I don't hold, but here's the transcipt from when api was mentioned: ...........
ELMO DE ALWIS: If there was an investment that we could make that would be at a price that delivered value to our shareholders, we certainly would be keen to look at it, keen to explore it and we know that we have the financial capability to drive such an acquisition.
ALI MOORE: Would you be interested in API? You tried to merge with them a couple of years ago, but were blocked by the Competition Regulator, and since they've had their own problems: Any interest?
ELMO DE ALWIS: Well, at the right price we would be interested in any business that we could acquire and bolt onto our business.
ALI MOORE: So is there anything else that you're looking at more immediately?
ELMO DE ALWIS: Well, there are acquisition opportunities of products that we're looking at, there are acquisition opportunities of smaller businesses that of interest to us. It is a case of fitting our valuations against those opportunities and making sure, Ali, that the price we pay leaves something on the table for our shareholders as well.
ALI MOORE: Given the strength of your balance sheet, is it likely that, if you haven't found anything to buy in the next couple of months, you'll do a capital return?
ELMO DE ALWIS: Yes, we'll certainly look at it if we haven't got something in the next six to eight months. If there hasn't been an opportunity, we'd look at some form of capital restructuring.
ALI MOORE: But if you were a betting man, is it more likely you'll find something to spend your money on?
ELMO DE ALWIS: I'd certainly like to think that we could. That's certainly, by far, the better option, and that's what we will be pursuing at this stage.
ALI MOORE: Elmo de Alwis, thanks very much for talking to Lateline Business.
