Baffinland recommends sweetened ArcelorMittal bid

Nunavut Iron had earlier this week upped its offer to $1.40 a share for 60 percent of Baffinland's shares, valuing the company at about $550 million and challenging ArcelorMittal's friendly bid of $1.25 a share for all of the shares.

In a news release, Baffinland recommended shareholders tender their shares to the sweetened offer from ArcelorMittal.

For ArcelorMittal, which aims to be about 80 percent self-sufficient in iron ore supply, a successful bid would mean more direct access to the key raw material – a significant issue given tight global supplies and healthy demand from Chinese steel mills.   

"ArcelorMittal's increased offer of $1.40 per share provides demonstrably superior value and certainty for Baffinland shareholders, compared to Nunavut Iron Ore Acquisition Inc.'s revised coercive partial offer," Peter Kukielski, head of mining and a member of the group management board of ArcelorMittal, said in a statement.   

"Our offer ensures shareholders receive 100 percent cash for all of their shares, rather than cash for just some shares and diluted value for the shares not taken up under the Nunavut offer."   

An hour before its bid was due to expire on Wednesday, ArcelorMittal said it was extending the offer until Jan. 10, but held the value of the bid at $1.25 a share.   

The bid from Nunavut, backed by U.S. private equity firm Energy & Minerals Group, improved on an earlier offer of $1.35 a share for 50.1 percent of Baffinland shares. It already holds about 10 percent.   

At stake is Baffinland's huge iron ore deposit on Baffin Island in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut. While developing the Mary River mine will be a major logistical and environmental challenge, the deposit is believed to be large enough to meet all of Europe's needs for many years.