Home Capital’s shares soar on news of $300-million share buyback: Here are the top reads on deals and financial services over the last 24 hours,Shares of Home Capital Group Inc. jumped more than 20 per cent after the company announced it will repurchase up to $300-million worth of its common shares, a move designed to boost the company’s sagging stock price. Home Capital announced plans Wednesday to launch a $300-million substantial issuer bid, which will see the company repurchase $300-million worth of common shares at a fixed price. Story (Tim Kiladze, for subscribers)
Aircraft-leasing firm once again takes flight: Entrepreneurs Martin Goldfarb and Alon Ossip learned about aircraft leasing the hard way, by watching their first investment in the business lose more than half its value this spring. Story (Andrew Willis, for subscribers)
A quiet rule change will make it tougher for Canadians with a HELOC to get a second mortgage:: Got a home-equity line of credit (HELOC)? Want to get a new mortgage? Lenders are about to make your life harder. Canada’s No. 1 player in HELOCs, Toronto-Dominion Bank, just changed a key policy on Tuesday. For people applying for a separate new mortgage and keeping their existing HELOC, TD is requiring that applicants prove they can afford a theoretical monthly payment based on the limit – not the outstanding balance – of that HELOC. TD joins a small number of other lenders, including Royal Bank of Canada, in applying this new policy. Story (Robert McLister)
Ottawa appoints board for Trans Mountain led by former BMO chief executive: The federal government has assembled a team of blue-chip business leaders to form Trans Mountain Corp.'s board of directors, a move the CEO says will help deal with criticism resulting from Ottawa’s takeover of the pipeline company and its expansion plans. Story (for subscribers)
MORE FINANCIAL SERVICES NEWS
Manulife Financial’s third-quarter earnings beat market expectations: Canada’s biggest insurer Manulife Financial Corp on Wednesday posted third-quarter profit that surpassed market expectations, helped by a strong performance from its Asian business and cost savings. Story (for subscribers)
Sun Life reports rise in third-quarter earnings, surpasses market expectations: Canadian insurer Sun Life Financial Inc. reported a rise in third-quarter earnings, beating market expectations, helped by strong growth at its asset management business. Story (for subscribers)
UBS expects to be sued by U.S. Justice Dept. over crisis-era mortgage securities: UBS Group AG, Switzerland’s largest bank, said it expects to be sued by the U.S. Department of Justice as early as Thursday on civil charges related to the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the 2008-09 financial crisis, according to a company statement. Story (for subscribers)
Fraud inquiry: German state prosecutors confirmed they searched the Munich offices of investor BlackRock Inc. as part of a probe into an illicit tax-trading scheme but exonerated the company’s local chairman, who is vying to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel. Story (for subscribers)
MORE DEALS NEWS
Mining sector: Randgold Resources shareholders on Wednesday approved a $6.1-billion all-stock takeover by Barrick Gold, clearing one of the final hurdles to creating the world’s largest gold company. Story (for subscribers)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
How Frank Stronach’s dream of building Florida’s finest private golf course turned into a nightmare: Frank Stronach’s potential multimillion-dollar losses on a luxury golf course in central Florida are expected to play a central role in a court case involving control of his family’s fortune. Story (Andrew Willis, for subscribers)
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