Talison Lithium Limited ("Talison" or the "Company") (TSX:TLH)
announces that it has today concluded its discussions with
Windfield Holdings Pty Ltd, an Australian incorporated wholly-owned
subsidiary of Chengdu Tianqi Industry (Group) Co., Ltd (together
"Tianqi") and reached agreement under which it is proposed that
Tianqi will acquire the balance of the ordinary shares that it does
not already own and options in Talison by way of schemes of
arrangement for a cash consideration of C$7.50(1) ("Tianqi
Schemes").
Highlights
-- The Tianqi Schemes constitute a superior proposal(2);
-- C$7.50 cash offer for each Share
-- US$25 million cash deposit paid by Tianqi in an Australian bank as a
reverse break fee
-- Minimal conditions
-- Talison Directors unanimously recommend Tianqi Schemes, in the absence
of a superior proposal
-- Talison and Tianqi have entered into a Scheme Implementation Agreement
("Tianqi SIA") with minimal conditions, subject to Rockwood's 5 business
day matching right
-- Rockwood has a 5 business day right to match, although Talison notes
that on November 20, 2012, Rockwood made a "best and final offer"
statement which, under Australian policy, is expected to limit
Rockwood's ability to increase its offer
-- If the Rockwood SIA terminates, Talison expects to pay Rockwood a C$7
million break fee
Tianqi Proposal
Background
On November 19, 2012, Talison received a non-binding,
conditional proposal from Tianqi to acquire all of the Shares of
Talison which it did not already own for C$7.15 per Share via a
scheme of arrangement.
On November 21, 2012, the Talison Directors determined that to
meet their fiduciary duties Talison would engage with Tianqi and
its advisers to determine if the Tianqi proposal represented a
superior proposal (as defined in the Rockwood Proposal).
On November 23, 2012, Tianqi received notification from the
Australian Foreign Investment Board (FIRB) that it has no
objections to Tianqi's proposed acquisition of Talison. Following
receipt of this notification Tianqi would own 19.99% of Talison's
issued share capital.
At the conclusion of negotiations between Talison and Tianqi an
offer price of C$7.50 per Share was agreed. This values the equity
of Talison at approximately C$848 million on a fully diluted
basis.
Recommendation
The Talison Directors have now considered the Tianqi Scheme and
determined that it represents a superior proposal (as defined in
the Rockwood Proposal). The Talison Directors therefore unanimously
recommend that Securityholders vote in favour of the Tianqi
Schemes, in the absence of a Superior Proposal (as defined in the
Tianqi SIA) and subject to an Independent Expert concluding that
the Tianqi Schemes are in the best interests of Securityholders.
Each of the Talison Directors intends to vote the Shares and
Options held or controlled by them as at the registered holder
record date in favour of the Tianqi Schemes.
The cash consideration of C$7.50 per Share offered under the
Tianqi Scheme represents:
-- A 15% premium to the consideration under the Rockwood Proposal of
C$6.50; and
-- A 77% premium to Talison's last closing price of C$4.24 on August 22,
2012, the day prior to the announcement of the Rockwood Proposal.
Resource Capital Fund IV L.P. and Resource Capital Fund V L.P.
(collectively, the "RCF Funds") have each confirmed to Talison
that, in the absence of an offer which the RCF Funds determine is
superior, each of the RCF Funds intend to vote in favour of the
Tianqi Share Scheme in respect of the Talison Shares held by them
at the relevant time.
Peter Robinson, Chairman of the Board of Talison, said, "Talison
is pleased to have reached agreement with Tianqi at the increased
price of C$7.50 per Share under the Tianqi Schemes. This price
represents an attractive premium for Securityholders relative to
the price under the Rockwood Proposal and reflects positively on
Talison's position in the global lithium market. We look forward to
a successfully implementing the transaction with Tianqi."
As a sign of its commitment to implementing the Tianqi Schemes
without delay, Tianqi has prepaid a US$25 million reverse break fee
into a trust account with an Australian bank. These funds will be
paid to Talison if Tianqi fails to obtain financing or fails to
deliver payment to Securityholders as required under the Tianqi
Schemes. If Tianqi otherwise materially breaches an obligation
under the Tianqi SIA, Tianqi is liable to pay a C$8.4 million break
fee.
Talison is liable to pay a C$8.4 million break fee in certain
circumstances. Talison is not liable to pay the break fee by reason
only of the Tianqi Schemes not being approved by Securityholders or
by the Australian Courts, nor in the event that Talison Directors
withdraw their recommendation for the Tianqi Schemes as a result of
the Independent Expert concluding that the Tianqi Schemes are not
in the best interests of Talison Securityholders.
Any payment of a break fee by either party will be in full and
final satisfaction of all claims to which the party paying the
break fee may be subject.
The Tianqi Group is Talison's largest customer and one of the
largest producers of lithium chemicals in China.
Details and Timetable
The completion of the Tianqi Schemes is subject to minimal
conditions including:
-- Requisite approvals from the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission and the Australian Court;
-- Approval of the requisite majorities of Talison Securityholders at
meetings of Securityholders;
-- No Material Adverse Change (as defined in the Tianqi SIA) occurring in
respect of Talison; and
-- No Prescribed Occurrence (as defined in the Tianqi SIA) occurring in
relation to Talison.
Further due diligence is not a condition to completion of the
Tianqi Schemes.
Pursuant to Australian and Canadian securities law, at the
meeting of Shareholders to consider the Tianqi Share Scheme, Shares
held by Tianqi will not be considered for the purposes of
determining the requisite majority.
The Tianqi SIA contains terms typical for a transaction of this
nature for an Australian incorporated company, including "no shop"
and "no talk" provisions (subject to typical directors' fiduciary
duty exemptions), notification and matching rights.
Implementation of the Tianqi Schemes will also be subject to the
terms and conditions set out in the Tianqi Schemes documentation
when issued.
Further details are included in the executed Tianqi SIA which is
available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Talison website
www.talisonlithium.com.
Talison expects that the approval of the Tianqi Schemes will be
put to Securityholders at meetings to be held in late February
2013, and that the Tianqi Schemes will be completed shortly
thereafter.
Further details of the meetings, including record dates and
proxy deadlines will be included in booklets that will be mailed to
Securityholders. The booklets will contain, among other things,
further information about the Tianqi Schemes, a copy of the
Independent Expert's report and related Securityholder meeting
materials.
Assuming the Rockwood SIA is terminated, arrangements will be
made for the formal dissolution of the Rockwood proposal.
Advisors
Macquarie Capital is acting as financial advisor to Talison.
Clayton Utz and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP are acting as
legal advisors to Talison.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this press release, including
any information as to Talison's mineral reserve and mineral
resource estimates, strategy, projects, plans, prospects, future
outlook, anticipated events or results or future financial or
operating performance, may constitute "forward-looking information"
within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, constitute
forward-looking information. Forward-looking information can often,
but not always, be identified by the use of words such as "plans",
"expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "predicts", "potential",
"continue" or "believes", or variations (including negative
variations) of such words, or statements that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might",
"potential to", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or other
similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical
facts. The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the
reader with information about management's expectations and plans.
Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance. All forward-looking statements
made or incorporated in this press release are qualified by these
cautionary statements.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of
factors, estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by Talison, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.
Such factors, estimates and assumptions include, but are not
limited to: anticipated financial and operating performance of
Talison, its subsidiaries and their respective projects; Talison's
market position; future prices of lithium or lithium concentrates;
estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources; realization
of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; timing, amount
and costs of estimated future production; grade, quality and
content of concentrate produced; sale of production; capital,
operating and exploration expenditures; costs and timing of the
expansion of the Greenbushes Lithium Operations; exploration and
development of the Salares 7 lithium project; costs and timing of
future exploration; requirements for additional capital; government
regulation of exploration, development and mining operations;
environmental risks; reclamation and rehabilitation expenses; title
disputes or claims; absence of significant risks relating to
Talison's mining operations; the costs of Talison's hedging policy;
sales risks related to China; currency; interest rates, and
limitations of insurance coverage. While Talison considers these
factors, estimates and assumptions to be reasonable based on
information currently available to it, they may prove to be
incorrect and actual results may vary.
Readers are cautioned that forward-looking information involves
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Talison
and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking information. Such risk factors include, among
others, those described in the unaudited condensed consolidated
interim financial statements of Talison as at September 30, 2012
and for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and under the
heading "Risk Factors" in the annual information form of Talison
for the year ended June 30, 2012 dated September 26, 2012, each of
which can be found on Talison's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
While Talison considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on
information currently available to it, they may prove to be
incorrect and actual results may vary.
Although Talison has attempted to identify statements containing
important factors that could cause actual actions, event or results
to differ materially from those described in forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events
or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.
Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date
of this press release based on the opinions and estimates of
management on the date statements containing such forward-looking
information are made. Except as required by law, Talison disclaims
any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether
as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future
events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
(1) The Tianqi Schemes propose that Tianqi will acquire the
balance of the ordinary shares in the capital of Talison ("Shares")
that it does not already own through a scheme of arrangement for
cash consideration of C$7.50 and 100% of the options to acquire
Shares ("Options") through an option scheme of arrangement for cash
consideration of C$7.50 per Option less the exercise price for that
Option.
(2) Superior proposal as is defined in the scheme implementation
agreement for the proposed schemes of arrangement between Talison
and its Shareholders and Optionholders ("Securityholders") that
would result in all Talison Securities being acquired by a wholly
owned subsidiary of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., ("Rockwood"), as
announced on August 23, 2012 (the "Rockwood Proposal").
Contacts: Talison Lithium Frank Wheatley Executive Director +1
(604) 985 0528 www.talisonlithium.com Macquarie Capital Michael
Ashforth Executive Director +61 (8) 9224 0644 Macquarie Capital
David Cobbold Managing Director +1 (416) 848 3654