Vallourec continues to implement its
strategic plan with the arrival of ArcelorMittal,
new reference shareholder
Meudon (France), March
12th, 2024, Vallourec, a
world leader in premium tubular solutions, announces today that
ArcelorMittal has reached an agreement to purchase Apollo’s stake
in Vallourec (65,243,206 shares) representing 28,4% of the voting
rights and 27,5% of the share capital, at a price of €14,64 per
share, for a total purchase price of €955 million. This marks the
final step of the financial restructuring of Vallourec that was
initiated in 2021, when Apollo became Vallourec’s reference
shareholder. This new investment by a world-class industrial player
speaks to the breadth of the operational turnaround executed since
that time, as well as the robust outlook for the premium seamless
tubes business over the coming years.
Vallourec welcomes the transition in reference
shareholder from Apollo, the leader of Vallourec’s successful
financial restructuring, to ArcelorMittal, a global steel industry
player. ArcelorMittal is a world leader in steelmaking and mining,
present in 60 countries and with primary steel production
facilities in 15 countries. We are pleased with ArcelorMittal’s
confidence in Vallourec's new trajectory and success in executing a
substantial strategic shift. It also represents a long-term
commitment, as ArcelorMittal shares with Vallourec a common
industrial vision and complementary, world-renowned expertise.
ArcelorMittal will hold 28,4% of the voting rights and 27,5% of the
share capital of the Company following the closing of the
transaction.
This transaction was made possible by the New
Vallourec plan, which was announced in May 2022 with the arrival of
Philippe Guillemot as CEO. The New Vallourec plan, endorsed by
Apollo since Philippe Guillemot’s arrival, has transformed the
Group into a focused, streamlined, and resilient company with a
promising future. Vallourec’s 2023 earnings were the best Group
results in nearly 15 years, and the Group has reduced its net debt
by more than €900 million versus third quarter 2022 peak. Vallourec
remains on track to reach zero net debt by the end of 2025 at the
latest and is undertaking several initiatives to continue to
deliver enhanced shareholder value over the coming years. Vallourec
further reiterates its outlook given in its Fourth Quarter and Full
Year 2023 Results press release. Based on current market conditions
and management’s assumptions, Vallourec expects that Group EBITDA
in the first half of 2024 will be broadly similar to second half
2023 EBITDA. For the full year, Vallourec anticipates strong EBITDA
generation due to robust Tubes pricing in backlog and operational
improvement. In keeping with prior years’ financial communication,
Vallourec has not provided a quantitative full-year EBITDA outlook
and expects it will provide such an outlook during the
communication of its first half results.
The completion of the acquisition is expected to
close in the second half of the year, after obtaining the relevant
regulatory approvals. Such acquisition will not entail a change of
control of Vallourec and ArcelorMittal does not intend to launch a
voluntary tender offer for Vallourec’s remaining shares over the
next six months. Vallourec and ArcelorMittal will enter into
discussions for a shareholders' agreement which will contain
customary provisions for such type of transaction, with 2 board
seats for ArcelorMittal upon closing of the acquisition (subject to
negotiations). In accordance with applicable law, the main terms of
the shareholders' agreement will be made publicly available in due
course.
Philippe Guillemot, Chairman of the
Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer,
declared:
“I would like to thank Apollo, for its decisive
action during Vallourec’s financial restructuring and its unfailing
support in Vallourec’s financial and industrial turnaround that I
initiated when I took over the helm of the Company two years ago.
With Apollo’s help, we have fundamentally changed the operational
and financial structure of Vallourec, and are now well-positioned
to carry this momentum into the future. ArcelorMittal is a natural
shareholder for Vallourec, and we are excited for the contributions
it will bring to our Company. We share a passion for the global
steel industry and share a common vision of its future. With this
transaction, we transition from a world-class financial partner to
a world-class industrial partner. I look forward to leading this
magnificent group and continuing to realize the full potential of
our premier industrial base.”
Information and Forward-Looking Statements
This press release
includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology, including the terms as “believe”, “expect”,
“anticipate”, “may”, “assume”, “plan”, “intend”, “will”, “should”,
“estimate”, “risk” and or, in each case, their negative, or other
variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking
statements include all matters that are not historical facts and
include statements regarding the Company’s intentions, beliefs or
current expectations concerning, among other things, Vallourec’s
results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects,
growth, strategies and the industries in which they operate.
Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and that Vallourec’s or any of its
affiliates’ actual results of operations, financial condition and
liquidity, and the development of the industries in which they
operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by
the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. In
addition, even if Vallourec’s or any of its affiliates’ results of
operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development
of the industries in which they operate are consistent with the
forward-looking statements contained in this presentation, those
results or developments may not be indicative of results or
developments in subsequent periods. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because
they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may
not occur in the future. These risks include those developed or
identified in the public documents filed by Vallourec with the
French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des marches
financiers, or “AMF”), including those listed in the “Risk Factors”
section of the Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF
on April 17, 2023, under filing number n° D.23-0293.Accordingly,
readers of this document are cautioned against relying on these
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
made as of the date of this document. Vallourec disclaims any
intention or obligation to complete, update or revise these
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws
and regulations. This press release does not constitute any offer
to purchase or exchange, nor any solicitation of an offer to sell
or exchange securities of Vallourec. or further information, please
refer to the website https://www.vallourec.com/en
About Vallourec
Vallourec is a world
leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for
demanding industrial applications such as oil & gas wells in
harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging
architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment.
Vallourec’s pioneering spirit and cutting edge R&D open new
technological frontiers. With close to 15,000 dedicated and
passionate employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works
hand-in-hand with its customers to offer more than just tubes:
Vallourec delivers innovative, safe, competitive and smart tubular
solutions, to make every project possible.
Listed on Euronext in
Paris (ISIN code: FR0013506730, Ticker VK), Vallourec is part of
the CAC Mid 60, SBF 120 and Next 150 indices and is eligible for
Deferred Settlement Service.
In the United States,
Vallourec has established a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary
Receipt (ADR) program (ISIN code: US92023R4074, Ticker: VLOWY).
Parity between ADR and a Vallourec ordinary share has been set at
5:1.
For further information, please contact:
Investor relations Connor LynaghTel: +1 (713)
409-7842connor.lynagh@vallourec.com |
Press relations Taddeo – Romain GrièreTel: +33
(0)7 86 53 17 29 romain.griere@taddeo.fr
|
Individual shareholdersToll Free Number (from
France): 0 805 65 10 10 actionnaires@vallourec.com |
|
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