Daily Brief Australia: Nitro Software Ltd, Lithium Power International and more

• Nitro Software Ltd (NTO AU) has finally granted Potentia due diligence access until 22 February. Subject to satisfactory due diligence, Potentia could increase its offer from A$2.00 to A$2.20-2.30 per share.
• Alludo’s A$2.15 off-market takeover offer is its best and final offer. Alludo’s offer is subject to a 50.1% minimum acceptance condition (currently at 12.53%) and closes on 3 March.
• Potentia’s dogged pursuit despite the Board’s stonewalling suggests a desire to get a deal done. At the last close, the gross spread to Potentia’s potential offer is 2.3% to 7.0%.

We have raised our near-term lithium price expectations to reflect the current supply/demand cycle and upgraded our long-run (post 2031) price forecasts (from US$17,000/t to US$22,500/t LCE) to reflect lithium’s high demand growth and highly concentrated supply fundamentals. On the back of this, our valuation of Lithium Power International (LPI) has increased from A$1.24/share to A$1.42/share assuming the full project equity dilution. We have also updated our model to reflect 100% consolidation of the Maricunga project as well as LPI’s (now somewhat more dilutive) lower share price.