Press release Paris, 3 April 2019
Not for distribution in the United States of America
Orange intends to issue a new Euro-denominated hybrid note and to launch a tender offer on several outstanding hybrid notes
Orange S.A. (the Company ) is today announcing its intention to issue Euro denominated undated 6 year non-call deeply subordinated fixed to reset rate notes (the New Notes ). The pricing of the New Notes is expected to be announced later today. The New Notes are scheduled to be admitted to trading on Euronext Paris. It is also expected that the rating agencies will assign the New Notes a rating of Baa3/BBB- (Moody's/ S&P) and an equity content of 50%.
The Company is also launching a tender offer (the Tender Offer ) to repurchase its:
- €1,000,000,000 Undated 6 Year Non-Call Deeply Subordinated Fixed to Reset Rate Notes with first call date on 7 February 2020 (of which €1,000,000,000 is currently outstanding) and admitted to trading on Euronext Paris (ISIN XS1028600473) (the 2020 Notes ); and/or
- €1,000,000,000 Undated 7 Year Non-Call Deeply Subordinated Fixed to Reset Rate Notes with first call date on 1 October 2021 (of which €1,000,000,000 is currently outstanding) and admitted to trading on Euronext Paris (ISIN XS1115490523) (the 2021 Notes ); and/or
- £650,000,000 Undated 8 Year Non-Call Deeply Subordinated Fixed to Reset Rate Notes with first call date on 7 February 2022 (of which £650,000,000 is currently outstanding) and admitted to trading on Euronext Paris (ISIN XS1028597315) (the 2022 Notes and, together with the 2020 Notes and the 2021 Notes, the Notes ).
The Tender Offer is subject to a maximum acceptance amount, which is expected to be equal to the principal amount of the New Notes.
The purpose of the Tender Offer and the planned issuance of New Notes is, amongst other things, to proactively manage the Company's hybrid portfolio, taking advantage of favourable market conditions. The aggregate size of the Company's stock of hybrid notes will remain unchanged as a result.
The results of the Tender Offer will be announced on 11 April 2019 (subject to change as a result of any extension, withdrawal, termination or amendment of the Tender Offer).
Disclaimer This announcement does not constitute an invitation to participate in the Tender Offer or the issuance of New Notes in or from any jurisdiction in or from which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. Tenders of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer will not be accepted from qualifying holders in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Company does not make any recommendation as to whether or not qualifying holders should participate in the Tender Offer. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under, or an exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities Act. The New Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person. United States
This Tender Offer is not being made and will not be made directly or indirectly in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telex, telephone, email and other forms of electronic transmission) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national securities exchange of, the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ) (each a U.S. Person ) and the Notes may not be tendered in the Tender Offer by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility from or within the United States, by persons located or resident in the United States of America (“U.S. holders” within the meaning of Rule 800(h) under the Securities Act). Accordingly, any documents or materials related to this Tender Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise transmitted, distributed or forwarded (including, without limitation, by custodians, nominees or trustees) in or into the United States or to any such person. Any purported tender instruction in response to this Tender Offer resulting directly or indirectly from a violation of these restrictions will be invalid, and tender instructions made by a person located or resident in the United States of America or any agent, fiduciary or other intermediary acting on a non-discretionary basis for a principal giving instructions from within the United States will not be accepted. For the purposes of the above paragraphs, United States means the United States of America, its territories and possessions (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands), any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia.
About Orange
Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 41 billion euros in 2018 and 151,000 employees worldwide at 31 December 2018, including 92,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 264 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2018, including 204 million mobile customers and 20 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 27 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new strategic plan “Essentials2020” which places customer experience at the heart of its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital universe and the power of its new generation networks.
Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com , www.orange-business.com or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.
Press contacts: +33 1 44 44 93 93 Olivier Emberger; olivier.emberger@orange.com Tom Wright; tom.wright@orange.com
CAUTION: NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES This press release, of a purely informative nature, is not and cannot in any way be construed as an offering to sell any securities, or as a solicitation of any offer to buy securities, in any jurisdiction, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. The securities mentioned in this press release have not been and will not be registered pursuant to the US Securities Act of 1933, as modified. They cannot be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. No public offer of these securities has been or will be made in the United States or elsewhere.
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