When the acceptance period for Volvo’s offer for Nissan Diesel expired last week, Volvo had received a total of roughly 96 percent of the shares outstanding. Since Volvo has received more than two thirds of the shares in Nissan Diesel, a process is now being initiated to redeem the remaining shares outstanding. Because Nissan Diesel will not be releasing its year-end report for 2006 until May 11, Volvo has decided to postpone its first quarter interim report until the same date, May 11, 2007.
When the offer period expired, Volvo had received 294,585,705 shares corresponding to roughly 96 percent of the votes and capital in Nissan Diesel, including the 19 percent of the votes and capital owned by Volvo before the offer was made. In addition, Volvo owns all 57.5 million preference shares in Nissan Diesel.
Volvo intends to initiate a process to redeem the remaining shares in Nissan Diesel because the company has received more than the two thirds of the shares and votes required for this in accordance with Japanese law. In conjunction with Volvo’s decision to acquire the remaining shares in Nissan Diesel, Volvo intends to apply to delist Nissan Diesel from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Volvo estimates that the remaining shares will be redeemed by about September 30, 2007.
Volvo will pay a total of SEK 7.4 billion for the shares now submitted and payment is expected to be made on or about March 29.
Completion of the transaction requires the approval of the anti-trust authorities in the United States and South Africa and Volvo has now received approval from the American authorities. Volvo expects to also receive approval in South Africa at the end of May and will not carry out a takeover in South Africa until the company has received such an approval. In other respect, Volvo considers that the transaction is completed.
Nissan Diesel will be consolidated in the balance sheet of the Volvo Group as of the first quarter of 2007. Sales and earnings will be reported as of the interim report for the second quarter. Operations within Nissan Diesel will be reported within the Trucks segment.
As previously announced, Volvo will postpone publication of its interim report for the first quarter of 2007 from April 25, to May 11.
The Volvo Group manufacturers trucks, buses and construction equipment; drive systems for marine and industrial applications; and aerospace components and services. It is a publicly-held company headquartered in Göteborg, Sweden.
