RedBridge Grant Samuel

RedBridge Grant Samuel is an independent advisory house specialising in the Asia-Pacific time zone with more than 50 corporate finance executives.

Experience

The RedBridge Grant Samuel Partners each have more than 20 years of experience focused on Mergers and Acquisitions in Australia, particularly involving offshore buyers. Nobody is more knowledgeable about the nuances of regulatory and market practice and views of Government and shareholders that impact successful transactions.

Commitment & Independence

RedBridge Grant Samuel only does acquisition work on complex and important transactions. There are no distractions or conflicts as come in large banks who have trading and other businesses.

Track Record

RedBridge Grant Samuel advised on three of the most significant completed takeover transactions in Australia over the last twelve months – the A$5 billion merger of Whitehaven Coal and Aston Resources, the acquisition of Talison Lithium by Chengdu Tianqi and the acquisitions of oOh! Media and EYE Corp by CHAMP Private Equity.

Unique Relationships

Andrew Low (CEO) is a member of the Takeovers Panel in Australia that reviews and regulates contentious issues around corporate control transactions. He and the other partners have a deep network at all levels of Government and financial markets in Australia.

What Differentiates Us?

View RedBridge Grant Sammuel's other executives and advisory board.

Selected M&A Transaction Experience

View more comprehensive detail on RedBridge Grant Sammuel's past experience.

Case Study: Tianqi Group’s Acquisition of Talison Lithium

Transaction Background

• Talison Lithium is the world’s largest lithium producer with ~30% market share. It is an Australian incorporated company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Talison’s main asset is the Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia
• Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group Co. Ltd is a leading Chinese producer of lithium carbonate and other lithium products. It sources its raw materials from Talison, and is Talison’s largest customer, accounting for close to 40% of Talison’s sales
• On Aug 23, 2012, American chemical conglomerate Rockwood Holdings offered to acquire Talison at CAD 6.50/share under a friendly scheme of arrangement
• Tianqi, concerned about Rockwood’s intentions should they acquire Talison, engaged RedBridge Grant Samuel to advise them on putting forward a competing proposal for Talison
  • RedBridge Grant Samuel advised Tianqi in acquiring a 19.99% ‘blocking stake’ in Talison (effectively given Tianqi the ability to vote down the Rockwood scheme)
  • At the same time, RedBridge and Tianqi worked on securing all the necessary Chinese regulatory approvals required for Tianqi to make a competing proposal
• On Nov 19, 2012, Tianqi formally announced a proposal to acquire 100% of Talison under a scheme of arrangement
  • This was priced at a 10% premium to Rockwood’s offer
  • Rockwood then announced that CAD 6.50/share was their “best and final” offer
  • Tianqi also received FIRB approval to acquire Talison: this completed all the required Chinese and Australian regulatory approvals
• On Dec 6, 2012, Tianqi and Talison entered into a recommended scheme of arrangement with the full support of Talison’s board and the major shareholder, Resource Capital Funds
  • Talison and Rockwood subsequently terminated their Scheme Implementation Agreement

Transaction Highlights