FedEx-TNT deal edges forward
29 / 06 / 2015
FedEx’s potential $4.8bn takeover of TNT has edged further forward as the US express giant has filed regulatory paperwork to the European Commission.
Over the weekend, the New York Stock Exchange-listed logistics company confirmed it had submitted the required filing to the EC to obtain regulatory clearance in connection with the intended recommended public cash offer for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of TNT Express.
It added that it expected to submit a request for review and approval of its offer document with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets before June 30, as required under Dutch law.
“Based on the required steps and subject to the necessary approvals, closing of the Offer is anticipated in the first half of calendar year 2016,” FedEx said.
Other approvals will also need to be gained, with the offer conditional on FedEx also obtaining the required competition clearances in China, Brazil and, to the extent applicable, the US.
Under the planned deal, the relatively small TNT air fleet of 54 freighter aircraft would be sold to a third party, to assuage the competition authorities in the European Union and elsewhere. This had been one of the major sticking points in the previous proposed UPS takeover.
TNT’s owned and leased fleet includes B777Fs, B747Fs, and a combination of BAe 146, Boeing B737Fs and B757Fs.
The two sides reached a conditional agreement on the deal earlier in April. The agreement recommends an all-cash offer by FedEx for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares, including shares represented by American Depositary Receipts of TNT Express for a cash offer price of €8.00 per share.
