IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

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Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40438:1" rel="noopener">Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)</a> has disclosed a binding offer from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22114:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto PLC (RIO LN)</a> at US$5.85 per share, a 90% premium to the undisturbed price of US$3.08 (4 October).</li>
<li>The offer is attractive compared to analyst price targets and peer multiples but unattractive compared to cyclical low timing and precedent transactions.</li>
<li>The shareholder structure requires an activist to disrupt the vote. The long-dated offer provides optionality on a bump if lithium prices materially re-rates. </li>
</ul>



Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU) has disclosed a binding offer from Rio Tinto PLC (RIO LN) at US$5.85 per share, a 90% premium to the undisturbed price of US$3.08 (4 October).
The offer is attractive compared to analyst price targets and peer multiples but unattractive compared to cyclical low timing and precedent transactions.
The shareholder structure requires an activist to disrupt the vote. The long-dated offer provides optionality on a bump if lithium prices materially re-rates. 


Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US/LTM AU): Rio’s Binding Proposal

<ul>
<li>In response to media reports, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40438:1" rel="noopener">Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)</a> confirmed receiving a non-binding proposal from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a>. No terms were disclosed.</li>
<li>According to press reports, Rio aims to acquire Arcadium at a valuation range of US$4-6 billion (A$5.9-8.8 billion). Blackwattle thinks a fair price is closer to US$8 billion. </li>
<li>The rumoured valuation range is unattractive and arguably a bear case valuation assuming no significant recovery in lithium prices.  </li>
</ul>


In response to media reports, Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU) confirmed receiving a non-binding proposal from Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU). No terms were disclosed.
According to press reports, Rio aims to acquire Arcadium at a valuation range of US$4-6 billion (A$5.9-8.8 billion). Blackwattle thinks a fair price is closer to US$8 billion. 
The rumoured valuation range is unattractive and arguably a bear case valuation assuming no significant recovery in lithium prices.  


Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US/LTM AU): Rio Tinto’s Rumoured Bid Is Light

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a> has <a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20241007/pdf/068tbs6fnf3fnj.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> it has approached <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40438:1" rel="noopener">Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)/</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc-2f9bfa3a-65a7-41f9-a157-e59603846420" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40439:1" rel="noopener">(ALTM US)</a> regarding a potential acquisition. </li>
<li>No Offer Price has been announced; however a proposed bid with a 30%+ premium, on top of last week's 11% bounce, has been rumoured. That implies a price of ~$6/share.</li>
<li>Given shares were trading ~A$10/share in January this year, one Aussie-based fund reckons such an Offer would be highly opportunistic; and that a bid 2.5-3x higher is reasonable. </li>
</ul>



Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) has confirmed it has approached Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)/(ALTM US) regarding a potential acquisition. 
No Offer Price has been announced; however a proposed bid with a 30%+ premium, on top of last week's 11% bounce, has been rumoured. That implies a price of ~$6/share.
Given shares were trading ~A$10/share in January this year, one Aussie-based fund reckons such an Offer would be highly opportunistic; and that a bid 2.5-3x higher is reasonable. 


Rio Tinto Taps Arcadium As Lithium Prices Sag

Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

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Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>WTR-CMI last week. Driven by the recovery in lithium stocks, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks rose 1.7% for the week, handily outperforming mostly flattish performance of large cap tech-heavy S&amp;P 500 as well as the broader Russell 2000 indices.</li><li>YTD the WTR-CMI continues to outperform the Russell 2000 (13.6% vs. 9.8%) and on YoY basis our index nearly kept up with S&amp;P 500’s strong 33.8% rise by appreciating 31.1% compared to Russell 2000’s 24.6% improvement.</li><li>Hurricane season kicks into high gear. While the impact of hurricane Helena are still being assessed, Francine’s impact on oil and gas production and barge traffic are already being felt in the markets, with gulf coast oil production down nearly 40% and natural gas production down nearly 50%, with barge fleets staying away from the region until weather settles, which now looks to be delayed due to Helena’s destructive path.</li></ul>

WTR-CMI last week. Driven by the recovery in lithium stocks, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks rose 1.7% for the week, handily outperforming mostly flattish performance of large cap tech-heavy S&amp;P 500 as well as the broader Russell 2000 indices.YTD the WTR-CMI continues to outperform the Russell 2000 (13.6% vs. 9.8%) and on YoY basis our index nearly kept up with S&amp;P 500’s strong 33.8% rise by appreciating 31.1% compared to Russell 2000’s 24.6% improvement.Hurricane season kicks into high gear. While the impact of hurricane Helena are still being assessed, Francine’s impact on oil and gas production and barge traffic are already being felt in the markets, with gulf coast oil production down nearly 40% and natural gas production down nearly 50%, with barge fleets staying away from the region until weather settles, which now looks to be delayed due to Helena’s destructive path.

Mat-Chem Notes -  Hurricanes, Port Strikes, Geopolitics, and Crosscurrents in EVs

<ul>
<li>Back on the 15th August, lithium play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/latin-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8770:1" rel="noopener">Latin Resources (LRS AU)</a> entered into a<a href="https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20240815/pdf/066mpcs6zd41jz.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Scheme</a> with significantly larger peer, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pilbara-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7460:1" rel="noopener">Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU)</a>. Timing appears fortuitous. </li>
<li>PLS is offering 0.07 new PLS shares for each LRS share held.  LRS shareholders will own ~6.4% of the combined entity. LRS' largest shareholder, José Luis Manzano (7.9%), is supportive. </li>
<li>The scrip terms back out an implied price of A$0.20/share or a 67% premium to last close. This is done. And trading accordingly. Expected implementation late November, early December.</li>
</ul>


Back on the 15th August, lithium play Latin Resources (LRS AU) entered into a Scheme with significantly larger peer, Pilbara Minerals (PLS AU). Timing appears fortuitous. 
PLS is offering 0.07 new PLS shares for each LRS share held.  LRS shareholders will own ~6.4% of the combined entity. LRS' largest shareholder, José Luis Manzano (7.9%), is supportive. 
The scrip terms back out an implied price of A$0.20/share or a 67% premium to last close. This is done. And trading accordingly. Expected implementation late November, early December.


Latin Resources (LRS AU)'s Scheme With Pilbara Minerals

United States

Albemarle Corporation produces specialty and fine chemicals.  The Company's chemicals are additives to or intermediates for plastics, polymers and elastomers, cleaning products, agricultural compounds, pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, drilling compounds, and biocides.  Albemarle produces the majority of its products in the United States.

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Albemarle Corp (ALB US)

Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US/LTM AU): Rio’s Binding Proposal

The offer is not a knockout bid but the shareholder structure requires an activist to disrupt the vote. The long-dated offer provides optionality...

Arun George

Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US/LTM AU): Rio Tinto’s Rumoured Bid Is Light

The rumoured valuation range is unattractive and arguably a bear case valuation assuming no significant recovery in lithium prices.

Arun George

Rio Tinto Taps Arcadium As Lithium Prices Sag

Arcadium IS in play. And the share price has recently rebounded from a multi-year low. I'd be getting involved around here, and on any weakness.

David Blennerhassett

Mat-Chem Notes - Hurricanes, Port Strikes, Geopolitics, and Crosscurrents in EVs

Driven by the recovery in lithium stocks, our WTR-CMI index of 30 specialty chemicals and materials technology stocks rose 1.7% for the week

Water Tower Research

Latin Resources (LRS AU)'s Scheme With Pilbara Minerals

Trading tight to terms Take down borrow cheaply on PLS, should the spread widen. Elsewhere, Liontown is trading at A$0.67/share vs. Albemarle's...

David Blennerhassett

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