DANONE S/ADR - DANOY STOCK NEWS

Danone has successfully issued a €1 billion bond with a 4.5-year maturity and a 0% coupon, enhancing its financial flexibility and extending its debt maturity. This bond issue, which is set to settle on June 1, 2021, received widespread subscription from a diversified investor base, reflecting confidence in Danone's business model and credit profile. Danone maintains a BBB+ rating from Standard & Poor's and a Baa1 rating from Moody's. The company aims to promote health through food while committing to sustainability and holding significant market share with €23.6 billion in sales reported in 2020.

Danone has appointed Antoine de Saint-Affrique as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2021. This decision follows a thorough selection process by the Governance Committee. He will replace the interim leadership of Véronique Penchienati-Bosetta and Shane Grant. Saint-Affrique, previously CEO of Barry Callebaut and with significant experience at Unilever, is expected to drive Danone's future growth and align with its mission of health-focused food innovation. The Board expresses confidence in his ability to create sustainable value for shareholders.

On May 13, 2021, Danone announced the completion of its strategic sale of a 9.8% stake in China Mengniu Dairy, generating gross proceeds of HKD 15.4 billion (approximately €1.6 billion). The settlement is scheduled for May 17, 2021. As part of its capital allocation strategy, the majority of the sale proceeds will be returned to shareholders via a share buyback program, details of which will be shared later.

Danone has initiated a strategic sale of its approximately 9.8% stake in China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited through an accelerated bookbuilding process. This move follows the completion of converting Danone's long-term stake into a direct holding on April 16, 2021. Further details about the sale's outcome and financial proceeds will be disclosed in due time.

Danone has disclosed the total number of voting rights and shares as of April 30, 2021. The company has a total of 686,629,600 shares and a theoretical total of 712,693,616 voting rights. However, the number of exercisable voting rights stands at 675,859,926. This information complies with the French Commercial Code and Financial Markets Authority regulations, ensuring transparency for shareholders. The disclosure helps investors understand the voting power associated with their shares.

Danone, a purpose-driven company, welcomed former IUF General Secretary Ron Oswald to its Mission Committee. This committee, established after Danone's transition to an Entreprise à Mission, will focus on sustainable value creation across various sectors, including health, nutrition, and agriculture. Oswald's extensive experience in the international trade union movement is expected to enhance the committee's insights. Danone aims for B Corp certification by 2025 and generated €23.6 billion in sales in 2020, emphasizing its commitment to sustainability and stakeholder value.

Danone's Shareholders’ Meeting took place on April 29, 2021, with 64.09% of capital represented. All resolutions were approved, including the financial statements for 2020 and a proposed cash dividend of €1.94 per share, reflecting an 8% decrease from 2019. The ex-dividend date is May 10, 2021. Additionally, the Board's committee compositions were updated, and the capital increase program for employees was extended, allowing a 20% discount on shares. Danone aims for B Corp certification by 2025 and generated €23.6 billion in sales in 2020.

In the first quarter of 2021, Danone reported consolidated sales of €5.657 billion, reflecting a decline of -3.3% on a like-for-like basis and a -9.4% drop in reported sales, primarily due to currency impacts and Covid-related challenges. The company anticipates a return to like-for-like growth in Q2 and profitable growth by H2 2021. Key segments saw mixed performance: Essential Dairy and Plant-based grew by +1.6%, while Specialized Nutrition fell by -7.7%. Management changes include the appointment of interim co-CEOs, with a search for a permanent CEO underway.

Danone has reported its total number of shares and voting rights as of March 31, 2021. It holds a total of 686,629,600 shares. The total number of theoretical voting rights stands at 712,709,996, while the total number of exercisable voting rights is 675,876,306. This information is provided in compliance with the French Commercial Code and AMF regulations.