BHP CEO:Focused On Getting Canada Regulatory OKs For Potash Corp
21 Octubre 2010 - 6:28AM
Noticias Dow Jones
Mining titan BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) believes it will continue
to provide net benefits to Canadian communities if its succeeds in
buying Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc (POT) and said it remains
committed to getting Canadian regulatory approvals.
"Canada is a premier mining investment destination, and we
believe that we have made a positive contribution to the Canadian
communities in which we currently operate," BHP Billiton's chief
executive Marius Kloppers said at the company's annual general
meeting.
"We also believe that the same net benefits will accrue to
Saskatchewan if we are successful in acquiring Potash Corp. In this
regard, we continue to focus on gaining Canadian regulatory
approvals," he added.
Over the summer, BHP made an unsolicited $39 billion offer to
acquire all of Potash Corp, the world's largest producer of Potash,
a key ingredient used in fertilizers. The bid is currently being
reviewed by Canadian authorities but Saskatchewan officials are
expected to tell the Canadian government--as early as this
week--that BHP's proposed deal to buy Saskatchewan's biggest
company doesn't benefit the province, people familiar with the
matter told the Wall Street Journal.
-By Alex MacDonald, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9328;
alex.macdonald@dowjones.com