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PARIS, March 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
Bpifrance, the public investment bank, and its French sovereign wealth fund Lac1, which provides long-term support to listed French multinationals, have announced that they are acquiring a €800 million stake in Veolia (Paris:VIE), a global champion of ecological transformation, under a shareholder agreement. This transaction will be accompanied by the appointment of a representative of the Bpifrance to the Board of Directors, who will be proposed to the next General Meeting of Veolia shareholders. He will also become a member of the Accounts and Audit Committee and the Research, Innovation and Sustainable Development Committee.
By acquiring this stake, the Lac1 fund and Bpifrance demonstrate their confidence in the Group's potential for profitable growth, its governance, its capacity for innovation and its unique positioning on the global and French markets, serving local communities as best as possible. This transaction will create sustainable value for the resilience and competitiveness of territories and industries in the face of climate change.
Veolia's positioning and strategy are fully in line with the investment rationale of the Lac1 fund, which is managed on behalf of French and international investors, and of Bpifrance: to provide long-term support for French world leaders that offer strong potential for creating value while responding to today's new challenges.
Nicolas Dufourcq, Chief Executive Officer of Bpifrance, said: ‘We are proud to invest in Veolia, a leading French company and global champion of ecological transformation, with our Lac1 fund. Bpifrance intends to make a long-term commitment to the Group, convinced by its prospects for sustainable value creation and its role in meeting current environmental challenges on a global scale.’
Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia's Chief Executive Officer said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Bpifrance as a strategic shareholder for the Group and as a member of its Board of Directors. This new long-term shareholder is aligned with the Group's vision, mission and ethics, contributing to its growth in a sustainable way for the benefit of territories and industries. This transaction strengthens our shareholder base and will support sustainable value creation.’
Bpifrance Participations and the Lac1 fund will gradually acquire the shares on the market and intend to support Veolia's development over the long term.
ABOUT Bpifrance
Bpifrance, France's public investment bank, finances businesses - at every stage of their development - through loans, guarantees and equity. Bpifrance supports them in their innovation and international projects. Bpifrance now also supports their export activities through a wide range of products. Advice, universities, networking and acceleration programmes for start-ups, SMEs and ETIs are also part of the services offered to entrepreneurs. Thanks to Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices, entrepreneurs have a single, close and effective contact to help them meet their challenges.