AMYLUM CHAIRMAN DISAPPOINTED BY FERRUZZI-CPC DEAL
Belgian starch manufacturer <Amylum NV>
is surprised and disappointed that its 675 mln dlr offer for
the European business of CPC International Inc <CPC.N> was
apparently rejected in favour of a lower 630 mln dlr bid by
Italy's <Gruppo Ferruzzi>, chairman Pierre Callebaut said.
    Callebaut told Reuters that Amylum, a leading starch and
isoglucose manufacturer in which Britain's Tate and Lyle Plc
<TATL.L> holds a 33.3 pct stake, had made an undisclosed
initial takeover offer for CPC's European corn wet milling
business by the close of CPC's tender on March 17.
    The offer was raised on March 24 to a final 675 mln dlrs in
cash after CPC told Amylum its initial bid was below Ferruzzi's
630 mln stg offer, Callebaut said.
    On the same day, CPC announced it had agreed in principle
to sell its European business to Ferruzzi in a 630 mln dlr
deal.
    Noting that Ferruzzi was studying a public offering of
shares in its unit <European Sugar (France)> to fund the CPC
takeover, Callebaut said Amylum may still succeed in its bid.
    "For the time being we just await developments. But I note
that whereas our higher offer was in cash, Ferruzzi apparently
is still organising finance," Callebaut said.
 REUTER
