Addis Ababa — ICL already owns 16.36% of Allana, whose Danakhil project in northeast Ethiopia could yield up to 1 million tons of muriate, the commodity form of potash, per year for 25 years.
It will pay 50 Canadian cents per share for the remaining shares. The offer is a 51.5% premium to Allana’s closing price on Thursday, prior to the offer being announced.
On Friday, Allana shares jumped 44% to 47.5 Canadian cents in Toronto. ICL shares edged 0.43% higher in New York for the day.
The acquisition, to be paid for in cash and shares in ICL’s common stock, is supported by Allana’s board of directors, but is still subject to conditions and regulations, ICL said.
A takeover by ICL, the world’s sixth-biggest potash producer, would push the mine closer to construction and give ICL a future low-cost source of the fertilizer.
The mine is small compared to those operated by top producers Uralkali and Potash Corp of Saskatchewan, but would add to a global capacity glut.
“Acquiring ownership of Allana will enable ICL to control the development of the Danakhil project, accelerate pre-construction engineering design work, as well as secure project financing,” ICL said in a statement.
Along with muriate of potash, Allana is studying potential for producing the premium product sulfate of potash at the site.
Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara International is developing an adjacent SOP project, and Allana CEO Farhad Abasov said this month that he planned to talk with Yara about a partnership
Yara spokesman Bernhard Mauritz Stormyr declined comment on ICL’s offer to Allana, but the Canadian company said it has granted ICL a right to match any competing offer.
It’s unlikely that another bid will emerge, and the offer is likely the best option for Allana given challenging conditions for junior potash companies, Raymond James analyst Steve Hansen said in a note. The deal must close by August 17.
ICL is the second-largest Israeli company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and one of the three largest suppliers of the crop nutrient potash to China, India and Europe. (Haaretz)