SF Holding to take over Kerry Logistics for $2.3 billion

SF Holding Co., one of the largest Chinese package-delivery services, is seeking to acquire control of tycoon Robert Kuok’s Kerry Logistics Network Ltd. in a HK$17.6 billion ($2.3 billion) deal.

The Chinese courier plans to buy a 51.8% stake in Hong Kong-listed Kerry Logistics at HK18.8 per share, according to a joint statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday. Bloomberg News reported last week that SF Holding was exploring a potential investment in the company.

Kerry Logistics also plans to sell some warehouse assets for HK$13.5 billion and its Taiwan business for NT$4.5 billion ($161 million) to its parent company, the statement said. Kerry Logistics proposes a special dividend of HK$7.28 per share conditional on the completion of the warehouses sale. Shareholders who accept the SF’s offer will receive HK$26.08 including the special dividend, representing an 11% premium to the last closing price.

Kuok, who is Malaysia’s richest person, controls Kerry Logistics through his family holding company Kerry Group and its Hong Kong-listed real estate arm Kerry Properties Ltd. SF Holding will offer cash for the Kerry Logistics stake and plans to keep the company listed in Hong Kong. After the transaction, Kerry Properties’s holding in the logistics firm will be cut to about 20% from 40%.

Shares of SF Holding, which were halted pending the announcement, will resume trading in Shenzhen on Wednesday. Kerry Logistics and its shareholder Kerry Properties Ltd. will also resume trading in Hong Kong.

The deal will help SF Holding boost its distribution network and supply-chain services as it gains a footprint across Asia. Kerry Logistics would become the Chinese courier’s primary vehicle for international expansion. SF Holding’s shares have more than doubled over the past 12 months, helping it surpass FedEx Corp. in value and giving it a market capitalization of about $75 billion.

The Chinese group owns courier service SF Express, which has benefitted from the rise in online shopping in China fueled by companies like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and JD.com Inc. In 2019, SF Holding completed the acquisition of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s supply chain assets in China for 5.5 billion yuan ($855 million).

Kerry Logistics offers air freight, trucking and ocean cargo services as well as customs brokerage and cross-border logistics for e-commerce companies. Its clients include fashion brands, food and beverage distributors, consumer goods companies, electronics manufacturers and other companies throughout the region.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the financial adviser to SF Holding, while the Kerry Group companies have Citigroup Inc. as their financial adviser.