* Caltex says Couche-Tard raised bid by 2% to A$35.25/share
* Caltex previously said EG Group had shown interest in bidding
* Caltex shares remain below latest offer price
(Adds Couche-Tard comment)
By Nikhil Nainan
Feb 13 (Reuters) - Caltex Australia Ltd CTX.AX said Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ATDb.TO has raised its buyout offer to A$8.80 billion ($5.93 billion), in a final attempt to sway the oil refiner and convenience store firm after interest from Britain's EG Group.
Couche-Tard bumped up its cash offer by 2% to A$35.25 per share, calling its third offer final in the absence of a competing proposal, Caltex said on Thursday. Group has yet to bid, though Caltex last month said the retailer - backed by British private equity firm TDR Capital - had expressed interest in buying some or all of the company. the revised offer, the Canadian firm said it has "long viewed the Asia-Pacific region as strategic to Couche-Tard's future growth" and remains committed to buying Caltex's entire business.
A Caltex spokesman declined to comment on whether the firm was in talks with EG Group. EG Group did not respond to a request for comment.
Shares of Sydney-based Caltex jumped more than 5% in early trade but lost some ground by midday. The stock was up 2.4% in late trade, remaining below Couche-Tard's current offer.
The interest comes as Caltex is forced to re-brand to Ampol within the next three years after the re-entry of former co-owner Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) CVX.N into Australian petrol retailing.
The firm turned down Couche-Tard's previous bids - on Oct. 11 at A$32 and Nov. 18 at A$34.5 - after which it provided the Canadian firm with non-public information to elicit a better offer. from RBC Capital Markets and Jefferies said the latest bid was attractive and probably enough to be accepted.
"It represents only a c.18% premium to the pre-bid share price but a lot has changed since then, implying the true premium is much larger," Jefferies analysts said in a client note.
The bid gives Caltex the right to pay a special dividend to shareholders - subtracted from the indicative offer - and restricts the Australian firm from selling assets.
EG Group entered Australia in 2018 through the acquisition of supermarket chain Woolworths Group's WOW.AX petrol stations for A$1.7 billion. The British firm is being advised by Citi.
($1 = 1.4846 Australian dollars)
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Caltex Australia inks confidentiality deal with Couche-Tard, hopes for higher offer
Caltex Australia attracts more suitors in possible $6 bln bidding war
Canada's Couche-Tard sweetens proposal for Caltex Australia, offers $5.8 bln