Offer for DS Smith Plc by International Paper Company
Important Disclaimer
Recommended offer for DS Smith Plc (“DS Smith”) by International Paper Company (“International Paper”) (“Offer”)
ACCESS TO THIS AREA OF THE WEBSITE (“MICROSITE”) MAY BE RESTRICTED UNDER SECURITIES LAWS OR REGULATIONS IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS. THIS NOTICE REQUIRES YOU TO CONFIRM CERTAIN MATTERS (INCLUDING THAT YOU ARE NOT RESIDENT IN SUCH A JURISDICTION), BEFORE YOU MAY OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION ON THIS MICROSITE. THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT DIRECTED AT OR INTENDED TO BE ACCESSIBLE BY PERSONS RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION OR WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT TO COMPLY WITH CONSENT OR OTHER FORMALITY WHICH DS SMITH REGARDS AS UNDULY ONEROUS (A “RESTRICTED JURISDICTION”).
THIS MICROSITE CONTAINS ANNOUNCEMENTS, DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION (THE "INFORMATION") PUBLISHED BY INTERNATIONAL PAPER AND/OR DS SMITH RELATING TO THE OFFER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE"). THE INFORMATION IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND ITS AVAILABILITY IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT BELOW.
Access to the Information
If you would like to view the Information contained in this Microsite, please read this notice carefully. This notice applies to all persons who view the Information contained in this Microsite and, depending on where you are located, may affect your rights or responsibilities. DS Smith reserves the right to amend or update this notice at any time and you should, therefore, read it in full each time you visit this Microsite. In addition, the contents of this Microsite may be amended at any time, in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of DS Smith.
To allow you to view information about the Offer, you must read this notice and then click "I ACCEPT". If you are unable to agree, you should click "I DECLINE" and you will not be able to view information about the Offer.
The Information contained in this Microsite does not constitute an offer to sell or otherwise dispose of or an invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities pursuant to the Offer or otherwise in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. There can be no certainty that any person, including International Paper, will proceed to make an offer for DS Smith. The Offer would be made solely by means of an offer or scheme document which would contain the full terms and conditions of such Offer, including details on how it may be accepted. Any decision made in relation to such Offer should be made solely and only on the basis of the information provided in any such document.
Overseas Jurisdictions
This Information is not directed at or intended to be accessible by persons resident in any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Viewing the Information you are seeking to access may be restricted under securities laws in certain jurisdictions. All persons resident outside of the United Kingdom (the “UK”) who wish to view the Information contained in this Microsite must first satisfy themselves that they are not subject to any local requirements which prohibit or restrict them from doing so and should inform themselves about, and observe, any legal or regulatory requirements applicable in their jurisdiction.
YOU SHOULD NOT DOWNLOAD, MAIL, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SEND OR SHARE THE INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTS CONTAINED ON THIS MICROSITE TO ANY PERSON. IN PARTICULAR, YOU SHOULD NOT MAIL, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE OR SEND THE INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN TO ANY RESTRICTED JURISDICTION.
This Microsite contains Information that has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the Code and the Information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Information had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction outside of England and Wales.
It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself as to the full observance of any relevant laws and regulatory requirements. If you are not permitted to view the Information on this Microsite, or are in any doubt as to whether you are permitted to view the Information, please exit this Microsite.
Additional United States (“US”) information
The Offer relates to the securities of a UK company and is subject to UK procedural and disclosure requirements that are different from those of the US. Any financial statements or other financial information included in this Microsite may have been prepared in accordance with non-US accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the US. It may be difficult for US holders of DS Smith securities to enforce their rights and any claims they may have arising under the US federal securities laws in connection with the Offer, since DS Smith is located in a country other than the US and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the US. US holders of DS Smith securities may not be able to sue DS Smith or its respective officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel DS Smith and its respective affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction or judgment of a US court.
Holders of DS Smith securities are urged to read any documents related to the Offer filed, furnished or to be filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), if any, because they will contain important information regarding the Offer and any related offer of securities. Such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The documents in this Microsite are not a substitute for any such documents that may be filed or furnished with the SEC regarding the Offer and any related offer of securities. Nothing in this Microsite shall be deemed an acknowledgement that any SEC filing is required to be made by any person or that an offer of securities may ever occur in connection with the Offer.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Microsite and the Information contained in it may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of International Paper and its group (being International Paper and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings, together the “International Paper Group”) and DS Smith and its group (being DS Smith and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings, together the “DS Smith Group”) following the implementation of the Offer.
All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of the International Paper Group and the DS Smith Group to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions, including as to future potential cost savings, synergies, earnings, cash flow, return on capital employed, production and prospects. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "goals", "intend", "may", "objectives", "outlook", "plan", "probably", "project", "risks", "seek", "should", "target", "will" and similar terms and phrases.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of the International Paper Group and the DS Smith Group and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this Microsite. In respect of the DS Smith Group, these factors include, but are not limited to: the price volatility and security of paper and/or fibre supplies; fluctuations in packaging capacity; changes in consumer preferences and demographic trends; legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments and changes in the economic and financial market conditions in the regions in which DS Smith operates; and climate change and sustainability commitments. Such factors are described in detail in DS Smith’s 2023 Annual Report under the heading “Risk Management” (available at https://www.dssmith.com/investors/results-presentations/annual-reports). These factors should be considered by the reader.
All forward-looking statements contained in this Microsite are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Each forward-looking statement speaks only as at the specified date of the relevant document within which the statement is contained. Neither DS Smith nor the DS Smith Group undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this Microsite.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, no statement contained or referred to in this Microsite is intended to be a profit forecast.
Responsibility
In relation to any materials related to the Offer accessible on this Microsite please note any statement of responsibility contained therein.
The documents included in this Microsite issued or published by DS Smith speak only at the specified date of the relevant document and DS Smith has, and accepts, no responsibility or duty to update or revise such documents.
In relation to any such announcements or other materials related to the Offer issued or published by any third party, or which relate to any third party, that are accessible on this website, the only responsibility accepted by DS Smith and its directors is for the correctness and fairness of its reproduction.
Neither the directors of DS Smith, any member of the DS Smith Group, nor any of their affiliated companies, have reviewed, and no such person is or shall be responsible for or accepts any liability in respect of, any information contained on any other website which may be linked to or from this Microsite.
Other
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Microsite or the action you should take, you should seek your own financial advice from an independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) or, if you are located outside the UK, from an appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
This notice shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.
Confirmation of understanding and acceptance
- I have read and understood the notice set out above and I agree to be bound by its terms.
- I am not (nor do I act on behalf of someone who is) resident in any country that renders the accessing of the materials on this website or parts of it illegal.
- I will not print, download, or otherwise seek to copy, mail, forward, distribute or send any of the materials on this Microsite to any other person at any time.
- I represent and warrant to DS Smith that I intend to access this Microsite for information purposes only.
If you are not able to give these confirmations, you should click on I DECLINE below.