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- Within the framework of its listing on the stock exchange, Bureau Veritas proposed to more than 18,000 employees throughout the world to participate in an employee shareholding plan 'BV2007'.
- Three offers allowed eligible employees to subscribe to BV2007 according to specific conditions, notably a discount of 20% on the public offering price (i.e. a price of €30.20 per share). Nearly 10,000 employees of the Bureau Veritas group worldwide took advantage of these offers.
- As a consequence, the share capital of Bureau Veritas increased to €13,916,023.80, divided in 115,966,865 shares including 8,951,000 treasury shares.
The first offer called 'BV2007 Local' was offered across 10 countries and territories including France which represents nearly two thirds of the employees of the group worldwide. It was realized within the framework of a group savings plan in part through the subscription of an investment fund (Germany, France, Hong Kong, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Taiwan) and in part by direct subscription of shares (Spain, United States, Italy and Japan). The prospectus relating to this offer received visa number 07-349 from the Autorité des marchés financiers dated October 8, 2007. In total, within the framework of this offer, 1,100,826 shares were issued for the benefit of 8,092 employees. The global participation rate was 51.99% in the world and 73.85% in France.
A second offer called 'BV2007 network' was proposed by means of direct subscription to certain managers across 54 countries. In total 43,079 shares were issued for the benefit of 197 managers within the framework of this offer. The global participation rate was greater than 67%.
Finally, in China, as a result of local regulations prohibiting subscription within the framework of the offer reserved for employees, it was suggested that employees participate in the 'Special Employee Share Incentive Plan'.
In total, 1,605 employees participated in this plan (representing 71.97% of employees in China).
In France, subscriptions by employees in the Group Savings Plan were topped up by up to 100% of the subscriptions with a limit of €600. Internationally, shares were attributed freely to employees who participated in the different offers. 55,165 shares were attributed freely to employees who subscribed to 'BV2007 Local', 3,763 shares were attributed freely to managers who had subscribed to 'BV2007 Network' and 29,962 shares were attributed to participants of the “Special Employee Share Incentive Plan”.
About Bureau Veritas
Founded in 1828, Bureau Veritas is an international group specialised in the inspection, analysis, audit, and certification of products, infrastructure (buildings, industrial sites, equipment, ships, etc.) and management systems (ISO standards etc.) in relation to regulatory or voluntary frameworks.
Bureau Veritas ranks as the world's second largest group in conformity assessment and certification services in the fields of quality, health and safety, environment, and social responsibility ('QHSE') and the world leader in QHSE services not including commodity testing. Bureau Veritas is recognised and accredited by major national and international organisations.
Bureau Veritas is present in 140 countries through a network of 700 offices and laboratories. It has more than 27,000 employees and a client base of more than 280,000.
In the last ten years, since 1996, Bureau Veritas has quadrupled its sales to €1.846 billion in 2006. Its operating profit has increased seven-fold to €268 million. In 2006, the group posted consolidated net profit of €154 million.
Since October 23, 2007 Bureau Veritas has been listed on the Euronext Paris (Compartment A, code ISIN FR 0006174348, mnemonic: BVI).
Contacts
Analysts-investors Press
Claire Plais – +33 (0)1 42 91 28 54 Véronique Gielec – +33 (0)1 42 91 32 74
Olivier Richard – +33 (0)1 42 91 33 26
A prospectus relating to the offer reserved for employees received visa number 07-349 from the Autorité des marchés financiers dated October 8, 2007. Copies of this prospectus are available free of charge from Bureau Veritas, 17 bis, place des Reflets, La Défense 2 – 92400 Courbevoie – France and on the website of the company (www.bureauveritas.fr) and of the Autorité des marches financiers (www.amf-france.org). Public attention is drawn to the “Risk Factors” of this prospectus.
This press release and the information that it contains does not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe or a solicitation to invest or to subscribe in securities in France or in other countries other than France.
This document is only directed at and being provided to persons in the United Kingdom who are a) authorized persons who are “qualified investors” and who have a professional experience in matters relating to investments within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) and Article 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (« the Order ») or b) “high net worth entities”, “unincorporated associations” and other persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated pursuant to Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order.
This press release does not constitute an offer of securities in the United States of America. Securities may only be offered or sold in the United States of America following a registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. The Bureau Veritas shares have not and will not be registered under the Securities Act and Bureau Veritas does not intend to make a public offer of its securities in the United States.
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