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TORM A/S announces the termination of its ADR program and plans to de-list from the NASDAQ Capital Markets US
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TORM A/S (NASDAQ: TRMD) (the "Company") announced today that it has commenced the process to (i) terminate its American Depository Receipt ("ADR") program, which is governed by the Deposit Agreement between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the "Depositary") dated as of May 8, 2013, as amended (the "Deposit Agreement"), and (ii) delist its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), evidenced by American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), from the NASDAQ Capital Market, which was authorized by the Company's shareholders at the Company's 2013 Annual General Meeting that was held on April 11, 2013.
The Board of Directors has determined that termination of the Company's ADR program, delisting its securities from NASDAQ, USA and deregistering its securities under the Securities Exchange Act is in the interest of the Company due to the limited size of the ADR program and the costs involved with a listing on NASDAQ and the reporting and filing obligations under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company mailed today the 30-day notice of termination ("Notice of Termination") of the Deposit Agreement to the registered holders of the Company's ADRs. The termination of the Deposit Agreement is expected to be effective on or about July 19, 2013.
At any time prior to October 17, 2013 (that is, up to 90-days following the termination of the Deposit Agreement), ADR holders may surrender their ADRs to the Depositary in exchange for the underlying common shares of the Company, which trade on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen under the symbol "TORM". Holders that do not surrender their ADRs prior to October 17, 2013 may receive cash. As soon as practicable on or after that date, the Depositary will sell the ordinary shares underlying any ADRs that have not been surrendered. The Depositary shall thereafter hold un-invested the net proceeds of any such sale, for the pro-rata benefit of the holders of any such outstanding ADRs.
The Company plans to file a Form 25 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on or about July 9, 2013 to delist its ADRs from the NASDAQ Capital Market. Trading of the Company's ADRs on the NASDAQ Capital Market is expected to cease as of the close of business on or about July 19, 2013.
Summary of important dates (all dates are subject to changes)
June 19, 2013
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Notice of Termination mailed to ADR holders
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July 19, 2013
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Deposit Agreement Terminates
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July 19, 2013
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Trading of ADSs on NASDAQ Capital Market Ceases
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October 17, 2013
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At any time prior to October 17, 2013, holders may surrender their ADRs to the Depositary in exchange for the underlying common shares of the Company, which trade on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen under the symbol "TORM"
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Copies of the Notice of Termination, the Depositary Agreement and other information relating to the termination of the Company's ADR program and delisting from the NASDAQ Capital Market may be found on the Company's website at www.torm.com/investor-relations/ADR.
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Announcement no. 11 / 19 June 2013
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TORM A/S announces the termination of its ADR program and plans to de-list from the NASDAQ Capital Markets US
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Contact TORM A/S
Jacob Meldgaard, CEO, tel.: +45 3917 9200
Roland M. Andersen, CFO, tel.: +45 3917 9200
C. Søgaard-Christensen, IR, tel.: +45 3076 1288
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Tuborg Havnevej 18
DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark
Tel.: +45 3917 9200 / Fax: +45 3917 9393
www.torm.com
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About TORM
TORM is one of the world's leading carriers of refined oil products as well as a significant player in the dry bulk market. The Company runs a fleet of approximately 120 modern vessels in cooperation with other respected shipping companies sharing TORM's commitment to safety, environmental responsibility and customer service.
TORM was founded in 1889. The Company conducts business worldwide and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. TORM's shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen (ticker: TORM) and on NASDAQ in New York (ticker: TRMD). For further information, please visit www.torm.com.
Safe Harbor – Forward Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and statements other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, the Company cannot guarantee that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward- looking statements include the conclusion of definitive waiver documents with our lenders, the strength of the world economy and currencies, changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand for "tonne miles" of oil carried by oil tankers, the effect of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled dry-docking, changes in the Company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in the regulation of shipping operations, including requirements for double hull tankers or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.
Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by the Company with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, and the Company is under no obligation to update or change the listed expectations unless required by law.
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Announcement no. 11 / 19 June 2013
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TORM A/S announces the termination of its ADR program and plans to de-list from the NASDAQ Capital Markets US
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