Wendel

M&A Activity • Oct 4, 2011

WENDEL ACQUIRES THE MECATHERM GROUP VIA ORANJE-NASSAU DÉVELOPPEMENT

Wendel today confirms that the acquisition of the Mecatherm group has been completed, via Oranje-Nassau Développement, at an enterprise value of approx. €170 million. Wendel will hold 98% of the capital, alongside management, who will hold the remaining shares.

Wendel will invest a total of approx. €110 million in shareholders' equity. The transaction financing was arranged jointly by Crédit Lyonnais, Banque CIC Est, BNP Paribas, Crédit Industriel et Commercial and Crédit Agricole CIB (as Arrangers) and HSBC France (as Joint Lead Arranger), at the same terms as those negotiated at the end of July. Debt totaling €66 million will replace existing debt, and the Mecatherm group will have financing of €30 million available to carry out future acquisitions (of which €15 million committed) and €5 million in revolving credit facilities.

Founded in 1964, the Mecatherm group has 300 employees, an R&D laboratory and three industrial sites in France. Through its subsidiaries Mecatherm and Gouet, the group designs, assembles and installs automated production lines for bakery products (baguettes, artisan quality bread, pastries, etc.) throughout the world. In 2010, the Mecatherm group posted sales of around €91 million, including nearly 75% outside France.

Calendar

• November 9, 2011: Q3 2011 sales (after market close)
• December 2, 2011: Investor Day and next NAV publication

About Wendel

Wendel is one of Europe's leading listed investment firms. The Group invests in France and abroad, in companies that are leaders in their businesses: Bureau Veritas, Legrand, Saint-Gobain, Materis, Deutsch and Stahl. Wendel plays an active role as industry shareholder in these companies. It implements long-term development strategies, which involve boosting growth and margins of companies so as to enhance their leading market positions. Through Oranje-Nassau Développement, which invests in growth, diversification and innovation opportunities, Wendel is also an investor in Van Gansewinkel Groep in the Netherlands, exceet in Germany, and Mecatherm and Parcours in France.

Wendel is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris.

Standard & Poor's rating: Long term: BB-, stable outlook; short term: B since 19 July 2010.

Wendel is the founding sponsor of the Centre Pompidou-Metz, which, on September, 23, 2011 welcomed its millionth visitor since opening its doors in May 2010.

Media contacts Analyst and investor contacts Christèle Lion: +33 (0)1 42 85 91 27 Laurent Marie: +33 (0)1 42 85 91 31

c.lion@wendelgroup.com l.marie@wendelgroup.com Olivier Allot: +33 (0)1 42 85 63 73 o.allot@wendelgroup.com