Wyser-Pratte Management Company, Cycladic Capital and DGB Investments Announce Holding in Valeo SA (FR FP)



    Wyser-Pratte Management Company, Cycladic Capital and Douglas G.
    Bergeron (DGB) Investments, (the "Investment Group" or the "Group"),
    today notified Valeo SA (the "Company") of a concert party holding of
    approximately 2.4% of the outstanding shares of Valeo held by funds
    which the Investment Group manage.

    The Investment Group believes that Valeo's assets are being
    under-managed and that there is the potential to significantly
    increase shareholder value through a more proactive approach to
    restructuring and portfolio management.

    Most of the divisions are performing worse than their peers. The
    Group calls on management to accelerate the pace of restructuring
    among the Company's twelve divisions and eliminate the inefficiencies
    in the current structure.

    The Group also believes that the research and development process,
    organization and pipeline is managed ineffectively and has the scope
    to be significantly improved. Further benefits can come from the
    consolidation of the production and logistics network, and elimination
    of excess overhead costs. The opportunity is there to significantly
    increase Valeo's operating margins through a well-implemented
    restructuring process.

    The Investment Group seeks to bring an immediate halt to any
    further acquisitions being contemplated by management, including the
    acquisition of Ford's North American heating and air conditioning
    plants and/or an acquisition of parts or all of Visteon, until such
    time as Valeo management has been able to convince shareholders of the
    merits of such acquisitions in the context of a broader strategic
    plan.

    The Group looks forward to a constructive and meaningful
    discussion with management and major shareholders in the near future.

    Wyser-Pratte Management Company, based in New York City, is a
    value oriented investment fund focused on delivering returns to its
    limited partners through active involvement with its investments. Mr.
    Wyser-Pratte has been a prominent shareholder activist since 1974 and
    has focused on shareholder initiatives to restructure European
    companies since 1995.

    Cycladic Capital, based in London, is an investment fund that
    invests in European companies and seeks, through active engagement, to
    crystallize the value inherent in these companies. Cycladic has
    successfully worked with senior management and the boards of companies
    across Europe to deliver value to shareholders.

    DGB Investments, based in San Jose, California, is the
    wholly-owned investment vehicle of Douglas G. Bergeron, Chairman, CEO,
    and largest individual shareholder of VeriFone Holdings (NYSE: PAY).
    DGB Investments has successfully engaged with corporations worldwide
    to accelerate operational and competitive improvements to their
    businesses. In 2006, Mr. Bergeron was selected by Carl Icahn to his
    proposed slate of alternative directors for Time Warner, Inc.