Euronext announces another extension to acceptance period for Oslo Bors offer
Euronext will continue to receive and accept tendered shares in the offer up to May 6, 2019 at 18:00 Central European Time.
Euronext NV (EPA:ENX) has just posted an update on its proposal to acquire Oslo Børs VPS.
In today’s announcement, Euronext says it has received the declaration of non objection from its College of Regulators for the contemplated acquisition of up to 100% of the capital of Oslo Børs VPS.
Further, Euronext amends today its Offer to acquire Oslo Børs VPS’s outstanding shares by extending the acceptance period. As a result of this extension, Euronext will continue to receive and accept tendered shares in the Offer up to May 6, 2019 at 18:00 Central European Time. All other terms of its Offer as revised on February 11, 2019 remain unchanged.
Euronext’s revised bid from February 11, 2019, proposes an Offer Price NOK 158 per share. This is being increased from NOK 145 in the original offer.
The offer price represents a 44% premium on Oslo Børs VPS`s undisturbed closing price as of 17 December 2018 and 46% on Oslo Børs VPS`s 3-month volume-weighted average share price as of 17 December 2018. Each accepting shareholder will also receive an Interest Payment on the Revised Offer Price equal to 6% per annum.
In addition, Euronext announces that Tom Vidar Rygh, Senior Advisor at international private equity fund Nordic Capital and previous Chairman and Member of the Board of Oslo Børs, has accepted to join the board of Oslo Børs VPS as an independent board member when the contemplated transaction is completed, subject to the usual regulatory approval.
Euronext reiterates that it has already secured a majority of the Oslo Børs VPS’s shares, that its minimum ownership condition has therefore been fulfilled and that it will complete the transaction once regulatory clearance has been obtained. As of today, Euronext has secured 53.1% of the share capital of Oslo Børs VPS through a combination of 8.1% of shares owned directly and 45.0% of shares committed to Euronext in the form of irrevocable pre-commitments and tendered shares.
Euronext’s offer is currently awaiting regulatory clearance from the Norwegian Ministry of Finance in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, which is the last major condition precedent to complete the acquisition of the majority of the Oslo Børs VPS’s shares. Euronext’s Reference Shareholders, who represent 23.86% of Euronext capital, have also confirmed their joint support to Euronext for this transaction.
Euronext has been in a bidding race with Nasdaq to acquire Oslo Bors. Nasdaq has also offered NOK 158 in cash per share in Oslo Børs VPS.
