DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Big copper deals to take centerstage in Santiago as demand heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Lundin Mining Corp (LUN.TO) is paying nearly $1 billion for control of Chile's Caserones copper mine despite ongoing political uncertainty in the country. "The green transformation theme remains a strong tailwind for copper, the king of green metals," Saxo Bank strategist Ole Hansen told Reuters. Global copper demand expected to reach 53 million tonnes annually by 2053 - more than double current levels - but supply is still expected to fall short, according an S&P Global (SPGI.N) study. And Hudbay Minerals Inc (HBM.TO) last week said it would pay $439 million for rival Copper Mountain Mining Corp (CMMC.TO). Neighboring Peru, the world's second-largest copper producer, also expects to boost production this year.

[1/2] A train loaded with copper cathodes travels along a rail line inside the Chuquicamata copper mine, which is owned by Chile's state-run copper producer Codelco, near Calama city, Chile, April 1, 2011. Lundin last month agreed to pay $950 million for 51% control of the mine, calling the deal "an endorsement that we believe the mining royalty and taxation discussions are trending in the right direction." In the past 18 months, mining giants have been vocal about concerns in Chile. BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AX) said it might reevaluate its investments depending on new tax plans by the government, while Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX.N) has said it would pause expansion plans in Chile, citing political uncertainty. Lundin remains confident in the future of the Caserones project, which began operations in 2014 and has annual output of 100,000 tonnes of copper.

TORONTO, April 10 (Reuters) - Glencore Plc (GLEN.L) Chief Executive Gary Nagle plans to meet with some of Teck Resources Ltd's (TECKb.TO) Canadian shareholders in Toronto this Thursday to personally lobby them for support of Glencore's proposed takeover of the copper and zinc miner, according to a source who was invited. Royal Bank of Canada's (RY.TO) RBC Capital Markets will host the Toronto lunch meeting, according to Jonathan Case of CI Global Asset Management, a Teck shareholder who was invited. RBC has been one of Glencore's bankers in the past. Teck's executives on Monday reinforced their rejection of Glencore's unsolicited $22.5 billion takeover offer. Reporting by Divya Rajagopal in Toronto; Editing by Ernest Scheyder and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

TORONTO, April 9 (Reuters) - Canada's move to expand the investment tax credit for mining companies to align it with policies in the United States is accelerating funding talks for critical miners, company executives told Reuters. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government proposed a 30% investment tax credit for expenses related to the exploration of critical minerals in the latest budget announced last month. This incentive also covers investors planning to buy shares in certain critical mining companies such as those in the exploration of lithium brine. Several junior mining companies in western Canada are optimistic about the fund raising prospects and are in talks with banks for financing, Doornbos added. "These measures do level the playing and put us in a stronger position," said Pierre Gratton, CEO of the Mining Association of Canada.

[1/2] The entry to the Home Capital Group's headquarters is seen at an office tower in the financial district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada May 1, 2017. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenTORONTO, April 4 (Reuters) - Canada's antitrust regulator said on Tuesday it is reviewing the potential acquisition of Canadian lender Home Capital Group Inc (HCG.TO) by privately held peer Smith Financial Corp."I can confirm that the Competition Bureau is reviewing the potential acquisition of Home Capital Group by Smith Financial Corporation," a spokesperson for the regulator said in an email to Reuters. Home Capital and Smith Financial were unavailable to immediately provide comment. Home Capital, rescued by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) five years ago, announced in November it would be taken private by Smith Financial in a C$1.7 billion ($1.27 billion) deal. Smith Financial is controlled by Stephen Smith, the co-founder of Home Capital's larger rival First National Financial Corp (FN.TO) and a top shareholder of lender EQB Inc (EQB.TO).

[1/2] Ethernet cables are seen in front of Rogers and Shaw Communications logos in this illustration taken, July 8, 2022. Rogers' deal for Shaw was politically sensitive due to the sky-high wireless bills Canadians pay, which are among the highest in the world. Yet, the competition bureau failed to block the merger, losing their protracted battle when a federal court dismissed the case. Now, dealmakers worry the government could intervene in other politically sensitive M&A. "There are not a lot of things people in competition law disagree on.

☆ Reactions: Canada 2023/24 budget deficit to jump, Ottawa to boost spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

JULES BOUDREAU, SENIOR ECONOMIST, MACKENZIE INVESTMENTS"The surprise was more on the revenue side more than the spending side. Prior to this budget we were not eligible for the carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) investment tax credit, but they have now broadened the eligibility parameters." "The big open question, heading into this budget was how was Canada going to react to the Inflation Reduction Act ... MARK ZACHARIAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLEAN ENERGY CANADA"We thought today's budget was generally excellent and it sets Canada on a path for prosperity. "The investment tax credits for clean tech manufacturing positions Canada as a leader, particularly in zero-emissions vehicles."

☆ Exclusive: N. American fixed income group won't take legal action over Credit Suisse AT1 fiasco-source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TORONTO, March 23 (Reuters) - The Credit Roundtable, a lobby group of some of the biggest fixed income asset managers from the United States and Canada, has decided not to take legal action against Credit Suisse AG (CSGN.S) a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. Earlier this week, the Swiss regulator ordered 16 billion Swiss francs ($17.5 billion) of Additional Tier-1 (AT1) debt to be wiped out under its rescue takeover by UBS (UBSG.S). The Credit Roundtable was not available for an immediate comment. Launched in 2007 for bondholders protection, Credit Roundtable consists of 43 members including PIMCO, Vanguard, MetLife (MET.N), Canadian pension fund Omers, Sun Life Financial Inc (SLF.TO) among others. The bond holders of Credit Suisse in Europe and UK have been seeking legal advice over the Swiss banking regulator's decision to write off AT1 bonds under the rescue take over by UBS.

☆ Exclusive: N. American fixed income group will not take legal action over Credit Suisse AT1 wipeout -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TORONTO, March 23 (Reuters) - The Credit Roundtable, a lobby group of some of the biggest fixed income asset managers from the United States and Canada, has decided not to take legal action against Credit Suisse AG (CSGN.S), a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The Credit Roundtable was unavailable for comment. Launched in 2007 for bondholders' protection, Credit Roundtable consists of 43 members including PIMCO, Vanguard, MetLife (MET.N), Canadian pension fund Omers, and Sun Life Financial Inc (SLF.TO). The source said individual members are free to pursue legal action independently. The bond holders of Credit Suisse in Europe and UK have been seeking legal advice over the Swiss banking regulator's decision to write off AT1 bonds under the rescue take over by UBS.

[1/3] Visitors pass a logo of Teck Resources Ltd mining company during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual convention in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 4, 2019. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenTORONTO, March 21 (Reuters) - Investors have yet to embrace Canadian miner Teck Resources Ltd's (TECKb.TO) proposal to spin off its highly polluting coal business and focus on production of copper to help supply society's move toward electric vehicles. Last month, Teck announced a split into copper-focused Teck Metals and Elk Valley Resources (EVR), which will focus on high-margin coal for steel making. In 2021, South African miner Anglo American demerged and listed its thermal coal business. "The coal business is profitable for now, and using its proceeds to fund its copper business is a pragmatic way towards transition," said Dustyn Lanz, Senior Advisor ESG Global Advisors.

☆ U.S. bank crisis 'unlikely' to spill over to Canada, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

read more"The U.S. contagion is unlikely to spill over to Canadian banks as the issues in U.S. are unique and specific to certain business models or lending activities," said James Shanahan, banking analyst with Edward Jones to Reuters. REGIONAL BANK SCRUTINYCanadian banks emerged stronger from the 2008 global financial crisis due to prudent regulations and since built a reputation for financial stability. The Canadian banks have kept their focus on domestic lending and majority of their earnings come from serving local clients. But in recent years, Royal Bank, BMO, TD Bank and CIBC (CM.TO) have expanded into the United States by buying regional lenders to benefit from strong growth in second-tier U.S. cities. However, last week the regional bank's stock was hit after the SVB collapse.

☆ U.S. bank crisis 'unlikely' to spill over to Canada, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The U.S. contagion is unlikely to spill over to Canadian banks as the issues in U.S. are unique and specific to certain business models or lending activities," said James Shanahan, banking analyst with Edward Jones to Reuters. REGIONAL BANK SCRUTINYCanadian banks emerged stronger from the 2008 global financial crisis due to prudent regulations and since built a reputation for financial stability. The Canadian banks have kept their focus on domestic lending and majority of their earnings come from serving local clients. But in recent years, Royal Bank, BMO, TD Bank and CIBC (CM.TO) have expanded into the United States by buying regional lenders to benefit from strong growth in second-tier U.S. cities. However, last week the regional bank's stock was hit after the SVB collapse.

TORONTO, March 13 (Reuters) - Last week's sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) could choke funding for Canada's technology start-ups and place them in the hands of domestic lenders who may be more selective in financing new ventures, financiers told Reuters. Companies including Shopify Inc (SHOP.TO) were examples of Canada's tech success story, which helped pull more investments into the sector. Benjamin Bergen, president at Council of Canadian Innovators, a lobby group for Canadian technology companies, agreed. "Before SVB went down, accessing capital was increasingly becoming tighter and tighter for Canadians for startups for scale ups," he said. Aside from the banks, the federal government also has a Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative program that invests in promising Canadian technology companies.

☆ Exclusive: Canada will not retrospectively target Chinese investments in Canadian mining companies, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 7, 2022. REUTERS/Patrick DoyleTORONTO, March 8 (Reuters) - Canada will not force Chinese state-investors in three of its large mining companies to divest stakes, as such a move would create policy uncertainty, natural resources minister told Reuters. In November, Canada had asked three Chinese companies to sell their stakes in Toronto-listed lithium explorers following a national security review, drawing criticism from the mining industry and raising questions about the future of other Chinese investments in Canadian mining sector. Three of Canada's largest mining companies - Teck Resources (TECKb.TO), Ivanhoe Mines Limited (IVN.TO) and First Quantum Minerals Limited (FM.TO), - count Chinese state-owned enterprises as their biggest single shareholder. This is the first time Canadian government officials have clarified what the future holds for other Chinese investments in the three Canadian mining companies.

☆ Miners grow anxious as Canada tightens foreign investment rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ottawa last fall proposed bolstering its Investment Canada Act (ICA) to give government ministers power to block or unwind critical minerals investments if they believe such deals threaten national security. Nearly half of the world's mining companies are listed in Toronto and the city has long been a premier destination for junior mining companies to raise funds, above even rival exchanges in Sydney, New York and London. Canadian officials last fall ordered Chinese companies to sell stakes in three Toronto-listed lithium companies, two of which are developing mines outside Canada. Canada's Industry Ministry, which is spearheading the rules change, called critical minerals "key to the future prosperity of our country." However, the government's crackdown could rebound and hurt Canada as the mining industry underpins a large part of the country's economy, investors and analysts say.

Newcrest, which was spun out of Newmont in the 1990s, rejected the offer last week as too low. But one of Newmont's largest shareholders told Reuters it would not want the company overpaying for its rival. Palmer said that regardless of the outcome of the Newcrest bid, Newmont will develop its 16 billion pounds of copper reserves. Newmont said attributable gold production for the fourth quarter edged up to 1.63 million ounces from 1.62 million ounces in the comparable period a year ago. For 2023, Newmont has given a production guidance between 5.7 million and 6.3 million ounces of gold and guided for an all-in sustaining cost between $1,150 and $1,250 per ounce.

While law firms sometimes negotiate fixed fees on transactions, market participants said such deals would be unlikely on transactions that faced the amount of legal uncertainty of Rogers-Shaw. The Rogers-Shaw deal is expected to be the tenth-largest deal in Canadian history since 1995, according to data from Dealogic. Law firms Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb represented Rogers, while Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg and Wachtell are lawyers for Shaw. None of the law firms responded to Reuters queries on the legal fee. Rogers and Shaw on Friday extended the closing deadline for the fourth time to March 31.

The Newcrest acquisition by Newmont, if successful, could result in the enlarged company shedding some assets. Bristow stuck to the company's 'build, not buy' approach and ruled out the possibility that Barrick would launch a counter bid for Newcrest. Newmont's offer implied a 21% premium to Newcrest's share price. Barrick last month reported a 13.4% rise in gold production as access to high-grade ore at its Cortez and Carlin mines in Nevada powered a "strong finish" to the fourth quarter. Production for the year, however, was 4.1 million ounces of gold, down from 4.4 million ounces in 2021.

☆ First Quantum suspends copper concentrate loading at Panamanian port
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 6 (Reuters) - First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FM.TO) said on Monday it has suspended loading operations at a major port in Panama, blocking the Canadian company's path to export from the Cobre Panama copper mine and sending its shares down nearly 8%. The Panama Maritime Authority last month ordered the company's subsidiary Minera Panama to suspend copper concentrate loading at the port until it showed evidence that its scales were calibrated by an accredited company. First Quantum said that its subsidiary initiated the certification process by submitting the required proof to an accredited company on Feb. 3, but has not heard back from the Panama Maritime Authority. The process deviates from Minera Panama's previous approach of providing internationally accepted certifications to the Panama Maritime Authority, the company added. Cobre Panama represented more than half of First Quantum's earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in 2021.

☆ Rogers-Shaw on cusp of final nod for protracted C$20 bln deal, shares rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Maiya Keidan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Its decision is widely seen as paving the way for the C$20 billion ($14.98 billion) transaction to clear ahead of its Jan. 31 deadline. It now awaits final clearance from Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who will be considering the transfer of Freedom Mobile Inc's spectrum license to Quebecor Inc's Videotron unit. "This is essentially a done deal, barring any surprises from Minister Champagne," Aaron Glick, analyst with New York-based investment firm Cowen, told Reuters. The House of Commons industry committee in March said the deal should not proceed, although its recommendations are non-binding. Rogers-Shaw have agreed to sell Freedom Mobile, a wireless business owned by Shaw, to Quebecor Inc (QBRb.TO) in order to alleviate competition concern.

Rogers-Shaw and Quebecor await approval from Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to transfer Freedom Mobile Inc's spectrum license to Videotron. However, in its Thursday ruling, the tribunal said acquiring Freedom Mobile would allow Videotron to expand in new markets and ensure robust competition. The antitrust commissioner could still appeal after the tribunal details its decision over the next couple of days. The objection by the Competition Bureau was the main hurdle to overcome," Cormark Securities analyst David McFadgen said. He said there are "significant" revenue synergies for Rogers from bundling services, while Quebecor has better growth prospects from the Freedom Mobile deal.

The two companies had appealed the tribunal after the competition bureau rejected Shaw's proposal to sell Freedom Mobile Inc to rival Quebecor Inc's (QBRb.TO) Videotron unit for C$2.85 billion to facilitate the deal. However, in its Thursday ruling, the tribunal said such a sale would allow Videotron to expand in new markets and ensure competition remains robust. "I am very disappointed that the Tribunal is dismissing our application to block the merger between Rogers and Shaw," Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, said. The antitrust commissioner could still appeal after the tribunal lays out the details of its decision over the next couple of days. Rogers-Shaw and Quebecor now await approval from Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to transfer Freedom Mobile's spectrum license to Videotron.

☆ Canada competition tribunal rules in favor of $14.8 bln Rogers-Shaw deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dec 29 (Reuters) - Canada's competition tribunal approved on Thursday Rogers Communications Inc's (RCIb.TO) C$20 billion ($14.77 billion) bid for Shaw Communications Inc (SJRb.TO), ending the companies' 20-month-old dispute with the antitrust authority. Canada's competition bureau had blocked the merger - one of the country's biggest - on grounds that it would reduce competition. In a ruling late on Thursday, the Competition Tribunal dismissed the Commissioner of Competition's request to oppose the deal, saying that the deal is "not likely to prevent or lessen competition substantially." The panel also ruled that the proposed deal is not likely to lead to "materially higher" prices or a decline in service, quality or innovation. "I am very disappointed that the Tribunal is dismissing our application to block the merger between Rogers and Shaw.

☆ Canada competition tribunal approves C$20 bln Rogers-Shaw merger
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Dec 29 (Reuters) - Canada's competition tribunal on Thursday approved the C$20 billion ($14.77 billion) merger between Rogers Communications Inc (RCIb.TO) and Shaw Communications Inc (SJRb.TO) that would create the country's second-largest telecom provider after Bell. The tribunal dismissed the Commissioner of Competition's request to oppose the deal, according to the statement. ($1 = 1.3544 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Divya Rajagopal and Akriti Sharma; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Exclusive: Canada's biggest pension plan, CPPI, ends crypto investment pursuit -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CPPI declined to comment but said it has made no direct investments in crypto. But CPPI abandoned the pursuit this year and redeployed the team to other areas, the sources said. CPPI's move also comes as two of Canada's largest pension funds have written off their investments after the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and crypto lender Celsius this year. Canadian pension funds' exposure to crypto sector has come under scrutiny following the FTX debacle. While Canadian pension funds are not prohibited from buying cryptocurrencies, they are known for their risk-averse investing strategies to generate steady returns for pensioners.

Search resuls for: "Divya Rajagopal"

25 mentions found