HOLDERBANK (Switzerland) and Portugal's SECIL have launched an unsollicited takeover bid on the number one cement firm in Portugal, CIMPOR (consolidated turnover of EUR 981 million in 1999 with a workforce of 5,200 and annual production capacity of 15.5 million tonnes of cement). The two allies plan to acquire at least 67% of CIMPOR, offering 20.5 euros cash per share. The bid, 30% above the average CIMPOR trading price, values the enterprise at EUR 2.49 billion. Reacting to this...