Funds advised by CVC Capital Partners ("CVC") have agreed to acquire a 25.01 percent stake in Evonik Industries AG from the RAG Foundation for a purchase price of approximately 2.4 billion Euros announced Wilhelm Bonse-Geuking, CEO of the RAG Foundation. The transaction is subject to antitrust approval.
IPO planned Through the sale of a minority stake in the business, the RAG Foundation has taken the first step in its mandate to establish a capital reserve to finance the perpetual burdens of the German coal-mining industry. Both partners plan to launch an IPO in the medium term; the Foundation has been Evonik’s sole shareholder to date.
An experienced investor The CEO of the RAG Foundation, Wilhelm Bonse-Geuking, commented: “There were several arguments in favour of CVC as a purchaser: CVC has extensive industry experience in the chemical and energy sectors coupled with a highly experienced team in Germany. We share a common view with regard to the development potential in Evonik Industries and CVC has a strong track record in the management of IPOs across a number of its portfolio companies.”
Partner to the RAG Foundation and Evonik’s Managment Steve Koltes, Managing Partner of CVC Capital Partners, added: “Evonik is an outstanding company with enormous potential for the future. We are proud that our investment will contribute toward establishing a new DAX company in the medium term.” Koltes continued: “We are delighted to support the RAG Foundation and Evonik’s Management in the company’s future development and continued profitable growth.”
The RAG Foundation was advised by Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Lilja & Co. Merrill Lynch and Rothschild acted as financial advisers to CVC. Acquisition financing will be provided by Bank of Ireland, Calyon, LBBW, Helaba (Hessische Landesbank), Lloyds TSB, Mediobanca, Raiffeisen-Zentralbank and WestLB.
Joint press conference On the occasion of this investment, the RAG Foundation and CVC Capital Partners invite to a joint press conference.
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Time: 11:00h Venue: RAG-Stiftung Rüttenscheider Str. 1-3 45128 Essen