News

Latest: Carillion abandons merger plans after Balfour Beatty rejects latest offer

Carillion has announced that it is no longer pursuing a merger with Balfour Beatty after its latest increased offer was rejected by the Balfour Beatty Board this morning (Wednesday 20th August).

Balfour Beatty chairman Steve Marshall and Carillion chairman Philip Green

In a statement released today Carillion said: "The Board of Balfour Beatty has not agreed to Carillion's proposal or to request an extension to the Put Up or Shut Up deadline which expires at 5pm tomorrow, 21 August 2014. Carillion therefore today announces that it is no longer pursuing such a merger."

Balfour Beatty's board this morning rejected the latest offer by Carillion after deciding that the improved offer made on 19 August is still not in the best interests of shareholders.

In a statement released on Wednesday 20 August  Balfour Beatty said the bid still fails to address its two key concerns namely; 

1. The considerable risks associated with the proposed business plan, including the strategy to significantly reduce the scale of the UK Construction business when it is poised to benefit from a recovery in the market; and

2, the continued intention to terminate the sale of Parsons Brinckerhoff at a point when it is reaching a successful conclusion.

Balfour Beatty is believed to be moving close to concluding a deal to sell Parsons Brinckerhoff with consultant WSP still tipped as the front runner. No announcements have been made on the progress of this sale.

In its latest statement Balfour Beatty said that it will not not be seeking any extention to the previously imposed "put up or shut up" deadline of 5pm Thursday 21 August, and noted that the improved offer "represents only a small value change in the terms compared to the proposal from Carillion rejected on 11 August 2014".

Carillion's improved offer to Balfour Beatty shareholders came on Tuesday 19 August, just two days ahead of the put or shut up deadline imposed in a bid to force through a merger of the two businesses.

Carillion offered Balfour Beatty shareholders a 56.268% share of the combined business and a cash dividend of 8.5p valuing Balfour Beatty at £2.086M. The previous offer had been a 56.5% share, worth £1.886M.

Carillion stands by its statements that costs can be cut by £175M a year.  This would require a cut in the Balfour Beatty Construction Services business of two thirds, according to Balfour Beatty

Carillion's latest proposal represents a 36% premium for Balfour Beatty shareholders. It believes the proposal provides a “compelling case” for Balfour Beatty to ask the Panel On Takeovers and Mergers to extend the deadline and resume discussions. Parsons Brinckerhoff would still be part of the deal. 

Carillion chairman Philip Green said: “Given the scale of the prize for shareholders of both Balfour Beatty and Carillion from a merger of the two companies, the Board of Carillion remains committed to moving forward in a constructive and collaborative way with the board and management of Balfour Beatty to create a world-class business and very significant value for the shareholders of both companies”.

The Proposed Offer

Carillion’s revised proposal is as follows:

  • All-share merger of Carillion and Balfour Beatty; 
  • 58.268% share for Balfour Beatty shareholders based on the current undiluted ordinary share capital of each of Balfour Beatty and Carillion;
  • In addition to the interim dividend announced by Balfour Beatty last week and to the 2014 final dividend to which shareholders of the combined group would be entitled, Balfour Beatty shareholders to receive an additional cash dividend or equivalent of 8.5 pence per Balfour Beatty share (£59 million in total);
  • Leadership team of Richard Howson, CEO; Richard Adam, CFO; and Philip Green, Chairman (all Carillion);
  • Three Balfour Beatty non-executive directors to join the Board;
  • Enlarged group to maintain Carillion’s progressive dividend policy;
  • Senior management team below board level to be drawn from both companies; and
  • Remaining Parsons Brinckerhoff bidders’ reasonable costs to be covered by Carillion in the event the merger goes ahead (up to £10M in aggregate).

Parsons Brinckerhoff
Carillion has repeated to Balfour Beatty that it is willing to allow it to continue with its Parsons Brinckerhoff auction process, and to enter into a contract for a sale of Parsons Brinckerhoff subject to shareholder approval. However, should the merger proceed, Carillion would expect the disposal of Parsons Brinckerhoff not to be completed.

Carillion is willing to reimburse the remaining Parsons Brinckerhoff bidders’ reasonable costs (up to £10 million in aggregate) from the date that discussions with Balfour Beatty resume, in the event that the merger goes ahead and Parsons Brinckerhoff is not sold.

 

Balfour Beatty's priorities

In its statement on 20th August Balfour Beatty said its priorities are as follows: 

  • Concluding the Parsons Brinckerhoff sales process at an attractive value, and consequently returning up to £200M of capital to Balfour Beatty shareholders;
  • Recruiting an outstanding Group CEO;
  • The restoration of value from the UK construction business including progressively returning it to peer group margins;
  • Realising further indirect overhead savings and shared service efficiencies across the Group, where all of the benefits will accrue to its shareholders; and
  • Publishing the updated valuation of the PPP portfolio which takes into account current market conditions.

 

Ten things to know about Carillion

1. Background

Carillion was formed in 1999 following the demerger of the Tarmac Group into a building materials company ('Tarmac') and a company focused on support services and construction services ('Carillion'). Its history therefore traces to the companies that had become part of the Tarmac Group by the late 1990s, namely Tarmac Construction, Wimpey Construction, Cubitts and Mitchell Construction.

Since 1999, Carillion has acquired further well-known construction companies including Mowlem (acquired in 2006), Alfred McAlpine (acquired in 2008), Vanbots (acquired in 2008) and Eaga (acquired in 2011).

2. Management 

Chairman: Philip Green 

Chief executive Richard Howson

3. The business

Carillion is a FTSE 250 company with around 40,000 staff across the world. Current share price is 340p and market capitalisation is £1.46bn. 

Markets include: Aviation, Building, Central Government, Civil Engineering, Commercial, Defence, Education, Energy, Financial Services, Health, Justice, Local Authorities, Rail, Roads, Utilities

4. Geography

Carillion operates in three geographic regions:

  • UK and Ireland
  • Middle East and Africa
  • Canada

5. Services

Carillion operates across three divisions

1. Construction Services

2. Support Services including:

  • Facilities Management and Property Services
  • Specialist Services
  • Business Services
  • Infrastructure Services
  • Energy Services
  • Advice Services

3. Public Private Partnership – current projects and equity commitments include:

  • UK: Southmead Hospital - £48.7M - 30 years
  • UK: Allenby Connaught - £15.0M - 35 years
  • Canada: Forensic Service and Coroners Complex - £11.4M - 30 years
  • Canada: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - £8.9M - 30 years
  • Canada: Sault Area Hospital - £4.7M - 30 years

6. Financial performance

Carillion’s 2013 results: In 2013 revenue fell from £4.4bn in 2012 to £4.1bn; pretax profit dropped from £200M in 2012 to £174.7M in 2013; operating margin maintained at 5.6%.

Carillion’s 2014 half-year results: £3.2bn of contracts won in the first half, including a £700M contract in UK rail. The group’s pre-tax profits climbed 5% higher to £67.5m while revenues were 5pc lower to £1.87bn. during the period.

7. Carillion’s strategy and vision

Strategy: to achieve sustainable, profitable growth by:

  • Investing in people and capabilities
  • Building long-term, trusted partnerships
  • Transferring knowledge and skills to new and existing markets to expand our services and infrastructure activities
  • Providing a selective high-quality construction capability

Vision: "To be the trusted partner for providing services, delivering infrastructure and creating places that bring lasting benefits to our customers and the communities in which we live and work." Richard Howson, chief executive. 

8. Training

Carillion claims to be the largest employer of young apprentices in the UK construction sector with up to 2,000 apprentices in training each year in its network of 14 training centres.

9. Ten key projects over Carillion’s 15 year life:

  1. Current - Southmead Hospital Redevelopment Project 
  2. 2012 - Olympic Media Centre, London
  3. 2009 - Yas Marina Hotel, Abu Dhabi (Al Futtaim Carillion)
  4. 2007 - Channel Tunnel Rail Link to St Pancras, London 
  5. 2006 - Twickenham Rugby Stadium, London (Mowlem)
  6. 2003 - Government Communications HQ, Cheltenham
  7. 2002 - Copenhagen Metro, Copenhagen 
  8. 8.2001 - Grand Mosque, Muscat 
  9. 2000 - Tate Modern, London 
  10. 1999 - JJB Stadium, Wigan (Alfred McAlpine)

10. Investors

Carillion and Balfour Beatty  have a small overlap in institutional investors including BlackRock, Standard Life, Schroders, State Street and Dimensional Fund Advisers. It is understood that some investors have urged Balfour’s board to re-engage.

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.