6 LEXPERT
|
2016/17
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WWW.LEXPERT.CA
THE WAITING
GAME
HOSTILE? HELL, NO. GRATEFUL IS MORE LIKE IT. Min-
ing companies definitely do not have the confidence that commodity
prices have bottomed out and are starting to turn up, leaving most
sitting on their wallets, says John Sabine, counsel at Bennett Jones
LLP in Toronto.
"ere's more activity with people waiting on the sidelines for dis-
tressed assets than there is on deals," says Sabine, an experienced min-
ing lawyer. "ere's too much fear and loathing out there right now,
too much concern about where these commodity prices are going.
"e global economy is not stable, it's just not, and that's discourag-
ing people from making major investments."
When commodity prices are high, says Sabine, companies can go a
little bit nuts and make investments, which, "if you look at it through
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK
DEALS
Mining companies have
been reluctant to do
deals and invest in an
uncertain economic
environment
By Sandra Rubin
