Business News of Friday, 17 October 2003

Source: GNA

Unilever acquires equity in Benso Oil

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA- Unilever Ghana Limited, a listed member of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has acquired 58.45 per cent of the equity in Benso Oil Palm Plantation Limited (BOPP), a private local company.

A release by the GSE issued in Accra on Friday said the purchase consideration was 11.7 million US dollars.

"The acquisition was made subject to and in compliance with the statutory requirement and has received approval from relevant regulatory authorities", the statement said.

The statement said the acquisition supported Unilever Ghana's vision of integrating strategic raw material supplies, especially oil palm and allow the realization of synergies between BOPP and Twifo Oil Palm Plantation in which Unilever Ghana also holds 40 per cent equity. The shares were acquired through a Transfer and Share Sale Agreement entered between Unilever Ghana Limited and the transferor shareholders, CWA Holdings Limited and Unilever Overseas Holdings Limited, both associate companies of Unilever Ghana Limited.