Gypsum industry news

US: The board of directors of USG has authorised its management to commence negotiations with Germany’s Knauf regarding a potential sale of the company. USG has advised Knauf that it is prepared to agree to a customary confidentiality agreement to facilitate sharing appropriate due diligence information. The board added that it, “…remains committed to acting in the best interests of all shareholders and will evaluate all options to do so.”

Knauf made a US$5.9bn bid for USG in March 2018 that was rejected. It then urged shareholders to vote against director nominees at USG’s annual general meeting. Warren Buffett, the chief executive officer Berkshire Hathaway, subsequently agreed to back the opposition to the directors. Berkshire Hathaway holds a 31% stake in USG and Knauf holds a 10.5% stake.

US: Warren Buffett, the chief executive officer Berkshire Hathaway, plans to oppose the election of four board nominees at USG. The move places pressure on USG to accept a hostile takeover bid for US$6.6bn by Germany’s Knauf, according to the Financial Times newspaper. “Berkshire’s present intention is to vote against the four directors proposed by management,” said Debbie Bosanek, an assistant to Buffett. The talks between USG and Knauf were enabled in March 2018 by Berkshire Hathaway offering to sell its 31% stake in USG to Knauf. The German company holds a 10.5% stake in USG.