MINING FINANCE / INVESTMENT
WORLD'S TOP 100 MINERS

Beyond Xstrata and Anglo American

Thursday , 02 Jul 2009
With Chinese and Indian stock markets around 12-month highs, the two-tier global mining market gains more divide; 74 of the world's Top 100 mining companies may now be classified under the "developing country" heading.
METALS DEMAND MAY HAVE HIT FLOOR

For U.S. metals and mining, gold is all that glitters - S&P

Thursday , 02 Jul 2009
Although the financial ratios of U.S. metals and mining companies will continue to weaken, Standard & Poor's expect credit trends to slowly start to improve in the sector during the next several quarters.
RETURNING CONFIDENCE

Strong demand for Rio Tinto rights - Chinalco subscribes in full

Thursday , 02 Jul 2009
Attractive pricing has led to the London element of the world's fifth largest rights issue being taken up almost in full with China's Chinalco taking up its full entitlement.
SHARES MORE THAN DOUBLED THIS YEAR

Vedanta shares rise as buyback programme increased $100m

Wednesday , 01 Jul 2009
Diversified UK headquartered miner, Vedanta Resources, has announced it will extend its share buyback programme from $250m to $350m.
COST PRESSURES

Tough short term outlook for many mining companies - PwC

Wednesday , 01 Jul 2009
Mining company profit margins, in many cases already adversely affected by the global recession, are being further eroded by rising cost pressures.
DINNER SPEECH

Nil premium merger may not be possible without co-operation - Xstrata's Davis

Tuesday , 30 Jun 2009
Mick Davis of Xstrata, which has made a "merger-of-equals" proposal to Anglo American said "nil-premium" mergers may not be possible unless the prospective partner agrees to proposal.
MAY HAVE PURCHASED MORE IN MARKET

Chinalco taking up Rio rights to maintain shareholding - reports

Tuesday , 30 Jun 2009
China's Chinalco is widely reported to be taking up its Rio Tinto rights entitlement to remain company's largest shareholder despite adverse fallout from aborted equity deal.
WRECKAGE IN THE NICKEL LANE

Billions of dollars down the tubes

Monday , 29 Jun 2009
The world's most overpriced mining acquisitions, during the 2001 to 2009 "Xstrata era", and the sometime horrifying damage.
LONDON'S BIG FOUR DIVERSIFIED MINERS

Smoke, mirrors, and financial returns

Monday , 29 Jun 2009
Differences between financial metrics at Anglo American and Xstrata are akin to the somewhat slight variations between cheese and chalk.
SHARP KNIVES

Carroll in peril as Anglo tries to ward off Xstrata

Monday , 29 Jun 2009
Cynthia Carroll's tenure as CEO of Anglo American could be cut short as it battles to ward off Xstrata, but she is probably more a victim of timing than bad management.
BROKERS HELP MAINTAIN STATUS QUO

In a jungle without predators, Canadian miners are shortchanging investors--Ecclestone

Monday , 29 Jun 2009
Management of Canadian companies "are shortchanging themselves and their investors by allowing the pygmies of the marketplace to rebuff their overtures with impunity," Hallgarten's Christopher Ecclestone suggests.
BUILDING DEFENCES

Anglo American seeking China deal to ward off Xstrata - reports

Monday , 29 Jun 2009
Newspapers report that Anglo American is in talks with Chinalco over a strategic investment in an attempt to ward off a bid from Xstrata where there is a major culture barrier.
NO FIRM DEALS

Friedland's Ivanhoe in talks with Chinalco on co-operation

Friday , 26 Jun 2009
A recent courtesy meeting between the chief executives of Ivanhoe Mines and Chinalco has raised the prospect of the two compnaies co-operating on a major mining venture
GLOBAL MINING PORTFOLIO FLOWS

Miners bruised, but standing firm

Thursday , 25 Jun 2009
Since 3 June, when global mining stocks touched eight-month highs, the heaviest net selling has been seen among listed primary silver miners, followed by specialists in nickel, copper, potash, gold, and platinum.
EXERTING PRESSURE

Xstrata claims at least $1BN in costs saving synergies in Anglo merger

Thursday , 25 Jun 2009
Xstrata has released details of its merger proposal in a letter published in full on Mineweb yesterday - (see 'Dear Mark and Cynthia') putting pressure on Anglo's Board to consider the proposals.
COMMENT

Is Xstrata's Davis taking the Mick?

Wednesday , 24 Jun 2009
A personal view on the latest mining mega merger proposal looks at the track record of Xstrata CEO, Mick Davis.
ACQUISITION SPECULATION

More mining M&A talk has Vale on acquisitions trail

Wednesday , 24 Jun 2009
Merger talk looks to Vale to make a move for Anglo American or Xstrata after the latter's rebuff, although other analysts feel that smaller targets are more likely for the Brazilian giant.
WORLD'S TOP 100 MINERS

Mick Davis, Xstrata's tap dancer

Tuesday , 23 Jun 2009
Xstrata has previously backed out of hostile bids worth an aggregate USD 32bn, and may not have the stomach for a clearly incensed Anglo American.
FORTIS BANK METALS MONTHLY

Green shoots or late frost? Precious and base metals prices in a spin

Tuesday , 23 Jun 2009
Much depends on whether the recent markets strength is sustainable or the downturn following the pessimistic World Bank report continues.
Mergers and Acquisitions

Anglo American response to merger proposal

Tuesday , 23 Jun 2009
Anglo's Board concluded that the strategic case for the combination is unattractive for Anglo American shareholders.
Mergers and Acquisitions

Anglo rejects Xstrata merger of equals plan

Tuesday , 23 Jun 2009
Top Anglo shareholders rejected Xstrata's call for "a merger of equals," betting that the initial proposal was just an opening play.
WORLD'S TOP 100 MINERS

De-spinning the Anglo American/Xstrata myths

Monday , 22 Jun 2009
Whatever happens, investment bankers and their sidekicks are going to make hundreds of millions of dollars from spinning this festival; here's the bottom line, for free.
ANGLO LIKELY TO RESIST

No smoke without fire - Xstrata approaches Anglo American on mega merger

Monday , 22 Jun 2009
After several days of rumours it has been confirmed that Xstrata has made an approach to Anglo American for a $68 billion merger of equals to form one of the world's largest mining companies.
STRANGE POTENTIAL BEDFELLOWS

Anglo American and Xstrata - The walking wounded

Friday , 19 Jun 2009
A business combination of Xstrata and Anglo American would create the world's most indebted mining entity, with an awkward pyramid structure, and a woeful track record on acquisitions.
CHINESE TO THE FORE

Top 100 global mining stocks - two tier market developing?

Friday , 19 Jun 2009
Mining stocks have been battered for a fortnight, but Chinese mining stocks have powered on and up, and now comprise nearly a quarter of the world's top 100 miners, by value.
REUTERS SUMMIT

Oil, gold and base metals rebounds look overdone

Wednesday , 17 Jun 2009
Economists express doubts about the recent runups in commodity prices saying they can't be sustained in the current deflationary environment.
WORLD'S 100 MOST WANTED GOLD STOCKS

Junior gold stocks: have wings, will fly

Tuesday , 16 Jun 2009
A glance at some of the junior gold names in the space of the world's top 100 most in-demand listed gold stocks.
INVESTOR HUB: Gold / Copper

   


TOP STORIES

WORLD'S TOP 100 MINERS

Beyond Xstrata and Anglo American

Thursday , 02 Jul 2009
With Chinese and Indian stock markets around 12-month highs, the two-tier global mining market gains more divide; 74 of the world's Top 100 mining companies may now be classified under the "developing country" heading.
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