Marel Offer Summary
JBT today announced its intention to launch a voluntary takeover offer during the first quarter of 2024 for all of the issued and outstanding shares in Marel at an offer price of €3.60 per share. Such offer values the entire share capital of Marel at approximately €2.7 billion and, inclusive of Marel’s net indebtedness of approximately €0.8 billion as of September 30, 2023, represents an enterprise value of approximately €3.5 billion.
Based on an agreed exchange ratio for the JBT stock portion of the consideration that utilizes a reference share price of $96.25 per share of JBT, the offer would result in Marel shareholders receiving an aggregate of approximately €950 million in cash and holding approximately a 38 percent ownership interest in the combined company.
It is anticipated that Marel shareholders will have the option to receive either cash, JBT common stock, or a combination thereof in respect of their Marel shares. Elections will be subject to a proration process such that the offer achieves a weighted average mix of approximately 65 percent stock and approximately 35 percent in cash.
Eyrir Invest hf., the largest shareholder in Marel with 24.7 percent of Marel’s share capital as of the date of this announcement, has irrevocably undertaken to JBT to accept the offer in respect of all of its shares in Marel.
“This announcement is a result of productive discussions between the management of JBT and Marel,” added Deck. “We look forward to working together on confirmatory due diligence and finalization of the formal voluntary takeover offer on the terms outlined above.”
The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2024.
Anticipated Financial Impacts
“The enhanced global operating scale of the combined company is expected to generate meaningful operating cost synergies, and we anticipate additional synergies from revenue to drive incremental and compelling value creation,” stated Deck.
Operating efficiencies are expected to create meaningful cost synergies of more than $125 million within three years following the completion of the transaction across areas such as procurement, manufacturing, and G&A. In addition, the combined company is expected to benefit from additional revenue synergies given attractive cross-selling, go-to-market effectiveness, scaled innovation, and enhanced global customer care capabilities.
Assuming a transaction close by year-end 2024, the combined company is expected to have a pro forma net leverage ratio of less than 3.5x at year-end 2024, which is prior to synergies, and be well below 3.0x net leverage by year-end 2025, providing significant financial flexibility to the combined company to pursue further strategic initiatives.
This transaction is consistent with JBT’s previously stated M&A criteria, including expectations of accretion to cash EPS within the first full year following completion of the merger along with double-digit return on ROIC within four to five years post close.
Governance and Commitment to Marel’s Heritage
The offer is expected to provide for proportional representation on the combined company’s board for Marel shareholders based on pro forma ownership in the combined company. Brian Deck will continue as President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company. JBT is committed to collaborating with Marel to determine the best talent to lead the combined organization, including key management positions.