Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:PC)(TOKYO:6752)("Panasonic") and Panasonic
Electric Works Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:6991)("Panasonic Electric Works")
resolved to conduct a share exchange (the "Share Exchange") in order to
make Panasonic a wholly-owing parent company and Panasonic Electric
Works a wholly-owned subsidiary at a meeting of each respective
company's Board of Directors held today, and a share exchange agreement
(the "Share Exchange Agreement") has been executed between Panasonic and
Panasonic Electric Works.
The Share Exchange is scheduled to be implemented after the Share
Exchange Agreement is approved by resolution of an extraordinary general
meeting of shareholders of Panasonic Electric Works that is scheduled to
be held on March 2, 2011. Also, Panasonic plans to implement the Share
Exchange in the form of a summary share exchange (kani kabushiki
kokan) pursuant to the provisions of Article 796, Paragraph 3 of the
Companies Act, without obtaining the approval by resolution of the
general meeting of its own shareholders.
Also, shares of Panasonic Electric Works are scheduled to be delisted as
of March 29, 2011 (the last trading date of the shares is scheduled to
be March 28, 2011) which is prior to the scheduled effective date (April
1, 2011) of the Share Exchange.
1. Purpose of Making Panasonic Electric Works a
Wholly-owned Subsidiary of Panasonic through the Share Exchange
As described in the press release, "Panasonic Announces Commencement of
Tender Offer for Shares of Common Stock of Panasonic Electric Works"
dated July 29, 2010, and the press release regarding the amendment to
the prior press release, 'Panasonic Announces Additional Information
regarding "Commencement of Tender Offer for Shares of Common Stock of
Panasonic Electric Works"' dated August 20, 2010, (collectively the
"Press Releases of the Tender Offer"), Panasonic conducted a tender
offer (the "Tender Offer") targeting all shares of Panasonic Electric
Works from August 23, 2010, to October 6, 2010, in order to make
Panasonic Electric Works its wholly-owned subsidiary. As a result, as of
today, Panasonic holds 621,037,219 shares of Panasonic Electric Works,
which equates to 82.69% of the shareholding percentage of issued shares
of Panasonic Electric Works (751,074,788 shares as of September 30,
2010).
As described in the Press Releases of the Tender Offer, Panasonic
planned to make Panasonic Electric Works its wholly-owned subsidiary.
Since Panasonic failed to acquire all shares of Panasonic Electric Works
(excluding treasury shares held by Panasonic Electric Works) through the
Tender Offer, Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works have decided to
make Panasonic Electric Works a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic
through the Share Exchange.
The purposes of making Panasonic Electric Works a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Panasonic have already been explained in the Press
Releases of the Tender Offer and the press release released by Panasonic
Electric Works titled "Announcement Concerning Expression of Opinion in
Favor of Tender Offer by Panasonic Corporation, the Controlling
Shareholder of the Company, for the Common Stock of the Company and
Recommendation to Tender Shares" dated July 29, 2010, etc., and the
details thereof are as described below.
Since its establishment in 1918, Panasonic has been conducting business
broadly in the electronics industry, guided by its basic management
philosophy, which states that "the mission of an enterprise is to
contribute to the progress and development of society and the well-being
of people worldwide through its business activities." On the other hand,
Panasonic Electric Works spun off into a separate company from Panasonic
in 1935. Under the basic philosophy shared with Panasonic, Panasonic
Electric Works has been developing its activities, such as
manufacturing, sales, maintenance and services, in the Electrical
Construction Materials Business Unit (lighting products and information
equipment and wiring products), the Home Appliances Business Unit
(personal-care products, health products and comfortable-life products),
the Building Products Business Unit (water-related equipment, modular
kitchen systems, interior furnishing materials and exterior furnishing
materials), the Electronic Materials Business Unit (circuit board
materials, semiconductor encapsulation materials and plastic molding
compounds), the Automation Controls Business Unit (automation control
components and automation control system devices) and the Other Business
Units.
Under these circumstances, Panasonic made Panasonic Electric Works its
consolidated subsidiary through the tender offer of shares of Panasonic
Electric Works that was conducted in 2004. Thereafter, Panasonic has
proceeded with construction of the optimum structure from the customers'
point of view, and has also been involved in co-development of products
from the planning stage.
Furthermore, Panasonic made SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. ("SANYO") its
consolidated subsidiary in December 2009, and, as a result, the
Panasonic Group has become a company group with further reach and
expertise in the electronics industry with 6 segments: Digital AVC
Networks, Home Appliances, PEW and PanaHome, Components and Devices, and
Other, as well as SANYO.
On January 8, 2010, Panasonic announced the Annual Management Policy
Fiscal 2011 for the new Panasonic Group, and set out the vision of
becoming the "No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics
Industry" towards 2018, the 100th anniversary of its foundation.
Furthermore, on May 7, 2010, Panasonic announced its three-year midterm
management plan called "Green Transformation 2012" ("GT12"), which is
the first step toward realizing the above vision.
Under GT12, the entire Panasonic Group will make group-wide efforts to
shift its paradigm for growth and to lay a foundation to become a Green
Innovation Company, while integrating its contribution to the
environment and business growth. By the time this plan is completed, the
Panasonic Group should be a company filled with significant growth
potential. In particular, Panasonic will drastically shift its
management resources to energy systems, heating/refrigeration/air
conditioning, network AV, healthcare, security, and LED, as the group's
6 key business areas. With regard to these business areas, Panasonic
expects energy systems, heating/refrigeration/air conditioning, and
network AV to be the core businesses of the group and to drive sales and
revenues of all group companies, and Panasonic intends to significantly
develop the 3 business areas of healthcare, security, and LED as the
next-generation key businesses. Furthermore, with those businesses as
the core of Panasonic's businesses, the Panasonic Group will pursue a
form of growth unique to it, through the provision of "comprehensive
solutions for the entire home, the entire building, and the entire town."
Also, Panasonic Electric Works, sharing the vision as the Panasonic
Group and the concept of GT12, formulated its midterm management plan
from fiscal 2011. In that plan, Panasonic Electric Works set as its goal
for the 100th
anniversary that of being a "Leading global
company in Asia combining comfort and eco-friendliness." As the first
stage of efforts, Panasonic Electric Works will work on "Penetration
into AC&I (Asia, China & India) as priority areas" and "Development of
new growth businesses." Specifically, in order to realize "Penetration
into AC&I as priority areas," Panasonic Electric Works aims to expand
business vigorously in the high-volume segments in those areas, as well
as to promote ongoing efforts to develop products dovetailing with local
needs, which efforts can be carried out independently within each area,
and aims to strengthen the competitiveness of its products, to expand
and improve production sites and to reorganize its sales operation
structure. Moreover, in order to realize the "Development of new growth
businesses," Panasonic Electric Works intends to create new value and to
promote the development of new growth businesses by formidably leading
in the new markets, represented by the LED Lighting Products Business
and the Energy Management Business through its mobilization of the
strengths of the Panasonic Electric Works group: the ability to come up
with creative ideas and suggestions required to realize "comfort," and
the technological ability required to realize "eco-friendliness."
Although Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works have already shared a
management strategy as group companies and have implemented various
measures, the business environment surrounding the Panasonic Group
continues to change dramatically and rapidly. While business expansion
opportunities have been presented by the rapidly expanding
environment-related and energy-related markets and the burgeoning
emerging markets, competition with Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese
companies as well as Japanese, U.S. and European companies, etc. has
intensified not only in the Digital AVC Networks segment, but also in
the fields of rechargeable battery, solar cell and electric
vehicle-related business, etc. It has become difficult for companies to
prevail over the global competition in the expanding market without
speeding up the strategy execution and implementing all measures to
demonstrate further group-wide potential.
In such circumstances, taking the proposal of Panasonic as an
opportunity, Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works have, since around
the end of June 2010, continuously discussed and considered various
measures to further increase the corporate value of both companies. As a
result, Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works came to the conclusion
that realizing the acceleration of decision-making and maximization of
the group synergies by making Panasonic Electric Works a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Panasonic through the Tender Offer and transactions
thereafter and accelerating efforts toward becoming the "No. 1 Green
Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry" are significantly
beneficial, not only to expand the corporate value of Panasonic Electric
Works but also to expand the corporate value of the entire Panasonic
Group. Along with such discussions and considerations, Panasonic has
been discussing and considering with SANYO, and has also come to the
conclusion that making SANYO a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic is
highly beneficial not only to expand the corporate value of SANYO but
also to expand the corporate value of the entire Panasonic Group.
Furthermore, the three companies - Panasonic, Panasonic Electric Works
and SANYO - resolved, at their respective Board of Directors meetings
held on July 29, 2010, to pursue a plan of Panasonic's acquisition of
all shares of Panasonic Electric Works and SANYO in order to make them
wholly-owned subsidiaries of Panasonic (the "Acquisition of All Shares
of the Subsidiaries") by around April, 2011 and released the
"Announcement of the Agreement toward Panasonic's Acquisition of All
Shares of Panasonic Electric Works and SANYO."
In future, Panasonic, Panasonic Electric Works and SANYO will pursue the
establishment of the new Panasonic Group, under which the three
companies will be genuinely integrated, and will make efforts to (i)
maximize value creation by strengthening contacts with customers, (ii)
realize speedy and lean management, and (iii) accelerate growth
businesses by boldly shifting management resources.
Furthermore, in order to realize these objectives, the Panasonic Group's
business organization is scheduled to be restructured by around January
2012. From the perspective of "maximization of customer value," the
basic policy of such restructuring is to integrate and reorganize the
business and marketing divisions of the three companies into three
business sectors: "Consumer," "Components and Devices" and "Solutions,"
and to design optimal business models that are most suitable for the
character of each business. Panasonic will make efforts to establish a
business organization under which it can effectively compete against
global competitors in each business and in each industry.
The direction of the reorganization of each business sector will be as
follows:
- Consumer business sector:
The Panasonic Group will reorganize its marketing function on a global
basis. Under the reorganization, the Panasonic Group will enhance the
function of its frontline business and accelerate the creation of
customer-oriented products. Also, the Panasonic Group will work to
strengthen, among others, its overseas consumer business by
strategically distributing its marketing resources in Japan and overseas.
- Components and Devices business sector:
The Panasonic Group will strengthen the cooperation among the
development, production and sales functions for each component and
device having a common business model. By combining marketing and
technology, the Panasonic Group will strengthen its "proposal"-style
business, which foresees the potential needs of customers and aim to
expand the business as an independent business that does not rely on
internal needs. Particularly in this business sector, the Panasonic
Group will continue to make maximum use of the strengths of SANYO, such
as its rechargeable batteries business and solar business, as well as
its customer network.
- Solutions business sector:
The Panasonic Group will unify the development, production and sales
functions for each solution for business customers. The Panasonic Group
aims to offer the most suitable products, services and solutions as
quickly as possible, grasping customers' needs in as timely a fashion as
possible. In addition, the "comprehensive solutions for the entire home,
the entire building and the entire town" that encompass these solutions
will be accelerated. Particularly in this business sector, the Panasonic
Group will continue to make maximum use of the strength and customer
network of Panasonic Electric Works.
In addition to the reorganization, the head office will aim for a "lean
and speedy" global head office by strengthening its strategic functions,
while integrating and streamlining the three companies' organizations.
The details of the reorganization will be announced as soon as they are
determined.
Further, together with this reorganization, Panasonic Group will
consider integrating "SANYO" brands, in principle, into "Panasonic" in
the future. However, "SANYO" will continue to be partially utilized,
depending on the particular business or region.
Panasonic believes that the Acquisitions of All Shares of the
Subsidiaries and business reorganization mentioned above will promote
the integration of the three companies' advantages and the "proposal"
capabilities for "comprehensive solutions," and will enable a rapid
increase in global competitiveness especially in the "energy systems,"
"heating/refrigeration/air conditioning" and "network AV" business,
which are indicated in the GT12 as core businesses to lead sales and
profits of the entire group companies. Also, in each business such as
"healthcare," "security," and "LED," which is positioned as the "key
business for the next generation", Panasonic will make efforts to
accelerate the growth of such business by combining the capacities of
the three companies for research and development as well as market
development.
Additionally, Panasonic intends to realize further reinforcement of
management structure and cost competitiveness through business
integration and unification of the business sites of the three
companies, and through optimizing and streamlining the head office
organization.
Through these measures, Panasonic aims to ensure the achievement of the
targets of the midterm management plan, GT12, which Panasonic announced
on May 7, 2010: "10 trillion yen in sales, 5 percent or more in
operating profit to sales ratio, 10 percent in ROE, a three-year
accumulative total of over 800 billion yen in free cash flow, and 50
million ton reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the estimated amount
of emissions (using the fiscal year ended March 2006 as the base)"
targeted for the fiscal year ending March 2013, and further aims to
exceed these targets.
2. Outline of the Share Exchange
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(1) Schedule for the Share Exchange
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Date on which the execution of the Share Exchange Agreement
is resolved at the Board of Directors meeting (Panasonic
and Panasonic Electric Works, respectively)
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010
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Date on which the Share Exchange Agreement is executed (Panasonic
and Panasonic Electric Works, respectively)
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010
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Date on which the public notice of the record date for the
extraordinary general meeting of shareholders will be given (Panasonic
Electric Works)
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Wednesday, December 22, 2010 (scheduled)
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Record date for the extraordinary general meeting of
shareholders (Panasonic Electric Works)
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011 (scheduled)
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Date on which the extraordinary general meeting of
shareholders to approve the Share Exchange Agreement will be
held (Panasonic Electric Works)
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Wednesday, March 2, 2011 (scheduled)
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Last trading date (Panasonic Electric Works)
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Monday, March 28, 2011 (scheduled)
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Delisting date (Panasonic Electric Works)
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011 (scheduled)
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Scheduled date of the Share Exchange (effective date)
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Friday, April 1, 2011 (scheduled)
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(Note 1)
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Panasonic will implement the Share Exchange in the form of a summary
share exchange pursuant to the provisions of Article 796, Paragraph
3 of the Companies Act, without obtaining the approval by resolution
of the general meeting of shareholders.
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(Note 2)
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The scheduled date of the Share Exchange (effective date) may be
subject to change upon the agreement between Panasonic and Panasonic
Electric Works.
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(2) Method of the Share Exchange
In the Share Exchange, Panasonic shall become the wholly-owning parent
company in share exchange and Panasonic Electric Works shall become the
wholly-owned subsidiary in share exchange. Panasonic plans to implement
the Share Exchange in the form of a summary share exchange pursuant to
the provisions of Article 796, Paragraph 3 of the Companies Act, without
obtaining the approval by resolution of the general meeting of
shareholders. Panasonic Electric Works plans to implement the Share
Exchange after the Share Exchange Agreement is approved by resolution of
the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders that is scheduled to
be held on March 2, 2011.
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(3) Allotment in the Share Exchange
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Company name
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Panasonic Corporation (wholly-owning parent company in
share exchange)
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Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. (wholly-owned
subsidiary in share exchange)
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Contents of allotment in the Share Exchange
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1
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0.925
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Number of shares to be delivered upon the Share Exchange
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Common shares: 109,549,152 shares (scheduled)
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(Note 1)
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Share allotment ratio
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0.925 shares of Panasonic will be allotted and delivered in exchange
for each share of Panasonic Electric Works; provided, however, that
no shares will be allotted in the Share Exchange for the shares of
Panasonic Electric Works held by Panasonic (621,037,219 shares as of
today).
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(Note 2)
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Number of shares to be delivered upon the Share Exchange
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Upon the Share Exchange, Panasonic shall deliver the number of
shares of Panasonic calculated by multiplying the total number of
shares of Panasonic Electric Works held by the shareholders of
Panasonic Electric Works (excluding Panasonic) at the time
immediately preceding the time Panasonic acquires all shares of
Panasonic Electric Works (excluding shares of Panasonic Electric
Works held by Panasonic) through the Share Exchange (the "Base
Time") by 0.925 to such shareholders of Panasonic Electric Works in
exchange for the shares of Panasonic Electric Works held by such
shareholders. In accordance with a resolution of the meeting of the
Board of Directors of Panasonic Electric Works that will be held by
the day immediately preceding the effective date of the Share
Exchange, Panasonic Electric Works will cancel, by the Base Time,
all of its treasury shares held by Panasonic Electric Works and
those to be held by Panasonic Electric Works by the Base Time
(including the treasury shares to be acquired through the share
purchase in response to the exercise of the dissenters' appraisal
right stipulated in Article 785, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act in
connection with the Share Exchange).
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Moreover, all of the shares to be delivered by Panasonic are
scheduled to be sourced from the treasury shares held by Panasonic,
and Panasonic does not plan to issue new shares upon the allotment
in the Share Exchange. In addition, the number of shares to be
delivered by Panasonic may be subject to change in the future due to
reasons such as the cancellation of the treasury shares by Panasonic
Electric Works.
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(Note 3)
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Treatment of shares constituting less than one unit (tangen
miman kabushiki)
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The shareholders who will hold shares of Panasonic constituting less
than one unit upon the Share Exchange will be entitled to use the
following systems concerning shares of Panasonic. Shareholders
cannot sell shares constituting less than one unit in the financial
instruments exchange market.
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(i)
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Further purchase (kaimashi) of shares constituting less
than one unit (purchase to reach a total of 100 shares)
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A system whereby holders of shares of Panasonic constituting less
than one unit may purchase from Panasonic the number of shares
that will achieve a total of one unit (tangen) together
with the number of shares constituting less than one unit held by
such shareholder.
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(ii)
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Purchase (kaitori) by Panasonic of shares constituting less
than one unit (sale by a shareholder of shares constituting less
than one unit)
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A system whereby holders of shares of Panasonic constituting less
than one unit may request Panasonic to purchase the shares
constituting less than one unit held by such shareholder.
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(Note 4)
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Treatment of any fractions of less than one share
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With respect to the shareholders of Panasonic Electric Works who
will receive the allotment of shares including fractions of less
than one share of Panasonic upon the Share Exchange, Panasonic
will pay cash to each of such shareholders in proportion to the
value of such fractions of less than one share, pursuant to the
provisions of Article 234 of the Companies Act and other relevant
laws and regulations.
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(4) Treatment of share options and bonds with share options in relation
to the Share Exchange
Not applicable
3. Basis for Calculation of the Allotment
Concerning the Share Exchange
(1) Basis of Calculation
In order to ensure the fairness and the appropriateness of the share
allotment ratio described in 2.(3) "Allotment in the Share Exchange"
above (the "Share Exchange Ratio"), Panasonic and Panasonic Electric
Works, respectively and separately, decided to request a third-party
valuation institution independent of both companies to calculate the
share exchange ratio. Panasonic appointed Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
("Nomura Securities") as the third-party valuation institution, and
Panasonic Electric Works appointed Daiwa Securities Capital Markets Co.
Ltd. ("Daiwa Securities Capital Markets"), as the third-party valuation
institution.
In the valuation of Panasonic, as shares of Panasonic are listed on the
financial instruments exchange and a market share price exists, Nomura
Securities adopted the average market price analysis for calculation (in
consideration of various conditions, with December 20, 2010, which is
the calculation base date, being the base date, the analysis was based
on the respective average closing share prices for the period from
October 8, 2010 (the business day immediately following the day on which
Panasonic released the press release titled "Panasonic Announces
Withdrawal of Shelf Registration in Japan for Future Equity Offerings")
to the calculation base date; the period from November 1, 2010 (the
business day immediately following the day on which Panasonic released
its "Consolidated Financial Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal
Year ending March 2011") to the calculation base date; the most recent 1
month-period from November 22, 2010 to the calculation base date; the 5
business days from December 14, 2010 to the calculation base date; and
the closing share price on the base date of the shares of Panasonic on
the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange).
In the valuation of Panasonic Electric Works, as shares of Panasonic
Electric Works are listed on the financial instruments exchange and a
market share price exists, the average market price analysis (in
consideration of various conditions, with December 20, 2010, which is
the calculation base date, being the base date, the analysis was based
on the respective average closing share prices for the period from
October 8, 2010 (the business day immediately following the day on which
Panasonic released the press release titled "Panasonic Announces
Withdrawal of Shelf Registration in Japan for Future Equity Offerings")
to the calculation base date; the period from November 1, 2010 (the
business day immediately following the day on which Panasonic released
its "Consolidated Financial Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal
Year ending March 2011") to the calculation base date; the most recent 1
month-period from November 22, 2010 to the calculation base date; the 5
business days from December 14, 2010 to the calculation base date; and
the closing share price on the base date of the shares of Panasonic
Electric Works on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange) was
adopted for calculation. In addition, as there are several comparable
listed companies for which comparison to Panasonic Electric Works is
possible, and analogical inference of share value is possible through
the comparable company analysis, the comparable company analysis was
adopted for the calculation. Furthermore, in order to take into account
the state of future business operations in the assessment, the
discounted cash flow analysis (the "DCF Analysis") was adopted for the
calculation.
The following shows the assessment ranges when the share value per share
of Panasonic is set at 1.
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Assessment method
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Calculation results of share exchange ratio
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Average market price analysis
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0.909-0.942
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Comparable company analysis
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0.363-0.904
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DCF Analysis
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0.939-1.227
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Analyzing the facts, various conditions and the results of the Tender
Offer conducted prior to the Share Exchange, Nomura Securities submitted
to Panasonic the written opinion (fairness opinion) dated December 21,
2010, stating that the Share Exchange Ratio is proper for Panasonic from
a financial viewpoint.
On the other hand, in the valuation of Panasonic and Panasonic Electric
Works, Daiwa Securities Capital Markets, after analyzing the facts,
various conditions, results, etc. of the Tender Offer that was conducted
prior to the Share Exchange, adopted the market price analysis for
calculation (in consideration of various conditions, with December 20,
2010 being the calculation base date, the analysis was based on the
respective average closing share prices for the period from July 30,
2010 (the business day immediately following the announcement day of the
Tender Offer) to the calculation base date; the period from October 8,
2010 (the business day immediately following the day on which the result
of the Tender Offer was announced) to the calculation base date; the
most recent 1 month-period from November 22, 2010 to the calculation
base date; the period from December 1, 2010 (the business day
immediately following the day on which SANYO released the press release
titled "Amendments to the Purchase Agreement regarding the Transfer of
Stock and Loan Receivables of Subsidiary (SANYO Semiconductor Co.,
Ltd.)") to the calculation base date; and the 5 business days from
December 14, 2010 to the calculation base date of the shares of
Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works on the first section of the Tokyo
Stock Exchange), as shares of both companies are listed on the financial
instruments exchange and a market share price exists. In addition, as
there are several listed companies with businesses similar to each of
the companies and analogical inference of share value is possible
through the comparable company analysis, the comparable company analysis
was adopted for the calculation. Furthermore, in order to take into
account the state of future business operations in the assessment, the
DCF Analysis was adopted for the calculation. The profit planning of
Panasonic Electric Works, which was used as the premise of the DCF
analysis by Daiwa Securities Capital Markets, is based on the profit
planning that had been used as the premise of the calculation at the
time of the Tender Offer.
The following shows the assessment ranges when the share value per share
of Panasonic is set at 1.
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Assessment method
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Calculation results of share exchange ratio
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Market price analysis
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0.910-0.954
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Comparable company analysis
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0.689-0.913
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DCF Analysis
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0.660-0.872
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As described in 3.(5) "Measures to Ensure the Fairness" below, Panasonic
Electric Works received the written opinion (fairness opinion) from
Daiwa Securities Capital Markets on December 21, 2010, stating that the
Share Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to the
holders of Panasonic Electric Works shares other than the controlling
shareholders, etc. of Panasonic Electric Works (meaning "Controlling
Shareholders and other parties set forth in the Enforcement Regulations"
provided for in Article 441-2 of the Securities Listing Regulations of
Tokyo Stock Exchange and Article 436-3 of the Ordinance for Enforcement
of the same).
(2) Process of Calculation
Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works have referred to and carefully
reviewed the calculation results of the share exchange ratio submitted
by their respective third-party valuation institutions , and
continuously negotiated and consulted with each other on the valuation
of shares of Panasonic Electric Works based on the same price as the
purchase price of the Tender Offer, taking into account various
conditions and results of the Tender Offer conducted prior to the Share
Exchange, market share price level of shares of Panasonic and other
various factors. As a result, Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works
came to a decision that the Share Exchange Ratio is proper and does not
undermine the interests of their respective shareholders. Therefore,
Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works executed the share exchange
agreement between themselves based on the resolutions of the Board of
Directors meetings of Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works held today
with respect to the implementation of the Share Exchange based on the
Share Exchange Ratio.
In accordance with the Share Exchange Agreement, the Share Exchange
Ratio may be subject to change upon the consultation between Panasonic
and Panasonic Electric Works in the case of any material changes to the
conditions that form the basis of the calculation.
(3) Relationship with Valuation Institution
All of Nomura Securities, which is acting as a third-party valuation
institution of Panasonic, and Daiwa Securities Capital Markets, which is
acting as a third-party valuation institution of Panasonic Electric
Works, are valuation institutions independent of Panasonic and Panasonic
Electric Works, are not related parties, and do not have any material
interest to be noted in connection with the Share Exchange.
(4) Prospects for Delisting and Reasons Therefore
Upon the Share Exchange, Panasonic Electric Works will become the
wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic on the effective date (scheduled to
be April 1, 2011), and shares of Panasonic Electric Works will be
delisted as of March 29, 2011 (the last trading date will be March 28,
2011). After the delisting, it will be impossible to trade shares of
Panasonic Electric Works on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka
Securities Exchange.
Even after the delisting of shares of Panasonic Electric Works, shares
of Panasonic that will be allotted to each of the shareholders of
Panasonic Electric Works upon the Share Exchange will remain listed on
the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Nagoya
Stock Exchange, and they will be tradable on the financial instruments
exchange markets on and after the effective date of the Share Exchange.
Therefore, Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works believe that for each
shareholder of Panasonic Electric Works who holds not less than 109
shares of Panasonic Electric Works and will receive, upon the Share
Exchange, an allotment of not less than 100 shares of Panasonic, which
is the number of shares constituting one unit of Panasonic, liquidity of
shares will continue to be provided.
On the other hand, each shareholder of Panasonic Electric Works who
holds less than 109 shares of Panasonic Electric Works will receive the
allotment of shares of Panasonic in the number less than 100 shares,
which is the number of shares constituting one unit of Panasonic.
Although shareholders cannot sell such shares constituting less than one
unit on the financial instruments exchange markets, each shareholder who
will hold shares constituting less than one unit may request Panasonic
to purchase the shares constituting less than one unit held by such
shareholder. In addition, such shareholders may purchase from Panasonic
the number of shares that will achieve a total of one unit together with
the number of shares constituting less than one unit held by themselves.
For the details of such treatment, see (Note 3) "Treatment of shares
constituting less than one unit" in 2. (3) above. For the details of the
treatment of any fractions in the case where the number of shares of
Panasonic to be delivered upon the Share Exchange includes any fractions
of less than one share, see (Note 4) "Treatment of any fractions of less
than one share" in 2. (3) above.
(5) Measures to Ensure Fairness
Since Panasonic already owns 82.69% of the number of issued shares of
Panasonic Electric Works, in implementing the Share Exchange, it
requested Nomura Securities, acting as a third-party valuation
institution, to calculate the share exchange ratio in order to ensure
the fairness of the share exchange ratio in the Share Exchange.
Referring to such calculation results, Panasonic negotiated and
consulted with Panasonic Electric Works, and resolved to implement the
Share Exchange based on the share exchange ratio at the Board of
Directors meeting held today.
Panasonic received the written opinion (fairness opinion) dated December
21, 2010, from Nomura Securities, stating that the Share Exchange Ratio
is proper for Panasonic from a financial viewpoint.
On the other hand, Panasonic Electric Works, in implementing the Share
Exchange, requested Daiwa Securities Capital Markets, acting as a
third-party valuation institution, to calculate the Share Exchange Ratio
in order to ensure the fairness of the Share Exchange Ratio in the Share
Exchange. Referring to such calculation results, Panasonic Electric
Works negotiated and consulted with Panasonic, and resolved to implement
the Share Exchange based on the Share Exchange Ratio at the Board of
Directors meeting held today.
Panasonic Electric Works received a share exchange ratio calculation
report dated December 21 from Daiwa Securities Capital Markets, which
was subject to certain assumptions and reservations. In addition, on
December 21, 2010, as an opinion that shows the view that the Share
Exchange Ratio is not disadvantageous to the minority shareholders, the
Board of Directors of Panasonic Electric Works received from Daiwa
Securities Capital Market a written opinion (fairness opinion) that,
subject to certain assumptions and reservations, the Share Exchange
Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Panasonic
Electric Works shares other than the controlling shareholders, etc. of
Panasonic Electric Works (meaning "Controlling Shareholders and other
parties set forth in the Enforcement Regulations" provided for in
Article 441-2 of the Securities Listing Regulations of Tokyo Stock
Exchange and Article 436-3 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the same).
Panasonic Electric Works selected Kikkawa Law Offices as its legal
advisor, and received legal advice on methods, processes, etc. of making
decisions by the Board of Directors including various procedures for the
Share Exchange from the legal advisor.
(6) Measures to Avoid Conflicts of Interest
In light of the above-mentioned share exchange ratio calculation report
and written opinion (fairness opinion) provided by Daiwa Securities
Capital Markets, and the above-mentioned legal advice, etc. given by
Kikkawa Law Offices, Panasonic Electric Works carefully reviewed the
terms and conditions regarding the Share Exchange at the Board of
Directors' meeting held today. As a result, Panasonic Electric Works has
judged that (i) the Share Exchange would contribute to enhance corporate
value of Panasonic Electric Works and (ii) the terms and conditions of
the Share Exchange were reasonable, and the resolution to execute the
Share Exchange Agreement was passed unanimously by all directors
participating in the resolution of the meeting. In addition, all
corporate auditors participating in such deliberation opined that they
had no objections to the execution of the Share Exchange Agreement by
the Board of Directors of Panasonic Electric Works.
Among the 15 directors of Panasonic Electric Works (including 2 outside
directors), Mr. Koshi Kitadai, an outside director, also serves as a
corporate advisor of Panasonic. Therefore, in order to prevent conflict
of interests, he has not participated in any deliberations or
resolutions regarding the Share Exchange held by the Board of Directors
of Panasonic Electric Works, nor has he participated in any negotiations
or discussions with Panasonic on behalf of Panasonic Electric Works. In
addition, among the 4 corporate auditors of Panasonic Electric Works
(including 2 outside corporate auditors), Mr. Yutaka Maehashi, an
outside corporate auditor, also serves as an employee of Panasonic.
Therefore, in order to prevent conflict of interests, he has not
participated in any deliberations regarding the Share Exchange held by
the Board of Directors of Panasonic Electric Works.
|
|
|
4. Outline of the Parties Involved in the
Share Exchange
|
|
|
|
|
Wholly-owning parent company in the share exchange
|
|
Wholly-owned subsidiary in the share exchange
|
|
(1)
|
Corporate name
|
|
Panasonic Corporation
|
|
Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
|
|
(2)
|
Head office
|
|
1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka, Japan
|
|
1048, Oaza Kadoma Kadoma City, Osaka, Japan
|
|
(3)
|
Name and title of representative
|
|
President Fumio Ohtsubo
|
|
President and Representative Director Shusaku Nagae
|
|
(4)
|
Description of business
|
|
The manufacture and sale of electric and electronic equipments,
etc.
|
|
The manufacture and sale of electrical and electronic equipments,
etc.
|
|
(5)
|
Paid-in capital
|
|
258,740 million yen
|
|
148,513 million yen
|
|
(6)
|
Date established
|
|
December 15, 1935
|
|
December 15, 1935
|
|
(7)
|
Number of shares issued
|
|
2,453,053,497 shares
|
|
751,074,788 shares
|
|
(8)
|
Fiscal year end
|
|
End of March
|
|
End of March
|
|
(9)
|
Number of employees
|
|
385,243 (consolidated)
|
|
58,471 (consolidated)
|
|
(10)
|
Major business partners
|
|
Companies, etc. domestically and abroad
|
|
Companies, etc. domestically and abroad
|
|
(11)
|
Main financing bank
|
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
|
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Resona Bank, Limited. The
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
|
|
(12)
|
Major
|
|
The Master Trust
|
5.15%
|
|
Panasonic Corporation
|
51.
|
00%
|
|
|
shareholders
|
|
Bank of Japan, Ltd.
|
|
|
Japan Trustee Services
|
2.
|
64%
|
|
|
and
|
|
(trust account)
|
|
|
Bank, Ltd. (trust
|
|
|
|
|
shareholding
|
|
Japan Trustee
|
4.50%
|
|
account)
|
|
|
|
|
ratio
|
|
Services Bank, Ltd.
|
|
|
Daiwa Securities Capital
|
1.
|
96%
|
|
|
|
|
(trust account)
|
|
|
Markets Co. Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOXLEY AND
|
3.96%
|
|
The Master Trust Bank
|
1.
|
78%
|
|
|
|
|
COMPANY
|
|
|
of Japan, Ltd. (trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nippon Life Insurance
|
2.73%
|
|
account)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Panasonic Electric
|
1.
|
60%
|
|
|
|
|
Sumitomo Mitsui
|
2.32%
|
|
Works Employees'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banking Corporation
|
|
|
Shareholding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Association
|
|
|
|
(13)
|
Relationships between the parties
|
|
|
Capital relationship
|
|
Panasonic owns 621,037,219 shares (82.69%) of the number of issued
shares of Panasonic Electric Works (751,074,788 shares) as of today.
|
|
Personnel relationship
|
|
1 corporate advisor and 1 employee of Panasonic assume office, respectively,
as an outside director and as an outside corporate auditor of
Panasonic Electric Works.
|
|
Transaction relationship
|
|
Panasonic conducts sales and purchase transactions of finished products,
merchandise, material, etc. with Panasonic Electric Works.
|
|
Status as a related party
|
|
Panasonic Electric Works is Panasonic's consolidated subsidiary,
and therefore, Panasonic Electric Works is a related party of
Panasonic.
|
|
(14)
|
Operational results and financial conditions for the recent 3 years
|
|
Fiscal year ended
|
|
Panasonic Corporation (Consolidated, U.S. G.A.A.P.)
|
|
Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. (Consolidated, Japan
G.A.A.P.)
|
|
|
March 2008
|
|
March 2009
|
|
March 2010
|
|
March 2008
|
|
March 2009
|
|
March 2010
|
|
Net assets
|
|
4,256,949
|
|
3,212,581
|
|
3,679,773
|
|
734,709
|
|
685,607
|
|
685,720
|
|
Total assets
|
|
7,443,614
|
|
6,403,316
|
|
8,358,057
|
|
1,151,917
|
|
1,076,746
|
|
1,120,932
|
|
Shareholders' equity per share (yen)
|
|
1,781.11
|
|
1,344.50
|
|
1,348.63
|
|
934.87
|
|
869.47
|
|
871.23
|
|
Net sales
|
|
9,068,928
|
|
7,765,507
|
|
7,417,980
|
|
1,719,612
|
|
1,597,807
|
|
1,457,486
|
|
Operating profit
|
|
519,481
|
|
72,873
|
|
190,453
|
|
83,923
|
|
31,851
|
|
35,866
|
|
Ordinary income
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
83,472
|
|
31,266
|
|
36,665
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to the company
|
|
281,877
|
|
(378,961)
|
|
(103,465)
|
|
45,450
|
|
(13,845)
|
|
8,553
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to the company per share (yen)
|
|
132.90
|
|
(182.25)
|
|
(49.97)
|
|
61.44
|
|
(18.72)
|
|
11.56
|
|
Dividend per share (yen)
|
|
35.00
|
|
30.00
|
|
10.00
|
|
25.00
|
|
18.75
|
|
12.50
|
|
(Note 1)
|
|
As of September 30, 2010, unless otherwise specified.
|
|
(Note 2)
|
|
In millions of yen, unless otherwise specified.
|
|
(Note 3)
|
|
The item "Ordinary income" is omitted since it does not exist under
the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S.
G.A.A.P.), which have been adopted by Panasonic.
|
|
(Note 4)
|
|
As for Panasonic Electric Works, the amount of "Net assets per
share" is stated instead of "Shareholders' equity per share."
|
|
|
|
5. Status after the Share Exchange
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wholly-owning parent company in the share exchange
|
|
(1)
|
|
Corporate name
|
|
Panasonic Corporation
|
|
(2)
|
|
Head office
|
|
1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka, Japan
|
|
(3)
|
|
Name and title of representative
|
|
President Fumio Ohtsubo
|
|
(4)
|
|
Description of business
|
|
The manufacture and sale of electric and electronic equipments,
etc.
|
|
(5)
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
|
258,740 million yen
|
|
(6)
|
|
Fiscal year end
|
|
End of March
|
|
(7)
|
|
Net assets
|
|
Not determined at present
|
|
(8)
|
|
Total assets
|
|
Not determined at present
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. Outline of Accounting Treatment
With respect to Panasonic, the Share Exchange is expected to be treated
as a capital transaction in accordance with U.S. G.A.A.P., and goodwill
is not expected to arise.
7. Future Outlook
The impact of the Share Exchange on the operating results of both
Panasonic and Panasonic Electric Works is expected to be minor, since
Panasonic Electric Works is already a consolidated subsidiary of
Panasonic.
8. Matters regarding Transaction, Etc. with
Controlling Shareholders
Since Panasonic owns 82.69% of the total number of issued shares of
Panasonic Electric Works, the Share Exchange constitutes a transaction
etc. with the Controlling Shareholder conducted by Panasonic Electric
Works.
The compliance of the Share Exchange with the descriptions in "4. Other
Special Circumstances that may Have a Material Impact on Corporate
Governance" presented in the Corporate Governance Report disclosed by
Panasonic Electric Works on July 20, 2010 (the "Corporate Governance
Report") is as follows:
As described in 3.(5) "Measures to Ensure Fairness" and 3.(6) "Measures
to Avoid Conflicts of Interest" above, Panasonic Electric Works has
taken certain measures to ensure the fairness of share exchange rate in
the Share Exchange and to avoid conflicts of interest, and believes that
such measures conform to the descriptions in the Corporate Governance
Report.
In addition, on December 21, 2010, as an opinion that shows the view
that the Share Exchange Ratio is not disadvantageous to the minority
shareholders, the Board of Directors of Panasonic Electric Works
received from Daiwa Securities Capital Markets a written opinion
(fairness opinion) stating that, subject to certain assumptions and
reservations, the Share Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of
view to the holders of Panasonic Electric Works shares other than the
controlling shareholders, etc. of Panasonic Electric Works (meaning
"Controlling Shareholders and other parties set forth in the Enforcement
Regulations" provided for in Article 441-2 of the Securities Listing
Regulations of Tokyo Stock Exchange and Article 436-3 of the Ordinance
for Enforcement of the same).
Furthermore, the statement concerning protection of minority
shareholders in conducting transactions with the controlling shareholder
as indicated in "Measures for Protection of Minority Shareholders in
Conducting Transactions with the Controlling Shareholder" in "4. Other
Special Circumstances that may Have a Material Impact on Corporate
Governance," in the Corporate Governance Report, is disclosed as follows:
"The Company has prevented transactions that benefit the parent company
and cause damages to the Company and eventually, its minority
shareholders by seeking opinions of outside directors and outside
corporate auditors other than those coming from the parent company,
among other means, in order to make management decisions independently
as a listed company and to enhance objectivity of such decisions."
End
(Reference) Forecast of Consolidated Financial Results for Current
Fiscal Year and Consolidated Financial Results for Previous Fiscal Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Panasonic (forecast of consolidated financial results for the
current fiscal year as of July 29, 2010)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions of yen)
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
Operating profit
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Panasonic Corporation
|
|
Forecast of financial results for current fiscal year (fiscal
year ending March 2011)
|
|
8,900,000
|
|
310,000
|
|
210,000
|
|
85,000
|
|
Financial results for previous fiscal year (fiscal year
ended March 2010)
|
|
7,417,980
|
|
190,453
|
|
(29,315)
|
|
(103,465)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Panasonic Electric Works (forecast of consolidated financial
results for the current fiscal year as of July 23, 2010)
|
|
(in millions of yen)
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
Operating profit
|
|
Ordinary income
|
|
Net income
|
|
Forecast of financial results for current fiscal year (fiscal
year ending March 2011)
|
|
1,510,000
|
|
60,000
|
|
58,000
|
|
23,000
|
|
Financial results for previous fiscal year (fiscal year
ended March 2010)
|
|
1,457,486
|
|
35,866
|
|
36,665
|
|
8,553
|
|
|
|
(Notice Regarding Registration on Form F-4)
|
|
Panasonic Corporation has filed a registration statement on Form
F-4 ("Form F-4") with the SEC in connection with each of the
proposed share exchange between Panasonic Corporation and SANYO
Electric Co., Ltd. (the "SANYO Share Exchange") and between
Panasonic Corporation and Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. (the
"PEW Share Exchange"). The Form F-4 for each of the SANYO Share
Exchange and the PEW Share Exchange contains a prospectus and
other documents. If each Form F-4 is declared effective, the
prospectus contained in the Form F-4 will be mailed to U.S.
shareholders of the subject company (SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. or
Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.) prior to the shareholders'
meeting at which the relevant proposed share exchange will be
voted upon. The Form F-4 and prospectus contain important
information about the subject company and Panasonic Corporation,
the relevant share exchange and related matters. U.S. shareholders
of the subject company are urged to read the Form F-4, the
prospectus and other documents that have been filed and may be
filed with the SEC in connection with the relevant share exchange
carefully before they make any decision at the shareholders'
meeting with respect to the share exchange. Any documents filed
with the SEC in connection with the proposed share exchange will
be made available when filed, free of charge, on the SEC's web
site at www.sec.gov.
In addition, upon request, the documents can be distributed for
free of charge. To make a request, please refer to the following
contact information.
|
|
|
|
1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka 571-8501, Japan
|
|
Panasonic Corporation
|
|
Corporate Finance & IR Group
|
|
Masahito Yamamura
|
|
Telephone: 81-6-6908-1121
|
|
Email: irinfo@gg.jp.panasonic.com
|
|
URL: http://panasonic.net/
|
|
|
Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements (within the
meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934) about Panasonic and its
Group companies (the Panasonic Group). To the extent that statements in
this press release do not relate to historical or current facts, they
constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
are based on the current assumptions and beliefs of the Panasonic Group
in light of the information currently available to it, and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks,
uncertainties and other factors may cause the Panasonic Group's actual
results, performance, achievements or financial position to be
materially different from any future results, performance, achievements
or financial position expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. Panasonic undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
Investors are advised to consult any further disclosures by Panasonic in
its subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and its other
filings.
The risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to above include,
but are not limited to, economic conditions, particularly consumer
spending and corporate capital expenditures in the United States,
Europe, Japan, China and other Asian countries; volatility in demand for
electronic equipment and components from business and industrial
customers, as well as consumers in many product and geographical
markets; currency rate fluctuations, notably between the yen, the U.S.
dollar, the euro, the Chinese yuan, Asian currencies and other
currencies in which the Panasonic Group operates businesses, or in which
assets and liabilities of the Panasonic Group are denominated; the
possibility of the Panasonic Group incurring additional costs of raising
funds, because of changes in the fund raising environment; the ability
of the Panasonic Group to respond to rapid technological changes and
changing consumer preferences with timely and cost-effective
introductions of new products in markets that are highly competitive in
terms of both price and technology; the possibility of not achieving
expected results on the alliances or mergers and acquisitions including
the acquisition of all shares of Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. and
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. through tender offers and share exchanges; the
ability of the Panasonic Group to achieve its business objectives
through joint ventures and other collaborative agreements with other
companies; the ability of the Panasonic Group to maintain competitive
strength in many product and geographical areas; the possibility of
incurring expenses resulting from any defects in products or services of
the Panasonic Group; the possibility that the Panasonic Group may face
intellectual property infringement claims by third parties; current and
potential, direct and indirect restrictions imposed by other countries
over trade, manufacturing, labor and operations; fluctuations in market
prices of securities and other assets in which the Panasonic Group has
holdings or changes in valuation of long-lived assets, including
property, plant and equipment and goodwill, deferred tax assets and
uncertain tax positions; future changes or revisions to accounting
policies or accounting rules; as well as natural disasters including
earthquakes, prevalence of infectious diseases throughout the world and
other events that may negatively impact business activities of the
Panasonic Group. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive and
further information is contained in Panasonic's latest annual reports,
on Form 20-F, and any other reports and documents which are on file with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
