
On December 11, 2018, a public takeover bid was made to shareholders by Aplite Holdings AB. Further to examination of this offer by the independent committee of the board of directors at Radisson Hospitality AB, the offer was refused.
The takeover bid is part of the regulatory obligations imposed by the Swedish stock exchange. After reviewing the offer made to shareholders, the independent committee "recommends that the shareholders of the Company not accept the Offer." This independent committee was appointed by the Board of Directors of Radisson Hospitality AB upon the announcement of the acquisition by Jin Jiang International Holdings Co. Ltd and the SINO-CEE Fund on November 13, 2008.
Benedetto, Gartland & Company as financial advisor and Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå as legal advisor were mandated to support the independent committee in its decision-making.
Rothschild & Co in its fairness opinion indicates that the proposed proposed cash consideration offered to the shareholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Offer is not fair from a financial point of view..
The consortium Jin Jiang International Holdings Co. Ltd, including the SINO-CEE Fund, already holds 50.21% of Radisson Hospitality's shares, i.e. more than 30%, which made this public offer procedure mandatory.
The situation is repeated since the Board of Directors of Rezidor Hotel Group AB also issued an unfavourable opinion on HNA's offer to individual shareholders in February 2017.
Further to the Consortium's declaration that:
"The Consortium is going to support Radisson AB’s management in developing the operations on its own in line with the Company’s current strategy. The Consortium does not foresee any significant changes or adverse effects from the completion of the Offer for Radisson AB's organisation, employees, including the terms of their employment, or the locations where Radisson AB carries out its operations.”
The independent committee responded in these concise terms: "The Independent Committee has no reason to question the Consortium’s statements."
