Filed by Alcan Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14d-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Subject Company: Pechiney
Registration
Statement No. 333-106851
Date:
October 27,
2003
Further information
Alcan has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement to register the Alcan Common Shares to be issued in the proposed transaction, including related tender/exchange offer materials. Investors and Pechiney securityholders are urged to read the registration statement and related tender/exchange offer materials (when available) and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they contain important information. Investors and Pechiney securityholders may obtain a free copy of the registration statement and related tender/exchange offer materials (when available) and other relevant documents at the SEC's Internet web site at www.sec.gov and Pechiney securityholders will receive information at an appropriate time on how to obtain transaction-related documents for free from Alcan.
This communication is for informational purposes only. It shall not constitute an offer to purchase or buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange any securities of Pechiney, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The solicitation of offers to buy Alcan Common Shares will only be made pursuant to a prospectus and related materials that Alcan expects to send to Pechiney securityholders. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be effected prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements made in this communication are forward-looking statements. Although Alcan's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements by their nature involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Many factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including those listed under "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements " and "Risk Factors" in the preliminary prospectus included in the registration statement we have filed with the SEC in connection with our proposed offer for certain securities of Pechiney. See the previous paragraph for information about how you can obtain a free copy of the registration statement.
| Press Release |
A |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALCAN LAUNCHES U.S. OFFER FOR PECHINEY
Paris, France; Montreal, Canada
- October 27, 2003 - Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) announced that the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with its offer for Pechiney (NYSE: PY, PARIS: PEC) has been declared effective. Accordingly, the U.S. offer is open for acceptance beginning today.The expiration date for the U.S. offer is November 24, 2003, which will be extended if necessary, to conform to the expiration date established for the French offer. The French Conseil des Marchés Financiers (CMF) is expected to announce the expiration date of the French offer in the days to come.
Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging, as well as aluminum recycling with 2002 revenues of US$12.3 billion. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs 54,000 people and has operating facilities in 42 countries.
Alcan has filed with the SEC a statement to register the Alcan Common Shares to be issued in the proposed U.S. offer, including related tender/exchange offer materials. Investors and holders of Pechiney securities are urged to read the registration statement and related tender/exchange offer materials and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they contain important information. Investors and holders of Pechiney securities may obtain a free copy of the registration statement and related tender/exchange offer materials and other relevant documents at the SEC's Internet web site at www.sec.gov. The transaction-related documents are being mailed to holders of Pechiney securities. Additional copies of the transaction-related documents may be obtained at Alcan's expense by contacting the Information Agent for the offers, D.F. King & Co., Inc, toll-free at 1-800-488-8035 (North America), 0-800-90-2614 (France), 0-800-389-7892 (U.K.) or (44) 20-7920-9700 (collect in Europe).
The U.S. offer is only open to holders of Pechiney securities (other than Pechiney American Depositary Shares or ADSs) who are located in the United States and Canada and to all holders of Pechiney ADSs, wherever located.
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Media contact |
Investor contact |
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Joseph Singerman |
Corey Copeland |
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+1 514 848-1355 |
+1 514 848-8368 |