40 North Increases Offer for W.R. Grace to $70 Per Share
40 North Management LLC has increased its cash offer for W.R. Grace & Co (NYSE: GRA) to $70 per share, representing a 74% premium over the company's closing share price on October 13, 2020. Following a due diligence review, 40 North believes this offer fully values the company. The proposal is not contingent on financing and only requires confirmatory diligence and definitive documentation. 40 North aims for a swift transaction, emphasizing that Grace's full potential is best realized outside public markets.
- Increased cash offer to $70 per share represents a 74% premium.
- Proposal reflects a multiple of 11.9x consensus 2021E EBITDA.
- Offer does not include financing contingencies.
- Transaction can be completed quickly with Grace's cooperation.
- Due diligence results did not fully support management's growth expectations.
- Concerns raised regarding the timing of Grace's acquisition of Albemarle's Fine Chemistry Services.
40 North Management LLC (“40 North”) today sent a letter to the Board of Directors of W.R. Grace & Co (NYSE: GRA) (“Grace” or the “Company”) increasing its offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock for
In the letter, 40 North noted that beginning on February 1, 2021, it conducted a customary due diligence review of Grace in as comprehensive a way as possible given the limitations of the information provided by the Company. Following the review, 40 North determined that its proposal for
The full text of the letter follows:
April 1, 2021
Board of Directors
W.R. Grace & Co.
7500 Grace Drive
Columbia, MD 21044
Dear Members of the Board:
As you know, since February 1, 2021 we have worked expeditiously to conduct a customary due diligence review of W.R. Grace & Co. (“Grace” or the “Company”) in as comprehensive a way as possible given the limitations of the information provided by the Company. In connection with our review, we engaged numerous advisers, consultants and specialists to further our analysis of the various facets of Grace’s business. Though the results of our work did not fully support management’s optimistic growth expectations for Grace’s specialty catalysts business, and we continue to have serious reservations with regard to the Company’s questionably-timed acquisition of Albemarle’s Fine Chemistry Services business, we remain firm in our belief that Grace’s full potential for all stakeholders can best be achieved outside of the public markets with proactive, hands-on management. In this regard, we are prepared to submit our best and final offer of
As stated previously, our Proposal does not include any financing contingency, and our financing banks are Citi, J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas. This Proposal is subject only to confirmatory diligence, which we expect to be able to complete in two weeks, and the execution of definitive documentation. Our offer does not require any internal corporate or shareholder approvals and, with Grace’s cooperation, we are confident we can receive all necessary regulatory approvals in a timely manner.
We stand ready to engage with you and your advisers to deliver a transaction in the best interests of all Grace shareholders without delay and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
David J. Millstone David S. Winter
About 40 North:
40 North is a fundamentally-based investment platform focused on public equities that takes concentrated, long-term positions across a range of sectors and leverages deep industrial knowledge to create value for all stakeholders.
1 Prior to October 14, 2020, when 40 North filed its Schedule 13D amendment.
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