Reuters — Merger talks between Dow Chemical and DuPont are likely to have been precipitated by shareholder pressure and weakening demand for crop-protection chemicals, and such a deal would have been unlikely even a few months ago. Stocks of both companies jumped 12 per cent on Wednesday — Dow’s to a record high of $56.80 […] Read more
Dow-DuPont talks driven by weak farm demand, investor pressure
U.S. railway Norfolk Southern rejects CP offer
Reuters — U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern said Friday its board had rejected Canadian Pacific Railway’s US$28.4 billion offer, calling it “grossly inadequate” and could face substantial regulatory hurdles. A struggling coal transportation market, suppressed by weak market demand and global oversupply, has weighed on the earnings of Norfolk, making it more vulnerable as a […] Read more
Agrium bucks fertilizer sector trend with Q3 profit
Reuters — Canadian fertilizer and farm retail dealer Agrium on Thursday reported quarterly profit jumped nearly nine per cent, as higher sales volumes and lower costs helped it buck the sector’s trend of weaker earnings. Weaker currencies in fertilizer-buying markets such as Brazil and India are weighing down prices, leading rivals PotashCorp and Mosaic Co. […] Read more
DuPont in talks with rivals about agribusiness
Reuters — DuPont is talking to rivals about its agriculture business, interim CEO Edward Breen said Tuesday, less than a week after Dow Chemical announced a review of its farm chemicals and seeds unit. Falling crop prices and rising fertilizer output have triggered talk of consolidation among farm-focused companies. DuPont has been touted as a […] Read more
Tim Hortons owner profit beats Street on lower costs, new items
Reuters — Restaurant Brands International, owner of Burger King and Tim Hortons, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by new menu items and lower costs. Most of Restaurant Brands outlets are in the U.S. and Canada. But the company has been opening new restaurants in France, Brazil, Russia and India, following its peers such as […] Read more
Dow reviews options for farm chemical/seeds unit
Reuters — Dow Chemical said it would “review all options” for its farm chemicals and seeds unit, which has reported falling sales for nearly a year, and suggested that it might buy Corning’s stake in a silicon joint venture. Dow is also selling its stake in a Kuwaiti JV that produces a chemical used in […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
