Mr. Rastech, the head of New York based hedge fund Coast Capital Management, has written to Minister Navdeep Bains, the federal minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the official who needs to approve the SD Gold takeover of TMAC Resources, to share his wisdom and advice. His recommendation: block the deal and let Coast Capital raise $700 million which it would somehow loan or invest in TMAC to allow it to continue to operate without Chinese ownership.
The basis of his proposal? The SD Gold takeover should be stopped because of China’s alleged poor environmental record (the TMAC mine is in Canada, subject to the full weight of Canada’s internal environmental laws and protections), its history of human-rights violations (the TMAC employees are subject to the full weight of Canada’s employee and human rights laws and protections) and concerns over the quality of its workmanship. Mr. Rastech is concerned that “the unknowable Chinese government backed would-be -acquirer (SD Gold) poses a greater environmental and construction quality risk than buyers from most any developed jurisdiction”.
I note that Mr. Rastech does not propose to make a counter offer that TMAC Resources shareholders can consider against the $1.75 per share already on the table. That would be a competitive bid open to public scrutiny and assessment – it appears Mr. Rastech just wants SD Gold blocked, so he can work out a financing deal beneficial to his private equity investors – one that would likely leave the current shareholders with even less than the $1.75 dregs they have already accepted and approved.
My simple opinion would suggest if Mr. Rastech wants to be the white knight riding to TMACs rescue on behalf of all Canadians, he put his money on the table and pay a reasonable price for the asset that grows more attractive with each dollar rise in the spot price of gold.
Mr. Rastech, the head of New York based hedge fund Coast Capital Management, has written to Minister Navdeep Bains, the federal minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the official who needs to approve the SD Gold takeover of TMAC Resources, to share his wisdom and advice. His recommendation: block the deal and let Coast Capital raise $700 million which it would somehow loan or invest in TMAC to allow it to continue to operate without Chinese ownership.
The basis of his proposal? The SD Gold takeover should be stopped because of China’s alleged poor environmental record (the TMAC mine is in Canada, subject to the full weight of Canada’s internal environmental laws and protections), its history of human-rights violations (the TMAC employees are subject to the full weight of Canada’s employee and human rights laws and protections) and concerns over the quality of its workmanship. Mr. Rastech is concerned that “the unknowable Chinese government backed would-be -acquirer (SD Gold) poses a greater environmental and construction quality risk than buyers from most any developed jurisdiction”.
I note that Mr. Rastech does not propose to make a counter offer that TMAC Resources shareholders can consider against the $1.75 per share already on the table. That would be a competitive bid open to public scrutiny and assessment – it appears Mr. Rastech just wants SD Gold blocked, so he can work out a financing deal beneficial to his private equity investors – one that would likely leave the current shareholders with even less than the $1.75 dregs they have already accepted and approved.
My simple opinion would suggest if Mr. Rastech wants to be the white knight riding to TMACs rescue on behalf of all Canadians, he put his money on the table and pay a reasonable price for the asset that grows more attractive with each dollar rise in the spot price of gold.