Wabtec Acquires Majority Ownership Of Faiveley Transport; Updates 2016 Guidance, Provides 2017 Preliminary Information

WILMERDING, Pa., Dec. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabtec Corporation WAB has acquired majority ownership of Faiveley Transport S.A. (Euronext Paris:LEY), after completing the purchase of the Faiveley family's stake, which represented about 51% of the company's shares outstanding. Wabtec plans to launch a tender offer for the remaining public shares in December.

Faiveley Transport is a leading global provider of value-added, integrated systems and services for the railway industry with annual sales of about $1.2 billion. 

Albert J. Neupaver, executive chairman of Wabtec, said: "The acquisition of Faiveley Transport is an excellent strategic fit, expanding our geographic presence, broadening our product and service capabilities, and strengthening our technology and innovation initiatives. The combination of two rail industry leaders creates compelling growth opportunities and synergies, and strengthens the diversity of our revenue base. We're pleased to welcome the Faiveley family as long-term Wabtec shareholders with representation on our Board of Directors."

Wabtec acquired the family stake for about $212 million in cash and 6.3 million shares of Wabtec common stock. Through the tender offer, the public shareholders of Faiveley Transport will have the option to elect to receive €100 per share of Faiveley Transport in cash or 1.1538 Wabtec common shares per share of Faiveley Transport. The total purchase price for 100% of the shares of Faiveley Transport is about $1.7 billion, including assumed debt and net of cash acquired. The $1.2 billion cash portion of the transaction will be funded from about $325 million of cash on hand, the net proceeds from a recent
$750 million senior notes offering and the company's existing revolving credit facility and term note.

The strategic combination of Wabtec and Faiveley Transport creates one of the world's leading rail equipment companies, with revenues of about $4.2 billion and a presence in all key transit and freight rail regions worldwide. Wabtec now expects to realize at least $50 million in annual pre-tax synergies from the combination by year three, and the transaction will be accretive to Wabtec's earnings per diluted share in 2017.

Raymond T. Betler, Wabtec's president and chief executive officer, said: "Our combination with Faiveley Transport brings Wabtec many complementary products, a strong presence in the European and Asia Pacific transit industries, and solid relationships with blue-chip, global customers. Together, we will be a more efficient global competitor, with a focus on technology, quality and customer service, and a singular mission: to help customers improve their safety, productivity, and efficiency."  

Stéphane Rambaud-Measson, chairman of the Management Board and chief executive officer of Faiveley Transport, has joined Wabtec as president and CEO of its Transit Group and as a corporate executive vice president, reporting to Betler. Also, Philippe Alfroid and Erwan Faiveley were elected as new members of the Wabtec Board of Directors.

Rambaud-Measson said: "Wabtec's Transit Group, under the Faiveley Transport brand name, will pursue its objective to be a global leader in railway equipment and services. The passenger transit business typically provides a steady flow of new projects and aftermarket growth opportunities, and we are well positioned in key global markets such as Europe and Asia Pacific."

2016 Guidance Update
Including the effects of the acquisition, Wabtec updated its 2016 guidance as follows:

• Full-year revenues are expected to be down about 10% to about $2.95 billion.
• Full-year, GAAP earnings per diluted share are expected to be between $3.45-$3.50. During 2016, the company expects to record restructuring and transaction-related costs of about $60 million pre-tax and a one-time effective tax rate adjustment for non-deductible transaction costs that will result in additional tax expense of about $10 million. These items equal about 50 cents per diluted share after-tax. 
• Excluding the restructuring and transaction-related costs, and the tax-rate adjustment, Wabtec expects full-year adjusted earnings per diluted share to be between $3.95-$4.00.

2017 Preliminary Information
Including the effects of the acquisition, Wabtec provided the following preliminary information for the full year of 2017:

• Revenues are expected to be about $4.2 billion.
• Excluding restructuring and transaction-related costs, adjusted operating margin is expected to be about 15-16%.
• Excluding restructuring and transaction-related costs, adjusted earnings are expected to be about 8% higher than the company's adjusted earnings in 2016.

Wabtec will update this preliminary information when the company reports its 2016 results.

Wabtec Corporation is a global provider of value-added, technology-based products and services for freight rail, passenger transit and other industrial segments. The company manufactures a range of products for locomotives, freight cars and passenger transit vehicles, new switcher and commuter locomotives and provides aftermarket services.

Faiveley Transport is a global supplier of high added value integrated systems for the railway industry. The company supplies manufacturers, operators and railway maintenance bodies worldwide with the most comprehensive range of systems in the market: Energy & Comfort (air conditioning, power collectors and passenger information systems), Access & Mobility (passenger access systems and platform doors), Brakes & Safety (braking systems and couplers) and Services.

Wabtec will host a call with analysts and investors at 10 a.m., U.S. eastern time, today. To listen, go to www.wabtec.com and click on the "Webcasts" tab in the "Investors" section. Included with this press release is a presentation that will be discussed during the call.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements and certain information contained in the release involve risks and uncertainties that could result in actual results differing materially from expected results, including Wabtec's estimated future results of operations and benefits expected to be derived from the acquisition of Faiveley Transport. Forward-looking statements represent Wabtec's expectations and beliefs concerning future events, based on information available to Wabtec as of the date of this release. Wabtec undertakes no obligation to publicly update and revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. Additional information regarding these and other factors is contained in Wabtec's SEC filings, including without limitation Wabtec's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings.

Certain Legal Matters
This communication is not intended to, and does not, constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether pursuant to this press release or otherwise. The distribution of this communication in jurisdictions outside the U.S. or France may be restricted by law or regulation and therefore any person who comes into possession of this communication should inform themselves about, and comply with, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws or regulations of any such relevant jurisdiction.

Faiveley Transport is incorporated in France and listed on Euronext Paris and any offer for its securities will be subject to French disclosure and procedural requirements, which differ from those that are applicable to offers conducted solely in the U.S., including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments. The transactions described above will be structured to comply with French and U.S. securities laws and regulations applicable to transactions of this type. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.