B08 Metal Ore Mining

Demerging Alcoa slams ‘opportunistic’ Alumina

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Original article by Barry FitzGerald
The Australian – Page: 22 : 10-Jun-16

Alcoa’s vice-president of investor relations, Matt Garth, has criticised Alumina over its attempt to use the US group’s proposed demerger to renegotiate the Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals joint venture. Garth told investors and analysts in Sydney that Alumina is being "emotional and opportunistic", and rejected the Australian-listed company’s claim that it must agree to the Alcoa demerger under the terms of the AWAC agreement. He added that Alcoa is confident that a court will rule in its favour.

CORPORATES
ALUMINA LIMITED – ASX AWC, ALCOA INCORPORATED, ALCOA WORLDWIDE ALUMINA AND CHEMICALS, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Gold’s M&A to scale down as sales dry up

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 9-Jun-16

Evolution Mining and Northern Star Resources are among the mid-tier gold producers that have benefited from the asset sales programs of larger global rivals in recent years. Evolution chairman Jake Klein cautions that future opportunities for acquisitions in the sector will become limited, with fewer large projects likely to be put up for sale. He says the focus is likely to shift to exploration and development, and he has called for greater collaboration between mid-tier and small gold miners.

CORPORATES
EVOLUTION MINING LIMITED – ASX EVN, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, OCEANAGOLD CORPORATION – ASX OGC, BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION OF MINING AND EXPLORATION COMPANIES, INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL – ASX IGO, SIRIUS RESOURCES NL

No relief in sight for iron ore bulls

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Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 3-Jun-16

Morgan Stanley notes that global iron ore production will rise by 41 million tonnes in the second half of 2016, followed by an additional 78 million tonnes in 2017. The looming increase in global supply does not bode well for the price of the steel input, which has fallen by more than 30 per cent since late April 2016. BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Vale are among the iron ore producers that will increase their output in coming years, as new projects or mine expansions reach full production capacity.

CORPORATES
MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, VALE SA, ROY HILL IRON ORE PTY LTD, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA

M&A won’t solve BHP’s growth questions

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Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 31-May-16

Citi analyst Clarke Wilkins notes that BHP Billiton has performed poorly in terms of mergers and acquisitions in recent years, and its high level of debt is likely to rule out acquisitions in the next several years. Wilkins adds that there is a dearth of suitable acquisitions at present, particularly in the copper and oil sectors, and he suggests that the resources giant could instead consider asset sales. He identifies BHP’s petroleum division as a potential candidate for asset sales.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, POTASH CORPORATION OF SASKATCHEWAN INCORPORATED, GLENCORE PLC, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32

Aussie miner accused of menacing US giant Alcoa on demerger plan

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 30-May-16

US aluminium giant Alcoa has launched legal action against Australian-listed Alumina, its partner in the Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals joint venture. The dispute centres on Alcoa’s proposal to demerge its upstream and downstream assets. The former will hold Alcoa’s 60 per cent stake in AWAC if the deal proceeds. Alcoa’s lawsuit alleges that the joint venture agreement does give Alumina the right to block the demerger.

CORPORATES
ALUMINA LIMITED – ASX AWC, ALCOA INCORPORATED, ALCOA WORLDWIDE ALUMINA AND CHEMICALS

BHP tunes up Olympic Dam but timing slightly off

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 27-May-16

BHP Billiton will hire an additional 120 workers at its Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in South Australia. The resources group intends to expand underground mining at Olympic Dam, with plans to increase copper production from 200,000 tonnes in 2015-16 to 230,000 tonnes in 2020-21. BHP eventually aims to lift annual production to 280,000 tonnes. However, the long-term goal of 450,000 tonnes per annum will depend on the use of heap leaching technology, which is currently being trialled.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP

Miners plead for no new tax slug in NSW budget

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Original article by Annabel Hepworth
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 26-May-16

The New South Wales Minerals Council has warned the State Government that imposing additional taxes on mining companies in the June 2016 Budget will deter investment and increase investor uncertainty. The Council’s pre-Budget submission has also urged Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian to provide more funding for the "Resources for Regions" infrastructure program.

CORPORATES
NEW SOUTH WALES MINERALS COUNCIL, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SHENHUA WATERMARK COAL PTY LTD

Stockpiles of iron ore drive prices lower

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Original article by Matt Chambers, Barry FitzGerald
The Australian – Page: 19 & 28 : 25-May-16

New data shows that iron ore stockpiles at Chinese ports have risen to 100.45 million tonnes, which is the highest level in 14 months. This could put further downward pressure on the benchmark price of iron ore, which has retreated from recent highs. Macquarie Group now expects the iron ore price to average about $US50 per tonne in 2017, compared with its previous forecast of $US45.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, METAL BULLETIN LIMITED, ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, VALE SA, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Arrium and its steelworks to go on block in late July

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 24-May-16

KordaMentha has indicated that a number of Australian and offshore groups have expressed interest in buying the assets of Arrium. KordaMentha, which was appointed as administrator of the failed steel producer and iron ore miner in mid-April 2016, will commence the formal sale process in July, with expectations that it will be completed by the end of the year.

CORPORATES
ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, KORDA MENTHA AND COLLEAGUES PTY LTD, MOLY-COP, ARGAND PARTNERS LLC, CERBERUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, GRANT THORNTON AUSTRALIA

Cost focus puts BHP on track to raise dividend

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 18-May-16

Credit Suisse has upgraded its underlying earnings forecast for BHP Billiton in 2015-16 by 3.5 per cent to $A12bn, in response to the resources giant’s revised production costs for commodities such as iron ore and coal. Credit Suisse also suggests that BHP could lift its 2015-16 dividend by 10.8 per cent to $A0.25 per share. The firm has lifted its share price target for BHP stock from $A20 to $A21.5.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD