OR 15D-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May, 2006
Camacari, Bahia - CEP 42810-000 Brazil
Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F ______
in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1). _____
in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7). _____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ______ No ___X___
 For more information, visit our José Marcos Treiger Luiz Henrique Valverde Luciana Ferreira | BRASKEM INITIATES PROCESS TO MERGE POLIALDEN Net present value of operating synergies is estimated at R$80 million São Paulo, Brasil, May 16, 2006 --- Braskem (BOVESPA: BRKM5; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), leader in the thermoplastic resins segment in Latin America and one of the three largest Brazilian privately-owned industrial companies, and Polialden are inviting their respective shareholders to participate in Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meetings on May 31, 2006, at which the proposed merger of Polialden with and into Braskem will be discussed. This proposed merger is consistent with Braskem’s commitment to add value for all of its shareholders, in addition to permitting the company to streamline its corporate structure and capture important synergy gains, thereby further improving its competitiveness. “This initiative is another important stage in the corporate integration process of Braskem and marks the end of a series of transactions that formed the company out of six different,” said José Carlos Grubisich, chief executive officer of Braskem. “The model for this merger, like in prior stages of this process, was designed to align the interests of all shareholders, and will guarantee to shareholders of Polialden that choose to become shareholders of Braskem access to the differentiated benefits offered by Braskem to its shareholders,” he added. Braskem already owns 100% of Polialden’s voting share capital and approximately 63.7% of its total share capital. In the merger, Braskem is offering to exchange 33.62 of its class A preferred shares for each lot of 1,000 Polialden shares, based on an appraisal report with respect to both companies prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes with financial inform ation related to both companies at and for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This proposed exchange represents a 6.76% premium over the fair market value of the respective shareholders’ equity of these companies. To maintain the structure of Braskem’s existing share capital, prior to the merger it will be necessary to approve the conversion of 2,632,119 of Braskem’s class A preferred shares into Braskem common shares. In addition, Braskem will issue 7,878,825 class A preferred shares, increasing its share capital by R$105.3 million and thereby expand its base of shares traded in the market, causing its free float to reach approximately 53%. If the merger is approved, Polialden’s minority shareholders will have until July 1, 2006 to exercise their appraisal rights. Polialden shareholders that exercise their appraisal rights will receive a cash payment of R$0.449 per share. The net present value of synergy gains to be captured thr ough this merger is estimated at approximately R$80 million. After these gains have been captured, the aggregate value of the synergistic gains that have been captured since Braskem was created will reach approximately R$400 million, over 20% more than the goal announced at the time. “This fact confirms the discipline and capacity of the company in implementing its plans and reflects important competencies to be used during the next stages of Braskem’s growth project,” concluded Grubisich. |
| Braskem, a world-class Brazilian petrochemical company, is the leader in the thermoplastic resins segment in Latin America and is among the three largest Brazilian privately-owned industrial companies. The company operates 13 manufacturing plants located throughout Brazil and has an annual production capacity in excess of 5.8 million tons of thermoplastic resins and other petrochemical products. |
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the operations and business environments of Braskem and its subsidiaries that may cause the actual results of the companies to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in Braskem's reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Although Braskem believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to Braskem’s management, Braskem cannot guarantee future results or events. Braskem expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 16, 2006
| BRASKEM S.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Paul Elie Altit | ||
| Name: | Paul Elie Altit | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||