EURN Euronav NV

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14D-9 

(RULE 14d-101) 

SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT

UNDER SECTION 14(D)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Euronav NV

(Name of Subject Company)

 

Euronav NV

(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)

 

Ordinary shares, no par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

B38564108

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Seward & Kissel LLP

Attention: Keith Billotti, Esq.

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, New York 10004

(212) 574-1200

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications

on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement)

With copies to

 

 

 

This Schedule 14D-9 consists of a communication by Euronav NV (“Euronav”), which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, concerning the closing of a sale of Euronav’s ordinary shares by Frontline plc and Famatown Finance Limited to CMB NV (“CMB”), which will trigger an obligation under Belgian law for CMB to conduct a tender offer for all the ordinary shares of Euronav that CMB does not currently hold.

This Schedule 14D-9 consists of a communication by Euronav, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2, announcing the approval of all resolutions at the Special General Meeting that was held on November 21, 2023.

 

Important Information

 

The tender offer described in this communication has not yet commenced.  We expect it to consist of two separate offers from CMB: (i) an offer for all ordinary shares (the “Securities”) of Euronav conducted in accordance with the laws of Belgium, and (ii) an offer for all Securities held by holders of who are resident in the United States in accordance with applicable U.S. law (the “U.S. Tender Offer”).

This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither a recommendation, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities of Euronav. This communication does not constitute a formal notification of a public takeover bid within the meaning of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids and the Belgian Royal Decree of 27 April 2007 on public takeover bids. CMB has advised us that full details thereof will be included in the prospectus to be filed with the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority.

The U.S. Tender Offer will only be made pursuant to an offer to purchase and related materials.  CMB has advised us that it will file, or cause to be filed, a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at the time the U.S. Tender Offer commences. Thereafter, Euronav will file a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14d-9 with respect to the U.S. Tender Offer.

 

Euronav urges holders of the Securities subject to the U.S. Tender Offer who wish to participate in the U.S. Tender Offer to carefully review the documents relating to the U.S. Tender Offer that CMB will file with the SEC since these documents will contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the U.S. Tender Offer. Euronav also urges these Holders to read the related solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14d-9 that Euronav will file with the SEC relating to the U.S. Tender Offer. You may obtain a free copy of these documents after they have been filed with the SEC, and other documents filed by Euronav and CMB with the SEC, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the offer and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the solicitation/recommendation statement, Euronav files reports and other information with the SEC.

 

You should read the filings CMB and Euronav make with the SEC carefully before making a decision concerning the U.S. Tender Offer.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this communication may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbour protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. Euronav desires to take advantage of the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbour legislation. The words "believe", "anticipate", "intends", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "potential", "may", "should", "expect", "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this communication are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed, or if it is completed, that it will close in a timely manner, uncertainty surrounding how many of Euronav’s stockholders will tender their shares in the tender offer, the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the tender offer may not be satisfied or waived, the possibility of business disruptions due to transaction-related uncertainty and the response of business partners to the announcement, including customers, the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability, the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. 

(i)

the sale of 24 VLCCs to Frontline

(ii)

the mandatory takeover offer by CMB NV for all outstanding shares of the Company

•

Patrick Molis: Mr. Patrick Molis graduated from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and holds a Master’s degree in law from Paris X Nanterre. He started his career as a Magistrate at the Cour des Comptes. Mr. Patrick Molis was General Manager of Union Normande Investissement (1989-1992), CFO of Worms & Cie Group 4 (1994-1997), General Manager of Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (1995- 1998), Chairman of the Board of Compagnie du Ponant (2012-2015) and Chairman and CEO of Héli-Union (2013-2022). He is currently Chairman of Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (since 1998) and director of Sabena Technics. He has previously served as member of the board of directors of Euronav Luxembourg (1995-2001), Euronav (2004-2010), Compagnie Maritime Nantaise (1995-2017), Compagnie Méridionale de Navigation (2008- 2022) and of the Conseil d’orientation du Domaine national de Chambord (2007-2017). Mr. Patrick Molis has been awarded the titles of Knight of the Legion of Honour and Officer of the Order of Merit.

•

Catharina Scheers: Mrs. Catharina Scheers holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Media from KU Leuven and a Bachelor’s degree in Political and Social Science from the University of Antwerp. She started her career with Fast Lines in 1993. She is the owner and managing director of Fast Lines Belgium and has been appointed Chair of the company since 2003. She is currently also a member of the board of directors of ASF (Antwerp Shipping Federation), a member of the board of BRABO and a member of WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association). In 2021, Mrs. Catharina Scheers received the ESPA “Maritime Figure of the Year” award.

•

Bjarte Bøe: Mr. Bjarte Bøe graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH) in 1983. He joined RS Platou and worked as a shipbroker in Houston and Oslo. In 1986 he joined Christiania Bank, later named Nordea, and worked in Oslo and London until 1995, when he joined SEB. He worked in various managerial positions, including head of Shipping Finance and head of Investment Banking in Oslo and Stockholm until 2019. He has served as a director of Seadrill, Hermitage Offshore and Agera Venture. He also sat on the board of CMB.TECH from April 2021 until February 2022.

•

Ludovic Saverys joins Euronav on the Management Board as Chief Financial Officer. Ludovic Saverys is the Chief Financial Officer of CMB NV and the General Manager of Saverco NV.

•

Michael Saverys, joins the Euronav Management board as Chief Chartering Officer. In 2009 he joined CMB as Chartering Director of Bocimar International, and he is a member of the Board and executive Committee of CMB NV.

•

Maxime Van Eecke joins Euronav as Chief Commercial Officer. He started his career as Legal Counsel for the CMB group in 2005 and became Managing Director of Delphis, the container division of CMB, in 2014. In 2021 he was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of the CMB group and has been serving as an executive Board Member of CMB since 2022.

•

Benoit Timmermans joins Euronav as Chief Strategy Officer. Today, he is the Chief Strategy Officer of the group and member of the Executive Committee. He is in charge of the Chemical division and zero carbon fuel procurement. He is an executive board member of CMB NV.

EURONAV SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING RESULTS

ANTWERP, Belgium, 21 November, 2023 – Euronav NV (“EURN”, “Euronav” or “the Company”) (NYSE: EURN & Euronext: EURN) is pleased to announce the formal approval of all the resolutions at the Special General Meeting today.

Resolution 1: Approval of conditions precedent in accordance with article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations

Resolution 1 A: Approval of conditions precedent in relation to the sale of vessels to Frontline in accordance with article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations.

Resolution 1 B: Approval of conditions precedent in relation to the termination of the arbitration proceedings in accordance with article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations.

All other resolutions were also approved at the meeting.

Contact: Brian Gallagher

Tel: + 44 770 368 4996

Euronav is an independent tanker company engaged in the ocean transportation and storage of crude oil. The company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices throughout Europe and Asia. Euronav is listed on Euronext Brussels and on the NYSE under the symbol EURN. Euronav employs its fleet both on the spot and period market. VLCCs on the spot market are traded in the Tankers International pool of which Euronav is one of the major partners. Euronav’s owned and operated fleet consists of 1 V-Plus vessel, 40 VLCCs (with a further two under construction), 25 Suezmaxes (with a further one under construction) and 2 FSO vessels.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbour protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbour legislation. The words "believe", "anticipate", "intends", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "potential", "may", "should", "expect", "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

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