Nothing goes between two of the major shareholders of Eramet. Romain Zaleski, who holds 12.87% stake in the French mining group, calls for the dismissal of four directors, who are none other than representatives of the Duval family, which owns 37% of the company.
There is virtually no chance that when the General Assembly on 20 May, these resolutions are passed. The Duval will vote against. Their ally in a shareholders' agreement-in-Areva will probably follow suit. The intervention of Romain Zaleski, via his holding company Carlo Tassara in which are housed the Eramet shares, should be a sword in the water.
It is nevertheless part of the logical continuation of the lawsuit began in late 2009 by the businessman. Romain Zaleski wants to cancel the merger of Aubert & Duval and Eramet.Fusion, which dates from 1999 and is the origin of family involvement in the mining capital of the group. At the time, Romain Zaleski was not a shareholder. The reason for this action never stops raising questions about the real motivations of the financier. Crowding out of Duval himself would become a key player in negotiations on new developments in the capital of Eramet. But with what ulterior motives? "We will demonstrate in the coming weeks that the lawsuit Romain Zaleski has backfired," said one familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, the plan to sell Areva stake in Eramet patina. The value of this participation is made more complicated by the attacks of Romain Zaleski.Even if they have little chance of success, it must be considered.
Securing access to rare metals
Communication Jean-Louis Borloo, Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea, in the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, does not simplify the situation. As noted in Le Monde, the Minister is considering the creation of a center that would combine the mining of uranium mines of Areva and those of manganese and nickel Eramet and should provide access to rare earths and some metals, essential for the industry. This event brings back another sea serpent: the dismantling of Eramet. Another issue, even result, in the end, the Duval family and Alloys division could leave the perimeter of Eramet."Such a subject is not even mentioned by Duval," says one close to the matter.
This hypothesis would at least end the procrastination of the management of Areva for its stake in Eramet, which "is either too much or not enough." At a time when access to mineral resources becomes a major issue, creating a "national champion" is not absurd.
But faced with competition from industry majors, weighing 200 billion dollars in each stock, the new French group, headed by the same Office of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM has also very little money), would in the featherweight class. However, the creation of a committee for strategic metals (Comes) is expected before the end of the first half and allow to "coordinate the various actions, including those of Ifremer and the BRGM and make them more effective" , says at the ministry.Such coordination "assuming no change". The private groups already agree with each other. Eramet and Bollore have joined in lithium (used for batteries) and overall prospect in South America.
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