Offer for Gibbs & Dandy PLC

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain 07 May 2008 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 May 2008 RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER BY SAINT-GOBAIN BUILDING DISTRIBUTION LIMITED (an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain) FOR GIBBS AND DANDY PLC Summary • The Boards of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain) and of Gibbs and Dandy plc are pleased to announce today that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by SGBD to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. • The Offer will be 425 pence in cash for each Gibbs and Dandy Share and will value the existing issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy at approximately £43.0 million. The acquisition will be funded from within the existing cash resources of the Saint-Gobain Group. • Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders who were on the register at the close of business on 11 April 2008 will also be entitled to receive and retain the final dividend of 10 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share which is expected to be paid on 12 May 2008. • The Offer Price represents: - a premium of approximately 8.3 per cent. to the Closing Price of 392.5 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share on 6 May 2008, being the last dealing day prior to the date of this announcement; - a premium of approximately 24.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 341 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share on 14 February 2008, being the date immediately prior to the date of the announcement by Gibbs and Dandy that it had received an approach which might lead to an offer; - a premium of approximately 37.8 per cent. to the average Closing Price of approximately 308.4 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share for the three month period ending on 14 February 2008; and - a multiple of approximately 13.3 times Gibbs and Dandy's earnings per share of 32.0 pence for the year ended 31 December 2007. • The Board of Gibbs and Dandy, which has been so advised by Panmure Gordon, considers the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing advice to the Board of Gibbs and Dandy, Panmure Gordon has taken into account the commercial assessments of the directors of Gibbs and Dandy. Accordingly, the Board of Gibbs and Dandy intends unanimously to recommend to the Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders that they accept the Offer, as they themselves have irrevocably undertaken to do (or procure to be done) in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Gibbs and Dandy Shares, amounting to, in aggregate, 591,932 Gibbs and Dandy Shares, representing approximately 5.85 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. • In addition, SGBD has received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer or to procure that another person accepts the Offer from certain other shareholders of Gibbs and Dandy (being the immediate families of the directors of Gibbs and Dandy and related trusts), in respect of a total of 748,076 Gibbs and Dandy Shares representing approximately 7.39 per cent. of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. • SGBD has also received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer or to procure that another person accepts the Offer from certain further shareholders of Gibbs and Dandy, in respect of a total of 1,324,732 Gibbs and Dandy Shares representing approximately 13.09 per cent. of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. These undertakings will cease to be binding in the event of an offer for the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy by another party which has a cash value equal to or greater than 440 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share. • SGBD has also received a non-binding letter of intent to accept the Offer from a Gibbs and Dandy Shareholder in respect of a total of 150,144 Gibbs and Dandy Shares representing approximately 1.48 per cent of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. • In aggregate, SGBD has therefore received irrevocable undertakings and non-binding letters of intent, to accept the Offer, or to procure that another person accepts the Offer, in respect of a total of 2,814,884 Gibbs and Dandy Shares, representing approximately 27.82 per cent. of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. Commenting on the Offer, Peter Hindle, CEO of SGBD, said: 'We are delighted to have reached agreement with the Board of Gibbs and Dandy. The transaction represents a further step in our strategy to broaden our product and geographic reach in the UK. We look forward to working with the Gibbs and Dandy team to realise the potential that exists to grow the business and to share best practice.' Commenting on the Offer, Christopher Roshier, Chairman of Gibbs and Dandy, said: 'The Directors are pleased to recommend this offer from Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Limited. We believe that this offer represents an attractive premium and provides certainty of value for our shareholders. The Directors are confident that the Saint-Gobain Group will also provide a very attractive opportunity to develop Gibbs and Dandy's business, to the benefit of its employees and customers, providing a robust platform for Gibbs and Dandy for the future.' Gleacher Shacklock is acting as financial advisor to Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and SGBD. Panmure Gordon is acting as financial advisor to Gibbs and Dandy. This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of the following announcement and its appendices. Appendix I contains the conditions and certain further terms of the Offer; Appendix III contains details of the commitments to accept the Offer from Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders; and Appendix IV contains definitions of certain terms used in this announcement. ENQUIRIES: Compagnie de Saint-Gobain Investor Relations Department : Mrs Florence Triou-Teixeira +33 1 47 62 45 19 Mr Alexandre Etuy +33 1 47 62 37 15 Mr Vivien Dardel +33 1 47 62 44 29 Media: Sophie Chevallon +33 1 47 62 30 48 Gleacher Shacklock 020 7484 1150 Kieran Murphy Gibbs and Dandy 01582 798 798 Michael Dandy Amitabh Sharma Panmure Gordon 020 7459 3600 Andrew Godber Andrew Potts Giles Stewart The Paddy Manning Company Paddy Manning 020 7930 0777 Gleacher Shacklock, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting for SGBD and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than SGBD and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain for providing the protections afforded to clients of Gleacher Shacklock nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or to the matters referred to in this announcement. Panmure Gordon, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting for Gibbs and Dandy and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Gibbs and Dandy for providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Gordon nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or to the matters referred to in this announcement. This announcement is not an offer to sell or an invitation or solicitation to purchase any securities. The Offer will be made solely by means of the Offer Document and, in the case of Gibbs and Dandy Shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance. Any acceptance in relation to the Offer should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Offer Document and, in the case of Gibbs and Dandy Shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance. Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders are strongly advised to read carefully the formal documentation in relation to the Offer once it has been despatched. Overseas jurisdictions The release, publication or distribution of the following announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and, therefore, any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable requirements. The following announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the City Code and the information disclosed in this announcement may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed in it had this announcement been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England. The making of the Offer in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom or to Overseas Shareholders or to nominees of or trustees for Overseas Shareholders may be prohibited or affected by the laws or regulatory requirements of the relevant overseas jurisdictions. Such Overseas Shareholders should inform themselves about and observe any applicable legal requirements of such jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of any Overseas Shareholder wishing to accept the Offer to satisfy himself as to the full observance of the laws and regulatory requirements of the relevant jurisdiction in connection therewith, including the obtaining of any governmental, exchange control or other consents which may be required, compliance with other formalities needing to be observed and the payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes or duties or requisite payments due in such jurisdiction. Any such Overseas Shareholder will be responsible for payment of any such issue, transfer or other taxes, duties or other requisite payments due in such jurisdiction by whomsoever payable, and SGBD and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (and any person acting on the behalf of either of them) shall be entitled to be fully indemnified and held harmless by such Overseas Shareholder for any such issue, transfer or other taxes or duties or other requisite payments as SGBD and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (and any person acting on the behalf of either of them) may be required to pay. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale or purchase in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. The Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national, local or other securities exchange of, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Offer cannot be accepted and will not be capable of acceptance by such use, means, instrumentality or facilities from or within the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into or from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. Takeover Code Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the City Code, if any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of ' relevant securities' of Gibbs and Dandy, all 'dealings' in such 'relevant securities' of Gibbs and Dandy (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the Business Day following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the Offer Period otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an 'interest' in 'relevant securities' of Gibbs and Dandy, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3. Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the City Code, all 'dealings' in 'relevant securities' of Gibbs and Dandy by SGBD or Gibbs and Dandy, or by any of their respective 'associates', must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date of the relevant transaction. A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant securities' 'dealings' should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in issue, can be found on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. 'Interests in securities' arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the City Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a 'dealing' under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel. Forward-looking statements This announcement, including information included or incorporated by reference in this announcement, contains statements about Gibbs and Dandy, the Offer, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and SGBD that are or may be forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words 'targets', 'plans' , 'believes', 'expects', 'aims', 'intends', 'will', 'may', 'anticipates', ' estimates', 'projects', or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Gibbs and Dandy's, SGBD's and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain's operations; and (iii) the effects of government regulation on Gibbs and Dandy's, SGBD's or Compagnie de Saint-Gobain's business. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They have not been reviewed by the auditors of Gibbs and Dandy, SGBD or Compagnie de Saint-Gobain. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of any such person, or industry, to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of such persons and the environment in which each will operate in the future. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Gibbs and Dandy, SGBD or Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or any of their members or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All forward-looking statements included in this announcement are based on information available to the relevant parties on the date hereof. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and neither Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, SGBD , Gibbs and Dandy nor their directors undertakes any obligation in respect of, and do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by the City Code or pursuant to applicable law. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 May 2008 RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER BY SAINT-GOBAIN BUILDING DISTRIBUTION LIMITED (an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain) FOR THE WHOLE OF THE ISSUED AND TO BE ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL OF GIBBS AND DANDY PLC 1. Introduction The Boards of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain) and of Gibbs and Dandy plc are pleased to announce today that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by SGBD to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. 2. The Offer The Offer, which will be subject to the conditions set out in Appendix I to this announcement and to the full terms and conditions to be set out in the Offer Document, will be made on the following basis: for each Gibbs and Dandy Share 425 pence in cash The Offer values the existing issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy at approximately £43.0 million. The Offer Price represents: - a premium of approximately 8.3 per cent. to the Closing Price of 392.5 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share on 6 May 2008, being the last dealing day prior to the date of this announcement; - a premium of approximately 24.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 341 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share on 14 February 2008 being the date immediately prior to the announcement by Gibbs and Dandy that it had received an approach which might lead to an offer; - a premium of approximately 37.8 per cent. to the average Closing Price of approximately 308.4 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share for the three month period ending 14 February 2008; and - a multiple of approximately 13.3 times Gibbs and Dandy's earnings per share of 32.0 pence for the year ended 31 December 2007. Gibbs and Dandy Shares will be acquired by SGBD pursuant to the Offer fully paid and free from all liens, equities, charges, equitable interests, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and other third party rights and/or interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights attaching to them, now or in the future, including the right to receive and retain all dividends, interest and other distributions declared, paid or made in the future except that Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders on the register at close of business on 11 April 2008 will be entitled to receive and retain the final dividend of 10p per Gibbs and Dandy Share which is expected to be paid on 12 May 2008. 3. Recommendation The directors of Gibbs and Dandy, who have been so advised by Panmure Gordon, consider the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing advice to the Board of Gibbs and Dandy, Panmure Gordon has taken into account the commercial assessments of the directors of Gibbs and Dandy. Accordingly, the Board of Gibbs and Dandy intends unanimously to recommend to the Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders that they accept the Offer, as they have themselves irrevocably undertaken to do (or procure to be done) in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Gibbs and Dandy Shares amounting to, in aggregate, 591,932 Gibbs and Dandy Shares, representing approximately 5.85 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. 4. Irrevocable undertakings SGBD has received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer (or to procure that another person accepts the Offer) from the directors of Gibbs and Dandy and their immediate families, related trusts and any other person whose interests in Gibbs and Dandy Shares a director is taken to be interested in pursuant to Part 22 of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of a total of 1,340,008 Gibbs and Dandy Shares, being all of the Gibbs and Dandy Shares in which they are interested, representing approximately 13.24 per cent. of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy (including the commitments referred to in paragraph 3 above). These irrevocable undertakings will only cease to be binding in the event that the Offer Document is not posted within 28 days (or such longer period as the Panel may agree) after the date of this announcement or the Offer lapses or is withdrawn. In addition, SGBD has received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer (or to procure that another person accepts the Offer) from certain other Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders, in respect of a total of 1,324,732 Gibbs and Dandy Shares representing approximately 13.09 per cent. of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. The undertakings in respect of 1,324,732 Gibbs and Dandy Shares from those shareholders will cease to be binding in the event of an offer for the issued ordinary share capital of Gibbs and Dandy by another party which has a cash value equal to or greater than 440 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share. These irrevocable undertakings will also cease to be binding in the event that the Offer Document is not posted within 28 days (or such longer period as the Panel may agree) after the date of this announcement or the Offer lapses or is withdrawn. SGBD has also received a non-binding letter of intent to accept the Offer from a Gibbs and Dandy Shareholder in respect of 150,144 Gibbs and Dandy Shares representing approximately 1.48 per cent. of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. In aggregate, SGBD has therefore received irrevocable undertakings, and non-binding letters of intent, to accept the Offer, or to procure that another person accepts the Offer, in respect of a total of 2,814,884 Gibbs and Dandy Shares, representing approximately 27.82 per cent. of the issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy. 5. Information on the Saint-Gobain Group and on SGBD SGBD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain. The Saint-Gobain Group is a leading producer, processor and distributor of materials, especially in glass, ceramics, plastics and building materials. It operates in 54 countries worldwide and employs approximately 207,000 people. It is Europe's largest distributor of building materials with operations in 20 countries including the UK, France and Germany. In the year ended 31 December 2007, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain reported group revenue of €43,421 million (2006: €41,596 million) and group operating profit of €4,108 million (2006: €3,714 million). As at 31 December 2007, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain had consolidated net assets of €15,267 million (2006: €14,487 million). 6. Information on Gibbs and Dandy Gibbs and Dandy is a UK distributor of a wide range of building materials, with 11 branches across the Northern Home Counties, the Thames Valley and the South Midlands. It was founded in the nineteenth century and listed on the Birmingham Stock Exchange in 1953. Gibbs and Dandy has a strong focus on customer service, a large customer base, wide product range and an experienced management team with many long serving employees. In the year ended 31 December 2007, Gibbs and Dandy reported group revenue of £62.5 million (2006: £58.4 million) and group operating profit of £4.5 million (2006: £4.0 million). As at 31 December 2007, Gibbs and Dandy had consolidated net assets of £25.3 million (2006: £22.3 million). Over the past decade Gibbs and Dandy has grown both organically and by acquisition. For example, in 2007 Gibbs and Dandy completed the purchase of Carson Fletcher Timber Limited, based in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. This acquisition complemented Gibbs and Dandy's presence in Northamptonshire and allowed it to expand its timber product offering. In addition to enlarging the branch network, the management of Gibbs and Dandy have sought to enhance the sales environment of the existing branches with a number of refurbishment projects in recent years. 7. Background to the recommendation The approach by SGBD and the level of the Offer is such that the Gibbs and Dandy Directors believe it provides Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders with certainty of value at an attractive level, which reflects both the quality of the Gibbs and Dandy business and its standing in its markets, and that Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders should have the opportunity to realise their investment in Gibbs and Dandy. Whilst Gibbs and Dandy Directors believe that the business is well positioned to continue to operate successfully as an independent builders' merchant, they consider that its future will be more successful as part of a larger organisation whose greater buying power and access to significant capital will safeguard Gibbs and Dandy's ability to compete in the current market environment and to expand in the future. This will, they believe, result in more opportunities for Gibbs and Dandy's management and employees. Gibbs and Dandy Directors believe that if Gibbs and Dandy were to remain independent, there would be no certainty that its share price would achieve the level of the Offer Price in the medium term. Gibbs and Dandy Directors have therefore concluded that the Offer represents the best route available to shareholders to optimise shareholder value both in the current market and in the foreseeable future. The Offer represents a premium of approximately 8.3 per cent. to the Closing Price of 392.5 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share on 6 May 2008, being the last dealing day prior to this announcement; a premium of approximately 24.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 341 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share on 14 February 2008 being the date immediately prior to the announcement by Gibbs and Dandy that it had received an approach which might lead to an offer; a premium of approximately 37.8 per cent. to the average Closing Price of approximately 308.4 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share for the three month period ended 14 February 2008; and a multiple of approximately 13.3 times Gibbs and Dandy's earnings per share of 32.0 pence for the year ended 31 December 2007. In summary Gibbs and Dandy Directors believe that the Offer represents an attractive premium and provides certainty of value for Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders. The Gibbs and Dandy Directors are confident that SGBD will also provide a very attractive opportunity to develop Gibbs and Dandy's business, to the benefit of its employees and customers, providing a robust platform for Gibbs and Dandy for the future. 8. Background to and reasons for the Offer Gibbs and Dandy is a long-established and respected brand in the building materials distribution market within its geographical area of activity. SGBD considers that the acquisition of Gibbs and Dandy represents an attractive opportunity to extend its UK operations. Accordingly, SGBD intends that, post the acquisition, Gibbs and Dandy branches will continue to trade under the Gibbs and Dandy name. SGBD also intends that the existing executive directors of Gibbs and Dandy will continue to work in the business. 9. Management, employees and locations SGBD attaches great importance to the skills and experience of the existing management and employees of Gibbs and Dandy. SGBD has given assurances to the Board of Gibbs and Dandy that the existing employment rights, including pension rights, of all Gibbs and Dandy employees will be observed at least to the extent required by applicable law. SGBD's plans for Gibbs and Dandy do not involve any material change in the conditions of employment of Gibbs and Dandy. SGBD has no current intention to change the location of Gibbs and Dandy places of business or to redeploy its fixed assets. 10. Financing of the Offer The consideration payable under the Offer will be satisfied from the existing resources of the Saint-Gobain Group. Gleacher Shacklock is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to SGBD to satisfy in full the consideration payable under the Offer. 11. Disclosure of interests in Gibbs and Dandy Shares Except as disclosed in this paragraph 11 and except for the irrevocable undertakings referred to above, as at 6 May 2008 (the latest practicable date prior to the date of this announcement), neither Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or SGBD, nor any of the directors of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or SGBD, nor their close relatives and related trusts, nor, so far as either of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or SGBD is aware, any person acting in concert with Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or SGBD for the purposes of the Offer is interested in or has any rights to subscribe for any Gibbs and Dandy Shares, nor does any such person have any short position in Gibbs and Dandy Shares (whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise), including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery or any arrangement in relation to Gibbs and Dandy Shares. For these purposes, 'arrangement' includes any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery and borrowing or lending of Gibbs and Dandy Shares. An 'arrangement' also includes any indemnity or option arrangement and any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, of whatever nature relating to Gibbs and Dandy Shares which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing in such securities. 'Interest' includes any long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities and a person is treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative reference to, securities. Neither Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or SGBD, nor, so far as Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and SGBD are aware, any person acting, or presumed to be acting, in concert with Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or SGBD has borrowed or lent any Gibbs and Dandy Shares (save for any borrowed shares which have either been on-lent or sold). 12. Inducement fee As part of the negotiations between Gibbs and Dandy and SGBD, Gibbs and Dandy entered into an inducement fee arrangement with SGBD on 29 April 2008. The inducement fee, which is equal to £400,000 (plus VAT, if applicable) (it being agreed and acknowledged by Gibbs and Dandy and by SGBD that such payment shall not be greater than, and shall not exceed, 1% of the value of the Offer and that nothing in the inducement fee arrangement letter shall oblige Gibbs and Dandy to pay an amount which the Panel determines would not be permitted by Rule 21.2 of the City Code) is payable by Gibbs and Dandy to SGBD in certain events including, inter alia, Gibbs and Dandy breaching the terms of certain exclusivity provisions agreed to by Gibbs and Dandy as part of the inducement fee arrangements; the Gibbs and Dandy Directors withdrawing or modifying, in a manner adverse to the success of the Offer, their recommendation to Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders in respect of the Offer; or any person or entity (other than Compagnie de Saint-Gobain or any party acting in concert with it) announcing an intention to make a higher competing offer which subsequently becomes unconditional in all respects. Pursuant to Rule 21.2 of the Code, Panmure Gordon and Gibbs and Dandy have confirmed to the Panel that they consider the terms of the inducement fee to be in the best interests of Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders. Further details relating to the inducement fee will be set out in the Offer Document. 13. Compulsory acquisition and delisting Upon the Offer becoming, or being declared, unconditional in all respects and sufficient acceptances being received, SGBD intends to apply the procedures set out in sections 979 to 982 (inclusive) of the Companies Act 2006 to acquire compulsorily the outstanding Gibbs and Dandy Shares on the same terms as the Offer. It is also intended that, when SGBD has by virtue of its shareholdings and acceptances of the Offer acquired or agreed to acquire Gibbs and Dandy Shares carrying at least 75 per cent. of the voting rights attaching to the share capital of Gibbs and Dandy, SGBD will procure the making of an application by Gibbs and Dandy both to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of trading of Gibbs and Dandy Shares on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities and to the UKLA for cancellation of the listing of Gibbs and Dandy Shares on the Official List of the UKLA. At least 20 Business Days' notice of cancellation will be given once SGBD announces it has acquired 75 per cent. of the voting rights. The cancellation of the listing of Gibbs and Dandy Shares will significantly reduce the liquidity and marketability of any Gibbs and Dandy Shares in respect of which acceptances of the Offer are not submitted. 14. General The Offer Document and, in respect of Gibbs and Dandy Shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance will be distributed to Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders within 28 days of the date of this announcement, unless otherwise agreed with the Panel. The Offer and acceptances thereof will be governed by English Law. The Offer will be subject to the applicable requirements of the City Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and other legal and regulatory requirements. The Offer will be subject to the conditions set out in Appendix I to this announcement and to the full terms and conditions to be set out in the Offer Document and, in the case of Gibbs and Dandy Shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance. The bases and sources of certain financial information contained in this announcement are set out in Appendix II to this announcement. Appendix III to this announcement contains details of irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent to accept the Offer. Certain terms used in this announcement are defined in Appendix IV to this announcement. ENQUIRIES: Compagnie de Saint-Gobain Investor Relations Department : Mrs Florence Triou-Teixeira +33 1 47 62 45 19 Mr Alexandre Etuy +33 1 47 62 37 15 Mr Vivien Dardel +33 1 47 62 44 29 Media: Sophie Chevallon +33 1 47 62 30 48 Gleacher Shacklock 020 7484 1150 Kieran Murphy Gibbs and Dandy 01582 798 798 Michael Dandy Amitabh Sharma Panmure Gordon 020 7459 3600 Andrew Godber Andrew Potts Giles Stewart The Paddy Manning Company Paddy Manning 020 7930 0777 Gleacher Shacklock, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting for Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and SGBD and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and SGBD for providing the protections afforded to clients of Gleacher Shacklock nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or to the matters referred to in this announcement. Panmure Gordon, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting for Gibbs and Dandy and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Gibbs and Dandy for providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Gordon nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or to the matters referred to in this announcement. This announcement is not an offer to sell or an invitation or solicitation to purchase any securities. The Offer will be made solely by means of the Offer Document and, in the case of Gibbs and Dandy Shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance. Any acceptance in relation to the Offer should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Offer Document and, in the case of Gibbs and Dandy Shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance. Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders are strongly advised to read carefully the formal documentation in relation to the Offer once it has been despatched. Overseas jurisdictions The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and, therefore, any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable requirements. This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the City Code and the information disclosed in this announcement may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed in it had this announcement been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England. The making of the Offer in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom or to Overseas Shareholders or to nominees of or trustees for Overseas Shareholders may be prohibited or affected by the laws or regulatory requirements of the relevant overseas jurisdictions. Such Overseas Shareholders should inform themselves about and observe any applicable legal requirements of such jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of any Overseas Shareholder wishing to accept the Offer to satisfy himself as to the full observance of the laws and regulatory requirements of the relevant jurisdiction in connection therewith, including the obtaining of any governmental, exchange control or other consents which may be required, compliance with other formalities needing to be observed and the payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes or duties or requisite payments due in such jurisdiction. Any such Overseas Shareholder will be responsible for payment of any such issue, transfer or other taxes, duties or other requisite payments due in such jurisdiction by whomsoever payable, and SGBD and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (and any person acting on the behalf of either of them) shall be entitled to be fully indemnified and held harmless by such Overseas Shareholder for any such issue, transfer or other taxes or duties or other requisite payments as SGBD and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (and any person acting on the behalf of either of them) may be required to pay. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale or purchase in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. The Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national, local or other securities exchange of, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Offer cannot be accepted and will not be capable of acceptance by such use, means, instrumentality or facilities from or within the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into or from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. APPENDIX I Conditions and certain further terms of the Offer The Offer will be subject to the following conditions: 1. valid acceptances being received (and not, where permitted, withdrawn) by not later than 1.00 p.m. on the first closing date of the Offer (or such later time(s) and/or date(s) as SGBD may, subject to the rules of the City Code or with the consent of the Panel, decide) in respect of not less than 90 per cent. (or such lesser percentage as SGBD may decide) of the Gibbs and Dandy Shares to which the Offer relates, provided that this condition will not be satisfied unless SGBD and/or any member of the Saint-Gobain Group shall have acquired or agreed to acquire (whether pursuant to the Offer or otherwise), directly or indirectly, Gibbs and Dandy Shares carrying, in aggregate, over 50 per cent. of the voting rights then exercisable at general meetings of Gibbs and Dandy (including for this purpose, to the extent (if any) required by the Panel, any voting rights attaching to any Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued before the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, whether pursuant to the exercise of conversion or subscription rights or otherwise). For the purposes of this condition: (i) the expression 'Gibbs and Dandy Shares to which the Offer relates' shall be construed in accordance with section 974 to 991 of the Companies Act 2006; (ii) 'valid acceptances' shall be deemed to have been received in respect of Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are treated for the purposes of Section 977(1) or Sections 979(8) to 979(10) of the Companies Act 2006 as having been acquired by SGBD by virtue of acceptances of the Offer; and (iii) Gibbs and Dandy Shares which have been unconditionally allotted but not issued before the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, whether pursuant to the exercise of any outstanding subscription or conversion rights, shall be deemed to carry the voting rights which they will carry on issue; 2. the: 2.1. Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') indicating in terms satisfactory to SGBD (acting reasonably) that it does not believe that the Offer or any part of the Offer creates a relevant merger situation within the meaning of section 23 Enterprise Act 2002 ('Enterprise Act'); or 2.2. OFT indicating in terms satisfactory to SGBD (acting reasonably) that it has decided not to refer the Offer or any part of the Offer to the Competition Commission under section 33 Enterprise Act regardless of whether or not SGBD has offered undertakings in lieu of such a reference, or the statutory period for the making of such a reference having expired without any such reference being made; or 2.3. period for considering any merger notice given to the OFT by SGBD under section 96 Enterprise Act having expired without any such reference being made, provided that section 100 Enterprise Act does not apply in relation to such merger notice; 3. no Relevant Authority having decided to take, institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, reference or enquiry or enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation, rule, decision or order or required any action to be taken or information to be provided or otherwise taken or refrained from having taken any other step or action or done any thing, and there not being outstanding any statute, regulation, rule, decision or order, that, in any such case, would or might reasonably be expected to: 3.1. make the Offer or its implementation or the acquisition or proposed acquisition by SGBD (or any other member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group) of any Gibbs and Dandy Shares or control or management of Gibbs and Dandy or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group void, voidable, unenforceable or illegal in or under the laws of any jurisdiction or otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain, restrict, prohibit or delay, or impose additional or amended conditions or obligations with respect to, or otherwise challenge or interfere with, any of the foregoing; 3.2. require, prevent, delay, restrict or affect the divestiture (or alter the terms of any proposed divestiture) by any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group of all or any part of their respective businesses, assets or properties or impose any limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct or to own, use or operate all or any part of their respective businesses, assets or properties owned by, or the use or operation of which is enjoyed by any of them, in each case which would: 3.2.1. result in any of them ceasing to be able to carry on business; 3.2.2. have a material adverse effect on the wider Saint-Gobain Group or the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group as the case may be; or 3.2.3. result in any of them being restricted in the carrying on of its business, under any name under which it currently does so to an extent that is material in the context of the Gibbs and Dandy Group or the Saint-Gobain Group as the case may be; 3.3. impose any limitation on, or result in any delay in, the ability of any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group to acquire or hold or exercise effectively, directly or indirectly, all or any rights of ownership of shares or other securities (or the equivalent) in any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or to exercise management or voting control over any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group; 3.4. require any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group to acquire, or to offer to acquire, any shares or other securities or indebtedness (or the equivalent) in or of any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any shares or other securities or indebtedness (or the equivalent) in or of, or any asset owned by, any other person, or to dispose of or repay, or to offer to dispose of or repay, any shares or other securities or indebtedness (or the equivalent) in or of, or any asset owned by, any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group; 3.5. impose any material limitation on the ability of any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group to integrate or co-ordinate its business, or any part of it, with any business of any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group; 3.6. result in a material delay in the ability of any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group, or render any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group unable, to acquire all or some of the Gibbs and Dandy Shares or require or prevent a divestiture by any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group of any such shares; or 3.7. otherwise adversely affect materially any or all of the businesses, assets, financial or trading position or profits, prospects or value of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or the exercise of rights over shares of any company in the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group in a manner which is adverse to and material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group as a whole, and all applicable waiting and other time periods during which any Relevant Authority could decide to take, institute, implement or threaten any such action, proceeding, suit, investigation, reference or enquiry or otherwise intervene having expired, lapsed or been terminated; 4. all necessary filings and applications having been made and all statutory or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having been complied with, and all appropriate waiting or other time periods (including any extensions of such periods) under any applicable legislation or regulations of any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been terminated, in each case in connection with the Offer or the acquisition or proposed acquisition of any Gibbs and Dandy Shares, or of control or management of Gibbs and Dandy (or any other member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group) by SGBD (or any other member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group), and all Relevant Authorisations reasonably deemed by SGBD (or any other member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group) to be necessary or appropriate for, or in respect of, the Offer or any acquisition or proposed acquisition of any Gibbs and Dandy Shares, or of control or management of Gibbs and Dandy (or any other member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group), by SGBD (or any other member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group) or to permit or enable SGBD (or any other member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group) to carry on the business of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group having been obtained in terms and in a form satisfactory to SGBD from all appropriate Relevant Authorities and from all appropriate persons, authorities or bodies with whom any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group has entered into contractual arrangements, and all such Relevant Authorisations remaining in full force and effect, and there being no notice or intimation of any intention to revoke, modify, restrict, suspend or not to renew any of them and there being no indication that the renewal costs of any Relevant Authorisation might be materially higher than the renewal costs for the current Relevant Authorisation; 5. save as Disclosed, there being no provision of any Relevant Instrument which, in consequence of the making or implementation of the Offer, the acquisition or proposed acquisition by any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group of any shares in, or any change in the control or management of, Gibbs and Dandy or any other member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group, or otherwise, provides for, or will or might reasonably be expected to result in, to an extent which is material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group in each case, any of the following: 5.1. any monies borrowed by, or other indebtedness, actual or contingent, of, or grant available to, any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group being or becoming or is capable of being declared repayable immediately or earlier than its stated maturity date or the ability of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group to borrow monies or incur indebtedness being withdrawn, inhibited or adversely affected or is capable of being withdrawn, inhibited or adversely affected to the extent that it is material; 5.2. the creation or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or other security interest over the whole or any part of the business, property, assets or interests of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any such security (whenever created, arising or having arisen) becoming enforceable or being enforced; 5.3. any right, interest, liability, obligation or business of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group under such Relevant Instrument (or any related arrangement) being terminated or adversely modified or affected, or any onerous action being taken or obligation arising under such Relevant Instrument to an extent that it is material; 5.4. the value of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group, or the business, assets, financial or trading position or prospects of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group being prejudiced or adversely affected; 5.5. any asset or right (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) or interest of, or any asset or right the use or operation of which is enjoyed by, any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group being or falling to be disposed of other than in the ordinary course of business, or charged, or ceasing to be available to any such member, or any right arising under which any such asset or interest or such right will or could reasonably expected to be required to be disposed of or charged, or will or could cease to be so available; 5.6. the interest or business of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group in or with any company, firm, body or person, or any arrangements relating to any such interest or business, being terminated or adversely modified or affected; 5.7. any change or effect on ownership or use of any intellectual property rights owned or used by any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group; 5.8. any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group being required to acquire, or to offer to acquire, any shares or other securities or indebtedness (or the equivalent) in or of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any shares or other securities or indebtedness (or the equivalent) in or of, or any asset owned by, any other person or to dispose of or repay, or to offer to dispose of or repay, any shares or other securities or indebtedness (or the equivalent) in or of, or any asset owned by, any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group, and no event having occurred which, under any provision of any Relevant Instrument, would or could reasonably be expected to result in any of the events or circumstances referred to in sub-paragraphs 5.1 to 5.8 (inclusive); 6. save as Disclosed, since 31 December 2007 (being the date to which the latest published audited report and accounts of Gibbs and Dandy were made up), no member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group having: 6.1. made any alteration to its memorandum or articles of association or other constitutional document which is or could reasonably be considered to be material; 6.2. recommended, declared, paid or made, or proposed the recommendation, declaration, paying or making of, any dividend, bonus issue or other distribution, whether in cash or otherwise (other than to Gibbs and Dandy or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gibbs and Dandy); 6.3. issued or agreed to issue, or authorised or proposed the issue of, additional shares of any class, or of securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares, or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or acquire, any such shares or securities or any loan capital (other than issues to Gibbs and Dandy or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gibbs and Dandy, and save for Gibbs and Dandy Shares allotted on the exercise of any options granted under the Gibbs and Dandy Share Option Scheme) or redeemed, purchased, repaid or reduced, or authorised or proposed the redemption, purchase, repayment or reduction of, or other material change to, any part of its share capital or any other securities; 6.4. (other than to Gibbs and Dandy or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gibbs and Dandy) issued, authorised or proposed the issue of any debentures or securities or incurred or, save in the ordinary course of business, incurred or increased any indebtedness or liability, actual or contingent; 6.5. entered into, varied, implemented, or authorised, proposed or announced its intention to enter into, vary or implement, any contract, scheme, transaction, commitment or other arrangement which is, will or would reasonably be expected to be restrictive on the business of any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or which involves or will or would reasonably be expected to involve an obligation of a loss making, long term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude; 6.6. authorised, proposed or effected or announced its intention to propose any merger, demerger, reconstruction or amalgamation, or any acquisition or disposal or transfer of, or the creation of any mortgage, charge or security interest or other encumbrance in respect of, any asset or any right, title or interest in any share or asset (other than in the ordinary course of trading); 6.7. entered into, or varied (other than in respect of increases in remuneration required under the terms of the relevant agreement) the terms of, any service contract or agreement or other arrangement with any of the directors, senior executives or senior employees of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group; 6.8. entered into, varied or terminated, or authorised the entry into, variation or termination of, any contract, commitment or arrangement (whether in respect of capital expenditure or otherwise) which is outside the ordinary course of business or which is of a long term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude which is, in any said case, material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group; 6.9. been unable, or threatened in writing that it is unable, to pay its debts or having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its debts generally or a substantial part thereof or ceased or threatened to cease carrying on all or a substantial part of its business; 6.10.taken or proposed any action or had any proceedings instituted, threatened or proposed for its winding-up (voluntarily or otherwise), dissolution, striking off or reorganisation (or for any analogous proceedings or steps in any jurisdiction) (save for any such winding-up or dissolution whilst solvent) or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar or analogous officer of all or any of its assets or revenues or for any similar or analogous matters in any jurisdiction; 6.11.waived or compromised any claim or authorised any such waiver or compromise, (other than in the ordinary course of business) which in any case is material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole; 6.12.(other than in the ordinary course of business) granted any lease or third party rights in respect of any of the leasehold property or freehold property owned or occupied by it or otherwise disposed of any such property to an extent which is material in the context of the Offer or the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole; or 6.13.agreed to enter into or entered into any commitment, agreement or arrangement, or passed any resolution or made any offer (which remains open for acceptances), with respect to, or announced an intention to effect or to propose, any of the transactions, matters or events referred to in this paragraph 6; 7. save as Disclosed, since 31 December 2007 (being the date to which the latest published audited report and accounts of Gibbs and Dandy were made up): 7.1. no adverse change or deterioration having occurred in the business, assets, financial or trading position or profits, prospects or value of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group which is material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole; 7.2. no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal proceedings having been threatened, announced, instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in respect of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or to which any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group is a party (whether as a claimant, defendant or otherwise), and no investigation or enquiry by, or complaint or reference to, any Relevant Authority against or in respect of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group, having been instituted, announced or threatened or remaining outstanding by, against or in respect of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group which is or would reasonably be expected to be material and adverse in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole; 7.3. no steps having been taken which will result in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or adverse modification of any licence or permit held by any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group which is or would reasonably be expected to be material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole; 7.4. no contingent or other liability having arisen or increased or become apparent to SGBD which would be likely adversely to affect any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group which is material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole; and 7.5. there having been no material adverse change or deterioration in the business, operation, assets, financial or trading position or profits of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group or any event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to result in any such adverse change, in each case to an extent which is material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole. 8. save as Disclosed, SGBD not having discovered: 8.1. that any financial, business or other information concerning the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group which is material in the context of the acquisition of Gibbs and Dandy as contained in the information publicly disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group, or disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group in writing in connection with the Offer to any member of the wider Saint-Gobain Group or its agents or advisers, is misleading in any material respect or contains a material misrepresentation of fact or omits to state a fact necessary to make the information contained therein not materially misleading in each case to an extent which is material in the context of the Offer; 8.2. any information which materially affects the import of any such information as is mentioned in sub-paragraph 8.1; 9. save as Disclosed, SGBD not having discovered any of the following matters: 9.1. that there has been any release, emission, disposal, spillage or leak of any hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair the environment or harm human health on or about or from any property or water now or previously owned, occupied, used or controlled by any past or present member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group and, in any such case, will or would be likely to give rise to any liability (whether actual or contingent) or cost on the part of any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group which is or is reasonably likely to be material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group taken as a whole; or 9.2. that there is, or is likely to be, any obligation or liability (actual or contingent) on any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group to make good, repair, reinstate or clean up any property or water now or previously owned, occupied, operated or used or controlled by any past or present member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group under any environmental legislation, regulation, notice, circular, order or requirement of any Relevant Authority at a cost which is reasonably likely to be material in the context of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group as a whole. In the foregoing conditions the following definitions shall apply: (i) 'Data Room' means the Project Normandy documents and information made available to SGBD by Gibbs and Dandy by way of an on-line data room facility provided by Intralinks; (ii) 'Disclosed' means either: (a) expressly contained in Gibbs and Dandy's published report and accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2007; (b) expressly disclosed in any other public announcement made by Gibbs and Dandy via a Regulatory Information Service in the period commencing on 31 December 2007 and ending on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of the Announcement; or (c) fairly disclosed in the documents and information contained in the Data Room or otherwise fairly disclosed in writing to SGBD by or on behalf of Gibbs and Dandy in connection with the Offer, in each case on or prior to the date being one Business Day prior to the date of the Announcement; (iii) 'Relevant Authority' means any government, government department or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory or regulatory body, agency or authority, or any court, tribunal, institution, investigative body, association, trade agency or professional or environmental body or (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) any other person or body, in each case in any jurisdiction; (iv) 'Relevant Authorisation' means an authorisation, order, grant, recognition, confirmation, determination, consent, licence, clearance, permission, allowance or approval; (v) 'Relevant Instrument' means any agreement, arrangement, licence, permit, lease or other instrument or obligation to which any member of the wider Gibbs and Dandy Group is a party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets is or may be bound, entitled or subject; (vi) 'substantial interest' means, in relation to an undertaking, an interest, direct or indirect, in 20 per cent. or more of the voting rights exercisable in relation to the undertaking or in the capital or of any class of capital of such undertaking; (vii) 'wider Gibbs and Dandy Group' means together Gibbs and Dandy and all of its subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings and any other undertakings in which Gibbs and Dandy and such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a substantial interest; and (viii) 'wider Saint-Gobain Group' means together Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and all of its subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings and any other undertakings in which Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a substantial interest. Subject to the requirements of the Panel, SGBD will reserve the right to waive all or any of the above conditions in whole or in part, except the conditions set out in paragraph 1 above. SGBD shall be under no obligation to waive or treat as satisfied any of the other conditions by a date earlier than the latest date specified below for the satisfaction thereof (or, if no such date is specified, the date when the Offer, if such be the case, shall become or be declared unconditional in all respects) notwithstanding that the other conditions of the Offer may, at an earlier date, have been waived or fulfilled and that there are, at such earlier date, no circumstances indicating that any of such conditions may not be capable of fulfilment. The Offer will lapse unless the conditions set out above (other than the condition set out in paragraph 1 above) are fulfilled or (if capable of waiver) waived or, where appropriate, have been determined by SGBD to be or to remain satisfied no later than midnight on the twenty first day after the later of the first closing date of the Offer and the date on which the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, or such later date as the Panel may agree. The Offer will lapse if the proposed acquisition of Gibbs and Dandy is referred to the Competition Commission or if the European Commission either initiates proceedings under Article 6(1)(c) of the ECMR or makes referral to a competent authority of the United Kingdom under Article 9(1) of the ECMR before 3.00pm on the first closing date or the time and date on which the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances (whichever is the later). If SGBD is required by the Panel to make an offer for Gibbs and Dandy Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the City Code, SGBD may make such alterations to any of the conditions (including, without limitation, the condition set out in paragraph 1 above) or any of the terms of the Offer as are necessary to comply with the provisions of that Rule. The Offer will be on terms and will be subject, inter alia, to the conditions which are set out in this Appendix and those terms which will be set out in the formal Offer Document and Form of Acceptance and such further terms as may be required to comply with the provisions of the Code. The Offer and any acceptances thereunder will be governed by the laws of England. APPENDIX II BASES AND SOURCES AND OTHER INFORMATION 1. The value placed by the Offer on the existing issued share capital of Gibbs and Dandy (approximately £43.0 million) is based on 10,119,820 Gibbs and Dandy Shares in issue on 6 May 2008, the last Business Day prior to the date of this announcement. 2. Unless otherwise stated: (i) financial information relating to Gibbs and Dandy has been extracted or provided (without material adjustment) from Gibbs and Dandy's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007; and (ii) financial information relating to Compagnie de Saint-Gobain has been extracted or provided (without material adjustment) from Compagnie de Saint-Gobain's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007. 3. All prices for Gibbs and Dandy Shares have been derived from the Daily Official List and represent the Closing Price on the relevant date. APPENDIX III IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS Irrevocable undertakings to accept, or procure acceptance of, the Offer have been given to SGBD by the Gibbs and Dandy Directors and certain persons connected with them in respect of the following holdings of Gibbs and Dandy Shares: Name of Director Number of Gibbs and Dandy Shares Robert Michael Dandy 455,761 Christopher Edward Roshier 2,000 Guy William Bouchaert Naylor 125,671 John Christopher Castle 8,500 Total 591,932 The 125,671 Gibbs and Dandy Shares in respect of which G.W.B. Naylor has entered into an irrevocable undertaking include 108,926 Gibbs and Dandy Shares in his own name, 8,418 Gibbs and Dandy Shares held by Pershing Keen Nominees (as nominee for G.W.B Naylor), and, a further 8,327 Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are held by Pershing Keen Nominees (as nominee for B.E.M. Naylor). The 8,500 Gibbs and Dandy Shares in respect of which John Christopher Castle has entered into irrevocable undertaking include 6,000 Gibbs and Dandy Shares held by Hargreaves Lansdown Nominees (as nominee for John Christopher Castle), and, a further 2,500 Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are held by Hargreaves Lansdown Nominees (as nominee for Susan Anne Castle). These undertakings remain binding in the event of a competing offer being made for Gibbs and Dandy unless the Offer lapses or is withdrawn. Irrevocable undertakings to accept, or procure acceptance of, the Offer have also been given to SGBD by the following persons in respect of the holdings of Gibbs and Dandy Shares set opposite their names: Name Number of Gibbs and Dandy Shares John Dandy 12,217 Angela June Dandy 5,034 Matthew Wakefield and Robert Michael Dandy 46,575 Peter John Dandy 24,000 Eleanor Mary Dandy 24,000 Elizabeth Foster 256,309 Elizabeth Foster and Matthew Wakefield 57,134 Robert Michael Dandy, Elizabeth Foster and Michael John Holloway 121,970 Elizabeth Foster, Robert Michael Dandy and Michael John Holloway 121,970 Stephen Collins 78,867 Total 748,076 Further irrevocable undertakings to accept, or procure the acceptance of, the Offer have been given to SGBD as follows: Name Number of Gibbs and Dandy Shares New River Holdings Limited 801,150 Howard M. Jones 523,582 Total 1,324,732 The 523,582 Gibbs and Dandy Shares in respect of which Howard M. Jones has entered into an irrevocable undertakings include 204,815 Gibbs and Dandy Shares held by St. Anns Square Nominees Limited (as nominee for Howard M. Jones), 173,901 Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are held by St. Anns Square Nominees Limited (as nominee for Rosalind Anne Jones), 116,859 Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are held by Rosalind Anne Jones, 10,707 Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are held by Howard M. Jones in his own name (on behalf of Philip S. H. Jones), 10,000 Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are held by Naomi Claire Jones, and a further 7,300 Gibbs and Dandy Shares which are held by Oliver L. Jones. These undertakings will cease to be binding in the event of (i) a competing offer being made for the entire issued or to be issued ordinary share capital of Gibbs and Dandy where the cash consideration of such an offer has a value equal to or greater than 440 pence per share as at the date on which such competing offer is announced or (ii) the Offer lapsing or being withdrawn. In addition, SGBD has also received a non-binding letter of intent under which the following Gibbs and Dandy Shareholder has confirmed that it is its current intention to accept the Offer: Name Number of Gibbs and Dandy Shares Montanaro Investment Managers 150,144 Total 150,144 APPENDIX IV DEFINITIONS The following definitions apply throughout this announcement unless the context requires otherwise. 'acting in concert' has the meaning given by the City Code; 'Announcement' this announcement made under Rule 2.5 of the City Code on 7 May 2008 regarding the proposed acquisition by SGBD of Gibbs and Dandy by means of the Offer; 'Board' or 'Boards' as the context requires, the board of directors of Gibbs and Dandy and/or the board of directors of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Limited and the terms 'Gibbs and Dandy Board' and 'SGBD Board' shall be construed accordingly; 'Business Day' a day, not being a public holiday, Saturday or Sunday, on which clearing banks in the City of London are open for normal business; 'Canada' Canada, its provinces and territories and all areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political sub-division thereof; 'certificated' or 'in a share or other security title to which is recorded in the relevant certificated form' register of the share or other security as being held in certificated form and which is not in uncertificated form (that is not in CREST); 'Closing Price' the closing middle market quotation of a Gibbs and Dandy Share on a particular day, as derived from the Daily Official List or the London Stock Exchange's website; 'Code' or 'City Code' the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers; 'Daily Official List' the Daily Official List published by the London Stock Exchange; 'ECMR' European Community Merger Regulation Council Regulation No. 139/2004; 'Form of Acceptance' the form of acceptance and authority relating to the Offer which, in relation to Gibbs and Dandy Shares, held in certificated form, will accompany the Offer Document; 'FSA' Financial Services Authority; 'Gleacher Shacklock' Gleacher Shacklock LLP; 'Gibbs and Dandy' Gibbs and Dandy plc; 'Gibbs and Dandy Directors' the directors of Gibbs and Dandy; 'the Gibbs and Dandy Group' Gibbs and Dandy and its subsidiary undertakings; 'Gibbs and Dandy Shareholder the holders of Gibbs and Dandy Shares; (s)' 'Gibbs and Dandy Shares' the existing issued or unconditionally allotted and fully paid (or credited as fully paid) ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the capital of Gibbs and Dandy and any further ordinary shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued fully paid (or credited as fully paid) before the date on which the Offer ceases to be open for acceptance (or, subject to the City Code or with the consent of the Panel, by such other date as SGBD may decide); 'Japan' Japan, its cities and prefectures, its possessions and territories and all areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political sub-division thereof; 'London Stock Exchange' London Stock Exchange plc, or its successor; 'Offer' the recommended cash offer proposed to be made by SGBD to acquire all of the issued and to be issued Gibbs and Dandy Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Offer Document and, in relation to Gibbs and Dandy Shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance (including, where the context so requires, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal of such offer); 'Offer Document' the formal document to be despatched to Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders containing and setting out the terms and conditions of the Offer; 'Offer Period' the period commencing on 15 February 2008 until whichever of the following dates shall be the latest (i) the first closing date of the Offer; and (ii) the earlier of (a) the date and time at which the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances; or (b) the date and time at which the Offer lapses or is withdrawn; 'Offer Price' 425 pence per Gibbs and Dandy Share; 'Official List' the Official List of the UKLA; 'overseas person' any person who is not resident in the United Kingdom, or who is a citizen, resident or national of a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom, or who is a nominee of, or custodian or trustee for, any citizen(s), resident(s) or national(s) of any country other than the United Kingdom; 'Overseas Shareholder' a Gibbs and Dandy Shareholder who is an overseas person; 'Panel' the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers; 'Panmure Gordon' Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited; 'Regulatory Information any information service authorised from time to time by the FSA for the Service' purpose of disseminating regulatory announcements; 'relevant securities' as defined by the City Code; 'Restricted Jurisdiction' any jurisdiction where local law or regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory or criminal exposure or prosecution if information concerning the Offer is sent or made available to Gibbs and Dandy Shareholders in that jurisdiction; 'SGBD' Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, registered in England & Wales with number 1647362; 'Saint-Gobain Group' Compagnie de Saint-Gobain and its subsidiary undertakings 'subsidiary', 'subsidiary shall be construed in accordance with the Companies Act 1985; undertaking', 'associated undertaking' or 'undertaking' 'UKLA' the FSA acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purpose of Part VI Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; 'uncertificated' or 'in a share or other security title to which is recorded on the relevant uncertificated form' register of the share or security concerned as being held in uncertificated form in CREST, and title to which, by virtue of the CREST Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST; 'United Kingdom' or 'UK' the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its dependent territories; 'United States of America' or the United States of America, its possessions and territories, all areas 'United States' or 'US' subject to its jurisdiction or any political sub-division thereof, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia. In this announcement: a. references to £ or pounds and p or pence are to pounds sterling and pence being the lawful currency of the United Kingdom; b. references to time are to London time; and c. all references to statutes or other forms of legislation are, unless otherwise stated, to statutes or forms of legislation of the United Kingdom and any reference to any provision of any legislation includes any amendment, modification, re-enactment or extension thereof. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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