Berger Paints shares are worth more than $20 each, so why would any rational person recommend that shareholders sell them at $10.88? It simply makes no logical sense as the offer to buy is not a fair price for the minority shares.
Unfortunately, a number of small shareholders are likely to get their wealth sucked out by an awful and unfortunate recommendation by the directors of Berger Paints for them to accept an offer that is clearly not in the interest of minority shareholders.
According to the directors, Ansa Coatings International controls 51.01 percent of the issued Berger Jamaica’s shares and as a result of this Offer, its holding will most likely exceed 75%. That of course is not supported by facts and no evidence is put forth to support this view. What difference does this make anyhow? The vast majority of listed companies on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, are controlled by majority shareholders having more than 75 ownership without minority suffering unduly if at all. Why should that change now?
According to the directors, PwC Advisory has stated in the Fairness Opinion that the consideration under the offer is fair to the shareholders of BPJL from a financial point of view. PwC Advisory review procedures focused on evaluating the fairness of the offer on a stand-alone basis and not relative to the price attributed to other companies included in the LBOH Acquisition.
The circular does not reveal confirmation from any of the major minority shareholders that they intend to sell and thus take the holdings for the majority shareholder beyond 80%. The 80% threshold does not automatically translate to delisting. Argument is made about transfer tax and stamp duty for transferring shares if the company were to be delisted, but no mention is made that investors bought stocks in large quantities at prices that would make the cost of transfer fees an unimportant factor. The directors seem unaware of the regulation relating to delisting and it is not a simple as they state or would want investors to think.

The reality is that even if the shares are to be delisted it will likely take months before that takes place.
An analysis who is not unconnected with a major minority shareholder, had this to say “Regarding Berger, the stock is controlled by about 4 to 5 minority shareholders who own roughly half (or a little more than) of the 48.99% remaining. I have it on very good authority that the parties have unanimously chosen to REJECT Ansa McAL’s offer.”
There are other smart investors who will not accept it as well, hence the chance of the offer doing well is slim, especially as the stock has been trading above the offer price. The above assessment mirrors IC Insider.com earlier comments that 6 shareholders hold more than 31 percent of the shares and they are unlikely to sell at the offer price. That would make the possibility of the offer getting shares up to even 70 percent very slim. In addition there are others who won’t sell either.

The average PE of the main market is 13 times this year’s earnings so even if we used the March results, the shares are worth in excess of $19. Add to that, improved earnings to June and the value grows even higher.
Jamaica suffered from a long period of minimal economic performance and now seems to be on a path to sustainable growth, against this back ground there are several buildings under construction presently that will result in increased demand for paint. Berger is set to reap huge benefits from the increased demand and shareholders will too. Interest rates have been sliding and will continue to do so making stocks more attractive than is currently the case. PE ratios will rise and so will profits, a combination that should put Berger in the $40 region in a year’s time so why would anyone want to sell under $11. Investors should be buying around the current listed price of $11 to benefit from a huge upside after the offer fails.