425 1 s001561x5_425.htm 425
 
 
Filed by Safran S.A.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
Subject Company: Zodiac Aerospace S.A.
Commission File No. 333-154066
Date: March 13, 2017

 
 
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
 
 
Successful syndication of a €4bn acquisition bridge facility for Safran
 
Paris, March 13, 2017
 
On January 19, 2017, Safran (Euronext Paris: SAF) and Zodiac Aerospace (Euronext Paris: ZC) announced that they had entered into exclusive negotiations for an acquisition of Zodiac Aerospace by Safran. The cash portion of the transaction and a special dividend would be financed with a combination of cash on hand, including future proceeds from the disposals of Safran Identity & Security, existing committed undrawn facilities and a €4bn fully underwritten bridge loan.

The syndication of the €4bn bridge facility was successfully closed on March 6, 2017.

The facility, underwritten fully by Bank of America Merrill Lynch who also serves as bookrunner, was syndicated within a group of Safran’s relationship banks. The facility, supported by 12 banks as mandated lead arrangers1 was oversubscribed by 70%, demonstrating the strong commitment from relationship banks and their support for this transaction.

The bridge facility has a maturity of 12 months, with two 6-month extension options.

 
 
Safran is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace, Defence and Security (ongoing divestiture of Security business). Operating worldwide, the Group has 66,500 employees (Security included) and generated sales of 15.8 billion euros in 2016 (excluding Security). Working independently or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. The Group invests heavily in Research & Development to meet the requirements of changing markets, including expenditures of 1.7 billion euros in 2016 (excluding Security expenditures). Safran is listed on Euronext Paris and is part of the CAC40 index, as well as the Euro Stoxx 50 European index.
 
For more information : www.safran-group.com / Follow @Safran on Twitter  
 
Press
Catherine MALEK : catherine.malek@safrangroup.com / T +33 (0)1 40 60 80 28
 
Investors Relations
Peter CAMPBELL : peter.campbell@safrangroup.com / T +33 (0)1 40 60 35 96
Frédéric LUCAND : frederic.lucand@safrangroup.com / T +33 (0)1 40 60 82 19
Cécilia MATISSART : cecilia.matissart@safrangroup.com / T +33 (0) 1 40 60 82 46
 
 

1 Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Banco Santander, S.A., Paris Branch, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank Europe PLC, Ireland Branch, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Natixis, Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking, Standard Chartered Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited
 
 
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IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the proposed acquisition of Zodiac Aerospace (the “Transaction”) or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
The tender offer and the merger in connection with the Transaction are subject to consultation of the work’s council committees, execution of definitive documentation and obtaining of required regulatory and other customary authorizations. The tender offer and the merger would only be filed after such and other conditions have been fulfilled. These materials must not be published, released or distributed, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction where the distribution of such information is restricted by law.
It is intended that Safran and Zodiac Aerospace will file with the French Market Authority (“AMF”) a prospectus and other relevant documents with respect to the tender offer to be made in France, and with respect to the merger of Zodiac Aerospace into Safran. Pursuant to French regulations, the documentation with respect to the tender offer and the merger which, if filed, will state the terms and conditions of the tender offer and the merger will be subject to the review by the French Market Authority (AMF). Investors and shareholders in France are strongly advised to read, if and when they become available, the prospectus and related offer and merger materials regarding the tender offer and the merger referenced in this communication, as well as any amendments and supplements to those documents as they will contain important information regarding Safran, Zodiac Aerospace, the contemplated transactions and related matters.

ADDITIONAL U.S. INFORMATION
Any securities to be issued in connection with the Transaction may be required to be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Transaction will be submitted to the shareholders of Zodiac Aerospace for their consideration. If registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) is required in connection with the Transaction, Safran will prepare a prospectus for Zodiac Aerospace’s shareholders to be filed with the SEC, will mail the prospectus to Zodiac Aerospace’s shareholders and file other documents regarding the Transaction with the SEC. Investors and shareholders are urged to read the prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part when and if it becomes available, as well as other documents that may be filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information. If registration with the SEC is required in connection with the Transaction, shareholders of Zodiac Aerospace will be able to obtain free copies of the prospectus and other documents filed by Safran with the SEC at the SEC’s web site, http://www.sec.gov. Those documents, if filed, may also be obtained free of charge by contacting Safran Investor Relations at 2, Boulevard du Général Martial Valin 75724 Paris Cedex 15 – France or by calling (33) 1 40 60 80 80. Alternatively, if the requirements of Rule 802 under the Securities Act are satisfied, offers and sales made by Safran in the Transaction will be exempt from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act and no registration statement will be filed with the SEC by Safran.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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