Completion of sale of Sika shares for CHF2.56 bn

RNS Number : 0501O

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain

27 May 2020

 

PRESS RELEASE

May 27, 2020, at 8:00 am

SAINT-GOBAIN GROUP COMPLETES SALE OF SIKA SHARES FOR CHF2.56   BILLION

· Saint-Gobain today announces the successful completion of the sale by its subsidiary Schenker-Winkler Holding AG of approximately 15.2 million Sika shares, representing its full stake of 10.75% of Sika's share capital, for a total of CHF2.56 billion. The shares were placed via a private placement to qualified institutional investors by way of an accelerated book-building process.

· As a result of this disposal, Saint-Gobain has generated gross gains of €1.54 billion since May 2018.

The disposal of the stake in Sika enables Saint-Gobain to strengthen its balance sheet. Saint-Gobain acquired its 10.75% stake in Sika as part of a global agreement with Sika and the Burkard family in May 2018. The Sika shares were held as an equity investment and Saint-Gobain has chosen to recognize any change in the fair value of the Sika shares directly in equity.

Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain, commented:

"TheSika shareholding has been an outstanding investment for Saint-Gobain over the past two years. We have completed the sale at a price of CHF2.56 billion, equivalent to around €2.41 billion, compared to a purchase price of €933 million in May 2018. Realizing such an outstanding return on this investment is a very positive development for the Group. The proceeds from the disposal will strengthen Saint-Gobain's balance sheet, increase its financial flexibility and liquidity position in a market environment that remains uncertain. As mentioned at the end of April, depending on how the situation evolves Saint-Gobain will review the Group's shareholder return policy by the end of the year. "

Citigroup acted as Sole Global Coordinator on the Private Placement.

Citigroup and Lazard acted as financial advisers to Saint-Gobain .
 

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN

Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change.

€42.6 billion in sales in 2019

Operates in 68 countries

More than 170,000 employees

For more information about Saint-Gobain

Visit www.saint-gobain.com

and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain

Analyst/Investor relations		Press relations
Vivien Dardel Floriana Michalowska Christelle Gannage	[phone]  [phone]  [phone]	Laurence Pernot Patricia Marie Susanne Trabitzsch	[phone]   [phone]   [phone]

Disclaimer - Important information

This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities and the offer of the shares of Sika AG ("Sika shares") by SWH does not constitute a public offering other than to European qualified investors in any jurisdiction, including in France and Switzerland.

This press release is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation").

In member states of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom, this communication and any offer if made subsequently is directed exclusively at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.

This communication is for distribution in the United Kingdom only to (i) investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (ii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as (i), "relevant persons"), to the exclusion of any other person.

The offer and sale of the securities referred to in this announcement has not been, nor will be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") and the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent such registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. There will be no public offering of the securities in the United States in connection with this transaction.

The distribution of this announcement into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by SWH that would permit an offering of Sika shares or possession or distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction

Any investment decision relating to the purchase of Sika shares must be made solely on the basis of publicly available information relating to Sika. SWH bears no liability in respect of that information.

The Sole Global Coordinator is acting on behalf of SWH and no one else in connection with the Private Placement and will not regard any other person as its clients nor be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to any of its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Private Placement, the contents of this press release or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

None of the Sole Global Coordinator or any of its directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this press release (or whether any information has been omitted from the press release) or any other information relating to Sika, SWH, their respective subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this press release or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

 

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