This is a joint public announcement by Koninklijke Econosto N.V. (“Econosto”) and Gilde Buy Out Partners (“Gilde”) pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 paragraph 1 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft). This announcement is not for release, distribution, or publication in whole or in part, in or into the United States of America, Japan or Canada.
With reference to the joint press release of 14 January 2008 in which Econosto and Gilde announced that they had reached conditional agreement regarding the recommended public offer by a newly to be established entity to be assigned by Gilde for the entire issued and outstanding share capital of Econosto at an offer price of EUR 7,25 per share in cash (the “Offer”), Econosto and Gilde herewith confirm that the preparations are well under way for the Offer and that Gilde will submit a request for approval of the offer memorandum in respect of the Offer (the “Offer Memorandum”) to the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiële Markten) in the coming weeks.
In connection with the procedure regarding the Offer, Econosto will publish its 2007 annual results on 5 March 2008 after market closing, in stead of on 27 March 2008 as has been disclosed on the corporate website.
The Offer Memorandum is expected to be published mid March 2008.
Koninklijke Econosto N.V.
Mr. Frank van Os
www.econosto.com
Phone: +31 (0) 10 284 12 80
Gilde Buy Out Partners
Mr. Boudewijn Molenaar
www.gilde.nl
Phone: +31 (0) 30 219 25 09
Disclaimer
This release does not constitute or form part of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction. Nowhere outside the Netherlands any action is taken (nor will any action be taken) to make a public offer possible in any jurisdiction where such action would be required.
This press release is also published in Dutch; the Dutch version will prevail over this English version.
About Gilde
Gilde Buy Out Partners is a leading private equity investor with offices in Utrecht, Paris and Zurich. Gilde has funds under management exceeding EUR 1.3 billion and has invested in more than 200 companies since its inception in 1982. Gilde specialises in mid-market buy out investments in Europe and has particular expertise with investments in industrial companies with a technological character, comparable to Econosto.
Gilde has gained extensive experience with the complex delisting process through the public-to-private of Nedschroef, a leading manufacturer of fasteners for the automotive industry, in 2007. Furthermore, Gilde was involved in the public-to-private of Norit, a leading supplier of consumables, components, systems and complete purification solutions in 2000.
Econosto will be added to the Gilde Buy Out Fund III and will be the ninth investment of this EUR 600 million fund. Other investments of Gilde Buy Out Fund III include Heiploeg (shrimps), Novasep (synthesis and purification of fine chemicals for the life sciences industry), Nedschroef (manufacturer of fasteners for the automotive industry) and Hofmann-Menü (specialist in ‘out-of-home’ meals).
About Econosto
Koninklijke Econosto N.V., founded in 1892, is an international group of technical wholesale companies with operations in Europe, the Middle East and Far East, and with 650 employees globally. Its core activities include the development, marketing, distribution and service of a full range of high-quality valves, gaskets, industrial hoses and related equipment for the chemical and petrochemical industries, shipbuilding, equipment and machine engineering, heating and general industry. Added value is provided by developing, machining and supplying products specifically geared to projects and customers. In this respect, Econosto specifically benefits from intensive contacts with leading industrial engineering firms. An increasing percentage of sales is generated on the project market, in the form of non-recurring, long-term contracts that guarantee future contributions to cash flow.
Econosto supplies innovative own label products such as Econosto® and Econ®, augmented with A-branded products to customers in both the traditional MRO sector and the international project business. This combination makes Econosto a unique player in the global market. Econosto has been listed on Euronext Amsterdam since 1970.