By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : March 06, 2018 8:18 pm
Sumitomo Chemical announced today that it has increased its shareholding in Nufarm to 21.7% and that it plans to acquire up to an additional 1.3% of Nufarm\'s issued capital by exercising the right to purchase additional shares under Section 611 (9)
Sumitomo Chemical announced today that it has increased its shareholding in Nufarm to 21.7% and that it plans to acquire up to an additional 1.3% of Nufarm's issued capital by exercising the right to purchase additional shares under Section 611 (9) of the Australian Corporations Act.
Sumitomo completed a strategic investment in
Nufarm in April 2010, acquiring 20% of ordinary shares via a tender offer.
Sumitomo?s strategic relationship with Nufarm is progressing smoothly in such
fields as distribution, development, manufacturing (formulation) and procurement
and logistics, and synergies from the collaboration have already started to
materialize.
In order to strengthen the relationship with Nufarm and to help expedite
additional areas of collaboration, Sumitomo has decided to increase its stake in
Nufarm.
Sumitomo has negotiated the purchase of 4,500,000 Nufarm shares directly from Mr. Doug Rathbone, Managing Director of Nufarm. An agreement to purchase those shares was executed after the close of trading on the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday, at a price of A$5.28 per share, which represents the three month volume weighted average price of Nufarm shares between February 1 and April 29, 2011.
Sumitomo plans to purchase additional shares from
the market within the next 6 months so that Sumitomo?s shareholding in Nufarm
will reach approximately 23%.
Through the collaboration with Nufarm, Sumitomo will improve efficiency in its
operations and strengthen its global crop protection businesses. The decision to
increase Sumitomo's ownership stake in Nufarm is a clear indication of
Sumitomo's confidence in Nufarm's business and the strong growth prospects that
exist for both Nufarm and Sumitomo.