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PRESS RELEASE
Technicolor: Update on the refinancing and Spin-off process
Paris (France), September 16, 2022 – Technicolor, (Euronext Paris: TCH; OTCQX: TCLRY) (the “Company”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) today announces the finalization of its refinancing process, with the issuance of Mandatory Convertible Notes convertible into new shares of the Company (“MCN”), and the closing of two distinct financing packages, reflecting the upcoming spin-off of Technicolor Creative Studios (“TCS”) from the rest of the Group, which will be renamed Vantiva as from the day of the listing of Technicolor Creative Studios.
On September 15, 2022, the Company issued 115,384,615 MCN for a total net amount of €292,499,999.03. As a consequence, subject to the acknowledgment by the court of the early completion of the financial accelerated safeguard plan on September 22nd, 2022, all the conditions will be met to allow the Company to decide to proceed to the distribution of the Technicolor Creative Studios shares and to acknowledge at the same time the automatic conversion of the MCN. This conversion will result in the issue of 115,384,615 new shares of the Company.
Additionally, the Group has finalized the closing of the financing packages for both Vantiva and Technicolor Creative Studios:
· For Vantiva, Barclays Bank and Angelo Gordon provided a €375 million private debt facility. In parallel, Wells Fargo has extended the existing $125 million Asset-Based Lending (“ABL”) facility for a further 4 years starting September 15th, 2022;
· For Technicolor Creative Studios, the Group has finalized the closing of a new €624 million floating rate private First Lien Term Facility. This facility is composed of two tranches: a €564 million tranche and a $60 million tranche. Maturity for both tranches will be 4 years. In addition, the Group finalized a €40 million Revolving Credit Facility with a maturity of 3 years.
Details of the two financing packages are available in the appendix to the present press release.
As a result of the aforementioned issuances, the Company has fully reimbursed its existing debt, for a total consideration of €1,171 million.
Indicative Timetable
| Ex-date (detachment) of the Distribution and listing and admission to trading of the TCS shares on Euronext Paris | September 27th, 2022 |
| Technicolor Creative Studios Q3’22 business update | November 30th, 2022 |
| Vantiva 3Q’22 business update | December 1st, 2022 |
Legal Disclaimer
This press release has been prepared by Technicolor SA (“TSA”) in the context of the contemplated spin-off of Technicolor Creative Studios (“TCS” or the “Company”) as a result of which TSA ex-TCS is to become Vantiva. This press release is an advertisement and does not constitute a prospectus under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European parliament and of the council of 14 June 2017 (the “Prospectus Regulation”).
The prospectus prepared by TCS in connection with the admission of TCS shares to trading on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris as part of the distribution of 65% of TCS shares by TSA to its shareholders, approved by the AMF on August 1, 2022 under number 22-331, is available free of charge and upon request at the company’s registered office, 8-10 rue du Renard, 75004 Paris, France, or on the websites of the AMF (https://www.amf-france.org), Technicolor (https://www.technicolor.com/fr/relations-investisseurs) and Technicolor Creative Studios (https://www.technicolorcreative.com/investors/). The approval of the prospectus by the AMF should not be understood as an endorsement of the TCS shares covered by the prospectus. Potential investors in TCS are invited to consult the prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in TCS shares. In particular, investors’ attention is drawn to the risk factors relating to TCS described in Chapter 3 of the prospectus.
The distribution of this press release and the distribution of the shares of the Company may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This press release is not an offer of securities or investments for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities or investments in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. No action has been taken that would permit an offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this press release in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this press release comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete and no reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness. Any purchase or subscription of shares of the Company should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the prospectus relating to the admission of TCS shares on the regulated market Euronext Paris published on the website of TSA and TCS.
France
In France, a public offering of securities may only be conducted on the basis of a prospectus approved by the AMF.
European Economic Area and United Kingdom
With respect to member states of the European Economic Area (“EEA”) other than France (each, a “Member State”) and the United Kingdom (together, the “Concerned States”), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the shares of the Company requiring a publication of a prospectus in any Concerned State. As a result, this press release may only be distributed in Member States: a) to legal entities which are qualified investors, as defined in the Prospectus Regulation, for any investor in a Member State, or Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as part of national law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”), for any investor in the United Kingdom; b)to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined by the Prospectus Regulation or the UK Prospectus Regulation, as the case may be); or c) in circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation or in the other case which does not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Regulation, the UK Prospectus Regulation and/or applicable regulation in these Concerned States.
United Kingdom
This press release does not constitute an offer of the Securities to the public in the United Kingdom. The distribution of this press release is not made, and has not been approved, by an “authorised person” within the meaning of section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is directed only at persons who (i) are located outside the United Kingdom, (ii) are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005, or (iii) are high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may be lawfully communicated falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (all such persons mentioned in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) collectively being referred to as “Relevant Persons”). The Securities will only be available to Relevant Persons and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or acquire such Securities may be addressed or engaged in only with Relevant Persons. All persons other than Relevant Persons must abstain from using or relying on this document and all information contained therein. This press release is not a prospectus which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority or any other United Kingdom regulatory authority for the purposes of Section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
United States of America
This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer of Securities or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for Securities in the United States. The Securities may not be offered, subscribed or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements thereof. The shares of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and the Company does not intend to make a public offer of its securities in the United States.
Canada, Australia and Japan
The Securities may not be offered or sold in Canada, Australia and Japan.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements”, including but not limited to statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives, based on certain assumptions or which do not directly relate to historical or current facts. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed, forecasted, or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more complete list and description of such risks and uncertainties, refer to Technicolor’s filings with the French Autorité des marchés financiers. 2021 Universal Registration Document (Document d’enregistrement universel) has been filed with the French Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) on April 5, 2022, under number D-22-0237 and an amendment to the 2021 URD has been filed with the AMF on April 29, 2022, under number D-22-0237-A01.
About Technicolor:
Technicolor shares are admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (TCH) and are tradable in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADR) in the United States on the OTCQX market (TCLRY).
Investor Relations
Alexandra Fichelson
Alexandra.fichelson@technicolor.com
Media
Catherine Kuttner
catherine.kuttner@technicolor.com
Nathalie Feld
APPENDIX
TECHNICOLOR CREATIVE STUDIOS – First Lien Term Facility & Revolving credit facility
| FIRST LIEN SENIOR SECURED | REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | · €624m (EUR equivalent)· o/w EUR tranche: €564m· o/w USD tranche: $60m | · Up to €40m available |
| Structure / Ranking | · First Lien Term Facility | · Super Senior |
| Tenor | · 4 years – 1% amortization p.a. on a quarterly basis | · 3 years |
| Margin | · E + 600bps / S + 750bps· Floor: 0% | · E + 450bps· Floor: 0% |
| Call protection | · Non-Call 1 | |
| Financial covenant | · First lien net leverage ratio* of 5.75x |
*“First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” means the consolidated net debt including capital lease obligation and the adjusted EBITDA (old definition) from continuing operations. “Adjusted EBITDA (old definition)” corresponds to the profit (loss) from continuing operations before tax and net financial income (expense), net of other income (expense), depreciation and amortization (including impact of provision for risks, litigation and warranties).
VANTIVA FINANCING PACKAGE
| Amount drawn | · €375m |
| Maturity | · 4.0 years to 4.5 years + 1 year (with payment of extension fee of 5%) |
| Ranking | First Lien (Barclays), Second Lien, pari passu in right of payment but junior for Security (Angelo Gordon) |
| Mandatory repayments | · Change of Control· Related to the disposal of TCS shares, disposal of assets, and excess cash flows |
| Interest | · Cash: E + 2.50% to 6% depending on the tranche and the year· PIK: 3.00% to 5.0% depending on the tranche, increasing to 4.00% to 5.5% 12 months after closing, then 5.5% to 6% after 24 months after closing, then + 0.5% every 12 months thereafter for some tranche |
| Financial covenants | · Net Leverage covenant (4.5x* as from June 2023) set with a 35% cushion· Half year test |
* « Total Net Leverage Ratio » means, on any date of determination, the ratio between the consolidated net debt including capital lease obligation and the consolidated EBITDA excluding impact of the IFRS 16 leases. “EBITDA” corresponds to the profit (loss) from continuing operations before tax and net financial income (expense), net of other income (expense), depreciation and amortization (including impact of provision for risks, litigation and warranties).