Company announces share conversion privilege of Series 2 and Series 3 Preferred Shares and dividend rate reset of Series 3 Preferred Shares, which occur every five years
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jun 16, 2017) - In connection with the conversion privilege for holders of its Series 2 and Series 3 Preferred Shares, Bombardier Inc. (TSX: BBD.B)(TSX: BBD.A)(TSX: BBD.PR.B)(TSX: BBD.PR.D) today announced the basis for resetting the dividend rate on its Series 3 Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms applicable to those shares.
Holders of Bombardier Inc. Series 2 Preferred Shares have the right to convert all or part of their shares, effective on August 1, 2017, on a one for one basis into Series 3 Preferred Shares. Holders of Bombardier Inc. Series 3 Preferred Shares have the right to convert all or part of their shares, effective on August 1, 2017, on a one for one basis into Series 2 Preferred Shares. Holders who do not convert their shares will retain their Series 2 Preferred Shares or Series 3 Preferred Shares, as the case may be, unless automatically converted in accordance with the terms of the Series 2 or Series 3 Preferred Shares, as described below.
In the case of the Series 2 Preferred Shares, starting as of August 1, 2017, holders will continue to receive a monthly floating adjustable cash dividend, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Bombardier Inc., based on a dividend rate equal to a percentage of the prime rate, subject to certain adjustments in accordance with the terms of such shares.
In the case of the Series 3 Preferred Shares, starting as of August 1, 2017, holders will receive a quarterly fixed cash dividend for the following five years, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Bombardier Inc., based on a fixed rate equal to 265% of the yield on five-year non-callable Government of Canada bonds determined as at July 11, 2017, in accordance with the terms of such shares. The annual dividend rate applicable to the Series 3 Preferred Shares will be published on July 12, 2017 in select newspapers.
Any registered shareholder who wishes to convert his or her Series 2 and/ or Series 3 Preferred Shares must complete and sign the conversion panel contained on the back of the Series 2 or Series 3 Preferred Share certificate as the case may be, and deliver it, at the latest by 5:00 p.m. (Montreal time) on July 18, 2017, to Computershare Investor Services Inc.
Shareholders who are beneficial owners and who wish to exercise their right of conversion should communicate as soon as possible with their broker or other nominee and follow their instructions. In that case, it is important that they follow such instructions and act in the timeframe advised so as to provide enough time to their broker or other nominee to meet the July 18, 2017 deadline.
If, after July 18, 2017, Bombardier Inc. determines that there would be less than one million Series 2 Preferred Shares outstanding after the conversion date (being August 1, 2017), then all remaining Series 2 Preferred Shares will automatically be converted into Series 3 Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis. However, if, after July 18, 2017, Bombardier Inc. determines that there would be less than one million Series 3 Preferred Shares outstanding after the conversion date (being August 1, 2017), then all remaining Series 3 Preferred Shares will automatically be converted into Series 2 Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis. In either case, Bombardier Inc. shall give a written notice to that effect to holders of such remaining shares no later than July 25, 2017.
Subject to the conditions mentioned in the previous paragraph, on August 1, 2017, and every five years thereafter, holders of Series 2 Preferred Shares and holders of Series 3 Preferred Shares will have again the right to convert their shares into shares of the other series.
The Series 2 and Series 3 Preferred Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BBD.PR.B and BBD.PR.D, respectively.
For more information on the terms of, and risks associated with an investment in, the Series 2 and Series 3 Preferred Shares, and exercising conversion privileges related thereto, please see Bombardier Inc.'s short form prospectus dated May 13, 1997 which is available on the SEDAR Web site at www.sedar.com.
About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's leading manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.
Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we posted revenues of $16.3 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Bombardier is a trademark of Bombardier Inc.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which may involve, but are not limited to, statements relating to future conversions and quantum and payment of dividends with respect to the Series 2 Preferred Shares and the Series 3 Preferred Shares.
Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will","shall", "can", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "anticipate", "plan", "foresee", "believe", "continue", "maintain" or "align", the negative of these terms, variations of them or similar terminology. By their nature, forward-looking statements require management to make assumptions and are subject to important known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecast results set forth in forward-looking statements. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable and appropriate based on information currently available, there is risk that they may not be accurate.
Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks associated with general economic conditions, risks associated with our business environment (such as risks associated with the financial condition of the airline industry, business aircraft customers, and the rail industry; trade policy; increased competition; political instability and force majeure), operational risks (such as risks related to developing new products and services; development of new business; the certification and homologation of products and services; fixed-price and fixed-term commitments and production and project execution; pressures on cash flows based on project-cycle fluctuations and seasonality; our ability to successfully implement and execute our strategy and transformation plan; doing business with partners; product performance warranty and casualty claim losses; regulatory and legal proceedings; the environment; dependence on certain customers and suppliers; human resources; reliance on information systems; reliance on and protection of intellectual property rights; and adequacy of insurance coverage), financing risks (such as risks related to liquidity and access to capital markets; retirement benefit plan risk; exposure to credit risk; substantial existing debt and interest payment requirements; certain restrictive debt covenants and minimum cash levels; financing support provided for the benefit of certain customers; and reliance on government support), market risks (such as risks related to foreign currency fluctuations; changing interest rates; decreases in residual values; increases in commodity prices; and inflation rate fluctuations). For more details, see the Risks and uncertainties section in Other in the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) of the Corporation's financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. For additional information with respect to the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release, refer to the Guidance and forward-looking statements sections in the MD&A of the Corporation's financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future growth, results and performance is not exhaustive and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth herein reflect management's expectations as at the date of this press release and are subject to change after such date. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation expressly disclaims any intention, and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Contacts:
Simon Letendre
Senior Advisor, Media Relations and Public Affairs
Bombardier Inc.
+514 861 9481
Jennifer McCaughey
Director, Investor Relations
Bombardier Inc.
+514 861 9481