12 December 2023

Atlantic BidCo submits demand for squeeze-out at Aareal Bank AG

Wiesbaden, 11 December 2023 – Atlantic BidCo GmbH ("Atlantic BidCo") today informed the Management Board of Aareal Bank AG that it holds 95.28 per cent of Aareal Bank shares following completion of its delisting offer. Against this background, Atlantic BidCo has submitted a demand, pursuant to section 327a (1) of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz – “AktG”), that the General Meeting adopt a resolution to transfer all shares held by the minority shareholders to Atlantic BidCo against payment of an appropriate cash compensation (squeeze-out under Stock Corporation Act).

Atlantic BidCo has indicated that it will inform Aareal Bank of the amount of the cash compensation in a further letter (a so-called ‘specified demand’) once this has been determined.

Takeover offer for HHLA: MSC reaches final acceptance rate of 9.74 percent

Corporate News

- MSC reaches final acceptance rate of 9.74% for takeover offer of HHLA.

- MSC has purchased an additional 12.21% of HHLA shares on the stock market.

- The joint venture partners now hold 92.30% of HHLA's share capital.


Hamburg, 12. December 2023

Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (“MSC”), today announced the final result of its voluntary public takeover offer to the shareholders of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (“HHLA”): At the expiry of the acceptance period, which was extended until 7 December 2023 at 24:00 hrs (CET), the takeover offer had been accepted by shareholders holding 7,325,366 Class A shares. This corresponds to 9.74 percent of the share capital. In addition, MSC has purchased 12.21 percent of the HHLA shares on the open stock market. Together with the Class A and S shares held by the City of Hamburg, the joint venture partners now hold 92.30 percent of HHLA's share capital.

The offer was not subject to a minimum acceptance threshold. In their joint Reasoned Statement of 6 November 2023, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of HHLA recommended to the shareholders to accept the offer.

Angela Titzrath, Chief Executive Officer of HHLA: “Now that the acceptance period for the shareholders has expired, the Executive Board focuses on finalising the business combination agreement between the City of Hamburg, MSC and HHLA. In close cooperation with the Supervisory Board, we have already been able to set important milestones for HHLA's future development in a preliminary framework agreement and achieve commitments for investments, our employees and customers. We are confident that we will be able to work out the remaining points in the coming weeks.”

For background information: As announced, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board had signed a binding preliminary framework agreement for a business combination agreement with MSC and the City of Hamburg at the beginning of November and agreed to address outstanding issues in the coming weeks. With regard to the implications of the offer for the company, its stakeholders and in particular for strategy and governance aspects, a common understanding was reached on key areas to secure HHLA and its business model in the long term. In addition to the assessment of the offer price as adequate, it was the basis for the positive assessment of the takeover offer by the Executive Board and Supervisory Board.

Closing of the transaction remains subject to certain regulatory approvals that are set out in the offer document as well as the approval by the Parliament of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Subject to the fulfilment of these conditions, closing of the transaction is currently expected to take place in the second quarter of 2024.

You can find more information at: https://hhla.de/en/investment-msc