The French dairy group Lactalis to take control Tuesday of his Italian rival Parmalat, after months of battle against the Italian government, which wanted to keep one of its flagship food in domestic capital.
The entity resulting from merger-Lactalis Parmalat is the world leader in dairy products.
"Lactalis will take control of the board, allowing it to impose its policy to the group," said an analyst in Milan, on condition of anonymity.
"There was a verbal battle in Italy, but the market has won," he added.
Lactalis has launched a bid for all of Parmalat, and the share of 28.97% of the capital accumulated since March should give sufficient weight in the General Assembly on Tuesday to win a majority on the board.
The fact remains that the subject is sensitive in Italy in March after the absorption of the jeweler Bulgari by LVMH, and with the prospect of a possible takeover of Edison by EDF.
In addition, the press has mentioned an interest in BNP Paribas for Banca Popolare di Milano.
A PATRON OF DEPARTURE
The General Assembly on Tuesday will also be a turning point for Parmalat in that it marks the end of the reign of seven years of the CEO Enrico Bondi, the Italian employers figure regarded as a Rectifier of ailing companies.
76 years old, Enrico Bondi is expected to leave the company, having lost the support of the shareholder Intesa Sanpaolo, which has no opposite-Italian offer against the application filed by Lactalis.
Enrico Bondi was criticized for its conservative policy with regard to dividend, and for not having spent the cash reserves of 1.4 billion euros to acquire new targets.
Among the potential replacements, the Italian press and analysts spoke of Franco Tato, former CEO of Enel, and Antonio Sala, head of Lactalis Italia.
Promising to guarantee jobs and maintain the seat of Parmalat in Italy, Lactalis has secured the support of unions Alps.
The French offered 2.6 euros per share to acquire 71% of Parmalat that it lacks, for a total of 4.3 billion euros. The offer runs until July 8, but the board of Parmalat was found to be unfair.
Take control of the board considerably simplify the task of the French group.