(FORTUNE Magazine) – The acquisitive Belzberg brothers of Canada approach deals so cautiously it is a wonder they wind up owning anything (FORTUNE, March 4, 1985). In April the Belzbergs dropped plans to take over Ashland Oil of Russell, Kentucky, the largest independent U.S. refiner, for $1.8 billion, or $60 a share. Ashland agreed to buy back the Belzbergs' 9.2% stake for $134.1 million, or $51 a share. The Belzbergs claimed a pretax profit of $15.4 million. Tough anti- takeover laws rushed through the Kentucky legislature helped persuade the Belzbergs to fold.