TUESDAY, 1.30PM:
A R2,4-billion merger is on the cards for Sasol, which is about to buy a 52,6% share in chemicals group AECI from Anglo American Industrial Corporation for around R29 a share.
The companies’ cautionary period has been extended by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange until Wednesday.
Negotiations have been delayed, despite the exchange of letters of intent some weeks ago, due to the AECI board’s belief that the Sasol approach is hostile. It is still not clear whether the AECI board, which has developed a restructuring alternative to the Sasol takeover, will support the deal.
It is believed merchant bank ING Barings has valued AECI at at least R35 a share. It is thought the board may only support the deal if the offer comes close to R35 a share. At least 75% of shareholders will have to agree to the offer price as well, and the courts and Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin must also sanction the deal.
But Anglo already has command of around 65% of shareholders through various subsidiary shareholders, and would therefore need only to work for another 10% to push the deal through.
The Competition Board will be considering the impact of the deal on the explosives and fertiliser industries — it would give Sasol control of 75% and 80% of each of those industries respectively.