Further update on public offer for all NIBC shares

This is a joint press release by NIBC Holding N.V. (“NIBC” or the "Company") and Flora Acquisition B.V. (the "Offeror"), an entity incorporated under Dutch law, owned by certain funds (the "Blackstone Funds") managed and/or advised by Blackstone's Tactical Opportunities and Private Equity businesses and other managers affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc. (each or together, as the context requires, "Blackstone"), pursuant to the provisions of Section 17 sub 1 of Regulation No 596/2014 on market abuse (MAR) and Section 4 sub 1 and sub 3 of the Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) (the "Decree") in connection with the announced proposed recommended public offer (the “Offer” and together with the transactions contemplated thereby  the “Transaction”) by the Offeror for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of NIBC (the “Shares”). This announcement does not constitute an offer, or any solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities. Any offer will be made only by means of an offer memorandum. With reference to the joint press release by NIBC and the Offeror dated 25 February 2020 (i) commencement of the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the commencement conditions and (ii) if and when made, the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the offer conditions, all in accordance with the terms of the merger protocol between NIBC and the Offeror. Reference is also made to the press releases by NIBC and the Offeror dated 18 May 2020 confirming an offer price of EUR 9.32 "cum dividend", with the exception of the final dividend of EUR 0.53 per Share for the financial year 2019 which has already been declared. Any offer price mentioned in today's announcement is also "cum dividend", with the exception of the final dividend of EUR 0.53 per Share for the financial year 2019. This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into, directly or indirectly, the United States, Canada or Japan or in any other jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful.

Further update on public offer for all NIBC shares

The Hague, the Netherlands / London, UK - 8 June 2020

NIBC and the Offeror announce that, with the support of J.C. Flowers & Co (“JCF”) and Reggeborgh Invest B.V. (“Reggeborgh”), they have entered into discussions on the basis of a proposal from the Offeror to amend the current Transaction. The key proposed amendments consist of a reduction of the offer price and the introduction of a liquidated damages payment.

Pursuant to the proposed amendments, the offer price payable to all shareholders, including JCF and Reggeborgh, would be reduced to EUR 7.00 per Share. In addition, as announced by NIBC on 18 May 2020, public shareholders would receive NIBC's final dividend of EUR 0.53 per Share for the financial year 2019, which would be paid unconditionally before settlement of the Offer, and would result in public shareholders receiving EUR 7.53 per Share, in aggregate. JCF and Reggeborgh would have the right to collect the final dividend of EUR 0.53 per Share, subject to the conditional waiver announced by NIBC on 18 May 2020.

The other proposed amendment would be an obligation on the Offeror to pay liquidated damages of EUR 46 million in total as the only remedy and recourse against the Offeror in certain circumstances where the Offer is not declared unconditional because regulatory clearances are not obtained and in certain other cases.

At this stage there is no certainty whether agreement among NIBC, the Offeror, JCF and Reggeborgh will be reached on an amendment of the Transaction.

Further announcements will be made if and when required in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

About NIBC

NIBC is best suited to help entrepreneurs at their decisive moments. Now and in the future. As a bank for entrepreneurs, we are committed to cultivating our ‘THINK YES’ mentality by being flexible and agile and by matching our clients’ can-do attitude. We support our corporate clients in building their businesses. For our retail clients in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium we offer mortgages, online savings and brokerage products that are accessible, easy to understand and fairly priced. Operating in the Netherlands (The Hague and Amsterdam), Germany and UK, our corporate clients business (mainly mid-market) offers advice and debt, mezzanine and equity financing solutions to entrepreneurs across select sectors and sub-sectors in which we have strong expertise and market positions. The mid-market is dynamic by nature and requires a bank that can respond quickly and in a highly flexible way. Our aim is to meet the market’s requirements at decisive moments such as mergers and acquisitions, management buy-outs, investments and strategic financings and re-financings.

For more information, please refer to the NIBC website www.nibc.com.
 

About Blackstone

Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our asset management businesses, with $538 billion in assets under management, include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.

Disclaimer

Restrictions

The distribution of this press release may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, NIBC, the Offeror and Blackstone disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Neither NIBC, nor the Offeror nor Blackstone, nor any of their advisors, assumes any responsibility for any violation of any of these restrictions. Any NIBC shareholder who is in any doubt as to his or her position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay. This announcement is not to be published or distributed in or to the United States, Canada or Japan.

The information in the press release is not intended to be complete. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or an invitation to acquire or dispose of any securities or investment advice or an inducement to enter into investment activity. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire the securities of NIBC in any jurisdiction.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements,” such as statements relating to the impact of this Transaction on NIBC, the Offeror and Blackstone and the targeted timeline for the Transaction. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “anticipated,” “expected” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Although NIBC, the Offeror and Blackstone believe that the assumptions upon which their respective financial information and their respective forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, they can give no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, receipt of regulatory approvals without unexpected delays or conditions, the Offeror’s ability to successfully operate NIBC without disruption to its other business activities, the Offeror’s ability to achieve the anticipated results from the acquisition of NIBC, the effects of competition, economic conditions in the markets in which NIBC operates, and other factors that can be found in NIBC’s, the Offeror's and/or Blackstone’s press releases and public filings.

Neither NIBC, nor the Offeror nor Blackstone, nor any of their advisors, accepts any responsibility for any financial information contained in this press release relating to the business, results of operations or financial condition of the other or their respective groups. Each of NIBC the Offeror and Blackstone expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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