WALTHAM, Mass., April 1, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate™ lithium ion batteries and systems, today announced the pricing of an offering of 18,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $6.00 per share and an offering of $125,000,000 principal amount of convertible subordinated notes due 2016. The company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,700,000 shares of common stock, with respect to the stock offering, and up to $18,750,000 aggregate principal amount of the convertible notes, with respect to the convertible notes offering.
The convertible notes will bear interest at a rate of 3.75% per year, payable on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2011. The convertible notes will mature on April 15, 2016. If A123 undergoes a "fundamental change" (as defined in the prospectus supplement relating to the notes), holders of the convertible have the option to require A123 to repurchase all or any portion of their convertible notes. A123 may not redeem the convertible notes prior to the maturity date.
Holders of convertible notes may surrender their convertible notes, in integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount, for conversion any time prior to the close of business on the third business day immediately preceding the maturity date. The initial conversion rate for each $1,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible notes is 138.8889 shares of common stock per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible notes, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $7.20 per share of our common stock, which represents a premium of approximately 20% to the public offering price of A123's shares in the concurrent common stock offering.
The net proceeds from the sale of the common stock are estimated to be approximately $102.7 million (approximately $118.2 million if the underwriters for the common stock offering exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The net proceeds from the sale of the convertible notes are estimated to be approximately $120.6 million (approximately $138.8 million if the underwriters for the convertible notes offering exercise in full their option to purchase additional convertible notes), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. A123 intends to use the proceeds from the common stock and convertible notes offerings for general corporate purposes. Pending these uses, A123 intends to invest the net proceeds from the common stock and convertible notes offerings in interest-bearing investment-grade securities.
The offerings are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For each offering, a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the offering have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Completion of each offering is subject to customary closing conditions, and each offering is expected to close on April 6, 2011.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are acting as joint book-running managers, Morgan Stanley and Barclays Capital are acting as lead managers, and Lazard Capital Markets and Pacific Crest Securities are acting as co-managers for the offerings. Copies of both prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained by contacting Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., Attn: Prospectus Department, 100 Plaza One, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311, telephone: +1 (800) 503-4611 or Goldman, Sachs & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, telephone: +1 (866) 471-2526 or by emailing prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
About A123 Systems
A123 Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:AONE) develops and manufactures advanced lithium ion batteries and battery systems for the transportation, electric grid services and commercial markets. Headquartered in Massachusetts and founded in 2001, A123 Systems' proprietary nanoscale electrode technology is built on initial developments from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The A123 Systems, Inc. logo is available at
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, the closing of the offerings described above is subject to customary conditions, not all of which are within A123's control.
These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued and were based on current expectations and estimates, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "should," "believe," "hope," "target," "project," "goals," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "may," "will," "might," "could," "intend," variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond A123's control.
A123's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, including but not limited to, the timing and terms of A123's U.S. government funding, delays in customer and market demand for and adoption of A123's products in the transportation, electric grid and other target markets, A123's ability to expand its U.S. manufacturing capacity to address anticipated market demand, delays in the development of A123's new products, A123's ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers, adverse economic conditions in general and adverse economic conditions specifically affecting the markets in which A123 operates, failure to negotiate acceptable contract terms with new customers or early termination of A123's agreements with key customers, and other risks detailed in A123's other publicly available filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent A123's views as of the date of this press release. A123 anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. A123 undertakes no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing A123's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
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CONTACT: Public Relations: A123 Systems Dan Borgasano 617-972-3471 dborgasano@a123systems.com Edelman Courtney Kessler 212-277-3720 courtney.kessler@edelman.com Investor Relations: ICR Garo Toomajanian 617-972-3450 ir@a123systems.com
