Idemitsu Kosan announced last week that its merger with Showa Shell Sekiyu, originally planned for April 2017, has been delayed to an indefinite date. Reportedly, Idemitsus management has not been able to persuade the companys founder and former president, 89-year-old Shosuke Idemitsu, to agree to the merger. Idemitsu said effective date of the merger is now "Undecided".