CMA CGM's Bid for NOL Open Until July 4
CMA CGM has finally made its all-cash voluntary conditional general offer for all the outstanding shares of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL). This follows approvals by the relevant regulatory authorities in the European Union and China.
The offer price is SGD 1.30 in cash per NOL share, which CMA CGM called a fair value and an offer that the company does not intend to increase.
Acceptance of the offer is due by July 4, 2016.
CMA CGM currently owns 10.5% of all NOL shares, and intends to delist and privatise NOL through the Offer. NOL’s majority shareholders (Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited and its affiliates), which own 66.78% of all NOL shares, will tender all of their NOL shares in acceptance of the Offer.
“CMA CGM believes that the acquisition of NOL would enable CMA CGM to reinforce its position as a leader in the container shipping industry, with a capacity of approximately 2.35 million TEUs, a market share of approximately 11.7%, a fleet of approximately 540 vessels and a combined annual turnover of approximately US$21 billion,” CMA CGM said in a press release regarding the offer.
“Leveraging the complementary strengths of the two entities, the combined group’s customers will have access to an enlarged and well-balanced shipping coverage across the strategic trades of global commerce, and to an extended range of products and services. CMA CGM further believes that the combination of the two groups would also create scale to enhance competitiveness and deliver sustainable performance,” it added.
Maybank Kim Eng Securities Pte. Ltd. (MKES) has been appointed as the independent financial adviser (IFA) to advise the directors of NOL who are considered independent for the purposes of the Offer (Independent Directors).