Just The Beginning

Article Excerpt

ALCAN INC. $86 (Toronto symbol AL; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 367.6 million; Market cap: $31.6 billion; SI Rating: Above average) soared after rival aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. (New York symbol AA) launched a hostile (that is, unwanted by Alcan’s management) takeover bid for the company. Alcoa is offering $58.60 U.S. in cash plus 0.4108 of an Alcoa common share for every Alcan share. At Alcoa’s current price, the offer is worth roughly $82.30 (Canadian). The merger would create the world’s largest aluminum producer, with operations in 67 countries and annual revenue of $54 billion U.S. Of course, the bid faces significant regulatory hurdles. A takeover could jeopardize Alcan’s long-term deals for cheap electrical power in Quebec and B.C. The merged company would also have a dominant share of the aluminum aerospace market, so it would probably have to sell some of these operations. You may feel tempted to take profits because of the regulatory obstacles. But Alcan is trading about…