The UK CMA blocks the merger between Cargotec and Konecranes and thus the companies have jointly decided to cancel the planned merger
The UK Competition & Markets Authority (“CMA”) has blocked the merger between Cargotec and Konecranes. According to the CMA’s final report issued today, the remedies - which would have removed all overlapping businesses of the two companies and were accepted by the European Commission (“EC”) - would not be effective in addressing the CMA’s concerns and thus the planned merger between Cargotec and Konecranes cannot be completed. The completion of the planned merger would have required approvals from all relevant competition authorities. Thus, Cargotec and Konecranes have today decided to cancel the planned merger.
Cargotec and Konecranes have obtained clearances for the planned merger from numerous competition authorities. As announced on February 24, 2022, the EC conditionally approved the planned merger between Cargotec and Konecranes on the basis of the same remedy package rejected by the CMA, which comprised commitments to divest Konecranes Lift Truck business and Kalmar Automation Solutions. In addition, the State Administration for Market Regulation (the competition authority in China) and nine other jurisdictions have approved the planned merger.
In addition to the clearances of the above competition authorities, completion of the merger remained subject to further approvals from various other competition authorities, including the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) in the United States, with whom Cargotec and Konecranes have been in continuous dialogue.
In response to feedback received from the CMA during the course of their investigations, the boards of directors of Cargotec and Konecranes carefully considered amending the remedy package offered to the EC further, as well as offering alternative remedy packages to address the concerns raised by the CMA. The boards of directors did not, however, find any satisfactory solution which would have addressed the concerns of the CMA and which would have been in the best interest of the shareholders of Cargotec and Konecranes, and of the combined company, without jeopardising the rationale of the proposed merger as presented on 1 October 2020.
As a consequence of the CMA’s negative final report, the boards of directors Cargotec and Konecranes have therefore concluded that it is in the best interest of each of Cargotec and Konecranes and their respective shareholders that the merger is cancelled.
Cargotec and Konecranes will immediately cease the pursuit of the merger and the related processes and continue to operate separately as fully independent companies.
By the end of 2021, Konecranes had booked EUR 56 million and Cargotec EUR 57 million of merger related transaction and integration planning costs. The total transaction cost estimate of EUR 125 million (excluding integration planning costs) remains valid. The final transaction and integration planning costs will be reported when available.
