Maersk secures 19% of P&O Nedlloyd ahead of bid completion

Maersk secures 19% of P&O Nedlloyd ahead of bid completion    A.P. Moller-Maersk has bought a third major block of shares in its takeover target Royal P&O Nedlloyd, moving quickly to increase its stake in the company ahead of the acceptance date of its bid.
   The Danish group said Tuesday it has agreed to buy 2 million Royal P&O Nedlloyd shares, representing 4.8 percent of its capital, from “an investor.” It has not disclosed the name of the seller.
   Maersk will pay the investor a price equal to the offer price of 57 euros ($70) per share minus a discount, due to the fact that the purchase occurs prior to the expected completion of the conditional offer. The acceptance period for the offer will end Aug. 4.
   The latest transaction will bring to about 19.1 percent Maersk’s shareholding in Royal P&O Nedlloyd. In the past week, Maersk had also purchased a stake of 8.2 percent in Royal P&O Nedlloyd from fund manager Fidelity and a 5 percent shareholding from several undisclosed investors.