Regulatory News:
Caisse des Dépôts and Veolia Environnement (Paris:VIE) announced today
that a new step had been reached in their discussions regarding the
merger of their subsidiaries, Transdev and Veolia Transport, to create a
worldwide leader in passenger transportation and mobility.
Following the completion of standard due diligence investigations and on
the basis of homogeneous multi-criteria valuation methods, Caisse des
Dépôts and Veolia Environnement have reached a framework agreement for
the merger, which covers the financial structure of the new group. This
framework agreement will be presented to the relevant administrative
authorities and corporate bodies of the parties, and to the relevant
employee representative bodies for the purpose of their information and
consultation.
RATP has confirmed that, prior to the merger of Veolia Transport and
Transdev, it would exchange its 25.6% stake in Transdev for certain
French and international assets of Transdev and Veolia Transport, for a
total value equal to that of its stake, and in accordance with the
industrial project of the new entity. RATP, Caisse des Dépôts and Veolia
Environnement will continue their discussions relating to the assets to
be transferred to RATP, it being specified that they are confident in
their ability to rapidly reach an agreement on this point. This
framework agreement will be presented to their relevant administrative
authorities and corporate bodies and to relevant employee representative
bodies for the purpose of their information and consultation.
Based on the foregoing, Caisse des Dépôts and Veolia Environnement have
decided to extend the exclusivity period for their discussions toward
the conclusion of definitive agreements.
The merger of Veolia Transport and Transdev would be carried out by way
of contribution of Veolia Transport and Transdev to a new entity,
initially called Veolia-Transdev, held by Veolia Environnement (50%),
acting as the industrial operator of the new group so as to retain
transportation as a key component of its environmental services, and by
Caisse des Dépôts (50%), acting as long-term strategic shareholder.
Prior to the completion of the transaction, Caisse des Dépôts would
subscribe to a capital increase of Transdev of €200m.
The new group would then be listed through a capital increase, as soon
as market conditions permit.
The new group would rank among world leaders in passenger transportation
and mobility, with revenues of c. €8bn, and a workforce of over 120,000.
It would have an outstanding geographic complementary fit in France,
Europe and the rest of the world, with expertise in all transport means.
The new group’s positioning should enable it to generate major
development synergies. Additionally, the new group would benefit from
the strengths of its two main shareholders.
Through this transaction, RATP would become the third largest French
player in urban transportation (excluding the greater Paris region) and
would substantially strengthen its European footprint. It would thus
pursue the implementation of its industrial project and increase its
ability to continue its development by leveraging its know-how.
Once completed, the merger of Transdev and Veolia Transport would be
subject to a decision by the Directeur Général of Caisse des Dépôts,
after consultation with the Investment Committee of Caisse des Dépôts’
Supervisory Board, and by the Board of Directors of Veolia Environnement.
The transaction will be subject to governmental authorisation upon
clearance by the French Commission des Participations et des Transferts.
It will also be subject to prior authorisation by antitrust authorities.
It is important to note that no agreement has been reached by the
parties at this stage and that discussions will continue following the
information and consultation of relevant employee representative bodies.
Veolia Environnement shall inform the markets of further developments in
accordance with applicable regulations.
Important Disclaimer
Veolia Environnement is a corporation listed on the NYSE and Euronext
Paris. This press release contains "forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees
of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the
forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not
limited to: the risk of suffering reduced profits or losses as a result
of intense competition, the risk that changes in energy prices and taxes
may reduce Veolia Environnement’s profits, the risk that governmental
authorities could terminate or modify some of Veolia Environnement’s
contracts, the risk that combinations may not provide the benefits that
Veolia Environnement hopes to achieve, the risk that Veolia
Environnement’s compliance with environmental laws may become more
costly in the future, the risk that currency exchange rate fluctuations
may negatively affect Veolia Environnement’s financial results and the
price of its shares, the risk that Veolia Environnement may incur
environmental liability in connection with its past, present and future
operations, as well as the risks described in the documents Veolia
Environnement has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. Veolia Environnement does not undertake, nor does it have,
any obligation to provide updates or to revise any forward-looking
statements. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of
documents filed by Veolia Environnement with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission from Veolia Environnement.
Press release also available on our web site: http://www.veolia-finance.com
Appendix
Key financials of Veolia Transport and Transdev
Veolia Transport
|
Millions of €
|
|
2008
|
|
H1 2008
|
|
H1 2009
|
|
Revenues
|
|
5,867
|
|
2,887
|
|
2,973
|
|
Cash flows from operations
|
|
290
|
|
142
|
|
160
|
|
Recurring EBIT
|
|
132
|
|
62
|
|
78
|
Note: The Financial statements for 2008 and H1 2008 were adjusted for
the Fret activity in order to facilitate a comparison of the periods.
On December 31 2008, Veolia Transport’s net financial debt stood at
€1594m.
Transdev
|
Millions of €
|
|
2008
|
|
H1 2008
|
|
H1 2009
|
|
Revenues
|
|
2,271
|
|
1,121
|
|
1,259
|
|
Cash flows from operations
|
|
130
|
|
71
|
|
120
|
|
EBIT
|
|
47
|
|
29
|
|
60
|
Note: Figures are before RATP‘s exit
On December 31 2008, Transdev’s net financial debt stood at €415m
(excluding debt relating to the €125m put option held by minority
shareholders).