Ardagh is currently negotiating a settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") of the antitrust complaint on the basis of proposals made by Ardagh on 11 December 2013. These proposals involve Ardagh divesting six former Anchor Glass plants together with the former Anchor headquarters and infrastructure at Tampa, Florida. The settlement negotiations with the FTC are progressing satisfactorily. However, it has not proven possible to conclude these settlement negotiations in time for Ardagh to complete the acquisition of Verallia North America ("VNA") by 13 January 2014.
To enable the settlement negotiations with the FTC to be concluded and the acquisition of VNA to proceed, Ardagh and Saint-Gobain have agreed to extend the final closing date under the Share Purchase Agreement from 13 January 2014 to 30 April 2014.
The bonds issued by Ardagh in January 2013 to finance the acquisition of VNA (the proceeds of which are currently held in escrow) will be repaid in full, in accordance with their terms, on 17 January 2014. To enable it to complete the acquisition of VNA, Ardagh has arranged committed replacement bridge financing which it expects to refinance in the capital markets in due course.
Ardagh Group is a global leader in packaging solutions, producing metal and glass packaging for most of the world's leading food, beverage and consumer care brands. It operates more than 100 manufacturing plants in 25 countries, employs approximately 18,000 people and has global sales in excess of ?4.1 billion
