Courtesy of Finansavisen10 May 2017 11:45
Norpalm fights to be sold
Industries: British DekelOil have offered 50 million for Norpalm in Kristiansand, but Norpalm has not yet clear åoppfylle criteria. At the same time be notified it about competing bids.
STEINAR GRINI
STEINAR. GRINI@FINANSAVISEN.NO
Published: 06.05.2017
-There are many variables in Africa. But I think we're going to make it, says Chairman of the Board Per Schønberg in Norpalm.
But Schønberg have tried for several years to address the issues around joints and rental deals in Africa after the Norpalm in 2000 only paid half of the purchase price of 3 million dollars for land the Government had seized and resold.
Norpalm dare not to pay the remaining sum because they are convinced that the Government will never pay the compensation on to land owners.
At the same time threatening the Norpalms partner, PZ, with lawsuits at the same time that they will block any suggestions about the ownership change.
Requires exemptions for liens
Norpalm manufactures and sells palm oil from Ghana, Norpalm where Norpalm owns 69 per cent and PZ Cussons the rest. In 2015 the company earned 3.9 million of revenues of 104, but the previous year has been more profitable with annual profits of around 10 million.
The 2. March they went out message to the owners about that DekelOil had bid the stock of 1.65 kroner conditional that they got 50.1 per cent, that the Ghanaian authorities waived claims against the Norpalm and that they are not confirmed that PZ would take the shareholder agreement's clause, "change of control".
Dekel would in that case provide the financing of the compensation to the land owners through a loan of 2.2 million dollars to 11 percent interest rate.
Originally Dekel would buy Norpalm Ghana directly, but when it became clear that it would not get the sufficient majority in the general Assembly, they would instead buy indirect control through to buy the company owns Norpalm in Kristiansand.
The uncertainty around the joints and leases also has reduced the price from 2 dollars to 1.65 per share NOK, which rates the company to 50 million.
-Vulnerable situation
-Call back in a few weeks. We keep on working, "said Per Schønberg.
-What are you working with?
-I don't want to say.
-When do you expect a clarification?
"We have to have something in place before the summer.
Shareholder letter from Schønberg was little lystelig. Schønberg draws a picture in which the Norpalm are in your tax position at the same time as dividend capacity is considerably reduced. His conclusion is that the Norpalm will be in a "very vulnerable situation".
Schønberg tells of countless meetings with land owners and representatives of the privatization agency and various Divestiture Implementation Committee dignitaries included Ghana's president-no result.
-Real konkursfare
Schønberg have adopted the lobby organizations and the Norwegian Embassy as well as the UK author