Bega Cheese Ltd is in talks with "non-Australian" investors on a possible sale of its stake in Australia's oldest dairy firm, a source familiar with the situation said, adding a new twist to one of the country's most contested takeover battles in years.Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Co Holdings Co has been the takeover target for Bega, fellow Australian cheese maker Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co Ltd and Canadian dairy giant Saputo Inc, as investors bet on rising Asian demand for Australian dairy products.Bega, the biggest shareholder in Warrnambool, kicked off the takeover war in mid-September but decided last week not to extend its final offer after being out-bid by its rivals. It is currently considering what to do with its 18.7 percent stake, the source told Reuters on Friday.People think Bega will sell either to Murray Goulburn or to Saputo, but it has been approached by other companies including non-Australian firms since closing its bid, said the source, who was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter.
Saputo Inc. produces, markets and distributes an array of dairy products in Canada, the United States, Argentina and Europe, as well as bakery products in Canada. Shares of SAP traded higher by 0.39% or $0.19/share to $48.40. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $46.01 and as high as $54.62. On average, 291859 shares of SAP.TO exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 55028.
Source
