Verallia has successfully completed its eighth employee shareholding offer. On 22 June more than 3,600 employees, including 76% of French employees, signed up to share in the Group’s development and performance. Open from 3 to 17 May in nine countries, this programme afforded workers exclusive conditions to join the Group’s share capital, i.e. a 20% discount on the share price and a favourable matching contribution plan.

Total investment by employees (including the Company’s matching contribution) thus amounts to over €18.6 million. At the close, 611,445 new ordinary shares, representing 0.5% of the share capital and voting rights, had been issued by the Company. Verallia simultaneously reduced its capital by cancelling 611,445 shares acquired under the share buyback programme.

Over the history of the scheme more than 48% of employees have become Verallia shareholders, and 88% of French employees, directly and through the Verallia FCPE. Employees now hold 4.2% of the Company’s capital.

In the words of Verallia’s CEO, Patrice Lucas: “This scheme is rooted in the Group’s DNA and demonstrates once again that we are resolutely committed to sharing value. By involving our employees, we give them the opportunity to participate more fully in the life of our company, and to take an interest in the successful implementation of our strategy. Among other things, this operation also enables us to involve our employees in our economic and financial objectives, and to reinforce the stability of our capital. We also stay on our target to reach 5% employee share ownership by 2025.”

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