Fantastic Holdings Limited (ASX: FAN) is likely to see its share price jump today after receiving a takeover offer.
In an announcement to the ASX, the furniture retailer and owner of brands Fantastic Furniture, Plush, Original Mattress Factory and LeCornu, says it has agreed to a takeover deal with Steinhoff Asia Pacific Holdings (Steinhoff).
The deal values Fantastic at $361.4 million, with $3.50 in cash per share being offered by Steinhoff. That's 43% more than the last closing price of $2.45.
It's highly likely the deal will be successful for a number of reasons:
- Significant premium being offered
- Fantastic's directors unanimously recommend shareholders vote in favour of the scheme, and they all intend to vote in favour of it
- Major shareholders controlling more than 50% of Fantastic also intend to vote in favour of the scheme
The deal will need the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as Steinhoff Asia Pacific does operate in some of the same segments as Fantastic.
Steinhoff Asia Pacific is an integrated discount retailer operating in Europe, Africa and Australasia. The company currently owns brands including Freedom, Bay Leather Republic, Snooze, POCO – The Super Home Market, BBO – Big Brand Outlet and supply chain company Unitrans.
However, the deal is unlikely to lessen competition, given Steinhoff's brands appear to be slightly more 'upmarket' than Fantastic's offerings. Bay Leather Republic, for example, appears to offer products at higher price points like furniture retailer Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK) and Steinhoff's Freedom Furniture is more comparable to Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) than Fantastic.
