Teck prefers spinoff to takeover offer

Article Excerpt

TECK RESOURCES LTD. $58 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol TECK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 512.3 million; Market cap: $29.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.8; Dividend yield: 0.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.teck.com) has rejected an unsolicited takeover worth $23 billion U.S. from Switzerland-based mining firm Glencore plc (Over-the-counter Pink Sheets symbol GLCNF). Instead, Teck still plans to spin off of its operations focused on metallurgical coal (a key ingredient in steelmaking). That new publicly traded company will then operate as Elk Valley Resources Ltd. (EVR). Investors will receive 0.1 of a common share of EVR for each Teck share they own as well as a cash payment of $0.39 a share. The distribution of EVR shares and cash is a return of capital to Teck shareholders, which will reduce the tax cost of their shares. The remaining firm will change its name to Teck Metals Corp. and operate the company’s copper and zinc mines. If shareholders approve, Teck plans to complete the…