Most actively traded companies on the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange markets

TORONTO - Some of the most active companies traded Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (13,180.09 down 4.32 points):

PMI Gold Corp. (TSX:PMV). Miner. Up 12.5 cents, or 44.64 per cent, at 40.5 cents on 12.77 million shares. Asanko Gold Inc. (TSX:AKG) agreed to acquire PMI in a stock-swap deal that values the exploration and development company shares at just over 44 cents apiece, a 79 per cent premium to their 20-day volume-weighted average. Asanko's stock slipped six cents, or 2.86 per cent, to $2.04 on 1.67 million shares.

Calmena Energy Services Inc. (TSX:CEZ). Oil and gas. Down a penny, or 28.57 per cent, at 2.5 cents on 7.06 million shares. The energy sector dipped 0.46 per cent to 263.77 points as the price of crude oil dropped 26 cents US to US$97.22 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Athabasca Oil Corp. (TSX:ATH). Oil and gas. Down 17 cents, or 2.59 per cent, at $6.40 on 6.29 million shares. The Calgary-based company said its board of directors has approved a capital budget of $460 million for 2014, with a huge chunk going to its thermal oil activities.

Carpathian Gold Inc. (TSX:CPN). Miner. Up four cents, or 42.11 per cent, at 13.5 cents on 5.83 million shares. The company announced Friday that a subsidiary received a permit to proceed with the full operation of its gold project in Brazil.

Cardinal Energy Ltd. (TSX:CJ). Oil and gas. Up $1.03, or 9.81 per cent, at $11.53 on 5.66 million shares.

Toronto Venture Exchange (886.07 down 4.59 points):

LGX Oil + Gas Inc. (TSX:OIL). Oil and gas. Up 17 cents, or 33.33 per cent, at 68 cents on 7.67 million shares.

LX Ventures Inc. (TSXV:LXV). Technology. Down 10 cents, or 17.86 per cent, at 46 cents on 5.30 million shares.

Companies reporting major news:

The Becker Milk Co. Ltd. (TSX:BEK.B). Retail. Up $2.95, or 17.30 per cent, at $20 on 16,820 shares. Firm Capital Realty Partners says it is interested in buying the Ontario retail commercial property firm for about $38 million. Toronto-based Firm Capital said it is prepared to offer about $21 per share if it can gain access to Becker's data room to conduct due diligence and finalize its financing, something Becker management has so far refused to do.

Canada Bread Co. Ltd. (TSX:CBY). Bakery. Up 48 cents, or 0.65 per cent, at $74.41 on 15,119 shares. The bakery, which is 90 per cent owned by Maple Leaf Foods Inc., announced that it will pay a special dividend of $8 per share. It will be payable Jan. 6 to shareholders of record on Dec. 30.

Hudson's Bay Co. (TSX:HBC). Retailer. Up 46 cents, or 2.51 per cent, at $18.76 on 243,041 shares. Donald Watros, the retailer's chief operating officer, has been promoted company president, taking up his new duties in February. Watros will continue to report to HBC chief executive Richard Baker.

Saputo (TSX:SAP). Dairy processor. Up 60 cents, or 1.27 per cent, at $47.77 on 311,264 shares. The Montreal-based company said it was willing, under certain circumstances to improve its offer for Australia's oldest dairy processor, Warrnambool Cheese and Butter. Saputo is maintaining its base offer at AU$9 per share if it doesn't get a majority of WCB's stock, but would pay AU$9.40 per share if it gets 75 per cent of the total and AU$9.60 per share if it gets at least 90 per cent.