L'ensemble devient le numéro 5 mondial du Lithium
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-Gene ... mpany.htmlLithium Mega-Merger Creates New $3 Billion Company
By MINING.com - Apr 19, 2021
Australian lithium miners Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY) and Orocobre (ASX:ORE) have agreed to a merger that would create a $3.1 billion (A$4bn) company, set to be the world’s fifth largest producer of lithium chemicals, the refined form of the raw material used to make electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
The business combination, the biggest mining sector deal of the year so far, will unlock significant synergies for the new company, the miners said.
“The logic of this merger is compelling,” Orocobre chairman, Robert Hubbard, who becomes deputy chairman of the yet to be formally named new company, said in the media statement.
Orocobre produces lithium carbonate at its Olaroz operation in Argentina, while Galaxy has a mine in Australia and growth projects in Canada and South America.
The deal values Galaxy at about A$3.53 a share, a 2.2% discount to Friday’s close, and has the backing of both company boards.
Orocobre will offer 0.569 of its shares for every Galaxy share and will own 54.2% of the merged company, with Galaxy holding 45.8%. Orocobre was advised on the deal by UBS, while Galaxy’s adviser was Standard Chartered.
“The merger consolidates the combined group’s position in Argentina and will give us significant operational, technical and financial flexibility to deliver the full value of our combined portfolio,” Martín Pérez de Solay, current chief executive officer and managing director of Orocobre, said.
“From Galaxy’s perspective, we were looking for a partner which had deep in-country Argentinian experience and we’ve got that in Orocobre,” said Simon Hay, Galaxy’s CEO, who will take on the role of president of international business at the new company.
The only lithium chemical firms that would have a bigger market capitalization than the merged Orocobre and Galaxy are China’s Ganfeng Lithium, Albemarle, SQM and Tianqi. The next biggest companies are Australia’s Pilbara Minerals, US firm Livent and Canada’s Lithium Americas.
Galaxy Resources and Orocobre both have lithium projects in Argentina. (From companies’ presentation.)
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