HILLSBORO, Ore., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FEI Company
(Nasdaq: FEIC) today announced that it intends to offer, subject to market
conditions and other factors, $100 million aggregate principal amount of
convertible subordinated notes due 2013. This offering will be made through a
private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act of 1933.
The interest rate, terms of conversion, offering price and other terms of
the notes will be determined by negotiations between FEI and the initial
purchasers of the notes. FEI expects to grant the initial purchasers of the
notes a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional $15
million aggregate principal amount of the notes.
FEI intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for the repurchase
or redemption of certain of its existing convertible subordinated notes,
repurchases of its common stock in connection with this offering and general
corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, research and development,
other stock buybacks and potential investments in and acquisitions of
complementary businesses, partnerships, minority investments, products or
technologies, to fund further enhancements of its operating infrastructure and
for working capital.
The notes and common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or applicable state
securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the
United States or to U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption
from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws.
This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an
offer to buy any securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or
sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is
unlawful.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements that include plans
to issue the notes and expected use of the proceeds. Factors that could
affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
market demand for FEI's securities, pricing available for the sale of the
notes or the repurchase of common stock, and the success of and additional
costs of potential acquisitions and other investments. Please also refer to
our Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information on these factors
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking statements. FEI assumes no duty to update forward-looking
statements.
SOURCE FEI Company
05/15/2006
CONTACT: Fletcher Chamberlin, Investor Relations of FEI Company,
+1-503-726-7710, or fchamberlin@feico.com
Web site: http://www.feicompany.com
(FEIC)
05/15/2006 07:44 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com