A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S today announced the decision to divest its 20.05% ownership stake in Danske Bank A/S.
A. P. Møller – Mærsk A/S will declare an extraordinary cash dividend to the Group’s shareholders equal to the value of the Group’s ownership interest in Danske Bank A/S, and offer to its shareholders the opportunity to acquire up to nine Danske Bank A/S shares per share amount of nominally DKK 1,000 at the prevailing market price.
A.P. Møller Holding, a fully owned subsidiary under the A.P. Møller Foundation, has announced a commitment to acquire 15% of the Danske Bank total share capital from the Group and an intention of increasing its ownership to 20% over time.
Chairman of the Board in A.P. Møller – Maersk A/S Michael Pram Rasmussen says:“Over a period we have been met with requests from shareholders to divest our shares in Danske Bank A/S. With the undertaking from A.P. Møller – Holding A/S such a sale is now possible and will at the same time secure a long-term Danish ownership of Danske Bank. In addition A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S can focus resources on its activities within shipping and oil.
A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S has been a major shareholder in Danske Bank since 1928. It has been a good investment and our shareholders will now benefit from this investment by receiving the extraordinary dividend proposed by the Board. We will also offer, on equal terms, to all our shareholders a possibility to acquire the Danske Bank shares which they until now have owned indirectly.”
A.P. Møller Holding A/S committed to order Danske Bank shares
A.P. Møller Holding A/S has made a binding undertaking to A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S to order 15.% of Danske Bank A/S’ total share capital. A.P. Møller Holding has further indicated its intention to order up to an additional 2.02% of Danske Bank A/S’ total share capital. Since A.P. Møller Holding already holds 2.98 of the Danske Bank shares such additional order will fulfill the ambition of a total ownership of 20%.
Ane Uggla, chairman of A.P Møller Holding A/S and the A.P. Møller Foundation says:“By acquiring shares in Danske Bank we reinforce the historic relations which have existed since the late 1920´ies. It is the Foundation’s intention over time to own 20% of Danske Bank. In doing so we wish to preserve Danske Bank’s close and longstanding ties to Denmark and provide our support to the positive development in both A.P. Møller – Mærsk and Danske Bank” – also in the future.”
The exact size of the extraordinary dividend will be determined during a pricing period of five trading days prior to the Group’s annual general meeting, on 30 March 2015. The extraordinary dividend is expected to be paid out on 7 April 2015 together with the ordinary dividend.
The Offering is subject to a prospectus being approved by the Danish FSA (Finanstilsynet) around 19 March 2015 and is expected to include a public offering to eligible shareholders in Denmark only
Communiqué de A. P. Møller – Mærsk, 25/02/2015
