U.S. investment banks’ trading slump could head north to Canada + MORE Jul 18th

The takeover of forestry company Tembec could be in jeopardy after the company’s second-largest shareholder said Tuesday it will vote against the US$807-million friendly offer by Rayonier Advanced Materials.
Restructuring Capital Associates (RCA), which owns 17.1 per cent of Tembec’s stock, said it will join Oaktree Capital Management in opposing the transaction at a vote July 27.
Together, the company’s two largest shareholders control 37 per cent of Tembec (TSX:TMB) shares.
The takeover requires support by a two-thirds majority vote of shareholders.
RCA said it supports the proposed merger with Rayonier Advanced Materials. But it added that the Florida company must respond more appropriately to several complaints from Oaktree including that shareholders aren’t receiving a fair price and that Rayonier Advanced Materials can sweeten the offer. Rayonier Advanced Materials dismissed such concerns Monday as “misleading.”
“The strategic merit of this unique combination can improve profitability exponentially and Oaktree makes a compelling case that Rayonier can and should improve its offer,” RCA founder James Bennett said in a statement Tuesday…

A Sears Canada outlet is seen Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in Saint-Eustache, Que. Sears Canada’s stock plunged Wednesday morning following a report that it’s preparing to seek court protection from creditors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
TORONTO – Sears Canada told a judge today that it’s “crucial’ for the beleaguered retailer to start liquidation sales at its stores on Friday, so it can “maximize” benefits for its stakeholders.
A Sears lawyer told a hearing in Ontario Superior Court that it wants its agents to start sales of merchandise, furniture, fixtures and equipment as soon as possible.
There was no objection from lawyers representing Sears Canada employees or the company’s landlords.
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All sales would be final and sold in “as is” condition during normal store operating hours.
The liquidations would only occur in stores that have been slated for closure.
If approved by Justice Glenn Hainey, the sales would begin July 21 and run no later than Oct…

(Graeme Roy/CP)
OTTAWA – The federal government is proposing several measures to close loopholes for private corporations it says enable many Canadians to “unfairly” reduce how much tax they pay.
The Liberals unveiled plans today aimed at preventing some business owners, particularly wealthy ones, from distributing their income among family for tax-savings purposes, even if those relatives are not involved in the business.
The Finance Department believes about 50,000 families in Canada are engaged in the practice known as income sprinkling.
The federal government also released proposals to target those who gain tax relief through passive investment income and by converting their income into capital gains, which are taxed at a lower rate.
The government is launching a 75-day public consultation period to allow stakeholders to examine and weigh in on the three proposals.
The feds believe the proposed measures could generate significant amounts of revenue, with the plan to address income sprinkling providing an estimated $250 million per year…

Canada’s main stock index closed lower Tuesday despite gains in the resource sector.
The S&P/TSX composite index shed 15.79 points to finish at 15,149.57. Most of the TSX subsectors were lower, but advancing oil and gold stocks helped cushion the fall.
The Canadian dollar was trading up 0.26 of a cent to an average price of 79.19 cents US.
Equity analyst Ian Scott called it a relatively quiet trading day in Canada because there were no major economic news releases or earnings reports.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 54.99 points to 21,574.73, while the S&P 500 index added 1.47 points to 2,460.61 to hit a new record.
The Nasdaq composite index also set a record, climbing 29.88 points to 6,344.31, helped by a surge in shares of video-streaming service Netflix.
The company said it added 5.2 million subscribers over the last three months, and for the first time, has more subscribers outside the U.S. than in it.
In Washington, the Senate Republican health care bill was defeated Monday night when two more GOP senators announced they opposed it…

Wall Street performance strengthens analysts’ expectations that Canadian firms will report lower results at end of current quarter