By Kentaro Hamada and Chris Gallagher | TOKYO
Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan (5019.T) will again delay its planned purchase of Showa Shell Sekiyu (5002.T) shares from Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) because a review by the Japan Fair Trade Commission is still under way.
Idemitsu said in a statement on Monday it will postpone the purchase to either December or January, from its originally planned closure by this month. The delay is another setback for Idemitsu in its attempt to take over Showa Shell, delayed after stiff opposition from Idemitsu’s founding family.