July 31 (Reuters) – Lowe’s Cos Inc, the world’s No.
2 home improvement chain, has offered to buy Rona Inc
for C$1.8 billion ($1.8 billion), but the struggling Canadian
retailer rejected the bid, saying it is not in best interests of
its shareholders.

Rona, Canada’s home-grown answer to Lowe’s and Home Depot
Inc, said on Tuesday it had received the C$14.50 a share
proposal from Lowe’s on Sunday, July 8, making it a 36.7 percent
premium to the stock’s closing price on Friday, July 6.

CALGARY/TORONTO, Alberta (Reuters) – At first blush, CNOOC Ltd’s (0883.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) $15.1 billion bid for Nexen Inc (NXY.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) seemed like a sign that China is ready to go on a buying spree in Canada’s oil patch.

But on a closer look that seems far from certain. If Beijing thinks Nexen will open the door to a rash of big North American energy acquisitions by its state-controlled enterprises, it may want to think again.

TORONTO, July 26 (Reuters) – Potash Corp, the
world’s largest fertilizer maker, o n Thursday r eported a 38
percent drop in it s se cond-quarter profit a nd forecast weaker
than expected earnings for the latter half of 2012, sending its
shares down 1.8 percent before the bell.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based company said it trimmed
its full-year earnings forecast largely to reflect the impact of
an impairment charge that hurt its second-quarter results.

TORONTO, July 25 (Reuters) – Teck Resources Inc
sees no near-term reprieve from the lower coal and metal prices
that dragged its quarterly profit lower, news that sent its
shares tumbling on Wednesday.

Vancouver-based Teck, Canada’s largest diversified miner,
said economic uncertainties in Europe and the United States and
ebbing growth in China, India and other emerging markets held
back demand and prices for many of its products in the quarter.

TORONTO (Reuters) – Goals Soccer Centres Plc (GOAL.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which runs 5-a-side football centres across the United Kingdom, agreed to accept a 73.1 million pound ($115 million) buyout offer from one of Canada’s largest pension funds on Friday.

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan — better known simply as Teachers’ — said on Friday that Goals’ board of directors has agreed to unanimously recommended its all cash offer to the company’s shareholders.

TORONTO, July 19 (Reuters) – Private equity firm BC Partners
and one of Canada’s top pension funds are joining forces with
the management of Suddenlink Communications to buy out the U.S.
cable operator in a cash and debt deal worth roughly $2.5
billion.

BC Partners and the Canadian Pension Plan
Investment Board said late on Wednesday they are teaming up with
U.S. cable industry veteran Jerry Kent to buy Suddenlink from
Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Quadrangle and Oaktree Capital
Management.

TORONTO, July 19 (Reuters) – Private equity firm BC Partners
and one of Canada’s top pension funds are joining forces with
the management of Suddenlink Communications to buy out the U.S.
cable operator in a cash and debt deal worth roughly $2.5
billion.

BC Partners and the Canadian Pension Plan
Investment Board said late on Wednesday they are teaming up with
U.S. cable industry veteran Jerry Kent to buy Suddenlink from
Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Quadrangle and Oaktree Capital
Management.

TORONTO (Reuters) – Canadian fertilizer maker and farm products retailer Agrium Inc (AGU.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (AGU.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) raised its second-quarter earnings forecast on Wednesday, citing excellent results across its entire crop input business.

The revised forecast lifted shares of the Calgary, Alberta-based company and it has many investors eagerly looking forward to quarterly results from Agrium and its larger Canadian rival Potash Corp (POT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (POT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

TORONTO (Reuters) – Cogeco Cable Inc, a Canadian company that serves mostly rural customers in Ontario and Quebec, said on Wednesday it will pay $1.36 billion to buy U.S. cable operator Atlantic Broadband in a move aimed at gaining a foothold in the larger U.S. market.

The deal, however, quickly triggered a 15 percent decline in Cogeco’s share price, with investors skeptical of Cogeco’s success in foreign deals following an unsuccessful foray into Europe.

TORONTO (Reuters) – Two people were killed and 21 others injured in what may have been a gang-related shootout at a Toronto street party late on Monday evening, raising fears of violent retaliation in Canada’s largest city.

In the second high-profile shooting in Toronto in less than two months, a 14-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man were killed. Police said a toddler was grazed by a bullet and is expected to recover, while another victim was in critical condition.