Zooplus acquisition goes through

It's a green light for the takeover of online retailer Zooplus. The bid by the two investors Hellman & Friedman and EQT was accepted by a majority of the shareholders by expiry of the acceptance term at midnight on 3 November. Although it appeared unlikely at the start of the week (as reported by PET worldwide), the minimum acceptance threshold of 50 per cent plus one share was attained. The final result at the end of the first term of acceptance is likely to be published on 8 November.
For Zooplus shareholders who have so far retained their shares, the opportunity still exists from 9 to 22 November to tender their shares for 480 euros per share. Zooplus has announced that as a consequence of the takeover, one-off transaction costs running into the double-digit million range will be incurred. As a result, the board will lower its forecast for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of intangible assets (EBITDA) for fiscal 2021 as a whole.
Earnings of 20 to 35 mio euros are now expected instead of the 40 to 80 mio euros previously anticipated. The sales forecast for 2021, expected to be in a range between 2.04 bn and 2.14 bn euros, remains unchanged.