07-04-2021, 08:52 PM
Japan's Toshiba considers $20 billion take-private deal - source
By Makiko Yamazaki
APRIL 7, 202112:39 AM
TOKYO (Reuters) -Toshiba Corp is considering a $20 billion offer from private equity firm CVC Capital Partners to take it private, a person familiar with the matter said, as the Japanese industrial conglomerate faces pressure from activist shareholders to improve governance.
The proposed deal, which comes three weeks after shareholders approved an independent probe into the scandal-hit company, could shield management, particularly Chief Executive Nobuaki Kurumatani, from that scrutiny. It would, however, invite regulatory review given its government work.
“Toshiba received an initial proposal yesterday, and will ask for further clarification and give it careful consideration,” Toshiba said in a statement, without providing further details.
Toshiba’s board, which includes Kurumatani who joined Toshiba from CVC, and Yoshiaki Fujimori, a senior adviser at the private equity firm, discussed the proposal on Wednesday, the source with knowledge of the proposal said.
Shares in Toshiba soared 18% to their daily-limit on Wednesday.
CVC is considering a 30% premium over Toshiba’s current share price in a tender offer, putting the value of the deal at nearly 2.3 trillion yen ($21 billion) based on Tuesday’s closing share price of 3,830 yen, said the source, who declined to be identified as the matter is private.
LightStream Research analyst Mio Kato, who publishes on investment research platform Smartkarma, described that offer price as too low.
“We believe that current shareholders, especially activists, will want a rather steep price,” he said in research note.
If they accepted the current offer it would still be the biggest private equity-led deal in Asia Pacific this year, surpassing Blackstone’s $6 billion offer for Crown Resorts Ltd in Australia, according to Refinitiv data. It would also be CVC’s biggest foray into the region so far.
For CVC, which declined to comment, the proposal represents another chance to expand in Japan where large companies are under pressure to sell non-core assets and improve returns to shareholders. Other deals by the private equity firm include the $1.5 billion purchase of Shiseido Co’s lower-priced skincare and shampoo brands.
More details in https://www.reuters.com/article/us-toshi...SKBN2BT2G4
By Makiko Yamazaki
APRIL 7, 202112:39 AM
TOKYO (Reuters) -Toshiba Corp is considering a $20 billion offer from private equity firm CVC Capital Partners to take it private, a person familiar with the matter said, as the Japanese industrial conglomerate faces pressure from activist shareholders to improve governance.
The proposed deal, which comes three weeks after shareholders approved an independent probe into the scandal-hit company, could shield management, particularly Chief Executive Nobuaki Kurumatani, from that scrutiny. It would, however, invite regulatory review given its government work.
“Toshiba received an initial proposal yesterday, and will ask for further clarification and give it careful consideration,” Toshiba said in a statement, without providing further details.
Toshiba’s board, which includes Kurumatani who joined Toshiba from CVC, and Yoshiaki Fujimori, a senior adviser at the private equity firm, discussed the proposal on Wednesday, the source with knowledge of the proposal said.
Shares in Toshiba soared 18% to their daily-limit on Wednesday.
CVC is considering a 30% premium over Toshiba’s current share price in a tender offer, putting the value of the deal at nearly 2.3 trillion yen ($21 billion) based on Tuesday’s closing share price of 3,830 yen, said the source, who declined to be identified as the matter is private.
LightStream Research analyst Mio Kato, who publishes on investment research platform Smartkarma, described that offer price as too low.
“We believe that current shareholders, especially activists, will want a rather steep price,” he said in research note.
If they accepted the current offer it would still be the biggest private equity-led deal in Asia Pacific this year, surpassing Blackstone’s $6 billion offer for Crown Resorts Ltd in Australia, according to Refinitiv data. It would also be CVC’s biggest foray into the region so far.
For CVC, which declined to comment, the proposal represents another chance to expand in Japan where large companies are under pressure to sell non-core assets and improve returns to shareholders. Other deals by the private equity firm include the $1.5 billion purchase of Shiseido Co’s lower-priced skincare and shampoo brands.
More details in https://www.reuters.com/article/us-toshi...SKBN2BT2G4
Specuvestor: Asset - Business - Structure.