JBT Corporation Confirms Receipt of All Regulatory Clearances Required to Complete its Proposed Acquisition of Marel hf.

Rhea-AI Summary

JBT (NYSE: JBT) has received all regulatory clearances needed to proceed with its acquisition of Marel hf. The European Commission granted clearance on November 26, 2024, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approved the transaction on November 22, 2024. The voluntary takeover offer expires on December 20, 2024, at 12:00 GMT. If JBT secures at least 90% acceptance from Marel shareholders, the settlement will be completed within 5 Icelandic business days, with an expected closing date no later than January 3, 2025.

Positive

• Received all necessary regulatory approvals for the acquisition
• Clear timeline for transaction completion by January 3, 2025
• Potential expansion in the food and beverage technology solutions sector

Negative

• 90% shareholder acceptance threshold required for completion
• Settlement contingent on meeting minimum share acquisition requirement

Insights

M&A Specialist

The regulatory clearances from both the European Commission and Australian Competition Commission mark a significant milestone in JBT's acquisition of Marel. This 3.9 billion market cap company is now positioned to potentially complete a transformative deal in the food processing equipment sector. The 90% shareholder acceptance threshold is important - if met, it would trigger a mandatory squeeze-out of remaining shareholders, streamlining the post-merger integration.

The tight timeline between the offer expiration (December 20) and expected settlement (January 3) indicates strong operational readiness. The involvement of Goldman Sachs and multiple regional financial advisors suggests a well-structured deal with thorough due diligence. This consolidation could create significant synergies in the food processing technology space, potentially strengthening JBT's market position and technological capabilities.

Competition Policy Expert

The Phase 1 clearance from the European Commission is particularly noteworthy as it indicates competitive concerns in the combined entity's market position. A Phase 1 approval, without moving to a more detailed Phase 2 investigation, suggests the merger won't significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area. The Australian regulator's non-opposition further validates the competitive landscape assessment.

The swift regulatory approvals across major jurisdictions demonstrate that antitrust authorities view this consolidation as maintaining healthy market dynamics. This positive regulatory outcome significantly de-risks the transaction and could potentially accelerate integration planning and synergy realization.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT), a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food and beverage industry, today announced receipt of all remaining regulatory clearances required to complete its proposal to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Marel hf. (ICL: Marel). On November 26, 2024, the European Commission (E.C.) adopted a clearance decision at the end of its Phase 1 review period. Additionally, on November 22, 2024, JBT received formal confirmation that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission does not oppose the transaction.

JBT’s voluntary takeover offer will expire on December 20, 2024, at 12:00 GMT, unless such offer period is further extended in accordance with applicable laws and the terms of the definitive agreement between JBT and Marel. Provided JBT achieves a threshold acceptance by Marel shareholders, representing at least 90 percent of all Marel shares, JBT will settle the offer consideration to Marel shareholders within 5 Icelandic business days from the expiration date of the offer. The settlement of the transaction is therefore expected to close no later than January 3, 2025, taking into account all bank holidays in the Icelandic market.

Transaction Advisors

Goldman Sachs Co LLC is acting as JBT’s financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP and LEX are serving as JBT’s legal counsel. Arion banki hf. is acting as JBT’s lead manager for the Icelandic offer and advising on the Icelandic listing, and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is acting as JBT’s Euronext Amsterdam Exchange agent.

About JBT Corporation

JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT) is a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food & beverage industry. JBT designs, produces and services sophisticated products and systems for a broad range of end markets, generating roughly one-half of its annual revenue from recurring parts, service, rebuilds and leasing operations. JBT employs approximately 5,100 people worldwide and operates sales, service, manufacturing and sourcing operations in more than 25 countries. For more information, please visit www.jbtc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are beyond JBT’s ability to control. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to our business and our results of operations, a potential transaction with Marel, our strategic plans, our restructuring plans and expected cost savings from those plans, and our liquidity. The factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the following factors: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination or abandonment of the voluntary takeover offer (the “Offer”); the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed transaction with Marel, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals for the Offer that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transaction; the risk that Marel and/or JBT may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the Offer in a timely manner or at all; the risk that the Offer and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of JBT and Marel to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; the risk that problems may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of Marel and JBT, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected; the risk that the combined company may be unable to achieve cost-cutting synergies or that it may take longer than expected to achieve those synergies; fluctuations in our financial results; unanticipated delays or accelerations in our sales cycles; deterioration of economic conditions, including impacts from supply chain delays and reduced material or component availability; inflationary pressures, including increases in energy, raw material, freight and labor costs; disruptions in the political, regulatory, economic and social conditions of the countries in which we conduct business; changes to trade regulation, quotas, duties or tariffs; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in food consumption patterns; impacts of pandemic illnesses, food borne illnesses and diseases to various agricultural products; weather conditions and natural disasters; the impact of climate change and environmental protection initiatives; acts of terrorism or war, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; termination or loss of major customer contracts and risks associated with fixed-price contracts, particularly during periods of high inflation; customer sourcing initiatives; competition and innovation in our industries; our ability to develop and introduce new or enhanced products and services and keep pace with technological developments; difficulty in developing, preserving and protecting our intellectual property or defending claims of infringement; catastrophic loss at any of our facilities and business continuity of our information systems; cyber-security risks such as network intrusion or ransomware schemes; loss of key management and other personnel; potential liability arising out of the installation or use of our systems; our ability to comply with U.S. and international laws governing our operations and industries; increases in tax liabilities; work stoppages; fluctuations in interest rates and returns on pension assets; a systemic failure of the banking system in the United States or globally impacting our customers’ financial condition and their demand for our goods and services; availability of and access to financial and other resource; the risk factors discussed in our proxy statement/prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (File No. 333-279438), on June 25, 2024, forming part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4, initially filed by us on May 15, 2024 and declared effective on June 25, 2024; and other factors described under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in JBT’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. JBT cautions shareholders and prospective investors that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. JBT undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments, subsequent events or changes in circumstances or otherwise.

Important Notices

This release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In particular, this release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States, Iceland, the Netherlands or Denmark.

Note to U.S. Shareholders

It is important that U.S. shareholders understand that the Offer and any related offer documents are subject to disclosure and takeover laws and regulations in Iceland and other European jurisdictions, which may be different from those of the United States. The Offer will be made in compliance with the U.S. tender offer rules, including Regulation 14E under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any exemption available to JBT in respect of securities of foreign private issuers provided by Rule 14d-1(d) under the Exchange Act.

Important Additional Information

No offer of JBT securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption from registration, and applicable European regulations, including the Icelandic Prospectus Act no. 14/2020 and the Icelandic Takeover Act no. 108/2007 on takeovers. In connection with the Offer, JBT filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-279438) (the “Registration Statement”) that included a proxy statement/prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on June 25, 2024. Additionally, JBT filed with the Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central Bank of Iceland (the “FSA”) an offer document and a prospectus, which have been approved by the FSA and which have been published.

SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, THE PROSPECTUS, AND THE OFFER DOCUMENT, AS APPLICABLE, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC OR THE FSA CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Shareholders may obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about JBT, without charge, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and on JBT’s website at https://ir.jbtc.com/overview/default.aspx. You may obtain a free copy of the prospectus on the FSA’s website at www.fme.is and on JBT’s website at https://www.jbtc.com/jbt-marel-offer-launch/ as well as a free copy of the offer document.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241127008128/en/

Investors & Media:

Marlee Spangler

(312) 861-5789

marlee.spangler@jbtc.com

Source: JBT Corporation

FAQ

When will JBT's takeover offer for Marel hf expire?

JBT's voluntary takeover offer for Marel hf will expire on December 20, 2024, at 12:00 GMT, unless extended.

What regulatory approvals has JBT received for the Marel acquisition?

JBT has received clearance from both the European Commission (November 26, 2024) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (November 22, 2024).

What is the minimum shareholding requirement for JBT to complete the Marel acquisition?

JBT must achieve at least 90% acceptance from Marel shareholders to complete the acquisition.

When is the expected settlement date for the JBT-Marel transaction?

The settlement is expected to close no later than January 3, 2025, within 5 Icelandic business days from the offer expiration.