(1)	Organization and Business Operations

Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (GSM, the Company, we, or our) is among the world’s largest producers of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys, important ingredients in a variety of industrial and consumer products. The Company’s customers include major silicone chemical, aluminum and steel manufacturers, auto companies and their suppliers, ductile iron foundries, manufacturers of photovoltaic solar cells and computer chips, and concrete producers.

On November 13, 2006, the Company acquired Globe Metallurgical, Inc. (GMI), a manufacturer of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. GMI owns and operates plants in Beverly, Ohio, Alloy, West Virginia, Niagara Falls, New York, and Selma, Alabama. GMI’s products are sold primarily to the silicone chemical, aluminum, metal casting, and solar cell industries, primarily in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. GMI also owns Norchem, Inc. (Norchem). Norchem manufactures and sells additives that enhance the durability of concrete, refractory material, and oil well conditioners. GMI sells silica fume (also known as microsilica), a by-product of its ferrosilicon metal and silicon metal production process, to Norchem, as well as other companies.

On November 20, 2006, the Company acquired Stein Ferroaleaciones S.A. (SFA), an Argentine manufacturer of silicon-based alloys, and SFA’s affiliate, UltraCore Polska Sp.z.o.o. (UCP), a Polish manufacturer of cored wire alloys. SFA was renamed Globe Metales S.A. (Globe Metales). Globe Metales is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina and operates a silicon-based alloy manufacturing plant in Mendoza province, Argentina and a cored wire packing plant in Police, Poland. Globe Metales’ products are important ingredients in the manufacturing of steel, ductile iron, machine and auto parts, and pipe.

On January 31, 2007, the Company acquired Camargo Correa Metais S.A. (CCM), one of Brazil’s largest producers of silicon metal and silica fume. CCM was renamed Globe Metais Indústria e Comércio S.A. (Globe Metais). On November 5, 2009, the Company sold 100% of its interest in Globe Metais. The sale of the Company’s equity interest in Globe Metais was executed in connection with the sale of a 49% membership interest in WVA Manufacturing, LLC (WVA LLC), a newly formed entity by the Company, to Dow Corning Corporation (Dow Corning).

On February 29, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 81% of Solsil, Inc. (Solsil). Solsil is continuing to develop its technology to produce upgraded metallurgical grade silicon through a proprietary metallurgical process for use in photovoltaic (solar) cells. Solsil is not presently producing material for commercial sale. The Company owns 97.25% of Solsil.

On May 15, 2008, the Company purchased an ownership interest of approximately 58% of Ningxia Yonvey Coal Industrial Co., Ltd (Yonvey). Yonvey is a producer of carbon electrodes, an important input in the silicon metal production process. Yonvey now principally supplies its electrodes to our subsidiaries. Yonvey’s operations are located in Chonggang Industrial Park, Shizuishan in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. On November 28, 2008, the Company increased its interest by an additional 12%. In January 2013, the Company purchased an additional 28% ownership interest in Yonvey, bringing the Company’s ownership interest in Yonvey to 98%.

On April 1, 2010, the Company acquired Core Metals Group Holdings LLC (Core Metals). Core Metals is a leading producer, marketer, and distributor of ferroalloys and specialty materials for the North American steel and foundry industry. The acquisition was made to strengthen the Company’s growing ferrosilicon business and expand the line of products and services it offers to steel markets around the world.

On July 28, 2011, the Company acquired Alden Resources, LLC (Alden) and Gatliff Services, LLC (Gatliff), collectively known as Alden. Alden is North America’s leading miner, processor and supplier of specialty metallurgical coal to the silicon and silicon-based alloy industries. The acquisition was made in order to secure a stable, long-term and low-cost supply of specialty metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in the production of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys.

On June 13, 2012, the Company acquired Becancour Silicon Metal Inc.'s (BSI) 51% equity interest in Quebec Silicon Limited Partnership (QSLP), collectively known as Quebec Silicon. The Company operates Quebec Silicon’s silicon metal plant located in Becancour, Quebec with its joint venture partner Dow Corning.

On November 21, 2013, the Company purchased 100% of the outstanding shares of Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd. (Siltech). Siltech is a silicon-based alloy producer in South Africa. The acquisition was made to increase the Company’s current silicon-based alloy capacity.

See note 3 (Business Combinations) for additional information regarding business combinations.

Proposed Business Combination

On February 23, 2015, the Company, Grupo Villar Mir, S.A.U., a public limited company (sociedad anónima) incorporated under the laws of Spain (“Grupo VM”), Grupo FerroAtlántica, S.A.U., a Spanish public limited liability company in the form of a sociedad anónima and wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo VM (“FerroAtlántica”), VeloNewco Limited, a newly formed private UK holding company and wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo VM (“VeloNewco”), and Gordon Merger Sub, Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of VeloNewco (“Merger Sub”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Original Business Combination Agreement”) pursuant to which the parties agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Original Business Combination Agreement, to combine the businesses of the Company and FerroAtlántica under VeloNewco as described below (the “Business Combination”). The Original Business Combination Agreement was amended and restated on May 5, 2015. The Original Business Combination Agreement, as so amended and restated, is referred to as the “Business Combination Agreement”.

Transaction Overview

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, VeloNewco agreed to acquire from Grupo VM all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of FerroAtlántica in exchange for an aggregate of 98,078,161 newly issued VeloNewco Class A ordinary shares (each an “A Ordinary Share”), which will result in FerroAtlántica becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of VeloNewco (the “Stock Exchange”). After consummation of the Stock Exchange, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of VeloNewco (the “Merger”).

In the Stock Exchange, Grupo VM may be required to pay to VeloNewco as additional consideration for the A Ordinary Shares an amount in cash, if any, based upon FerroAtlántica’s net debt at closing. In the Merger, each share of common stock of the Company will be converted into the right to receive one VeloNewco ordinary share (each an “Ordinary Share”). The A Ordinary Shares and the Ordinary Shares will have the same rights, powers and preferences, and vote together as a single class, except for the right of the holders of Ordinary Shares to the R&W Proceeds as described below.

In connection with the transaction, VeloNewco expects to purchase a buy side representations and warranties insurance policy (the “R&W Policy”) to insure against certain breaches of certain representations and warranties made by FerroAtlántica and Grupo VM in the Business Combination Agreement. Under the terms of the Articles of Association of VeloNewco (the “VeloNewco Articles”), if VeloNewco receives proceeds under the R&W Policy (after deduction of taxes applicable to such proceeds, if any) (the “R&W Proceeds”), VeloNewco is required to distribute the aggregate R&W Proceeds to the holders of the Ordinary Shares. Each A Ordinary Share automatically converts into one Ordinary Share upon the earlier to occur of: (a) the expiration of the R&W Policy; and (b) its transfer to any person or group which is not Grupo VM, any Grupo VM family member or any affiliate of Grupo VM or a Grupo VM family member.

Completion of the Business Combination is subject to Globe shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The special meeting of Globe shareholders to consider adoption of the business combination agreement is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2015.