Lafarge Africa is to make an offer worth about $122 million to buy out minority shareholders in its Nigerian business Ashaka Cement , Reuters Africa reports. The offer follows the $1.35 billion merger of Lafarge Africa’s Nigerian and South African businesses, which received approval from shareholders in July.
Lafarge Africa, the Nigerian arm of French cement maker Lafarge, said on Monday that as part of the merger deal it had acquired a stake in Ashaka Cement of more than 30 percent, the trigger point for making a full takeover bid under Nigeria’s securities and takeover rules.
Under the terms of the offer, shareholders who accept it will receive 57 Lafarge Africa shares for every 202 held in Ashaka Cement and an additional cash payment of 2 naira per share. The offer will run from December 10, to January 16, 2015, the company said.
Shares in Ashaka Cement, which have gained 17 percent this year, were flat at 23.99 naira at 1119 GMT. Lafarge Africa, which accounts for a sixth of Nigeria’s stock market capitalisation, was also flat at 76.50 naira each.
The consolidation will enable Lafarge, which faces intense competition in Africa, especially from arch rival Dangote Cement , owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to accelerate growth on the continent.
http://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFL6N0TS27I20141208
