EURN Euronav NV

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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 copy of the press release of Euronav NV (“Euronav”), which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, announcing the results of Euronav’s special general meeting of shareholders whereby shareholders approved, among other things, the purchase of 100% of the shares of CMB.TECH NV.

Important Information

 

The tender offer described in this communication has not yet commenced.  We expect it to consist of two separate offers from CMB NV (“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 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. 

EURONAV SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING RESULTS

ANTWERP, Belgium, 7 February 2024 – Euronav NV (“EURN”, “Euronav” or “the Company”) (NYSE: EURN & Euronext: EURN) is pleased to announce the formal approval by today’s shareholders’ meeting of the envisaged purchase of 100% of the shares in CMB.TECH NV from CMB NV. All other resolutions were also approved at the Special General Meeting today.

Resolution 1: Approval of the envisaged purchase of 100% of the shares of CMB.TECH NV in accordance with article 7:152 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations.

Resolution 2: Acknowledgement of voluntary resignation and approval of cooptation of members of the supervisory board.

Resolution 2 A: Acknowledgement of voluntary resignation of Mrs. Grace Reksten Skaugen, Mr. Ole Henrik Bjørge, Mr. Cato H. Stonex, Mr. John Fredriksen and Mr. Patrick De Brabandere as members of the supervisory board.

Resolution 2 B: Acknowledgement of cooptation of Mr. Patrick Molis as independent member of the supervisory board.

Resolution 2 C: Acknowledgement of cooptation of Mrs. Catharina Scheers as independent member of the supervisory board.

Resolution 2 D: Acknowledgement of cooptation of Mr. Bjarte Bøe as member of the supervisory board.

Resolution 2 E: Acknowledgement of cooptation of Debemar BV, permanently represented by Mr. Patrick De Brabandere, as member of the supervisory board.

Resolution 3: Interim discharge to the members of the supervisory board.

Resolution 3 A: Interim discharge to Mrs. Grace Reksten Skaugen.

Resolution 3 B: Interim discharge to Mr. Ole Henrik Bjørge.

Resolution 3 C: Interim discharge to Mr. Cato H. Stonex.

Resolution 3 D: Interim discharge to Mr. John F. Fredriksen.

Resolution 3 E: Interim discharge to Mr. Patrick De Brabandere.

Resolution 4: Approval of change of control clauses in credit agreements in accordance with Article 7:151 of the Belgian Code on Companies and Associations.

PRESS RELEASE Regulated Information Wednesday 7 February 2024 – 14:30 pm CET _______________________________________

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 18 VLCCs (with a further four under construction), 22 Suezmaxes (with a further four 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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