Cermaq ASA : Statement from the Board regarding the decision on the Copeinca transaction

 

In connection to the decision of the Annual General Meeting not providing the necessary support to the financing of the Copeinca-transaction the chair of Cermaq's Board of Directors, Mr. Bård Mikkelsen, has issued the following statement:

"The board notes that the general meeting has not provided the necessary support for the proposal on the financing of the Copeinca transaction. At the same time 62.5 percent of the shareholders voted in favour of the financing, demonstrating that a significant majority of the company's shares supports the acquisition of Copeinca.  Today Cermaq holds almost 20 percent of the shares in Copeinca, and the board will now evaluate alternative courses of action for Cermaq's further engagement in Copeinca.

The Board notes that a not insignificant part of our shareholders has voted against the rights issue related to the Copeinca transaction. Based on what the board and the management have learned from discussions with shareholders before the general meeting, this voting is more a general expression of the desire to create an opportunity for an offer on all shares in the company than an opposition against the Copeinca transaction as such. The Board will take this into account in its considerations of strategic alternatives, and in particular related to the importance of better visibility of the underlying values of Cermaq.

The Board expects that Marine Harvest now will present an offer for the shares in Cermaq. Marine Harvest has communicated that such an offer will have a higher price than what has been stated. The Board will thoroughly assess  potential higher offers which reflect the underlying values of the company and has a structure which aims to get a broad support from Cermaq's shareholders."

Further information - please contact:
Jon Hindar, CEO, phone: [phone], mobile: + 47 977 48 829

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

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Source: Cermaq ASA via Thomson Reuters ONE

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