Alcan's management, the excess of the purchase price over the book value of the
assets to be acquired has been allocated to "Excess of purchase price over net
assets acquired". The final purchase price allocation will be completed after
asset and liability valuations are finalized by Alcan's management. A final
determination of these fair values, which cannot be made prior to the completion
of the combination, will include Alcan's management's consideration of all
pertinent factors. This final valuation will be based on the actual net tangible
and intangible assets of Pechiney that exist as of the date of the completion of
the combination. Any final adjustments may change the allocation of purchase
price which could affect the fair value assigned to the assets and liabilities
and could result in material changes to the unaudited pro forma combined
financial statements. Amount preliminarily allocated to "Excess of purchase
price over book value of net assets acquired" will be allocated to various
classes of assets, including intangible assets with indefinite lives, intangible
assets with definite lives and goodwill. These final allocations may result in a
material increase in amortization of assets. In addition, the impact of ongoing
integration activities, the timing of the completion of the combination and
other changes in Pechiney's net tangible and intangible assets prior to the
completion of the combination could cause material differences in the
information presented.
76
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --
U.S. GAAP -- (CONTINUED)
The accompanying unaudited pro forma combined financial statements are based on
and should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial
statements of Alcan and Pechiney for the year ended December 31, 2002 and for
the three-month period ended March 31, 2003, including the notes thereto which
are incorporated by reference in this document. Certain reclassifications have
been made to the Pechiney historical financial statements to conform to the
expected presentation to be used by Alcan upon completion of the combination and
based on certain assumptions made by Alcan.
The pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and include
certain assumptions and adjustments, which the management of Alcan believes to
be reasonable. However, Alcan's adjustments and assumptions do not reflect any
input from Pechiney, as discussed above. These adjustments are directly
attributable to the combination and are expected to have a continuing impact on
Alcan's business, results of operations and financial position. The pro forma
information does not reflect cost savings expected to be realized from the
elimination of certain expenses and from the synergies to be created to the
costs to implement such cost savings or synergies. No assurance can be given
that operating cost savings and synergies will be realized. The pro forma
financial information does not reflect any special items such as payments
pursuant to change of control provisions or restructuring and integration costs
which may be incurred as a result of the acquisition.
To compute the pro forma $65 included in the purchase price relating to the
assumed fair value of Alcan stock options issued to replace Pechiney stock
options, Alcan used a Black-Scholes valuation model based on the
weighted-average assumptions used to compute the pro forma compensation expense
as reported in Alcan's historical consolidated financial statements. The
principal assumptions used are: dividend yield of 1.65%; expected volatility of
35.73%; risk-free interest rate of 3.5% and expected life of 6 years. Alcan
management has not yet determined how these options would be treated and,
accordingly, the value and the accounting for any treatment of the Pechiney
options may differ from those presented.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements are not necessarily
indicative either of the results that actually would have been achieved if the
transactions reflected therein had been effective during the periods presented
or of the results which may be obtained in the future.
2. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
The Pechiney historical balance sheet information and related pro forma
adjustments as of March 31, 2003 have been translated into U.S. dollars at the
March 31, 2003 rate of exchange of USD 1 = 0.9174 euros. The Pechiney historical
statements of income information for the year ended December 31, 2002, the
three-month period ended March 31, 2003 and related pro forma adjustments to the
unaudited pro forma statements of income have been translated at the average
rates of exchange of USD 1 = 0.9454 euros and USD 1 = 0.9317 euros,
respectively.
3. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND U.S. GAAP AS THEY APPLY TO ALCAN
Refer to Note 7 of the Alcan consolidated financial statements which are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a description of the
differences between Canadian and U.S. GAAP as they apply to Alcan. However,
investments in joint ventures have been accounted for using the equity method in
these pro forma combined financial statements. In Alcan's consolidated financial
statements incorporated by reference into this document, joint ventures are
accounted for using the proportionate consolidation method.
4. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FRENCH GAAP AND U.S. GAAP AS THEY APPLY TO PECHINEY
Refer to Note 25 of the Pechiney financial statements which are incorporated by
reference into this prospectus for a description of the difference between
French and U.S. GAAP as they apply to Pechiney.
77
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --
U.S. GAAP -- (CONTINUED)
5. UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements incorporate the following
adjustments:
The following adjustments have been made to prepare the pro forma balance sheet
and statement of income. Pro forma statement of income adjustments are assumed
to occur as of January 1, 2002. Pro forma balance sheet adjustments are assumed
to occur at March 31, 2003.
UNAUDITED COMBINED PRO FORMA
BALANCE SHEET AS AT MARCH 31, 2003 (IN MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS)
a) Borrowing under new credit facility to finance acquisition
of Pechiney securities
Debit Cash......................... 3,039
Credit Short-term borrowings......................... 3,039
b) Conversion of Pechiney Preference
Shares to Pechiney Common Shares
Debit Pechiney Preferred Shares.... 17
Credit Pechiney Common Shares........................ 17
Reflecting consideration for Pechiney Common Shares, Pechiney Bonus
c) Allocation Rights, Pechiney OCEANEs, Pechiney ADSs and Pechiney
stock options and transaction costs of $92 by issuance of Alcan
Common Shares with an estimated value of $1,464, issuance of Alcan
replacement options with an estimated value of $65 and cash of
$3,039. Reflecting deferred income taxes of $25 related to
transaction costs and allocation of the purchase price by
elimination of Pechiney's goodwill; the elimination of Pechiney's
shareholders' equity accounts, and the allocation of the remainder
to excess of purchase price over book value of net assets acquired
(see note 6 for sensitivities)
Debit Excess of purchase price over
book value of net assets acquired..... 1,404
Debt not maturing within one
year.............................. 698
Deferred income taxes............. 25
Pechiney Common Shares............ 2,036
Retained earnings................. 1,424
Credit Pechiney goodwill............................. 710
Cash................................................ 3,039
Other equity........................................ 309
Alcan Common Shares................................. 1,464
Alcan stock options................................. 65
78
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --
U.S. GAAP -- (CONTINUED)
UNAUDITED COMBINED PRO FORMA
INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2003
(IN MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS)
d) Interest expense on debt issued to finance acquisition and
retirement of Pechiney OCEANEs at an assumed annual interest
rate of 1.6%................................................ 12
Elimination of interest on Pechiney OCEANEs................. (5)
Elimination of amortization of Pechiney OCEANEs premium..... (3)
------
4
======
e) Income tax recovery on line item (d) at 36% for Alcan and
34% for Pechiney............................................ (1)
======
UNAUDITED COMBINED PRO FORMA
INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
(IN MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS)
f) Interest expense on debt issued to finance acquisition and
retirement of Pechiney OCEANEs at an assumed annual interest
rate of 1.6%................................................ 49
Elimination of interest on Pechiney OCEANEs................. (19)
Elimination of amortization of Pechiney OCEANEs premium..... (11)
------
19
======
g) Income tax recovery on line item (f) at 36% for Alcan and
34% for Pechiney............................................ (8)
======
6. SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements are based upon the
assumption that 100% of the Pechiney Common Shares (including Pechiney Common
Shares underlying the Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights and Pechiney ADSs and
excluding the Pechiney Common Shares held by Pechiney and one of its
subsidiaries) are exchanged for Alcan Common Shares and cash in the offers. For
each 10% decrease in the number of Pechiney Common Shares exchanged, pro forma
common shareholders' equity as of March 31, 2003 will decrease by $147. However,
pro forma combined income from continuing operations would be unchanged for the
year ended December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2003.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements are based upon the
assumption that the purchase price is $4,543. For every $100 increase (decrease)
in the purchase price, pro forma common shareholders equity as of March 31, 2003
will increase (decrease) by $40 and pro forma net income for the year ended
December 31, 2002 will decrease (increase) by $1 or $0.00 per common share, due
to changes in interest expense and related income taxes.
For every $100 of the "Excess of Purchase Price over book value of net assets
acquired" which is allocated to tangible and identifiable assets with definite
lives, pro forma net income from continuing operations would decrease by $3 or
$0.01 per common share, assuming an amortization period of 20 years, estimated
to be their average remaining useful life.
For each 125 basis points increase (decrease) in the interest rate on short-term
borrowings assumed to finance the acquisition, pro forma combined annual net
income from continuing operations would decrease (increase) by $2, or $0.01 per
common share.
79
REGULATORY MATTERS
In order to complete these offers, Alcan must receive approval from the European
Commission, the competition authorities of Member States of the European Union
(to the extent that jurisdiction to review all or a part of the transaction has
been referred to them by the European Commission) and the U.S. Federal Trade
Commission and Department of Justice. It is possible that one or more of these
bodies may fail to provide the requested approvals or may impose, as a condition
of approval, various conditions and/or obligations. Receipt of these regulatory
approvals is a condition to completion of these offers. There can be no
assurance that the required regulatory approvals and consents will be obtained
within the time frame contemplated by the offers or on terms that are
satisfactory to Alcan.
Other jurisdictions throughout the world claim jurisdiction under their
competition or antitrust laws in respect of acquisitions or mergers that have
the potential to affect their domestic marketplace. A number of these
jurisdictions have or will claim to have jurisdiction over the proposed
transaction. Although Alcan does not anticipate that there will be any
investigations or proceedings in any jurisdiction that would have a material
impact on the completion of the offers or the operations of Alcan or Pechiney,
there can be no assurance that such investigations or proceedings, whether by
governmental authorities or private parties, will not be initiated and, if
initiated, will not have a material adverse impact on the completion of the
offers or the operations of Alcan or Pechiney.
Alcan is not aware of any material licenses or regulatory permits that it holds
which might be adversely affected by the completion of the offers for Pechiney
securities or of any material approval or other action by any federal,
provincial, state or foreign government or any administrative or regulatory
agency that would be required to be obtained prior to making the offers or
accepting securities pursuant thereto except as have been obtained or applied
for, or as described herein.
COMPETITION AND ANTITRUST
EUROPEAN UNION COMPETITION LAWS
Alcan and Pechiney both conduct business in the Member States of the European
Union. Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 (as amended) requires that certain
mergers or acquisitions involving parties with aggregate worldwide sales and
individual European Union sales exceeding certain thresholds be notified to and
approved by the European Commission before such mergers and acquisitions are
consummated. The aforementioned Regulation gives the Member States of the
European Union the right to request that the European Commission refer
jurisdiction to review a merger to their national competition authorities under
the provisions of the relevant national merger law where it may have an effect
on competition in a distinct national market. Such a request must be made within
three weeks of the transaction's notification to the European Commission.
Generally, the European Commission has one month from the date of the
notification of a transaction to adopt a decision either to approve the notified
transaction (whether unconditionally or subject to conditions and obligations)
or to open an in-depth investigation, lasting a maximum of a further four months
(which is sometimes referred to as a "Phase II review"). The initial one month
period is extended automatically to six weeks if (i) a Member State of the
European Union requests a referral of jurisdiction to review all or part of the
transaction for review by its competition authority, or (ii) within three weeks
of the notification of the transaction, the notifying party offers to commit to
the divestiture of overlapping assets or businesses or other conditions or
obligations to eliminate any aspects of the transaction that might cause the
European Commission to have serious doubts that the transaction raises
competition issues such that the transaction could be incompatible with the
common market. As Alcan intends to propose certain commitments to the European
Commission within the three week period with a view to resolving any competition
issues that could be raised by the European Commission in relation to the
transaction, the European Commission will have six weeks from notification of
the transaction to adopt a decision approving the transaction or to open a Phase
II review, in which case the offers would lapse. Should the European Commission
open such a Phase II review, it would, at the end of a further period of a
maximum of four months, adopt a decision either approving the transaction
(whether unconditionally or subject to conditions and obligations) or declaring
the transaction
80
incompatible with the common market, and therefore, prohibiting the offers. In
certain circumstances, the one month, six week and four month periods can be
extended if the European Commission requests information from the acquirer or
target, which is not provided within the time period allowed: in such
circumstances, the Commission may adopt a procedure that leads to the suspension
of the review timetable until all the requested information is provided to it. A
decision approving the transaction can be challenged before the Court of First
Instance of the European Communities by, among others, Pechiney and competitors
of Alcan or Pechiney. A decision to prohibit the transaction can similarly be
challenged by Alcan. Subject to review by the Court of First Instance, once the
European Commission has adopted a decision approving the transaction, that
decision can be revoked by it only if it subsequently concludes that its
approval of the transaction was granted on the basis of false or misleading
information furnished in the notification or otherwise furnished by Alcan, or if
Alcan has failed to comply with conditions or obligations to which the approval
decision is subject.
In view of the competition issues that the offers may give rise to in certain
European markets (notably certain flat rolled products, aluminum aerosol cans
and aluminum cartridges), Alcan has already held confidential preliminary
discussions with the European Commission to discuss the types of undertakings
that Alcan may need to make in relation to these markets in order for the
European Commission to be able to approve the transaction at the end of its
initial review of the transaction (which is sometimes referred to as a "Phase I
review"). See "The Offers -- Reasons for the Offers -- Possible Undertakings to
Meet Regulatory Concerns" above.
UNITED STATES HART-SCOTT-RODINO ANTITRUST IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1976
Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and
its associated rules, a share offer may not be completed until notification has
been filed with the Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC, and the Antitrust
Division of the US Department of Justice, or the DOJ, and the required waiting
period has expired or been terminated. The required waiting period may be
terminated by the FTC and the DOJ before its expiration. Expiration or
termination of this waiting period is a condition of the offers. If the FTC or
the DOJ believes that the share exchange would violate the federal antitrust law
by substantially lessening competition in any line of commerce affecting U.S.
consumers, the FTC and the DOJ have the authority to challenge the transaction
by seeking a federal court order enjoining the transaction. Other governmental
authorities, including state attorneys general and private persons may seek to
enjoin the consummation of the share exchange under antitrust laws. The
expiration or termination of the waiting period does not bar the FTC or the DOJ
from challenging the share offer before or after its completion. There can be no
assurance that a challenge to the offers on antitrust grounds will not be made
or, if a challenge is made, that it would not be successful. In addition, state
antitrust authorities and private parties in certain circumstances may bring
legal action under the antitrust laws seeking to enjoin the offers or seeking
conditions to the completion of the merger. In order to facilitate review of the
offer, Alcan has engaged in preliminary discussions with the DOJ regarding the
DOJ's review of the transaction and Alcan is responding to requests for
information from the DOJ.
COMPETITION ACT (CANADA)
The proposed acquisition of the Pechiney securities is a notifiable transaction
under the Competition Act (Canada). Notifiable transactions cannot be completed
under the Competition Act (Canada) until a required notification is filed with
the Commissioner of Competition and the relevant waiting period has expired.
The Commissioner of Competition has jurisdiction to challenge any transaction
that has the effect of lessening or preventing competition substantially in a
relevant market and such a challenge may be made any time before or within three
years after completion of the transaction. The expiration of the waiting period
referred to in the preceding paragraph does not bar the Commissioner of
Competition from bringing a proceeding. There can be no assurance that an
investigation or a proceeding by the Commissioner of Competition will not be
initiated and, if initiated, will not have a material adverse impact on the
operations of Alcan or Pechiney.
81
SWITZERLAND COMPETITION COMMISSION
The proposed acquisition also requires that a notice filing be made under Swiss
antitrust laws, as Switzerland is not a member of the European Union or a party
to the European Economic Area Agreement. Generally, the Swiss Competition
Commission has one month following the date of filing to decide whether to open
an investigation of a proposed acquisition. If no investigation is opened by the
end of that waiting period, the acquisition may be completed. If the Commission
begins an investigation, the acquisition may not close until the Commission
renders its final decision or grants a special authorization. Investigations
must be completed within a four month period. While Alcan does not anticipate
that the Swiss competition clearance process will delay or otherwise adversely
affect the transaction, there can be no assurance that the Swiss Competition
Commission will not initiate an investigation and, if initiated, that it will
not adversely affect the operations of Alcan or Pechiney.
OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Alcan and Pechiney have assets and sales in numerous jurisdictions throughout
the world other than the European Union, the United States, Canada and
Switzerland. Many of those jurisdictions have antitrust or competition laws that
could require that notifications be filed and clearances obtained prior to
completion of the proposed transaction. Other jurisdictions require filings
following completion of the transaction. Appropriate filings will be made in
those jurisdictions where it is determined that a filing is required.
The antitrust or competition laws of certain jurisdictions outside of the
European Union, the United States, Canada and Switzerland permit relevant
agencies to investigate and take proceedings in respect of transactions that are
perceived to have an effect on competition in the jurisdiction. Although Alcan
does not anticipate that there will be any investigations or proceedings that
would have a material impact on the completion of the offers or the operations
of Alcan or Pechiney, there can be no assurance that such investigations or
proceedings, whether by governmental authorities or private parties, will not be
initiated and, if initiated, will not have a material adverse impact on the
completion of the offers or the operations of Alcan or Pechiney.
INVESTMENT CONTROLS
Under French foreign investment control rules, the acquisition of any business
engaged in the defense sector is subject to the prior approval of the French
Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry, who has a two-month period from
the date of notification to approve or prohibit the proposed acquisition.
Approval is deemed given in the event that the Minister does not respond to the
notification within that two-month period. As certain Pechiney subsidiaries are
currently engaged in the defense sector, a formal application has been filed by
Alcan in relation to the offers for Pechiney securities.
STOCK EXCHANGES
Alcan Common Shares are currently listed on the New York, Toronto, London and
Swiss stock exchanges. Alcan will apply to list its Alcan Common Shares on
Euronext Paris, subject to the successful completion of these offers. Alcan will
also apply for the supplemental listing of the Alcan Common Shares to be issued
in these offers on the New York, Toronto, Paris, London and Swiss stock
exchanges, and will comply with all of the usual requirements of such exchanges
within the time periods specified by such exchanges.
SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
The offers for Pechiney securities will be made in accordance with French law
and U.S. federal and state securities law. The Alcan Common Shares issued
pursuant to the offers for Pechiney securities to holders resident in the United
States and to holders of Pechiney ADSs will be registered with the SEC.
The offers for Pechiney securities are not being made to holders of Pechiney
securities in jurisdictions outside of France or the United States where the
making or acceptance of such offer would not be in compliance with the laws of
such jurisdictions. However, Alcan may seek exemption orders or take such other
actions as it may
82
deem necessary in order to extend the offers for Pechiney securities to holders
in such jurisdictions, including seeking exemptions from the securities
regulatory authorities in Canada to permit the offers for Pechiney securities to
be made to holders of Pechiney securities in Canada without compliance with the
take-over bid requirements otherwise applicable.
83
DESCRIPTION OF ALCAN'S SHARE CAPITAL
OUTSTANDING SERIES OF SHARE CAPITAL
AUTHORIZED OUTSTANDING*
---------- ------------
Common Shares............................................... Unlimited 321,739,502
Preference Shares, issuable in series, of which the
following series are outstanding:......................... Unlimited
Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares,
Series C, 1984 Issue................................... 4,200,000 4,200,000
Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares,
Series C, 1985 Issue................................... 1,500,000 1,500,000
Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series E......... 3,000,000 3,000,000
---------------
* As at June 30, 2003.
DESCRIPTION OF ALCAN PREFERENCE SHARES
The authorized capital of Alcan includes an unlimited number of preference
shares, issuable in series. Alcan currently has three outstanding series of
preference shares, consisting of
- Alcan Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series C,
1984 Issue (the "Alcan Series C 1984");
- Alcan Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series C,
1985 Issue (the "Alcan Series C 1985," and together with the Alcan Series
C 1984, the "Alcan Series C"); and
- Alcan Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series E (the "Alcan
Series E," and together with the Alcan Series C, the "Alcan Preference
Shares").
Alcan may issue an unlimited number of preference shares of additional series
from time to time upon approval by the Alcan board of directors for such
consideration as the Alcan board of directors decides appropriate, without the
need of further shareholder authorization. However, the Alcan board of directors
is not allowed to create or issue any series of preference shares with voting
rights, other than voting rights arising only in the event of non-payment of
dividends, without the consent of Alcan's common shareholders, given by way of
special resolution. The terms of any preference shares, including dividend
rates, conversion and voting rights, if any, redemption prices and similar
matters will be determined by the Alcan board of directors prior to issuance.
The holders of each class of Alcan Preference Shares will be entitled to receive
cumulative cash dividends at the following rates:
- Alcan Series C: quarterly dividends in an amount determined by applying
to CAN $25 per share 25% of the greater of (1) 72% of the average of the
Canadian prime interest rates quoted by two major Canadian banks for
stated periods, and (2) the lesser of 7.5% and the average of the
Canadian prime interest rates quoted by two major Canadian banks for
stated periods.
- Alcan Series E: quarterly dividends in an amount determined by applying
to CAN $25 per share 25% of 75% of the average of the Canadian prime
interest rates quoted by two major Canadian banks for stated periods.
The holders of Alcan Preference Shares are not entitled to vote at meetings of
Alcan shareholders unless Alcan fails to pay six quarterly dividends on such
Alcan Preference Shares. Thereafter, so long as such dividends remain in
arrears, the holders will be entitled, voting separately as a class, to elect
two members of the board of directors of Alcan.
The Alcan Preference Shares are fully paid and nonassessable.
84
In the event that Alcan liquidates, dissolves or winds up or distributes its
assets among Alcan shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs, the
holders of the Alcan Preference Shares will be entitled to receive, in
preference to holders of the Alcan Common Shares, the sum of CAN $25 per Alcan
Preference Share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends. Additionally, if such
distribution is voluntary, an additional amount equal to the premium, if any,
will be payable on redemption.
The Alcan Preference Shares are redeemable at Alcan's option at CAN $25 per
Alcan Preference Share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends.
Unless all dividends then payable on the Alcan Preference Shares have been
declared and paid or set apart for payment, Alcan will not:
- pay any dividends, other than stock dividends, or make any distributions
on any shares ranking junior to the Alcan Preference Shares with respect
to the payment of dividends or return of capital,
- retire for value any shares ranking junior to the Alcan Preference Shares
with respect to payment of dividends or return of capital, or
- except in connection with the exercise of a retraction privilege, retire
less than all of a series of the Alcan Preference Shares.
The Alcan Preference Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
DESCRIPTION OF ALCAN COMMON SHARES
Alcan Common Shares are subject to the rights of the holders of the Alcan
Preference Shares, as described above, and of any other preferred securities
issued in the future.
The holders of Alcan Common Shares are entitled to one vote per share at all
meetings of shareholders of Alcan, to participate ratably in any dividends which
may be declared on Alcan Common Shares by the board of directors of Alcan and,
in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up or other distribution of
assets or property of Alcan, to a pro rata share of the assets of Alcan after
payment of all liabilities and obligations. The Alcan Common Shares have no
pre-emptive, redemption or conversion rights. All outstanding Alcan Common
Shares and all Alcan Common Shares to be issued under this prospectus will be
fully paid and nonassessable.
The provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act require that the
amendment of certain rights of holders of any class of shares, including the
Alcan Common Shares, must be approved by not less than two-thirds of the votes
cast by the holders of such shares. A quorum for any meeting of the holders of
Alcan Common Shares is 40% of the Alcan Common Shares then outstanding.
Therefore, it is possible for the rights of the holders of Alcan Common Shares
to be changed other than by the affirmative vote of the holders of the majority
of the outstanding Alcan Common Shares. In circumstances where certain rights of
holders of Alcan Common Shares may be amended, however, holders of Alcan Common
Shares will have the right, under the Canada Business Corporations Act, to
dissent from such amendment and require Alcan to pay them the then fair value of
their Alcan Common Shares.
Shareholders of Alcan are also entitled to rights and privileges under the
Shareholder Rights Plan, pursuant to a Shareholders Rights Agreement, dated as
of December 14, 1989, as amended and restated as of April 22, 1999, between
Alcan Aluminum Limited and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, as rights agent, which is
summarized under "Comparison of Shareholders' Rights."
85
COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHTS
The rights of shareholders of Alcan are governed by the Canada Business
Corporations Act, provincial securities legislation and the provisions of the
Alcan Restated Articles of Incorporation and by-laws. The rights of shareholders
of Pechiney are governed by the French company law and by the provisions of the
Pechiney Articles of Association ("statuts"). The following is a summary of the
material differences between the rights of Alcan and Pechiney shareholders.
These differences arise from differences between the Canada Business
Corporations Act and the French company law and between Alcan's Restated
Articles of Incorporation and by-laws and Pechiney's statuts. For more complete
information, you should read the articles and by-laws of Alcan and the statuts
of Pechiney.
ALCAN PECHINEY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Size and Qualifications of the Alcan's Restated Articles of Pechiney's statuts provide that the
Board of Directors Incorporation provide that the board of directors of Pechiney shall
board of directors of Alcan consist of no fewer than 11, nor more
shall consist of not less than than 22 members, of which no fewer than
nine, nor more than 20 nine nor more than 18 shall be elected
members. The board of by the shareholders of Pechiney during
directors of Alcan currently an ordinary shareholders' meeting.
consists of 11 members. Under These members may be natural persons or
the Canada Business legal entities. As of March 25, 2003,
Corporations Act, at least 25% the board of directors of Pechiney
of the directors must be consisted of 12 members, including 3
resident Canadians, subject to members elected by Pechiney's
certain limited exceptions. employees.
The Canada Business
Corporations Act also requires Two or, if the board is comprised of 12
that a corporation whose or more members, three directors must
securities are publicly traded be elected by and from among the
have not fewer than three employees of Pechiney and its direct
directors, at least two of and indirect French subsidiaries.
whom are not officers or
employees of the corporation Also, pursuant to Pechiney's statuts,
or any of its affiliates. if, in the aggregate, employees hold 3%
or more of Pechiney's share capital,
Under the Canada Business one directors must be a designee of
Corporations Act, directors these employee-shareholders (either
may be elected for a term directly or through a fonds commun de
expiring not later than the placement d'entreprise). This designee
third annual meeting of is ultimately appointed by Pechiney's
shareholders following the shareholders during an ordinary
election. If no term is shareholders' meeting from among two or
specified, a director's term more candidates designated by employee-
expires at the next following shareholders. Currently, Pechiney does
annual meeting of not have a director designated by
shareholders. A director may employee-shareholders.
be nominated for re-election
to the board of directors at Under French company law, each director
the end of his or her term. must be a shareholder of the
Currently, all of the members corporation. Under Pechiney's statuts,
of Alcan's board of directors a director must hold at least 200
are elected at each annual shares for as long as he or she serves
meeting. as a director.
Alcan's Restated Articles of French company law provides that each
Incorporation provide that the director is eligible for reappointment
directors can appoint one or upon expiration of
more additional directors
above the number elected at
the prior meeting provided
that the total number of
directors so appointed does
not exceed one-third of the
number of directors elected at
the previous annual meeting.
Alcan has a non-executive
chairman elected by its board
of directors.
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his or her term of office, which is
fixed at four years by Pechiney's
statuts, provided that no more than
one-third of the directors may be over
70 years old.
The chairman of the board of directors
of Pechiney is elected by and from
among the board members.
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Duties of the Board of Alcan's Restated Articles of Pechiney's statuts provide that the
Directors Incorporation provide for no board of directors of Pechiney
restrictions on the business determines Pechiney's strategy and
the corporation may conduct. ensures its implementation. Subject to
Under the Canada Business the powers expressly granted by the
Corporations Act, the statuts or pursuant to French company
directors have the power to law to the shareholders' meetings or to
manage the business and the directeur general, the board takes
affairs of Alcan and owe up all questions relating to the
fiduciary duties to Alcan. In effective operation of Pechiney and
exercising these powers and settles all issues concerning its
discharging these duties, each affairs.
director must act honestly and
in good faith with a view to Pechiney's directors owe a duty of
the best interests of the loyalty and care to the company. The
corporation. This duty of care directors are held accountable, either
requires that the directors individually or jointly, as applicable,
exercise the care, diligence to the company or to third parties for
and skill that a reasonably breaches of legislative or regulatory
prudent person would exercise provisions applicable to public limited
in comparable circumstances. companies, for violations of the
statuts and for mismanagement.
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Transactions with Interested Under the Canada Business French company law provides for prior
Directors or Officers Corporations Act, a director approval and control of transactions
or officer must disclose in entered into between, directly or
writing to the corporation, or indirectly, the corporation and its
request to have entered in the directors, directeur general, directeur
minutes of meetings of general delegue, or any entity in which
directors, the nature and any of these persons is at the same
extent of his or her interest time an owner, partner with unlimited
in any material contract or liability, managing director, member of
material transaction, whether the supervisory board or an executive
made or proposed, with the officer, unless the transaction is
corporation. If such interest entered in the ordinary course of
exists, the director may not, business and under normal terms and
subject to certain exceptions, conditions. Transactions entered into
vote on any resolution to between a company and one of its
approve the contract or shareholders holding, directly or
transaction. A contract or indirectly, more than 5% of the voting
transaction for which rights, or with an entity controlling
disclosure of interest is such a shareholder, are also considered
required is not invalid, and related party transactions.
the director or officer is not
accountable to the corporation The interested party has the obligation
or the shareholders for any to inform the board of directors of the
profit realized form the existence of the related party
contract or transaction, transaction.
because of the director's or
officer's interest in the
contract or transaction if (i)
such interest is properly
disclosed, (ii) the contract
or transaction is
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approved by the disinterested Related party transactions must be pre
directors or by the approved by the majority of the
shareholders, and (iii) the corporation's disinterested directors.
contract or transaction was The president of the board of directors
fair and reasonable to the must then report the authorized
corporation when it was transaction to the corporation's
approved. statutory auditors within one month
following its conclusion. The auditors
Where a material contract or prepare a special report on the
material transaction is transaction which is submitted to the
proposed or entered into that, shareholders at their next meeting,
in the ordinary course of the during which shareholders consider the
corporation's business, would transaction for ratification (with any
not require approval by the interested shareholder being excluded
directors or shareholders, the from voting). If the transaction is not
interested director or officer ratified by the shareholders, it
shall disclose in writing to remains enforceable by third parties as
the corporation or request to against the corporation, but the latter
have entered in the minutes of may in turn hold the board of directors
meetings of directors, the or interested officer liable for any
nature and the extent of his damages suffered as a result thereof.
or her interest forthwith
after the director or officer Under French company law, certain
becomes aware of the contract related party transactions, like
or transaction or proposed insider loans, are strictly prohibited.
contract or transaction.
Any related party transaction concluded
A shareholder has the right to without the prior consent of the board
access the minutes of a board of directors can be nullified by the
meeting during which a corporation or any of its shareholders
director made a mandatory acting on its behalf if it causes
disclosure of material damages to the corporation.
interests in transactions or Furthermore, the interested related
contracts that involve the party may be held liable on this basis.
corporation.
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Indemnification; Liability Under the Canada Business French company law prohibits provisions
of Directors Corporations Act, a of statuts that purport to limit the
corporation may indemnify a liability of directors. Thus, any
director or officer of the provision of a French company's statuts
corporation, a former director that subordinates legal proceedings
or officer of the corporation against directors to the prior approval
or another individual who acts or to the authorization of the general
or acted at the corporation's shareholders' meeting or which provides
request as a director or in advance for the waiver of such
officer or an individual proceedings is void. French company law
acting in a similar capacity also provides that a resolution adopted
(collectively referred to as by the general shareholders' meeting
an "indemnified individual"), cannot result in the extinction of an
of another entity, against all action brought against directors for
costs, charges and expenses, damages due to breach of duty in their
including an amount paid to official capacity.
settle an action or satisfy a
judgment, reasonably incurred Under French company law, a company may
by the individual in respect indemnify a director for legal costs
of any civil, criminal, and expenses in only a limited number
administrative, investigative of circumstances.
or other proceeding in which
the individual is involved
because of that association
with the corporation or other
entity.
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In addition, a corporation may If a director is sued in his or her
advance moneys to a director, capacity as a director, by a third
officer or other individual party and is ultimately found to have
for the costs, charges and committed no fault and otherwise
expenses of a proceeding prevails on all counts, but is required
referred to in the previous to bear all or some legal costs and
paragraph. However, the expenses, the company may reimburse the
individual shall repay the director pursuant to an indemnification
moneys if he or she does not arrangement.
fulfill the following
indemnification conditions. French company law also permits a
company to maintain directors' and
A corporation may not officers' insurance. A French
indemnify an individual, corporation is responsible, subject to
unless the individual certain exceptions, to third parties
for the consequences of the decisions
(a) acted honestly and in of its directors. However, if those
good faith with a view to the decisions qualify as mismanagement, the
best interests of the relevant directors may, under certain
corporation, or, as the case conditions, have to indemnify the
may be, to the best interests corporation in full or in part.
of the other entity for which
the individual acted as a
director or officer or in a
similar capacity at the
corporation's request; and
(b) in the case of a
criminal or administrative
action or proceeding that is
enforced by a monetary
penalty, the individual had
reasonable grounds for
believing that the
individual's conduct was
lawful (collectively referred
to as the "indemnification
conditions").
A corporation may with the
approval of a court indemnify
an indemnified individual, or
advance moneys as described
above, in respect of an action
by or on behalf of the
corporation or other entity to
procure a judgment in its
favor, to which the individual
is made a party because of the
individual's association with
the corporation or other
entity against all costs,
charges and expenses
reasonably incurred by the
individual in connection with
such action if the individual
fulfils the indemnification
conditions.
Despite the foregoing
paragraphs, an indemnified
individual is entitled to
indemnity from the corporation
in respect of all costs,
charges and expenses
reasonably incurred by the
individual in connection with
the defense of any civil,
criminal, administrative,
investigative or other
proceeding to which the
individual is subject because
of the individual's
association with the
corporation or
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other entity, if the
individual seeking indemnity:
(a) was not judged by the
court or other competent
authority to have committed
any fault or omitted to do
anything that the individual
ought to have done; and
(b) fulfils the
indemnification conditions.
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Election and Removal of Shareholders of a corporation Pechiney's statuts provide that its
Directors; Vacancies governed by the Canada directors, other than the employee-
Business Corporations Act representative directors and
elect directors by ordinary employee-shareholder representative
resolution at each annual directors, are elected by the
meeting of shareholders at shareholders for 4-year terms. Non-
which such an election is employee directors are elected by a
required. Under the Canada majority vote of Pechiney's
Business Corporations Act, the shareholders at ordinary shareholders'
shareholders of Alcan may meetings. Employee- representative
remove any director before the directors are elected by and from among
expiration of his or her term Pechiney's employees.
of office and may elect any Employee-shareholder representative
qualified person in such directors (of which Pechiney currently
director's stead for the has none), are elected by Pechiney's
remainder of such term by a shareholders from among the nominees
resolution passed by a designated by Pechiney's employee-
majority of the votes cast at shareholders.
a special meeting of
shareholders called for that Under French company law, directors may
purpose. Under the Canada not be elected at a general
Business Corporations Act, shareholders' meeting if the agenda for
vacancies that exist on the the meeting did not provide for the
board of directors may be election of directors, unless such
filled by the board if the election is necessary to fill a
remaining directors constitute vacancy.
a quorum. In the absence of a
quorum, the remaining The members of the board of directors
directors shall call a special of Pechiney other than those
meeting of shareholders to representing the employees may be
fill the vacancy. removed, with or without cause, by a
majority vote of the shareholders.
Under French company law, removal of a
director will not subject the
corporation to liability unless the
removal was injurious and/or vexatious.
Employee-representative directors may
only be removed for cause, following a
decision of the President of the
Tribunal de Grande Instance, acting
upon the request of the majority of the
board of directors.
Pursuant to French company law and
Pechiney's statuts, a vacancy on the
board of directors may be filled by
appointment by the remaining directors
(provided that at least the
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minimum required number of directors is
in office), subject to ratification by
the shareholders at the next ordinary
general meeting. Any vacancy left by
the employee-representative directors
is immediately filled by the employees.
Any vacancy left by an employee-
shareholder representative director is
filled at the next general meeting of
shareholders.
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Shareholder Nomination Any shareholder of a Under French company law, shareholders
corporation governed by the may nominate individuals for the board
Canada Business Corporations of directors at an ordinary
Act may make nominations at a shareholders' meeting. Information
shareholder meeting for the regarding candidates must be made
election of directors. Such available to the shareholders by the
nominations may be made as a board of directors of the corporation
shareholder proposal that is no less than 15 days before the
included in the corporation's meeting. In addition, if the agenda for
proxy material if the proposal the shareholders' meeting includes the
is signed by the holders of election of directors, any shareholder
not less than 5% of the shares may propose a candidate for election at
of any class entitled to vote the shareholders' meeting, even if the
at the meeting to which the shareholder has not followed the
proposal is presented. procedures to make such nomination in
Shareholders of Canadian advance of the shareholders' meeting.
corporations may also
independently solicit proxies
for the election to the board
of directors of nominees other
than those presented by
management. Historically,
Alcan's corporate governance
committee has recommended
candidates for election to the
board of directors and the
shareholders elect those
nominees at each annual
meeting.
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Shareholders' Meetings Under the Canada Business Three types of shareholders' meeting
Corporations Act, the exist under French company law:
directors of a corporation ordinary, extraordinary and special.
must call an annual meeting French company law requires an annual
not later than 18 months after ordinary general meeting of the
the corporation comes into shareholders to be held within six
existence and thereafter, not months of the end of the company's
later than 15 months after fiscal year.
holding the last preceding
annual meeting. All shareholders' meetings, whether
ordinary, extraordinary or special, are
The Canada Business held pursuant to an announcement
Corporations Act provides that published in a French official legal
special shareholder meetings gazette (Bulletin des annonces civiles
may be called by the board of obligatoires or BALO) at least 30 days
directors at any time and must before the date of the meeting. In
be called by the board of addition, a notice convening the
directors when requisitioned meeting must be published in the BALO
by holders of not less than 5% and in a
of the issued shares of the
corporation that carry the
right to vote at the meeting
sought. If the board of
directors fails to call a
properly requisitioned meeting
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within 21 days after receiving newspaper authorized to publish legal
the request, any shareholder announcements. This convening notice
who signed the requisition may must appear no fewer than 15 days for
call the meeting. the first notice (on first call) and
six days for the following notice (on
Shareholders' meetings, second call). The same notice must be
whether annual or special, sent to each shareholder holding shares
shall be held within Canada. in registered form at least one month
However, a meeting may be held prior to the date of the publication in
at a place outside Canada if the newspaper and to the auditors of
the place is specified in the the company. In the event the board of
articles or if all the directors of Pechiney fails to publish
shareholders entitled to vote such notice or call a required meeting,
at the meeting agree that the a meeting may be convened by Pechiney's
meeting is to be held at that statutory auditor or a court appointed
place. Notice of the time and agent. A court may be requested to
place of a meeting must be appoint an agent by:
sent by the corporation not
less than 21 nor more than 50 - one or more shareholders holding in
days before the meeting to the aggregate at least 5% of the
each shareholder entitled to capital for a general meeting or 5% of
vote at the meeting, each a specific category of shares for
director of the corporation special meetings;
and the auditors of the
corporation. On the - the employees' committee in case of
application of a director, a emergency;
shareholder entitled to vote
at a meeting or the Director - any interested party in cases of
appointed under the Canada emergency; or
Business Corporations Act, a
court may order a shareholder - as long as Pechiney remains listed on
meeting to be held. the Euronext Paris, certain duly
qualified associations of shareholders.
Under Alcan's by-laws, the
holders of 40% of the shares Quorum for an ordinary general
entitled to vote at a meeting, shareholders' meeting consists of the
present in person or by proxy, holders of 25% of the shares entitled
constitute a quorum. The to vote at this meeting on the first
provisions attached to a call, with no quorum on the second
specific class or series of call, if required. Quorum for an
shares in Alcan's Restated extraordinary shareholders' meeting
Articles of Incorporation, as consists of 33.33% of the shares
amended from time to time, may entitled to vote at this meeting on the
prescribe a different quorum first call, and 25% of the shares on
for meetings of holders of the second call, if required. Quorum
that class or series of for a special shareholders' meeting
shares. consists of the holders of 50% of the
Any person entitled to notice shares entitled to vote at the meeting
of a shareholder meeting may on the first call, and 25% of the
attend that meeting. A shares on the second call, if required.
shareholder may appoint a
proxyholder, who need not be a At ordinary shareholders' meetings,
shareholder, to attend and act action is taken by a majority of the
at the meeting in accordance votes cast, whereas a super-majority
with the authority conferred equal to two-thirds of the votes cast
by the proxy. is required for most actions taken at
any extraordinary shareholders' meeting
or any special shareholders'
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meeting.
Attendance at a shareholders' meeting
is subject to certain conditions,
including:
- a holder of registered shares must
have its shares in its name;
- a holder of bearer shares must obtain
from the accredited financial
intermediary a certificate indicating
the number of shares owned by such
holder (certificat d'immobilisation)
and stating that such shares are not
transferable until the date and time
fixed for such meeting.
Under French law, certain additional
conditions apply to shareholders
holding shares through a mandatory or
other representative.
Subject to these conditions, all
shareholders, upon proof of their
identity, have the right to participate
in shareholders' meetings.
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Shareholders' Proposals Under the Canada Business Under French company law, shareholders
Corporations Act, an eligible representing, individually or
registered holder or collectively, a defined percentage
beneficial owner of shares who (less than 5%) of the capital of
is entitled to vote at an Pechiney may request that a resolution
annual meeting of shareholders that they proposed for adoption at the
may submit a proposal shareholder meeting be included in the
consisting of matters that the agenda. Such request must be made
person proposes to raise at within 10 days of the publication of
the next annual meeting. Upon the announcement notice of the
receipt of the proposal, a shareholders' meeting in the BALO and
corporation that solicits must specify the reasons for such
proxies shall set out the resolution. In addition, French company
proposal in the management law requires that the board of
proxy circular and, if directors of Pechiney respond during
requested by the shareholder, such meeting to any questions submitted
include in the management in writing by any shareholder.
proxy circular a statement by
the shareholder of not more
than 500 words in support of
the proposal, and the name and
address of the shareholder.
A corporation may within 21
days after receiving a
shareholder proposal, notify
the shareholder of its
intention to omit the proposal
from the management proxy
circular if:
- the proposal is not
submitted to the corporation
at least 90 days before the
anniversary date of the notice
of meeting that was sent to
shareholders in connection
with the previous annual
meeting of shareholders;
- it clearly appears that the
primary
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purpose of the proposal is to
enforce a personal claim or
redress a personal grievance
against the corporation or its
directors, officers or
security holders;
- it clearly appears that the
proposal does not relate in a
significant way to the
business or affairs of the
corporation;
- not more than two years
before the receipt of a
proposal, a person failed to
present, in person or by
proxy, at a meeting of
shareholders, a proposal that
at the person's request, had
been included in a management
proxy circular relating to the
meeting;
- substantially the same
proposal was submitted to
shareholders in a management
proxy circular or a
dissident's proxy circular
relating to a meeting of
shareholders held not more
than five years before the
receipt of the proposal and
did not receive the prescribed
minimum amount of support at
the meeting; or
- the right to submit a
proposal is being abused to
secure publicity.
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Payment of Dividends Under the Canada Business The distributable profits (benefice
Corporations Act, a distribuable) available for
corporation may pay a dividend distribution to the shareholders of a
by issuing fully paid shares French company as dividends are
of the corporation. A comprised of net income in each fiscal
corporation may also pay a year, after deduction for depreciation
dividend in money or property and provisions, as increased or
unless there are reasonable reduced, as the case may be, by a
grounds for believing that: profit or loss carried forward from
prior years, less any contributions to
(1) the corporation is, or legal reserves.
would after the payment be,
unable to pay its liabilities Under French law, Pechiney is required
as they become due; or to allocate five percent of its net
profits in each fiscal year to a legal
(2) the realizable value of reserve fund until the amount in such
the corporation's assets would reserve fund is equal to 10% of the
thereby be less than the nominal amount of the outstanding share
aggregate of its liabilities capital. This legal reserve is
and stated capital of all distributable only upon the liquidation
classes. of the company.
The board of directors Except in the case of a decrease in
declares the payment of share capital, no distribution may be
dividends and determines the made to shareholders, if as a result of
amount thereof. such distribution, the shareholders'
equity would fall below the amount of
the share capital increased by those
reserves
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which may not be distributed according
to applicable legal provisions or the
statuts. The amount of dividends is
fixed at the ordinary general meeting
of shareholders at which the annual
accounts are approved, following the
prior recommendation of the board of
directors.
If the company has earned a profit
since the end of the preceding fiscal
year, the board of directors may, in
certain instances, distribute interim
dividends to the extent of such profit.
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Voting Rights Under the Canada Business According to Pechiney's statuts, each
Corporations Act, an amendment share entitles its holder to one vote.
to a corporation's articles Under French company law, the
generally requires shareholder fundamental actions, including the
approval by special following, require the approval of the
resolution. A special holders of a qualified majority of at
resolution is a resolution least two-thirds ( 2/3) of the shares
passed by a majority of not entitled to vote:
less than two-thirds of the
votes cast by the shareholders - amendments to the statuts;
who are entitled to vote on
the resolution in person or by - transfer of the registered office to
proxy at the annual or special a non-neighboring department;
meeting called for such
purpose, whether or not the - increase or decrease of share
shares held by them are capital;
designated as voting shares in
the corporation's articles of - denial of the shareholders'
incorporation. In certain preemptive rights;
cases, a special resolution to
approve an extraordinary - authorization of employee stock
corporate action, such as an option and/or purchase plans;
amendment to the articles of
incorporation that adversely - authorizations of mergers, spin-offs,
affects the rights of a partial contribution of assets,
particular class or series of dissolution of the corporation, as well
shares, may also be required as, disposition of all or substantially
to be approved separately by all of the assets of Pechiney if such
the holders of a class or disposition would entail a modification
series of shares, including a of the company's corporate purpose; and
class or series that does not
otherwise carry the right to - the issuance of share capital.
vote.
In addition, the transformation of the
Under the Canada Business corporation into another type of legal
Corporations Act, unless the entity requires, depending on the new
articles or by-laws otherwise type of entity, either a unanimous vote
provide, the directors may, by of the shareholders or the approval of
resolution, make, amend or the holders of a qualified majority of
repeal any by-law that at least 75% or two-thirds ( 2/3) of
regulates the business or the shares entitled to vote.
affairs of a corporation.
Where the directors make,
amend or repeal a by-law, they
are required under the Canada
Business Corporations Act to
submit the by-law, amendment
or repeal to the shareholders
at the next meeting of
shareholders. The
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shareholders may confirm,
reject or amend the by-law,
amendment or repeal, by an
ordinary resolution, which is
a resolution passed by a
majority of the voting
shareholders.
Under the Canada Business
Corporations Act, the
following transactions also
require shareholder approval
by special resolution:
- amalgamations, other than an
amalgamation between a parent
corporation and one or more of
its wholly-owned subsidiaries
or between two or more of such
subsidiaries, continuances,
sales, leases or exchanges of
all or substantially all of
the property of a corporation
other than in the ordinary
course of business;
- liquidations; and
- dissolutions.
In certain cases, a special
resolution to approve an
extraordinary corporate action
must also be approved
separately by the holders of a
class or series of shares or
by a majority of the votes
cast by disinterested
shareholders.
A corporation may also apply
to a court for an order
approving an arrangement,
which could include an
amendment of the corporation's
articles, an amalgamation, a
transfer of all or
substantially all the property
of a corporation to another
corporation in exchange for
property, money or securities
of the corporation, or
liquidation and dissolution of
the corporation where it is
not insolvent and where it is
not practicable for the
corporation to make such
fundamental change in
accordance with the provisions
of the Canada Business
Corporations Act. The court
may make any interim or final
order it thinks fit with
respect to such proposed
arrangement. Generally, an
arrangement involving a public
company must receive
shareholder approval as a
condition of obtaining the
court order.
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Appraisal Rights The Canada Business There are no appraisal rights under
Corporations Act provides that French company law or Pechiney's
shareholders entitled to vote statuts. Under applicable French stock
on certain matters are market regulations, the CMF is
entitled to exercise dissent responsible for deciding upon the
rights and be paid the fair acceptability of a tender offer by
value of their shares. The analyzing the value of the
Canada Business Corporations consideration offered with reference to
Act does not distinguish for customary valuation criteria and the
this purpose between listed nature of the target company. Its avis
and unlisted shares. Such de recevabilite can be challenged in
matters include the following: court by any interested party during 10
days.
- any amalgamation with a
corporation, other than with For additional information, see the
certain subsidiary discussion under "Take-Over Bids and
corporations; Compulsory Acquisition of Shares"
below.
- an amendment to the articles
to add, change or remove any
provisions restricting the
issue, transfer or ownership
of shares;
- a continuance under the laws
of another jurisdiction;
- a sale, lease or exchange of
all or substantially all of
the property of the
corporation other than in the
ordinary course of business;
- a proposed arrangement
transaction, where a court
order issued in connection
with an application for court
approval of the arrangement
permits the exercise of
dissent rights; or
- certain amendments to the
articles of a corporation
which require a separate class
or series vote, provided that
a shareholder is not entitled
to dissent if an amendment to
the articles is effected by a
court order made in connection
with an action for an
oppression remedy.
Under the Canada Business
Corporations Act, a
shareholder may, in addition
to exercising dissent rights,
seek an oppression remedy for
any act or omission of a
corporation which is
oppressive, unfairly
prejudicial to or that
unfairly disregards a
shareholder's interest.
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Oppression Remedy The Canada Business Under French company law, a shareholder
Corporations Act provides an may not exercise its voting right in a
oppression remedy that enables manner that (i) is contrary to the
the court to make any order, interest of the company, and (ii) has
both interim and final, to the sole purpose of unfairly favoring a
rectify the matters complained particular group of shareholders
of if the court is satisfied,
upon application by a
complainant, as
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defined below, that: (e.g., a majority or a group of
minority shareholders) to the detriment
- any act or omission of the of the other shareholders.
corporation or an affiliate
effects a result, Damages may be sought by any
shareholder that is harmed, and a
- the business or affairs of proceeding for nullity of the vote may
the corporation or an be brought by any shareholder or
affiliate are or have been director of the company.
carried on or conducted, or
French company law provides that the
- the powers of the directors complainant may claim for the entire
of the corporation or an prejudice suffered by the company. A
affiliate are or have been complainant may also seek nullity of
exercised the action claimed to be oppressive.
The court may order the company to pay
in a manner that is oppressive for the complainant's legal costs and
or unfairly prejudicial to, or disbursements.
that unfairly disregards the
interests of, any security The statute of limitations for a
holder, creditor, director or shareholder suit is 3 years from the
officer of the corporation or date of the action giving rise to the
an affiliate. damages, or, in certain cases, from the
date of its discovery, unless the
A complainant includes: action is qualified as criminal, in
which case the statute of limitation
- a present or former would be 10 years.
registered holder or
beneficial owner of securities
of a corporation or any of its
affiliates;
- a present or former officer
or director of the corporation
or any of its affiliates;
- the director appointed under
the Canada Business
Corporations Act; and
- any other person who in the
discretion of the court is a
proper person to make such an
application.
Because of the breadth of the
conduct which can be
complained of and the scope of
the court's remedial powers,
including the power to order
liquidation and dissolution of
the corporation concerned, the
oppression remedy is very
flexible and may be relied
upon to safeguard the
interests of shareholders and
other complainants that have a
substantial interest in the
corporation. Under the Canada
Business Corporations Act, it
is not necessary to prove that
the directors of a corporation
acted in bad faith in order to
seek an oppression remedy.
Additionally, under the Canada
Business Corporations Act, a
court may order a corporation
or its subsidiary to pay the
complainant's interim costs,
including legal fees
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ALCAN PECHINEY
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and disbursements. Although
the complainant may be held
accountable for the interim
costs on final disposition of
the complaint, it is not
required to give security for
costs in an oppression action.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Suits Under the Canada Business Under French company law, any
Corporations Act, a shareholder, whatever percentage of the
complainant may apply to the capital of Pechiney it represents, or
court for leave to bring an any group of shareholders representing,
action in the name of and on in the aggregate, a certain portion of
behalf of a corporation or any the capital of Pechiney (depending on
subsidiary, or to intervene in the outstanding capital of Pechiney),
an existing action to which may bring an action for and on behalf
such corporation is a party, of Pechiney (action sociale) against
for the purpose of board members to allow the corporation
prosecuting, defending or to recover any damages suffered by it.
discontinuing the action on
behalf of the corporation or
any subsidiary. Under the
Canada Business Corporations
Act, no action may be brought
and no intervention in an
action may be made unless the
court is satisfied that:
- the complainant has given 14
days notice to the directors
of the corporation or its
subsidiary of the
complainant's intention to
apply to the court and the
directors of the corporation
or its subsidiary do not
bring, diligently prosecute or
defend or discontinue the
action;
- the complainant is acting in
good faith; and
- it appears to be in the
interests of the corporation
or its subsidiary that the
action be brought, prosecuted,
defended or discontinued.
Under the Canada Business
Corporations Act, the court in
such a derivative action may
make any order it thinks fit
including:
- an order authorizing the
complainant or any other
person to control the conduct
of the action;
- an order giving directions
for the conduct of the action;
- an order directing that any
amount adjudged payable by a
defendant in the action shall
be paid, in whole or in part,
directly to former and present
security holders of the
corporation or its
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ALCAN PECHINEY
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subsidiary instead of to the
corporation or its subsidiary;
and
- an order requiring the
corporation or its subsidiary
to pay legal fees and any
other costs reasonably
incurred by the complainant in
connection with the action.
Additionally, under the Canada
Business Corporations Act, a
court may order a corporation
or its subsidiary to pay the
complainant's interim costs,
including legal fees and
disbursements. Although the
complainant may be held
accountable for the interim
costs on final disposition of
the complaint, the complainant
is not required to give
security for costs in a
derivative action. Once
commenced, a derivative
proceeding may not be
discontinued or settled
without the court's approval.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of Books and Records The shareholders, directors Under French corporate law shareholders
and creditors of a corporation or their proxies may examine a number
incorporated under the Canada of corporate records relating to the
Business Corporations Act, and previous three fiscal years, including:
their agents and legal
representatives, may examine: - the corporation's statuts;
- the corporation's articles - shareholder lists, including the
and by-laws and any amendments name, address and shareholding of
thereto; registered shareholders;
- minutes of meetings and - consolidated financial statements;
resolutions of the
corporation's shareholders; - reports of the board of directors and
the statutory auditors;
- a list of directors; and
- proposed resolutions;
- a securities register;
- minutes of shareholders' meetings;
during the usual business
hours of the corporation free - information relating to directorial
of charge. A shareholder of candidates;
the corporation is entitled,
on request and without charge, - the total overall compensation paid
to take extracts from those to the corporation's ten highest-paid
materials and to receive one employees;
copy of the articles and
by-laws of the corporation and - the list of attendees at
any amendments thereto. shareholders' meetings; and
As Alcan is a public company, - a list of the corporation's directors
any person, upon payment of a and statutory auditors.
reasonable fee and providing
to Alcan or its agent an Shareholders may consult and make a
affidavit confirming the name copy of the documents listed above at
and address of the applicant any time at the company's registered
and stating that the list and office. Shareholders also have the
any supplemental lists right to make one copy of the documents
obtained will not be used that are available for consultation.
other than in connection with:
- an effort to influence
shareholder
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ALCAN PECHINEY
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voting; Shareholders have additional inspection
rights prior to a shareholders'
- an offer to acquire meeting. Prior to a shareholders'
securities of Alcan; or meeting, shareholders have the right to
receive information, including:
- any other matter relating to
the affairs of Alcan; - the agenda for the meeting;
may require Alcan or its agent - a table showing results of operations
to provide a current list for the previous five years;
setting out the names of
Alcan's registered holders of - the report of the board of directors
shares, options and rights, that will be presented at the meeting;
the number of shares owned by
each shareholder and the - a summary of the company's financial
address of each holder of situation over the previous fiscal year
shares and rights as shown on and the latest annual financial
the records of the statements;
corporation.
- the statutory auditors' reports; and
- the proposed resolutions to be
presented at the meeting.
During this period, shareholders may
always consult the list of the
corporation's shareholders.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preemptive Rights Under the Canada Business Under French company law, an existing
Corporations Act, if the shareholder of a corporation has a
articles of a corporation so preemptive right to subscribe for any
provide, no shares of a class shares or any securities convertible
shall be issued, except in into, or otherwise giving access to,
limited circumstances, unless shares either immediately or with the
the shares have first been passage of time and issued by such
offered to shareholders corporation in proportion to the shares
holding shares of that class, already held by such shareholder,
and those shareholders have unless such right is excluded at an
preemptive rights to acquire extraordinary general shareholders'
the offered shares in meeting with a two-thirds majority.
proportion to their holdings According to French company law, under
of the shares of that class, certain conditions, unexercised
at such price and on such preemptive rights may be individually
terms as those shares are to waived by the shareholders or
be offered to others. Alcan's transferred to third parties. If
Restated Articles of expressly authorized at the
Incorporation do not currently extraordinary general shareholders'
provide for preemptive rights meeting approving the capital increase,
of the holders of any of its the shareholders, as well as the third
outstanding shares. parties to whom preemptive rights were
transferred, may subscribe for the
shares subject to the capital increase
above and beyond their pro rata
interest in the share capital of the
corporation by subscribing the stock
reserved for shareholders who neither
exercised nor transferred their
preemptive rights.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ALCAN PECHINEY
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Take-Over Bids and Compulsory If a share acquisition Under applicable French stock exchange
Acquisition of Shares constitutes a take-over bid regulations, where a natural person or
and is not otherwise exempt, a legal entity, acting alone or in
it must be made to all holders concert, come to hold, directly or
of the relevant class by way indirectly, more than a third of the
of a formal offer and offering securities or more than a third of the
circular in the form voting rights of a listed company, this
prescribed under Canadian person or legal entity is obliged to
securities legislation. A make a tender offer for the entire
"take-over bid" includes any capital of the company and the other
offer to acquire a number of securities giving access, either
voting securities which, when immediately or with the passage of
added to the existing holdings time, to the capital or to the voting
of the offeror and its joint rights of the company. Such offer must
actors, would constitute 20% be on terms and conditions that are
or more of that class of acceptable to the CMF.
securities. The bid must
remain open for a period of 35 The same provisions apply to any
days and, if the consideration natural person or legal entity acting
offered under the bid includes alone or in concert:
shares, the bid documents must
contain prospectus-like (i) which holds directly or indirectly
disclosure with respect to the between one-third and one-half of the
issuer of the shares. There securities or the voting rights of a
are several exemptions under company and which, in less than twelve
which an offer which consecutive months, increases the
constitutes a "take-over bid" number of securities or the voting
may be made on an "exempt rights it holds in the Company by at
basis"; that is, without that least 2%; or
offer having to be extended to
all security holders. The most (ii) where more than one-third of the
frequently used exemptions capital or voting rights of a listed
are: company is held by another company and
constitutes an essential part of such
- the private purchase company's assets and where:
exemption, which permits
acquisitions of any number of (a) a person acquires the control
securities in private (as determined by French company law)
agreements with not more than of this other company; or
5 persons or companies if the
value of the consideration (b) a group of persons acting in
does not exceed 115% of the concert holds more than 50% of the
market price of the class of capital or of the voting rights of this
securities; and other company without any of these
persons continuing to hold the control
- normal course purchases in individually.
any 12-month period through
the facilities of a stock French stock exchange regulations
exchange of up to 5% of the provide certain exemptions to the
class of securities obligation to make such mandatory
outstanding at the offer, which could be allowed by the
commencement of such period at CMF.
prices not in excess of the
market price. The bid must, subject to certain
exceptions, remain open for a period of
Under the Canada Business 25 trading days.
Corporations Act, if within
120 days of a take-over bid Under applicable French stock market
the holders of 90% of the regulations, a shareholder who comes to
shares of any class, excluding hold, alone or in concert, at least 95%
shares held by or on behalf of of the total share capital and voting
the offeror, accept the rights of a
take-over bid of that offeror,
the offeror is entitled to
acquire the remaining shares
of that class. The holders of
the shares not tendered to the
take-over bid may elect to
transfer the shares to the
offeror on the terms of the
take-over bid or to demand
payment of the fair
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ALCAN PECHINEY
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value of those shares. listed company may initiate a
withdrawal offer (offre publique de
The securities laws and retrait), or buy-out, which could be
policies of certain Canadian followed by a compulsory acquisition or
provinces regulate take-over squeeze out (retrait obligatoire) of
bids and related transactions the remaining minority shareholders. In
involving Canadian public the case of one majority shareholder
companies, including bids for holding 95% of the total share capital
securities of a corporation by and voting rights, any holder of voting
its insiders, bids by a equity securities who does not belong
corporation to acquire its own to the majority group can also apply to
securities and going private the CMF to require the majority
transactions in which the shareholder or group of shareholders to
interests of shareholders file a withdrawal offer, and to thus
would be terminated in certain offer to acquire the shares of the
circumstances, such as a minority.
compulsory acquisition of
shares described in the
preceding paragraph. Depending
on the circumstances, these
laws and policies seek to
enhance minority shareholder
protections by providing for
such things as independent
valuations, approval by a
majority of the minority
shareholders concerned and
enhanced disclosure, and by
recommending the use of
independent directors to
review such matters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Rights Plan Each of the Alcan Common Pechiney does not have a shareholder
Shares carries one right to rights plan.
purchase additional common
shares pursuant to the
Company's Shareholder Rights
Plan. The terms of the rights
are contained in the
Shareholders Rights Agreement,
which is governed by the laws
of Ontario and Canada. The
rights expire in 2008, subject
to re-confirmation at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
in 2005.
The rights under the rights
plan are not currently
exercisable, nor may they be
separated from the Alcan
Common Shares. Subject to
specified exceptions and
qualifications, on the tenth
business day after the first
to occur of:
- the acquisition by a person
or group of affiliated or
associated persons of
beneficial ownership of 20%
or more of Alcan's
outstanding voting shares;
or
- a bid to acquire 20% or more
of Alcan's outstanding voting
shares,
holders of rights, with the
exception of the acquiring or
bidding party, will be
entitled to
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ALCAN PECHINEY
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purchase from Alcan, upon
payment of the exercise price
(currently $200.00), the
number of Alcan Common Shares
that can be purchased for
double the exercise price,
based on the market value of
the Alcan Common Shares at the
time the rights become
exercisable. At and after such
time the rights will also be
transferable separately from
the Alcan Common Shares. The
exercise price mentioned above
is subject to adjustment
according to the terms of the
rights plan to account for,
among other things,
adjustments to the Alcan
Common Shares such as stock
splits, stock dividends and
distributions to shareholders.
The rights agreement has a
permitted bid feature which
allows a take-over bid to
proceed without the rights
becoming exercisable, provided
that the bid meets specified
minimum specified standards of
fairness and disclosure, even
if the board of directors of
Alcan does not support the
bid.
The rights may be redeemed by
the board of directors of
Alcan prior to the expiration
or reauthorization of the
rights agreement, with the
prior consent of the holders
of rights or Alcan Common
Shares, for $0.01 per right.
In addition, under specified
conditions, the board of
directors of Alcan may waive
the application of the rights
agreement for particular share
acquisitions or take-over
bids, and in that event the
board of directors of Alcan
will be deemed to have elected
to redeem the rights at $0.01
per right.
104
ALCAN'S DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ALCAN AND PECHINEY
ALCAN
Based on the number of Alcan Common Shares issued and outstanding on June 30,
2003, the directors and officers of Alcan, individually and the group as a
whole, held less than one percent of the issued and outstanding Alcan Common
Shares.
PECHINEY
Pechiney's 2002 20-F states that, as of December 31, 2002, none of Pechiney's
directors and executive officers held Pechiney securities that, combined with
options to purchase Pechiney Common Shares they held, would have entitled them
to beneficially own one percent or more of any class of Pechiney securities
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING ALCAN'S DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Each of the Directors of Alcan is a citizen of Canada, except for Mr. Travis
Engen and Mr. William R. Loomis, Jr., who are citizens of the United States of
America, and Mr. Ronald Berger and Mr. Gerhard Schulmeyer, who are citizens of
the Federal Republic of Germany.
Each of the Executive Officers of Alcan is a citizen of Canada, except for Mr.
Travis Engen, Mr. Richard B. Evans, Mr. Brian W. Sturgell, Ms. Cynthia Carroll,
Ms. Martha Finn Brooks and Mr. Thomas J. Harrington, who are citizens of the
United States of America, Mr. Christopher Bark-Jones, who is a citizen of the
United Kingdom, Mr. Kurt Wolfensberger, who is a citizen of Switzerland, and Mr.
Armin Weinhold, who is a citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany.
105
MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND DATA
MARKET PRICES
ALCAN
The principal trading markets for Alcan Common Shares are the New York Stock
Exchange and The Toronto Stock Exchange. The table below sets forth, for the
periods indicated, the reported high and low quoted prices of the Alcan shares
on the New York Stock Exchange and The Toronto Stock Exchange.
NEW YORK STOCK TORONTO STOCK
EXCHANGE PRICE EXCHANGE PRICE PER
PER ALCAN SHARE ALCAN SHARE
---------------- -------------------
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
----- ----- -------- --------
(USD) (USD) (CAN $) (CAN $)
2001
First Quarter................................. 39.86 33.00 61.76 49.45
Second Quarter................................ 48.50 35.50 73.70 56.37
Third Quarter................................. 43.76 28.95 67.50 45.50
Fourth Quarter................................ 37.56 28.94 59.25 46.95
2002
First Quarter................................. 41.78 34.53 65.73 55.60
Second Quarter................................ 40.00 35.27 62.95 53.61
Third Quarter................................. 37.04 23.87 56.11 37.76
Fourth Quarter................................ 32.05 23.39 50.10 37.25
2003
First Quarter................................. 31.97 26.45 49.29 39.08
Second Quarter................................ 32.74 27.48 44.21 39.75
Third Quarter (through July 4, 2003).......... 31.58 31.27 42.30 42.10
PECHINEY
Pechiney Common Shares are listed for trading on the Premier Marche of Euronext
Paris under the ISIN code FR0000132904. Pechiney ADSs are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange. The table below sets forth,
106
for the periods indicated, the reported high and low quoted prices of the
Pechiney Common Shares on the Premier Marche of Euronext Paris and of the
Pechiney ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange.
PRICE PER PECHINEY PRICE PER PECHINEY
COMMON SHARE ADSS
------------------ ------------------
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
------ ------ ------ ------
(EURO) (EURO) (USD) (USD)
2001
First Quarter............................... 57.30 43.50 26.30 19.70
Second Quarter.............................. 68.60 45.22 30.00 20.35
Third Quarter............................... 63.40 30.04 26.80 16.05
Fourth Quarter.............................. 59.40 40.35 26.05 18.65
2002
First Quarter............................... 63.80 57.05 28.13 25.25
Second Quarter.............................. 61.85 45.20 27.75 22.65
Third Quarter............................... 48.93 26.90 24.10 13.58
Fourth Quarter.............................. 39.60 24.50 19.50 12.17
2003
First Quarter............................... 34.30 20.37 18.00 13.95
Second Quarter.............................. 32.21 22.10 18.00 12.30
Third Quarter (through July 4, 2003)........ 34.70 30.01 19.27 17.60
Pechiney OCEANEs are listed for trading on the Premier Marche of Euronext Paris
under the ISIN code FR0000188401. The table below sets forth, for the periods
indicated, the reported high and low quoted prices of the Pechiney OCEANEs on
Euronext Paris.
PRICE PER
PECHINEY OCEANE
---------------
HIGH LOW
------ ------
(EURO) (EURO)
------ ------
2002
Second Quarter (beginning April 4, 2002).................... 76.30 71.00
Third Quarter............................................... 72.00 63.00
Fourth Quarter.............................................. 75.00 66.55
2003
First Quarter............................................... 75.85 69.00
Second Quarter.............................................. 72.00 71.25
Third Quarter (through July 4, 2003)........................ 76.00 74.20
Pechiney Bonus Allocation Rights are listed for trading on the Premier Marche of
Euronext Paris under the ISIN code FR0000951634. The table below sets forth, for
the periods indicated, the reported high and low quoted prices of the Pechiney
Bonus Allocation Rights on the Euronext Paris.
PRICE PER
PECHINEY BONUS
ALLOCATION RIGHT
-----------------
HIGH LOW
------- -------
(EURO) (EURO)
2003
Second Quarter (beginning June 3, 2003)..................... 3.44 2.22
Third Quarter (through July 4, 2003)........................ 3.79 2.86
107
DIVIDENDS
ALCAN. The following table sets forth the aggregate amounts of dividends paid
on each Alcan Common Share in respect of the three-month period ended March 31,
2003 and each of the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2002.
U.S. DOLLARS PER
ALCAN COMMON SHARE
------------------
Three-month period ended March 31, 2003..................... 0.15
Year ended December 31,
2002...................................................... 0.60
2001...................................................... 0.60
2000...................................................... 0.60
1999...................................................... 0.60
1998...................................................... 0.60
PECHINEY. The following table sets forth the amounts of dividends paid on each
Pechiney Common Share and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amount of dividends
paid on each Pechiney ADS for each of the five fiscal years ended December 31,
2002.
EURO PER PECHINEY U.S. DOLLARS PER
COMMON SHARE PECHINEY ADS(1)
----------------- ----------------
(EXCEPT AS NOTED)
Year ended December 31,
2002................................................ 1.00 0.52
2001................................................ 1.00 0.45
2000................................................ 1.00 0.47
1999................................................ 0.81 0.41
1998................................................ 0.80 0.47
---------------
(1) Translations of euro amounts into U.S. dollars were made at the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York noon buying rate on the last trading day of the
respective years.
108
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
The validity of the Alcan Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the offer will
be passed upon by Roy Millington, Alcan's Corporate Secretary. Certain Canadian
tax consequences of the offer will be passed upon for Alcan by Hugh Berwick,
Alcan's senior tax counsel. Certain U.S. tax consequences of the offer will be
passed upon for Alcan by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated into this document by
reference to Alcan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31,
2002 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Montreal, Canada), independent accountants, given on
the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Pechiney as of December 31, 2002 and
2001 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to Pechiney's Annual Report on Form
20-F for the year ending December 31, 2002 contain the audit report issued by
Pechiney's independent auditors. Although we have requested their consent,
Pechiney's independent auditors have not yet consented to the use of their
report in this prospectus and may not consent to such request.
109
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SECURITYHOLDERS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Alcan files annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Pechiney files annual and special reports
and certain other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports,
statements or other information on file at the SEC's Public Reference Room
located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC
at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC
maintains an Internet site at the URL http://www.sec.gov that contains reports,
proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that
file electronically with the SEC. The Pechiney ADSs and Alcan Common Shares are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange and, consequently, the periodic reports,
proxy statements and other information filed by Pechiney and Alcan with the SEC
can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005.
Alcan has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 to register
the Alcan Common Shares that holders of Pechiney securities will receive
following completion and acceptance of the offers. This prospectus does not
contain all the information set forth in the registration statement, some parts
of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.
For further information, you should refer to the registration statement.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this
prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be a part of this prospectus, except for
any information superseded by information contained in this prospectus.
Information furnished under Item 9 or Item 12 of our current reports on Form 8-K
is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and Registration Statement.
We furnished information under Item 12 of our current report on Form 8-K filed
on April 16, 2003. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set
forth below that Alcan and Pechiney have previously filed with the SEC. These
documents contain important information about Alcan and Pechiney and their
financial condition.
ALCAN SEC FILINGS (FILE NO. 1-3677) PERIOD
----------------------------------- ------
Annual Report on Form 10-K, including: Year ended December 31, 2002
- those portions of Alcan's Annual
Report for the year ended December 31,
2002, and
- those portions of Alcan's Management
Proxy Circular for the annual meeting
of shareholders held on April 24,
2003,
that are expressly incorporated by reference
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q Quarter ended March 31, 2003
Current Reports on Form 8-K Filed on January 21, 2003 and May 2, 2003.
PECHINEY SEC FILINGS (FILE NO. 1-14110) PERIOD
--------------------------------------- ------
Annual Report on Form 20-F Year ended December 31, 2002
Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K Filed on April 30, 2003.
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that
may be filed with the SEC by Alcan or Pechiney after the date of this prospectus
until the expiration of the U.S. offer.
You may obtain copies of any of the documents incorporated by reference into
this prospectus through Alcan or the SEC. Alcan makes available free of charge
through its Internet site, accessible at the URL
110
http://www.alcan.com, all of Alcan's reports and other information filed with or
furnished to the SEC by means of a hyperlink to the SEC's EDGAR database of
electronic filings. Alcan also posts on its Internet site annual and quarterly
reports filed with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports
are electronically filed with the SEC.
You may also obtain documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus at
no costs by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:
Alcan
1188 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 3G2
Attn: Secretary
Tel.: 514-848-8000.
If you would like to receive documents before the expiration of the U.S. offer,
please make your request no later than , 2003, five business days before
the expiration date of the offers.
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE U.S.
OFFER. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS
DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHICH IS CONTAINED IN, OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO,
THIS PROSPECTUS. THIS PROSPECTUS IS DATED . YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN, OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO, THIS PROSPECTUS IS
ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THAT DATE, AND NEITHER THE MAILING OF THIS
PROSPECTUS TO SHAREHOLDERS NOR THE ISSUANCE OF ALCAN COMMON SHARES IN THE OFFERS
SHALL CREATE ANY IMPLICATIONS TO THE CONTRARY.
111
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION
The following tables show, for the periods indicated, information concerning the
exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the euro. The average rates presented
in these tables were calculated by using the average of the exchange rates on
the last day of each month during the relevant period. This information is
provided solely for your information, and we do not represent that euros could
be converted into U.S. dollars at these rates or at any other rate. These rates
are not the rates used by Alcan or Pechiney in the preparation of their
respective consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
The data provided in the following table is expressed in U.S. dollars per euro
and is based on noon buying rates published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York for the euro. On July 3, 2003, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar
and the euro expressed in U.S. dollar per euro was E1.00 = $1.1503. The data
provided in the following table for the period prior to January 1999 is based on
noon buying rates for the French franc converted into the euro at the fixed rate
established by the European Council of Ministers of FF 6.55957 = E1.00.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, HIGH LOW AVERAGE PERIOD END
----------------------- ------ ------ ------- ----------
1998........................................... N/A N/A N/A 1.1739
1999........................................... 1.1812 1.0016 1.0653 1.0070
2000........................................... 1.0335 0.8270 0.9232 0.9388
2001........................................... 0.9535 0.8730 0.8952 0.8901
2002........................................... 1.0485 0.8594 0.9454 1.0485
2003 (through July 3, 2003).................... 1.1870 1.0361 1.1064 1.1503
MONTHS IN 2002 AND 2003 HIGH LOW
----------------------- ------ ------
November........................................ 1.0139 0.9895
December........................................ 1.0485 0.9927
January......................................... 1.0861 1.0361
February........................................ 1.0875 1.7080
March........................................... 1.1062 1.0545
April........................................... 1.1180 1.0621
May............................................. 1.1853 1.1200
June............................................ 1.1870 1.1423
July (through July 3, 2003)..................... 1.1580 1.1503
112
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER U.S. SECURITIES LAWS
Alcan is a Canadian corporation. Most of Alcan's directors and officers, as well
as certain experts named in this prospectus, are not citizens or residents of
the United States and all or a substantial part of the assets of these
individuals may be located outside the United States. Also, a large part of our
assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult
for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these
individuals or to realize against them or Alcan within the United States upon
judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon civil liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933. Roy Millington, our Corporate Secretary, has advised
us, however, that the civil liability provisions of that Act may be enforced in
original actions taken in the Province of Quebec against us or any such
individual, but judgments of United States courts predicated on such provisions
will not be enforceable in the Province of Quebec unless they meet the
requirements for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments under the
Civil Code of Quebec.
WHO CAN HELP ANSWER MY QUESTIONS?
If you have more questions about this offer, you should contact the information
agent at the address or telephone numbers set forth in the inside front cover of
this prospectus under "Information Incorporated by Reference."
Additional copies of this prospectus, the letter of transmittal and the form of
acceptance may be obtained from the information agent, brokers, dealers,
commercial banks or trust companies.
TO OBTAIN TIMELY DELIVERY OF THESE DOCUMENTS, YOU MUST REQUEST THEM NO LATER
THAN , 2003.
113
(ALCAN LOGO)
ALCAN
The exchange agent is:
BY MAIL: BY OVERNIGHT COURIER: BY FACSIMILE:
The information agent is:
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
The Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Act"), the governing act to which
Alcan Inc. (the "Corporation") is subject, provides that,
(1) a corporation may indemnify a director or officer of the corporation, a
former director or officer of the corporation or another individual who
acts or acted at the corporation's request as a director or officer, or an
individual acting in a similar capacity, of another entity, against all
costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action
or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by the individual in respect of
any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding in
which the individual is involved because of that association with the
corporation or other entity.
(2) a corporation may advance moneys to a director, officer or other
individual for the costs, charges and expenses of a proceeding referred to
paragraph (1). However, the individual shall repay the moneys if he or she
does not fulfill the conditions of paragraph (3).
(3) a corporation may not indemnify an individual under paragraph (1)
unless the individual
(a) acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests
of the corporation, or, as the case may be, to the best interests of the
other entity for which the individual acted as a director or officer or
in a similar capacity at the corporation's request; and
(b) in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding
that is enforced by a monetary penalty, the individual had reasonable
grounds for believing that the individual's conduct was lawful.
(4) A corporation may with the approval of a court indemnify a person
referred to in paragraph (1), or advance moneys under paragraph (2), in
respect of an action by or on behalf of the corporation or other entity to
procure a judgment in its favor, to which the individual is made a party
because of the individual's association with the corporation or other
entity as described in paragraph (1) against all costs, charges and
expenses reasonably incurred by the individual in connection with such
action if the individual fulfils the conditions set out in paragraph (3).
(5) Despite paragraph (1), an individual referred to in paragraph (1) is
entitled to indemnity from the corporation in respect of all costs, charges
and expenses reasonably incurred by the individual in connection with the
defense of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other
proceeding to which the individual is subject because of the individual's
association with the corporation or other entity as described in paragraph
(1), if the individual seeking indemnity:
(a) was not judged by the court or other competent authority to have
committed any fault or omitted to do anything that the individual ought
to have done; and
(b) fulfils the conditions set out in paragraph (3).
The Directors' Standing Resolution pertaining to indemnification of Directors
and Officers of the Corporation represents, in general terms, the extent to
which directors and officers may be indemnified by the Corporation under the
Act. This resolution provides as follows:
"17. INDEMNITY (1) Subject to the limitations contained in the governing Act
but without limit to the right of the Corporation to indemnify as provided for
in the Act, the Corporation shall indemnify a Director or Officer, a former
Director or Officer, or a person who acts or acted at the Corporation's request
as a Director or Officer of a body corporate of which the Corporation is or was
a Shareholder or creditor (or a person who undertakes or has undertaken any
liability on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation's request on behalf
of any such body corporate) and his heirs and legal representatives, against all
costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or
satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by him in respect of any civil,
criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding to which he is made
a party by
II-1
reason of being or having been a Director or Officer of the Corporation or such
body corporate or by reason of having undertaken such liability.
(2) ADVANCE OF COSTS -- The Corporation shall advance moneys to a Director,
Officer or other individual for the costs, charges and expenses of a proceeding
referred to in subsection (1). The individual shall repay the moneys if the
individual does not fulfill the conditions of subsection (3).
(3) LIMITATION -- The Corporation may not indemnify an individual under
subsection (1) unless the individual
(a) acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of
the Corporation; and
(b) in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that
is enforced by a monetary penalty, he had reasonable grounds for believing
that his conduct was lawful."
The Corporation also has an insurance policy covering Directors and Officers of
the Corporation and of its subsidiaries against certain liabilities which might
be incurred by them in their capacities as such, but excluding those claims for
which such insured persons could be indemnified by the Corporation or its
subsidiaries.
II-2
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES.
(a) The following Exhibits are filed herewith unless otherwise indicated:
EXHIBIT INDEX
PAGINATION BY
SEQUENTIAL
EXHIBIT NUMBERING
NUMBER DESCRIPTION SYSTEM
------- ----------- -------------
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated as of September
12, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to
the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Alcan for the quarter
ended September 30, 2002 (File No. 1-3677)).................
3.2 By-law No. 1A (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
3.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Alcan for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1987 (File No. 1-3677))......
4 Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 1989,
as amended and restated as of April 22, 1999, between Alcan
Aluminum Limited and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, as rights
agent (incorporated herein by reference to Schedule B of the
Management Proxy Circular filed as Exhibit 99 to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998 (File No. 1-3677)).....................................
5 Opinion of Roy Millington regarding validity of securities
being registered.*..........................................
8.1 Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP regarding United States
and French tax consequences of the offer.*..................
8.2 Opinion of Hugh Berwick regarding Canadian tax consequences
of the offer.*..............................................
21 List of Subsidiaries of Alcan (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No.
1-3677))....................................................
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the
financial statements of Alcan...............................
23.2 Consent of Roy Millington (included in the opinion filed as
Exhibit 5 to this registration statement)...................
23.3 Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in the opinion
filed as Exhibit 8.1 to this registration statement)........
23.4 Consent of Hugh Berwick (included in the opinion filed as
Exhibit 8.2 to this registration statement).................
24.1 Powers of Attorney of Directors of Alcan Inc. signing by an
attorney-in-fact............................................
24.2 Power of Attorney of the authorized representative in the
United States of America of Alcan Inc. signing by an
attorney-in-fact............................................
99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal.*.............................
99.2 Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*.....................
99.3 Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust
Companies and Other Nominees.*..............................
99.4 Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers,
Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.*......
99.5 Form of Form of Acceptance.*................................
---------------
* To be filed by amendment.
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
Not Applicable.
II-3
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total U.S. dollar value of securities offered
would not exceed that which was registered) and any derivation
from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(4) That prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered
hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this
registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an
underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), such reoffering
prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable
registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be
deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the
other items of the applicable form.
(5) That every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to paragraph (4)
immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements
of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is
used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415,
will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement
and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
(6) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each filing of the registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in
the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
II-4
(7) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by
reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of
this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to
send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally
prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed
subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through
the date of responding to the request.
(8) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information
concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved
therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration
statement when it became effective.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding)
is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection
with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Montreal, Canada, on
July 7, 2003.
Alcan
By: /s/ TRAVIS ENGEN
------------------------------------
Name: Travis Engen
Title: President and Chief Executive
Office
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on July 7, 2003:
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ TRAVIS ENGEN President, Chief Executive Office and July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------ Director (Principal Executive
Travis Engen Officer)
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
Ronald Berger
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
Clarence J. Chandran
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
L. Denis Desautels
* Chairman of the Board of Directors July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
L. Yves Fortier
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
William R. Loomis, Jr.
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
J.E. Newall
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
Guy Saint-Pierre
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
Gerhard Schulmeyer
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
Paul M. Tellier
* Director July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------
Milton K. Wong
II-6
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ GEOFFERY E. MERSZEI Executive Vice President and Chief July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------ Financial Officer (Principal
Geoffery E. Merszei Financial Officer)
/s/ THOMAS J. HARRINGTON Vice President and Controller July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------ (Principal Accounting Officer)
Thomas J. Harrington
* Authorized Representative in the July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------------ United States of America
William H. Jairrels
*By: /s/ ROY MILLINGTON July 7, 2003
------------------------------------------
Roy Millington as Attorney-in-fact
II-7
EXHIBIT INDEX
PAGINATION BY
SEQUENTIAL
EXHIBIT NUMBERING
NUMBER DESCRIPTION SYSTEM
------- ----------- -------------
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated as of September
12, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to
the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Alcan for the quarter
ended September 30, 2002 (File No. 1-3677)).................
3.2 By-law No. 1A (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
3.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Alcan for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1987 (File No. 1-3677))......
4 Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 1989,
as amended and restated as of April 22, 1999, between Alcan
Aluminum Limited and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, as rights
agent (incorporated herein by reference to Schedule B of the
Management Proxy Circular filed as Exhibit 99 to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998 (File No. 1-3677)).....................................
5 Opinion of Roy Millington regarding validity of securities
being registered.*..........................................
8.1 Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP regarding United States
and French tax consequences of the offer.*..................
8.2 Opinion of Hugh Berwick regarding Canadian tax consequences
of the offer.*..............................................
21 List of Subsidiaries of Alcan (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No.
1-3677))....................................................
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the
financial statements of Alcan...............................
23.2 Consent of Roy Millington (included in the opinion filed as
Exhibit 5 to this registration statement)...................
23.3 Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in the opinion
filed as Exhibit 8.1 to this registration statement)........
23.4 Consent of Hugh Berwick (included in the opinion filed as
Exhibit 8.2 to this registration statement).................
24.1 Powers of Attorney of Directors of Alcan Inc. signing by an
attorney-in-fact............................................
24.2 Power of Attorney of the authorized representative in the
United States of America of Alcan Inc. signing by an
attorney-in-fact............................................
99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal.*.............................
99.2 Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*.....................
99.3 Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust
Companies and Other Nominees.*..............................
99.4 Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers,
Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.*......
99.5 Form of Form of Acceptance.*................................
---------------
* To be filed by amendment.
E-1