BHP's shareholders may have to learn how to pronounce Saskatchewan as their company has gone hostile!
This announcement was released today after close of business Australian time:
BHP Billiton Group Announces Commencement of All Cash-Offer to Acquire PotashCorp
BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP/LSE:BLT/NYSE:BBL/JSE:BIL) today announced that an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BHP Billiton Plc, BHP Billiton Development 2 (Canada) Limited (the "Offeror"), has commenced the previously announced offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. ("PotashCorp"), at a price of US$130 in cash per PotashCorp common share (the "Offer"). The Offer values the total equity of PotashCorp at approximately US$40 billion on a fully-diluted basis.
The Offer represents an attractive premium of 20 per cent to the closing price of PotashCorp’s shares on the NYSE on 11 August 2010, the day prior to BHP Billiton’s first approach to PotashCorp. It is also a premium of 32 per cent and 33 per cent to the volume weighted average trading prices of PotashCorp’s shares on the NYSE for the 30-trading day and the 60-trading day periods ended on the same date, respectively.
The Offer is open for acceptance until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) on 19 October 2010, or such later date or dates as may be fixed by the Offeror unless the Offer is withdrawn.
[Here] is PotashCorp's rejection of BHP's offer.
Will China launch its own bid to secure supply of this vital crop nutrient? China has very few potash reserves of its own, and may not want to be put over the barrel on yet another commodity.
Fair-price calculator.
