A complete evaluation of the new offer terms will be presented by the Management Board and Supervisory Board of Demag Cranes AG in a supplementary statement pursuant to Section 27 of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpÜG) presumably until 22 June 2011. The increase in the offer price from EUR 41.75 to EUR 45.50 per share announced by Terex is part of a Business Combination Agreement signed today by Terex and Demag Cranes after the approval by their relevant boards. The agreement ensures broad operational and strategic autonomy to Demag Cranes even after Terex has acquired a majority interest in the company. The agreement additionally improves the offer document dated 19 May with regard to the intentions and objectives of the possible takeover, particularly with a view to the future strategy of Demag Cranes and the interests of the company’s stakeholders. Moreover, the document includes detailed commitments for the period after a possible integration of Demag Cranes into Terex Group. Demag Cranes’ Chief Executive Officer Aloysius Rauen: “Apart from a significant increase of the offer price, we achieved important assurances by Terex regarding the interests of our employees, which in total significantly improve the original offer.”
Specifically, the two parties agreed on the following points:
After a majority takeover by Terex, Demag Cranes will remain an independent operating segment within Terex Group pursuing its existing business activities. Strategic and operational responsibility for the business will remain with the management board.
Terex fully supports Demag Cranes’ strategy and will back its continued implementation in order to further strengthen the leading position of Demag Cranes in its current business segments. Besides the Management Board’s plan to develop the mid-market segment, this includes further expansion in emerging markets and notably the further pursuance of the planned strategic alliance between Demag Cranes and Weihua in China.
For a period of three years, Terex guarantees that it will not cause Demag Cranes to announce enforced redundancies as a direct result of the transaction. In addition, Terex pledges to fully uphold shop agreements and collective bargaining agreements as well as other employee rights.
Demag Cranes’ headquarters will remain in Düsseldorf. For Demag Cranes’ German production sites Wetter, Düsseldorf, Uslar and Luisenthal Terex gave a site preservation guarantee for five years.
The strong and successful brands Demag and Gottwald will be preserved.
As innovation and technology leader in its industry, Demag Cranes will continue to take responsibility for its research and development activities in the future. Even after the possible acquisition of a majority shareholding and until the effectiveness of a Domination Agreement, Demag Cranes Group will retain its full financial autonomy, including decisions about the dividend policy.
After the proposed takeover, Demag Cranes will be represented by its CEO in the executive leadership team of Terex Group.
CEO Aloysius Rauen comments: “Also as part of the Terex Group, Demag Cranes will be able to further pursue its clear and successful growth strategy in the integrated structures we have built. We will additionally profit from access to international markets as well as the Terex Group’s network. Therefore, the transaction Terex intends to undertake will create value for all of our stakeholders.”