Joy Global, a worldwide leader in high-productivity mining solutions, last Thursday announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which Komatsu America Corp., a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., will acquire Joy Global in a transaction valued at approximately $3.7 billion, including Joy Globals outstanding indebtedness.
Komatsu intends to operate Joy Global as a separate subsidiary of Komatsu and retain the strength of the Joy Global brand names. The companies will align the organization and operation for optimal customer support from Joy Globals headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Komatsu and Joy Globals products and services are highly complementary and the combined organization will continue to focus on safety, productivity and life cycle cost improvement for customers. Komatsu plans to leverage both companies leading technologies to pursue product and service innovation to enhance mine safety and productivity. In addition, the companies employ complementary strategies and are committed to an integrated direct sales and service model.
This is a compelling transaction that delivers substantial and certain value to our stockholders as well as expanded options for our customers and employees going forward, said Ted Doheny, President and Chief Executive Officer of Joy Global. We believe this is the right partnership to meet the evolving needs of our customers while furthering our ability to lead the mining industry with game-changing technologies and best-in-class products. Joy Globals Board of Directors, in making its determination, considered the challenging market conditions the company believes are likely to persist. The mining industry continues to face cyclical headwinds from oversupplied commodities and reduced end user demand resulting in cash flow restrictions for most producers, creating an increasingly challenging environment. We are also seeing structural changes in the U.S. and China coal industry.
Our companies share similar cultures and values, Doheny continued, and we expect many Joy Global employees to benefit from exciting career opportunities as part of an even larger, more diversified company. On behalf of the Joy Global Board and management team, we thank our dedicated employees for their continued hard work and commitment to solving minings toughest challenges.
Under the terms of the agreement, Joy Global stockholders will receive $28.30 per share in cash for each outstanding share of common stock held, representing a 48% premium to the volume weighted average closing price of Joy Globals common stock for the 90 trading days and a 41% premium to the volume weighted average closing price of Joy Globals common stock for the 60 trading days prior to July 21, 2016.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Joy Global stockholders, the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and regulatory approvals in certain other jurisdictions. The transaction is expected to close by mid-2017.
The transaction is not subject to any financing conditions. Komatsu had total assets of JPY2,614 billion ($25 billion) and total equity of JPY1,517 billion ($14 billion) as of March 31, 2016.
This deal reminds one, and in certain respects is similar to, Caterpillars 2011 $8.6 billion acquisition of Bucyrus International Inc., which put Caterpillar into the dragline business and added a range of complementary products to Cats own mining operations.
