ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) shares moved lower in after-hours trading Tuesday, slipping 1.13% to close at $19.29, as investors digested news about potential changes ahead for the Israel-based cargo shipping company.
Management Proposes Taking Company Private
The Israel-based shipping company disclosed Tuesday that its board has launched a strategic review after receiving a preliminary, non-binding proposal from CEO and President Eli Glickman and Rami Ungar. The duo wants to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of the company, essentially taking ZIM private.
But here's where it gets interesting: they're not the only ones looking to make a deal.
A Crowded Field of Suitors
The board's strategic review has actually been underway for several months, and ZIM has received indications of interest from multiple parties. That includes strategic buyers, which suggests companies in related industries might see value in adding ZIM's shipping operations to their portfolios.
To handle the complexity, the board brought in heavy hitters for advice. Meitar Law Offices and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP are serving as legal counsel, while Evercore is providing financial advisory services.
Board Strengthens Oversight
ZIM also beefed up its board with two new independent directors: Yair Avidan and Dr. Yoram Turbowicz. That's a smart move when you're navigating competing acquisition proposals and trying to maximize shareholder value.
The review isn't limited to potential buyout offers, either. The board is also considering a full sale of the company and looking at various capital allocation and return opportunities.
The company was clear about one thing: don't expect running updates. ZIM said there's no guarantee any transaction will happen, and they don't plan to provide further updates until a deal is actually reached.
Recent Stock Performance
The cargo shipping company's stock has had a volatile run lately. Shares are down 16.30% year-to-date, though they've recovered somewhat with an 11.29% gain over the past six months. During Tuesday's regular trading session, ZIM actually jumped 13.63% to $19.51, before pulling back slightly in after-hours trading.
The stock trades in a 52-week range of $11.04 to $23.61, and the company currently carries a market capitalization of $2.35 billion.