Inside these posts: Hostile takeovers

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Potash may have little choice but to negotiate

With its options running out and time running out, Potash Corp may soon have little choice but to negotiate with BHP Billiton over the $39 billion bid that the world’s largest fertilizer supplier has flatly rejected.

Since the Anglo-Australian miner announced its hostile bid in August, Saskatchewan-based Potash Corp has repeatedly assured investors that a rival offer would emerge. None has, and nearly all of the prospective suitors mentioned two months ago are now considered out of the running. Get the full story »

J.C. Penney adopts rights plan to thwart Ackman

J.C. Penney’s board approved a “poison pill” designed to fend off potential takeover threats after hedge fund manager William Ackman acquired one-sixth of the retailer. The company’s shares fell 3 percent on the news. Get the full story »

Potash to move some staff to Canada

Potash Corp. has pledged to move key staff from Chicago to Saskatchewan province as it tries to win political favour by matching BHP Billiton’s promise to beef up its Canadian headquarters if it wins control of the fertilizer maker.

Saskatoon-based Potash outlined a series of commitments to the province in a bid to sway political opinion against BHP  which has also promised to move key jobs back to Canada if its $39 billion takeover bid is successful. Get the full story »

Potash stocks soar on corn data

Shares of Potash Corp. and other leading fertilizer makers jumped on Friday after the U.S. government estimated a smaller-than-expected U.S. corn harvest, driving up prices of the nutrient-intensive crop.

Shares of Agrium, Mosaic Co. and CF Industries also rose on the data. Get the full story »

Potash slams report on BHP takeover proposal

Potash Corp. slammed a report commissioned by the province of Saskatchewan that favors BHP Billiton’s $39 billion offer for the fertilizer maker over a potential bid from a state-owned Chinese entity.

The Conference Board’s report, released on Monday, cautioned the provincial government against thwarting BHP’s takeover bid, saying that would depress Potash Corp’s share price and could have a negative impact on new investment in the province. Get the full story »

BHP Potash bid backed in report over Chinese foray

A takeover of Potash Corp. by BHP Billiton could cost Saskatchewan $1.96 billion over 10 years, a report says, but it warns the Canadian province against opposing the miner’s bid for the world’s largest fertilizer producer. Get the full story »

Sanofi launches hostile $18.5B bid for Genzyme

French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis launched a hostile bid for Genzyme at $69 per share on Monday, taking its $18.5 billion offer direct to shareholders after Genzyme management refused to negotiate. Get the full story »

BHP says it’s close to lodging Potash legal challenge

BHP Billiton said on Friday it expected to lodge a motion within the next few days to challenge a lawsuit filed by Potash Corp. to fend off the miner’s $39 billion hostile takeover bid. Get the full story »

Potash Corp. suit vs BHP allowed to proceed

A U.S. federal judge said Monday he would allow the discovery process to proceed in a lawsuit filed by Potash Corp to fend off BHP Billiton’s $39 billion hostile takeover bid.

The lawsuit, filed last week in a U.S. District Court in Chicago, alleges that BHP misrepresented material facts related to its bid for the world’s largest producer of potash — a key crop nutrient.

As part of the discovery process, Potash Corp have asked that BHP produce a long list of documents that include BHP’s statements regarding investments in the potash industry and the minutes of BHP’s board meetings that relate to the potash sector and its plans to develop its Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan. Get the full story »

BHP bid for Potash clears antitrust hurdle

BHP Billiton said on Thursday it has received antitrust clearance from U.S. regulators to proceed with its $39 billion bid for Canada’s Potash Corp, clearing its first regulatory hurdle in the process.

Last month, the Anglo-Australian miner launched its hostile offer to take over the world’s largest fertilizer company. Potash Corp has flatly rejected the bid as “grossly inadequate” and filed a lawsuit against BHP in an attempt to stymie it. Get the full story »

Potash Corp sues BHP to block takeover bid

Potash Corp. said Wednesday it filed a lawsuit against BHP Billiton that seeks to block the mining giant’s $39 billion hostile bid for the Canadian fertilizer producer.

The lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court alleges that BHP misrepresented and failed to inform investors about material facts, and it accuses BHP of engaging in fraudulent, deceptive and manipulative behavior related to its offer. Get the full story »

China firm hires banks to explore Potash counterbid

China’s Sinochem Corp. has hired banks to advise it how to foil BHP Billiton’s $39 billion bid for Potash Corp., two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The state-owned chemicals group had hired Deutsche Bank and Citigroup for the purpose, the sources said after BHP extended its offer for Potash, the world’s largest fertilizer group, by a month to November 18 to provide Canada’s competition regulator with more information. Get the full story »

Canada to examine possible foreign Potash buyout

Canada’s prime minister says concerns surrounding a possible foreign takeover of Canada’s Potash of Saskatchewan will be examined and says foreign takeovers are not automatically approved. Get the full story »

Potash chief takes to YouTube to discuss BHP bid

From The New York Times | Potash Corp. of Saskatchewanon put up several videos of William Doyle, its chief executive, on Tuesday, to explain why shareholders are better off sticking with the company than flocking to BHP’s offer.

BHP denies plans to divest Potash Corp. assets

BHP Billiton denied on Monday that it would divest some of Potash Corp.’s assets if its $38.6 billion hostile bid for the world’s largest fertilizer producer proved successful. Get the full story »