WABCO Shareholders Approve ZF Friedrichshafen Acquisition
June 27 2019 - 10:14AM
WABCO Holdings (“WABCO”) (NYSE: WBC), a leading global supplier of
technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and
connectivity of commercial vehicles, today welcomed the decision by
its shareholders to approve the company’s acquisition by ZF
Friedrichshafen AG (“ZF”), a privately held global technology
company and systems supplier for passenger cars, commercial
vehicles and industrial technology.
At a special meeting of WABCO's shareholders held today in New
York, holders representing 68.44% of the Company’s shares
outstanding voted in favor of adopting the proposed merger
agreement. Overall, 71.97% of WABCO's shareholders participated in
the vote.
Under the agreement, ZF will acquire all outstanding shares of
WABCO for $136.50 per share in an all-cash transaction for an
equity value of over $7 billion.
Jacques Esculier, Chairman and CEO of WABCO, said, "We are very
pleased that WABCO’s shareholders have supported our merger plans
recognizing that the ZF transaction offers a compelling strategic
fit to advance the requirements of our industry, while also
providing certainty of value and liquidity for our
shareholders.”
The proposed merger remains subject to further customary closing
conditions and regulatory approvals. ZF and WABCO continue to
expect to close the transaction in early 2020. This merger will
bring together two global technology leaders serving OEMs and
fleets in the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, combining
WABCO’s capabilities in commercial vehicle safety and efficiency,
including technologies involved in vehicle dynamics control, active
air suspension systems, and fleet management systems with ZF’s
leading position in mobility technologies for cars and commercial
vehicles.
About WABCOWABCO (NYSE: WBC) is the leading
global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced
technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity
of commercial vehicles. Originating from the Westinghouse Air Brake
Company founded nearly 150 years ago, WABCO is powerfully
“Mobilizing Vehicle Intelligence” to support the increasingly
autonomous, connected and electric future of the commercial vehicle
industry. WABCO continues to pioneer innovations to address key
technology milestones in autonomous mobility and apply its
extensive expertise to integrate the complex control and fail-safe
systems required to efficiently and safely govern vehicle dynamics
at every stage of a vehicle’s journey – on the highway, in the city
and at the depot. Today, leading truck, bus and trailer brands
worldwide rely on WABCO’s differentiating technologies. Powered by
its vision for accident-free driving and greener transportation
solutions, WABCO is also at the forefront of advanced fleet
management systems and digital services that contribute to
commercial fleet efficiency. In 2018, WABCO reported sales of over
$3.8 billion and has more than 16,000 employees in 40 countries.
For more information, visit www.wabco-auto.com.
WABCO European media contactNina Friedmann, +49
69 719 168 171, wabco@klenkhoursch.de
WABCO U.S. media contactsKathleen Deveny, +1
212 521 4896, kathy.deveny@kekstcnc.comRuth Pachman, +1 212 521
4891, ruth.pachman@kekstcnc.com
WABCO investors and analysts contactSean
Deason, +1 248 270 9287, investorrelations@wabco-auto.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
StatementsThis document may include “forward-looking”
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements
relating to the completion of the merger. In this context,
forward-looking statements often address expected future business
and financial performance and financial condition, and often
contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,”
“believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar
expressions, and variations or negatives of these words.
Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that
are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the
consummation of the proposed merger and the anticipated benefits
thereof. These and other forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future results and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements, including the failure to consummate the proposed merger
or to make any filing or take other action required to consummate
such merger in a timely matter or at all. The inclusion of such
statements should not be regarded as a representation that any
plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. You should not
place undue reliance on such statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans,
estimates or expectations include, among others, that: (1)
conditions to the closing of the merger, including obtaining
required regulatory approvals, may not be satisfied or waived on a
timely basis or otherwise; (2) a governmental entity or a
regulatory body may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for
the consummation of the merger and may require conditions,
limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals that
can adversely affect the anticipated benefits of the proposed
merger or cause the parties to abandon the proposed merger; (3) the
merger may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (4) the
business of the Company may suffer as a result of uncertainty
surrounding the merger or the potential adverse changes to business
relationships resulting from the proposed merger; (5) legal
proceedings may be initiated related to the merger and the outcome
of any legal proceedings related to the merger may be adverse to
the Company; (6) the Company may be adversely affected by other
general industry, economic, business, and/or competitive factors;
(7) there may be unforeseen events, changes or other circumstances
that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement or
affect the ability to recognize benefits of the merger; (8) risks
that the proposed merger may disrupt current plans and operations
and present potential difficulties in employee retention as a
result of the merger; (9) risks related to diverting management’s
attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; (10)
there may be other risks to consummation of the merger, including
the risk that the merger will not be consummated within the
expected time period or at all which may affect the Company’s
business and the price of the common stock of the Company; and (11)
the risks described from time to time in the Company’s reports
filed with the SEC under the heading “Risk Factors,” including the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2018, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form
8-K and in other of the Company’s filings with the SEC. Such risks
include, without limitation: the effects of competition in the
businesses in which the Company operates; the Company’s ability to
adapt to a rapidly changing industry and maintain strategic
relationships with industry leading companies; and the impacts of
security breaches and data loss and our vulnerability to technology
infrastructure failures. Consequences of material differences in
results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking
statements could include, among other things, business disruption,
operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third
parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of
operations, credit rating or liquidity. These risks, as well as
other risks associated with the proposed merger, are more fully
discussed in the definitive proxy statement that was filed with the
SEC on May 20, 2019 in connection with the proposed merger. There
can be no assurance that the merger will be completed, or if it is
completed, that it will close within the anticipated time period or
that the expected benefits of the merger will be realized. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date on which such
statements were made. Except as required by applicable law, the
Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such
date.
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