(RecipeFranchising.com)

Second Cup owner to buy Milestones dining chain

Foodtastic plans to expand brand to Quebec

Future growth of the Milestones chain of grill-and-bar restaurants across Canada will take place under different ownership. Vaughan, Ont.-based Recipe Unlimited, owner of fast-casual and dining chains such as Swiss Chalet, The Keg, Harvey’s, St-Hubert and Montana’s, announced Monday it will sell the Milestones chain to Foodtastic, owner of the Second Cup and Nickels Deli […] Read more

A freight train at Manchac, La., about 75 km east of Baton Rouge. (CN.ca)

Kansas City Southern accepts new CN bid over CP’s

CN offers to cover KCS's breakup fee with CP

Reuters — U.S. railway operator Kansas City Southern said Thursday it had accepted Canadian National Railway’s $33.6 billion acquisition offer, upending a $29 billion deal with its competitor Canadian Pacific Railway. The development, first reported by Reuters, gives CP five business days to make a new offer for Kansas City Southern. Were CP to table […] Read more

A Meta Cannabis retail store on Yonge Street in Toronto. (CNW Group/Meta Growth)

Canadian cannabis retailers poised to merge

High Tide, Meta Growth to create biggest weed retailer

Two major Canadian cannabis sellers are poised to create the largest pot retailer in the country by revenue. Calgary retailer High Tide Inc., which operates the Canna Cabana chain of stores in three provinces, announced a merger deal Friday to take up Toronto-based Meta Growth Corp., which runs the Meta Cannabis and NewLeaf Cannabis chains. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

U.S. investor to buy Prairie canola ‘streaming’ firm

All-cash deal offers $97.5 million for Input Capital

A U.S. investor has stepped forward with an all-cash bid for the Regina company that brought “streaming” to the Prairie canola marketing business. Input Capital, which in February last year began to review options such as a sale or merger to “enhance shareholder value,” said Wednesday it has a deal to sell all of itself […] Read more

Plants at Delta 9 Cannabis’ indoor production facility in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

Cannabis industry readies for M+A after COVID-19 boosts weed demand

Companies betting on U.S. market growth after election

Reuters — After nearly a year of next-to-no dealmaking, cannabis companies are gearing up for mergers and acquisitions (M+A) as realistic stock valuations and the prospect of U.S. legalization attract buyers to a sector that has been decimated by oversupply and other issues, executives and investors say. Profitable cannabis companies want to buy their way […] Read more


(ADM.com)

ADM says to focus on organic growth after acquisitions

Geneva | Reuters — Grain trader Archer Daniels Midland does not expect to continue its aggressive strategy of acquisitions in the next few years and will instead focus on organic growth, a senior official said on Wednesday. “With this level of acquisitions we have had, I don’t think you will see ADM being a very […] Read more

Louis Dreyfus’ oilseed processing plant at Yorkton, Sask. (LDC.com)

Grain trade regional tie-ups seen more likely over mega-deals

Paris | Reuters — The agricultural trading industry can expect more consolidation at a regional level in an effort to improve margins, but big deals between global merchants are becoming more difficult, Louis Dreyfus’ CEO said. Merchants have been grappling with lower profits from sourcing and shipping commodities such as grain and oilseeds, prompting cutbacks […] Read more

Canola south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Input Capital to consider company sale, merger, cannabis

Possible options including a sale, merger or moving into the cannabis business are now on the table for “commodity streaming” canola firm Input Capital Corp. Regina-based Input, which trades publicly on the TSX Venture Exchange, announced Wednesday its board has launched a “comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.” The review, which will […] Read more


(Bayer.com)

Bayer cuts Monsanto synergy target on divestments

Bonn | Reuters — Bayer said positive synergy effects from the planned takeover of U.S. seeds and chemical firm Monsanto would be about US$300 million below its previous target because it will sell more businesses than initially expected to get antitrust approval. Bayer CEO Werner Baumann again threw his weight behind the deal, despite higher […] Read more

(Bayer.com)

Singapore firm hikes Bayer stake in share sale

Frankfurt | Reuters — German drugmaker Bayer is raising three billion euros (C$4.67 billion) toward its planned US$62.5 billion takeover of seed and chemical firm Monsanto by selling a 3.6 per cent stake to Singapore’s state investment company Temasek. Bayer said it had struck a deal with Temasek under which it would issue shares with […] Read more