On 27 August 2008, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, through their wholly owned Swedish subsidiary Maersk Product Tankers AB, announced a recommended all cash offer for all A- and B-shares in Broström AB (publ) (the “Offer”).
A total of 37,987,013 shares in Broström, representing 59.8% of the capital and 74.9% of the votes in Broström, have been tendered in the Offer.
Prior to the date of this announcement, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S has also acquired in total 23,126,315 shares in the market, representing 36.4% of the shares and 22.7% of the votes in Broström AB (publ). Together with the shares tendered in the Offer A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S will hold an aggregate of 61,113,328 shares in Broström, representing 96.2% of the capital and 97.6% of the votes in Broström, excluding treasury shares.
Settlement in respect of shares tendered during the Offer is expected to commence on or about 23 January 2009. In addition, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S may acquire additional shares in Broström AB (publ) in the market.
In order to provide shareholders in Broström AB (publ), who have not yet tendered their shares the opportunity to accept the Offer, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S has decided to extend the acceptance period until 23 January 2009 at 16.00 CET. Settlement in respect of the shares tendered during the extension of the acceptance period is expected to commence on or about 30 January 2009.
A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S intends to initiate compulsory acquisition proceedings in relation to the outstanding Broström AB (publ) shares in the near term, as well as act to have the Broström AB (publ) share de-listed from OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm.