World Business Briefing: Canada: Lionore Favors Norilsk Offer
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LionOre Mining International, the nickel producer, said that the takeover offer of $6.8 billion Canadian dollars ($6.3 billion) from Norilsk Nickel of Russia was superior to a rival offer by Xstrata of Switzerland. Xstrataâs most recent bid was for $6.2 billion Canadian dollars. Both companies have now made two offers for LionOre. Under the terms of an agreement signed with LionOre, Xstrata has until June 1 to match Norilskâs offer.
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Banknorth Group Inc. solicited bids from several other large banks before deciding that a Canadian bank could acquire a majority stake in the company, chief executive William J. Ryan told analysts yesterday.
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Canada&#39;s TD Bank Financial Group is discussing &quot;a possible transaction&quot; with the Northeast regional bank Banknorth Group Inc.
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Shares of Husky Energy Inc., a Canadian oil and natural-gas producer controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, rose after a newspaper reported that the Chinese government is in talks to buy the company.
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Cognos Inc., the largest Canadian software maker, offered to buy Sweden&#39;s Frango AB for 390.8 million kronor ($51.7 million) to expand in corporate performance management software.
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London-listed Central African Mining & Exploration  launched an offer for Katanga Mining Ltd  on Wednesday, which it said valued the Canadian company at C$1.52 billion (US$1.44 billion).
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RBC, 13.10.2004, Moscow 14:13:45.A new company may be created so that it will take part in the auction for selling YUKOS&#39; major oil producing subsidiary Yuganskneftegaz.
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By Kyodo News International, Tokyo  Feb. 9--TOKYO -- Lion Corp.
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Canada's Barrick Gold Corp. said Thursday it was acquiring a 9 percent stake in London-based Celtic Resources Holding Ltd. &#151; a deal that potentially gives the Canadian gold giant major clout ahead of next year's auction of Russia's biggest gold deposit.
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Toronto-Dominion Bank is in the final stages of negotiations to take a controlling interest in New England regional bank Banknorth Group Inc. in a transaction worth as much as $3.5 billion, according to executives involved in the talks.
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The proposed takeover of mining firm Noranda Inc. by a Chinese firm raises concerns not just about human rights but also about foreign government ownership, a Canadian cabinet minister said on Friday.
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Canada nickel miner Inco Ltd.   N.TO on Sunday recommended that shareholders accept a   C$19.35 billion ($17.12 billion) all-cash takeover offer from   Brazil's Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) VALE5.SA.
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Johannesburg - Norilsk Nickel included escape clauses in its pact to support Harmony&#39;s takeover bid for Gold Fields, according to the agreement.
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The battle to take over Canada&#39;s  biggest telephone company, BCE Inc. , may not be over  yet, with other suitors saying they are considering their  options, The Globe and Mail reported on Monday.
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Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canada&#39;s second-largest bank by assets, said it&#39;s in talks for a ``possible transaction&#39;&#39; with Banknorth Group Inc.
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Russia's Yukos has sent the Lithuanian Economy Ministry a written request to use its first option to increase its stake in Mazeikiu Nafta.
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Canada's Toronto Dominion Bank TD.TO  said on Wednesday that it is in talks with U.S.-based Banknorth  Group BNK.N about a possible deal.