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Thai Tycoon Gets Extra Time To Bid For Singapore's F & N


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Thai tycoon gets extra time to bid for Singapore's F&N

SINGAPORE, Nov 22, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai billionaire's group was given more time on Thursday to revise its offer for Singapore conglomerate Fraser & Neave (F&N) after an Indonesian rival trumped it with a $10.7 billion bid.

TCC Assets, controlled by Thai beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, said in a filing to the Singapore Exchange before the F&N deadline was to expire Thursday that it had been given until December 11 to make a new offer.

F&N, whose businesses range from property to soft drinks and publishing, became a takeover target after selling off its most prized asset, Tiger Beer maker Asia Pacific Breweries, to Dutch giant Heineken in September.

TCC put forward an offer of Sg$8.7 billion ($7.10 billion), or Sg$8.88 a share, for the shares of F&N it does not yet own.

But Indonesian-controlled Overseas Union Enterprise (OUE) tabled a Sg$13.1 billion ($10.7 billon) proposal at Sg$9.08 per share.

Property giant OUE is controlled by Lippo Group, a major Indonesian conglomerate founded by tycoon Mochtar Riady, whose son Stephen is OUE's executive chairman.

OUE's offer for F&N was backed by Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings, which holds about 14.8 percent of F&N and is interested in its food and beverage business, with the property interests of F&N going to OUE if they succeed.

F&N shares closed up 0.21 percent to Sg$9.42 shortly before TCC's deadline extension was announced.

F&N is one of Singapore's oldest homegrown groups, tracing its origins to an aerated water business in 1883.

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-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-11-22

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Mr Chaoren kept his offer at S$8.88 but extended his offer period. His offer price is below that from the Indoneisan Riady family backed OUE.

But nonetheless, Mr Chaoren had made a windfall from purchase and sale of his stakes in F&N.

Analysts predicted sale by Mr Chaoren to OUE.

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