Meridiam, Global Infrastructure Partners and Caisse des Dépôts Group with CNP Assurances (the “Consortium”) submitted a binding contractual commitment to purchase the new SUEZ, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Suez and Veolia on 29 June 2021
Paris, June 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Consortium of investors composed of Meridiam and Global Infrastructure Partners, each with a 40% stake, and the Caisse des Dépôts Group with CNP Assurances, with a 20% stake (including 8% for CNP Assurances)1 submitted a binding final offer to Suez and Veolia to purchase the “new SUEZ” on 29 June 2021. This offer has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Suez and Veolia on this day, with an agreement signed with the Consortium. The transaction remains subject to certain conditions, including approval from Suez shareholders and the receipt of required regulatory approvals.
The offer confirms the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on May 14, 2021 between Suez, Veolia and the Consortium, including notably:
• The perimeter of assets, companies and activities that will be acquired by the Consortium to form the new SUEZ. The scope notably consists of all water and waste management activities of Suez in France including R&D activities, construction (TI) activities, Suez’s water activities in Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, Africa, Central Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Asia (including municipal and industrial water activities in Shanghai and Macao)
• The next steps in the reorganization process leading up to the sale of the new SUEZ perimeter to the consortium
• Social commitments of 5 years
• The objective for employees to reach 10% of the share capital within 5-7 years
• Enterprise Value of the new SUEZ coherent with the valuation of the Suez Group implied by the €20.50 per share offer, with coupon attached, for the Suez shares not yet held by Veolia
The new SUEZ will be a major player in environmental services with annual revenues of nearly €7 billion and strong growth prospects and development capabilities both in France and internationally. It will benefit from a robust industrial and technological foundation, supported by a stable, long-term shareholder base. With a track record of operational excellence and a strong management team, the new SUEZ will continue to deliver the best quality of service to its end customers.
Thierry Déau, President and Founder of Meridiam, said: “This agreement represents a new step in the construction of the new SUEZ. Under the signed agreements, the company will benefit from expert and recognized employees and strategic positions at the forefront of the water and waste management sector in France and worldwide. But our ambition for this new SUEZ, with all our partners, does not 1 Ownership splits before including employees’ ownership stake in new SUEZ share capital stop there, it is clear and strong: to strengthen the presence and leadership of Suez in France and internationally, increase investment in innovative solutions, R&D, and key high-growth sectors, and remain best-in-class in terms of social and environmental impact and responsibility”.
Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and Managing Partner of GIP, said: “GIP is excited to have partnered with Meridiam, CDC Group and CNP Assurances to reach this important milestone of submitting a final and binding offer for the creation and acquisition of a new SUEZ. As an experienced, long term infrastructure investor with a strong operational focus, we believe that GIP is the ideal partner for the company going forward. GIP, together with its partners, will provide a stable shareholder base, is committed to investing in the new SUEZ to maintain its leading position in the environmental services sector and to support its growth and development objectives both in France and internationally, for the benefit of all its stakeholders. With strong alignment between shareholders, a world-class management team and market-leading technology, we believe new SUEZ is well-positioned for longterm success and to play a leading role as a socially responsible global business.”
Eric Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of Caisse des Dépôts Group, said: “This agreement demonstrates that Caisse des Dépôts Group is more than ever committed to supporting local and regional development. We fully intend to reaffirm our determination to build an agile, innovative group, led by top-notch teams. This investment complements CDC’s rich history of investing in energy networks. We will now fully play our part in water networks and waste management by accompanying the company’s development with all its employees, over the long term and with respect for the environment”.
Stéphane Dedeyan, Chief Executive Officer of CNP Assurances, said: “As a leading player in the French personal insurance market and a major investor in infrastructure in France, we are pleased to be involved in supporting the creation and development of the new SUEZ for the benefit of the environment and society as a whole. In partnership with Caisse des Dépôts, we intend to fully participate in the development of water distribution and waste management networks, as part of CNP Assurances’ strategy of being a responsible, long-term investor”.
Subject to obtaining the required regulatory approvals, the sale of new SUEZ to the Consortium is planned to close simultaneous with Veolia’s public offer in late 2021.
About Meridiam
Meridiam was founded in 2005 by Thierry Déau, with the belief that the alignment of interests between the public and private sector can provide critical solutions to the collective needs of communities. Meridiam is an independent investment Benefit Corporation under French law and an asset manager. The firm specializes in the development, financing, and long-term management of sustainable public infrastructure in three core sectors: mobility, energy transition and environment, and social infrastructure. With offices in, Addis Ababa, Amman, Dakar, Istanbul, New York, Luxembourg, Paris, Toronto and Vienna, Meridiam currently manages US$10 billion and more than 90 projects and assets to date. Meridiam is certified ISO 9001: 2015, Advanced Sustainability Rating by VigeoEiris (Moody’s) and applies a proprietary methodology in relation to ESG and impact based on United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information, visit www.meridiam.com
Meridiam Meridiam Meridiam Contact: Antoine Lenoir – +33 6 07 50 75 85 – +33 1 53 34 96 92 – a.lenoir@meridiam.com
About GIP
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is an independent fund manager and a global leader in infrastructure investments. Founded in 2006, GIP’s teams are located in 10 offices globally and invest in the energy, transport and environmental services sectors. GIP manages approximately $75 billion on behalf of more than 400 institutional investors, including many renowned European and French institutions. GIP has invested over $18 billion in European companies to date. GIP’s investment approach is founded on the combination of its industrial expertise and best-in-class management practices. GIP focuses its efforts on reliability, safety, quality of service, growth investments and operational excellence, notably through innovation and technology. Water and environmental services are one of the pillars of GIP’s expertise. GIP adheres to the highest standards of responsible investment and is notably a signatory of the “Principles for Responsible Investment” promoted by the United Nations and also a founding member of the “One Planet Sovereign Wealth Funds” initiative. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com
Contact: Charlotte L’Hélias – +33 6 11 85 14 80 – +33 1 57 97 79 04 – charlotte.lhelias@teneo.com
Pen Pendleton – 914-364-8024 – ppendleton@clpstrategies.com
About the Caisse des Dépôts Group
Caisse des Dépôts and its subsidiaries form a public long-term investor group serving the general interest and economic development of local areas. It combines five areas of expertise: pensions and professional training, asset management, monitoring subsidiaries and strategic shareholdings, business financing (with Bpifrance) and Banque des Territoires.
For more information, visit www.caissedesdepots.fr
Contact: Alexis Nugues – +33 6 81 55 59 24 – +33 1 58 50 31 93 – alexis.nugues@caissedesdepots.
About CNP Assurances
A leading player in the French personal insurance market, CNP Assurances operates in 19 countries in Europe, notably in Italy, and in Latin America, where it is very active in Brazil, its second largest market. As an insurance, coinsurance, and reinsurance provider, CNP Assurances designs innovative personal risk/protection and savings/retirement solutions. The company has more than 36 million insured in personal risk/protection insurance worldwide and more than 12 million in savings/retirement. In accordance with its business model, its solutions are distributed by multiple partners and adapt to their physical or digital distribution method, as well as to the needs of customers in each country in terms of their protection and convenience. CNP Assurances has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since October 1998 and is a subsidiary of La Banque Postale. The Company reported net profits of €1,350 million in 2020. For more information, visit www.cnp.fr/en/the-cnp-
Contact: Florence de Montmarin – + 33 1 42 18 86 51 – servicepresse@cnp.fr
Mark Levitt Global Infrastructure Partners (212) 315-8111 Mark.Levitt@global-infra.com