Smurfit Kappa reaffirmed its guidance on Wednesday that its full-year earnings will be materially better than last year, after rival International Paper (IP) decided to end its pursuit of the Irish packaging company.
Smurfit twice frustrated a bid to combine the largest listed US paper packaging firm with Europe's biggest, arguing that it was better served pursuing its future independently. IP's second, raised offer valued the Irish group at €8.9 billion ($10.5 billion).
IP walked away on Tuesday, blaming a lack of engagement from Smurfit's management. Under Irish takeover rules, the Memphis-based group is barred from making a fresh attempt to buy Smurfit for 12 months.
‘Superior Prospects’
"The board believes that SKG has superior prospects as a standalone business and remains excited about the group's prospects in the short, medium and long term," Smurfit said via a statement, adding that it expected the second quarter to represent another strong performance.
David O'Brien, an analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers, said that given that IP is one of the few packaging companies capable of launching a bid for Smurfit, the Irish group is likely to stay as an independent company for now.
Shares in Smurfit, which fell sharply earlier this week, were 2.3% higher, at €34, by 07.20 GMT. The shares hit a high of €37.10 during IP's pursuit, but are well up on the €28.60 at which they stood before the initial bid.
The second bid was pitched at €37.54 per share.
Smurfit agreed last month to buy Dutch paper and recycling firm Reparenco for €460 million and said on Wednesday that it was targeting synergy benefits in excess of €30 million from the deal – a disclosure that it was forbidden from making at the time under takeover rules.
It also laid out a four-year plan in February to increase investment in its existing businesses by €1.6 billion.
Rival Deals
Elsewhere in the sector, UK-based DS Smith Plc this week offered to buy Spanish rival Europac for €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion), including debt to bolster its position in Western Europe's fast-growing packaging market.
Ireland's Davy Stockbrokers increased its forecast for Smurfit Kappa's full-year core earnings by 6% for 2018 and 5% for 2019, reflecting the recent acquisition and strong underlying fundamentals in the sector.
It also increased its price target for the stock to €42, above the €37.50 per share bid by International Paper.
'It is little wonder, therefore, that SKG's board rejected the proposal from International Paper,' Davy analyst Barry Dixon wrote in a note.
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
