Northland dairy products are loaded onto a ship at Northport. Photo / Northport
Northland dairy products are loaded onto a ship at Northport. Photo / Northport
Marsden Maritime Holdings would be delisted from the NZX under a proposal from a consortium to buy out minority shareholders.
MMH said it would pay $5.60 a share in cash via a scheme of arrangement, and its board unanimously supported the arrangement.
The scheme still needed the approvalof the High Court and MMH shareholders, and regional council (NRC) consultation.
The consortium includes the Northland Regional Council (NRC), Port of Tauranga and Ngāpuhi investment fund Tupu Tonu. The transaction would bring full control of Northport under a single ownership umbrella.
If the deal went through, MMH would gain Port of Tauranga’s interest in Northport, which is 50:50 owned by MMH and Port of Tauranga.
Northport would then become a wholly owned subsidiary of MMH.
MMH would be delisted from the stock exchange and the consortium would hold all shares in MMH, with 50% allocated to Port of Tauranga, 43% to NRC and 7% to Tupu Tonu.
MMH’s second-largest shareholder, Port of Auckland with a 19.9% stake, has agreed to vote in favour of the scheme, as long as the scheme price falls within or above the Independent Adviser’s valuation range.
MMH board chairman Benoît Marcenac said the deal was considered as part of substantial work by the board to review the company’s capital funding structure, to ensure delivery of its land use and development strategy.
“The board has been considering a range of options to determine a funding structure that is fit for purpose, secures financial sustainability and future-proofs MMH,” Marcenac said in a market announcement.
“As a key pillar of our strategic roadmap, this has been signalled to all shareholders, including NRC, at annual meetings since 2021.”
MMH shares closed at $3.24 on Monday.
In a separate statement, Port of Tauranga said it had agreed to contribute $39.69 million towards the proposed buyout as part of a capital contribution agreement with its consortium partners.
‘Special Economic Zone’ considered
Meanwhile, Marsden Point could become the heart of a bold vision to boost New Zealand’s fuel and energy security, Resources, Regional Development and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones said today.
Shane Jones says the country's reliance on imported fuels is risky. Photo / Paul Rickard
“New Zealand is a small and remote nation. Our reliance on petrol, diesel and jet fuel being imported from overseas following the shutdown of the Marsden Point refinery carries risks,” Jones said in a press release.
Solutions could include creating energy precincts and special economic zones (SEZs), he said.
“Channel Infrastructure NZ, formerly Refining NZ, is already working to turn the Marsden Point refinery site into an energy precinct.
He said creating an SEZ there would not only help ensure New Zealand’s fuel and energy resilience, but could provide an attractive option for overseas investors.
Any SEZ could include business-friendly regulations, infrastructure and investment support, he said.
“Global and domestic supply chain disruptions, price shocks and ageing infrastructure could cost the New Zealand economy billions of dollars.”
Channel Infrastructure said it welcomed the Government’s announcement on the Marsden Point Energy Precinct.
“This is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of our company, and we look forward to seeing the full potential of the Energy Precinct delivered over time,” Channel Infrastructure chairman James Miller said today.
