File photo of a Viterra grain elevator near Regina.TROY FLEECE/The Canadian Press
Viterra Inc. and Glencore International have extended the deadline for closing the Swiss commodity giant's friendly takeover of the Canadian grain handling company to allow time for a Chinese regulator to complete its review.
The $6.1-billion deal still requires approval from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce under the country's anti-monopoly law, the final regulatory hurdle facing the companies.
The agreement received approval under the Investment Canada Act in July.
The companies said they have extended the outside date for closing the deal by one month to Nov. 15.
Glencore has agreed to increase Viterra's projected capital expenditures in Canada by more than $100-million over five years and has said it will contribute to "grain industry initiatives" in Manitoba.
It has also committed to maintaining Viterra's Regina head office and said it will make the location the headquarters for its North American agricultural operations.
Glencore also plans to invest $8-million in Viterra's projected expenses in research and development and plans to work with the Saskatchewan government to establish a Global Institute for Food Security in the province.
Viterra has operations across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and China.