[SCHEDULE 13D/A] TORM plc SEC Filing
OCM Njord (an Oaktree-related vehicle) filed Amendment No. 17 to its Schedule 13D for TORM plc Class A shares reporting beneficial ownership of 40,581,120 Class A Shares, equal to 41.43% of the Class A shares based on 97,952,429 outstanding Class A shares as of June 4, 2025. The amendment discloses a signed Sale and Purchase Agreement dated September 11, 2025 under which OCM Njord agreed to sell 14,156,061 Class A Shares to Hafnia Limited at $22.00 per share for aggregate proceeds of $311,433,342. Closing is expected before February 11, 2026 and is conditioned on board nominee appointments, certain regulatory approvals (including Brazil and Denmark), antitrust and foreign direct investment clearances, and restrictions on material transactions by the issuer prior to closing.
- Large, defined sale: The agreement specifies sale of 14,156,061 shares at $22.00 each for $311,433,342, providing clear liquidity and proceeds terms.
- Governance clarity: The agreement contemplates appointment of a nominee as director and chair, which clarifies intended post-transaction governance structure.
- Standard regulatory protections: Conditions include antitrust and foreign direct investment clearances, aligning with customary protections for cross-border transactions.
- Material reduction in stake: The sale would reduce the reporting persons’ economic exposure by the sold block (14,156,061 shares), impacting their relative influence.
- Execution risk: Closing is conditional on multiple regulatory approvals in jurisdictions including Brazil and Denmark, creating timing and outcome uncertainty.
- Pre-closing covenants constrain issuer: Undertakings to avoid certain transactions or transfers of value before closing could limit issuer flexibility and corporate actions in the interim.
Insights
TL;DR: A large block sale (14.16M shares) to Hafnia reduces Oaktree’s stake and gives Hafnia potential board control via a nominee and chair appointment.
The Sale and Purchase Agreement is a material disposition of equity representing roughly 14.4% of the Class A base (14,156,061 of 97,952,429). The price of $22.00 per share and the size of proceeds ($311.4m) are substantive. Conditionality around a director nomination and chair appointment suggests governance influence for the buyer post-closing. The regulatory and antitrust conditions add execution risk and timing uncertainty but are typical for cross-border transactions of this scale.
TL;DR: Transaction includes explicit governance arrangements and pre-closing covenants limiting issuer actions that protect buyer value.
The agreement requires the issuer to permit appointment of a nominee selected by OCM Njord in consultation with Hafnia as both director and board chair, a meaningful governance change if implemented. The issuer also undertook to avoid approving transactions that would materially transfer value among shareholders before closing, which preserves the economic position for the purchaser. These provisions are governance-forward and likely to alter board dynamics if consummated.