
TSE:TECK.B
Hard to believe they couldn't get the support. They were shy by about 12%. Tempted by the Glencore deal. At the end of the day, he liked the rerating potential of the standalone rather than 24% of a much bigger company. Timelines are the hurdle. Perhaps people would like to see the sunset clause on dual shares accelerated. Divesting metallurgical coal might need to happen sooner so the rerating can start. His issue was that jumping the regulatory hoops would take so long, whereas a made-in-Canada solution would happen immediately.
He hopes it wouldn't get into foreign hands. Think of opportunities lost with the Inco's and Falconbridge's of the world. It would be a shame to lose another champion again. TECK.B is in the driver's seat when it comes to attractiveness of the assets.
A really interesting situation, as different parties are competing for the assets. Teck's plan to spin off its coal business will have a massive cashflow payment to the remaining company. Some people who want those assets might want them before that.
Teck shareholders want the cashflow from the coal business, but they don't want the visibility because the optics aren't favourable. In terms of maximizing value, shareholders want the assets spun out so they can capture top dollar. It is awkward, because the company would be retaining 90% of the coal cashflow, but not the coal assets.
The vote next week will be a huge catalyst to tilt things either way.
The controlling family absolutely doesn't want to sell to Glencore, but they may not have a choice. Once you take the genie out of the bottle, it's difficult to put it back in. We have a lot of these dual-class share structures in Canada, where there's family control of the board and executive.
Shareholders do have a voice here, and there are two competing proposals. One is to break apart the business, but Glencore thinks they have a better idea. A great story where there might be hidden value to be surfaced, and sometimes it takes an outsider or transformational change to unlock it. Investors are speaking up. Glencore has hinted they might sweeten the bid.
The path of least resistance for the shares is likely higher from here, but we don't know how it's all going to shake out.
Stay fully invested but don't rush out to buy more. The separation of the coal division from the rest of its mining operations, especially copper, is important to further takeover offers besides the Glencore one. He noted that metallurgical coal is very different than regular coal.
Dual share structure. Family has voting control. In better shape than ever. $8B in cash, paying down debt, increasing dividend. Issue is upcoming vote to split company, which would make a takeover difficult, thereby keeping the two new companies Canadian. On a takeover, dividend would get rolled into the one from the acquiring company.
Owns shares in the company.
Share price up on takeover news (Glencore).
Coal is still in high demand.
Also expecting higher copper prices.
Will continue to own shares.
Long term investment.