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Johannesburg- South African conglomerate Bidvest Group [JSE:BVT] said on Monday it would offer to buy out minority shareholders of outsourcing firm Mvelaserve in a $67m cash deal.
Bidvest, which currently owns just under 35% of Mvelaserve, said it had already agreed to buy a further 17.7% stake in the company from investment firm Mvelaphanda Holdings.
Once that transaction wins regulatory approval, Bidvest said it would offer to buy the remaining shares of Mvelaserve at up to R9.1 per share, valuing the deal at R608.8m ($67m).
However, Bidvest said the price depended on its offer being recommended by Mvelaserve's board.
If the board does not recommend the offer, Bidvest said it would go directly to shareholders with a lower bid of R8.50 per share, putting pressure on the board to back the deal.
Bidvest CEO Brian Joffe said last month he would go directly to shareholders of drugmaker Adcock Ingram after the board of that company spurned a $675m buyout offer.
Bidvest, which has businesses in everything from catering to cars, has a reputation of buying underperforming assets that can benefit from its distribution network and customer base.
Mvelaserve, once part of the now dwindling Mvelaphanda group, provides cleaning, catering and other services to South African businesses.
Mvelaphanda was one of South Africa's most prominent black empowerment companies, founded by politician and businessman Tokyo Sexwale.
Shares of Mvelaserve were up 3.1% at R8.45. Shares of Bidvest were down nearly 1%.
