New Zealand authorities have indicated that the disposal to French dairy company Lactalis International could be approved this month, said the people, who asked not to be identified because negotiations are private. As part of finalising the deal, the division will then be restocked, the people said.

The €740m ($830m) transaction is central to helping Aspen slash a growing debt pile that's been worrying investors. Africa's largest drugmaker said last month that closure on the deal had been pushed out to the end of May from the end of December, triggering the stock's biggest one-day slump in almost 21 years.

The shares rose 5.4% to R97.60 as of 1:43pm in Johannesburg, valuing Aspen at R44bn ($3.1bn). The stock is still down 31% since the most recent delay to the sale was announced March 8.

Aspen's borrowings include a €1bn loan that matures in May 2020 and a €500m facility due May 2022, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The South African company has said it will look to exit some of its other non-core European businesses, to focus on selling hormones, anaesthetics and anti-retrovirals in emerging economies.

While the New Zealand regulator has received an application in relation to Lactalis' acquisition of Aspen's nutritional business, it's unable to give a date for its decision, a spokeswoman said in an emailed response to questions. Aspen and Lactalis declined to comment.