Vale SA (ADR)(NYSE:VALE) is in negotiations with BHP Billiton Ltd over the upcoming period of their JV, Samarco Mineração SA. One option is for the company to purchase out its associate. A rate has not yet been fixed for any deal and it would be based on BHP’s readiness to exit the Samarco venture.
The buzz
Samarco has not worked since November 2015 post flood waters flooded a dam intended to hold back mine waste, leading it to burst and inundate nearby towns. As many as 19 people were killed in this environmental disaster. Vale SA considers that Samarco can become operating sooner accelerate remediation tasks if it had a single owner. Last month, Samarco received initial permits, however is not yet permitted to restart. The contract depends on BHP’s readiness to exit. Samarco is the single iron-ore operation managed by BHP outside Australia.
In unrelated news, The Mosaic Company reported modifications to the definitive deal with Vale, including lower consideration for the deal of Vale Fertilizantes. The modifications comprise: a decline in the deal price consideration to cash of $1.15 billion and The Mosaic Company 34.2 million shares.
Vale will keep equity stake in the TIPLAM port while Mosaic will persist to have the right to utilize the TIPLAM port facility as per commercial arrangements finalized between the parties. Joc O’Rourke, the CEO and President, expressed that their conviction in the long-term prospect for the operations and the promise of Brazil hasn’t altered. They look forward to closing the deal and working to realize the remarkable prospect this deal presents. The deal is projected to close in this month.
In the last trading session, the stock price of Vale gained 0.59% to close the day at $13.53. The gains came at a share volume of 10,400 compared to average share volume of 21.96 million.
