BHP Billiton (BHP) will provide up to US$211 million in financial support for its Brazilian iron-ore joint venture, Samarco and the Renova Foundation, a vehicle setup after 2015 tailings dam disaster. The miner said US$158 million will fund remediation and compensation programs operated by the Renova Foundation and will be offset against the BHP's earlier provision for the Samarco dam failure. A short-term facility of up to US$53 million (BHP Brasil's share) will be made available to Samarco to carry out ongoing repair works, maintain Samarco's facilities and support restart planning. BHP shares were recently at $33.83 up 3 cents or 0.1% In other news; Atlas Iron (AGO) has unanimously backed Hancock Prospecting's $390m takeover of the iron ore miner. Shares in fintech AfterpayTouch (APT) were 8% or 73 cents higher at $9.33, helped by broker upgrades.