$1 Billion Offer For Grande Cashe Coal The Canadian Press, On Monday October 31, 2011, 9:34 amBy The Canadian PressCALGARY - Grande Cache Coal Corp. (TSX:GCE) has received a $1-billion cash takeover offer from a partnership formed by Chinese and Japanese companies.The Calgary-based coal miner said Monday that Winsway Coking Coal Holdings Ltd., listed on the Hong Kong Exchange, has paired with Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp. for the bid.The offer, made through a numbered company based in Alberta, is valued at $10 per common share, which is a 70 per cent premium over the closing price of Grande Cache's shares on Oct. 28, the trading session before the offer was announced.Grande Cache said it has made an agreement not to solicit or initiate negotiations with other companies for a sale of its assets, and will also give the partnership and opportunity to match any competing offers."We believe the arrangement is a compelling transaction for Grande Cache Coal's shareholders and recognizes our highly attractive mining operation and the exceptional team," said president and CEO Robert Stan in a release."In addition, Marubeni has had a long standing business relationship with the corporation and has a 40-year history with the corporation's mine. Furthermore, Winsway is one of our main customers for the Chinese market."The offer will require approval from shareholders and regulators. A special shareholder meeting is expected to take place in January with an eye towards closing the agreement in February.The transaction is part of a growing trend that has seen companies from Asia, particularly China, South Korea and Japan, acquire mining and other resources companies from around the world.Chinese companies have also helped finance iron ore exploration in northern Quebec and other metals projects in the rest of Canada.In the last two years, Chinese companies have bought a 20 per cent stake in Vancouver-based Teck Resources (TSX:TCK.B), Canada's largest publicly traded miner, as well as expanded in the oilsands sector of Northern Alberta.