South African miner Metorex (MTXJ.J) said on Monday that if there were any other serious offers to acquire it aside from one launched by Brazil's Vale (VALE5.SA) it would have to consider them. "If there are other serious and 'firm' offers for Metorex, the company has a duty to consider them and will of course consider any such offers in the best interests of its shareholders," Metorex CEO Terence Goodlace said in an e-mailed response to questions submitted by Reuters. Vale, the world's largest iron ore producer, has bid $1.1 billion for Metorex to tap into its copper and cobalt operations and drive growth via resource-rich Africa. In the response, Goodlace said the 7.35 rand per share bid was a good one, adding: "The Vale offer is positive for Metorex shareholders." In a joint statement on Friday, the companies said Vale had made a firm offer and the Brazilian giant had "irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent from certain Metorex shareholders representing... 25.8 percent and 1.6 percent respectively" of the African miner's share capital.
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