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Amaunet

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Re: Amaunet post# 1022

Saturday, 09/25/2004 10:08:20 AM

Saturday, September 25, 2004 10:08:20 AM

Post# of 9338
China’s control of mining and subversion of Canada

China Minmetals in talks to buy Canadian miner Noranda: 'small premium'

If completed, the takeover would be one of the biggest in Canadian mining history and the largest investment in Canada by a Chinese company.

Note: In May 1996 a joint project was initiated by the RCMP Criminal Analysis Branch and the CSIS Analysis and Production Branch to assess the extent of the threat posed by the acquisition and control of Canadian companies by members or associates of triads and with affiliations to the Chinese Intelligence Services. The research team quickly realized that the initial premise was the tip of the iceberg with only a minute portion of a much more complex situation showing. It should be stressed that this report is a prospective document that makes to claim to provide a full survey of the issue; in fact, quite the opposite.

This document does not present theories but indicators of a multifaceted threat to Canada's national security based on concrete fats drawn from the databanks of the two agencies involved, classified reports from allied agencies and various open sources. This study has departed from the conventional and sometimes confining approaches followed by our respective methodologies. Although both organizations have fairly extensive expertise on Chinese matters, it is nevertheless very different. It is clear at the end of this exercise that both organizations have gained from cooperating on this research. When put together, these two bodies of expertise complement each other, providing a broader and more substantial perspective of the Chinese issues.

The scope of the problem found after a few weeks of research dictated that the initial research results had to be presented in the form of case studies. At the moment, we estimate that over 200 Canadian companies are under the direct or indirect control of China. Although it was impossible to do all the research within the parameters initially given; however, sufficient details have been found to reveal the threat. It should be reiterated that this report presents concrete facts, not just ideas or speculation. We trust that we have demonstrated the need to continue the work within a broader and more elaborate framework.
#msg-3521633

-Am


China Minmetals in talks to buy Canadian miner Noranda: 'small premium'

Nancy Carr
Canadian Press


September 24, 2004


TORONTO (CP) - One of Canada's biggest and best-known miners, Noranda Inc., is in exclusive talks to be acquired by a Chinese metals producer, the two companies confirmed Friday.

After years of rumours that Noranda would be unloaded by its parent company, Noranda and China Minmetals Corp. said the Chinese government-controlled enterprise wants to buy 100 per cent of the Canadian company, which has a current stock-market value of about $6.7 billion. They said China Minmetals would likely pay a "small premium" over the current price of Noranda shares.

If completed, the takeover would be one of the biggest in Canadian mining history and the largest investment in Canada by a Chinese company.

China has been looking around the world to secure supplies of nickel, copper, iron, coal and oil and gas to fuel the Asian giant's rapid growth.

Based in Toronto, Noranda employs 15,000 people at mines, smelters and recycling operations around the world. It also controls nickel and copper producer Falconbridge Ltd., a major employer in Sudbury, Ont.

In Friday's release, the companies said China Minmetals had entered into an exclusive agreement with conglomerate Brascan Corp. (TSX:BNN.A) to look at buying its 42 per cent stake in Noranda. The Chinese company would then make a bid to buy out the remaining 58 per cent of the company owned by the public and institutional shareholders.

"I am encouraged by our discussions and hope to be able to crystallize value for current shareholders of Noranda," stated Derek Pannell, president and CEO of the mining company.

"This proposed transaction represents an opportunity to enter an exciting new period of growth and development."

Brascan has been acting on a long-term strategy to sell its resources holdings to focus on financial services, real estate and power generation. The conglomerate has already sold part of its holding in Norbord, a producer of lumber and wood panels.

Brascan said in June it had received "expressions of interest" from several potential acquirers of Noranda, and Brazilian miner Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, or CVRD, was rumoured to have been looking at the company.

Brascan president and CEO Bruce Flatt said the conglomerate is "supportive" of the Minmetals transaction and would redeploy the proceeds "into our core operations, which is real estate, power and our asset management businesses."

The fact that the best offer Noranda will likely fetch won't add much to shareholders' current holdings was viewed negatively by investors, said Canaccord Capital mining analyst Greg Barnes.

"Is (the premium) two per cent, five per cent, 10 per cent? Who knows?" Barnes said. "Obviously it's not 25 per cent . . . and they seem to be disappointed with it so far."

Shares in Noranda (TSX:NRD) closed down 46 cents, or two per cent, at $22.14 on the Toronto stock market. Brascan (TSX:BNN.A) lost 27 cents at $39.00.

Noranda would add to the already vast holdings of China's largest metals trader and fuel the country's insatiable appetite for nickel, used to produce stainless steel products.

"Minmetals has one of the world's leading international metal and minerals trading operations and is well positioned in the world's largest and fastest-growing metals market," said Miao Gengshu, president of Minmetals.

Noranda spokesman Denis Couture cautioned that the deal is nowhere near complete.

"We're only announcing that we've entered into exclusive negotiations," Couture said. "We are going to be completing the due diligence process and definitive agreement during the next few weeks."

Noranda reported a profit of $149 million US on sales of $4.66 billion US in 2004. It has benefited from soaring nickel prices over the last 18 months, after massive losses in 2002 and 2001.

Canaccord's Barnes suggested Minmetals could own Noranda by the new year, and then would probably look at acquiring the 41 per cent of Falconbridge (TSX:FL) that Noranda does not already own.

"I think that's the logical conclusion; I just don't know how long it will take."

-

A brief history of Noranda Inc.:

1922 - Noranda Mines incorporated after buying an interest in a northwestern Quebec mineral deposit discovered by prospector Edmund Horne.

1925 - Noranda goes public and becomes Canadian-controlled.

1927 - First copper shipments.

1930 - Diversifies into manufacturing by acquiring interest in Canada Wire and Cable Co.

1939 - First foreign investment, a 64 per cent interest in a Nicaragua gold mine.

1964 - Acquires 100 per cent of Canada Wire and Cable.

1966 - Production begins at the Northwood Pulp and Timber mill near Prince George, B.C.

1966 - Buys Wolverine Die Cast group of Detroit and Windsor, intending to build new markets in automotive industry.

1969 - Buys 28.9 per cent stake in British Columbia Forest Products.

1973 - Forms oil and gas business Canadian Hunter.

1975 - Begins construction on nuclear tube plant in Arnprior, Ont.

1981 - Brascan pays $1 billion for control of Noranda, in partnership with Caisse de Depot.

1981 - Noranda increases interest in forest company MacMillan Bloedel to 49.9 per cent, sells holding in B.C. Forest Products.

1984 - Noranda Mines changes its name to Noranda Inc.

1989 - Raises its stake in Falconbridge to 28 per cent.

1990 - Noranda Panelboard, wholly owned subsidiary of Noranda Forest, renamed Norbord Industries Inc.

1991 - Sells Canada Wire and Cable for more than $400 million.

1993 - Sells 49.3 per cent stake in MacMillan Bloedel for $931 million.

1997 - Announces it will return to its roots, focusing on being an international mining and metals company.

1998 - Sells Norcen Energy, Noranda Forest (Nexfor) and Canadian Hunter.

1998 - Raises Falconbridge ownership to 49.9 per cent.

2000 - Loses out to Britain's Billiton PLC in bid to buy Toronto miner Rio Algom.

2000 - Increases investment in Falconbridge to 55 per cent.

2001 - Sells interest in gold giant Newmont Mining for $246 million.

2002 - Derek Pannell named president and CEO after 33 years with Noranda.

2002 - Increases stake in Falconbridge to over 58 per cent.

2003 - Creates California-based Noranda Recycling Inc.

2003 - Creates Noranda Income Fund to own zinc smelter in Valleyfield, Que.

2004 - China Minmetals in talks to buy Noranda.

© The Canadian Press 2004

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=8509038b-c0f9-4402-8e25-3012....











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