Sika News 2015

Sika has opened a state-of-the-art new mortar products plant in North America with huge market potential in interior finishing in the fast-growing cities on the US East Coast. The new plant is an extension of Sika's existing concrete admixture plant, the capacity of which has also been increased.

Dear Sika shareholder,

Dear Shareholders in Saint-Gobain,

Walter Grüebler has withdrawn his challenge action against the resolution of the annual general shareholders' meeting of April 14, 2015, to hold an extraordinary shareholders' meeting (see press release of June 11, 2015). As a result the Cantonal Court of Zug terminated the proceedings in its decision of November 12, 2015.

▪ 5.5% sales growth at constant exchange rates
▪ Growth in all regions
▪ Net profit up by an above-average 9.0%
▪ 8 new factories opened, 3 new national subsidiaries established, 5 acquisitions

Sika has today been informed that Schenker-Winkler Holding AG (SWH) challenges certain decisions of the extraordinary shareholders meeting of July 24, 2015. With this challenge SWH seeks the removal from office of the independent Board members Paul Hälg, Monika Ribar and Daniel Sauter and the election of Max Roesle. Already pending before the cantonal court of Zug is a challenge by SWH of certain decisions of the ordinary general assembly of April 14, 2015, in particular the re-election of the independent Board members Paul Hälg, Monika Ribar, Daniel Sauter, Ulrich Suter and Christoph Tobler and the non-election of Max Roesle.

Sika is opening its first concrete admixture and mortar production facilities in Nigeria and Ivory Coast and has established new subsidiaries in Ethiopia and Tanzania to participate in the growing markets in the Sub-Saharan region. Thus Sika continues its dedicated and successful expansion strategy and is enlarging its presence to sixteen countries on the African continent.

We are proud to announce that Sika Automotive has received a Winner award in the category "Digital" at this year's Automotive Brand Contest, sponsored and judged by the German Design Council for the new Marketing and media theme "Lighter, Stronger, Safer, Quieter, and Greener - Better Vehicles Start With Sika".

Sika is further expanding its supply chain in prosperous markets. In Cordoba, Argentina, a new production facility for mortars and admixtures opened. The new plant, 700 kilometers northwest of the capital Buenos Aires, is Sika’s second production site in the country. It is located in the center of a geographical area that accounts for 25% of Argentina’s GDP.

According to a press release published today, the Federal Administrative Court rejected the appeal filed by the shareholder group William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates (as Trustees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust) and Cascade Investment. With this decision the Federal Administrative Court confirmed FINMA's decision pursuant to which the opting-out clause, according to article 5 of Sika AG's articles of association, is applicable to the proposed acquisition of Schenker-Winkler Holding AG by Saint-Gobain and Saint-Gobain is not obliged to submit a public tender offer to all shareholders of Sika AG. Sika itself did not appeal the FINMA decision and was not a party to the proceedings before the Federal Administrative Court.