Univar and Nexeo Solutions Announce Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. and THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Univar Inc. (NYSE: UNVR) (“Univar”) and Nexeo Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXEO) (“Nexeo Solutions”) today announced that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, relating to the previously-announced acquisition of Nexeo Solutions by Univar, expired on November 15, 2018. The expiration of the waiting period is a condition to the closing of the transaction. The transaction remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including approval by other national regulatory authorities and shareholder approval. Nexeo Solutions’ key stockholders, TPG and First Pacific, have agreed to provide consent for the proposed transaction. Subject to the satisfaction of the remaining closing conditions, the transaction is now expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.

About Univar
Founded in 1924, Univar (NYSE: UNVR) is a global chemical and ingredient distributor and provider of value-added services, working with leading suppliers worldwide. Supported by a comprehensive team of sales and technical professionals with deep specialty and market expertise, Univar operates hundreds of distribution facilities throughout North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Univar delivers tailored customer solutions through a broad product and services portfolio sustained by one of the most extensive industry distribution networks in the world. For more information, visit www.univar.com. 

About Nexeo Solutions
Nexeo Solutions is a leading global chemicals and plastics distributor, representing products from world-class producers to a diverse customer base. From product specification to sustainable solutions, the Company goes beyond traditional logistics to provide value-added services across many industries, including chemicals manufacturing, oil and gas, coatings, personal care, healthcare, automotive and 3D printing. The Company leverages a centralized technology platform to identify efficiencies and create solutions to unlock value for suppliers and customers. Learn more at www.nexeosolutions.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 codified in Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended. Some forward-looking statements may be identified, without limitation, by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this communication and include statements regarding, among other things, the expected timetable for closing of the proposed transaction between Univar Inc. (“Univar”) and Nexeo Solutions, Inc. (“Nexeo”), the expected benefits and synergies of the proposed transaction and the operating results, performance and capital structure of the combined company.

Forward-looking statements are based on Univar’s and Nexeo’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on Univar, Nexeo and the combined company. While Univar and Nexeo believe that forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting Univar, Nexeo and the combined company will be those anticipated. A number of important factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond Univar’s or Nexeo’s control. Factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements include: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the ability to satisfy the conditions to closing of the proposed transaction on the expected timing or at all and other risks related to the completion of the proposed transaction; the ability to obtain required shareholder and regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction on the expected timing or at all; the ability to complete the proposed transaction on the expected terms and timing or at all; higher than expected or unexpected costs associated with or relating to the proposed transaction; the risk that expected benefits, synergies and growth prospects of the proposed transaction and combined company may not be achieved in a timely manner or at all; results of the strategic review of Nexeo’s plastics distribution business in connection with the consummation of the proposed transaction and the outcome and impact of a resulting strategic transaction, if any; the ability to successfully integrate Nexeo’s business with Univar following the closing; the risk that Univar and Nexeo will be unable to retain and hire key personnel; the risk that disruption from the proposed transaction may adversely affect Univar’s and Nexeo’s business and their respective relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors or employees; and other risks detailed in the risk factors discussed in “Item 1.A. Risk Factors” in each of Univar’s and Nexeo’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as updated by any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and future filings with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, comments concerning our expectations for future revenues and operating results are based on our forecasts for our existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions, divestitures or other potential strategic transactions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Neither Univar nor Nexeo undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Disclaimer

This communication shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Additional Information and Where to Find it

In connection with the proposed transaction between Univar and Nexeo, Univar has filed a registration statement on Form S-4, that contains a preliminary prospectus and a proxy statement for Univar and consent solicitation statement for Nexeo (the “prospectus/joint proxy and consent solicitation statement”). These materials are not yet final and will be amended. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF UNIVAR AND NEXEO ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, INCLUDING THE PROSPECTUS/JOINT PROXY AND CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. A definitive prospectus/joint proxy and consent solicitation statement will be sent to the shareholders of Univar and Nexeo after the registration statement becomes effective. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of the prospectus/joint proxy and consent solicitation statement as well as other filings containing information about Univar and Nexeo, without charge, at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Univar will be available free of charge within the investor relations section of Univar’s website at www.univar.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Nexeo will be available free of charge within the investor relations section of Nexeo’s website at www.nexeosolutions.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

Univar, Nexeo and each of their directors, executive officers and certain other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Univar’s shareholders and consents from Nexeo’s shareholders in respect of the proposed transaction between Univar and Nexeo. Information regarding Univar’s directors and executive officers is contained in Univar’s proxy statement for its 2018 annual meeting, which was filed with the SEC on March 20, 2018. Information regarding Nexeo’s directors and executive officers is contained in Nexeo’s proxy statement for its 2018 annual meeting, which was filed with the SEC on December 14, 2017. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the definitive prospectus/joint proxy and consent solicitation statement when it becomes available, which may be obtained as described in the paragraphs above.