United Parcel Service (Atlanta and Louisville) and TNT Express (Hoofddorp, Netherlands) have reached an agreement for UPS to acquire TNT for an all-cash public offer of €9.50 per ordinary TNT Express share.

Here is the statement:

“The offer price of €9.50 (including any dividend or other distribution other than the financial year 2011 final dividend payment not exceeding €0.004 per share) represents a 53.7% premium to TNT Express’ unaffected share price on February 16, 2012 of €6.18, the day before TNT Express and UPS announced their ongoing discussions. The Offer values the issued and outstanding share capital of TNT Express at €5.16 billion ($6.77 billion).

The combination of UPS and TNT Express will create a global leader in the logistics industry, with annual revenues of more than €45 billion ($60 billion) and will deliver significant benefits for the shareowners, customers, employees and other stakeholders of both companies.

Together, UPS and TNT Express will offer customers an enhanced, integrated global network that will provide greatly enhanced service to customers throughout the world. In addition, the two companies are a strong cultural fit given their intense focus on customer service, operational excellence, employee engagement and good corporate citizenship.

The proposed transaction will accelerate UPS’s growth strategy and increase its geographic diversity and ability to provide customers comprehensive solutions. UPS currently estimates annual run-rate pre-tax cost synergies of approximately €400 to €550 million ($525 to $725 million) a year, achieved by the end of the fourth year after closing. UPS believes that the cumulative pre-tax implementation costs related to achieving these synergies will be approximately €1 billion ($1.31 billion) over the four-year integration period.

UPS and TNT Express believe this transaction will significantly enhance their ability to serve their customers’ complex global logistics needs. Following the transaction, around 36% of the combined group’s revenues will be generated outside the United States, up from 26% today at UPS. The combination underlines UPS’s long-standing commitment to Europe, where it has maintained a presence since 1976, by strengthening its product capabilities through the addition of TNT Express’ leading Intra-Europe road freight network. The combination also enhances UPS’s existing position in fast growing regions such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

Service lies at the heart of this proposed transaction. With a combined network and enhanced IT platforms, customers will have access to deeper product capabilities and broader reach through the expanded geographies served, giving them more choice and flexibility to support the growth and globalization of their businesses. The combination also will offer employees greater opportunities to be part of a global, growing and respected business.

Unanimous Support from Executive and Supervisory Boards of TNT Express

After careful consideration of all of TNT Express’ strategic alternatives, the Executive and Supervisory Boards of TNT Express believe this transaction is in the best interests of the company and its stakeholders and intend to support and unanimously recommend the Offer for acceptance to TNT Express’ shareholders. Goldman Sachs International has issued a fairness opinion to the Supervisory and Executive Boards of TNT Express and Lazard B.V. has issued a fairness opinion to the Supervisory Board, in each case to the effect that, as of today, the offer price is fair to the TNT Express shareholders from a financial point of view.

Irrevocable from PostNL

PostNL N.V., holder of approximately 29.8% of the outstanding shares of TNT Express, has committed itself to tender its shares under the offer if and when made. The irrevocable contains certain customary undertakings and conditions.

Corporate Governance and Integration

UPS recognizes that TNT Express’ employees will play a pivotal role in the success of the combined entity and they will be treated accordingly. All employee rights, covenants, and benefits under current ownership will be respected. As a result of the proposed transaction, the employees of the combined group will have broader career opportunities based on our future growth expectations.

UPS has a long-standing history of developing people through its promotion from within philosophy, giving employees the opportunity to hold positions at the highest levels of the company. Additionally, UPS and TNT Express share a common business culture and believe that a combination of the businesses will prove attractive to employees. Throughout integration, the selection and appointment of staff for any function within the newly combined entity, will be subject to applicable laws, and be based on the “best person for the job” principle. In case of potential consequences for employees of the combination, the principle of fairness will be applied as to the impact of redundancies on TNT Express and UPS staff.

UPS spent considerable time evaluating potential integration opportunities as it evaluated this transaction. In the coming months, UPS and TNT Express will work together through the establishment of an Integration Committee to develop plans to combine both companies’ strong networks and customer relationships while maintaining the same level of quality and service associated with both companies. UPS is committed to maintaining an ongoing dialogue with, and to closely involve, employee representatives in line with legal requirements and UPS and TNT Express’ leading employment practices.

UPS recognizes the expertise of TNT Express’ leading road freight network in Europe. It also appreciates the leading role that the road freight management will occupy in the combined group. UPS undertakes to create a meaningful center of excellence for marketing, sales, and operations in The Netherlands. UPS recognizes the significant value of TNT Express’ operations, assets and people in Liège and will seek to continue the future utilization of these operations, assets and people within the combined group.

TNT Nederland B.V. will maintain the mitigated structure regime. After successful completion of the Offer, the Supervisory Board of TNT Express will be composed of at least three members identified by UPS and two members of the current Supervisory Board of TNT Express, namely Shemaya Levy and Margot Scheltema. These two members will function as independent Supervisory Directors within the meaning of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code and shall continue to serve on the Supervisory Board until the third anniversary of the settlement date.

Financing of the Offer

The Offer values 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital at €5.16 billion. UPS intends to finance the Offer by utilizing $3 billion in existing cash on balance sheet and through new debt arrangements. UPS will make a timely certain funds announcement as required by Section 7 Paragraph 4 of the Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit Openbare Biedingen Wft). UPS has a strong financial position and remains committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet.

Pre-Offer and Offer Conditions

The commencement of the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following pre-offer conditions: (i) no material adverse effect having occurred, (ii) no breach of the merger protocol having occurred, (iii) approval of the offer memorandum by the AFM, (iv) no revocation of the recommendation by TNT Express’ Executive Board and Supervisory Board, (v) Stichting Continuïteit TNT Express not having exercised its call option right to have protective preference shares issued to it, (vi) no notification having been received from the AFM that preparations of the offer are in breach of the offer rules and (vii) no order, stay judgment or decree having been issued prohibiting the transaction.

If and when made, the consummation of the Offer will be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following offer conditions: (i) a minimum acceptance of 80% of the TNT Express ordinary shares on a fully diluted basis, (ii) relevant competition clearances for the Offer having been obtained, (iii) no material adverse effect having occurred, (iv) no breach of the merger protocol having occurred, (v) no revocation of the recommendations by TNT Express’ Executive Board and Supervisory Board (vi) Stichting Continuïteit TNT Express not having exercised its call option right to have protective preference shares issued to it and having agreed to terminate its call option subject to the Offer being declared unconditional, (vii) no notification having been received from the AFM that preparations of the Offer are in breach of the offer rules and (viii) no order, stay judgment or decree having been issued prohibiting the transaction.

UPS and TNT Express have done extensive preparatory work on the required competition filings. UPS is confident that it will secure all relevant competition approvals.

On termination of the Merger Protocol because of the competition offer condition not being satisfied or waived, UPS will forfeit a termination fee to TNT Express equal to €200 million.

Competing Offer

UPS and TNT Express may terminate the merger protocol in the event that a bona fide third-party offeror makes an offer which is binding upon such party, exceeds the Offer Price by at least 8% and is considered by the Executive and Supervisory board of TNT Express to be substantially more beneficial to TNT Express. In the event of a competing offer, UPS will be given the opportunity to match such offer, in which case the merger protocol may not be terminated by TNT Express. TNT Express has entered into customary undertakings not to solicit offers from third parties.

On termination of the Merger Protocol on account of a competing offer, TNT Express will forfeit a termination fee to UPS equal to €50 million.

Indicative Timetable

UPS and TNT Express will seek to obtain all the necessary approvals and competition clearances as soon as practicable. The required advice and consultation procedures with TNT Express’ Central Works Council, European Works Council and unions will be commenced immediately. The cooperation of TNT Express is conditional upon Central Works Council advice.

It is UPS’s intention to submit a request for approval of its offer document to the AFM within 8 weeks from today and to publish the offer memorandum during Q2 2012 in accordance with the applicable statutory timetable. TNT Express will hold an informative Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) at least 6 business days before closing of the offer period in accordance with Section 18 Paragraph 1 of the Decree.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley, UBS and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are acting as financial advisors to UPS; Goldman Sachs is acting as financial advisor to TNT Express and Lazard is acting as financial advisor to the Supervisory Board of TNT Express.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is acting as legal counsel to UPS; Allen & Overy is acting as legal counsel to TNT Express.”

TNT Express (NYSE Euronext: TNTE) is one of the world’s largest express delivery companies. On a daily basis, TNT Express delivers close to 1 million consignments ranging from documents and parcels to palletized freight. The company operates road and air transportation networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. It employs 77,000 people and runs a fleet of 30,000 road vehicles and 46 aircraft. TNT Express had revenues of €7.25 billion ($9.51 billion) in 2011.

Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil.

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