Takeover Speculation, page-13

March 31 (Financial Review) --" After a week not trading on the local bourse, ASX-listed SG Fleet has agreed a cash and scrip to deal to buy industry bigwig LeasePlan Australia. It is understood SG Fleet started crossing fund managers on the equity raising component of the deal last night, which
was expected to launch this morning. South Africa's Super Group is expected to follow its money into the equity raising and retain its mantle as SG Fleet's largest investor.
Negotiations between SG Fleet and Leaseplan were revealed by this column last week, which forced the $676 million SG Fleet into a trading halt.
The pair were hoping to have a deal done and dusted by the end of last week but the takeover discussions dragged over the weekend.
Investors are expected to view it as a a logical industry consolidation, putting together two of the larger players in an industry dominated by a handful of groups. It comes after years of talks between the companies, and after SG Fleet tried to pick off Eclpix Group before turning its attention back to
Leaseplan."

This should pressure MMS and ECX to get together to realize synergies and compete on a more even footing with the now largest industry rival? Would help explain the recent runup and hopefully on to new year highs