Hulamin in Talks With BHP That May Affect Shares

April 23 (Bloomberg) -- Hulamin Ltd., Africa’s largest aluminum processor, said it’s in talks with BHP Billiton Ltd. that may affect its share price. Spokesman Johannes van Niekerk said the Pietermaritzburg- based company couldn’t comment further on the statement distributed by the Johannesburg stock exchange today. He spoke by mobile phone. Hulamin purchases aluminum produced in South Africa by BHP, the world’s biggest mining company, to make products including beverage can tops. BHP said last year it would continue to honor a supply agreement with Hulamin even as it closed some lines at the Bayside smelter because of difficulties with the power. First-half earnings will be between 15 million rand ($1.7 million) and 30 million rand, compared with 181 million rand a year earlier, Hulamin also said in the statement. First-quarter sales dropped 40 percent from a year earlier as the global recession cut demand for consumer goods. Second-quarter sales fell 15 percent from a year earlier, the company said. Hulamin gained 26 cents, or 2.4 percent, to 11.01 rand in Johannesburg trading. To contact the reporter on this story: Carli Lourens in Johannesburg at clourens@bloomberg.net