Another Bid for Consolidated: Minorco SA, the...

Another Bid for Consolidated: Minorco SA, the investment arm of a South African gold and diamond empire, made a last-ditch $6.02-billion offer for Consolidated Gold Fields PLC, Britain’s largest mining company. Minorco increased its offer by raising the cash portion of the bid for a total of $26.35 a share, up from the previous offer of $23.80 a share, or a total of $5.4 billion. Minorco first offered $5.1 billion last fall. If successful, the takeover would be the largest ever of a British company. British regulators have set an April 26 deadline for Minorco’s attempt to capture more than 50% of Consolidated Gold Fields. Minorco, a mining investment concern, currently owns 29.6% of Gold Fields.