Teck Braces for Lower Coal Prices

Article Excerpt

TECK COMINCO LTD. $5.73 (Toronto symbol TCK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 449.4 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; SI Rating: Extra risk) currently sells its coal to steelmakers for about $300 U.S. a tonne. However, the company must re-negotiate these contracts each year, and prices in 2009 could drop by 50% or more. That could make it harder for Teck to repay a $5.8 billion U.S. bridge loan that it used to fund its recent purchase of Fording Canadian Coal Trust. Teck now plans to cut 13% of its workforce, and reduce coal production by 20%. These moves should save it roughly $85 million a year. Tax refunds and sales of certain businesses should also give Teck $2.4 billion for debt repayments. That should make it easier for the company to convert the remaining part of the bridge loan into a more manageable long-term loan. Teck Cominco is still a buy. buy…