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JOHANNESBURG - South African chemicals group AECI Limited (JSE:AFE) announced Thursday it has entered agreements to sell its Schirm USA assets, Schirm Germany’s Baar-Ebenhausen facility, and its Food and Beverage business as part of its portfolio optimization strategy.
The company will sell substantially all assets of Schirm USA to Liberation Chem-Toll, LLC, a firm owned by Schirm USA’s senior management team, for $60 million (approximately R1.074 billion). The payment structure includes $40 million in cash and $20 million through convertible secured subordinated promissory notes payable within five years.
The transaction, subject to customary conditions including lender approvals, is expected to close by August 31, 2025.
In separate transactions, AECI is divesting Schirm Germany’s Baar-Ebenhausen assets to German-based private buyers, with AECI transferring EUR 500,000 to cover environmental liabilities. The company will also sell its Food and Beverage business to a South African-based private equity consortium for an undisclosed amount, with completion expected by year-end.
The value of Schirm USA’s net assets as of December 31, 2024, was R994.5 million, with profits of R9.4 million for that year, according to the company’s statement.
AECI CEO Holger Riemensperger said: "We are proud of the strong momentum of our disposal programme and firmly believe that we are finding the best homes for our people and businesses. We are committed to utilise proceeds from these disposals to reduce debt and reinvest into our core business."
The disposals align with AECI’s previously announced strategy to focus on its Mining and Chemicals businesses while divesting operations with limited synergies to its core operations.
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