Oilsands target MEG formally rejects Husky Energy's $3.3B takeover bid

MEG Energy Corp. says its board is unanimously recommending that shareholders reject Husky Energy Inc.'s $3.3-billion hostile takeover offer made on Oct. 2.

In a news release, the Calgary-based oilsands company says the offer "significantly undervalues" its shares and is not in the best interests of the company.

Husky is offering a combination of cash or shares worth $11 for each MEG share. The maximum cash available under the deal is capped at $1 billion and the maximum number of shares limited to 107 million.

Husky values the transaction at $6.4 billion, including the assumption of $3.1 billion in debt.

MEG chairman Jeffrey McCaig says Husky's offer doesn't recognize the value of MEG's assets, technology, expertise and business prospects, noting that MEG is at an "inflection point" with a low-risk business plan that will generate significant free cash flow starting in 2019.

Husky says it took its proposal directly to shareholders because MEG's board wouldn't discuss it. It says its offer is open until Jan. 16.

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