UPDATE: KPN Reaches Deal To Buy The Rest Of iBasis
November 23 2009 - 8:40AM
Dow Jones News
Royal KPN NV (KPN.AE), the Netherlands' largest
telecommunications company, Monday said it had reached a deal to
acquire the remaining shares in U.S.-based voice-over Internet
carrier iBasis Inc. (IBAS), ending pending litigation between the
two.
KPN said its "last and final" offer, of $3 per iBasis share in
cash, valued its remaining 44% stake at $93.3 million.
"KPN's acquisition of the remaining publicly-held interests in
iBasis will enable iBasis to continue to execute on its business
plans and strategies with the full support of KPN's management and
resources," KPN said in a statement, adding that iBasis' operations
will continue to be located in Burlington, Massachusetts.
KPN already owns 56% of iBasis, and has sought since July to
acquire the rest. Its first offer of $1.55 a share, valuing the 44%
stake at $48.2 million, was rejected as "grossly inadequate" and
the U.S. company later filed a complaint in a Delaware court
accusing the KPN of violating federal securities laws and sought an
injunction against the tender.
KPN raised its bid again in October to $2.25 per share, but that
was also rejected.
As part of the settlement KPN and iBasis have agreed to the
dismissal with prejudice of all claims in the litigation pending
between the parties in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In addition, iBasis has agreed to terminate its July 30, 2009
stockholder rights plan, both companies said in a joint
statement.
At 1255 GMT, KPN was trading up 2.2% at EUR11.86, slightly
outperforming a higher overall Amsterdam market. iBasis shares
closed Friday at $2.26 on NASDAQ.
-By Archibald Preuschat, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 211 13872 18;
archibald.preuschat@dowjones.com
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