Join +750K new investors every month who copy stock picks from billionaire's portfoliosSign Up Free

UPDATE 1-Australia's SAI Global backs $760 mln Baring Asia private equity buyout

Published 26/09/2016, 11:24 am
© Reuters.  UPDATE 1-Australia's SAI Global backs $760 mln Baring Asia private equity buyout
GS
-
CSGN
-
SAI
-

* Directors unanimously support A$4.75 per share offer

* Terms offer one-third premium to last closing price

* SAI shares jump 31 pct after trading resumes

* Comes 2 years after KKR-PEP scrapped higher offer (Adds CEO quotes, shares, SAI takeover context)

SYDNEY, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Australian risk compliance services firm SAI Global Ltd SAI.AX is backing a A$1 billion ($761 million) takeover from Hong Kong-based Baring Asia Private Equity, two years after KKR & Co LP KKR.N and a domestic buyout firm scrapped a higher offer.

SAI said in a statement on Monday its directors would vote unanimously in favour of the Baring's A$4.75 per share all-cash offer - a one-third premium to its last closing share price of A$3.59. It recommended shareholders do the same in its statement, jointly issued with Baring.

"Baring Asia's proposal is compelling and represents a significant premium to SAI's share price," SAI Chairman Andrew Dutton said in the statement.

SAI shares jumped 31 percent to A$4.72 when trading resumed after a halt earlier on Monday - just below the offer price - in a sign shareholders expect the deal to proceed. It was their biggest one-day jump since listing, and their highest intraday level in two years.

The target company's acceptance of an offer below the A$1.1 billion proposed by KKR and top Australian buyout firm Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) in 2014 comes as the Sydney-listed company struggled to convince investors it can flourish as a standalone listed company.

The shares had fallen by a fifth since KKR-PEP walked away from takeover talks amid media reports that the suitors were concerned about lack of visibility about future SAI contracts which were still under negotiation.

In August, SAI reported record annual net profit, but the result still failed to boost the stock because it largely reflected the benefits of foreign exchange movements and the absence of one-off restructuring costs booked the previous year.

On Monday, SAI's Dutton said Baring's offer gives shareholders "certainty of value and the opportunity to realise their investment in full for cash". The deal would have limited impact on SAI's continuing operations, he added.

Baring founding partner and Chief Executive Officer Jean Eric Salata said in the statement that Baring plans to grow SAI's presence globally.

The companies said they will ask SAI shareholders to vote on the deal in December and that they expect it to be completed by the end of 2016.

Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) was SAI's adviser on the deal, while Baring was advised by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and UBS.

($1 = 1.3139 Australian dollars)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.