Letter from Chairman John Elkann to all FCA employees

LONDON, Dec. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
IMPORTANT NOTICE
By reading the following communication, you agree to be bound by the following limitations and qualifications:

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer or invitation to exchange or sell or solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, or an invitation to exchange, purchase or subscribe for, any securities, any part of the business or assets described herein, or any other interests or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. This communication should not be construed in any manner as a recommendation to any reader of this document. 

This communication is not a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other offering document for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14th 2017.

An offer of securities in the United States pursuant to a business combination transaction will only be made, as may be required, through a prospectus which is part of an effective registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Shareholders of Peugeot S.A. ("PSA") and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. ("FCA") who are U.S. persons or are located in the United States are advised to read the registration statement on Form F-4  which was declared effective by the SEC on November 20, 2020 because it contains important information relating to the proposed transaction. The registration statement on Form F-4 in connection with the combination of FCA and PSA through a cross-border merger was filed with the SEC on July 24, 2020, and amended on September 28, 2020, November 5, 2020, November 16, 2020 and November 18, 2020), and was declared effective on November 20, 2020. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction, documents incorporated by reference, and FCA's SEC filings at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the effective registration statement will be made available for free to shareholders in the United States.

The following is the full text of a Letter sent by Chairman John Elkann to all FCA employees today:

"Dear Colleagues,

As we come to the end of 2020 – a year unlike any other we have known – we're also fast approaching the day when we will begin our next chapter with the creation of Stellantis.

As you know it has been agreed that Carlos Tavares will become the CEO of the new company and that Mike will play a fundamental role in the future success of Stellantis.

Mike's and Carlos' early meeting of minds – thanks also to a longstanding working friendship – has been critical to every subsequent stage of our discussions with Groupe PSA as it will be for the new company going forward.

Mike championed the extraordinary potential of this industry-changing merger from its earliest days and he has also set the tone for all the great work that has been done by the FCA teams working with our PSA soon-to-be-colleagues, from before the merger announcement a year ago to where we are today, precisely twelve months later.

The challenges we have faced as a group in recent years have been tougher than ever. Mike took the helm of our company under the most difficult of circumstances, with Sergio's cruel and premature passing in July 2018, and he took us out of those dark days, leading by example.  The following year, 2019, can hardly be described as uneventful, but even so we concluded it by sealing our historic merger with Groupe PSA and with another set of very strong results. 2020, a year whose like none of us could have imagined, has required us all to reinvent the way we work, and once again Mike has led from the front making sure to protect you and your work, staying close to our communities and ensuring that our company with all of your contributions has performed to the highest standards.

The fact that as FCA we are entering this new and exciting era in such very strong, robust shape is a great tribute to him and his leadership style, centred around diversity, respect and collaboration, just as it is to all of you and your extraordinary achievements right across the company. The performance we announced for the third quarter was truly outstanding, in fact an all-time record in terms of group and North America results.

Perhaps it should be no surprise that having led the profound transformation and exceptional development of the Jeep and Ram brands before becoming our CEO, Mike has taken the rough terrain of the past couple of years in his stride. We have been fortunate indeed to have him as our CEO. And so, you will understand why I'm delighted to be able to inform you today that once our merger completes – hopefully soon in the new year – Mike will be asked to take up the role of Head of Americas, working alongside Carlos and continuing to bring his great experience, energy and drive to making Stellantis the extraordinary company we know it will be.

He will share his own words with you in his Town Hall meeting later today, but please join me now in appreciation of his leadership over these past two and half years, warmly congratulating him on his new role.

John Elkann "

London, 18 December 2020

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains forward-looking statements. In particular, these forward-looking statements include statements regarding future financial performance and the expectations of FCA and PSA (the "Parties") as to the achievement of certain targeted metrics at any future date or for any future period are forward-looking statements. These statements may include terms such as "may", "will", "expect", "could", "should", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "remain", "on track", "design", "target", "objective", "goal", "forecast", "projection", "outlook", "prospects", "plan", or similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Rather, they are based on the Parties' current state of knowledge, future expectations and projections about future events and are by their nature, subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. They relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur or exist in the future and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on them.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability of PSA and FCA and/or the combined group resulting from the proposed transaction (together with the Parties, the "Companies") to launch new products successfully and to maintain vehicle shipment volumes; changes in the global financial markets, general economic environment and changes in demand for automotive products, which is subject to cyclicality; changes in local economic and political conditions, changes in trade policy and the imposition of global and regional tariffs or tariffs targeted to the automotive industry, the enactment of tax reforms or other changes in tax laws and regulations; the Companies' ability to expand certain of their brands globally; the Companies' ability to offer innovative, attractive products; the Companies' ability to develop, manufacture and sell vehicles with advanced features including enhanced electrification, connectivity and autonomous-driving characteristics; various types of claims, lawsuits, governmental investigations and other contingencies, including product liability and warranty claims and environmental claims, investigations and lawsuits; material operating expenditures in relation to compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations; the intense level of competition in the automotive industry, which may increase due to consolidation; exposure to shortfalls in the funding of the Parties' defined benefit pension plans; the ability to provide or arrange for access to adequate financing for dealers and retail customers and associated risks related to the establishment and operations of financial services companies; the ability to access funding to execute the Companies' business plans and improve their businesses, financial condition and results of operations; a significant malfunction, disruption or security breach compromising information technology systems or the electronic control systems contained in the Companies' vehicles; the Companies' ability to realize anticipated benefits from joint venture arrangements; disruptions arising from political, social and economic instability; risks associated with our relationships with employees, dealers and suppliers; increases in costs, disruptions of supply or shortages of raw materials; developments in labor and industrial relations and developments in applicable labor laws; exchange rate fluctuations, interest rate changes, credit risk and other market risks; political and civil unrest; earthquakes or other disasters; uncertainties as to whether the proposed business combination discussed in this document will be consummated or as to the timing thereof; the risk that the announcement of the proposed business combination may make it more difficult for the Parties to establish or maintain relationships with their employees, suppliers and other business partners or governmental entities; the risk that the businesses of the Parties will be adversely impacted during the pendency of the proposed business combination; risks related to the regulatory approvals necessary for the combination; the risk that the operations of PSA and FCA will not be integrated successfully and other risks and uncertainties.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this communication speak only as of the date of this document and the Parties disclaim any obligation to update or revise publicly forward-looking statements. Further information concerning the Parties and their businesses, including factors that could materially affect the Parties' financial results, are included in FCA's reports and filings with the SEC (including the registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the SEC on July 24, 2020, and amended on September 28, 2020, November 5, 2020, November 16, 2020 and November 18, 2020, and declared effective on November 20,2020), the AFM and CONSOB and PSA's filings with the AMF.

SOURCE Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV