Essilor released an update.
(Press Release) CHARENTON-LE-PONT, FRANCE – Having obtained the favorable opinions of the employee representative bodies on the proposed combination with Luxottica announced on Jan. 16, 2017, and with the overwhelming support of Valoptec Association, an organization that brings together most of Essilor’s employee shareholders (accounting for approximately 8 percent of the share capital), Essilor International has taken another step towards the finalization of the transaction.
As such, at its meeting of March 22, 2017, the Board of Directors of Essilor International approved:
1. The signing of the draft contribution agreements relating to:
The transfer by Essilor International of substantially all of its activities and shareholdings to its fully owned
subsidiary, Delamare Sovra, to be renamed Essilor International.
The contribution by Delfin of all its shares in Luxottica (62.55 percent) in exchange for new shares issued by
Essilor, based on an exchange ratio of 0.461 Essilor share for one Luxottica share. BNP Paribas conducted an appraisal of this contribution and issued a fairness opinion.
2. The filing and registration with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, by April 10, 2017, at the latest, of the
information document (Document E) describing the rationale for the transaction as well as the main principles of the Combination Agreement, namely: the creation of a global integrated player via the combination of two complementary players, as part of a partnership approach based on an equal structuring between the two parties. In accordance with what was announced on Jan. 16, 2017, Essilor, the acquirer of the Luxottica shares and to be renamed EssilorLuxottica, will be listed on Euronext Paris and will retain its registered office in France. The management structures and teams – in particular financial – of the new combined entity will be based in France.
3. Draft resolutions relating to the proposed combination of Essilor International and Luxottica to be submitted
for the approval of the General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 11, 2017 and in particular the names of the
directors who would, subject to shareholder approval, sit on the Board of Directors of EssilorLuxottica as of
the closing date of the Luxottica share contribution, namely:
Eight members appointed by Delfin:
- Leonardo Del VECCHIO, Executive Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica.
- Three directors representative of Delfin: Romolo BARDIN, Giovanni GIALLOMBARDO and
- Francesco MILLERI.
- Four additional directors: Rafaella MAZZOLI, Gianni MION, Lucia MORSELLI and Cristina SCOCCHIA.
Eight members appointed by Essilor Interational:
- Hubert SAGNIÈRES, Executive Vice-Chairman and Deputy CEO of EssilorLuxottica.
- Juliette FAVRE, Employee Shareholder Representative and Chairman of Valoptec Association.
- Four directors from the current Board of Directors of Essilor: Henrietta FORE, Bernard HOURS, Annette MESSEMER and Olivier PÉCOUX.
- Two directors representing employees who will be appointed by the Works Council by the end of October 2017.
4. Changes to Essilor International’s governance at the close of the General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 11, 2017 (subject to Shareholders’ approval) with the appointments of:
- Jeannette WONG, a DBS Group Executive, appointed on a provisional basis to the Board of Directors
of Essilor International as from March 22, 2017, with her appointment to be submitted for ratification by
the General Shareholders’ Meeting, to replace Benoît BAZIN who expressed his wish to have his term
of office as Director terminated. The Board of Directors would like to thank him for his significant
contribution over the past 8 years; - Laurent VACHEROT, President and Chief Operating Officer of Essilor since December 6, 2016.
Subject to shareholder approval, following the General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 11, 2017 the Board of Directors of Essilor International will consist of the following members:
- Hubert SAGNIÈRES, Chairman and CEO of Essilor International
- Philippe ALFROID, Non-independent Director
- Antoine BERNARD DE SAINT-AFFRIQUE, Independent Director
- Maureen CAVANAGH, Director representing employee shareholders
- Juliette FAVRE, Director representing employee shareholders
- Henrietta FORE, Independent Director
- Louise FRÉCHETTE, Independent Director
- Yi HE, Director representing employee shareholders
- Frank HENRIONNET, Director representing employees
- Bernard HOURS, Independent Director
- Annette MESSEMER, Independent Director
- Marc ONETTO, Independent Director
- Olivier PECOUX, Non-independent Director
- Laurent VACHEROT, President and Chief Operating Officer of Essilor International
- Jeanette WONG, Independent Director
Composition of the Board of Directors of the new Essilor International (formerly Delamare Sovra) as of the closing date of the Luxottica share contribution:
The composition of the Board of Directors would be identical to the above, with the Director representing employees being selected from among the two Directors representing employees sitting on the EssilorLuxottica Board of Directors.
Next steps:
Essilor International will hold two Shareholders’ Meetings (Special Meeting of holders of shares with double voting rights attached and Combined General Shareholders’ Meeting) on May 11, 2017.
In addition, discussions concerning the notification process of the transaction to anti-trust authorities are progressing.