Exchange Listed Companies
Resource counters were in the spotlight this week making the headlines on two occasions
Northam Platinum announced on Wednesday, exactly one year to the day after the announcement of the initial acquisition of a 32.8% stake in Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), that it would bid for control of RBPlat in a voluntary offer worth R31,7 billion. The offer of R172.70 per RBPlat share is on the same terms as its acquisition made in November last year, less the dividend paid out by RBPlats. The offer (cash and shares) is significantly higher than that of Impala Platinum of R150 per share (R90 per share plus 0.3 shares in Impala). The minimum cash consideration offered by Northam is R54.40 assuming full acceptance of the offer, however, if acceptance rates are low, then the full amount will be paid in cash. Northam currently owns 34.52% of RBPlats (37.8% if call options granted are exercised) with Impala having secured 40.71%. The Public Investment Corporation stake of 9.42% makes it an important cog in this bidding war. As a category one transaction in terms of the JSE Listing Requirements, Northam plans to issue a circular by December 7 with shareholder approval required in due course.
Gold Fields has terminated its proposed acquisition of Yamana Gold following the recommendation by the Yamana Board to its own shareholders to accept the recently announced competing bid from Pan American Silver and Agnico Eagle Mines. One can’t help feeling that Gold Fields has dodged a bullet – for months Gold Fields has been trying, with limited success, to persuade its shareholders that it was not overpaying for the Canadian assets. Had shareholders not voted in favour of the $6,7bn deal later this month, Gold Fields would have had to pay Yamana a break fee of $300 million – the turn of events will see Gold Fields and its shareholders benefitting from Yamana’s termination fee.
Murray & Roberts (M&R) has signed an agreement with Webuild, an Italian construction a civil engineering group, to dispose of its interests in Australian company Clough, which has for some time experienced acute working capital pressures. Although the business is valued c.A$350 million, the cancellation of an outstanding intercompany loan account will see M&R receiving just A$500,00 in cash.
GMB Liquidity has made a mandatory offer to minority shareholders of Grand Parade Investments (GPL) at an offer price of R3.33 per share – in line with the current market price. The recent on-market acquisition of GPL shares by GMB increased its stake to 35.14%, over the 35% threshold requiring GMB to make mandatory offer. It is however, not GMB’s intention to apply for the delisting of the company from the JSE.
African Equity Empowerment Investments has entered into a small, related party transaction with majority shareholder (66%) Sekunjalo Investments to dispose of 1,188,916 ordinary shares in Sygnia.
Unlisted Companies
In a statement released this week, the Competition Commission has prohibited the proposed deal by Amsterdam-based AkzoNobel to acquire Kansai Plascon Africa and Kansai Plascon East Africa saying it would substantially lessen competition in the manufacturing and supply coatings market.
DealMakers is SA’s M&A publication
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