SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH files appeal with FINMA concerning a starkly wrong decision by the Swiss Takeover Board

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Lucerne, November 25, 2019 – SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH, a global leader in special long steel, has received notice from the Swiss Takeover Board that the requests of Martin Haefner/BigPoint Holding AG and Liwet Holding AG, respectively, regarding an exemption from the obligation to make an offer in connection with the planned capital increase regarding SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH, have been rejected. SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH contests the decision and filed an appeal against it today with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA. Based on the facts, SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH is convinced that the requests of Martin Haefner/BigPoint Holding AG and Liwet Holding AG must be approved in order to ensure the continued existence of the company.

SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH was informed on Friday evening of the decision of the Swiss Takeover Board not to grant any exceptions to the obligation to make an offer in connection with the planned capital increase. Without such exceptions, the major shareholders will not participate in the capital increase or will not do so to a sufficient extent. Without the planned capital increase of at least CHF 325 million, the insolvency risk for SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH will increase considerably. SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH regards the decision of the Swiss Takeover Board as a blatantly wrong decision because all shareholders, including the thousands of small shareholders, would lose all their investments and more than 10,000 jobs would be lost worldwide, 800 of them in Switzerland. In addition, the decision removes the basis for the only concrete offer by Martin Haefner/Big Point Holding AG. SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH therefore filed a complaint with FINMA today, Monday, calling on both the shareholders, Martin Haefner/BigPoint Holding AG and Liwet Holding AG, as well as the Swiss Takeover Board to support the complaint in order to promptly correct the false decision of the Swiss Takeover Board. SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH expects FINMA to approve the complaint and grant the exceptions quickly. The company trusts that the Swiss authorities will quickly and pragmatically support an important employer in the region and worldwide in this difficult situation.

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