Posted on 24-Feb-2017

Transparency notifications BlackRock, Inc.

Brussels (Belgium), 24 February 2017 – 20:10 (CET) – regulated information

1. Summary of the notifications

Pursuant to Article 14 of the law of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of large shareholdings, UCB SA/NV announces that it has received 3 transparency notifications, dated 20, 22 and 23 February 2017 respectively, from BlackRock, Inc. (having its registered offices at 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY, 10055, U.S.A.).

In the first notification, BlackRock, Inc. has notified that, following a disposal of UCB shares with voting rights by its affiliates, its shareholding in UCB SA/NV has decreased and has crossed downward the 3% threshold of voting rights on 17 February 2017.
In the second notification, BlackRock, Inc. has informed that, following a disposal of UCB shares with voting rights and equivalent financial instruments by its affiliates, its shareholding in UCB SA/NV has further decreased and has crossed the lowest minimum minimum threshold of 3% (of voting rights and equivalent financial instruments) again on 20 February 2017.

In the third notification, BlackRock, Inc. has notified that, following an acquisition of UCB shares with voting rights by its affiliates, its shareholding in UCB SA/NV has increased and has crossed the 3% threshold (of voting rights and equivalent financial instruments) on 21 February 2017.

On 17 February 2017, BlackRock, Inc. (taking into account the holding of its affiliates) owned 5 643 589 UCB shares with voting rights (versus 5 994 140 UCB shares in its previous notification dated 13 February 2017), representing 2.90% of the total number of shares issued by the company (194 505 658) (versus 3.08% in the notification dated 13 February 2017).
On 22 February 2017, BlackRock, Inc. (taking into account the holding of its affiliates) owned 5 654 855 UCB shares with voting rights, representing 2.91% of the total number of shares issued by the company (3.01% if you take into account voting rights and equivalent financial instruments).

2. Content of the notifications

The transparency notification dated 20 February 2017 includes the following information:

  • Reason for the notification: Acquisition or disposal of voting securities or voting rights.
  • Persons subject to the notification requirement:

  • Date on which the threshold is crossed: 17 February 2017.
  • Notified details:

    

  • Additional information: The disclosure obligation arose due to voting rights for BlackRock, Inc. going below 3% (of voting rights).

The transparency notification dated 22 February 2017 includes the following information:

  • Reason for the notification:
    • Acquisition or disposal of voting securities or voting rights;
    • Downward crossing of the lowest threshold.
  • Persons subject to the notification requirement:

  • Date on which the threshold is crossed: 20 February 2017.
  • Notified details:

  

  • Additional information: The disclosure obligation arose due to total holding in voting rights for BlackRock, Inc. going below 3% (i.e. voting rights and equivalent financial instruments).

The transparency notification dated 23 February 2017 includes the following information:

  • Reason for the notification: Acquisition or disposal of voting securities or voting rights
  • Persons subject to the notification requirement:

  • Date on which the threshold is crossed: 21 February 2017.
  • Notified details:

 

  • Additional information: The disclosure obligation arose due to total holding in voting rights for BlackRock, Inc. going above 3% (i.e. voting rights and equivalent financial instruments).

The information mentioned hereafter was identical in all these notifications:

  • Notification by: A parent undertaking or a controlling person.
  • Threshold crossed (in %): 3%.
  • Denominator: 194 505 658.
  • Chain of controlled undertakings through which the holding is effectively held:

Please see the full chain of control in the PDF which is attached to the notifications.

3. Further information
This press release and the detailed transparency notifications are available on UCB SA/NV’s website via the following link.
An updated overview of the UCB SA/NV large shareholdings will be available on UCB SA/NV’s website via the following link.

Investor Relations

Antje Witte         
Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.94.14 antje.witte@ucb.com

Isabelle Ghellynck,
 Investor Relations, UCB
T+32.2.559.9588, isabelle.ghellynck@ucb.com


About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 7 700 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 4.2 billion in 2016. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news