Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Efforts are being made by Chairman of Forte Oil Plc, Mr Femi Otedola, to acquire more arms of the company.
Mr Otedola, who is the majority shareholder of Forte Oil Plc, wants to buy firm’s upstream services and power distribution company.
However, before this can be done, shareholders of Forte Oil will have to meet to ratify this and a meeting has been fixed for February 7, 2019 for this purpose.
In a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Company Secretary of Forte Oil, Mr Akinleye Olagbende, explained that the move followed shareholders’ approval on May 23, 2018 of the divestment of Forte Oil from its Ghana unit, AP Oil and Gas and Amperion Power Distribution Company, which holds the group’s interest in Geregu Power Plc.
He said the company’s efforts to dispose of the assets were hit by low interest in the bidding process as well as low price expectations.
“A public tender sale process was commenced to attract interested potential investors to participate in the divestment opportunity. Upon review of the outcome of the sale process, the management of the company is of the view that there was an unexpectedly low interest in the bidding process.
“The pricing proposal does not meet its expectation, based on an independent valuation of Amperion, thus, may not be in the best interest of its shareholders,” Mr Olagbende said.
He said based on the development, the company’s chairman had expressed interest to participate in the divestment opportunity through his designated vehicle.
According to him, the proposal would be subject to a rigorous review by the company’s management and if successful must be in line with relevant extant regulatory requirements.
He said the process if successfully completed, would ensure adequate funding for the company’s downstream operations.
The scribe noted that the proceeds of this restructuring exercise would enable the company to compete more favourably and achieve its planned expansion objectives within the downstream subsector.
“This will also reduce our finance cost significantly and increase distributable earnings for the benefit of our shareholders,” he added.
It will be recalled that Mr Otedola had signalled his intention to sell-off his 75 percent direct and indirect holdings in Forte Oil downstream business.
