UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE TO

Tender Offer Statement under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 3)

 

 

Euronav NV

(Name of Subject Company)

 

 

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV

(Offeror – Name of Filing Person)

Ordinary Shares, no par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

B38564108

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Ludovic Saverys

Chief Financial Officer

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV

De Gerlachekaai 20

2000 Antwerp Belgium

Telephone: +32 3 247 59 11

(Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)

 

 

With a Copy to:

Robert E. Lustrin, Esq.

Reed Smith LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022-7650

Telephone: (212) 521-5400

 

 

 

Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

Amount Previously Paid:  None      Filing Party:  Not applicable
Form of Registration No.:   Not applicable      Date Filed:   Not applicable

 

Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:

 

 

third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1

 

issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4

 

going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3

 

amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer. ☐

If applicable, check the appropriate box(es) below to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon:

 

 

Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)

 

Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)

 

 

 


This Amendment No. 3 (this “Amendment No. 3”) amends and supplements the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed by Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 14, 2024, as amended and supplemented by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed by CMB with the Commission on February 27, 2024, and Amendment No. 2 thereto filed by CMB with the Commission on March 1, 2024 (the “Schedule TO”). The Schedule TO relates to the offer by CMB to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of Euronav NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“Euronav” or the “Company”), beneficially owned by U.S. Holders for $17.86 per share in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by Euronav to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of the Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated February 14, 2024 (the “Offer to Purchase”), and the related Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended and supplemented from time to time, constitute the “Offer”), copies of which are attached to the Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively.

Except as otherwise set forth in this Amendment No. 3, the information set forth in the Schedule TO remains unchanged and is incorporated herein by reference to the extent relevant to the items identified in this Amendment No. 3. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Schedule TO.


Items 1 through 9 and Item 11.

The Offer to Purchase and Items 1 through 9 and Item 11 of the Schedule TO are hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following after the last paragraph under the heading “The U.S. Offer — Section 15. Certain Legal Matters” of the Offer to Purchase:

“On February 29, 2024, Boothbay Absolute Return Strategies, LP, Boothbay Diversified Alpha Master Fund, LP, Corbin Hedged Equity Fund, L.P., Corbin ERISA Opportunity Fund, Ltd., Pinehurst Partners, L.P., FW Deep Value Opportunities Fund I, LLC, FourWorld Global Opportunities Fund, Ltd., and FourWorld Event Opportunities, LP, the same plaintiffs that filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, also filed a complaint in the Market Court of Belgium that requests the Market Court to (i) determine that the price of the Belgian Offer is too low as it does not take into account alleged special benefits that would have been granted to Frontline on top of the cash purchase price paid by CMB for the Ordinary Shares it purchased from Frontline and Famatown, and (ii) order CMB to adjust the Offer Price taking into account such alleged special benefits. The request does not indicate what this higher price should be.

CMB believes that this suit also is without merit and intends to vigorously defend against the suit.

The outcome of the matter described above cannot be predicted with certainty. Additional demands may be made, or complaints may be filed, against the Offeror in connection with Offers. If such additional demands are made or complaints are filed, absent new or different allegations that are material, the Offeror will not necessarily announce such additional demands or complaints.”

Item 12.

Item 12 of the Schedule TO is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following exhibit(s):

 

Exhibit No  

Description

(a)(5)(H)   Press release issued by the Offeror dated March 4, 2024.


SIGNATURES

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: March 4, 2024     COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE NV
        By:  

/s/ Ludovic Saverys

        Name:    Ludovic Saverys
        Title:   Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
 

Document

(a)(1)(A)*   Offer to Purchase, dated February 14, 2024.
(a)(1)(B)*   Form of Letter of Transmittal (including Internal Revenue Service Form W-9).
(a)(1)(C)*   Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees.
(a)(1)(D)*   Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees.
(a)(1)(E)*   Summary Advertisement published in The New York Times on February 14, 2024.
(a)(5)(A)*   Pre-Commencement Press Release issued by the Offeror dated October  9, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule TO-C filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2023).
(a)(5)(B)*   Communication in accordance with article 8, §1 of the Royal Decree of 27  April 2007 on public takeover bids under Belgian law dated October  9, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Schedule TO-C filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2023).
(a)(5)(C)*   Press article dated October  9, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule TO-C filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2023).
(a)(5)(D)*   Pre-Commencement Press Release issued by the Offeror dated December  22, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule TO-C filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2023).
(a)(5)(E)*   Capital Markets Day Presentation dated January 12, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule TO-C filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2024).
(a)(5)(F)*   Press Release issued by the Offeror dated February 14, 2024.
(a)(5)(G)*   Press Release issued by the Offeror dated February 27, 2024.
(a)(5)(H)**   Press release issued by the Offeror dated March 4, 2024.
(b)(1)*   Bridge facilities agreement among CMB NV and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, KBC Bank NV, and Société Générale and the other lenders thereunder dated November 20, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit M the Schedule 13D filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 24, 2023).
(c)   Not applicable.
(d)(1)*   Share Purchase Agreement dated October  9, 2023, by and between CMB NV and Famatown Finance Limited and Frontline plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit L to the Schedule 13D filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2023).
(d)(2)*   Share Purchase Agreement dated December  22, 2023, by and between CMB NV and Euronav NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Euronav’s Form 6-K (File No. 001-3610) filed on December  22, 2023).
(g)   Not applicable.
(h)   Not applicable.
107*   Filing Fee Table.

 

*

Previously filed.

**

Filed herewith.

Exhibit (a)(5)(H)

 

LOGO

PRESS RELEASE

Antwerp, March 4, 2024 [08.00 a.m.] – CMB NV (“CMB”) announced that it has become aware that certain funds managed by FourWorld Capital Management, LLC (“FourWorld”) have now also filed a request with the Market Court in Belgium in connection with CMB’s Belgian mandatory offer for all shares of Euronav NV (“Euronav”).

In its application, FourWorld requests the Market Court to (i) determine that the price of the mandatory offer is too low as it does not take into account alleged special benefits that would have been granted to Frontline on top of the cash purchase price paid by CMB for its Euronav shares, and (ii) to order CMB to adjust the bid price taking into account such alleged special benefits. The request does not indicate what this higher price should be.

This request follows a complaint that was filed by FourWorld in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on 26 February 2024 in relation to the offering materials for CMB’s U.S. tender offer. To address some of the points raised in that complaint, at CMB’s request, Euronav has voluntarily made additional documents available on its website in addition to the documents related to the transactions already made public on its website.

CMB reiterates that the proceeding is without merit and intends to vigorously defend against it. CMB will keep investors informed of its outcome.

In the unlikely event the request would lead to a decision of the Market Court to increase the bid price after the bid has closed, such increase shall also apply to shareholders who have already tendered their shares and CMB shall reopen the bid to grant shareholders the opportunity to tender their shares at the increased price.

 

 

About CMB

CMB (Compagnie Maritime Belge) is a diversified shipping group based in Antwerp, Belgium. CMB is the majority shareholder of Euronav. More information can be found at www.cmb.be.

About Euronav NV & CMB.TECH

Euronav and CMB.TECH together represent a group with approximately 150 ocean-going vessels in dry bulk, container shipping, chemical tankers, offshore wind and oil tankers. The group focuses on large marine and industrial applications on hydrogen or ammonia. They also offer hydrogen and ammonia fuel to customers, through own production or third-party producers. The company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices across Europe and Asia.

Euronav is listed on Euronext Brussels and on the NYSE under the symbol EURN.

Euronav plans to change the group’s name to CMB.TECH. Euronav will remain the oil tanker shipping division within the group. More information can be found at www.euronav.com.


 

LOGO

 

Disclaimer

This press release does not constitute a takeover bid to purchase securities of Euronav nor a solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction with respect to Euronav. The public takeover bid is only made on the basis of the prospectus approved by the FSMA, which is available on www.cmb.be/mandatorybid. Neither this press release nor any other information in respect of the matters contained herein may be supplied in any jurisdiction where a registration, qualification or any other obligation is in force or would be with regard to the content hereof or thereof. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the financial laws and regulations in such jurisdictions. CMB and its affiliates explicitly decline any liability for breach of these restrictions by any person.

Additional Information for U.S. Holders

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any ordinary shares, no par value, of Euronav (“Ordinary Shares”) or any other securities.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal, which are included in CMB’s Schedule TO filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The U.S. Offer will expire at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on March 15, 2024, unless the expiration of the U.S. offer is extended to a subsequent date in accordance with U.S. and Belgian law.

The tender offer statement on Schedule TO (including an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal and certain other offer documents) that were filed with the SEC by CMB and the related solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 that was filed with the SEC by Euronav relating to the U.S. tender offer contain important information that U.S. holders should consider before making any decision with respect to the U.S. tender offer. U.S. holders may obtain a free copy of these documents at the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov, or by contacting Georgeson LLC, the information agent for the U.S. tender offer via telephone by calling (888) 815-4902 for U.S. holders or +1 (781) 819-4572 for shareholders outside the US, or via email to euronavoffer@georgeson.com.

CONTACT

Katrien Hennin

Head of Marketing and Communications CMB

+32 499 39 34 70

Katrien.hennin@cmb.be


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