Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>This makes life a lot simpler. Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting will now team up with Chile’s <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sociedad-quimica-y-minera-de-chile-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27977:1" rel="noopener">SQM</a> to take control of lithium play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a>.</li>
<li>In a<a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02755714-6A1187098" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> binding Offer</a>, by way of a Scheme, the joint bidders (collectively holding ~37.79%) are offering A$3.70/share, a 5.1% bump in terms to SQM's prior Scheme Offer. </li>
<li>
An off-market takeover at A$3.65/share unfolds IF this Scheme were to fail. If both fail/lapse,  SQM will, "in certain circumstances", be required to proceed with its off-market transaction of A$3.50/share.</li>
</ul>


This makes life a lot simpler. Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting will now team up with Chile’s SQM to take control of lithium play Azure Minerals (AZS AU).
In a binding Offer, by way of a Scheme, the joint bidders (collectively holding ~37.79%) are offering A$3.70/share, a 5.1% bump in terms to SQM's prior Scheme Offer. 

An off-market takeover at A$3.65/share unfolds IF this Scheme were to fail. If both fail/lapse,  SQM will, "in certain circumstances", be required to proceed with its off-market transaction of A$3.50/share.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/livent-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27434:1" rel="noopener">Livent (LTHM US)</a>'s CEO recently said, regarding its merger with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/allkem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3572:1" rel="noopener">Allkem Ltd (AKE AU)</a>, that while falling lithium prices put pressure on marginal producers, the sector's fundamental outlook remains strong. </li>
<li>And so, another week goes by, and another lithium Offer Down Under unfolds. </li>
<li>African-Focused lithium play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/atlantic-lithium-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40322:1" rel="noopener">Atlantic Lithium (A11 AU)</a> announced this morning it has twice rejected Offers from South African-based Assore International, its major shareholder.  Shares spiked 43% on the news.</li>
</ul>



Livent (LTHM US)'s CEO recently said, regarding its merger with Allkem Ltd (AKE AU), that while falling lithium prices put pressure on marginal producers, the sector's fundamental outlook remains strong. 
And so, another week goes by, and another lithium Offer Down Under unfolds. 
African-Focused lithium play Atlantic Lithium (A11 AU) announced this morning it has twice rejected Offers from South African-based Assore International, its major shareholder.  Shares spiked 43% on the news.


Atlantic Lithium (A11 AU) Knocks Back Major Shareholder's Offer. Again

Haitong International Securities Group / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>For the month of October 2023, 7 new deals (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$4bn.</li>
<li>The average premium for the new deals announced (or first discussed) in October was 65%. The average YTD is 37% (85 deals).</li>
<li>This compares to the average premium for all deals in 2022 (106 deals), 2021 (165 deals), 2020 (158 deals), and 2019 (145 deals) of 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% respectively.</li>
</ul>


For the month of October 2023, 7 new deals (firm and non-binding) were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall announced deal size of ~US$4bn.
The average premium for the new deals announced (or first discussed) in October was 65%. The average YTD is 37% (85 deals).
This compares to the average premium for all deals in 2022 (106 deals), 2021 (165 deals), 2020 (158 deals), and 2019 (145 deals) of 41%, 33%, 31%, and 31% respectively.


(Mostly) Asia M&A, Oct 2023: Haitong, Azure, Hollysys, Aeon, Teraoka, Tietto, Lithium Power

<ul>
<li>When lithium mining play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a> was halted this week "regarding a potential change of control transaction", <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sociedad-quimica-y-minera-de-c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24555:1" rel="noopener">Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM/B CI)</a> was the obvious suitor.</li>
<li>This was confirmed this morning with a A$3.52/share Offer, a 44.3% premium to undisturbed, by way of a Scheme. A concurrent conditional off-market takeover at A$3.50/share is also present. </li>
<li>$3.50 is locked in, no matter what. Gina may take her stake up to 19.9%, but it won't affect the A$3.50 floor. But it may kickstart a competitive bidding situation. </li>
</ul>


When lithium mining play Azure Minerals (AZS AU) was halted this week "regarding a potential change of control transaction", Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM/B CI) was the obvious suitor.
This was confirmed this morning with a A$3.52/share Offer, a 44.3% premium to undisturbed, by way of a Scheme. A concurrent conditional off-market takeover at A$3.50/share is also present. 
$3.50 is locked in, no matter what. Gina may take her stake up to 19.9%, but it won't affect the A$3.50 floor. But it may kickstart a competitive bidding situation. 


Gina Can't "Liontown" SQM's Bid For Azure

<ul>
<li>Lithium mining play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/azure-minerals-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16538:1" rel="noopener">Azure Minerals (AZS AU)</a> went into a <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02728538-6A1175570?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trading halt</a> Monday (23 October) "regarding a potential change of control transaction". That halt has been extended to <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02729716-6A1176088?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friday morning</a>. </li>
<li>The obvious suitor is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sociedad-quimica-y-minera-de-c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24555:1" rel="noopener">Sociedad Quimica y Minera de C (SQM/B CI)</a> with 19.9%, who approached Azure with a $2.31/share Offer in August but was <a href="https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02697432-6A1163203?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a>.</li>
<li>Mark Creasy, a major shareholder in Azure and also a direct stakeholder in Azure's flagship mine, is the key. Should a firm Offer unfold, expect a chunky premium. </li>
</ul>


Lithium mining play Azure Minerals (AZS AU) went into a trading halt Monday (23 October) "regarding a potential change of control transaction". That halt has been extended to Friday morning. 
The obvious suitor is Sociedad Quimica y Minera de C (SQM/B CI) with 19.9%, who approached Azure with a $2.31/share Offer in August but was rejected.
Mark Creasy, a major shareholder in Azure and also a direct stakeholder in Azure's flagship mine, is the key. Should a firm Offer unfold, expect a chunky premium. 


Australia

Essential Metals Limited operates as an active exploration and development company. The Company focuses on discovering and producing metals essential such as gold, lithium, caesium, and nickel. Essential Metals serves clients in Australia.

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Essential Metals (ESS AU)

Gina Joins SQM In Bid For Azure (AZS AU)

This is done. Trading super tight at A$3.68/share as I type. If in, stay in. Alternatively get involved on any material pull-back.

David Blennerhassett

Atlantic Lithium (A11 AU) Knocks Back Major Shareholder's Offer. Again

If small, illiquid M&A plays are your thing, I'd probably be picking up shares here. I think Assore will bump. Or second-largest shareholder...

David Blennerhassett

(Mostly) Asia M&A, Oct 2023: Haitong, Azure, Hollysys, Aeon, Teraoka, Tietto, Lithium Power

For the month of October, 7 new deals were discussed on Smartkarma with an overall deal size of ~US$4bn. The average premium for the new deals...

David Blennerhassett

Gina Can't "Liontown" SQM's Bid For Azure

The two-pronged approach sets a clean floor going forward at a minimum A$3.50/share. Trading tight at A$3.49/share. If you think this transaction...

David Blennerhassett

Azure (AZS AU): SQM The Likely Suitor

Mark Creasy, a major shreholder in Azure and also a direct stakeholder in Azure's flaship mine, is the key. Should a firm Offer unfold, expect a...

David Blennerhassett

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