Segro agrees ยฃ14 billion takeover from US firm Prologsis


British warehouse developer Segro has accepted a ยฃ14 billion takeover offer from US suitor Prologsis.

The agreement comes after a weeks-long battle by the rival firm to take control of the FTSE 100 group and is the latest in a flurry of overseas takeovers of UK businesses.

Segro had previously rebuffed three takeover offers from Prologsis, with the most recent previous move worth about ยฃ13.5 billion.

Late last month Prologsis laid down a ยฃ14 billion โ€œbest and final offerโ€ for the London-based group.

Segro said on Tuesday that they would recommend the deal and that they consider the terms โ€œfair and reasonableโ€.

Prologsis will pay 1,032p for each Segro share, with shareholders to be paid largely through stock, as well as ยฃ3.5 billion in cash.

The expanded Prologsis business will then apply for a secondary share listing in London.

David Sleath, chief executive of Segro, said: โ€œPrologis shares our conviction in the long-term structural drivers underpinning demand for modern logistics and data centre infrastructure.

โ€œWe believe the combination would bring together two highly complementary businesses and create a compelling platform, combining Segroโ€™s exceptional portfolio and development pipeline with Prologisโ€™ existing European business and global scale, customer franchise and operational capabilities, while retaining a shared commitment to disciplined capital allocation, customers and people.โ€

Daniel Letter, chief executive of Prologis, said: โ€œWe have great respect for Segro, its people and the business they have built over many years.

โ€œThe constructive engagement between our leadership teams throughout this process has reinforced our confidence in the opportunity ahead.

โ€œAs we move forward, we will approach the work ahead thoughtfully and deliberately.

โ€œWe look forward to building on the strengths of both companies and creating even greater value for our customers and shareholders.โ€