BHP Prepares to Woo Potash Owners

BHP Billiton's

chief executive flies to North America this week to crank up the charm offensive with Potash Corp

shareholders, as a potential Chinese rival bidder reiterated it was "closely watching" the $39 billion deal. After dousing expectations he would sweeten his hostile bid for the fertilizer giant, BHP Chief Executive Marius Kloppers and his other executives were also preparing to brief their own investors on four continents after delivering the miner's richest half-year profit in two years. China's largest fertilizer distributor, Sinofert Holdings Ltd, said on Thursday it was worried the deal would have a big impact on the firm but would not say if its parent, state-owned chemicals giant Sinochem Group, was planning a rival offer. "No matter what, Sinochem and Sinofert are closely watching Potash," Sinofert Chief Executive Feng Zhibin told reporters at a results briefing in Hong Kong on Thursday. To read the rest, head over to

.