Exor drives PartnerRe and Axis back to the table

Italian investment company Exor has driven PartnerRe and Axis back to the table following its latest offer of a special pre-closing dividend to $3 per share.

The PartnerRe board said it has determined that the latest Exor proposal would reasonably be likely to result in a “superior proposal”.

This means PartnerRe will seek to engage in negotiations with Exor and offer the investment company the “opportunity to conduct due diligence, to determine whether the current offer can be improved both in its price and terms with respect to items previously identified”.

However, the board added that it continues to believe the amalgamation with Axis is superior “in value, terms and certainty of closing”.

“Following its review of Exor’s revised proposal, PartnerRe’s board of directors reaffirms its recommendation that shareholders vote ‘for’ the agreed amalgamation with Axis.