Konecranes and Cargotec merger cancelled

The UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked the merger between Konecranes and Cargotec. 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 Konecranes and Cargotec cannot be completed. The completion of the planned merger would have required approvals from all relevant competition authorities. Thus, Konecranes and Cargotec have today decided to cancel the planned merger.

Konecranes and Cargotec have obtained clearances for the planned merger from numerous competition authorities. As announced on 24 February 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 Konecranes and Cargotec 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 Konecranes and Cargotec, 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 Konecranes and Cargotec have therefore concluded that it is in the best interest of each of Konecranes and Cargotec and their respective shareholders that the merger is cancelled.

Christoph Vitzthum, the Chairman of Konecranes stated: The combination of Konecranes and Cargotec, as planned and announced on 1 October 2020, would have created a company that would have been greater than the sum of its parts. The merger control process has been extensive and the investigations thorough, and Konecranes Board of Directors is disappointed that the remedy package offered did not satisfy the concerns of all regulators. At the same time, we believe that further remedies would have not been in the best interest of Konecranes’ shareholders as they would have changed the strategic rationale of the transaction.  Konecranes will continue to drive its strategy and pursue value-creation potential on a stand-alone basis.

Ilkka Herlin, the Chairman of Cargotec stated: The Board of Cargotec is convinced that the merger would have created substantial value for the entire industry as well as shareholders by improving sustainable material flow. The combination would have created a strong European company enabling accelerated shared abilities to innovate without harming competition. We have done all we could to realise the merger and are disappointed that our plans have had to be abandoned. After a long and extensive regulatory review process and merger planning preparations it is time to shift our full focus on executing Cargotec’s own strategy and value-creation opportunities.

Konecranes and Cargotec 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.

Konecranes continues to leverage the global megatrends, digitalization, productivity and sustainability as well as its core competencies to achieve profitable growth in the long-term. The Group’s current longer-term profitability margin target is an adjusted EBITA margin of 11%. Konecranes has given financial guidance for full-year 2022, and expects both net sales and adjusted EBITA margin to improve from the previous year. In 2021, Konecranes adjusted EBITA margin totalled 9.8%.

Vitzthum said, “Thanks to its strong market position, leading technology, unique service offering, and talented people, Konecranes has great potential for continued growth and value creation, and a promising future. In recent years and throughout the pandemic, Konecranes has done excellent job in improving its customer offering, operations and profitability. Konecranes will continue to explore new business concepts and profitable growth potential in material handling. The Konecranes Board of Directors has started the process to find a new CEO for the company.”

Teo Ottola, the Interim CEO and CFO of Konecranes said, “We have maintained excellent performance throughout the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and merger planning, demonstrating the strong commitment of our people. Now that we channel our full focus and energy on developing Konecranes and its business, there is a lot to achieve. As before, we remain committed to business excellence, continuous improvement, and sustainability, and will continue our successful trajectory.”