Aramco fail hits Saudi ambition more than coffers 10 Jul 2018 If the state oil firm's IPO doesn't fly, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be $100 bln short. That's huge, but higher crude prices will help the budget and Riyadh can borrow too. The bigger problem is finding other ways to lure the foreign capital his 2030 vision depends on.
India’s Cairn Energy fire sale is short-sighted 9 Jul 2018 Tax authorities have sold part of a stake in Vedanta Limited seized from the UK company in a $1.3 bln tax dispute, weeks before the pair go to arbitration. India only pockets $216 mln, half what the shares were worth at the start of the year. The timing and the logic look flawed.
CEO exit is game changer for ThyssenKrupp 6 Jul 2018 Heinrich Hiesinger offered to quit the German conglomerate days after clinching an underwhelming steel JV with Tata. His long tenure and advocacy of the group’s conglomerate structure made him ill-suited to the action ThyssenKrupp needs. His replacement should be more radical.
Glencore’s investor sunshine aided by U.S. cloud 5 Jul 2018 A $1 bln buyback will please investors wanting to see the commodities giant’s stronger balance sheet reflected in cash goodies. Yet Glencore is doing it as U.S. authorities demand details on anti-corruption compliance. Its usual gung-ho dealmaking may need to take a back seat.
High oil prices are as American as apple pie 4 Jul 2018 President Trump’s sniping at OPEC seems to be led by concerns about spiraling petrol pump prices. But these aren’t high enough to stop drivers from hitting the road. And while the U.S. remains a net oil importer, surging domestic production will also help the economy.
Agarwal’s Anglo American carve-up looks a stretch 4 Jul 2018 The Indian billionaire is mulling a merger of his Vedanta empire with the global miner’s South African arm, Mint reports. The valuation case for a breakup is less compelling than it was. If Agarwal acts, it looks more logical to target the miner’s non-South African assets.
Glencore’s Washington risks are starting to add up 3 Jul 2018 The resources giant’s shares fell 12 pct after the U.S. asked for details of anti-corruption compliance in Nigeria, Congo and Venezuela. Glencore’s geographies mean this is always a danger. But a June settlement with U.S-sanctioned Dan Gertler won’t have endeared it to Uncle Sam.
Vedanta digs just deep enough to leave London 2 Jul 2018 Chairman Anil Agarwal’s offer of a 28 pct premium for the mining group’s 2.3 bln pound UK unit is probably enough for investors spooked by deadly protests. They can invest directly in the Indian operations anyway. And a simpler structure paves the way for more dealmaking.
Steel pact lets Thyssen/Tata tackle wider problems 2 Jul 2018 Tweaking the terms of their September joint venture gives the German steelmaker a bigger share of a future IPO. It could have driven a harder bargain, but Tata had limited wiggle room. Besides, ThyssenKrupp needed a deal to kickstart its own much-needed overhaul.
China’s homegrown shale is worth the bother 27 Jun 2018 The People’s Republic produced a fraction of U.S. shale gas output in 2017. Terrain issues, deep wells and limited data explain why, yet better domestic technology and state support are pushing production up. With trade tensions rising, Beijing's costly hedge looks sensible.
Saudis’ OPEC tightrope has trade war safety net 22 Jun 2018 The kingdom’s desire for oil output hikes faces pushback from Iran, its usual antagonist. Even if it strikes a deal in Vienna on Friday, lost supply from Venezuela may still push up prices. Riyadh’s saving grace could come if a trade war between the U.S. and China saps demand.
Mongolian coal IPO may keep wandering 22 Jun 2018 The Central Asian nation revived plans to list its prize mine, seven years after it tried at a $15 bln valuation. Coal prices have rebounded from 2015 lows and Chinese demand is strong. With just one big customer and years of false starts, though, investors will need convincing.
South32 finds acceptable way to splash the cash 18 Jun 2018 The BHP spinoff is paying $1.3 bln for the rest of Canadian miner Arizona Mining. The 50 percent premium sounds reminiscent of past mining M&A excess. Yet the deal makes strategic sense, and isn’t too pricey. Besides, South32 needs to deploy its mountain of net cash.
Glencore Congo settlement is a calculated risk 15 Jun 2018 Paying royalties to Israeli businessman Dan Gertler in euros rather than dollars helps solve the commodities giant’s headache in the African country, while avoiding falling foul of American sanctions. The danger, though, is that the United States changes the goalposts.
ThyssenKrupp can forge better steel deal with Tata 14 Jun 2018 The German group has outperformed its Indian rival since they agreed a European steel joint venture last year, and now produces more than twice as much EBITDA. Tata could pay cash or give up dividends to close the gap. Walking away from the hefty synergies would be too painful.
Italy and ArcelorMittal can unpick steel knot 13 Jun 2018 The government’s largest party has campaigned for shutting Europe’s top smelter, now being sold to the Indian steel group. At the very least, Italy will demand more environmental and labour pledges. Yet the fact Arcelor doesn’t look to be overpaying suggests room for compromise.
Glencore solves least troubling Congo problem 13 Jun 2018 A debt-for-equity swap at a DRC unit settles a thorny dispute with state miner Gecamines. But the $74 bln resources giant is no nearer to a deal on the country's burdensome new mining code. Heightened uncertainty over upcoming presidential elections only adds to the discomfort.
CKI’s $10 bln bid can snare Australian prey 13 Jun 2018 The Hong Kong giant is circling Australia's top gas pipeline firm. A 33 pct premium ought to satisfy APA’s board, especially as tougher rules bite. The odds are good for Victor Li’s first big deal since he took over from father Li Ka-shing at parent company CK Hutchison.
Chinese deal offers DRC miners a rare sign of hope 12 Jun 2018 State-backed CITIC has poured $560 mln into Robert Friedland’s Ivanhoe Mines. That is an unusual endorsement of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a punitive new mining code. The move suggests a compromise is still likely, which would benefit Glencore and Randgold too.
China’s giant battery-maker can outrun IPO hype 11 Jun 2018 CATL shares rose by the maximum 44 pct in its market debut. While such ardour is common in China’s frothy markets, the $12 bln local champion could live up to high expectations. Its success will also rev up demand for the next listings that ride the global electric vehicle boom.