By Scott Kanowsky
Investing.com -- Shares in Rothschild & Co SCA (EPA:ROTH) soared in Paris on Monday after the holding firm of the powerful Rothschild family announced that it planned to issue an offer for the shares of the financial services group that it does not already own.
In a statement, the holding company - known as Concordia - said it intends to file a simplified cash tender offer of €48.0 per share, representing a 19% premium over the closing price on February 3. Concordia currently owns 38.9% of the share capital and 47.5% of the voting rights in Rothschild & Co.
Under the proposal, shareholders would also receive an ordinary dividend of €1.4 per share, as well as a potential "exceptional distribution" of €8.0 per share should the offer be filed.
The move could see Rothschild & Co. - a more than two-century-old group that consists of several divisions, including global advisory, wealth management, asset management, and merchant banking - taken off the Paris stock exchange.
Concordia argued that none of the businesses in the broader firm needs access to capital from public markets.
"Furthermore, each of the businesses is better assessed on the basis of their long-term performance rather than short-term earnings. This makes private ownership of the Group more appropriate than a public listing," Concordia said.
The filing of the proposed offer would be subject to regulatory approval, Concordia added.