Why Axiall Corp's Shares Jumped 11% on Tuesday

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What: Shares of chemical maker Axiall Corp jumped as much as 11.2% on Tuesday after getting an unsolicited buyout bid. Shares settled to a 9.4% gain by 11:00 a.m. EDT.

So what: South Korean conglomerate Lotte Chemical Corp made a bid of $2.6 billion for the company, according to The Wall Street Journal. This is on top of the proxy battle Westlake Chemical Corp is already waging against Axiall, which has spurned its buyout offers.

With the bidding war heating up, shares are on the rise, but management doesn't seem very keen on selling the company. Shares are still off 36% from their 52-week high and management thinks there's even more long-term value than current offers suggest.

Now what: It could be hard for Axiall's management to keep fighting off buyout offers with shares stuck where they are. They'll have to prove to investors that operations are improving faster than the market is pricing into shares right now.

While I wouldn't speculate on an acquisition taking place, the interest from buyers has to be reassuring for shareholders bullish on the stock. It could lead to a further bidding war if management does decide that selling the company is the best move.

The article Why Axiall Corp's Shares Jumped 11% on Tuesday originally appeared on Fool.com.

Travis Hoium has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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