
| | /s/ Paul W. Graves | | | /s/ Pierre Brondeau | |
| | Paul W. Graves | | | Pierre Brondeau | |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer | | | Chairman of the Board |
| | /s/ Paul W. Graves | | | /s/ Pierre Brondeau | |
| | Paul W. Graves | | | Pierre Brondeau | |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer | | | Chairman of the Board |
1. | Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal. To adopt the Transaction Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2023, as amended by the Amendment to Transaction Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2023 and the Second Amendment to Transaction Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2023 (and as may be further amended from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”), by and among Livent Corporation (“Livent”), Allkem Limited, an Australian public company limited by shares (“Allkem”), Arcadium Lithium plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey (originally incorporated as Lightning-A Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey and f/k/a Allkem Livent plc) (“NewCo”) and Lightning-A Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware company (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, among other transactions, Merger Sub will merge with and into Livent, with Livent surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo (the “merger”), and each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Livent (the “Livent Shares”), other than certain excluded shares, will be converted into the right to receive 2.406 ordinary shares, par value $1.00 per share, of NewCo (the “NewCo Shares”), and approve the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, including the merger (the “Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal”). |
2. | Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal. To approve, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the compensation that may be paid or become payable to Livent’s named executive officers in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement (the “Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal”). |
3. | NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals. To approve, in non-binding, advisory votes, certain provisions of the articles of association of NewCo (the “NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals”). |
4. | Livent Adjournment Proposal. To approve one or more adjournments of the Livent Special Meeting to a later date or dates for any purpose if necessary or appropriate, including if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to adopt the Transaction Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, at the time of the Livent Special Meeting (the “Livent Adjournment Proposal”). |
| | | | BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, | ||
| | | | |||
| | | | /s/ Sara Ponessa | ||
Dated: | | | November 20, 2023 | | | Sara Ponessa |
| | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | | | Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
• | “Allkem” refers to Allkem Limited, an Australian public company limited by shares; |
• | “Allkem Board” refers to the board of directors of Allkem; |
• | “Allkem Shareholder Approval” refers to the approval of the scheme at the scheme meeting by the Allkem shareholders in accordance with the Australian Corporations Act by (i) a majority in number of Allkem shareholders that are present and voting at the scheme meeting (either in person or by proxy or by corporate representative) and (ii) 75% or more of the votes cast on the resolution; and in the case of (i), such other threshold as approved by the Court; |
• | “Allkem Shares” refers to the ordinary shares of Allkem; |
• | “Antitrust Division” refers to the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; |
• | “ASIC” refers to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; |
• | “ASX” refers to the ASX Limited (ABN 98 008 624 691) and where the context requires, the securities exchange that it operates; |
• | “ATO” refers to the Australian Taxation Office; |
• | “ATO Class Ruling” refers to a class ruling from the ATO in relation to rollover relief for Allkem shareholders who are Australian tax residents who are receiving the scheme consideration in connection with the scheme; |
• | “Australian Accounting Standards” refers to the Australian Accounting Standards, consistently applied; |
• | “Australian Corporations Act” refers to the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth); |
• | “butyllithium” refers to an organolithium compound which is used to initiate polymerization in the manufacturing of synthetic rubber and other polymers and as a chemical reagent in the synthesis of certain organic compounds; |
• | “Cauchari” refers to Allkem’s Cauchari lithium brine project in Jujuy Province, Argentina; |
• | “CDIs” refers to NewCo CHESS Depositary Instruments, each representing a beneficial ownership interest (but not legal title) in one NewCo Share; |
• | “CHESS” refers to the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System; |
• | “closing” refers to the closing of the transaction; |
• | “Code” refers to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
• | “Competing Proposal” refers to, in the case of Livent and Allkem, as applicable, any inquiry, contract, proposal, offer or indication of interest from any third party relating to any transaction or series of related transactions (other than transactions only with the other of Allkem or Livent, respectively, or any of such other party’s subsidiaries) involving, directly or indirectly: (a) any acquisition (by asset purchase, equity purchase, merger, scheme of arrangement (solely in the case of Allkem) or otherwise) by any person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of any business or assets of such party or any of its subsidiaries (including capital stock of or ownership interest in any subsidiary) that constitute 20% or more of such party’s and its subsidiaries’ consolidated assets (by fair market value), or generated 20% or more of such party’s and its subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings for the preceding 12 months, or any license, lease or long-term supply agreement having a similar economic effect, (b) any acquisition of beneficial ownership by any person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of the outstanding Livent Shares or Allkem Shares, respectively, or any other securities entitled to vote on the election of directors or any tender or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding Livent Shares or Allkem Shares, respectively, entitled to vote on the election of directors or (c) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, scheme of arrangement (solely in the case of Allkem), recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar |
• | “Court” refers to the Federal Court of Australia (Western Australian registry), or such other court of competent jurisdiction under the Australian Corporations Act as may be agreed to in writing by Livent and Allkem; |
• | “deed poll” refers to the deed poll under which NewCo covenants in favor of the Allkem shareholders to perform the obligations attributed to NewCo under the scheme provided for under the Transaction Agreement; |
• | “DGCL” refers to the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended; |
• | “effective time” refers to the effective time of the merger; |
• | “end date” refers to February 10, 2024 (subject to extension by either party until May 10, 2024 in order to obtain required antitrust, investment screening or other regulatory approvals); |
• | “Exchange Act” refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; |
• | “First Court Hearing” refers to the hearing of the Court pursuant to Section 411(4)(a) of the Australian Corporations Act to consider and, if thought fit, approve the mailing of the scheme booklet (with or without amendment) and convene the scheme meeting; |
• | “fiscal year 2023” refers, when used with respect to Livent, to Livent’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 and, when used with respect to Allkem, to Allkem’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2023; |
• | “fiscal year 2024” refers, when used with respect to Livent, to Livent’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 and, when used with respect to Allkem, to Allkem’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2024; |
• | “FTC” refers to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission; |
• | “GAAP” refers to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied; |
• | “HSR Act” refers to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; |
• | “IER” refers to a report, including any update or supplementary report, of the Independent Expert setting out whether or not the scheme is in the best interests of the Allkem shareholders; |
• | “IFRS” refers to the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied; |
• | “Independent Expert” refers to the independent expert appointed by Allkem to prepare the IER, which is Kroll Australia Pty Ltd; |
• | “Intervening Event” refers to, in the case of Livent and Allkem, as applicable, an effect that is material to such party that occurs or arises after the date of the Transaction Agreement that was not known to or reasonably foreseeable by such party’s board of directors as of the date of the Transaction Agreement (or, if known or reasonably foreseeable, the magnitude or material consequences of which were not known or reasonably foreseeable by such party’s board of directors as of the date of the Transaction Agreement); provided, however, that in no event shall the following constitute an Intervening Event: (a) the receipt, existence or terms of an actual or possible Competing Proposal or Superior Proposal of such party, (b) any change, in and of itself, in the price or trading volume of Livent Shares or Allkem Shares, respectively (it being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such change may be taken into account in determining whether there has been an Intervening Event, to the extent otherwise permitted by this definition), (c) any effect relating to such party or any of its subsidiaries that does not amount to a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, (d) conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the lithium mining and chemicals industry (including changes in general market prices for lithium chemicals, lithium spodumene concentrate and related products (including pricing under futures contracts) and political or regulatory changes affecting the industry or any changes in applicable law), (e) any opportunity to acquire (by merger, joint venture, partnership, consolidation, scheme of arrangement (solely |
• | “Irish IntermediateCo” refers to an Irish private company limited by shares that will be formed in connection with the transaction; |
• | “IRS” refers to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service; |
• | “James Bay” refers to Allkem’s James Bay lithium spodumene project in Québec, Canada; |
• | “Jersey Companies Law” refers to the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991; |
• | “Jersey law” refers to the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey; |
• | “kMT” refers to a thousand metric tons; |
• | “LCE” refers to lithium carbonate equivalent; |
• | “lithium carbonate” refers to an inorganic compound, derived mainly from lithium brine reservoirs or spodumene-bearing ores; |
• | “lithium hydroxide” refers to an inorganic compound, derived mainly from spodumene-bearing ores or lithium carbonate, that is used mainly in lithium-ion batteries for energy storage applications; |
• | “Livent” refers to Livent Corporation, a Delaware corporation; |
• | “Livent Adjournment Proposal” refers to the proposal to approve one or more adjournments of the Livent Special Meeting to a later date or dates for any purpose if necessary or appropriate, including if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to adopt the Transaction Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, at the time of the Livent Special Meeting; |
• | “Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal” refers to the proposal to approve, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the compensation that may be paid or become payable to Livent’s named executive officers in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement; |
• | “Livent Board” refers to the board of directors of Livent; |
• | “Livent Director RSUs” refers to any outstanding time-vested restricted stock unit held by any Livent non-employee directors; |
• | “Livent Option” refers to any outstanding time-vested stock option with respect to Livent Shares; |
• | “Livent Proposals” refers to, collectively, the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal, the Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal, the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals and the Livent Adjournment Proposal; |
• | “Livent PSUs” refers to the outstanding performance-based restricted stock units of Livent; |
• | “Livent RSUs” refers to the outstanding time-vested restricted stock units of Livent; |
• | “Livent Shares” refers to the shares of common stock of Livent, par value $0.001 per share; |
• | “Livent Special Meeting” refers to the special meeting of Livent stockholders described in this proxy statement/prospectus; |
• | “Livent Stockholder Approval” refers to the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Livent Shares entitled to vote on the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal, including the adoption of the Transaction Agreement and approval of the transactions contemplated thereby, at the Livent Special Meeting in favor of such adoption and approval, respectively; |
• | “Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal” refers to the proposal to adopt the Transaction Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger; |
• | “merger” refers to the merger of Merger Sub with and into Livent, with Livent as the surviving company, as part of the transaction; |
• | “merger consideration” refers to the right to receive, with respect to each Livent Share (other than certain excluded shares), 2.406 NewCo Shares in the merger; |
• | “Merger Exchange Ratio” refers to 2.406 NewCo Shares for each Livent Share; |
• | “Merger Sub” refers to Lightning-A Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation; |
• | “Mt Cattlin” refers to Allkem’s Mt Cattlin spodumene operation or project in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia; |
• | “Naraha” refers to the lithium hydroxide plant in Naraha, Japan of which Allkem owns a 75% economic interest; |
• | “NewCo” refers to Arcadium Lithium plc, a public limited company incorporated under the Laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey (originally incorporated as Lightning-A Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey and f/k/a Allkem Livent plc); |
• | “NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals” refers to, collectively, the proposals to approve, in non-binding, advisory votes, certain provisions of the NewCo articles of association; |
• | “NewCo articles of association” refers to the amended and restated articles of association of NewCo, which will become effective immediately prior to the scheme effectiveness, substantially in the applicable form attached as Annex B; |
• | “NewCo memorandum of association” refers to the amended and restated memorandum of association of NewCo, which will become effective immediately prior to the scheme effectiveness, substantially in the applicable form attached as Annex B; |
• | “NewCo Organizational Documents” refers to the NewCo articles of association and the NewCo memorandum of association; |
• | “NewCo Parties” refers to NewCo, Merger Sub and, following the execution of a joinder agreement to the Transaction Agreement, Irish IntermediateCo; |
• | “NewCo Shares” refers to ordinary shares, par value $1.00 per share, of NewCo; |
• | “NYSE” refers to the New York Stock Exchange; |
• | “Olaroz” refers to the Olaroz lithium facility in Jujuy Province, Argentina of which Allkem owns a 66.5% equity interest; |
• | “pegmatite,” which includes the mineral spodumene, refers to naturally occurring igneous, or magmatic, rock formations that typically have a coarse grained texture and are mined for rare earth commodities; |
• | “Sal de Vida” refers to Allkem’s Sal de Vida lithium brine project or operation in Catamarca Province, Argentina; |
• | “sanction date” refers to the first day on which the Court hears the application for an order under section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Corporations Act approving the scheme or, if the application is adjourned or subject to appeal for any reason, the first day on which the adjourned or appealed application is heard; |
• | “Sarbanes-Oxley Act” refers to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; |
• | “scheme” refers to the scheme of arrangement provided for under the Transaction Agreement; |
• | “scheme booklet” refers to a document prepared by Allkem in relation to the scheme explaining the effect of the scheme and setting out certain prescribed information including notice of the scheme meeting; |
• | “scheme consideration” refers to the right to receive, with respect to each Allkem Share, one CDI or, in certain cases, one NewCo Share, in the scheme; |
• | “scheme effectiveness” refers to the scheme becoming effective under the Australian Corporations Act, which will occur on the date on which the Court order approving the scheme is filed with ASIC; |
• | “Scheme Exchange Ratio” refers to one NewCo Share or CDI for each Allkem Share; |
• | “scheme implementation” refers to the issue of the scheme consideration (comprising NewCo Shares and CDIs) to former Allkem shareholders followed by the transfer of all of the Allkem Shares to NewCo, each in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme; |
• | “scheme meeting” refers to the meeting of Allkem shareholders (and any adjournment thereof) ordered by the Court to be convened under subsection 411(1) of the Australian Corporations Act to consider and vote on the scheme; |
• | “Scheme Record Date” refers to 7:00 pm (Sydney time) on the second ASX trading day after scheme effectiveness, or such other date and time as may be agreed to in writing by Allkem and Livent; |
• | “SEC” refers to the Securities and Exchange Commission; |
• | “Second Court Hearing” refers to the hearing of the Court pursuant to Section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Corporations Act to approve the scheme; |
• | “Securities Act” refers to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
• | “spodumene” or “lithium bearing spodumene” refers to a naturally occurring lithium bearing ore, derived mainly from mining of lithium-bearing pegmatite formations. Spodumene is typically used in concentrated form as feedstock for lithium carbonate or hydroxide production, and valued based on its lithium content among other factors; |
• | “Superior Proposal” refers to, in case of Livent or Allkem, as applicable, a bona fide written proposal that is not solicited after the date of the Transaction Agreement in breach of the Transaction Agreement and is made after the date of the Transaction Agreement by any person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than the other party or any of its affiliates) to acquire, directly or indirectly, (a) businesses or assets of Livent or Allkem, respectively, or any of their subsidiaries, as applicable (including capital stock of or ownership interest in any subsidiary) that account for all or substantially all of the fair market value of such party and its subsidiaries’ assets or that generated all or substantially all of such party and its subsidiaries’ net revenue or earnings for the preceding 12 months, respectively, or (b) all or substantially all of the outstanding Livent Shares or Allkem Shares, respectively, in each case whether by way of merger, amalgamation, scheme of arrangement (solely in the case of Allkem), share exchange, tender offer, exchange offer, recapitalization, consolidation, sale of equity or assets or otherwise, that in the good-faith determination of such party’s board of directors, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors, if consummated, would result in a transaction more favorable to such party’s stockholders than the transaction (after taking into account the time likely to be required to consummate such proposal, the sources, availability and terms of any financing, financing market conditions and the existence of a financing contingency, the likelihood of termination, the timing or certainty of closing, the identity of the person or persons making the proposal and any adjustments or revisions to the terms of the Transaction Agreement offered by the other party in response to such proposal or otherwise), after considering all factors such party’s board of directors deems relevant; |
• | “tantalum” refers to tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) and tantalum pentoxide bearing ore; |
• | “transaction” refers to the collective transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, including the merger and the scheme; |
• | “Transaction Agreement” refers to the Transaction Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2023, as amended by the Amendment to Transaction Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2023 and the Second Amendment to Transaction Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2023, and as may be further amended from time to time, among Livent, Allkem, NewCo and Merger Sub; |
• | “transaction consideration” refers to the merger consideration and the scheme consideration, collectively; |
• | “Treasury Regulations” refers to the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code; |
• | “TSX” refers to the Toronto Stock Exchange; |
• | “U.K.” refers to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and |
• | “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. |
Q: | Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus and proxy card? |
Q: | How does the Livent Board recommend that I vote at the Livent Special Meeting? |
A: | The Livent Board unanimously recommends that Livent stockholders vote “FOR” the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal, “FOR” the Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal, “FOR” the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals and “FOR” the Livent Adjournment Proposal. See the section entitled “The Transaction—Recommendation of the Livent Board; Livent’s Reasons for the Transaction” beginning on page 98 of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What is the vote required to approve each proposal at the Livent Special Meeting? |
A: | Approval of the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Livent Shares entitled to vote on the proposal. Because the affirmative vote required to approve the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal is based upon the total number of outstanding Livent Shares, if you fail to submit a proxy or vote virtually at the Livent Special Meeting, you abstain or you do not provide your bank, broker or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal. |
Q: | Does my vote matter? |
A: | Yes. The transaction cannot be completed unless the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal is approved by the Livent stockholders. For Livent stockholders, if you fail to submit a proxy or vote virtually at the Livent Special Meeting, or vote to abstain, or you do not provide your bank, broker or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal. |
Q: | What will I receive if the transaction is completed? |
A: | If the transaction is completed, each outstanding Livent Share (other than Livent Shares held as treasury stock by Livent or Livent Shares held by any of its subsidiaries) will be converted into the right to receive 2.406 NewCo Shares. The issuance of the NewCo Shares to holders of Livent Shares will be registered with the SEC and the NewCo Shares are expected to be listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “ALTM.” See the section entitled “The Transaction Agreement—Merger Consideration” beginning on page 146 of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What equity stakes will former Livent stockholders and former Allkem shareholders hold in NewCo? |
A: | Under the Transaction Agreement and based on the Merger Exchange Ratio of Livent Shares for NewCo Shares, the Scheme Exchange Ratio of Allkem Shares for NewCo Shares or CDIs, and Allkem’s and Livent’s respective fully diluted shares as of the date of the Transaction Agreement, it is expected that Livent stockholders will own approximately 44%, and Allkem shareholders will own approximately 56%, respectively, of NewCo immediately following the effective time. |
Q: | What is the value of a NewCo Share? |
A: | Prior to the effective time, there has not been and will not be an established public trading market for NewCo Shares, and the market price of NewCo Shares will be unknown until the commencement of trading following the effective time. The NewCo Shares will reflect the combination of Livent and Allkem based upon the respective exchange ratios for Allkem Shares and Livent Shares, which, in the case of Allkem is one NewCo Share or one CDI for each Allkem Share, and in the case of Livent is 2.406 NewCo Shares for each Livent Share. The exchange ratios are fixed and will not fluctuate up or down based on the market price of Livent Shares, the market price of Allkem Shares or changes in currency exchange rates prior to the completion of the transaction. |
Q: | After the transaction, where can I trade my NewCo Shares? |
A: | At and as of the closing of the transaction, it is expected that the NewCo Shares will be listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “ALTM.” |
Q: | What will holders of Livent equity awards receive in the transaction? |
A: | Upon completion of the merger, outstanding Livent equity awards will be treated as follows: |
• | Livent RSUs. At the effective time, each Livent RSU will be assumed by NewCo and will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent RSU immediately prior to the effective time, except that the Livent Shares subject to such Livent RSUs will be converted into the right to receive, upon vesting, a number of NewCo Shares equal to the product of (A) the number of Livent Shares underlying such Livent RSUs immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) 2.406. Following such assumption, each assumed Livent RSU that is unvested and outstanding as of the date of signing of the Transaction Agreement will vest on a pro rata basis and, to the extent of such vesting, will be exchanged into the right to receive the merger consideration at the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter. |
• | Livent PSUs. At the effective time, each Livent PSU will fully vest, with the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent PSUs determined based on the achievement of the higher of target and actual performance. At the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter, each Livent PSU will be canceled in exchange for the right to receive the merger consideration. |
• | Livent Options. At the effective time, each Livent Option will be assumed by NewCo and will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent Option immediately prior to the effective time, except that (x) each such assumed Livent Option will be converted into a stock option to acquire a number of NewCo Shares equal to the product of (A) the number of Livent Shares underlying such assumed Livent Options immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) 2.406; and (y) the exercise price per NewCo Share will be equal to the product of (A) the original exercise price per Livent Share when such assumed Livent Option was granted, divided by (B) 2.406. |
• | Livent Director RSUs. Immediately prior to the effective time, any Livent Director RSUs will vest in full and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (A) the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent Director RSUs immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the higher of (i) the first available closing price of the merger consideration and (ii) the closing price per Livent Share as reported in the New York Stock Exchange, on the last trading day preceding the closing date. |
Q: | Do any of the Livent directors or executive officers have interests in the transaction that may differ from or be in addition to my interests as a Livent stockholder? |
A: | Livent’s directors and executive officers have certain interests in the transaction that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of Livent stockholders generally. These interests include, among other things: |
• | for Livent’s non-employee directors, the treatment of outstanding Livent Director RSUs, which will vest in full and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash. The estimated amount that would be realized by each of Livent’s eight non-employee directors in respect of his or her unvested outstanding Livent Director RSUs if the transaction were to be completed on November 30, 2023 is $127,535. Livent’s non-employee directors only hold Livent Director RSUs and do not hold any other types of equity incentive awards; |
• | for Livent’s executive officers, the treatment of outstanding equity awards described in the section entitled “The Transaction—Interests of Livent’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction—Treatment of Livent Equity Awards” beginning on page 149 of this proxy statement/prospectus; based on the assumptions described thereunder, the estimated aggregate value of accelerated equity awards that would be realized by each of Messrs. Paul W. Graves and Gilberto Antoniazzi and Ms. Sara Ponessa is $6,165,407, $1,607,455 and $1,171,701, respectively; for a detailed breakdown of each executive officer’s holding of the equity awards, please see the tabular disclosure under such section; |
• | for each of Livent’s executive officers, the entitlement to receive certain severance benefits under their individual executive severance agreements with Livent upon a termination of employment by Livent without “cause” or by such individual for “good reason,” in each case within the 24-month period following a “change in control” of Livent; the estimated aggregate value of severance benefits that would be provided to each of Messrs. Graves and Antoniazzi and Ms. Ponessa in connection with such a termination is $12,938,249, $5,200,467 and $3,133,436, respectively; |
• | for each of Mr. Antoniazzi and Ms. Ponessa, the entitlement to receive a cash retention bonus payment in the amount of $250,000 under a retention program established in connection with the transaction, as described in the section entitled “The Transaction—Interests of Livent’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction—Livent Retention Program” beginning on page 118 of this proxy statement/prospectus; |
• | for each of Livent’s executive officers, the entitlement to receive a transaction bonus upon the closing of the merger (subject to continued service through such event) of $500,000 for Mr. Graves and $200,000 for each of Mr. Antoniazzi and Ms. Ponessa, as described in the section entitled “The Transaction—Interests of Livent’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction—Livent Transaction Bonus Program” beginning on page 118 of this proxy statement/prospectus; and |
• | continued indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. |
Q: | Will my NewCo Shares acquired in the transaction receive a dividend? |
A: | Once you exchange your Livent Shares after the closing of the transaction, as a holder of NewCo Shares, you will receive the same dividends on NewCo Shares that all other holders of NewCo Shares or CDIs will receive with any dividend record date that occurs after the transaction is completed. Any dividend payments will be made at the discretion of the board of directors of NewCo and will depend upon many factors, including the |
Q: | Will dividends paid by NewCo be subject to tax withholding? |
A: | Dividend Withholding Tax (“DWT”) (which is currently 25%) must be deducted from dividends paid by an Irish tax resident company such as NewCo, unless a shareholder is entitled to an exemption and has submitted a properly completed exemption form to NewCo’s registrar, Computershare Investor Services (Jersey) Limited. |
Q: | What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the transaction to U.S. holders of Livent Shares? |
A: | In connection with the filing of the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (“Davis Polk”) has rendered to NewCo its opinion, dated October 30, 2023, to the effect that, based upon and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein and in the federal income tax opinion filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the assumption that market conditions between the date of such opinion and the effective time do not impact the relative valuation of Livent and Allkem for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-3(c) and Section 7874(a)(2)(B) of the Code), and representations from Livent, Allkem, and NewCo, (i) either (A) the merger will qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, or (B) the merger and the scheme, taken together, will qualify as an exchange described in Section 351(a) of the Code, (ii) the transfer of Livent Shares, other than certain excluded shares, by Livent stockholders pursuant to the merger (other than by any Livent stockholder who is a U.S. person and would be a “five-percent transferee shareholder” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(ii)) of NewCo following the merger that does not enter into a five year gain recognition agreement in the form provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8(c)) should qualify for an exception to Section 367(a)(1) of the Code (the tax treatment described in clauses (i) and (ii) together, the “Intended U.S. Shareholder Tax Treatment”) and (iii) the merger and scheme will not result in NewCo being treated as a “surrogate foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 7874(a)(2)(B) of the Code or a “domestic corporation” pursuant to Section 7874(b) of the Code (the tax treatment described in this clause (iii), the “Intended Section 7874 Tax Treatment”, and together with the Intended U.S. Shareholder Tax Treatment, the “Intended U.S. Tax Treatment”). |
Q: | When is the transaction expected to be completed? |
A: | Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions described under the section entitled “The Transaction Agreement—Conditions That Must Be Satisfied or Waived for the Transaction to Occur” beginning on page 167 of this proxy statement/prospectus, including the approval of the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal by Livent stockholders at the Livent Special Meeting, Livent and Allkem expect that the transaction will be completed by the end of calendar year 2023. However, it is possible that factors outside the control of one or both companies could result in the transaction being completed at a different time or not at all. |
Q: | Who will serve on the NewCo board of directors following the transaction? |
A: | Upon the closing of the transaction, the board of directors of NewCo will be comprised of 12 members. Under the Transaction Agreement, the composition of the NewCo board of directors will be as follows: |
• | six current Allkem directors (each of whom will be nominated by Allkem prior to the scheme effectiveness, and including Mr. Peter Coleman, the current Chairman of the Allkem Board); and |
• | six current Livent directors (each of whom will be nominated by Livent prior to the scheme effectiveness, and including Mr. Paul W. Graves, the current Chief Executive Officer of Livent). |
Q: | Where will NewCo be located, where will NewCo be domiciled and who will serve in senior leadership roles following the transaction? |
A: | Following the transaction, NewCo and its subsidiaries will maintain a critical presence in the same locations from which Livent and Allkem currently operate and NewCo’s headquarters will be in North America in a location mutually determined by Livent and Allkem prior to the scheme effectiveness. NewCo is incorporated in the Bailiwick of Jersey, and is a resident of Ireland for tax purposes and expects to continue to be an Irish tax resident following the transaction. Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, the current Chairman of the Allkem Board, Mr. Peter Coleman, will assume the role of Chair of NewCo after the transaction, and Livent’s current Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Paul W. Graves, and its current Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Gilberto Antoniazzi, will assume the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of NewCo after the transaction. Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, the other executive leadership of NewCo as of the effective time were contemplated to be mutually determined by Livent and Allkem prior to the scheme effectiveness and the parties have since made this determination, including that Livent’s current General Counsel, Ms. Sara Ponessa, will assume the role of General Counsel of NewCo, as well as determining the rest of the broader senior management team of NewCo as of the effective time, consisting of an approximately equal split of employees from each of Allkem and Livent. For additional information on NewCo’s directors and executive officers, see “Management and Corporate Governance of NewCo” beginning on page 289 of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | How will my rights as a holder of NewCo Shares following the transaction differ from my current rights as a holder of Livent Shares? |
A: | Pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, immediately prior to the closing of the transaction, NewCo’s articles of association will be amended to be in substantially the applicable form attached as Annex B to this proxy statement/prospectus. As a result, the rights of Livent stockholders who become shareholders of NewCo following the transaction will be governed by the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey and the NewCo Organizational Documents. For more information, see the section entitled “Comparison of the Rights of Holders of Livent Shares and NewCo Shares” beginning on page 269 of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | Who can vote at the Livent Special Meeting? |
A: | All holders of record of Livent Shares as of the close of business on November 14, 2023 (the “Merger Record Date”), the record date for the Livent Special Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Livent Special Meeting. Each holder of Livent Shares is entitled to cast one vote on each matter properly brought before the Livent Special Meeting for each Livent Share that such holder owned of record as of the Merger Record Date. |
Q: | When and where is the Livent Special Meeting? |
A: | The Livent Special Meeting of Livent stockholders will be a virtual meeting conducted exclusively via live webcast online starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time (with log-in beginning at 8:45 a.m. Eastern time) on December 19, 2023. Livent stockholders will be able to attend the Livent Special Meeting online only and vote shares electronically at the meeting by going to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/LTHM2023SM and entering the 16-digit control number included on the proxy card that Livent stockholders received. Because the Livent Special Meeting is completely virtual and being conducted via live webcast, Livent stockholders will not be able to attend the meeting in person. On or about November 20, 2023, Livent commenced mailing this proxy statement/prospectus and the enclosed form of proxy card to its stockholders entitled to vote at the Livent Special Meeting. For additional information about the Livent Special Meeting, see the section entitled “Information About the Livent Special Meeting” beginning on page 75 of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | Why am I being asked to consider and vote on a proposal to approve, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the compensation that may be paid or become payable to Livent’s named executive officers in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement? |
A: | Under SEC rules, Livent is required to seek a non-binding, advisory vote with respect to the compensation that may be paid or become payable to its named executive officers in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement. |
Q: | Why am I being asked to consider and vote on a proposal to approve, in non-binding, advisory votes, certain provisions of the NewCo articles of association? |
A: | Under SEC rules, Livent is required to seek a non-binding, advisory vote with respect to certain provisions of the NewCo articles of association that represent a change from the corresponding provisions of Allkem’s current governing documents. |
Q: | What will happen if Livent stockholders do not approve the transaction-related compensation or the amendments to the NewCo articles of association? |
A: | Approval of the Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal and the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals is not a condition to completion of the transaction. Accordingly, you may vote against any or all of these proposals and vote in favor of the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal. The Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal and the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals votes are each an advisory vote and will not be binding on Livent or NewCo following the transaction. If the transaction is completed, the transaction-related compensation may be paid to Livent’s named executive officers to the extent payable in accordance with the terms of their compensation agreements and arrangements even if Livent’s stockholders do not approve, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal and the provisions of the NewCo articles of association will apply in accordance with their terms even if Livent’s stockholders do not approve, in non-binding, advisory votes, any or all of the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals. |
Q: | What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner? |
A: | If your Livent Shares are registered directly in your name with the transfer agent of Livent, EQ Shareowner Services, you are considered the shareholder of record with respect to those Livent Shares. As the shareholder of record, you have the right to vote, or to grant a proxy for your vote directly to Livent or to a third party to vote, at the Livent Special Meeting. |
Q: | If my Livent Shares are held in “street name” by my bank, broker or other nominee, will my bank, broker or other nominee automatically vote those shares for me? |
A: | No. If your Livent Shares are held in “street name” in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, your broker, bank or other nominee will only be permitted to vote your Livent Shares if you instruct it how to vote. You must provide your broker, bank or other nominee with instructions on how to vote your Livent Shares in order to vote. Please follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee. Please note that you may not vote Livent Shares held in street name by returning a proxy card directly to Livent, by voting by telephone or internet or by voting virtually at the Livent Special Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy,” which you must obtain from your broker, bank or other nominee. |
Q: | How many votes do I have? |
A: | Each Livent stockholder is entitled to one vote for each Livent Share held of record by such Livent stockholder as of the Merger Record Date. As of the close of business on the Merger Record Date, there were 179,812,100 outstanding Livent Shares. |
Q: | What constitutes a quorum for the Livent Special Meeting? |
A: | The representation, present virtually or by proxy, of a majority of the Livent Shares issued and outstanding on the Merger Record Date and entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum. For purposes of the Livent Special Meeting, an abstention as to a particular matter occurs when either (a) a Livent stockholder affirmatively votes to “ABSTAIN” as to that matter or (b) a Livent stockholder attends the Livent Special Meeting and does not vote as to such matter. For purposes of the Livent Special Meeting, a failure to be represented as to particular Livent Shares and a particular matter occurs when either (a) the holder of record of such Livent Shares neither attends the virtual meeting nor returns a proxy with respect to such Livent Shares or (b) such Livent Shares are held in “street name” and the beneficial owner does not instruct the owner’s bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote such Livent Shares with respect to such matter (i.e., a broker non-vote). |
How do I vote my shares? |
A: | Stockholders of Record. |
• | By Mail. Mark the enclosed proxy card, sign and date it, and return it in the postage-paid envelope you have been provided. To be valid, your proxy by mail must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the day preceding the Livent Special Meeting. |
• | By Telephone. The toll-free number for telephone proxy submission can be found on the enclosed proxy card. You will be required to provide your assigned control number located on the proxy card. Telephone proxy submission is available 24 hours a day. If you choose to submit your proxy by telephone, then you do not need to return the proxy card. To be valid, your telephone proxy must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the day preceding the Livent Special Meeting. |
• | By Internet. The web address and instructions for internet proxy submission can be found on the enclosed proxy card. You will be required to provide your assigned control number located on the proxy card. Internet proxy submission via the web address indicated on the enclosed proxy card is available 24 hours a day. If you choose to submit your proxy by internet, then you do not need to return the proxy card. To be valid, your internet proxy must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the day preceding the Livent Special Meeting. |
• | Online During the Meeting. Livent stockholders of record may attend the virtual Livent Special Meeting by entering your assigned control number located on the proxy card and voting online; attendance at the virtual Livent Special Meeting will not, however, in and of itself constitute a vote or a revocation of a prior proxy. Livent requests that Livent stockholders submit their proxies by telephone or over the internet or by completing and signing the accompanying proxy card and returning it to Livent in the enclosed postage-paid envelope as soon as possible. When the accompanying proxy card is returned properly executed, the Livent Shares represented by it will be voted at the Livent Special Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained on the proxy card. |
Q: | How can I change or revoke my vote? |
A: | You have the right to revoke or change your proxy before it is voted at the Livent Special Meeting by: (i) sending a written notice of revocation to Livent Corporation, 1818 Market Street, Suite 2550, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Attention: Corporate Secretary, that is received by Livent prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the day preceding |
Q: | If a shareholder gives a proxy, how are the Livent Shares voted? |
A: | Regardless of the method you choose to vote, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card will vote your Livent Shares in the way that you indicate. When completing the internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your Livent Shares should be voted for or against, or you may abstain from voting on, all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the Livent Special Meeting. |
Q: | What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials? |
A: | If you hold Livent Shares in “street name” and also directly as a record holder or otherwise or if you hold Livent Shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive more than one set of voting materials relating to the Livent Special Meeting. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card (or cast your vote by telephone or internet as provided on your proxy card) or otherwise follow the voting instructions provided in this proxy statement/prospectus in order to ensure that all of your Livent Shares are voted. If you hold your Livent Shares in “street name” through a bank, broker or other nominee, you should follow the procedures provided by your bank, broker or other nominee to vote your shares. |
Q: | What happens if I sell my Livent Shares before the Livent Special Meeting? |
A: | The Merger Record Date is earlier than both the date of the Livent Special Meeting and the effective time. If you transfer your Livent Shares after the Merger Record Date but before the Livent Special Meeting, you will, unless the transferee requests a proxy from you, retain your right to vote at the Livent Special Meeting but will transfer the right to receive the merger consideration to the person to whom you transfer your Livent Shares. In order to become entitled to receive the merger consideration you must hold your Livent Shares through the effective time, which Livent and Allkem expect will occur by the end of calendar year 2023, subject to satisfaction or waiver of closing conditions. |
Q: | Who will solicit and pay the cost of soliciting proxies? |
A: | Livent has engaged Morrow Sodali LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Livent Special Meeting. Livent will pay Morrow Sodali LLC a base fee of $35,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The cost of the solicitation of proxies from Livent stockholders will be borne by Livent. Livent will reimburse brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of Livent Shares. In addition to solicitations by mail, Livent’s directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies personally or by email or telephone without additional compensation. |
Q: | What do I need to do now? |
A: | After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus, please vote promptly to ensure that your shares are represented at the Livent Special Meeting. If you hold your Livent Shares in your own name as the shareholder of record, you may submit a proxy to have your Livent Shares voted at the Livent Special Meeting in one of four ways (described in detail in the response to the question “How do I vote my shares?”): |
• | by mail; |
• | by telephone; |
• | via the internet; or |
• | online during the Livent Special Meeting. |
Q: | Where can I find the voting results of the Livent Special Meeting? |
A: | The preliminary voting results will be announced at the Livent Special Meeting, if available. In addition, within four business days following certification of the final voting results, Livent will file the final voting results with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
Q: | Am I entitled to exercise appraisal or dissenters’ rights instead of receiving the merger consideration for my Livent Shares? |
A: | Under Section 262 of the DGCL, holders of Livent Shares are not entitled to exercise dissenters’ or appraisal rights in connection with the merger because Livent Shares are listed on the NYSE and holders of eligible Livent Shares are not required to receive consideration other than NewCo Shares, which are expected to be listed on the NYSE. |
Q: | Are there any risks that I should consider in deciding whether to vote for the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal? |
A: | Yes. You should read and carefully consider the risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 37 of this proxy statement/prospectus. You also should read and carefully consider the risk factors relating to Livent contained in the documents filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, including Livent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. |
Q: | What are the conditions to the completion of the transaction? |
A: | In addition to approval of the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal by Livent stockholders as described above, completion of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of a number of other conditions, including conditions relating to receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval for the scheme under the Australian Corporations Act, expiration or earlier termination of any applicable waiting period and receipt of governmental consents, approvals and clearances, in each case, under antitrust and investment screening laws in certain applicable jurisdictions, approval of the Court under the Australian Corporations Act, approval from the NYSE of the listing of NewCo Shares to be issued in the transaction, approval from the ASX for the admission of NewCo as a foreign exempt listing and the approval for quotation of the CDIs to be issued in the transaction, accuracy of representations and warranties in the Transaction Agreement, compliance with covenants in the Transaction Agreement, confirmation (verbal or otherwise) from the ATO that either (i) there are no material impediments to or material issues to be resolved which may prevent the ATO from issuing the ATO Class Ruling or (ii) the ATO is prepared to issue the ATO Class Ruling, in a form and substance satisfactory to Allkem (acting reasonably), confirming that qualifying Australian resident Allkem shareholders will be eligible to choose |
Q: | Is consummation of the transaction contingent upon any future approval by the holders of Allkem Shares? |
A: | Yes. In accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement and applicable law, Allkem must obtain shareholder approval for the scheme under the Australian Corporations Act. See “The Transaction—Regulatory Approvals” beginning on page 130 of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What happens if the transaction is not completed? |
A: | If the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal is not approved by Livent stockholders or if the transaction is not completed for any other reason, Livent stockholders will not receive NewCo Shares for their Livent Shares. Instead, Livent will remain an independent public company, Livent Shares will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE and registered under the Exchange Act and Livent will continue to file periodic reports with the SEC. If the Transaction Agreement is terminated, under specified circumstances, Livent may be required to pay Allkem a termination fee of $64.6 million and, under specified circumstances, Allkem may be required to pay Livent a termination fee of $64.6 million. See the section entitled “The Transaction Agreement—Termination Fee” beginning on page 172 of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | Who can help answer any other questions I have? |
A: | If you have additional questions about the transaction, need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your Livent Shares or need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card, please contact Morrow Sodali, LLC, Livent’s proxy solicitor, by calling toll-free at (800) 662-5200 or via email at Livent@info.morrowsodali.com. |
• | the occurrence of any change, effect, event, development, matter, state of facts, series of events or circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Transaction Agreement, including a termination of the Transaction Agreement under circumstances that could require Livent to pay a termination fee to Allkem or require Allkem to pay a termination fee to Livent; |
• | uncertainties related to the timing of the required regulatory approvals for the transaction and the possibility that Livent and Allkem may be required to accept conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits of the transaction as a condition to obtaining such regulatory approvals; |
• | the inability to complete the transaction due to the failure to obtain Livent Stockholder Approval of the transaction; |
• | the inability to complete the transaction due to the failure to obtain Allkem Shareholder Approval of the scheme or approval of the Court under the Australian Corporations Act; |
• | the failure of the transaction to close for any other reason; |
• | the ability to implement integration plans for NewCo and the ability to recognize the anticipated growth and cost savings and other benefits of the transaction, and to do so at the cost, within the time and with the effort anticipated; |
• | the ability to effectively manage the newly combined business, including with respect to implementing the anticipated strategies and obtaining the estimated cost savings, value of certain tax assets, synergies and growth; |
• | the failure to realize expected synergies, efficiencies and cost savings from the transaction within the expected time period, if at all; |
• | the inability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments with respect to the transaction; |
• | the transaction and requirements under the Transaction Agreement that could disrupt Allkem’s and Livent’s current or future plans, operations and relationships with customers; |
• | the potential difficulties in retention of any members of senior management of Livent and Allkem and any other key employees that NewCo intends to retain after the closing of the transaction; |
• | the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against NewCo, Allkem, Livent and/or others relating to the Transaction Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby; |
• | diversion of the attention of Livent’s and Allkem’s respective management from ongoing business concerns; |
• | limitations placed by the Transaction Agreement on the ability of Livent and Allkem to operate their respective businesses; |
• | the effect of the announcement of the transaction on Livent’s and Allkem’s business relationships, employees, suppliers, vendors, other partners, standing with local communities, regulators and other government officials, operating results and businesses generally; |
• | the value of NewCo Shares and CDIs to be issued in the transaction, including risks relating thereto that have historically not affected the market price for Livent Shares or Allkem Shares individually; |
• | the amount of any costs, fees, expenses, impairments and charges relating to the transaction; |
• | factors that affect demand for, or the prices of, lithium and other commodities; |
• | physical risks inherent in Allkem’s and Livent’s businesses and the mining industry generally, including those related to natural disasters, climate change and other environmental hazards; |
• | competitive pressures in and unanticipated changes relating to competitive factors in the industries in which Livent and Allkem operate or in related industries, including industries that utilize lithium products; |
• | the ability to reach the anticipated levels of production capacity at the respective operating assets and achieve steady state production at the development assets owned by Livent or Allkem or in which they have a financial interest; |
• | shortages or changes in availability, or increases in costs of, key supplies; |
• | changes in tax laws or interpretations that could increase the consolidated tax liabilities of Livent and Allkem, or that could affect the operations or financial performance of Livent and Allkem; |
• | NewCo’s financial controls and reporting systems, especially given the different legislation, governmental regulations and standards that Allkem and Livent are subject to; |
• | the impact of current future geo-political tensions, instability and events on Livent’s, Allkem’s and NewCo’s businesses and results; |
• | the potential challenges relating to compliance with the differing legal, political, social and regulatory requirements in the many jurisdictions in which Livent and Allkem operate and in which NewCo will operate; |
• | the impact of acquisitions and investments Livent, Allkem and NewCo have made or may make; |
• | changes in legislation or governmental regulations affecting Livent, Allkem, NewCo or any of their properties; |
• | NewCo’s governance, including in relation to its organization under Jersey law, as well as NewCo being an Irish tax resident; |
• | the parties’ international operations, which are subject to the risks of currency fluctuations and foreign exchange controls; and |
• | financial market conditions, including in the stock and credit markets, and international, national or local economic, social or political conditions that could adversely affect Livent, Allkem or NewCo, or their respective customers, suppliers and vendors. |
• | Mt Cattlin lithium spodumene mine in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia; |
• | Olaroz lithium facility in Jujuy Province, Argentina (of which Allkem owns a 66.5% equity interest); |
• | Cauchari lithium brine project in Jujuy Province, Argentina; |
• | Sal de Vida lithium brine project in Catamarca Province, Argentina; |
• | James Bay lithium spodumene project in Québec, Canada; and |
• | Naraha lithium hydroxide plant in Naraha, Japan (of which Allkem owns a 75% economic interest). |
• | “FOR” the adoption of the Transaction Agreement and approval of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger; |
• | “FOR” the approval of, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the compensation that may be paid or become payable to Livent’s named executive officers in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement; |
• | “FOR” the approval of, in non-binding, advisory votes, certain provisions of the NewCo articles of association; and |
• | “FOR” the approval to adjourn the Livent Special Meeting. |
• | the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal; |
• | the Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal; |
• | the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals; and |
• | the Livent Adjournment Proposal. |
• | Livent RSUs. At the effective time, each Livent RSU will be assumed by NewCo and will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent RSU immediately prior to the effective time, except that the Livent Shares subject to such Livent RSUs will be converted into the right to receive, upon vesting, a number of NewCo Shares equal to the product of (A) the number of Livent Shares underlying such Livent RSUs immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) 2.406. Following such assumption, each assumed Livent RSU that is unvested and outstanding as of the date of signing of the Transaction Agreement will vest on a pro rata basis and, to the extent of such vesting, will be exchanged into the right to receive the merger consideration at the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter. |
• | Livent PSUs. At the effective time, each Livent PSU will fully vest, with the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent PSUs determined based on the achievement of the higher of target and actual performance. At the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter, each Livent PSU will be canceled in exchange for the right to receive the merger consideration. |
• | Livent Options. At the effective time, each Livent Option will be assumed by NewCo (each, a “Livent Assumed Option”). Each Livent Assumed Option (whether vested or unvested) will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent Option immediately prior to the effective time, except that (x) each such Livent Assumed Option will be converted into a stock option to acquire a number of NewCo Shares equal to the product of (A) the number of Livent Shares underlying such Livent Assumed Options immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) 2.406; and (y) the exercise price per NewCo Share will be equal to the product of (A) the original exercise price per Livent Share when such Livent Assumed Option was granted, divided by (B) 2.406. |
• | Livent Director RSUs. Immediately prior to the effective time, any Livent Director RSU will vest in full and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (A) the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent Director RSUs immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the higher of (i) the first available closing price of the merger consideration and (ii) the closing price per Livent Share as reported in the NYSE on the last trading day preceding the closing date. |
• | as at 8:00 a.m. AWST on the sanction date, each of the conditions set out below (other than the conditions in the second and third bullets below) has been satisfied or waived (where permitted); |
• | the approval by the Court (or any court of competent jurisdiction on appeal therefrom) (without material modification) of the scheme pursuant to Section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Corporations Act; |
• | the lodging by Allkem of an office copy of the Court orders approving the scheme under Section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Corporations Act with ASIC; |
• | the closing of the merger being capable of occurring, and would reasonably be expected to occur, as promptly as practicable following implementation of the scheme, meaning no applicable impediments under the terms of the Transaction Agreement exist or are foreseen such that there is any possibility that the scheme implementation and the merger closing do not occur around the same time, noting that the only condition to the merger occurring is the occurrence of the scheme implementation; |
• | the Allkem Shareholder Approval being duly obtained at the scheme meeting (or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken); |
• | the Livent Stockholder Approval being duly obtained at the Livent Special Meeting (or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken); |
• | (i) the NYSE having approved the listing of the NewCo Shares to be issued to the holders of Livent Shares and the NewCo Shares, including the NewCo Shares underlying the CDIs, to be issued to holders of Allkem Shares pursuant to the transaction, subject to official notice of issuance, and (ii) the ASX having provided approval for the admission of NewCo as a foreign exempt listing to the official list of ASX and the approval for official quotation of the CDIs, whether or not such approval is subject to conditions; |
• | all applicable governmental consents under specified antitrust and investment screening laws, in each case on any terms described in the Transaction Agreement (as the list may be amended with the written consent of Livent and Allkem) must have been obtained or made (as applicable) and remain in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods (including any extensions by agreement or operation of law) applicable to the scheme and the merger with respect thereto must have expired, lapsed or been terminated (as applicable); |
• | the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part must have become effective under the Securities Act and must not be the subject of any stop order (which has not been withdrawn) or proceedings initiated by the SEC seeking any stop order; |
• | (i) no governmental entity of a competent jurisdiction will have issued any order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transaction and (ii) no governmental entity having jurisdiction over any party shall have adopted any law that is in effect and makes consummation of the transaction illegal or otherwise prohibited (it being understood that if any such law arises out of or relates to antitrust laws or investment screening laws, the presence of such law will only be a failure to meet a condition to the scheme implementation to the extent the violation or contravention of such law as in effect would reasonably be expected to result in criminal liability to any person, personal liability to any director or officer of Allkem, Merger Sub, NewCo, Livent or any of their respective subsidiaries, or a material adverse effect on NewCo and its subsidiaries following the effective time); and |
• | at 8:00 a.m. AWST on the sanction date, neither the Transaction Agreement nor the deed poll having been terminated in accordance with its terms. |
• | the representations and warranties of Livent are true and correct to the extent required by, and subject to the applicable materiality standards set forth in, the Transaction Agreement, together with the receipt by Allkem of a certificate executed by Livent’s Chief Executive Officer to such effect; |
• | each of Livent and the NewCo Parties have in all material respects performed the obligations and complied with the covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under the Transaction Agreement, together with the receipt by Allkem of a certificate executed by Livent’s Chief Executive Officer to such effect; |
• | there has been no material adverse effect with respect to Livent; |
• | the Independent Expert will have issued the IER, which concludes that the scheme is in the best interest of Allkem shareholders and the Independent Expert does not change, withdraw or qualify its conclusion in any written update to its IER or withdraw the IER; and |
• | Allkem will have received confirmation (verbal or otherwise) from the ATO that either (i) there are no material impediments to or material issues to be resolved which may prevent the ATO from issuing the ATO Class Ruling or (ii) the ATO is prepared to issue the ATO Class Ruling, in a form and substance satisfactory to Allkem (acting reasonably), confirming that qualifying Australian resident Allkem shareholders will be eligible to choose rollover relief to the extent to which they receive NewCo Shares or CDIs in exchange for their Allkem Shares in connection with the scheme. Should an ATO Class Ruling not be available for all qualifying Australian resident Allkem shareholders, an ATO Class Ruling that includes (or would include, when issued) a confirmation that qualifying Australian resident shareholders who hold their shares on capital account are eligible to claim rollover relief will be deemed acceptable to Allkem. |
• | the representations and warranties of Allkem are true and correct to the extent required by, and subject to the applicable materiality standards set forth in, the Transaction Agreement, together with the receipt by Livent of a certificate executed by Allkem’s Chief Executive Officer to such effect; |
• | Allkem has in all material respects performed the obligations and complied with the covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under the Transaction Agreement, together with the receipt by Livent of a certificate executed by Allkem’s Chief Executive Officer to such effect; |
• | there has been no material adverse effect with respect to Allkem; and |
• | Livent shall have sought and received an opinion of Davis Polk, or, if Davis Polk is unable or unwilling to provide such opinion, Sidley Austin, dated as of the sanction date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Livent, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion and as of the date thereof, (i) either (A) the merger should qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code or (B) the merger and the scheme, taken together, should qualify as an exchange described in Section 351(a) of the Code, and (ii) the transfer of Livent Shares (other than certain excluded shares) by Livent stockholders pursuant to the merger (other than by any Livent stockholder who is a U.S. person and would be a “five-percent transferee shareholder” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(ii)) of NewCo following the merger that does not enter into a five-year gain recognition agreement in the form provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8(c)) should qualify for an exception to Section 367(a)(1) of the Code. |
• | change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify, or publicly propose or announce any intention to change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify in a manner adverse to the other party, its recommendation to its stockholders that they approve the Transaction Agreement (in the case of Livent) and vote in favor of the scheme (in the case of Allkem) (in the case of Livent, the “Livent Board Recommendation,” and in the case of Allkem, the “Allkem Board Recommendation,” and each as applicable, a “Board Recommendation”); |
• | fail to include its Board Recommendation in this proxy statement/prospectus, in the case of Livent, or the scheme booklet, in the case of Allkem; |
• | approve, adopt, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose or announce any intention to approve, adopt, endorse or recommend, any Competing Proposal; |
• | publicly agree or propose to enter into, any agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, term sheet, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement, in each case of the foregoing relating to a Competing Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement as provided for in the Transaction Agreement); |
• | in the case of Livent only, in the case of a Competing Proposal that is structured as a tender offer or exchange offer pursuant to the Exchange Act for outstanding Livent Shares (other than by Allkem or an affiliate of Allkem), fail to recommend, in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders on or prior to the earlier of (A) three business days prior to the date the Livent Special Meeting is held, including adjournments (or promptly after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer if commenced on or after the third business day prior to the date the Livent Special Meeting is held, including adjournments) or (B) ten business days (as such term is used in Rule 14d-9 of the Exchange Act) after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer; or |
• | cause or permit it to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement (together with any of the actions set forth in the first through fourth bullets above and, only in the case of Livent, the fifth bullet above, a “Change of Recommendation”). |
• | by either Livent or Allkem: |
• | if the Allkem Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the scheme meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken (the “Allkem Shareholder Approval Failure Termination Right”); |
• | if the Livent Stockholder Approval is not obtained at the Livent Special Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken (the “Livent Stockholder Approval Failure Termination Right”); or |
• | if the Court declines or refuses to make any orders directing Allkem to convene the scheme meeting or declines or refuses to approve the scheme, and either (x) no appeal of the Court’s decision is made, or (y) on appeal, a court of competent jurisdiction issues a final and non-appealable ruling upholding the declination or refusal (as applicable) of the Court, and such outcome was not principally caused by a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Transaction Agreement by the party seeking to terminate the Transaction Agreement. |
• | by Allkem: |
• | if Livent or a NewCo Party has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement, such that the conditions to Allkem’s obligation to consummate the transaction would not be satisfied (subject to Livent’s right to cure, and provided that Allkem is not then in breach) (the “Allkem Material Breach Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, if there has occurred an Allkem Change of Recommendation in connection with a Superior Proposal; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Allkem pays or causes to be paid to Livent the Allkem Termination Fee (as defined below) (the “Allkem Change of Recommendation Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, if there has occurred an Allkem Change of Recommendation in response to an Intervening Event; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Allkem pays or causes to be paid to Livent the Allkem Termination Fee (the “Allkem Intervening Event Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, if there has occurred an Allkem Change of Recommendation due to an Independent Expert Event; provided that, in the case such Independent Expert Event is caused by the existence of a Competing Proposal, prior to or concurrently with such termination Allkem pays or causes to be paid to Livent the Allkem Termination Fee (the “Allkem Independent Expert Event Termination Right”); or |
• | if, prior to the receipt of the Livent Stockholder Approval, (i) the Livent Board effects a Livent Change of Recommendation, or (ii) an intentional and material breach by Livent of the covenant relating to calling the Livent Special Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the Livent Stockholder Approval has occurred (the “Allkem Adverse Change Termination Right”); |
• | by Livent: |
• | if Allkem has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement, such that the conditions to Livent’s obligation to consummate the transaction would not be satisfied (subject to Allkem’s right to cure, and provided that Livent or a NewCo Party is not then in breach) (the “Livent Material Breach Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Livent Stockholder Approval, if there has occurred a Livent Change of Recommendation in connection with a Superior Proposal; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Livent pays or causes to be paid to Allkem the Livent Termination Fee (as defined below) (the “Livent Change of Recommendation Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Livent Stockholder Approval, if there has occurred a Livent Change of Recommendation in response to an Intervening Event; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Livent pays or causes to be paid to Allkem the Livent Termination Fee (the “Livent Intervening Event Termination Right”); or |
• | if, prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, (i) the Allkem Board effects an Allkem Change of Recommendation, or (ii) an intentional and material breach by Allkem of the covenant relating to applying for an order of the Court pursuant to the Australian Corporations Act to convene the scheme meeting and otherwise taking required steps to cause the scheme meeting to be called for the purpose of obtaining the Allkem Shareholder Approval has occurred (the “Livent Adverse Change Termination Right”). |
• | by mutual written consent of Livent and Allkem; |
• | by either Livent or Allkem: |
• | if the scheme effectiveness has not occurred by 5:00 p.m. (AWST) on February 10, 2024 (subject to extension by either party until May 10, 2024 in order to obtain antitrust or investment screening law or other regulatory approvals), and such outcome was not principally caused by a material breach of certain covenants set forth in the Transaction Agreement by the party seeking to terminate the Transaction Agreement (the “End Date Termination Right”); or |
• | by either Livent or Allkem if (i) any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction has issued a final and non-appealable order that is in effect and permanently restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the merger or the scheme or (ii) any governmental entity having jurisdiction over a party has adopted a law that is in effect that permanently makes illegal or otherwise permanently prohibits the consummation of the merger or the scheme (and such outcome was not principally caused by a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Transaction Agreement by the party seeking to terminate the Transaction Agreement). In the case of clause (ii) above, if such law arises out of or relates to antitrust laws or investment screening laws, such law will only result in a right to terminate the Transaction Agreement to the extent the violation or contravention of such law as in effect would reasonably be expected to result in criminal liability to any person, personal liability to any director or officer of Allkem, Merger Sub, NewCo or Livent or any of their respective subsidiaries, or a material adverse effect on NewCo and its subsidiaries following the effective time. |
• | by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Adverse Change Termination Right; |
• | by Livent pursuant to the Livent Change of Recommendation Termination Right or the Livent Intervening Event Termination Right; or |
• | (i) by either Livent or Allkem pursuant to the End Date Termination Right or the Livent Stockholder Approval Failure Termination Right, or by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Material Breach Termination Right following an intentional and material breach of a covenant by Livent, (ii) prior to such termination but after the date of the Transaction Agreement, a bona fide Competing Proposal has been publicly made to Livent or any of its subsidiaries, has been made directly to the Livent stockholders generally or otherwise has become public or any person has publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a bona fide Competing Proposal to Livent or, in the case of termination by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Material Breach Termination Right, a Competing Proposal has been made publicly or privately to the Livent Board, and (iii) within 12 months after the date of a termination in either of the cases referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), Livent consummates a Competing Proposal or enters into a definitive agreement providing for a Competing Proposal (provided that solely for purposes of this bullet, all references to “20% or more” in the definition of “Competing Proposal” will be deemed to be references to “more than 50%”). |
• | by Livent pursuant to the Livent Adverse Change Termination Right (other than in the event such Allkem Change of Recommendation is due to an Independent Expert Event); |
• | by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Change of Recommendation Termination Right, the Allkem Intervening Event Termination Right or, in certain circumstances, the Allkem Independent Expert Event Termination Right; or |
• | (i) by either Livent or Allkem pursuant to the End Date Termination Right or the Allkem Shareholder Approval Failure Termination Right, or by Livent pursuant to the Livent Material Breach Termination Right following an intentional and material breach of a covenant by Allkem, (ii) prior to such termination but after the date of the Transaction Agreement, a bona fide Competing Proposal has been publicly made to Allkem or any of its subsidiaries, has been made directly to the Allkem shareholders generally or otherwise has become public or any person has publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a bona fide Competing Proposal to Allkem or, in the case of termination by Livent pursuant to the Livent Material Breach Termination Right, a Competing Proposal has been made publicly or privately to the Allkem Board, and (iii) within 12 months after the date of a termination in either of the cases referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), Allkem consummates a Competing Proposal or enters into a definitive agreement providing for a Competing Proposal (provided that solely for purposes of this bullet, all references to “20% or more” in the definition of “Competing Proposal” will be deemed to be references to “more than 50%”). |
• | The completion of the transaction contemplated by the Transaction Agreement is subject to a number of conditions and the Transaction Agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms. Therefore, the timing of closing of the transaction is uncertain and there is a risk that it may not be completed. |
• | The completion of the transaction is subject to receipt of consents, orders and approvals from regulatory and governmental entities, which may delay or prevent entirely the closing of the transaction¸ and conditions may be imposed on the transaction which may reduce the anticipated benefits of the transaction. |
• | Livent may not have discovered certain liabilities or other matters related to Allkem, and Allkem may not have discovered certain liabilities or other matters related to Livent. |
• | The Transaction Agreement contains restrictions on the conduct and business activities of Livent and Allkem, which could adversely affect both companies’ businesses, financial results, financial condition or share prices, as well as restrictions on the ability of Livent to pursue alternatives to the transaction, which may limit the value that Livent stockholders could receive from a transaction. |
• | Directors and executive officers of Livent and Allkem may have interests in the transaction that differ from, are in addition to or conflict with the interests of Livent stockholders and Allkem shareholders generally. |
• | Holders of Livent Shares, collectively, will have a lower ownership and voting interest in NewCo after the transaction than they currently do in Livent, collectively. |
• | Holders of Livent Shares will not have appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights in the merger. |
• | NewCo, Livent and Allkem may be targets of shareholder class actions or derivative actions, which could result in substantial costs and may delay or prevent the transaction from being completed. |
• | The opinion of Livent’s financial advisor does not reflect changes in circumstances that may occur between the signing of the Transaction Agreement and the completion of the transaction. |
• | The NewCo Shares to be received by Livent stockholders in the transaction will have rights that differ from Livent Shares and, in some cases, such rights may afford less protection than the rights currently afforded to holders of Livent Shares. |
• | The merger may fail to qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, and the merger and the scheme, taken together, may fail to qualify as an exchange described under Section 351(a) of the Code, or the transaction may be subject to Section 367(a)(1) of the Code, potentially causing U.S. holders of Livent Shares to recognize gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
• | The failure to realize the cost savings, synergies and other benefits that the parties expect to achieve from the transaction may materially and adversely affect NewCo’s future results and market value of NewCo Shares following the transaction. |
• | The integration of the businesses of Livent and Allkem may be more difficult, costly or time-consuming than expected, which may materially and adversely affect NewCo’s future results and negatively affect the value of the NewCo Shares following the transaction. |
• | Livent and Allkem will incur significant costs in connection with the transaction, regardless of whether the transaction is completed, and these transaction fees and costs may be greater than anticipated. |
• | The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included in this proxy statement/prospectus may not reflect the actual financial condition and results of operations of NewCo after completion of the transaction. |
• | The financial analyses and unaudited projections considered by Livent and its financial advisors may not be realized. |
• | The prices of commodities, including lithium, are volatile and such volatility may negatively affect NewCo’s revenue and cash flows. |
• | The growth of NewCo’s business, as well as NewCo’s financial condition and financial performance, are dependent on the continued growth in demand for EVs, the growth in demand for lithium chemicals and the growth of the lithium markets generally. |
• | NewCo’s inability to replace the mineral resources used in production (through exploration projects, acquisitions or otherwise) may have an adverse effect on NewCo’s financial performance, and it may be difficult to replace the mineral resources NewCo uses in production because this is often done through exploration activities, which are highly speculative. |
• | NewCo’s operations, financial performance and financial position are dependent on the availability and profitability of mineral resources and ore reserves, and determining such availability and profitability is done by estimates, which are subject to inherent uncertainties. |
• | NewCo’s operations are particularly susceptible to certain physical and other risks, including natural disasters, environmental hazards, pandemics and other catastrophic events, which could disrupt production and have a material adverse effect on NewCo’s financial and operational performance. |
• | The development of NewCo’s facilities is subject to the risk of unexpected difficulties or delays, and any delays or failures in development could materially and adversely affect NewCo’s business, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends. |
• | NewCo derives a substantial portion of its revenue from a limited number of customers, and the loss of, or a significant reduction in orders from, a large customer could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. |
• | NewCo may not satisfy customer qualification processes or customers’ quality standards, and could be subject to damages based on claims brought against NewCo or lose customers as a result of the failure of NewCo’s products to meet certain quality standards. |
• | NewCo’s operations and expansion plans may require additional funding or capital, and if NewCo is unable to secure adequate funds on terms acceptable to NewCo, its liquidity, business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. |
• | NewCo’s financial performance, operations and profitability may be adversely affected due to circumstances in the countries where NewCo operates, particularly in Argentina. |
• | NewCo’s operations, financial performance and financial position, including its production and cash flows are limited by its reliance on obtaining and complying with licenses, permits and other approvals required |
• | managing a significantly larger company; |
• | coordinating geographically dispersed organizations; |
• | the potential diversion of management focus and resources from other strategic opportunities and from operational matters; |
• | aligning and executing the strategy of the combined company; |
• | retaining existing customers and attracting new customers; |
• | maintaining employee morale and retaining key management and other employees; |
• | integrating two business cultures, which may prove to be incompatible; |
• | coordinating the work of an integrated workforce and certain third party vendors; |
• | the possibility of faulty assumptions underlying expectations regarding the integration of certain operations; |
• | consolidating certain corporate and administrative infrastructures and eliminating duplicative operations; |
• | consolidating sourcing and procurement logistics with respect to key raw materials; |
• | challenges inherent in ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations across a greater number of jurisdictions; |
• | unforeseen expenses or delays associated with the transaction; and |
• | any actions that may be required in connection with obtaining regulatory approvals (or complying with conditions attaching to any regulatory approvals). |
• | as a result of the risk factors listed in this proxy statement/prospectus; |
• | actual or anticipated fluctuations in NewCo’s operating results; |
• | reasons unrelated to operating performance, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions, or negative announcements by NewCo’s customers or competitors regarding their own performance; |
• | regulatory changes that could impact NewCo’s business; and |
• | general economic and industry conditions. |
• | permit the NewCo board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred shares with rights and preferences designated by the NewCo board of directors; |
• | impose advance notice requirements for shareholder proposals and nominations of directors to be considered at shareholder meetings; |
• | limit the ability of shareholders to remove directors without cause; |
• | require that all vacancies on the NewCo board of directors be filled by the NewCo directors; and |
• | prohibit certain business combinations with an “interested” shareholder / member unless approved by the NewCo board of directors. |
• | Mt Cattlin lithium spodumene mine in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia; |
• | Olaroz lithium facility in Jujuy Province, Argentina (of which Allkem owns a 66.5% equity interest); |
• | Cauchari lithium brine project in Jujuy Province, Argentina; |
• | Sal de Vida lithium brine project in Catamarca Province, Argentina; |
• | James Bay lithium spodumene project in Québec, Canada; and |
• | Naraha lithium hydroxide plant in Naraha, Japan (of which Allkem owns a 75% economic interest). |
1. | the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal; |
2. | the Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal; |
3. | the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals; and |
4. | the Livent Adjournment Proposal. |
1. | your bank, broker or other nominee will not be permitted to vote your Livent Shares on the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal, and this non-vote will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” this proposal; |
2. | your bank, broker or other nominee will not be permitted to vote your Livent Shares on the Livent Advisory Compensation Proposal, and this non-vote will have no effect on the vote count for this proposal; |
3. | your bank, broker or other nominee will not be permitted to vote your Livent Shares on the NewCo Advisory Governance Documents Proposals, and this non-vote will have no effect on the vote count for these proposals; and |
4. | your bank, broker or other nominee will not be permitted to vote your Livent Shares on the Livent Adjournment Proposal, and this non-vote will have no effect on the vote count for this proposal. |
1. | sending a written notice of revocation to Livent Corporation, 1818 Market Street, Suite 2550, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Attention: Corporate Secretary, that is received by Livent prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the day preceding the Livent Special Meeting, stating that you would like to revoke your proxy; |
2. | submitting a new proxy bearing a later date (by mail, telephone or internet, in accordance with the instructions on the enclosed proxy card) that is received by Livent prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the day preceding the Livent Special Meeting; or |
3. | attending the Livent Special Meeting, virtually, using your assigned control number and voting online. |
Metrics based on 2023 to 2062 period: | | | Livent’s updated financial projections (2023) |
Total development capital cost per LCE at Salar del Hombre Muerto | | | Increased by 6% |
Total development capital cost per LCE at Nemaska Lithium | | | Increased by 26% |
Total average operating costs (revenue less EBITDA) per LCE | | | Increased by 28% |
Metrics based on 2023 to 2066(1) period: | | | Allkem’s updated financial projections (2023) |
Timing of completion of James Bay | | | Later by ~6 months |
Timing of completion of Sal de Vida | | | Later by ~3 months |
Timing of completion of Olaroz (Stage 2) | | | Later by ~9 months |
Timing of completion of Naraha | | | Later by ~9 months |
Total average operating costs (revenue less EBITDA) per LCE | | | Increased by 1% |
Production capacity across portfolio | | | Increased by 29% mainly due to increases in capacity at Sal de Vida, James Bay and a reduction at Cauchari |
Mine life at Mt Cattlin | | | Increased by ~5 years |
Downstream | | | Included additional lithium hydroxide plants |
(1) | The projections provided by Allkem in March 2023 included projections for 2067, but the projections provided by Allkem in May 2022 did not include projections for 2067, so for comparison purposes 2067 is not included. |
• | the Livent Board’s belief that, after a thorough review, the transaction is more favorable to Livent’s stockholders than the potential value that might result from any other alternatives available, including remaining an independent company, or pursuing a significant acquisition or other business combination; |
• | the Livent Board’s expectations relating to the aggregate value of the NewCo Shares to be retained by Livent stockholders after giving effect to the combination of Livent’s and Allkem’s businesses, relative to the value of the Livent Shares on a standalone basis if Livent were not to engage in the transaction, including the fact that, following the transaction, Livent stockholders will have the opportunity to participate in the potential value created by combining Livent and Allkem and benefit from any increases in the value of NewCo Shares; |
• | the Livent Board’s belief that the combined company would create a leading global lithium chemicals producer with enhanced business-critical scale, including a presence in three major lithium geographies (i.e., the South American “lithium triangle,” Western Australia and Canada) and a combined lithium deposit that is among the largest in the world; |
• | the Livent Board’s belief that the combined company would be better able to serve the large and growing global customer base across EV and energy storage value chains, with strong customer relationships from both companies; |
• | the Livent Board’s expectation that the transaction will immediately increase global capabilities, scale and know how after the closing, which is business critical for the industry in which Livent operates; |
• | the Livent Board’s belief that, after a comprehensive analysis, the geographically complementary and relatively low-cost asset portfolios of Allkem will provide value to Livent’s stockholders; |
• | the Livent Board’s belief that the combined company would have a stronger financial profile with a strong combined balance sheet and cash flow generation that allows the delivery of accelerated growth plans; |
• | the Livent Board’s belief that the combined company would have a path to achieving anticipated production capacity of approximately 250 kMT of LCE by the end of calendar year 2027; |
• | the anticipated generation of estimated pre-tax cost synergies of approximately $125 million per year by 2027 (the majority of which is expected to be realized within three years of the transaction) (excluding the impact of approximately $40 million in estimated and non-recurring costs to achieve these synergies), with full run rate cost synergies of approximately $135 million per year by the end of 2032, and one-time capital expenditure savings of approximately $200 million by the end of 2025, mainly driven by asset proximity and co-development in Argentina and Canada, as well as savings at NewCo from operating model integration in the view of Livent’s management; |
• | the financial and other terms and conditions of the Transaction Agreement as reviewed by the Livent Board; |
• | the thoroughness of Livent’s due diligence examinations of Allkem and discussions with Livent’s management and financial and legal advisors; |
• | the fact that for United States federal income tax purposes, the merger is intended to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, the merger and scheme, taken together, are intended to qualify as an exchange described in Section 351(a) of the Code and an exception to Section 367(a) of the Code is expected to apply (assuming applicable holders enter into certain agreements with the IRS); |
• | that the fixed exchange ratio will not adjust downwards or upwards to compensate for changes in the price of Livent Shares or Allkem Shares prior to the consummation of the transaction and therefore provides certainty to Livent’s stockholders as to their pro forma percentage ownership of approximately 44% of the combined company, which is in line with the relative fundamental valuations and the premium paid in similar merger of equal transactions; |
• | the expected greater liquidity and continuity for investors, through a primary listing of NewCo Shares on the NYSE, on which the Livent Shares are currently listed, and a listing on the ASX to enable the trading of CDIs, and the potential inclusion in key S&P indices in the U.S. and the S&P / ASX 200 index in Australia (through pro rata CDI inclusion) based on the implied combined market capitalization of Livent and Allkem as well as other factors; |
• | information and discussions regarding the benefits of size and scale and the expected credit profile of the combined company and the expected pro forma effect of the proposed transaction on these factors; |
• | the opinion of Gordon Dyal & Co. rendered to the Livent Board, to the effect that as of May 10, 2023 and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in its opinion, the Merger Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Livent Shares (other than certain excluded shares), as more fully described in the section below entitled “The Transaction—Opinion of Livent’s Financial Advisor” beginning on page 101 of this proxy statement/prospectus; |
• | the likelihood that the transaction will be consummated, based on, among other things: |
○ | the closing conditions to the transaction, which the Livent Board considered to be appropriately limited; and |
○ | the commitment made by Allkem and Livent in the Transaction Agreement to cooperate with each other and use their respective reasonable best efforts to obtain required regulatory approvals, including under the HSR Act, CFIUS laws and applicable foreign antitrust and investment screening laws (including, under certain circumstances and subject to specified limits, Allkem’s commitment to divest certain assets or commit to limitations on the business of Allkem to the extent provided in the Transaction Agreement), as discussed further under “The Transaction Agreement—Efforts to Obtain Required Approvals”; |
• | the terms and conditions of the Transaction Agreement and the course of negotiations of such agreement, including, among other things: |
○ | the ability of Livent, under certain circumstances, to provide information to and to engage in discussions or negotiations with a third party that makes an unsolicited alternative transaction proposal, as further described under “The Transaction Agreement—No Solicitation of Competing Proposals”; |
○ | the ability of the Livent Board, under certain circumstances, to change its recommendation to Livent’s stockholders concerning the transaction, as further described under “The Transaction Agreement—Board Change of Recommendation”; and |
○ | the ability of the Livent Board to terminate the Transaction Agreement under certain circumstances, subject to certain conditions (including payment of a termination fee to Allkem and certain rights of Allkem giving it the opportunity to match a superior proposal), as further described under “The Transaction Agreement—Termination of the Transaction Agreement”; |
• | the termination fee of $64.6 million payable to Allkem upon termination of the Transaction Agreement under specified circumstances is reasonable in light of, among other things, the benefits of the transaction to Livent stockholders and the likelihood that such a fee would not preclude or unreasonably restrict the emergence of a superior proposal, as well as the fact that generally no termination fee is payable by Livent to Allkem if Livent stockholders do not approve the Livent Transaction Agreement Proposal and the Livent Board has not changed its recommendation to Livent stockholders to vote for such proposal and Livent has not breached certain provisions of the Transaction Agreement; |
• | Livent would receive a termination fee of $64.6 million from Allkem in specified circumstances; |
• | the terms of the Transaction Agreement that restrict Allkem’s ability to solicit alternative transaction proposals and, subject to certain exceptions, to provide confidential due diligence information to, or engage in discussions with, a third party interested in pursuing an alternative transaction with Allkem, as further discussed under “The Transaction Agreement—No Solicitation of Competing Proposals”; |
• | the belief of the Livent Board that the end date (of February 10, 2024 (subject to extension by either party until May 10, 2024 in order to obtain required antitrust, investment screening or other regulatory approvals)) provisions of the Transaction Agreement allow for sufficient time to complete the transaction; |
• | the executive leadership arrangements contained in the Transaction Agreement, which provide that, after completion of the transaction, the existing Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Livent will hold the same positions in NewCo; and |
• | the governance arrangements contained in the Transaction Agreement, which provide that, after completion of the transaction, the NewCo board of directors will consist of 14 directors, seven of whom will be from the Livent Board (including Livent’s Chief Executive Officer) and will be nominated by Livent (the Transaction Agreement has since been amended to provide for 12 directors on the NewCo board of directors, but this remains evenly split between members of the Livent Board (including Livent’s Chief Executive Officer) and the Allkem Board). |
• | that the fixed exchange ratio implies a premium to Allkem shareholders based on the share prices of the two companies at the time of announcement and will not adjust upwards to compensate for changes in the price of Livent Shares or Allkem Shares prior to the consummation of the transaction; |
• | the restrictions on the conduct of Livent’s business during the pendency of the transaction, which may delay or prevent Livent from undertaking business opportunities that may arise or may negatively affect Livent’s ability to attract and retain key personnel; |
• | the terms of the Transaction Agreement that restrict Livent’s ability to solicit alternative transaction proposals and to provide confidential due diligence information to, or engage in discussions with, a third party interested in pursuing an alternative transaction, as further discussed under “The Transaction Agreement—No Solicitation of Competing Proposals”; |
• | the potential for diversion of management and employee attrition and the possible effects of the announcement and pendency of the transaction on customers and business relationships; |
• | the amount of time it could take to complete the transaction, including the fact that completion of the transaction depends on factors outside of Livent’s control, including regulatory approvals, approval of Allkem’s shareholders, and approval of the scheme by the Court, and that there can be no assurance that the conditions to the transaction will be satisfied even if the transaction is approved by Livent’s stockholders; |
• | the fact that Allkem would generally not be required to pay a termination fee if the Transaction Agreement is terminated due to regulatory impediments, the failure of Allkem shareholders to approve the transaction, or the failure of the Court to approve the scheme absent a material breach of the Transaction Agreement by Allkem; |
• | the possibility of non-consummation of the transaction and the potential consequences of non-consummation, including the potential negative impacts on Livent, its business and the trading price of the Livent Shares; |
• | the risk that the combined company could be treated as a U.S. corporation (and, therefore, a U.S. tax resident) for U.S. federal income tax purposes following closing pursuant to Section 7874 of the Code, including as a result of a change in applicable law with respect to Section 7874 of the Code or any other U.S. tax law, or official interpretations thereof, or a change in certain facts (including relative values); |
• | the risk that the IRS may assert that the combined company should be treated as a U.S. corporation (and, therefore, a U.S. tax resident) for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 7874 of the Code; |
• | the challenges inherent in the combination of two business enterprises of the size and scope of Livent and Allkem and the cross-border nature of the combined company; |
• | the fact that Livent and Allkem have incurred and will continue to incur significant transaction costs and expenses in connection with the transaction, regardless of whether the transaction is consummated, and that these costs may be greater than anticipated; and |
• | the risks of the type and nature described under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” |
1. | reviewed a draft of the Transaction Agreement dated May 9, 2023; |
2. | reviewed publicly available financial statements and other information of each of Livent and Allkem; |
3. | reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating information of each of Livent and Allkem, respectively; |
4. | reviewed Livent’s Adjusted Allkem Forecasts, as described further in the section entitled “—Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”; |
5. | reviewed the Livent Forecasts, as described further in the section entitled “—Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”; |
6. | reviewed the Projected Synergies, as described further in the section entitled “—Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”; |
7. | reviewed the Combined Forecasts, as described further in the section entitled “—Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”; |
8. | reviewed certain estimates of lithium reserves and resources for Allkem prepared by its management and third-party engineering firms, as adjusted and extrapolated by the management of Livent (which we refer to in this section as the “Allkem Resources Estimates”); |
9. | reviewed certain estimates of lithium reserves and resources for Livent prepared by its management and third-party engineering firms (which we refer to in this section, together with the Allkem Resources Estimates, as the “Resources Estimates”); |
10. | reviewed certain lithium price assumptions and the outlook for future lithium prices published by independent information service providers as well as real lithium price assumptions (including price sensitivity) provided by Livent management for lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate and spodumene for use in the analysis (which we refer to in this section as the “Pricing Assumptions”); |
11. | discussed the past and current operations and financial conditions and prospects of Allkem and of Livent with senior executives of Livent; |
12. | compared the financial terms of the transaction with the publicly available financial terms of certain transactions which Gordon Dyal & Co. believed to be generally relevant; |
13. | reviewed the historical trading prices and trading activity for the Allkem Shares and Livent Shares; and |
14. | performed such other studies and analyses, reviewed such other information and considered such other factors as Gordon Dyal & Co. deemed appropriate. |
(in $ per share) | | | Livent NAV Per Share Based on Livent Projections | ||||||
| | Real Discount Rate | |||||||
Real Lithium Product Pricing Assumptions | | | 10.500% | | | 11.125% | | | 11.750% |
Livent Management | | | $49.56 | | | $46.44 | | | $43.62 |
Livent Management +20% | | | $64.08 | | | $60.07 | | | $56.44 |
Livent Management −20% | | | $34.98 | | | $32.75 | | | $30.73 |
(in $ billions) | | | Allkem NAVs Based on Livent’s Adjusted Allkem Forecasts | |||||||||||||||
| | Case A | | | Case B | |||||||||||||
| | Real Discount Rate | | | Real Discount Rate | |||||||||||||
Real Lithium Product Pricing Assumptions | | | 9.250% | | | 9.875% | | | 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | 9.875% | | | 10.500% |
Livent Management | | | $13.3 | | | $12.4 | | | $11.6 | | | $14.0 | | | $13.0 | | | $12.1 |
Livent Management +20% | | | $18.3 | | | $17.0 | | | $15.9 | | | $19.1 | | | $17.8 | | | $16.6 |
Livent Management −20% | | | $8.4 | | | $7.8 | | | $7.2 | | | $8.8 | | | $8.1 | | | $7.5 |
(in $ per share) | | | | | | | Standalone Livent NAV / Share | | | Pro Forma Combined Company NAV / Share | |||||
| | Real Discount Rate | | | Livent’s Adjusted Allkem Forecasts | ||||||||||
Real Lithium Product Pricing Assumptions | | | Livent | | | Allkem | | | | | Case A | | | Case B | |
Livent Management | | | 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | $46.44 | | | $49.54 | | | $50.74 |
| 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | $49.56 | | | $53.13 | | | $54.45 | ||
| 11.750% | | | 10.500% | | | $43.62 | | | $46.38 | | | $47.46 | ||
| 11.750% | | | 9.250% | | | $43.62 | | | $50.33 | | | $51.65 | ||
| 10.500% | | | 10.500% | | | $49.56 | | | $49.16 | | | $50.24 | ||
Livent Management +20% | | | 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | $60.07 | | | $65.75 | | | $67.44 |
Livent Management −20% | | | 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | $32.75 | | | $33.26 | | | $33.96 |
| | Real Lithium Pricing Assumptions | | | Livent’s Adjusted Allkem Forecasts | | | Real Discount Rate | | | Relative Economic Contribution | | | Implied Exchange Ratio | |||||||
| Livent | | | Allkem | | ||||||||||||||||
NAV | | | Livent Management Pricing | | | Case A | | | 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | 43.9% | | | 56.1% | | | 2.392x |
| 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | 44.0% | | | 56.0% | | | 2.409x | ||||||||
| 11.750% | | | 10.500% | | | 44.2% | | | 55.8% | | | 2.427x | ||||||||
| Livent Management Pricing +20% | | | 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | 42.5% | | | 57.5% | | | 2.262x | |||||
| 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | 42.6% | | | 57.4% | | | 2.273x | ||||||||
| 11.750% | | | 10.500% | | | 42.7% | | | 57.3% | | | 2.283x | ||||||||
| Livent Management Pricing −20% | | | 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | 46.6% | | | 53.4% | | | 2.671x | |||||
| 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | 46.9% | | | 53.1% | | | 2.708x | ||||||||
| 11.750% | | | 10.50% | | | 47.3% | | | 52.7% | | | 2.746x | ||||||||
| Livent Management Pricing | | | Case B | | | 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | 42.7% | | | 57.3% | | | 2.286x | ||
| 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | 43.0% | | | 57.0% | | | 2.306x | ||||||||
| 11.750% | | | 10.500% | | | 43.2% | | | 56.8% | | | 2.326x | ||||||||
| Livent Management Pricing +20% | | | 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | 41.4% | | | 58.6% | | | 2.160x | |||||
| 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | 41.5% | | | 58.5% | | | 2.172x | ||||||||
| 11.750% | | | 10.500% | | | 41.6% | | | 58.4% | | | 2.184x | ||||||||
| Livent Management Pricing −20% | | | 10.500% | | | 9.250% | | | 45.5% | | | 54.5% | | | 2.561x | |||||
| 11.125% | | | 9.875% | | | 45.9% | | | 54.1% | | | 2.600x | ||||||||
| 11.750% | | | 10.500% | | | 46.3% | | | 53.7% | | | 2.641x |
• | certain non-public unaudited prospective financial information relating to Livent on a standalone basis for certain calendar years ending December 31, 2023 through 2062, prepared by Livent’s management (the “Livent Forecasts”); |
• | certain non-public unaudited prospective financial information relating to Allkem on a standalone basis for certain calendar years ending December 31, 2023 through 2067, prepared by Livent management, reflecting a single set of certain non-public unaudited prospective financial information relating to Allkem on a standalone basis provided by Allkem’s management to Livent and two cases of adjustments thereto made by Livent’s management, resulting in two separate Livent-adjusted cases (“Livent’s Adjusted Allkem Forecasts” or “Allkem Case A” and “Allkem Case B,” as applicable); |
• | certain non-public unaudited prospective pro forma combined financial information relating to NewCo for certain calendar years ending December 31, 2023 through 2067, prepared by Livent’s management, as the summation of the Livent Forecasts and Livent’s Adjusted Allkem Forecasts for each of Allkem Case A and Allkem Case B, with certain further adjustments as described below (the “Combined Forecasts”); and |
• | certain synergies projected to result from the transaction for certain calendar years ending December 31, 2023 through 2062, reflecting certain synergies projected to result from the transaction jointly developed by Livent’s and Allkem’s respective management, adjusted by Livent’s management to reflect Livent’s |
| | Real Lithium Product Pricing Assumptions (Uncontracted Volumes) | ||||||||||
(in $/ton) | | | | | 2023E | | | 2024E | | | 2025E onwards | |
Livent Management | | | Lithium Hydroxide | | | $65,000 | | | $35,000 | | | $25,000 |
| Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate | | | $50,000 | | | $30,000 | | | $22,000 | ||
| Technical Grade Lithium Carbonate | | | $46,000 | | | $26,000 | | | $18,000 | ||
| Spodumene | | | $4,250 | | | $2,500 | | | $1,900 | ||
| | | | | | | | |||||
Livent Management +20% | | | Lithium Hydroxide | | | $78,000 | | | $42,000 | | | $30,000 |
| Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate | | | $60,000 | | | $36,000 | | | $26,400 | ||
| Technical Grade Lithium Carbonate | | | $55,200 | | | $31,200 | | | $21,600 | ||
| Spodumene | | | $5,100 | | | $3,000 | | | $2,280 |
| | Real Lithium Product Pricing Assumptions (Uncontracted Volumes) | ||||||||||
(in $/ton) | | | | | 2023E | | | 2024E | | | 2025E onwards | |
Livent Management −20% | | | Lithium Hydroxide | | | $52,000 | | | $28,000 | | | $20,000 |
| Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate | | | $40,000 | | | $24,000 | | | $17,600 | ||
| Technical Grade Lithium Carbonate | | | $36,800 | | | $20,800 | | | $14,400 | ||
| Spodumene | | | $3,400 | | | $2,000 | | | $1,520 |
| | Fiscal year ending December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 2023E | | | 2024E | | | 2025E | | | 2026E | | | 2027E | | | 2028E | | | 2029E | | | 2030E | | | 2031E | | | 2035E | | | 2040E | | | 2045E | | | 2050E | | | 2055E | | | 2060E | | | 2062E(4) | |
| | ($ amounts in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | | | $1,114 | | | $1,620 | | | $1,727 | | | $1,984 | | | $2,414 | | | $2,546 | | | $2,788 | | | $3,267 | | | $3,272 | | | $3,272 | | | $3,272 | | | $3,272 | | | $3,272 | | | $3,272 | | | $2,875 | | | — |
Adjusted EBITDA(1)(2) | | | $594 | | | $1,010 | | | $1,033 | | | $1,135 | | | $1,412 | | | $1,469 | | | $1,629 | | | $1,953 | | | $1,954 | | | $1,958 | | | $1,955 | | | $1,961 | | | $1,891 | | | $1,899 | | | $1,680 | | | — |
Unlevered free cash flow(1)(3) | | | $(104) | | | $40 | | | $252 | | | $689 | | | $778 | | | $952 | | | $1,152 | | | $1,335 | | | $1,478 | | | $1,478 | | | $1,474 | | | $1,461 | | | $1,428 | | | $1,431 | | | $1,289 | | | $492 |
(1) | This figure is a non-GAAP financial measure. |
(2) | Adjusted EBITDA is intended to reflect projected net income before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-cash charges, such as remeasurement losses, and non-recurring charges, such as restructuring and similar charges and certain separation-related costs. |
(3) | Unlevered free cash flow is intended to reflect projected net cash provided by (used in) operating activities after deducting projected capital expenditures (including, in each case, the proportional share of such projected cash flows and capital expenditures from equity method investments) and adding back interest payments on financial liabilities. |
(4) | Represents a working capital release and mining closure costs (capital expenditures). |
| | Calendar year ending December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 2023E | | | 2024E | | | 2025E | | | 2026E | | | 2027E | | | 2028E | | | 2029E | | | 2030E | | | 2031E | | | 2035E | | | 2040E | | | 2045E | | | 2050E | | | 2055E | | | 2060E | | | 2065E | | | 2066E | | | 2067E(5) | |
| | ($ amounts in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | | | $1,449 | | | $1,304 | | | $1,622 | | | $2,196 | | | $2,932 | | | $3,699 | | | $4,324 | | | $4,044 | | | $4,178 | | | $4,224 | | | $4,294 | | | $3,252 | | | $2,699 | | | $2,699 | | | $2,699 | | | $2,297 | | | $252 | | | — |
Adjusted EBITDA(1)(2)(3) | | | $1,040 | | | $815 | | | $953 | | | $1,406 | | | $1,948 | | | $2,499 | | | $2,935 | | | $2,808 | | | $2,884 | | | $2,929 | | | $2,952 | | | $2,223 | | | $1,879 | | | $1,879 | | | $1,879 | | | $1,611 | | | $160 | | | — |
Unlevered free cash flow(1)(4) | | | $136 | | | $(460) | | | $(950) | | | $182 | | | $870 | | | $1,346 | | | $1,783 | | | $1,828 | | | $1,881 | | | $1,889 | | | $1,887 | | | $1,417 | | | $1,224 | | | $1,228 | | | $1,235 | | | $1,054 | | | $184 | | | $(21) |
(1) | This figure is a non-GAAP financial measure. |
(2) | Burdened for approximately $8-10 million of pre-tax right-of-use depreciation & amortization and interest on an attributable basis based on the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. Amounts vary slightly on an annual basis. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA is intended to reflect projected net income before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-cash charges, such as remeasurement losses, and non-recurring charges, such as restructuring and similar charges and certain separation-related costs. |
(4) | Unlevered free cash flow is intended to reflect projected net cash provided by (used in) operating activities after deducting projected capital expenditures (including, in each case, the proportional share of such projected cash flows and capital expenditures from equity method investments) and adding back interest payments on financial liabilities. |
(5) | Represents a working capital release and mining closure costs (capital expenditures). |
| | Calendar year ending December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 2023E | | | 2024E | | | 2025E | | | 2026E | | | 2027E | | | 2028E | | | 2029E | | | 2030E | | | 2031E | | | 2035E | | | 2040E | | | 2045E | | | 2050E | | | 2055E | | | 2060E | | | 2065E | | | 2066E | | | 2067E(5) | |
| | ($ amounts in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | | | $1,449 | | | $1,304 | | | $1,622 | | | $2,196 | | | $2,943 | | | $3,729 | | | $4,376 | | | $4,109 | | | $4,263 | | | $4,318 | | | $4,388 | | | $3,346 | | | $2,793 | | | $2,793 | | | $2,793 | | | $2,391 | | | $280 | | | — |
Adjusted EBITDA(1)(2)(3) | | | $1,040 | | | $815 | | | $953 | | | $1,416 | | | $2,034 | | | $2,616 | | | $3,066 | | | $2,949 | | | $3,037 | | | $3,090 | | | $3,112 | | | $2,383 | | | $2,039 | | | $2,039 | | | $2,039 | | | $1,772 | | | $228 | | | — |
Unlevered free cash flow(1)(4) | | | $135 | | | $(460) | | | $(1,079) | | | $107 | | | $916 | | | $1,400 | | | $1,847 | | | $1,920 | | | $1,982 | | | $1,997 | | | $1,995 | | | $1,526 | | | $1,333 | | | $1,338 | | | $1,345 | | | $1,166 | | | $222 | | | $(20) |
(1) | This figure is a non-GAAP financial measure. |
(2) | Burdened for approximately $8-10 million of pre-tax right-of-use depreciation & amortization and interest on an attributable basis based on the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. Amounts vary slightly on an annual basis. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA is intended to reflect projected net income before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-cash charges, such as remeasurement losses, and non-recurring charges, such as restructuring and similar charges and certain separation-related costs. |
(4) | Unlevered free cash flow is intended to reflect projected net cash provided by (used in) operating activities after deducting projected capital expenditures (including the proportional share from equity method investments) and adding back interest payments on financial liabilities. |
(5) | Represents a working capital release and mining closure costs (capital expenditures). |
| | Calendar year ending December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 2023E | | | 2024E | | | 2025E | | | 2026E | | | 2027E | | | 2028E | | | 2029E | | | 2030E | | | 2031E | | | 2035E | | | 2040E | | | 2045E | | | 2050E | | | 2055E | | | 2060 | | | 2062E | | | 2067E(5) | |
| | ($ amounts in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(2)(3) | | | $1,634 | | | $1,820 | | | $2,050 | | | $2,621 | | | $3,483 | | | $4,095 | | | $4,694 | | | $4,894 | | | $4,973 | | | $5,021 | | | $5,041 | | | $4,314 | | | $3,899 | | | $3,908 | | | $3,640 | | | $1,961 | | | — |
Unlevered free cash flow(2)(4) | | | $32 | | | ($327) | | | ($563) | | | $955 | | | $1,751 | | | $2,458 | | | $3,107 | | | $3,339 | | | $3,535 | | | $3,569 | | | $3,563 | | | $3,067 | | | $2,833 | | | $2,838 | | | $2,666 | | | $1,994 | | | $(21) |
(1) | Reflects the Projected Synergies. |
(2) | This figure is a non-GAAP financial measure. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA is intended to reflect projected net income before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-cash charges, such as remeasurement losses, and non-recurring charges, such as restructuring and similar charges and certain separation-related costs. |
(4) | Unlevered free cash flow is intended to reflect projected net cash provided by (used in) operating activities after deducting projected capital expenditures (including the proportional share from equity method investments) and adding back interest payments on financial liabilities. |
(5) | Represents a working capital release and mining closure costs (capital expenditures). |
| | Calendar year ending December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 2023E | | | 2024E | | | 2025E | | | 2026E | | | 2027E | | | 2028E | | | 2029E | | | 2030E | | | 2031E | | | 2035E | | | 2040E | | | 2045E | | | 2050E | | | 2055E | | | 2060E | | | 2062E | | | 2067E(5) | |
| | ($ amounts in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(2)(3) | | | $1,634 | | | $1,820 | | | $2,050 | | | $2,631 | | | $3,568 | | | $4,212 | | | $4,826 | | | $5,035 | | | $5,126 | | | $5,183 | | | $5,202 | | | $4,475 | | | $4,061 | | | $4,069 | | | $3,801 | | | 2,122 | | | — |
Unlevered free cash flow(2)(4) | | | $31 | | | ($327) | | | ($692) | | | $881 | | | $1,797 | | | $2,513 | | | $3,173 | | | $3,433 | | | $3,639 | | | $3,680 | | | $3,674 | | | $3,179 | | | $2,946 | | | $2,952 | | | $2,780 | | | $2,111 | | | $(20) |
(1) | Reflects the Projected Synergies. |
(2) | This figure is a non-GAAP financial measure. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA is intended to reflect projected net income before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-cash charges, such as remeasurement losses, and non-recurring charges, such as restructuring and similar charges and certain separation-related costs. |
(4) | Unlevered free cash flow is intended to reflect projected net cash provided by (used in) operating activities after deducting projected capital expenditures (including the proportional share from equity method investments) and adding back interest payments on financial liabilities. |
(5) | Represents a working capital release and mining closure costs (capital expenditures). |
• | Annual pre-tax cost synergies estimated at approximately $122 million expected to be achieved by the end of 2027 (the majority of which is expected to be realized within three years of the transaction) (excluding the impact of approximately $40 million in estimated non-recurring costs to achieve these synergies); |
• | Full run rate annual pre-tax cost synergies of approximately $135 million expected to be achieved by 2032; |
• | One time capital expenditure savings of approximately $200 million expected to be achieved by the end of 2025; |
• | Adjustments from Livent’s management to reflect Livent’s Adjusted Allkem Forecasts (which were reflected without input of Allkem), including adjustments to the assumptions underlying Allkem’s management’s projections for production volume, project launch and ramp timing, pricing and cost structure, among other things; and |
• | Operating model integration benefits, based on Livent’s management’s assumption of integrating Livent’s centralized operating model (which were estimated and reflected without input of Allkem). In the view of Livent’s management, deploying Livent’s centralized operating model as assets and products come onstream allows for greater value capture and results in a portion of Allkem’s operations being conducted in jurisdictions where Livent operations are located, including the United States and Singapore, which have lower tax rates than the jurisdictions where Allkem currently operates. |
| | Calendar year ending December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 2024E | | | 2025E | | | 2026E | | | 2027E(4) | | | 2028E | | | 2029E | | | 2030E | | | 2031E | | | 2035E | | | 2040E | | | 2045E | | | 2050E | | | 2055E | | | 2060E | | | 2062E | | | 2067E | |
| | ($ amounts in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-Tax Cost Synergies(1) | | | $26 | | | $75 | | | $80 | | | $122 | | | $127 | | | $130 | | | $133 | | | $134 | | | $135 | | | $135 | | | $130 | | | $130 | | | $130 | | | $82 | | | $82 | | | — |
Costs to Achieve Pre-Tax Cost Synergies(1) | | | $(30) | | | $(10) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Capital expenditure Synergies(1)(2) | | | $112 | | | $87 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Operating Model Integration Savings (Allkem Case A)(3)(5) | | | $(14) | | | $3 | | | $30 | | | $18 | | | $72 | | | $83 | | | $83 | | | $83 | | | $105 | | | $105 | | | $95 | | | $87 | | | $86 | | | $82 | | | $208 | | | — |
Operating Model Integration Savings (Allkem Case B)(3)(6) | | | $(14) | | | $3 | | | $30 | | | $19 | | | $74 | | | $84 | | | $85 | | | $85 | | | $107 | | | $107 | | | $99 | | | $91 | | | $89 | | | $86 | | | $214 | | | — |
(1) | The cost and capital expenditure synergies are primarily a function of NewCo’s expected production volumes and cost structure. These jointly developed synergies were based on the financial models that each of Livent and Allkem shared with the other (prior to any adjustments made to the other management’s assumptions). |
(2) | Excludes impact of foregone depreciation. |
(3) | Developed by Livent’s management without input of Allkem. |
(4) | The number for 2027E that was jointly developed by Livent's and Allkem's respective management prior to adjustment by Livent's management to reflect Livent's Adjusted Allkem Forecasts was approximately $125 million. |
(5) | Represents an adjustment by Livent’s management for Allkem Case A to incorporate Livent’s optimized business operating model. |
(6) | Represents an adjustment by Livent’s management for Allkem Case B to incorporate Livent’s optimized business operating model. |
• | Livent RSUs. At the effective time, each Livent RSU will be assumed by NewCo and will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent RSU immediately prior to the effective time, except that the Livent Shares subject to such Livent RSUs will be converted into the right to receive, upon vesting, a number of NewCo Shares equal to the product of (A) the number of Livent Shares underlying such Livent RSUs immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) 2.406. Following such assumption, each assumed Livent RSU that is unvested and outstanding as of the date of signing of the Transaction Agreement will vest on a pro rata basis and, to the extent of such vesting, will be exchanged into the right to receive the merger consideration at the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter. |
• | Livent PSUs. At the effective time, each Livent PSU will fully vest, with the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent PSUs determined based on the achievement of the higher of target and actual performance. At the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter, each Livent PSU will be canceled in exchange for the right to receive the merger consideration. |
• | Livent Options. At the effective time, each Livent Option will be assumed by NewCo. Each Livent Assumed Option (whether vested or unvested) will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent Option immediately prior to the effective time, except that (x) each such Livent Assumed Option will be converted into a stock option to acquire a number of NewCo Shares equal to the product of (A) the number of Livent Shares underlying such Livent Assumed Options immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) 2.406; and (y) the exercise price per NewCo Share will be equal to the product of (A) the original exercise price per Livent Share when such Livent Assumed Option was granted, divided by (B) 2.406. |
• | Livent Director RSUs. Immediately prior to the effective time, any Livent Director RSUs will vest in full and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (A) the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent Director RSU immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the higher of (i) the first available closing price of the merger consideration and (ii) the closing price per Livent Share as reported in the NYSE on the last trading day preceding the closing date. |
Person | | | Unvested Livent RSUs (#) | | | Unvested Livent RSUs ($) | | | Unvested Livent PSUs (#) | | | Unvested Livent PSUs ($) | | | Vested Livent Options (#) | | | Vested Livent Options ($) | | | Unvested Livent Options (#) | | | Unvested Livent Options ($) |
Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul W. Graves | | | 145,347 | | | $3,687,453 | | | 42,781 | | | $1,085,354 | | | 647,886 | | | $8,174,752 | | | 320,793 | | | $1,392,600 |
Gilberto Antoniazzi | | | 37,855 | | | $960,381 | | | 10,996 | | | $278,969 | | | 133,724 | | | $1,467,755 | | | 84,291 | | | $368,105 |
Sara Ponessa | | | 27,665 | | | $701,861 | | | 8,479 | | | $215,112 | | | 53,334 | | | $446,406 | | | 59,510 | | | $254,728 |
Non-Employee Directors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pierre Brondeau | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Michael F. Barry | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
G. Peter D’Aloia | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Christina Lampe-Önnerud | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Pablo Marcet | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Steven T. Merkt | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Robert C. Pallash | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Andrea E. Utecht | | | 5,027 | | | $127,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
• | An amount equal to three times (in the case of Messrs. Graves and Antoniazzi) and two times (in the case of Ms. Sara Ponessa, General Counsel and Secretary) the base salary, payable in a lump sum; |
• | An amount equal to three times (in the case of Messrs. Graves and Antoniazzi) and two times (in the case of Ms. Ponessa) the target annual incentive award, payable in a lump sum; |
• | A pro-rated annual incentive award for the year of termination; |
• | Reimbursement for outplacement services for a two-year period following the termination date, with the total reimbursements capped at 15% of base salary as of the termination date; |
• | Continuation of medical and welfare benefits (including life and accidental death and dismemberment and disability insurance coverage) for such individual (and covered spouse and dependents), at the same premium cost and coverage level as in effect as of the change in control date, for three years (in the case of Messrs. Graves and Antoniazzi) and two years (in the case of Ms. Ponessa) following the date of termination (or, if earlier, the date on which substantially similar benefits at a comparable cost are available from a subsequent employer) or, if such benefits continuation is not permissible under the applicable plan or would result in adverse tax consequences, cash benefits in lieu thereof under the executive severance agreements; and |
• | Continuation of retirement benefits for three years (in the case of Messrs. Graves and Antoniazzi) and two years (in case of Ms. Ponessa) following the date of termination of the annual company contribution made on the Livent executive officer’s behalf to Livent’s qualified retirement plan and Livent’s nonqualified retirement plan as in effect immediately prior to the date of the change in control (excluding any pre-tax or post-tax contribution authorized by such executive officer). |
• | that the effective time will occur on November 30, 2023 (which, as an illustration, is the assumed closing date of the merger solely for purposes of this golden parachute compensation disclosure); |
• | when calculating the amount received in connection with a “double trigger” termination, that each of Livent’s NEOs experiences a qualifying termination event as of the effective time that results in severance benefits becoming payable to him or her under the individual’s severance agreement with Livent without taking into account any possible reduction that might be required to avoid the excise tax in connection with Section 280G under Section 4999 of the Code; |
• | that the equity awards that were outstanding as of June 30, 2023 are the equity awards that Livent has granted to its NEOs through, and are outstanding as of, November 30, 2023; |
• | that the number of Livent Shares subject to Livent PSUs will be determined at target level of achievement; and |
• | that the price per Livent Share at the effective time is $25.37 (the average closing market price over the first five business days following the first public announcement of the transaction on May 10, 2023, as required by Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K). |
Named Executive Officers | | | Cash(1) | | | Equity(2) | | | Pension / NQDC(3) | | | Perquisites / Benefits(4) | | | Other(5) | | | Total |
Paul W. Graves | | | $5,946,959 | | | $6,165,407 | | | $608,017 | | | $88,866 | | | $629,000 | | | $13,438,249 |
Gilberto Antoniazzi | | | $2,495,158 | | | $1,607,455 | | | $692,021 | | | $88,334 | | | $517,500 | | | $���5,400,467 |
Sara Ponessa | | | $1,462,126 | | | $1,171,701 | | | $132,486 | | | $58,623 | | | $508,500 | | | $3,333,436 |
(1) | Cash. As described in the section above entitled “—Existing Livent Executive Severance Agreements,” the amount shown is equal to (A) three times (and two times for Ms. Ponessa) the sum of base salary plus target annual incentive, calculated by using the highest annualized base salary and target annual incentive available to the NEO during his/her career with Livent; plus (B) the pro rata amount of any annual incentive award payable as of the effective time. |
(2) | Equity. As described in the section above entitled “—Treatment of Livent Equity Awards,” the amount shown represents the value of the Livent RSUs, Livent PSUs and Livent Options, calculated as follows: |
Named Executive Officers | | | Livent RSUs(a) | | | Livent PSUs(b) | | | Livent Options(c) | | | Value of All Equity Awards |
Paul W. Graves | | | $3,687,453 | | | $1,085,354 | | | $1,392,600 | | | $6,165,407 |
Gilberto Antoniazzi | | | $960,381 | | | $278,969 | | | $368,105 | | | $1,607,455 |
Sara Ponessa | | | $701,861 | | | $215,112 | | | $254,728 | | | $1,171,701 |
(a) | All unvested Livent RSUs will be assumed by NewCo and then vest on a pro rata basis upon the change in control, even if the NEO was not terminated. The amounts shown reflect the market value of the Livent RSUs calculated based on the stock price of $25.37 per share (the average closing market price over the first five business days following the first public announcement of the transaction on May 10, 2023), consisting of (i) for Mr. Graves: $2,264,515 that would accelerate on a “single-trigger” basis upon the change in control and an additional $1,422,938 that would accelerate on a “double-trigger” basis if the NEO is terminated within two years following the change in control due to either a termination by Livent or its applicable affiliate without “cause” or a resignation by the NEO with “good reason,” (ii) for Mr. Antoniazzi: $596,631 that would accelerate on a “single-trigger” basis and an additional $363,750 that would accelerate on a “double-trigger” basis and (iii) for Ms. Ponessa: $419,394 that would accelerate on a “single-trigger” basis and an additional $282,467 that would accelerate on a “double-trigger” basis. |
(b) | All unvested PSUs will accelerate in full at the better of target or actual performance upon the change in control. The amounts shown reflect the market value of the accelerated Livent PSUs assuming target performance, based on the stock price of $25.37 per share. |
(c) | All Livent Options will be assumed by NewCo upon the change in control. As disclosed above, each Livent Assumed Option will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent Option immediately prior to the effective time. No converted Livent Options vest at the effective time based solely on the closing of the merger. The amounts shown reflect the market value of the Livent Options that would accelerate on a “double-trigger” basis in the event that an NEO is terminated within two years following the change in control due to either a termination by Livent or its applicable affiliate without “cause” or a resignation by the NEO with “good reason,” calculated at a per share value of $25.37. The ultimate value of accelerated vesting for the foregoing options will depend on the stock price on the date of exercise. |
(3) | Pension/NQDC. The amount shown is equal to three times (and two times for Ms. Ponessa) the sum of the annual company contributions made on the NEO’s behalf to the Livent Savings and Investment Plan and the Livent Nonqualified Savings Plan. |
(4) | Perquisites / Benefits. Represents welfare benefits of health care and dental, life insurance and disability insurance continuation for three years (and two years for Ms. Ponessa). The amounts shown are the estimated cost to Livent for such benefits during the period. |
(5) | The amounts reported in this column reflect (A) the maximum amount that could be paid by Livent to the NEOs with respect to outplacement services, (B) the cash retention bonuses that will be payable to Mr. Antoniazzi and Ms. Ponessa (consisting of $250,000 for each of Mr. Antoniazzi and Ms. Ponessa) and (C) the cash transaction bonuses that will be payable to Mr. Graves, Mr. Antoniazzi and Ms. Ponessa (consisting of $500,000, $200,000 and $200,000, respectively). The NEOs are entitled to outplacement services, which are capped at 15% of the NEO’s base salary. The actual amounts paid in respect of such services will be determined based upon the outplacement services obtained, if any, by an NEO upon termination. The cash retention bonuses for Mr. Antoniazzi and Ms. Ponessa will be payable on the one-year anniversary of the closing of the merger, contingent upon their continued employment with the combined company or any applicable affiliate through the one-year anniversary of the closing of the merger or the prior termination of their employment by the combined company or any applicable affiliate without “cause.” The cash transaction bonuses will be payable upon the closing of the merger, contingent upon continued employment through such event. For additional information on the retention bonus program and the transaction bonuses, see the sections above entitled “—Livent Retention Program” and “—Livent Transaction Bonus Program.” |
• | If Role Not Made Redundant. No later than the date of scheme effectiveness, each outstanding and unvested Allkem Performance Right held by an employee of Allkem whose role is not being made redundant in connection with the transaction will vest in the proportion to be determined by the Allkem Board, with any performance conditions deemed to have been met. However, pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, no less than 60% and no more than 70% of the aggregate number of outstanding and unvested Allkem Performance Rights that are held by employees of Allkem whose roles are not being made redundant in connection with the transaction may vest by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness. The vested Allkem Performance Rights will be exchanged for Allkem Shares prior to the Scheme Record Date and be eligible to receive the scheme consideration in connection with the scheme. The remaining outstanding and unvested Allkem Performance Rights will lapse and be of no further force or effect by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness and, as soon as practicable following the date of scheme implementation, NewCo will grant replacement awards to the prior holders who are employees of NewCo, which replacement awards will (i) be substantially comparable in value to the corresponding lapsed Allkem Performance Rights as of immediately prior to the date of scheme effectiveness, (ii) be in respect of NewCo Shares and (iii) if the employment of the holder of a replacement award is terminated as a result of redundancy in the 12 months following the date of scheme implementation, vest in full upon such termination. |
• | If Role Made Redundant. No later than the date of scheme effectiveness, each outstanding and unvested Allkem Performance Right held by an employee of Allkem whose role is being made redundant in connection with the transaction will vest in the proportion to be determined by the Allkem Board, with any performance conditions deemed to have been met. Pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, up to 100% of the aggregate number of outstanding and unvested Allkem Performance Rights that are held by employees of Allkem whose roles are being made redundant in connection with the transaction may vest by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness. The vested Allkem Performance Rights will be exchanged for Allkem Shares prior to the Scheme Record Date and be eligible to receive the scheme consideration in connection with the scheme. The remaining outstanding and unvested Allkem Performance Rights will lapse and be of no further force or effect by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness. |
| | Percentage of Allkem Performance Rights that will vest by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness: | |||||||
| | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2022 | | | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2023 | | | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2024 | |
Management Long-Term Incentive Program Allkem Performance Rights (with vesting based on base production capacity) | | | 98% | | | 100% | | | 16% |
Management Long-Term Incentive Program Allkem Performance Rights (with vesting based on bonus production capacity) | | | 0% | | | 0% | | | 16% |
Management Long-Term Incentive Program Allkem Performance Rights (with vesting based on relative total shareholder return) | | | 100% | | | 100% | | | 16% |
| | Percentage of Allkem Performance Rights that will vest by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness: | |||||||
| | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2022 | | | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2023 | | | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2024 | |
Management Long-Term Award Allkem Performance Rights (granted to members of management who do not participate in the Management Long-Term Incentive Program, with vesting based on continued employment as of the end of a three-year vesting period) | | | 100% | | | 100% | | | 100% |
Merger Retention Allkem Performance Rights (granted in connection with the Galaxy/Orocobre Merger, with vesting based on continued employment as of the vesting date of August 25, 2024) | | | 100% | | | N/A | | | N/A |
• | the view that the transaction would create a leading global lithium chemicals producer with enhanced business-critical scale, including a presence in three major lithium geographies (i.e., the South American “lithium triangle,” Western Australia and Canada) and a combined lithium deposit base that is among the largest in the world; |
• | the view that the combined company would have a highly complementary and vertically integrated business model, including exposure to a broad range of lithium chemical products, low-cost assets and a more resilient supply chain and enhanced operating flexibility and efficiency to better serve customers; |
• | the view that the combined company would have a path to de-risk and accelerate growth, including achieving anticipated production capacity of approximately 250 kMT of LCE by calendar year 2027, due to its pipeline of growth projects and complementary expertise in hard rock mining, conventional and direct lithium extraction-based processes and lithium carbonate production and hydroxide processing; and |
• | the view that the combined company would have a deeper pool of technical, capital and projects expertise in a human resource constrained industry, which would draw on best practice learnings from both companies. |
• | the fixed exchange ratio for the consideration payable to Allkem’s shareholders in the transaction was based on each company’s estimated relative fundamental valuation contribution to the combined company’s risk-adjusted net asset value, on a pre-synergy basis; |
• | the fact that the transaction is expected to result in Allkem’s shareholders owning approximately 56% of the combined company, compared to 53% that was implied by the volume-weighted average market prices of Allkem Shares and Livent Shares over the one-month period preceding the signing of the Transaction Agreement, which implies a premium of approximately 14% to Allkem’s shareholders (measured as the difference between the agreed Merger Exchange Ratio and the implied merger exchange ratio based on the prices of Allkem Shares and Livent Shares using volume weighted average share prices over this period, and calculated assuming Allkem shareholders exchange their Allkem Shares for NewCo Shares at an implied price of A$13.54 per share, which in turn was calculated using the one-month volume weighted average price of Livent Shares over the same period ($21.81), the Merger Exchange Ratio, and the average of the daily USD to AUD foreign exchange rates over the same period); |
• | the view that the transaction would be accretive to Allkem’s and Livent’s shareholders on a net asset value per share basis following anticipated synergies; |
• | the view that the transaction would provide approximately $125 million per year of estimated annual pre-tax cost synergies by 2027 (with the majority expected to be realized within three years of the transaction) (excluding the impact of approximately $40 million in estimated non-recurring costs to achieve these synergies), and approximately $200 million of estimated one-time capital expenditure savings expected by the end of 2025 largely from consolidated infrastructure, streamlined construction and procurement operations and leveraged complementary engineering work; |
• | the view that the combined company would have a stronger financial profile and be positioned to accelerate and deliver upon a growth strategy with a strong balance sheet (including combined liquidity of approximately $1.4 billion based on the companies’ respective publicly reported information as of March 31, 2023 and limited indebtedness) and positive cash flow generation; and |
• | the view that the transaction is generally expected to be cash-free and tax-free for both Allkem’s shareholders and Livent’s stockholders. |
• | the view that greater value is expected to be created for Allkem’s shareholders as the expected owners of approximately 56% of the combined company than as the owners of all of Allkem on a standalone basis, largely due to the factors described above; |
• | the view that the transaction would be more value accretive for Allkem’s shareholders when compared to other available strategic alternatives considered by the Allkem Board; |
• | the view that the transaction would provide Allkem’s shareholders with greater liquidity with respect to their investments, including through the primary listing of the NewCo Shares on the NYSE and a foreign exempt quotation of the CDIs on the ASX and seeking inclusion in key S&P indexes in the U.S. and the S&P / ASX 200 index in Australia (through pro rata CDI inclusion) based on the implied combined market capitalization of Livent and Allkem as well as other factors; |
• | the scope of the due diligence investigation of Livent’s business, operations, financial condition, earnings and prospects conducted by and on behalf of Allkem, and the substantive results thereof; |
• | the current and prospective business climate in the lithium industry; |
• | the governance arrangements that are expected to enable the combined company to benefit from proven and experienced business leaders at both the board of directors and executive officer levels, including: |
○ | The NewCo board of directors consisting of 14 directors, seven of whom will be from Allkem’s existing board of directors and will be nominated by Allkem and seven of whom will be from Livent’s |
○ | Mr. Peter Coleman, the current Chairman of the Allkem Board, serving as the Chair of the NewCo board of directors; and |
○ | directors nominated by Allkem serving as the Chairs of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the NewCo board of directors; |
• | the commercial, operational and capital deployment teams of NewCo that are expected to be comprised of representatives from both Allkem and Livent and are expected to enable continuity of management; |
• | the other terms and conditions of the Transaction Agreement and related documentation, including: |
○ | the nature and scope of the representations, warranties and covenants of Livent and Allkem in the Transaction Agreement; |
○ | the restrictions on Livent soliciting alternative transaction proposals from third parties and/or providing confidential due diligence information to, or engaging in discussions with, third parties interested in pursuing alternative transactions, except under certain circumstances; |
○ | the fact that Livent must pay Allkem a termination fee of $64.6 million if the Transaction Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances; |
○ | the fact that Allkem would not be required to pay Livent a termination fee if the Transaction Agreement is terminated due to regulatory impediments or, in the absence of a Competing Proposal, due to the failure of Allkem’s shareholders to approve the scheme, the failure of the Independent Expert to conclude that the scheme is in the best interests of Allkem’s shareholders or the failure of the Court to approve the scheme; |
○ | the provisions permitting Allkem, subject to certain terms and conditions, to change its board of directors’ recommendation or to propose or enter into an alternative transaction, and terminate the Transaction Agreement, in response to a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event; |
○ | the right, subject to certain terms and conditions, to terminate the Transaction Agreement if the scheme is not effective on or before February 10, 2024 (subject to extension by either party until May 10, 2024 in order to obtain required antitrust, investment screening or other regulatory approvals); |
○ | the nature and scope of the restrictions on the conduct of Livent’s business until the consummation of the transaction or the termination of the Transaction Agreement; |
○ | the expectation that the restrictions on Allkem under the Transaction Agreement provide Allkem with sufficient operating flexibility to conduct its business in the ordinary course between the execution of the Transaction Agreement and the consummation of the transaction; |
○ | the fact that Allkem’s aggregate monetary liability for any breaches of the terms of the Transaction Agreement is limited to $64.6 million, except in the case of intentional and material breach or fraud; |
○ | the nature and scope of the obligations of Livent to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the required governmental approvals under the antitrust and investment screening laws of specified jurisdictions, including to potentially agree to certain obligations and restrictions (including divestitures) that would not reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse impact on Livent or the benefits or synergies that Livent expects to realize from the transaction; |
○ | the fact that Allkem’s obligation to consummate the transaction is conditioned on its receipt of confirmation from the ATO that either the ATO is prepared to issue a class ruling or there are no material impediments which may prevent the ATO from issuing a class ruling confirming that qualifying Australian resident shareholders of Allkem will be eligible to choose rollover relief to the extent they receive NewCo Shares or CDIs in connection with the scheme; and |
○ | the nature and scope of the other conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the absence of any events that have a material adverse effect on either party, the receipt of the required |
• | the likelihood and the anticipated timing of the consummation of the transaction based on, among other things: |
○ | the nature and scope of the conditions to the consummation of the transaction; |
○ | the possibility that a third party would make an offer to merge, acquire or otherwise enter into an extraordinary transaction with Livent or Allkem; |
○ | the likelihood that the ATO would confirm that either it is prepared to issue a class ruling or there are no material impediments which may prevent it from issuing a class ruling confirming that qualifying Australian resident shareholders of Allkem will be eligible to choose rollover relief to the extent they receive NewCo Shares or CDIs in connection with the scheme on a timely basis; and |
○ | the likelihood that the required governmental approvals under the antitrust and investment screening laws of specified jurisdictions would be received without the imposition of certain obligations and restrictions (including divestitures) that would reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse impact on a party or the benefits or synergies that a party expects to realize from the transaction on a timely basis. |
• | the challenges inherent in completing the transaction on the anticipated timetable, including the fact that consummation of the transaction depends on factors outside of Allkem’s control such as regulatory approvals, conclusion by the Independent Expert that the scheme is in the best interests of Allkem’s shareholders, approval of the scheme by the Court, approval of the scheme by Allkem’s shareholders and approval of the transaction by Livent’s stockholders, and that there can be no assurance that the conditions that must be satisfied or waived for the transaction to occur will be satisfied or waived; |
• | the risk that required regulatory approvals, the receipt of which is beyond Allkem’s and Livent’s control, may be delayed, conditioned or denied; |
• | the risk that Livent’s stockholders or Allkem’s shareholders vote against the proposals at the Livent Special Meeting or Allkem’s scheme meeting, respectively; |
• | the challenges inherent in integrating the businesses, operations and workforces of Livent with those of Allkem, and developing and executing a successful strategy and business plan for the combined company; |
• | the potential for management diversion and employee attrition during the period prior to the consummation of the transaction, and the potential negative effects on Allkem’s and, ultimately, the combined company’s, business operations and relationships; |
• | the risk that, despite the efforts of Allkem and Livent prior to the consummation of the transaction, the combined company may lose its relationships with one or more significant customers, suppliers or other strategic partners or be unable to retain key officers or other employees; |
• | the risk of not capturing the anticipated cost savings and synergies and performance improvements, and the risk that other anticipated benefits described above might not be realized, take longer to achieve or involve additional costs to achieve; |
• | the challenges inherent in the combination of two business enterprises of the size and scope of Allkem and Livent and the cross-border nature of the combined company; |
• | the fact that Allkem and Livent have incurred and will continue to incur significant transaction costs and expenses in connection with the transaction, regardless of whether the transaction is consummated, and that those costs may be greater than anticipated; |
• | the risk that the accounting treatment of the transaction differs from what the parties had anticipated at the time of execution of the Transaction Agreement, and that additional expenses and inefficiencies may result from that treatment; |
• | the risk that NewCo could be treated as a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the tax expenses and inefficiencies that may result from that treatment; |
• | the risks associated with becoming a U.S. domestic registrant subject to U.S. securities laws, including associated costs, compliance and reporting requirements; |
• | the risks associated with establishing NewCo’s primary stock exchange listing in the U.S. on the NYSE and the risk that NewCo may not be included in indices in the U.S. and Australia (including an S&P index in the U.S. and the S&P / ASX 200 index in Australia); |
• | certain terms of the Transaction Agreement, including, among other things: |
○ | the restrictions on Allkem soliciting alternative transaction proposals from third parties and/or providing confidential due diligence information to, or engaging in discussions with, third parties interested in pursuing alternative transactions, except under certain circumstances; |
○ | the fact that Allkem must pay Livent a termination fee of $64.6 million if the Transaction Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances; |
○ | the provisions permitting Livent, subject to certain terms and conditions, to change its board of directors’ recommendation or propose or enter into an alternative transaction, and to terminate the Transaction Agreement, in response to a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event; |
○ | the nature and scope of the obligations of Allkem to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the required governmental approvals under the antitrust and investment screening laws of specified jurisdictions, including, under certain circumstances and subject to specified limits, potentially being required to divest certain assets or commit to limitations on the business of Allkem to the extent provided in the Transaction Agreement; |
○ | the nature and scope of the restrictions on the conduct of Allkem’s business until the consummation of the transaction or termination of the Transaction Agreement, which may delay or prevent Allkem from undertaking certain opportunities that may arise; |
○ | the fact that Livent’s aggregate monetary liability for any breaches of the terms of the Transaction Agreement is limited to $64.6 million, except in the case of intentional and material breach or fraud; and |
○ | the fact that the definition of “Material Adverse Effect” has a number of customary exceptions, as described in detail in the section entitled “The Transaction Agreement—Conditions That Must Be Satisfied or Waived for the Transaction to Occur” beginning on page 167 of this proxy statement/prospectus, and is generally a very high standard as applied by courts; and |
• |
• | NewCo is a shell company and was formed in contemplation and for the purpose of completing the transaction; |
• | Livent initiated the negotiation of the transaction; |
• | The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Livent will continue as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of NewCo and Livent’s other executive officer, Ms. Sara Ponessa, General Counsel, will continue to perform the same role for NewCo; |
• | Under the NewCo articles of association, the Chief Executive Officer has the authority to select NewCo’s officers other than those required to be elected by the NewCo board of directors; |
• | The NewCo board of directors will be split evenly with six nominees from each of Livent and Allkem with equal voting rights, and matters on which the NewCo board of directors is deadlocked will not be approved (in this regard, the appointment of Mr. Peter Coleman, who is Allkem’s current Chairman, as the Chair of the NewCo board of directors did not impact the analysis because NewCo’s Chair will not have any tie-breaking or other special voting powers or any ability to affect the voting powers of the other NewCo directors under NewCo’s articles of association); |
• | There was an implied approximately 14% premium (measured as the difference between the agreed Merger Exchange Ratio and the implied merger exchange ratio based on the prices of Allkem Shares and Livent Shares, using volume weighted average share prices over one month from April 10, 2023 through May 9, 2023, the day immediately prior to the date of the Transaction Agreement) to Allkem shareholders; |
• | Notwithstanding that former shareholders of Allkem will own approximately 56% of the NewCo Shares (either directly or through CDIs) compared to Livent stockholders owning approximately 44%, on a fully diluted basis, the shareholders of NewCo will be diffuse with no holder or group of holders having a significant voting or minority ownership and there is no large minority interest and, as discussed above, the NewCo board of directors representing the shareholders will be split evenly with six nominees from each of Livent and Allkem, and each director (including the Chair) will have equal voting rights; and |
• | Livent had a similar total market capitalization to Allkem prior to the announcement of the transaction, notwithstanding Allkem’s larger size in terms of assets, earnings and revenues as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
• | certain financial institutions; |
• | an insurance company; |
• | a regulated investment company, real estate investment trust, or mutual fund; |
• | a dealer or electing trader in securities that uses a mark-to-market method of tax accounting; |
• | a person who holds Livent Shares, or will hold NewCo Shares, as the case may be, as part of a “straddle,” integrated transaction or similar transaction; |
• | a person who holds Livent Shares, or will hold NewCo Shares, as the case may be, in an individual retirement or other tax-deferred account; |
• | a person whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
• | a person who received Livent Shares, or who acquires NewCo Shares, as the case may be, pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation or in connection with the performance of services; |
• | a person required for U.S. federal income tax purposes to conform the timing of income accruals to their financial statements under Section 451 of the Code; |
• | a person who holds Livent Shares, or will hold NewCo Shares, as the case may be, in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the U.S.; |
• | an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership or other flow-through entity (including an S corporation or a limited liability company treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes); or |
• | a tax-exempt entity. |
• | an individual citizen or resident of the U.S.; |
• | a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation created in or organized under the laws of the U.S., any state therein or the District of Columbia; or |
• | an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without regard to its source. |
• | The exchange of Livent Shares by U.S. holders for NewCo Shares in the merger will not result in the recognition of any gain or loss with respect to a U.S. holder’s Livent Shares (except with respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares, as discussed below). |
• | The aggregate tax basis of any NewCo Shares a U.S. holder receives in exchange for all of its Livent Shares in the merger, including fractional NewCo Shares deemed received and redeemed or sold, as discussed below, will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of its Livent Shares. |
• | The holding period of any NewCo Shares (including fractional NewCo Shares deemed received and redeemed as discussed below) a U.S. holder receives in the merger will include the holding period of the Livent Shares it exchanged for such NewCo Shares. |
• | If a U.S. holder has differing bases or holding periods in respect of its Livent Shares, the U.S. holder must determine the bases and holding periods in the NewCo Shares received in the merger separately for each identifiable block (that is, stock of the same class acquired at the same time for the same price) of Livent Shares the U.S. holder exchanges. |
• | Because NewCo will not issue any fractional NewCo Shares in the merger, if a U.S. holder exchanges Livent Shares in the merger, and would otherwise have received a fraction of a NewCo Share, the U.S. holder will receive cash. In such a case, the U.S. holder will be treated as having received a fractional share and having received such cash in redemption of the fractional share. The amount of any capital gain or loss the U.S. holder recognizes will equal the amount of cash received with respect to the fractional share less the ratable portion of the tax basis of the Livent Shares surrendered that is allocated to the fractional share. Capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in the Livent Shares is more than one year on the date of closing of the merger. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. |
• | a person (not being a company) resident for tax purposes in a Relevant Territory (as defined below) (including the U.S.) and is neither resident nor ordinarily resident in Ireland; |
• | a company resident for tax purposes in a Relevant Territory, provided such company is not under the control, whether directly or indirectly, of a person or persons who is or are resident in Ireland; |
• | a company, wherever resident, that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by persons resident in a Relevant Territory and who is or are (as the case may be) not controlled by, directly or indirectly, persons who are not resident in a Relevant Territory; |
• | a company, wherever resident, whose principal class of shares (or those of its 75% direct or indirect parent) is substantially and regularly traded on a stock exchange in Ireland, on a recognized stock exchange in a Relevant Territory or on such other stock exchange approved by the Irish Minister for Finance; or |
• | a company, wherever resident, that is wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by two or more companies where the principal class of shares of each of such companies is substantially and regularly traded on a stock exchange in Ireland, on a recognized stock exchange in a Relevant Territory or on such other stock exchange approved by the Irish Minister for Finance; |
• | The NewCo board of directors will consist of 12 directors, six of whom will be from the existing Allkem Board, including the Chairman of the Allkem Board as of immediately prior to the scheme implementation, and will be nominated by Allkem, and six of whom will be from the existing Livent Board, including the Chief Executive Officer of Livent as of immediately prior to the effective time, and will be nominated by Livent. Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, Livent and Allkem have since nominated the following individuals for the NewCo board of directors: (i) Michael F. Barry, (ii) Peter Coleman, (iii) Alan Fitzpatrick, (iv) Paul W. Graves, (v) Florencia Heredia, (vi) Leanne Heywood, (vii) Christina Lampe-Önnerud, (viii) Pablo Marcet, (ix) Steven T. Merkt, (x) Robert C. Pallash, (xi) Fernando Oris de Roa and (xii) John Turner; |
• | the initial Chair of the NewCo board of directors will be the Chairman of the Allkem Board as of immediately prior to the scheme implementation; |
• | the initial Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of NewCo will be the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of Livent as of immediately prior to the effective time; |
• | NewCo’s applicable corporate governance policies will require that there be a mandatory retirement age of 75 for the members of the NewCo board of directors; |
• | NewCo’s applicable corporate governance policies will require that the NewCo board of directors have the following committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Sustainability Committee and such other committees as determined by the NewCo board of directors from time to time; |
• | each of the Chair of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee will be an Allkem Nominee; |
• | each of the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Sustainability Committee will be a Livent Nominee; and |
• | the executive leadership structure of NewCo (other than the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer), and the persons to fill such positions, in each case as of the effective time, were contemplated to be mutually determined in good faith by Livent and Allkem prior to the scheme effectiveness with the objective of filling such positions with the most qualified persons. Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, the parties have since made this determination, including that Livent’s current General Counsel, Ms. Sara Ponessa, will assume the role of General Counsel of NewCo, as well as determining the rest of the broader senior management team of NewCo as of the effective time, consisting of an approximately equal split of employees from each of Allkem and Livent. |
| | Percentage of Allkem Performance Rights that will vest by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness: | |||||||
| | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2022 | | | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2023 | | | Allkem Performance Rights issued for Fiscal Year 2024 | |
Management Long-Term Incentive Program Allkem Performance Rights (with vesting based on base production capacity) | | | 98% | | | 100% | | | 16% |
Management Long-Term Incentive Program Allkem Performance Rights (with vesting based on bonus production capacity) | | | 0% | | | 0% | | | 16% |
Management Long-Term Incentive Program Allkem Performance Rights (with vesting based on relative total shareholder return) | | | 100% | | | 100% | | | 16% |
Management Long-Term Award Allkem Performance Rights (granted to members of management who do not participate in the Management Long-Term Incentive Program, with vesting based on continued employment as of the end of a three-year vesting period) | | | 100% | | | 100% | | | 100% |
Merger Retention Allkem Performance Rights (granted in connection with the Galaxy/Orocobre Merger, with vesting based on continued employment as of the vesting date of August 25, 2024) | | | 100% | | | N/A | | | N/A |
• | Livent RSUs. At the effective time, each outstanding time-vested restricted stock unit with respect to Livent Shares (“Livent RSU”) will be assumed by NewCo and will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent RSU immediately prior to the effective time, except that the Livent Shares subject to such Livent RSUs will be converted into the right to receive, upon vesting, a number of NewCo Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Livent Shares underlying such Livent RSUs immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (ii) 2.406. Following such assumption, each assumed Livent RSU that is unvested and outstanding as of the date of signing of the Transaction Agreement will vest on a pro rata basis and, to the extent of such vesting, will be exchanged into the right to receive the merger consideration, plus the fractional share consideration (if any), at the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter. |
• | Livent PSUs. At the effective time, each outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit with respect to Livent Shares (“Livent PSU”) will fully vest, with the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent PSUs determined based on the achievement of the higher of target and actual performance. At the effective time or as soon as practicable thereafter, each Livent PSU will be canceled in exchange for the right to receive the merger consideration, plus the fractional share consideration (if any). |
• | Livent Options. At the effective time, each outstanding time-vested stock option (whether vested or unvested) with respect to Livent Shares (the “Livent Option”) will be assumed by NewCo (each, a “Livent Assumed Option”). Each Livent Assumed Option will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as applied to the related Livent Option immediately prior to the effective time, except that (x) each such Livent Assumed Option will be converted into a stock option to acquire a number of NewCo |
• | Livent Director RSUs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, immediately prior to the effective time, any outstanding time-vested restricted stock unit held by any Livent non-employee directors with respect to Livent Shares (“Livent Director RSUs”) will vest in full and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (i) the number of Livent Shares subject to such Livent Director RSUs immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (ii) the higher of (A) the first available closing price of the merger consideration and (B) the closing price per share of Livent Shares as reported in the NYSE, on the last trading day preceding the closing date. |
• | qualification, organization, good standing and corporate or other organizational power; |
• | capitalization or share capital, including equity awards; |
• | authority with respect to the execution and delivery of the Transaction Agreement, and the due and valid execution and delivery and enforceability of the Transaction Agreement; |
• | required regulatory filings and consents and approvals of governmental entities and third parties; |
• | absence of conflicts with, or violations of, organizational documents, contracts and applicable laws; |
• | accuracy of SEC reports, with respect to Livent, or ASIC documents, with respect to Allkem; |
• | fair presentation and GAAP compliance with respect to Livent’s financial statements, and fair presentation and IFRS compliance with respect to Allkem’s financial statements; |
• | internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures; |
• | absence of undisclosed liabilities and off-balance-sheet arrangements; |
• | compliance with laws, court orders and permits; |
• | matters related to employee benefit and compensation plans; |
• | environmental laws; |
• | absence of changes or events that have had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the applicable party; |
• | conduct of business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice; |
• | absence of certain investigations and litigation; |
• | tax matters; |
• | labor matters; |
• | intellectual property matters; |
• | real property matters; |
• | shareholder votes required for the Livent Stockholder Approval or the Allkem Shareholder Approval, as applicable, and the inapplicability of anti-takeover statutes; |
• | material contracts; |
• | insurance matters; |
• | fees payable to finders or brokers in connection with the transaction; |
• | compliance with anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; |
• | sanctions matters; |
• | export and import matters; |
• | matters related to mining rights; |
• | each of Livent and Allkem’s ownership of equity interests in the other party or such other party’s subsidiaries; |
• | status under the Investment Canada Act; and |
• | the absence of other representations or warranties made outside of the Transaction Agreement. |
• | any changes in global, national or regional economic conditions, including any changes generally affecting financial, credit or capital market conditions; |
• | conditions (or changes therein) in any industry or industries in which such person or any of its subsidiaries operates, including in the lithium mining and chemicals industry (including changes in general market prices for lithium chemicals and related products (including pricing under futures contracts)); |
• | general legal, tax, economic, political and/or regulatory conditions (or changes therein); |
• | any change or prospective changes in GAAP, IFRS, Australian Accounting Standards, JORC, NI 43-101, Subpart 1300 or the interpretation thereof; |
• | any adoption, implementation, promulgation, repeal, modification, amendment, reinterpretation, change or proposal of any applicable law of and by any governmental entity (including with respect to taxes); |
• | the execution and delivery of the Transaction Agreement and, in the case of Livent, the deed poll, or the negotiation, public announcement, pendency or consummation of the transaction or compliance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement and, in the case of Livent, the deed poll, including any transaction litigation and including any actual or potential loss or impairment after the date of the Transaction Agreement of any contract or business relationship to the extent arising as a result thereof (it being understood that this bullet will not apply with respect to any representation or warranty contained in the Transaction Agreement or, in the case of Livent, the deed poll, to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from the execution and delivery of the Transaction Agreement or, in the case of Livent, the deed poll, or the consummation of the transaction or the compliance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement or, in the case of Livent, the deed poll; |
• | any change in the price or trading volume of the shares of such person, in and of itself (it being understood that the Effects giving rise or contributing to such change that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of “material adverse effect” may be taken into account); |
• | any failure by such person to meet, or any change in, any internal or published projections, estimates or expectations of such person’s revenue, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations for any period, in and of itself, or any failure by such person to meet its internal budgets, plans or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations, in and of itself (it being understood that the Effects giving rise or contributing to such change that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of “material adverse effect” may be taken into account); |
• | Effects arising out of changes in geopolitical conditions, the outbreak of a pandemic, epidemic, endemic or other widespread health crisis (including COVID-19), acts of terrorism or sabotage, war (whether or not declared), the commencement, continuation or escalation of a war, acts of armed hostility, weather conditions, natural disasters or other similar force majeure events, including any material worsening of such conditions threatened or existing as of the date of the Transaction Agreement; |
• | any action taken at the request of the other party in writing; |
• | any reduction in the credit rating or credit rating outlook of such person or its subsidiaries or any increase in credit default swap spreads with respect to indebtedness of such person or its subsidiaries, in and of itself (it being understood that the Effects giving rise or contributing to such change that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of “material adverse effect” may be taken into account); or |
• | effects arising out of any conversion or reconciliation among IFRS, GAAP, Australian Accounting Standards, JORC, NI 43-101 and Subpart 1300 undertaken in connection with the transaction; |
• | amend the governing documents of Livent or any of its subsidiaries; |
• | split, combine, subdivide, reduce or reclassify any of its issued or unissued capital stock or other equity interests, or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for, shares of its capital stock or other equity interests, except for any such transaction by a subsidiary of Livent which remains a subsidiary of Livent after consummation of such transaction or as otherwise permitted by the Transaction Agreement; |
• | declare, determine to be paid, set aside, authorize or pay any dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests, except for any dividends or distributions paid by a direct or indirect subsidiary of Livent to another direct or indirect subsidiary of Livent or to Livent; |
• | enter into any agreement with respect to the voting of its capital stock or other equity interests; |
• | purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests (other than (i) pursuant to the vesting of, exercise (whether cashless or not), forfeiture of or withholding of taxes with respect to, Livent equity awards, in each case in accordance with past practice and as required or permitted by the terms of the Livent equity plan as in effect on the date of the Transaction Agreement (or as modified after the date of the Transaction Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement) or (ii) purchases, repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of capital stock or other equity interests of any Livent subsidiary by Livent or any other Livent subsidiary); |
• | authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (excluding any transactions, mergers or consolidations between Livent subsidiaries or transfers of interests of Livent subsidiaries to Livent or other Livent subsidiaries, or liquidation or dissolution of a Livent subsidiary); |
• | except as required by the terms and conditions of any Livent benefit plan in effect on the date of the Transaction Agreement (including when the Livent Board is affirmatively required to exercise discretion thereunder, provided that the Livent Board is acting reasonably): |
• | grant any long-term incentive awards (including Livent equity awards), other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | materially amend or modify any Livent benefit plan or establish any new material Livent benefit plan, other than to renew Livent’s health care insurance program in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | modify or increase the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable to any of its directors, officers, employees or individual independent contractors, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (including any such increases made in response to inflation or to align with existing market rates); |
• | pay or award, or commit to pay or award, any bonuses or incentive compensation, other than (i) as part of Livent’s fiscal year 2023 or 2024 annual compensation program, in each case consistent with past practice, or (ii) otherwise in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | establish, adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or other contract with any labor organization; |
• | except as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, take any action to accelerate the vesting, payment or funding of any payment or benefit payable or to become payable to any of its directors, officers, employees or individual independent contractors; |
• | terminate the employment of any officer of Livent subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, other than for cause; |
• | hire any officer, employee or individual independent contractor having total target annual cash compensation of more than $300,000, or any officer of Livent subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, other than to fill open positions or positions that become open, to complete hirings that are already in progress as of the date of the Transaction Agreement or to fill new roles that have been duly budgeted and approved; or |
• | implement or announce any employee layoffs (other than for cause or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or location closings (other than any consolidation of existing corporate offices within the U.S. in a manner which does not require any terminations except for cause); |
• | make any material change in financial accounting policies, principles, practices or procedures or any of Livent’s methods of reporting income, deductions or other material items for financial accounting purposes, except as required by GAAP, applicable law or SEC rules; |
• | authorize or announce an intention to authorize, or enter into agreements providing for, any acquisitions of any business or investments in third parties (excluding any capital expenditures), whether by merger, consolidation, purchase of property or assets, joint venture, licenses or otherwise, except for such transactions for consideration (including the assumption of liabilities) that does not exceed (when taken together with all other such transactions) $10 million in the aggregate (valuing any non-cash consideration at its fair market value as of the date of the agreement for such acquisition); |
• | enter into any new material line of business other than any line of business that is reasonably ancillary to or a reasonably foreseeable extension of any line of business engaged in by Livent as of the date of the Transaction Agreement; |
• | issue, deliver, grant, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize the issuance, delivery, grant, sale, transfer, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any shares of capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests in Livent or any of its subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares, voting securities or equity interests, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares of its capital stock, voting securities or equity interests or any “phantom” stock, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights or stock based performance units or take any action to cause to be |
• | create, incur, assume or otherwise become liable with respect to any indebtedness (whether evidenced by a note or other instrument, pursuant to an issuance of debt securities, financing lease, sale-leaseback transaction or otherwise), other than (i) indebtedness solely between Livent and a subsidiary of Livent or between subsidiaries of Livent in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) borrowings by Livent or any of its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice under Livent’s existing credit agreement and guarantees of such borrowings issued by the subsidiaries of Livent to the extent required under the terms of such credit agreement as in effect on the date of the Transaction Agreement, (iii) in connection with any existing project financing or future project financing publicly disclosed by Livent prior to the date of the Transaction Agreement and (iv) in connection with letters of credit issued or hedging arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person (other than Livent (in the case of loans and advances) or any subsidiary of Livent), in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise permitted by the Transaction Agreement; |
• | sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange, swap, let lapse, cancel, pledge, abandon or otherwise dispose of, or subject to any lien (other than certain permitted liens), any properties or assets (including intellectual property but excluding its own equity interests), except (i) in the case of liens, as required in connection with any indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, (ii) sales of inventory or products produced in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or dispositions of obsolete or worthless equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) non-exclusive licenses of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iv) such transactions with neither a fair market value of the assets or properties nor an aggregate purchase price that exceeds (when taken together with all other such transactions) $5 million in the aggregate (valuing any non-cash consideration at its fair market value as of the date of the agreement for such transaction), and (v) for transactions among Livent and its subsidiaries or among its subsidiaries; |
• | without limiting Livent’s ability to take action pursuant to the Transaction Agreement with respect to transaction litigation, settle, or offer or propose to settle, any proceeding involving or against Livent or any of its subsidiaries, other than ordinary course disputes with vendors, customers or employees in which no litigation or arbitration commences, and settlements or compromises of any proceeding where the amount paid in an individual settlement or compromise by Livent (and not including any amount paid by Livent’s third-party insurance carriers or third parties) does not exceed an amount agreed-upon with Allkem and there is no material non-monetary relief; |
• | make or change any material tax election or change any tax accounting period for purposes of a material tax or material method of tax accounting, settle or compromise any audit or proceeding relating to taxes that involves a material amount of taxes or enter into any “closing agreement” with respect to any material tax; |
• | make or commit to any new capital expenditure, other than (i) in connection with the repair or replacement of facilities, properties or assets destroyed or damaged due to casualty or accident, (ii) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (iii) an amount, in the aggregate, not in excess of 110% of an amount agreed-upon with Allkem; |
• | except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or with respect to matters that are expressly permitted by the Transaction Agreement, enter into any contract that would, if entered into prior to the date of the Transaction Agreement, be a material contract, or modify, amend or terminate any of Livent’s material contracts or waive, release or assign any material rights, benefits or claims thereunder; |
• | terminate, revoke, amend or otherwise modify the joinder agreements or any other contract with NewCo, a subsidiary of NewCo, Irish IntermediateCo or Merger Sub or any equityholder, director or officer thereof in such equityholder’s, director’s or officer’s capacity as such; or |
• | agree, resolve or commit, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions. |
• | amend the governing documents of Allkem or any of its subsidiaries; |
• | split, combine, subdivide, reduce or reclassify any of its issued or unissued capital stock or other equity interests, or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for, shares of its capital stock or other equity interests, except for any such transaction by a subsidiary of Allkem which remains a subsidiary of Allkem after consummation of such transaction or as otherwise permitted by the Transaction Agreement; |
• | declare, determine to be paid, set aside, authorize or pay any dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests, except for any dividends or distributions paid by a direct or indirect subsidiary of Allkem to another direct or indirect subsidiary of Allkem or to Allkem; |
• | enter into any agreement with respect to the voting of its capital stock or other equity interests; |
• | purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests (other than (i) pursuant to the vesting of, exercise (whether cashless or not) of, forfeiture of or withholding of taxes with respect to, Allkem Performance Rights, in each case in accordance with past practice and as required or permitted by the terms of the Allkem equity plan as in effect on the date of the Transaction Agreement (or as modified after the date of the Transaction Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement) or (ii) purchases, repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of capital stock or other equity interests of any Allkem subsidiary by Allkem or any other Allkem subsidiary); |
• | authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (excluding any transactions, mergers or consolidations between Allkem subsidiaries or transfers of interests of Allkem subsidiaries to Allkem or other Allkem subsidiaries, or liquidation or dissolution of an Allkem subsidiary); |
• | except as required by the terms and conditions of any Allkem benefit plan in effect as of the date of the Transaction Agreement (including when the Allkem Board is affirmatively required to exercise discretion thereunder, provided that the Allkem Board is acting reasonably): |
• | grant any long-term incentive awards (including Allkem Performance Rights), other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | materially amend or modify any Allkem benefit plan or establish any new material Allkem benefit plan, other than to renew Allkem’s health care insurance program in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice ; |
• | modify or increase the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable to any of its directors, officers, employees or individual independent contractors, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (including any such increases made in response to inflation or to align salaries with existing market rates); |
• | pay or award, or commit to pay or award, any bonuses or incentive compensation, other than (i) as part of Allkem’s fiscal year 2023 or 2024 annual compensation program, in each case consistent with past practice, or (ii) otherwise in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | establish, adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or other contract with any labor organization; |
• | except as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, take any action to accelerate the vesting, payment or funding of any payment or benefit payable or to become payable to any of its directors, officers, employees or individual independent contractors; |
• | terminate the employment of any key management personnel of Allkem, other than for cause; |
• | hire any officer, employee or individual independent contractor having total target annual cash compensation of more than $300,000, or any key management personnel of Allkem, other than to fill open positions or positions that become open, to complete hirings that are already in progress as of the date of the Transaction Agreement or to fill new roles that have been duly budgeted and approved; or |
• | implement or announce any employee layoffs (other than for cause or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or location closings (other than any consolidation of existing corporate offices within Australia in a manner which does not require any terminations except for cause); |
• | make any material change in financial accounting policies, principles, practices or procedures or any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or other material items for financial accounting purposes, except as required by IFRS, Australian Accounting Standards, applicable law (including applicable Canadian securities laws) or ASIC, ASX or TSX rules, regulations and policy; |
• | authorize or announce an intention to authorize, or enter into agreements providing for, any acquisitions of any business or investments in third parties (excluding any capital expenditures), whether by merger, consolidation, purchase of property or assets, joint venture, licenses or otherwise, except for such transactions for consideration (including the assumption of liabilities) that does not exceed (when taken together with all other such transactions) $10 million in the aggregate (valuing any non-cash consideration at its fair market value as of the date of the agreement for such acquisition); |
• | enter into any new material line of business other than any line of business that is reasonably ancillary to or a reasonably foreseeable extension of any line of business engaged in by Allkem as of the date of the Transaction Agreement; |
• | issue, deliver, grant, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize the issuance, delivery, grant, sale, transfer, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any shares of capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests in Allkem or any of its subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares, voting securities or equity interests, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares of its capital stock, voting securities or equity interests or any “phantom” stock, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights or stock based performance units or take any action to cause to be exercisable any otherwise unexercisable Allkem Performance Rights under any existing Allkem equity plan, other than (i) as otherwise required by the terms and conditions of any Allkem Performance Rights as in effect on the date of the Transaction Agreement (including when the Allkem Board is affirmatively |
• | create, incur, assume or otherwise become liable with respect to any indebtedness (whether evidenced by a note or other instrument, pursuant to an issuance of debt securities, financing lease, sale-leaseback transaction or otherwise), other than (i) indebtedness solely between Allkem and a subsidiary of Allkem or between subsidiaries of Allkem in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) in connection with any existing project financing or future project financing publicly disclosed by Allkem prior to the date of the Transaction Agreement and (iii) in connection with letters of credit issued or hedging arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person (other than Allkem (in the case of loans and advances) or any subsidiary of Allkem), in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise permitted by the Transaction Agreement; |
• | sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange, swap, let lapse, cancel, pledge, abandon or otherwise dispose of, or subject to any lien (other than certain permitted liens), any properties or assets (including intellectual property but excluding its own equity interests), except (i) in the case of liens, as required in connection with any indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, (ii) sales of inventory or products produced in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or dispositions of obsolete or worthless equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) non-exclusive licenses of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iv) such transactions with neither a fair market value of the assets or properties nor an aggregate purchase price that exceeds (when taken together with all other such transactions) $5 million in the aggregate (valuing any non-cash consideration at its fair market value as of the date of the agreement for such transaction), and (v) for transactions among Allkem and its subsidiaries or among its subsidiaries; |
• | without limiting Allkem’s ability to take action pursuant to the Transaction Agreement with respect to transaction litigation, settle, or offer or propose to settle, any proceeding involving or against Allkem or any of its subsidiaries, other than ordinary course disputes with vendors, customers or employees in which no litigation or arbitration commences, and settlements or compromises of any proceeding where the amount paid in an individual settlement or compromise by Allkem (and not including any amount paid by Allkem’s third-party insurance carriers or third parties) does not exceed an amount agreed-upon with Livent and there is no material non-monetary relief; |
• | make or change any material tax election or change any tax accounting period for purposes of a material tax or material method of tax accounting, settle or compromise any audit or proceeding relating to taxes that involves a material amount of taxes or enter into any “closing agreement” with respect to any material tax; |
• | make or commit to any new capital expenditure, other than (i) in connection with the repair or replacement of facilities, properties or assets destroyed or damaged due to casualty or accident, (ii) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (iii) an amount, in the aggregate, not in excess of 110% of an amount agreed-upon with Livent; |
• | except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or with respect to matters that are expressly permitted by the Transaction Agreement, enter into any contract that would, if entered into prior to the date of the Transaction Agreement, be a material contract, or modify, amend or terminate any of Allkem’s material contracts or waive, release or assign any material rights, benefits or claims thereunder; or |
• | agree, resolve or commit, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions. |
• | initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or otherwise knowingly facilitate (including by way of furnishing non-public information) any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer, that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Competing Proposal; |
• | engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with any third party with respect to, relating to or in furtherance of any Competing Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal; |
• | provide any non-public information or data or access to the properties, assets or employees of Livent or Allkem and their respective subsidiaries, as applicable, to any third party in connection with, related to or in contemplation of any Competing Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal; |
• | in the case of Livent only, approve any third party becoming an “interested shareholder” under Section 203 of the DGCL; |
• | discuss with any third party, approve or recommend, or propose to discuss, approve or recommend, or execute or enter into any agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, term sheet, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement, in each case of the foregoing relating to a Competing Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer, in each case of the foregoing that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement in accordance with the requirements provided for in the Transaction Agreement); or |
• | submit any Competing Proposal to the vote of Livent’s or Allkem’s shareholders, as applicable; |
• | change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify, or publicly propose or announce any intention to change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify in a manner adverse to the other party, its Board Recommendation; |
• | fail to include its Board Recommendation in this proxy statement/prospectus, in the case of Livent, or the scheme booklet, in the case of Allkem; |
• | approve, adopt, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose or announce any intention to approve, adopt, endorse or recommend, any Competing Proposal; |
• | publicly agree or propose to enter into, any agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, term sheet, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement, in each case of the foregoing relating to a Competing Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement as provided for in the Transaction Agreement) (an “Alternative Acquisition Agreement”); |
• | in the case of Livent only, in the case of a Competing Proposal that is structured as a tender offer or exchange offer pursuant to the Exchange Act for outstanding Livent Shares (other than by Allkem or an affiliate of Allkem), fail to recommend, in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders on or prior to the earlier of (A) three business days prior to the date the Livent Special Meeting is held, including adjournments (or promptly after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer if commenced on or after the third business day prior to the date the Livent Special Meeting is held, including adjournments) or (B) ten business days (as such term is used in Rule 14d-9 of the Exchange Act) after commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer; or |
• | cause or permit it to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement. |
• | in the case of Livent only, the Livent Board may, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, make such disclosures as it determines in good faith are necessary to comply with Rule 14d-9, Rule 14e-2(a) or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act or make any “stop, look and listen” |
• | prior to, but not after, the receipt of its shareholder approval, it and its representatives, as applicable, may engage in the activities prohibited by the Transaction Agreement (and, only with respect to a Competing Proposal that satisfies the requirements laid out in the Transaction Agreement, may solicit, propose, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiry or the making of any proposal or offer with respect to such Competing Proposal or any modification thereto) with any person if it receives a bona fide written Competing Proposal from such person that was not solicited at any time following the execution of the Transaction Agreement in breach of the obligations set forth in the Transaction Agreement; provided, however, that (i) no information that is prohibited from being furnished pursuant to the Transaction Agreement may be furnished until it receives an executed confidentiality agreement from such person containing obligations on the recipient of that information which its board of directors, acting in good faith and after taking advice from its external legal advisers experienced in transactions of this nature, determines are appropriate for a transaction of the nature of a Competing Proposal, and which contains standstill provisions that apply to the third party subject to exceptions that it (acting reasonably) considers appropriate in the circumstances having regard to (among other things) the fact that it is already subject to a public change of control proposal, as applicable; provided, further, that such confidentiality agreement does not contain provisions that prohibit it from providing any information to the other party in accordance with the Transaction Agreement or that otherwise prohibits it from complying with the provisions of the Transaction Agreement; (ii) any such non-public information has previously been made available to, or is made available to, the other party prior to or concurrently with (or in the case of oral non-public information only, promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) after) the time such information is made available to such person, except that it is not required to provide or make available to the other party any information that it, acting reasonably, determines is likely commercially sensitive information of that person; and (iii) prior to taking any such actions, its board of directors or any committee thereof determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that such Competing Proposal is, or could reasonably be considered to become, a Superior Proposal and that failing to take such actions would likely breach the statutory or fiduciary duties of its board of directors under applicable law; |
• | prior to, but not after, the receipt of its shareholder approval, its board of directors will be permitted, through its representatives or otherwise, to seek clarification from (but not, unless otherwise allowed pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, to provide any non-public information to) any person that has made a Competing Proposal solely to clarify and understand the terms and conditions of such proposal to provide adequate information for its board of directors to make an informed determination under the Transaction Agreement; |
• | prior to, but not after, the receipt of its shareholder approval, in response to a bona fide written Competing Proposal from a third party that was not solicited in breach of, and did not otherwise arise from a breach of, the obligations set forth in the Transaction Agreement, if its board of directors so chooses, its board of directors may effect a Change of Recommendation; provided, however, that such a Change of Recommendation may not be made unless and until: |
• | its board of directors determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that such Competing Proposal is a Superior Proposal; |
• | its board of directors determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failing to effect a Change of Recommendation in response to such Superior Proposal would likely breach the statutory or fiduciary duties of its board of directors under applicable law; |
• | it provides the other party written notice of such proposed action and the basis thereof at least four business days in advance, which notice will set forth in writing that its board of directors intends to consider whether to take such action and include all material terms and conditions of the Competing Proposal; |
• | after giving such notice and prior to effecting such Change of Recommendation, it will make itself available to negotiate (and cause its officers, employees, financial advisor and outside legal counsel to be available to negotiate) with the other party (to the extent the other party wishes to negotiate) to make such adjustments or revisions to the terms of the Transaction Agreement as would permit its board of directors not to effect a Change of Recommendation in response thereto; and |
• | at the end of such four business day period, prior to taking action to effect a Change of Recommendation, its board of directors takes into account any adjustments or revisions to the terms of the Transaction Agreement proposed by the other party in writing and any other information offered by the other party in response to the notice, and determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that the Competing Proposal remains a Superior Proposal and that failing to effect a Change of Recommendation in response to such Superior Proposal would likely breach the statutory or fiduciary duties of its board of directors under applicable law; provided that in the event of any material amendment or material modification to any Superior Proposal, it will be required to deliver a new written notice to the other party and to comply with the requirements of the Transaction Agreement with respect to such new written notice, except that the advance written notice obligation will be reduced to two business days; and |
• | prior to, but not after, receipt of its shareholder approval, in response to (i) an Intervening Event that occurs or arises after the date of the Transaction Agreement or (ii) only in the case of Allkem, due to the Independent Expert not concluding (or ceasing to conclude) that the scheme is in the best interest of Allkem shareholders (the “Independent Expert Event”) and, in each case, that did not arise from its breach of the Transaction Agreement, such party may, if its board of directors so chooses, effect a Change of Recommendation; provided, however, that such a Change of Recommendation may not be made unless and until: |
• | only in the case of an Intervening Event, its board of directors determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that an Intervening Event has occurred; |
• | only in the case of an Intervening Event, its board of directors determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that failing to effect a Change of Recommendation in response to such Intervening Event would likely breach the statutory or fiduciary duties of its board of directors under applicable law; |
• | it provides the other party written notice of such proposed action and the basis thereof four business days in advance, which notice will set forth in writing that its board of directors intends to consider whether to take such action and includes a reasonably detailed description of the facts and circumstances of the Intervening Event or the Independent Expert Event, as applicable; |
• | after giving such notice and prior to effecting such Change of Recommendation and if requested by the other party, it negotiates (and causes its officers, employees, financial advisor and outside legal counsel to negotiate) in good faith with the other party (to the extent the other party wishes to negotiate) to make such adjustments or revisions to the terms of the Transaction Agreement as would permit its board of directors not to effect a Change of Recommendation in response thereto; and |
• | at the end of such four business day period, prior to taking action to effect a Change of Recommendation, its board of directors takes into account any adjustments or revisions to the terms of the Transaction Agreement proposed by the other party in writing and any other information offered by the other party in response to the notice, and only in the case of an Intervening Event, determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that failing to effect a Change of Recommendation in response to such Intervening Event would likely breach the statutory or fiduciary duties of its board of directors under applicable law; provided that in the event of any material changes regarding any Intervening Event, it will be required to deliver a new written notice to the other party and to comply with the requirements of the Transaction Agreement with respect to such new written notice, except that the advance written notice obligation will be reduced to two business days; provided, further, that any such new written notice will in no event shorten the original four business day notice period. |
• | prepare and file as promptly as reasonably practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings (including by filing as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date of the Transaction Agreement the notifications, filings and other information required to be filed under any applicable antitrust or investment screening laws with respect to the transaction, including the HSR Act and CFIUS laws) in order to consummate the transaction; |
• | obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event prior to the end date) all consents, registrations, approvals, permits, expirations or terminations of waiting periods and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any governmental entity and any third party in order to consummate the transaction, including the HSR Act and CFIUS laws; and |
• | use its reasonable best efforts to resolve as promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event prior to the end date) such objections, if any, as may be asserted by any governmental entity in connection with any applicable laws with respect to the transaction. |
• | confidentiality and access by each party to certain information about the other party during the period prior to the effective time; |
• | cooperation between Livent and Allkem in connection with public announcements; |
• | cooperation between Livent and Allkem in connection with each party’s indebtedness and any credit agreements, indentures, notes or other documents or instruments governing or related to indebtedness; |
• | causing certain acquisitions and dispositions of Livent Shares and NewCo Shares to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act; |
• | using reasonable best efforts to cause the NewCo Shares to be approved for listing on the NYSE and to establish a listing on the ASX to enable the trading of CDIs; |
• | delisting of the Livent Shares from the NYSE and the deregistration of the Livent Shares under the Exchange Act; |
• | application to the ASX to suspend trading in Allkem Shares and removal of Allkem from the official list of ASX and TSX; |
• | establishing NewCo’s tax residence and registering NewCo for corporation tax, in each case, in the Republic of Ireland; |
• | cooperation between Livent and Allkem regarding any litigation related to the transaction; |
• | compliance with anti-takeover laws; |
• | establishing NewCo’s fiscal year end as December 31; and |
• | seeking inclusion of the NewCo Shares and the CDIs in an S&P index (in the case of the NewCo Shares) and the S&P / ASX 200 index (in the case of the CDIs). |
• | as at 8:00 a.m. AWST on the sanction date, each of the conditions set out below (other than the conditions in the second and third bullets below) has been satisfied or waived (where permitted); |
• | the approval by the Court (or any court of competent jurisdiction on appeal therefrom) (without material modification) of the scheme pursuant to Section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Corporations Act; |
• | the lodging by Allkem of an office copy of the Court orders approving the scheme under Section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Corporations Act with ASIC; |
• | the closing of the merger being capable of occurring, and would reasonably be expected to occur, as promptly as practicable following implementation of the scheme, meaning no applicable impediments under the terms of the Transaction Agreement exist or are foreseen such that there is any possibility that the scheme implementation and the merger closing do not occur around the same time, noting that the only condition to the merger occurring is the occurrence of the scheme implementation; |
• | the Allkem Shareholder Approval being duly obtained at the scheme meeting (or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken); |
• | the Livent Stockholder Approval being duly obtained at the Livent Special Meeting (or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken); |
• | (i) the NYSE having approved the listing of the NewCo Shares to be issued to the holders of Livent Shares and the NewCo Shares, including the NewCo Shares underlying the CDIs, to be issued to holders of Allkem Shares pursuant to the transaction, subject to official notice of issuance, and (ii) the ASX having provided approval for the admission of NewCo as a foreign exempt listing to the official list of ASX and the approval for official quotation of the CDIs, whether or not such approval is subject to conditions; |
• | all applicable governmental consents under specified antitrust and investment screening laws, in each case on any terms described in the Transaction Agreement (as the list may be amended with the written consent of Livent and Allkem) must have been obtained or made (as applicable) and remain in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods (including any extensions by agreement or operation of law) applicable to the scheme and the merger with respect thereto must have expired, lapsed or been terminated (as applicable); |
• | the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part must have become effective under the Securities Act and must not be the subject of any stop order (which has not been withdrawn) or proceedings initiated by the SEC seeking any stop order; |
• | (i) no governmental entity of a competent jurisdiction will have issued any order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation |
• | at 8:00 a.m. AWST on the sanction date, neither the Transaction Agreement nor the deed poll having been terminated in accordance with its terms. |
• | certain representations and warranties of Livent with respect to capitalization are true and correct, subject only to de minimis inaccuracies, on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date (or, in the case of representations and warranties given as of another specified date, as of that date); |
• | the representations and warranties of Livent that there has not occurred any Effect since December 31, 2022, that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Livent are true and correct in all respects on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date; |
• | certain representations and warranties of Livent with respect to organization, capitalization, corporate authority, opinion of financial advisor, required vote, takeover statutes and finders and brokers are true and correct in all material respects (without any materiality, material adverse effect or similar qualification) on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date (or, in the case of representations and warranties given as of another specified date, as of that date); |
• | the other representations and warranties of Livent set forth in the Transaction Agreement are true and correct in all respects on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date (or, in the case of representations and warranties given as of another specified date, as of that date) except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality, material adverse effect or similar qualification), individually or in the aggregate, has not had, or would not reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on Livent; |
• | each of Livent and the NewCo Parties have in all material respects performed the obligations and complied with the covenants required by the Transaction Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the sanction date; |
• | Livent has delivered to Allkem a certificate, dated as of the sanction date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Livent, certifying on behalf of Livent to the effect that the conditions set forth in the preceding five bullets have been satisfied; |
• | there has been no material adverse effect with respect to Livent; |
• | the Independent Expert has issued the IER, which concludes that the scheme is in the best interest of Allkem shareholders and the Independent Expert does not change, withdraw or qualify its conclusion in any written update to its IER or withdraw the IER; and |
• | Allkem has received confirmation (verbal or otherwise) from the ATO that either (i) there are no material impediments to or material issues to be resolved which may prevent the ATO from issuing the ATO Class Ruling or (ii) the ATO is prepared to issue the ATO Class Ruling, in a form and substance satisfactory to Allkem (acting reasonably), confirming that qualifying Australian resident Allkem shareholders will be eligible to choose rollover relief to the extent to which they receive NewCo Shares or CDIs in exchange for their Allkem Shares in connection with the scheme. Should an ATO Class Ruling not be available for |
• | certain representations and warranties of Allkem with respect to capitalization are true and correct, subject only to de minimis inaccuracies, on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date (or, in the case of representations and warranties given as of another specified date, as of that date); |
• | the representations and warranties of Allkem that there has not occurred any Effect since June 30, 2022, that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Allkem are true and correct in all respects on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date; |
• | certain representations and warranties of Allkem with respect to organization, capitalization, corporate authority, required vote, takeover statutes and finders and brokers are true and correct in all material respects (without any materiality, material adverse effect or similar qualification) on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date (or, in the case of representations and warranties given as of another specified date, as of that date); |
• | the other representations and warranties of Allkem set forth in the Transaction Agreement are true and correct on the date of the Transaction Agreement and at the sanction date as though made on the sanction date (or, in the case of representations and warranties given as of another specified date, as of that date) except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality, material adverse effect or similar qualification), individually or in the aggregate, has not had, or would not reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on Allkem; |
• | Allkem has in all material respects performed the obligations and complied with the covenants required by the Transaction Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the sanction date; |
• | Allkem has delivered to Livent a certificate, dated as of the sanction date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Allkem, certifying on behalf of Allkem to the effect that the conditions set forth in the preceding five bullets have been satisfied; |
• | there has been no material adverse effect with respect to Allkem; and |
• | Livent has sought and received an opinion of Davis Polk, or, if Davis Polk is unable or unwilling to provide such opinion, Sidley Austin, dated as of the sanction date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Livent, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion and as of the date thereof, (i) either (A) the merger should qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code or (B) the merger and the scheme, taken together, should qualify as an exchange described in Section 351(a) of the Code, and (ii) the transfer of Livent Shares (other than certain excluded shares) by Livent stockholders pursuant to the merger (other than by any Livent stockholder who is a U.S. person and would be a “five-percent transferee shareholder” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(ii)) of NewCo following the merger that does not enter into a five-year gain recognition agreement in the form provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8(c)) should qualify for an exception to Section 367(a)(1) of the Code. |
• | by either Livent or Allkem: |
• | if the Allkem Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the scheme meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken (the “Allkem Shareholder Approval Failure Termination Right”); |
• | if the Livent Stockholder Approval is not obtained at the Livent Special Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken (the “Livent Stockholder Approval Failure Termination Right”); or |
• | if the Court declines or refuses to make any orders directing Allkem to convene the scheme meeting or declines or refuses to approve the scheme, and either (x) no appeal of the Court’s decision is made, or (y) on appeal, a court of competent jurisdiction issues a final and non-appealable ruling upholding the declination or refusal (as applicable) of the Court, and such outcome was not principally caused by a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Transaction Agreement by the party seeking to terminate the Transaction Agreement. |
• | by Allkem: |
• | if Livent or a NewCo Party has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would cause the conditions to Allkem’s obligation to consummate the transaction relating to the accuracy of Livent’s representations and warranties and compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement to not be satisfied, and (ii) is either incapable of being cured or is not cured by the earlier of (A) the end date and (B) 30 days following written notice by Allkem thereof (provided that Allkem is not then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in the Transaction Agreement which breach would cause the conditions to Livent’s obligation to consummate the transaction relating to the accuracy of Allkem’s representations and warranties and compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement to not be satisfied) (the “Allkem Material Breach Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, if there has occurred an Allkem Change of Recommendation in connection with a Superior Proposal; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Allkem pays or causes to be paid to Livent the Allkem Termination Fee (the “Allkem Change of Recommendation Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, if there has occurred an Allkem Change of Recommendation in response to an Intervening Event; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Allkem pays or causes to be paid to Livent the Allkem Termination Fee (the “Allkem Intervening Event Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, if there has occurred an Allkem Change of Recommendation due to an Independent Expert Event; provided that, in the case such Independent Expert Event is caused by the existence of a Competing Proposal, prior to or concurrently with such termination Allkem pays or causes to be paid to Livent the Allkem Termination Fee (the “Allkem Independent Expert Event Termination Right”); or |
• | if, prior to the receipt of the Livent Stockholder Approval, (i) the Livent Board effects a Livent Change of Recommendation, or (ii) an intentional and material breach by Livent of the covenant relating to calling the Livent Special Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the Livent Stockholder Approval has occurred (the “Allkem Adverse Change Termination Right”); |
• | by Livent: |
• | if Allkem has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would cause the conditions to Livent’s obligation to consummate the transaction relating to the accuracy of Allkem’s representations and warranties and compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement to not be satisfied, and (ii) is either incapable of being cured or is not cured by the earlier of (A) the end date and (B) 30 days following written notice by Livent thereof (provided that any of Livent or a NewCo Party is not then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in the Transaction Agreement which breach would cause the conditions to Allkem’s obligation to consummate the transaction relating to the accuracy of Livent’s representations and warranties and compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Transaction Agreement to not be satisfied) (the “Livent Material Breach Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Livent Stockholder Approval, if there has occurred a Livent Change of Recommendation in connection with a Superior Proposal; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Livent pays or causes to be paid to Allkem the Livent Termination Fee (the “Livent Change of Recommendation Termination Right”); |
• | prior to the receipt of the Livent Stockholder Approval, if there has occurred a Livent Change of Recommendation in response to an Intervening Event; provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Livent pays or causes to be paid to Allkem the Livent Termination Fee (the “Livent Intervening Event Termination Right”); or |
• | if, prior to the receipt of the Allkem Shareholder Approval, (i) the Allkem Board effects an Allkem Change of Recommendation, or (ii) an intentional and material breach by Allkem of the covenant relating to applying for an order of the Court pursuant to the Australian Corporations Act to convene the scheme meeting and otherwise taking required steps to cause the scheme meeting to be called for the purpose of obtaining the Allkem Shareholder Approval has occurred (the “Livent Adverse Change Termination Right”). |
• | by mutual written consent of Livent and Allkem; or |
• | by either Livent or Allkem: |
• | if the scheme effectiveness has not occurred by 5:00 p.m. (AWST) on February 10, 2024 (subject to extension by either party until May 10, 2024 in order to obtain antitrust or investment screening law or other regulatory approvals), and such outcome was not principally caused by a material breach of certain covenants set forth in the Transaction Agreement by the party seeking to terminate the Transaction Agreement; or |
• | if (i) any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction has issued a final and non-appealable order that is in effect and permanently restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the merger or the scheme or (ii) any governmental entity having jurisdiction over a party has adopted a law that is in effect that permanently makes illegal or otherwise permanently prohibits the consummation of the merger or the scheme (and such outcome was not principally caused by a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Transaction Agreement by the party seeking to terminate the Transaction Agreement). In the case of clause (ii) above, if such law arises out of or relates to antitrust laws or investment screening laws, such law will only result in a right to terminate the Transaction Agreement to the extent the violation or contravention of such law as in effect would reasonably be expected to result in criminal liability to any person, personal liability to any director or officer of Allkem, Merger Sub, NewCo, Livent or any of their respective subsidiaries, or a material adverse effect on NewCo and its subsidiaries following the effective time. |
• | by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Adverse Change Termination Right; |
• | by Livent pursuant to the Livent Change of Recommendation Termination Right or the Livent Intervening Event Termination Right; or |
• | (i) by either Livent or Allkem pursuant to the End Date Termination Right or the Livent Stockholder Approval Failure Termination Right, or by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Material Breach Termination Right following an intentional and material breach of a covenant by Livent, (ii) prior to such termination but after the date of the Transaction Agreement, a bona fide Competing Proposal has been publicly made to Livent or any of its subsidiaries, has been made directly to the Livent stockholders generally or otherwise has become public or any person has publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a bona fide Competing Proposal to Livent or, in the case of termination by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Material Breach Termination Right, a Competing Proposal has been made publicly or privately to the Livent Board, and (iii) within 12 months after the date of a termination in either of the cases referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), Livent consummates a Competing Proposal or enters into a definitive agreement providing for a Competing Proposal (provided that solely for purposes of this bullet, all references to “20% or more” in the definition of “Competing Proposal” will be deemed to be references to “more than 50%”). |
• | by Livent pursuant to the Livent Adverse Change Termination Right (other than in the event such Allkem Change of Recommendation is due to an Independent Expert Event); |
• | by Allkem pursuant to the Allkem Change of Recommendation Termination Right, the Allkem Intervening Event Termination Right or, if applicable, the Allkem Independent Expert Event Termination Right; or |
• | (i) by either Livent or Allkem pursuant to the End Date Termination Right or the Allkem Shareholder Approval Failure Termination Right, or by Livent pursuant to the Livent Material Breach Termination Right following an intentional and material breach of a covenant by Allkem, (ii) prior to such termination but after the date of the Transaction Agreement, a bona fide Competing Proposal has been publicly made to Allkem or any of its subsidiaries, has been made directly to the Allkem shareholders generally or otherwise has become public or any person has publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a bona fide Competing Proposal to Allkem or, in the case of termination by Livent pursuant to the Livent Material Breach Termination Right, a Competing Proposal has been made publicly or privately to the Allkem Board, and (iii) within 12 months after the date of a termination in either of the cases referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), Allkem consummates a Competing Proposal or enters into a definitive agreement providing for a Competing Proposal (provided that solely for purposes of this bullet, all references to “20% or more” in the definition of “Competing Proposal” will be deemed to be references to “more than 50%”). |
• | The accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information; |
• | The separate audited financial statements of Livent as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes, included in Livent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus; |
• | The separate interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Livent as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and the related notes, included in Livent’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2023, incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus; and |
• | The separate audited consolidated financial statements of Allkem as of and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, and the related notes, included in this proxy statement/prospectus. |
• | Each holder of outstanding and unvested Allkem Performance Rights, whose role is not being made redundant through the execution of the transaction, will have their Allkem Performance Rights vest in the proportion determined by the Allkem Board provided that, in aggregate, no less than 60% and no more than 70% of the total number held by such Allkem employees will vest by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness. Each vested Allkem Performance Right will be exchanged for an Allkem Share prior to the Scheme Record Date and be eligible to receive the scheme consideration. The remaining unvested Allkem Performance Rights will lapse and, as soon as practicable following the transaction, NewCo will issue replacement awards to the prior holders which will (i) be substantially comparable in value to the corresponding lapsed Allkem Performance Rights as at the date of scheme effectiveness, (ii) be in respect of NewCo Shares and (iii) if the employment of a holder of a replacement right is terminated as a result of redundancy in the 12 months following the transaction, vest in full upon such termination. Each holder of outstanding Allkem Performance Rights whose role will be made redundant through the execution of the transaction will have up to 100% of their awards vested, as determined by the Allkem Board, by no later than the date of scheme effectiveness. Each vested Allkem Performance Right will be exchanged for an Allkem Share prior to the Scheme Record Date and be eligible to receive the scheme consideration. The remaining unvested Allkem Performance Rights will lapse. For purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, all holders of outstanding Allkem Performance Rights are assumed to hold roles that are not being made redundant. |
• | Unvested Livent RSUs will be assumed by NewCo then vest on a pro rata basis based on the number of days elapsed from the commencement date of the vesting period to the date of the merger compared to the original vesting period, rounded down to the nearest whole share. Unvested Livent RSUs assumed by NewCo shall be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as the previous Livent Shares except for the right to receive NewCo shares upon vesting. Vested Livent RSUs at the time of the merger, including those so vested on a pro rata basis, will be canceled in exchange for the right to receive the merger consideration of 2.406 NewCo Shares per Livent RSU, plus any cash consideration related to fractional shares. |
• | Livent PSUs will vest in full based on the achievement of the higher of target or actual performance. Vested Livent PSUs at the time of the merger will be canceled in exchange for the right to receive the merger consideration of 2.406 NewCo Shares per Livent RSU, plus any cash consideration related to fractional shares. |
• | All Livent Options will be assumed by NewCo at substantially the same terms and conditions as prior to the merger, provided that the number of shares exercisable by each option and the exercise price of each option will be adjusted by the Merger Exchange Ratio. |
• | Livent Director RSUs will vest in full immediately prior to the merger. At the time of the merger, the awards will be cancelled and converted into a right to receive cash per award equal to the higher of (i) the first available closing price of the NewCo Share and (ii) closing price per Livent Share, as reported in the NYSE, on the last trading day preceding the merger date. |
• | NewCo is a shell company and was formed in contemplation and for the purpose of completing the transaction; |
• | Livent initiated the negotiation of the transaction; |
• | The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Livent will continue as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of NewCo and Livent’s other executive officer, Ms. Sara Ponessa, General Counsel, will continue to perform the same role for NewCo; |
• | Under the NewCo articles of association, the Chief Executive Officer has the authority to select NewCo’s officers other than those required to be elected by the NewCo board of directors; |
• | The NewCo board of directors will be split evenly with six nominees from each of Livent and Allkem with equal voting rights, and matters on which the NewCo board of directors is deadlocked will not be approved (in this regard, the appointment of Mr. Peter Coleman, who is Allkem’s current Chairman, as the Chair of the NewCo board of directors did not impact the analysis because NewCo’s Chair will not have any tie-breaking or other special voting powers or any ability to affect the voting powers of the other NewCo directors under NewCo’s articles of association); |
• | There was an implied approximately 14% premium (measured as the difference between the agreed Merger Exchange Ratio and the implied merger exchange ratio based on the prices of Allkem Shares and Livent Shares, using volume weighted average share prices over one month from April 10, 2023 through May 9, 2023, the day immediately prior to the date of the Transaction Agreement) to Allkem shareholders; |
• | Notwithstanding that former shareholders of Allkem will own approximately 56% of the NewCo Shares (either directly or through CDIs) compared to Livent stockholders owning approximately 44%, on a fully diluted basis, the shareholders of NewCo will be diffuse with no holder or group of holders having a significant voting or minority ownership, and, as discussed above, the NewCo board of directors representing the shareholders will be split evenly with six nominees from each of Livent and Allkem, and each director (including the Chair) will have equal voting rights; and |
• | Livent had a similar total market capitalization to Allkem prior to the announcement of the transaction, notwithstanding Allkem’s larger size in terms of assets, earnings and revenues as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
| | Livent’s Historical | | | Allkem’s Historical (Reclassified) Note 2 | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
| | As of September 30,2023 | | | As of June 30, 2023 | | | IFRS to GAAP and Policy Adjustments | | | Note 3 | | | Purchase Accounting and Other Adjustments | | | Note 5 | | | Pro Forma Combined | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | | | $112.6 | | | $821.4 | | | $— | | | | | $(3.9) | | | 5(a) | | | $930.1 | |
Trade receivables, net | | | 110.1 | | | 142.9 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 253.0 | ||
Inventories, net | | | 202.7 | | | 126.5 | | | 5.0 | | | 3(h) | | | 111.4 | | | 5(b) | | | 445.6 |
Prepaid and other current assets | | | 52.8 | | | 30.9 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 83.7 | ||
Total current assets | | | 478.2 | | | 1,121.7 | | | 5.0 | | | | | 107.5 | | | | | 1,712.4 | ||
Investments | | | 504.8 | | | 7.5 | | | 8.5 | | | 3(h) | | | 87.0 | | | 5(c) | | | 607.8 |
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation | | | 1,215.4 | | | 3,370.3 | | | (52.6) | | | 3(b),(c),(d),(g) | | | 923.9 | | | 5(d) | | | 5,457.0 |
Goodwill | | | — | | | 519.8 | | | — | | | | | (516.7) | | | 5(e) | | | 3.1 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 0.4 | | | 3.1 | | | — | | | 3(e),(f) | | | — | | | | | 3.5 | |
Right of use assets - operating leases, net | | | 6.4 | | | 40.8 | | | 3.1 | | | 3(c) | | | 9.3 | | | 5(f) | | | 59.6 |
Other assets | | | 155.9 | | | 154.2 | | | — | | | | | 5.5 | | | 5(b) | | | 315.6 | |
Total assets | | | $2,361.1 | | | $5,217.2 | | | $(36.0) | | | | | $616.5 | | | | | $8,158.8 | ||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | | | — | | | 42.5 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 42.5 | ||
Accounts Payable, trade and other | | | 71.1 | | | 137.4 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 208.5 | ||
Accrued and other current liabilities | | | 55.0 | | | 66.7 | | | 8.5 | | | 3(h) | | | 83.3 | | | 5(g) | | | 213.5 |
Environmental liabilities − current | | | — | | | 9.8 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 9.8 | ||
Contract liability − short-term | | | 9.7 | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 9.7 | ||
Operating lease liabilities −current | | | 1.1 | | | 13.3 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 14.4 | ||
Income taxes | | | 1.4 | | | 176.2 | | | 10.1 | | | 3(d),(h) | | | — | | | | | 187.7 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 138.3 | | | 445.8 | | | 18.6 | | | | | 83.3 | | | | | 686.0 | ||
Long-term debt | | | 243.1 | | | 231.8 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 474.9 | ||
Operating lease liabilities − long-term | | | 5.5 | | | 39.9 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 45.4 | ||
Environmental liabilities – long- term | | | 6.5 | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 6.5 | ||
Deferred income taxes | | | 11.7 | | | 849.4 | | | (9.7) | | | 3(b),(c),(d),(g) | | | 363.3 | | | 5(h) | | | 1,214.7 |
Contract liability − long-term | | | 198.0 | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 198.0 | ||
Other long-term liabilities | | | 17.4 | | | 76.5 | | | (34.9) | | | 3(b) | | | — | | | | | 59.0 | |
Commitments and contingent liabilities | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | ||
Total current and long-term liabilities | | | 620.5 | | | 1,643.4 | | | (26.0) | | | | | 446.6 | | | | | 2,684.5 |
| | Livent’s Historical | | | Allkem’s Historical (Reclassified) Note 2 | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
| | As of September 30,2023 | | | As of June 30, 2023 | | | IFRS to GAAP and Policy Adjustments | | | Note 3 | | | Purchase Accounting and Other Adjustments | | | Note 5 | | | Pro Forma Combined | |
Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
Common stock | | | 0.1 | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 0.1 | ||
Capital in excess of par value of common stock | | | 1,166.7 | | | 2,686.1 | | | — | | | | | 760.6 | | | 5(i) | | | 4,613.4 | |
Retained earnings | | | 626.8 | | | 725.1 | | | (20.1) | | | 3(a),(b),(c),(d),(h) | | | (743.1) | | | 5(i) | | | 588.7 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | (52.1) | | | (5.8) | | | 5.3 | | | 3(a),(b) | | | 0.5 | | | 5(i) | | | (52.1) |
Treasury stock, at cost | | | (0.9) | | | (2.3) | | | — | | | | | 2.3 | | | 5(i) | | | (0.9) | |
Non-controlling interests | | | — | | | 170.6 | | | 4.8 | | | 3(b),(c),(d),(h) | | | 149.6 | | | 5(j) | | | 325.0 |
Total equity | | | 1,740.6 | | | 3,573.8 | | | (10.0) | | | | | 169.9 | | | | | 5,474.3 | ||
Total liabilities and equity | | | $2,361.1 | | | $5,217.2 | | | $(36.0) | | | | | $616.5 | | | | | $8,158.8 |
| | Livent’s Historical | | | Allkem’s Historical (Reclassified) Note 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| | For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 | | | For the nine months ended June 30, 2023 | | | IFRS to GAAP and Policy Adjustments | | | Note 3 | | | Purchase Accounting and Other Adjustments | | | Note 6 | | | Pro Forma Combined | | | ||
Revenue | | | $700.7 | | | $915.7 | | | $— | | | | | $— | | | | | $1,616.4 | | | |||
Costs and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Cost of sales | | | 274.8 | | | 258.0 | | | 11.6 | | | 3(b),(c), (d),(h) | | | 37.5 | | | 6(a) | | | 581.9 | | | |
Gross margin | | | 425.9 | | | 657.7 | | | (11.6) | | | | | (37.5) | | | | | 1,034.5 | | | |||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | 47.1 | | | 52.0 | | | 0.8 | | | 3(c) | | | 0.1 | | | 6(b) | | | 100.0 | | | |
Research and development expenses | | | 3.3 | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3.3 | | | |||
Restructuring and other charges | | | 34.7 | | | 9.9 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 44.6 | | | |||
Total costs and expenses | | | 359.9 | | | 319.9 | | | 12.4 | | | | | 37.6 | | | | | 729.8 | | | |||
Income/(loss) from operations before equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliates, interest income, net, and other loss / (gain) | | | 340.8 | | | 595.8 | | | (12.4) | | | | | (37.6) | | | | | 886.6 | | | |||
Equity in net loss / (gain) of unconsolidated affiliates | | | 22.0 | | | 1.6 | | | (8.5) | | | 3(h) | | | — | | | | | 15.1 | | | ||
Interest income, net | | | — | | | (50.9) | | | (3.9) | | | 3(c) | | | — | | | | | (54.8) | | | ||
Other loss / (gain) | | | (21.4) | | | 20.8 | | | 0.1 | | | 3(a) | | | — | | | | | (0.5) | | | ||
Income from operations before income taxes | | | 340.2 | | | 624.3 | | | (0.1) | | | | | (37.6) | | | | | 926.8 | | | |||
Income tax expense | | | 47.8 | | | 211.9 | | | 0.4 | | | 3(d),(h) | | | (12.6) | | | 6(d) | | | 247.5 | | | |
Net income from continuing operations | | | $292.4 | | | $412.5 | | | $(0.5) | | | | | $(25.0) | | | | | $679.4 | | | |||
Net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests | | | — | | | 64.8 | | | 1.1 | | | 3(h) | | | (3.9) | | | 6(e) | | | 62.0 | | | |
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Livent/Allkem, respectively | | | $292.4 | | | $347.7 | | | $(1.6) | | | | | $(21.1) | | | | | $617.4 | | | |||
Net income per weighted average share − basic | | | $1.63 | | | $0.55 | | | | | | | | | | | $0.57 | | |
| | Livent’s Historical | | | Allkem’s Historical (Reclassified) Note 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
| | For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 | | | For the nine months ended June 30, 2023 | | | IFRS to GAAP and Policy Adjustments | | | Note 3 | | | Purchase Accounting and Other Adjustments | | | Note 6 | | | Pro Forma Combined | | | ||
Net income per weighted average share − diluted | | | $1.40 | | | $0.54 | | | | | | | | | | | $0.54 | | | |||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic | | | 179.7 | | | 637.4 | | | | | | | | | | | 1,075.8 | | | 6(f) | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding − diluted | | | 209.3 | | | 640.7 | | | | | | | | | | | 1,146.4 | | | 6(f) |
| | Livent’s Historical | | | Allkem’s Historical (Reclassified) Note 2 | | | IFRS to GAAP and Policy Adjustments | | | Note 3 | | | Purchase Accounting and Other Adjustments | | | Note 6 | | | Pro Forma Combined | ||
Revenue | | | $813.2 | | | $1,122.1 | | | $— | | | | | $— | | | | | $1,935.3 | |||
Costs and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Costs of sales | | | 417.5 | | | 316.4 | | | 13.1 | | | 3(c),(d),(h) | | | 129.1 | | | 6(a) | | | 876.1 | |
Gross margin | | | 395.7 | | | 805.7 | | | (13.1) | | | | | (129.1) | | | | | 1,059.2 | |||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | 55.2 | | | 56.3 | | | 0.7 | | | 3(c) | | | 0.2 | | | 6(b) | | | 112.4 | |
Research and development expenses | | | 3.9 | | | 0.5 | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 4.4 | |||
Restructuring and other charges | | | 7.5 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 83.3 | | | 6(c) | | | 90.8 | ||
Separation-related costs/(income) | | | 0.7 | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 0.7 | |||
Total costs and expenses | | | 484.8 | | | 373.2 | | | 13.8 | | | | | 212.6 | | | | | 1,084.4 | |||
Income/(loss) from operations before equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliates, interest income, net, loss on debt extinguishment, and other loss / (gain) | | | 328.4 | | | 748.9 | | | (13.8) | | | | | (212.6) | | | | | 850.9 | |||
Equity in net loss (gain) of unconsolidated affiliates | | | 15.1 | | | 6.2 | | | (4.8) | | | 3(h) | | | — | | | | | 16.5 | ||
Interest income, net | | | — | | | (10.9) | | | (5.3) | | | 3(c) | | | — | | | | | (16.2) | ||
Loss on debt extinguishment | | | 0.1 | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 0.1 | |||
Other loss / (gain) | | | (22.2) | | | (10.8) | | | 2.2 | | | 3(a) | | | — | | | | | (30.8) | ||
Income/(loss) from operations before income taxes | | | 335.4 | | | 764.4 | | | (5.9) | | | | | (212.6) | | | | | 881.3 | |||
Income tax expense/(benefit) | | | 61.9 | | | 219.7 | | | (1.4) | | | 3(d),(h) | | | (47.0) | | | 6(d) | | | 233.2 | |
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations | | | $273.5 | | | $544.6 | | | $(4.5) | | | | | $(165.6) | | | | | $648.0 | |||
Net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests | | | — | | | 74.0 | | | 0.3 | | | 3(h) | | | (25.2) | | | 6(e) | | | 49.1 | |
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Livent/Allkem, respectively | | | $273.5 | | | $470.6 | | | $(4.8) | | | | | $(140.4) | | | | | $598.9 | |||
Net income/(loss) per weighted average share − basic | | | $1.59 | | | $0.74 | | | | | | | | | | | $0.56 | |||||
Net income/(loss) per weighted average share − diluted | | | $1.36 | | | $0.74 | | | | | | | | | | | $0.52 | |||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding − basic | | | 171.8 | | | 637.4 | | | | | | | | | | | 1,075.8 | 6(f) | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding − diluted | | | 201.6 | | | 639.8 | | | | | | | | | | | 1,146.4 | 6(f) |
• | The Pro Forma Balance Sheet is presented as if Livent’s acquisition of Allkem had occurred on September 30, 2023, and combines the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of Livent as of September 30, 2023 with the audited consolidated balance sheet of Allkem as of June 30, 2023. |
• | The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the Pro Forma Interim Period has been prepared as if the transaction had occurred on January 1, 2022 and combines Livent’s unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 with Allkem’s unaudited interim consolidated income statement for the nine months ended June 30, 2023. Allkem’s unaudited interim consolidated income statement for the nine months ended June 30, 2023 is calculated as the audited consolidated statement of profit or loss for the year ended June 30, 2023, less the unaudited interim consolidated income statement for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Allkem’s unaudited interim consolidated income statement for the nine months ended June 30, 2023 was prepared by Allkem’s management for purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations and is not separately included in this proxy statement/prospectus since Allkem is not required to and does not publish quarterly financial statements. |
• | The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the Pro Forma Annual Period has been prepared as if the transaction had occurred on January 1, 2022 and combines Livent’s audited consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 with Allkem’s unaudited consolidated statement of profit or loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Allkem’s unaudited consolidated statement of profit or loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 is calculated as the audited consolidated statement of profit or loss for the year ended June 30, 2022, less the unaudited interim consolidated income statement for the six months ended December 31, 2021, plus the unaudited interim consolidated income statement for the six months ended December 31, 2022. |
Allkem Historical Financial Statement Line Item | | | Allkem as of June 30, 2023 | | | Reclassifications | | | Note | | | Allkem Historical Reclassified Amount | | | Livent Financial Statement Line |
(in millions) | | ||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 821.4 | | | — | | | | | 821.4 | | | Cash and cash equivalents | |
Trade and other receivables | | | 142.9 | | | — | | | | | 142.9 | | | Trade receivables, net | |
Inventory | | | 126.5 | | | — | | | | | 126.5 | | | Inventories, net | |
Prepayments | | | 30.9 | | | — | | | | | 30.9 | | | Prepaid and other current assets | |
Current Assets | | | 1,121.7 | | | — | | | | | 1,121.7 | | | Current Assets | |
Other receivables | | | 42.7 | | | (42.7) | | | (a) | | | — | | | Other assets |
Inventory | | | 86.7 | | | (86.7) | | | (a) | | | — | | | Other assets |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | | | 3.5 | | | 4.0 | | | (b) | | | 7.5 | | | Investments |
Other financial assets | | | 21.4 | | | (21.4) | | | (a) | | | — | | | Other assets |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 2,943.5 | | | 426.8 | | | (c),(d) | | | 3,370.3 | | | Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
Intangible assets | | | 520.5 | | | (0.7) | | | (e) | | | 519.8 | | | Goodwill |
— | | | — | | | 40.8 | | | (c) | | | 40.8 | | | Right of use assets – operating leases, net |
Exploration and evaluation assets | | | 467.6 | | | (467.6) | | | (d) | | | — | | | Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
Investment in associates | | | 4.0 | | | (4.0) | | | (b) | | | — | | | Investments |
Other non-current assets | | | 2.7 | | | 151.5 | | | (a),(e) | | | 154.2 | | | Other assets |
Deferred tax assets | | | 3.1 | | | — | | | | | 3.1 | | | Deferred income taxes | |
Non-Current Assets | | | 4,095.5 | | | — | | | | | 4,095.5 | | | Non-Current Assets | |
Total Assets | | | 5,217.2 | | | — | | | | | 5,217.2 | | | Total Assets | |
Trade and other payables | | | 137.4 | | | — | | | | | 137.4 | | | Accounts payable, trade and other | |
Loans and borrowings | | | 42.5 | | | — | | | | | 42.5 | | | Current portion of long-term debt | |
Provisions | | | 13.9 | | | (13.9) | | | (f) | | | — | | | Accrued and other current liabilities |
Allkem Historical Financial Statement Line Item | | | Allkem as of June 30, 2023 | | | Reclassifications | | | Note | | | Allkem Historical Reclassified Amount | | | Livent Financial Statement Line |
(in millions) | | ||||||||||||||
— | | | — | | | 9.8 | | | (f) | | | 9.8 | | | Environmental liabilities − current |
Lease liabilities | | | 13.3 | | | — | | | | | 13.3 | | | Operating lease liabilities – current | |
Income tax payable | | | 176.2 | | | — | | | | | 176.2 | | | Income taxes | |
Other liabilities | | | 62.6 | | | 4.1 | | | (f) | | | 66.7 | | | Accrued and other current liabilities |
Current Liabilities | | | 445.8 | | | — | | | | | 445.8 | | | Current Liabilities | |
Other payables | | | 29.0 | | | (29.0) | | | (g) | | | — | | | Other long-term liabilities |
Loans and borrowings | | | 231.8 | | | — | | | | | 231.8 | | | Long-term debt | |
Provisions | | | 47.5 | | | (47.5) | | | (g) | | | — | | | Other long-term liabilities |
Lease liabilities | | | 39.9 | | | — | | | | | 39.9 | | | Operating lease liabilities – long-term | |
— | | | — | | | 76.5 | | | (g) | | | 76.5 | | | Other long-term liabilities |
Deferred tax liability | | | 849.4 | | | — | | | | | 849.4 | | | Deferred income taxes | |
Non-Current Liabilities | | | 1,197.6 | | | — | | | | | 1,197.6 | | | Non-Current Liabilities | |
Total Liabilities | | | 1,643.4 | | | — | | | | | 1,643.4 | | | Total Liabilities | |
Net Assets | | | 3,573.8 | | | — | | | | | 3,573.8 | | | Net Assets | |
Issued capital | | | 2,686.1 | | | — | | | | | 2,686.1 | | | Capital in excess of par value of common stock | |
Reserves | | | (5.8) | | | — | | | | | (5.8) | | | Accumulated other comprehensive loss | |
Retained earnings | | | 725.1 | | | — | | | | | 725.1 | | | Retained earnings | |
Treasury shares | | | (2.3) | | | — | | | | | (2.3) | | | Treasury stock, at cost | |
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests | | | 170.6 | | | — | | | | | 170.6 | | | Non-controlling interests | |
Total Equity | | | 3,573.8 | | | — | | | | | 3,573.8 | | | Total Equity |
(a) | Other receivables of $42.7 million, inventory (non-current) of $86.7 million, and other financial assets of $21.4 million have been reclassified to other non-current assets to conform with Livent’s presentation. |
(b) | Investment in associates of $4.0 million has been reclassified to Investments to conform with Livent’s presentation. |
(c) | Right of use assets of $40.8 million have been reclassified from property, plant and equipment to a separate right of use assets – operating leases, net line item on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet. |
(d) | Exploration and evaluation assets of $467.6 million have been reclassified to property, plant and equipment to conform with Livent’s presentation. |
(e) | Capitalized software of $0.7 million has been reclassified from intangible assets to other non-current assets. The residual balance of intangible assets is goodwill related to the Galaxy/Orocobre Merger and has been reclassified as a separate goodwill financial statement line item accordingly. |
(f) | Provisions (current) of $4.1 million have been reclassified to accrued and other current liabilities. The remaining balance of provisions (current) of $9.8 million was reclassified to environmental liabilities — current. |
(g) | Other payables of $29.0 million, and provisions (non-current) of $47.5 million have been reclassified to other long-term liabilities. |
Allkem Historical Financial Statement Line Item | | | Allkem for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2023 | | | Reclassifications | | | Note | | | Allkem Historical Reclassified Amount | | | Livent Financial Statement Line |
(in millions) | | ||||||||||||||
Income Statement for nine months ended June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Revenue | | | 915.7 | | | — | | | | | 915.7 | | | Revenue | |
Cost of sales | | | 95.7 | | | 162.3 | | | (h),(i), (j),(l) | | | 258.0 | | | Cost of sales |
Allkem Historical Financial Statement Line Item | | | Allkem for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2023 | | | Reclassifications | | | Note | | | Allkem Historical Reclassified Amount | | | Livent Financial Statement Line |
(in millions) | | ||||||||||||||
Gross Profit | | | 820.0 | | | (162.3) | | | | | 657.7 | | | Gross margin | |
Other income | | | (52.7) | | | 73.5 | | | (k) | | | 20.8 | | | Other loss / (gain) |
Corporate and administrative expenses | | | 52.6 | | | (1.7) | | | (h) | | | 50.9 | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses |
Acquisition and merger costs | | | 9.9 | | | — | | | | | 9.9 | | | Restructuring and other charges | |
Selling expenses | | | 73.3 | | | (73.3) | | | (i) | | | — | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses |
Depreciation and amortization expense | | | 82.3 | | | (81.2) | | | (j) | | | 1.1 | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses |
Share of net profit/loss of associates | | | 1.6 | | | — | | | | | 1.6 | | | Equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliates | |
Foreign currency gain/loss | | | 73.5 | | | (73.5) | | | (k) | | | — | | | Other loss / (gain) |
Profit before interest and income tax | | | 579.5 | | | (6.1) | | | | | 573.4 | | | — | |
Finance income | | | (63.1) | | | — | | | | | (63.1) | | | Interest income, net | |
Finance costs | | | 18.3 | | | (6.1) | | | (l) | | | 12.2 | | | Interest income, net |
Profit before income tax | | | 624.3 | | | — | | | | | 624.3 | | | Income from operations before income taxes | |
Income Tax Expense / (Benefit) | | | 211.9 | | | — | | | | | 211.9 | | | Income tax expense/(benefit) | |
Profit after taxation from continuing operations | | | 412.5 | | | — | | | | | 412.5 | | | Net income/(loss) from continuing operations |
(h) | Share based payments related to operations staff of $1.7 million have been reclassified to cost of sales. Remaining corporate and administrative expenses of $50.9 million have been presented as selling, general and administrative expenses. |
(i) | Royalties of $36.6 million, export duties of $15.9 million and dispatching and logistics of $20.8 million previously included in selling expenses are directly related to operations and have been reclassified to cost of sales. |
(j) | Depreciation and amortization of $81.2 million which are directly attributable to Allkem’s operations have been reclassified to cost of sales. The remaining $1.1 million of depreciation relates to corporate assets and has been presented in selling, general and administrative expenses. |
(k) | Foreign currency gains and losses of $73.5 million have been reclassified to other loss / (gain). |
(l) | Finance costs of $4.8 million related to a loss on current and non-current Value Added Tax (“VAT”) recoveries and $1.3 million of accretion expenditure related to Allkem’s rehabilitation provision have been reclassified to cost of sales. |
Allkem Historical Financial Statement Line Item | | | Allkem for the Year Ended December 31, 2022 | | | Reclassifications | | | Note | | | Allkem Historical Reclassified Amount | | | Livent Financial Statement Line |
(in millions) | | ||||||||||||||
Income Statement for the year ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Revenue | | | 1,122.1 | | | — | | | | | 1,122.1 | | | Revenue | |
Cost of sales | | | 169.5 | | | 146.9 | | | (m),(o), (p),(r) | | | 316.4 | | | Cost of sales |
Gross Profit | | | 952.6 | | | (146.9) | | | | | 805.7 | | | Gross margin | |
Other income | | | (47.2) | | | 36.4 | | | (q) | | | (10.8) | | | Other loss / (gain) |
Corporate and administrative | | | 57.6 | | | (2.7) | | | (m),(n) | | | 54.9 | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses |
Allkem Historical Financial Statement Line Item | | | Allkem for the Year Ended December 31, 2022 | | | Reclassifications | | | Note | | | Allkem Historical Reclassified Amount | | | Livent Financial Statement Line |
(in millions) | | ||||||||||||||
— | | | — | | | 0.5 | | | (n) | | | 0.5 | | | Research and development expenses |
Selling expenses | | | 79.2 | | | (79.2) | | | (o) | | | — | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses |
Depreciation and amortization expenses | | | 63.6 | | | (62.4) | | | (p) | | | 1.2 | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses |
Asset impairment and write-downs | | | 0.2 | | | — | | | | | 0.2 | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses | |
Share of net profit/loss of associates | | | 6.2 | | | — | | | | | 6.2 | | | Equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliates | |
Foreign currency gain/loss | | | 36.4 | | | (36.4) | | | (q) | | | — | | | Other loss / (gain) |
Profit before interest and income tax | | | 756.6 | | | (3.1) | | | | | 753.5 | | | — | |
Finance income | | | (26.5) | | | — | | | | | (26.5) | | | Interest income, net | |
Finance costs | | | 18.7 | | | (3.1) | | | (r) | | | 15.6 | | | Interest income, net |
Profit before income tax | | | 764.4 | | | — | | | | | 764.4 | | | Income from operations before income taxes | |
Income Tax Expense | | | 219.7 | | | — | | | | | 219.7 | | | Income tax expense/(benefit) | |
Profit after taxation from continuing operations | | | 544.6 | | | — | | | | | 544.6 | | | Net income/(loss) from continuing operations |
(m) | Share based payments related to operational staff of $2.2 million have been reclassified to cost of sales. Remaining corporate and administrative expenses of $54.9 million have been presented as selling, general and administrative expenses. |
(n) | Research and development costs of $0.5 million have been reclassified from corporate and administrative expenses to a separate line item in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations. |
(o) | Royalties of $44.9 million, export duties of $15.3 million and dispatching and logistics of $19.0 million previously included in selling expenses are directly related to operations and have been reclassified to cost of sales. |
(p) | Depreciation and amortization of $62.4 million which are directly attributable to Allkem’s operations has been reclassified to cost of sales. The remaining $1.2 million of depreciation relates to corporate assets and has been presented in selling, general and administrative expenses. |
(q) | Foreign currency gains and losses of $36.4 million have been reclassified to other loss / (gain). |
(r) | Finance costs of $3.0 million related to a loss on current and non-current VAT recoveries and $0.1 million of accretion expenditure related to Allkem’s rehabilitation provision have been reclassified to cost of sales. |
a. | Allkem has designated certain financial assets to be measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”). Under GAAP, those financial assets will be recognized at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”). |
i. | Balance sheet impact: Cumulative losses of $6.4 million were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date. There were no changes to the carrying amount of the financial assets on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet. |
ii. | Income statement impact: The amount reclassified from other comprehensive income to other loss / (gain) was a loss of $0.1 million and a loss of $2.2 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and the Pro Forma Annual Period, respectively. |
b. | Allkem’s asset retirement obligations (“AROs” or rehabilitation provisions as disclosed in Allkem’s Financial Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2023 (the “Allkem 2023 Annual Report”)) were discounted using risk-free rates under IFRS. These obligations have been remeasured using a credit adjusted discount rate under GAAP, with the credit adjustment being specific to the entity with the AROs. The cash flows used for the measurement of Allkem’s ARO are probability weighted, representing cash outflows which are probable for each of Allkem’s applicable sites. After initial recognition and measurement of the AROs, any incremental liabilities incurred (or expected to be incurred) in subsequent periods are considered to be an additional “layer” of the original ARO. Each “layer” is initially measured at fair value. |
i. | Balance sheet impact: AROs included within other long-term liabilities decreased by $34.9 million and the related AROs included within property, plant and equipment decreased $34.6 million as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date. A corresponding adjustment to deferred taxes was made to decrease deferred income tax liabilities of $11.3 million. In addition, cumulative adjustments of an increase to retained earnings of $9.7 million and a decrease of $1.1 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date were recorded. An increase in non-controlling interests of $3.0 million associated with these balance sheet adjustments was also recorded. |
ii. | Income statement impact: The change resulted in a decrease to depreciation of $0.1 million and nil recorded in cost of sales for the Pro Forma Interim Period and the Pro Forma Annual Period, respectively. |
c. | Allkem, in its capacity as a lessee, adopted a single model for lease accounting under IFRS and has remeasured its leases in accordance with GAAP. Under GAAP, Allkem has reclassified all of its leases as operating leases based on their contractual terms and conditions. The following adjustments have been made for Allkem’s operating leases under GAAP: |
i. | Balance sheet impact: |
A. | Right of use assets were increased by $3.1 million as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date and previously capitalized depreciation of $0.5 million was deducted from property, plant and equipment, due to different methods of depreciation for operating lease right of use assets under GAAP and the single lessee model under IFRS; |
B. | Cumulative adjustments relating to the balances of right of use assets and liabilities of $1.1 million were recognized directly as an increase in retained earnings as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date; and |
C. | An increase in deferred income tax liabilities of $0.9 million and an increase in non-controlling interests of $0.6 million associated with these balance sheet adjustments were recorded. |
ii. | Income statement impact: |
A. | Previously recognized finance costs of $3.8 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and $5.2 million for the Pro Forma Annual Period were reclassified to cost of sales and $0.1 million of finance costs for both the Pro Forma Interim Period and the Pro Forma Annual Period were reclassified to selling, general and administrative expenses. These reclassifications were made based on the nature and use of the underlying leased assets; |
B. | In addition, a further reclassification of depreciation expense from cost of sales to selling, general and administrative expenses of $0.7 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and $0.6 million for the Pro Forma Annual Period, was made based on the nature and use of the underlying leased assets; and |
C. | An additional impact of the adoption of GAAP from IFRS was a nil and $0.1 million reduction to cost of sales in the Pro Forma Interim Period and Pro Forma Annual Period and represents the difference in the method of depreciation for operating lease right of use assets under GAAP and the single lessee model under IFRS. |
d. | Allkem capitalizes exploration and evaluation (“E&E”) expenditure on an area of interest basis under the IFRS framework. Under GAAP, E&E expenditure is capitalized under a successful efforts basis, that is, when proven and probable reserves are established for the sites where E&E activities are being performed. E&E assets recognized as part of business combinations continue to be capitalized, which represents the majority of Allkem’s E&E assets from the Galaxy/Orocobre Merger in August 2021. |
i. | Balance sheet impact: An adjustment of $28.0 million recognized as a decrease in property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and a decrease to retained earnings of $26.4 million has been recorded related to prior period amounts that were previously capitalized on the Pro Forma Balance Sheet. A corresponding adjustment of $8.4 million was recognized in current income taxes related to the decrease in deferred income tax liabilities of $9.8 million. A decrease in non-controlling interests of $0.2 million associated with these balance sheet adjustments was recorded. |
ii. | Income statement impact: E&E assets of $5.3 million and $3.6 million which were previously capitalized have been recognized as an expense within cost of sales for the Pro Forma Interim Period and the Pro Forma Annual Period, respectively. Incremental tax benefit of $1.4 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and $1.3 million for the Pro Forma Annual Period related to the impact of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations adjustment. |
e. | Allkem has not recognized any deferred tax assets in relation to its investment in the Toyotsu Lithium Corporation (“TLC”) based on the probability of realizing benefits associated with the deferred tax assets. |
i. | Balance sheet impact: Under GAAP, gross deferred tax assets of $0.8 million, with an offsetting valuation allowance of $0.8 million, were recognized as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date, resulting in a net nil impact on deferred income taxes. |
f. | Allkem has not recognized any deferred tax assets in relation to tax losses for its Canadian operations based on the likelihood of future profitability in that jurisdiction. |
i. | Balance sheet impact: Under GAAP, gross deferred tax assets of $16.2 million, with an offsetting valuation allowance of $16.2 million, were recognized as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date, resulting in a net nil impact on deferred income taxes. |
g. | Allkem acquired a mining tenement through an asset swap, with a net cash outflow of $0.4 million. The deferred tax implications of this asset swap were exempt for IFRS purposes. Under GAAP, the deferred tax implication of the asset acquisition has been recognized using the simultaneous equation method. |
i. | Balance sheet impact: Under GAAP, additional deferred tax liabilities of $10.5 million, with a corresponding increase to property, plant and equipment, were recognized as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date. |
h. | While not a difference between the GAAP and IFRS frameworks, Livent uses the first in first out (“FIFO”) method for inventory costing, while Allkem uses the weighted average cost (“WAC”) method resulting in a policy difference. |
i. | Balance sheet impact: |
A. | An increase of $8.5 million was recorded in accrued and other current liabilities as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date and a corresponding $8.5 million increase to Allkem’s investment in TLC as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date as a result of the use of FIFO which increased the cost of TLC inventory described in more detail in the income statement impact below. |
B. | An increase of $5.0 million was recorded in inventory as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date and a corresponding increase of $1.7 million in current income taxes was recorded as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date as a result of using FIFO which impacts the cost of inventory for Sales |
ii. | Income statement impact: |
A. | Under FIFO, the cost of TLC inventory increased by $8.5 million as of the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date and results in a corresponding reduction in TLC’s cost of sales of $8.5 million and $4.8 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and Pro Forma Annual Period, respectively. The net flow on impact for Allkem is a reduction in its equity accounted share of the loss from the associate of $8.5 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and $4.8 million for the Pro Forma Annual Period. The increase in cost of TLC’s inventory at the Pro Forma Balance Sheet date effects realized profits from the sale of inventory between TLC and Allkem. The reduction in Allkem’s equity accounted share of the loss from the associate of $8.5 million and $4.8 million resulted in an increase of $8.5 million and $4.8 million in Allkem’s elimination adjustment for unrealized profits from the sale of inventory between TLC and Allkem recorded in cost of sales for the Pro Forma Interim Period and the Pro Forma Annual Period, respectively. |
B. | Under FIFO, the cost of inventory for Sales De Jujuy and Mt Cattlin combined, decreased by $5.2 million and increased by $0.2 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and Pro Forma Annual Period, respectively. Incremental tax expense of $1.8 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and incremental tax benefit of $0.1 million for the Pro Forma Annual Period and an increase in income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $1.1 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and $0.3 million for the Pro Forma Annual Period related to the net impact of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations adjustment. |
(in millions, except per share amounts) | | | Amount |
Total Allkem Shares subject to exchange as of September 30, 2023 | | | 639.3 |
Adjusted share price of Livent Shares as of November 13, 2023(i) | | | $5.39 |
Estimated value of NewCo Shares issued to Allkem shareholders | | | $3,445.8 |
Estimated converted Allkem Performance Rights attributable to pre-combination service(ii) | | | $4.8 |
Preliminary estimated aggregate transaction consideration | | | $3,450.6 |
(i) | As the calculation is deemed to reflect the capital increase of the accounting acquirer, the share price of Livent Shares is adjusted by dividing the share price of Livent Shares by the Merger Exchange Ratio (i.e., 2.406 NewCo Shares per Livent Share), or $12.96 divided by 2.406, resulting in $5.39, in order to reflect the value of Livent Shares that Allkem shareholders would receive if Livent were to issue its own shares. |
(ii) | As discussed in “—Description of the Transaction” above, certain Allkem Performance Rights will be replaced by NewCo’s equity awards with similar terms. Amount represents the estimated consideration attributable to pre-combination service for settlement or replacement of Allkem’s outstanding Allkem Performance Rights, specifically (A) the fair value related to Allkem Performance Rights vested but unexercised exchanged into an Allkem Share immediately prior to the transaction, (B) the fair value attributable to pre-combination services for unvested Allkem Performance Rights accelerated pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, and (C) the fair value attributable to pre-combination services for unvested Allkem Performance Rights replaced by NewCo’s equity awards with similar terms. The portion of the fair value of NewCo equity awards not included in consideration transferred represents compensation expense of the combined entity based on the vesting terms of the converted awards. |
| | Stock Price | | | Total Estimated Consideration | |
| | | | (in millions) | ||
10% increase | | | $14.26 | | | $3,795.9 |
10% decrease | | | $11.66 | | | $3,105.4 |
(in millions) | | | Amount |
Total estimated preliminary aggregate transaction consideration | | | $3,450.6 |
| | ||
Assets: | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | $821.4 |
Trade receivables | | | 142.9 |
Inventories, net(i) | | | 242.9 |
Prepaid and other current assets | | | 30.9 |
Investments | | | 103.0 |
Property, plant and equipment(ii) | | | 4,241.6 |
Deferred income taxes | | | 3.1 |
Right of use assets - operating leases, net | | | 53.2 |
Other assets(i) | | | 159.7 |
Total assets acquired | | | $5,798.5 |
| | ||
Liabilities: | | | |
Current portion of long-term debt | | | 42.5 |
Accounts payable, trade and other | | | 137.4 |
Accrued and other current liabilities | | | 120.4 |
Operating lease liabilities - current | | | 13.3 |
Income taxes | | | 186.3 |
Long-term debt | | | 231.8 |
Operating lease liabilities - long-term | | | 39.9 |
Environmental liabilities | | | 9.8 |
Deferred income taxes | | | 1,203.0 |
(in millions) | | | Amount |
Other long-term liabilities | | | 41.6 |
Total liabilities assumed | | | $2,026.0 |
Estimated preliminary fair value of net assets acquired | | | $3,772.5 |
Add: Estimated preliminary fair value of noncontrolling interests acquired | | | 325.0 |
Goodwill | | | $3.1 |
(i) | Includes preliminary fair value of inventories totaling $335.1 million, of which $242.9 million is classified as current and $92.2 million is classified as non-current. Brine inventory is classified as non-current if the brine will not be processed and sold within 12 months after the balance sheet date. A 25% change in the valuation of inventories would cause a corresponding increase or decrease in the adjustment to cost of sales of approximately $0.4 million for the Pro Forma Interim Period and $27.9 million for the Pro Forma Annual Period. The fair value of the inventory is preliminary and is subject to change. The fair value of inventory was estimated using the comparative sales method, which relies on certain key inputs and judgments including expected sales price of the inventory, percentage complete of the work-in-process inventory, estimated costs of completion and disposal of the inventory, and forecasted profit margins earned on the sale of the inventory. Changes in these inputs could have a significant impact on the inventory valuation. The impact on cost of sales following the transaction may differ significantly between periods based upon the final value assigned for inventory. |
(ii) | Includes preliminary fair value of mineral rights totaling $2,876.0 million and non-mineral rights property, plant and equipment totaling $1,365.6 million. Mineral rights were identified for each of Allkem’s five primary mining locations and the assessed value for each right is inclusive of the fair value associated with the mine property as well as the fair value associated with any capitalized exploration and evaluation assets (as disclosed in the Allkem 2023 Annual Report). Fair value for the mineral rights by location were: Mt Cattlin - $25.0 million, James Bay - $1,051.0 million, Sal de Vida - $653.0 million, Cauchari - $295.0 million, and Olaroz - $852.0 million. Mineral rights, including evaluation and exploration assets, are classified within property, plant and equipment as mining properties on the unaudited condensed combined balance sheet. |
(a) | Reflects cash settlement of outstanding Livent Director RSUs, as described in “—Description of the Transaction” above. |
(b) | Reflects the preliminary purchase accounting adjustment for inventories, net based on the acquisition method of accounting. |
(in millions) | | | Amount |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | | | |
Elimination of Allkem’s inventories - carrying value | | | $(218.2) |
Preliminary fair value of acquired inventories | | | 335.1 |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustment to inventories | | | $116.9 |
(c) | Reflects the preliminary purchase accounting adjustment for Allkem’s investment in TLC. |
(in millions) | | | Amount |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | | | |
Elimination of Allkem’s historical carrying value of investment in TLC | | | $(16.0) |
Preliminary fair value of equity method investment in TLC | | | 103.0 |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustment to investment in TLC | | | $87.0 |
(d) | Reflects the preliminary purchase accounting adjustment for property, plant and equipment based on the acquisition method of accounting. |
(in millions) | | | Amount |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | | | |
Elimination of Allkem’s historical net book value of property, plant & equipment | | | $(3,317.7) |
Preliminary fair value of acquired property, plant & equipment(i) | | | 4,241.6 |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustment to property, plant & equipment, net of accumulated depreciation | | | $923.9 |
(i) | Includes fair value of both mineral rights and non-mineral right property, plant and equipment as described above in Note 4. |
(e) | Preliminary goodwill adjustment of $(516.7) million which represents the elimination of historical goodwill and excess of the estimated aggregate transaction consideration over the preliminary fair value of the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed. |
(in millions) | | | Amount |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | | | |
Elimination of Allkem’s historical goodwill | | | $(519.8) |
Goodwill per purchase price allocation (Note 4) | | | 3.1 |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustment to goodwill | | | $(516.7) |
(f) | Reflects the preliminary purchase accounting adjustment to right of use assets of $9.3 million, to measure the operating lease right of use assets at the same amount as the associated lease liability in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting. The calculated value is preliminary and subject to change and could vary materially from the final purchase price allocation. |
(g) | The pro forma adjustment for accrued and other current liabilities represents: (i) $38.1 million of estimated transaction-related costs to be incurred by Livent which have not yet been reflected in the historical consolidated financial statements of Livent and (ii) $45.2 million of estimated transaction-related costs to be incurred by Allkem which have not yet been reflected in the historical consolidated financial statements of Allkem. |
(h) | Represents the adjustment to deferred tax liability of $363.3 million associated with the incremental differences in the book and tax basis created from the preliminary purchase allocation, primarily resulting from the preliminary fair value of property, plant and equipment and inventory. These adjustments were based on the applicable statutory tax rate with respect to the estimated purchase price allocation. The effective tax rate of NewCo could be significantly different (either higher or lower) depending on |
(i) | Reflects the adjustments to shareholders’ equity: |
(in millions) | | | Common equity | | | Capital in excess of par value of common equity | | | Retained earnings | | | Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | Treasury stock, at cost |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | |||||||||||||||
Elimination of Allkem’s historical equity | | | $— | | | $(2,686.1) | | | $(705.0) | | | $0.5 | | | $2.3 |
NewCo Shares and replacement awards issued to Allkem shareholders | | | — | | | 3,450.6 | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Acceleration and cash settlement of Livent Director RSUs | | | — | | | (3.9) | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Estimated transaction costs(i) | | | — | | | — | | | (38.1) | | | — | | | — |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustments to equity | | | $— | | | $760.6 | | | $(743.1) | | | $0.5 | | | $2.3 |
(i) | Represents estimated transaction-related costs that are not currently reflected in the historical consolidated financial statements of Livent; these estimated transaction costs consist primarily of advisor fees, legal fees, accounting fees, and certain deal related bonuses. It is assumed that these costs will not affect the condensed combined statements of operations beyond twelve months after the closing date of the transaction. The balance excludes $45.2 million of estimated transaction costs to be incurred by Allkem as a result of the transaction, which were not reflected in the Allkem 2023 Annual Report. These costs will be recognized as an expense in Allkem’s pre-combination income statement and therefore they are reflected as a liability assumed by Livent, and do not impact the statement of operations of the combined entity. |
(j) | Reflects the preliminary purchase accounting adjustment related to Allkem’s non-controlling interest. |
(in millions) | | | Amount |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | | | |
Elimination of Allkem’s historical non-controlling interests | | | $(175.4) |
Preliminary fair value of acquired non-controlling interests | | | 325.0 |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustments to non-controlling interests | | | $149.6 |
(a) | Reflects the adjustments to cost of sales which includes the following components: |
(in millions) | | | For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | | | For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | | | | | ||
Inventory step-up flowing through cost of sales(i) | | | $1.6 | | | $111.4 |
Property, plant and equipment depreciation step-up(ii) | | | 35.1 | | | 16.6 |
Record increase in lease expense on Allkem’s leases due to purchase accounting adjustment | | | 0.8 | | | 1.1 |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustment to cost of sales | | | $37.5 | | | $129.1 |
(i) | Costs for the year ended December 31, 2022 reflect the step-up in inventory classified as current on the unaudited condensed combined balance sheet. Costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 reflect the portion of the step-up in inventory classified as non-current and included in other assets on the unaudited condensed combined balance sheet expected to be sold in the nine months ended September 30, 2023. |
(ii) | Reflects the revised depreciation of property, plant and equipment assets arising on the acquisition of Allkem and is based on management’s preliminary estimate of useful lives and future production. Livent has historically depreciated all asset classes of property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis. Allkem has historically depreciated their mining extraction equipment and mine properties using units of production (“UOP”) and uses a straight-line basis for all other asset classes. The mining extraction equipment and mine properties would be classified as separate asset classes for the combined entity and will continue to be depreciated using UOP on a go-forward basis. All other asset classes will use the straight-line depreciation method. |
(in millions) | | | 2024 | | | 2025 | | | 2026 | | | 2027 | | | 2028 |
Depreciation of mining equipment and mine properties purchase adjustment | | | 9.1 | | | 23.1 | | | 27.0 | | | 28.9 | | | 34.5 |
(b) | Reflects the adjustments to selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for the increase in lease expense on Allkem’s leases. |
(in millions) | | | For the Nine months Ended September 30, 2023 | | | For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
Pro forma transaction accounting adjustments: | | | | | ||
Record increase in lease expense on Allkem’s leases due to purchase accounting adjustment | | | 0.1 | | | 0.2 |
Net pro forma transaction accounting adjustment to SG&A | | | $0.1 | | | $0.2 |
(c) | Represents $83.3 million of transaction-related costs for the year ended December 31, 2022 that are not currently reflected in the historical consolidated financial statements of Livent or Allkem. Livent recognized transaction related costs of $2.9 million and $25.0 million in the Pro Forma Annual Period and Pro Forma Interim Period, respectively. Allkem recognized transaction related costs of $9.9 million in the Pro Forma Interim Period. It is assumed that these costs will not affect the condensed combined statements of operations beyond twelve months after the closing date of the transaction. |
(d) | To record the income tax impact of the pro forma adjustments based on the statutory tax rates of the jurisdictions in which the related pro forma adjustment is recorded. The effective tax rate of the combined company could be significantly different (either higher or lower) depending on post-transaction activities, including cash needs, the geographical mix of income and changes in tax law. Because the tax rates used for the pro forma financial information are estimated, the blended rate will likely vary from the actual effective rate in periods subsequent to completion of the transaction. This determination is preliminary and subject to change based upon the final determination of the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities. |
(e) | Represents the pro forma economic interest the noncontrolling shareholders hold in Allkem’s subsidiaries. The amount is determined by multiplying the applicable pro forma adjustments relevant to those subsidiaries by the noncontrolling interest. |
(f) | The pro forma basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding are a combination of historic weighted average shares of Livent Shares, the incremental NewCo Shares issued to Livent stockholders based on the Merger Exchange Ratio, issuance of CDIs and NewCo Shares to Allkem shareholders based on the Scheme Exchange Ratio, and issuances of shares in connection with the vesting of previously existing equity-based awards. In connection with the transaction, certain Allkem Performance Rights held by Allkem employees will be converted into NewCo equity awards. At this time, management has completed a preliminary analysis related to eligible employees and vesting schedules to determine the impact to the diluted weighted average shares from the converted Allkem Performance Rights. The pro forma basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding are as follows: |
(in millions, except Livent and Allkem share exchange ratio) | | | |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for Livent Shares: | | | |
Historical Livent weighted average shares outstanding – Basic(i) | | | 179.7 |
Livent equity-based awards that will vest upon closing of the transaction | | | 0.8 |
Total Livent Shares subject to exchange(ii) | | | 180.5 |
Livent Merger Exchange Ratio | | | 2.406 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for Livent Shares – Basic | | | 434.3 |
Historical Livent weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted(iii) | | | 209.3 |
Livent Merger Exchange Ratio | | | 2.406 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for Livent Shares – Diluted | | | 503.6 |
| | ||
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for Allkem Shares: | | | |
Allkem Shares outstanding | | | 639.3 |
Allkem Performance Rights that will vest upon closing of the transaction | | | 2.2 |
Total Allkem Shares subject to exchange(iv) | | | 641.5 |
Allkem Scheme Exchange Ratio | | | 1.0 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for Allkem Shares – Basic | | | 641.5 |
NewCo replacement awards issued for Allkem Performance Rights that did not vest upon closing of the transaction(v) | | | 1.3 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for Allkem Shares – Diluted | | | 642.8 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for the year ended December 31, 2022 – Basic(vi) | | | 1,075.8 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for the year ended December 31, 2022 – Diluted(vi) | | | 1,146.4 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 – Basic | | | 1,075.8 |
NewCo Shares to be exchanged for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 – Diluted | | | 1,146.4 |
(i) | Weighted average number of Livent Shares issued and outstanding, excluding treasury shares, as of September 30, 2023, which will be exchanged for NewCo Shares. |
(ii) | Weighted average number of Livent Shares issued and outstanding, excluding treasury shares, as of September 30, 2023, including Livent RSUs and Livent PSUs for which vesting will be accelerated pursuant to the transaction and will be exchanged for NewCo Shares. |
(iii) | Estimated number of dilutive Livent Shares (reflecting the impact of certain of Livent’s outstanding share-based awards and the Livent Convertible Notes) based on the weighted average share calculation for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. |
(iv) | Number of Allkem Shares issued and outstanding, excluding treasury shares, as of September 30, 2023, including Allkem vested Allkem Performance Rights and unvested Allkem Performance Rights for which vesting will be accelerated pursuant to the transaction and will be exchanged for NewCo Shares. |
(v) | Estimated number of dilutive Allkem Performance Rights that were not accelerated pursuant to the transaction and were replaced with NewCo equity-based awards with similar terms and conditions as the original Allkem Performance Rights. |
(vi) | Basic and diluted shares outstanding, excluding treasury shares, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were also utilized for the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 of the combined company. |
| | Livent Shares (U.S.$) | | | Allkem Shares (A$) | |||||||
| | High | | | Low | | | High | | | Low | |
For the calendar period ended: | | | | | | | | | ||||
2023 | | | | | | | | | ||||
October 1 through November 13 | | | 18.54 | | | 12.96 | | | 11.75 | | | 8.72 |
Third Quarter | | | 28.87 | | | 17.09 | | | 16.73 | | | 11.32 |
Second Quarter | | | 27.56 | | | 19.90 | | | 16.32 | | | 10.83 |
First Quarter | | | 27.39 | | | 18.97 | | | 14.03 | | | 9.99 |
2022 | | | 35.05 | | | 19.52 | | | 16.26 | | | 8.65 |
Fourth Quarter | | | 33.62 | | | 19.52 | | | 16.26 | | | 11.09 |
Third Quarter | | | 35.05 | | | 20.10 | | | 15.99 | | | 9.52 |
Second Quarter | | | 34.49 | | | 20.66 | | | 14.10 | | | 9.64 |
First Quarter | | | 26.43 | | | 19.86 | | | 11.66 | | | 8.65 |
2021 | | | 32.43 | | | 15.75 | | | 10.48 | | | 4.15 |
Fourth Quarter | | | 32.43 | | | 22.18 | | | 10.48 | | | 7.97 |
Third Quarter | | | 25.84 | | | 17.21 | | | 9.96 | | | 6.44 |
Second Quarter | | | 21.17 | | | 16.40 | | | 7.20 | | | 4.93 |
First Quarter | | | 23.41 | | | 15.75 | | | 5.85 | | | 4.15 |
2020 | | | 19.20 | | | 4.19 | | | 4.55 | | | 1.84 |
Fourth Quarter | | | 19.20 | | | 9.03 | | | 4.55 | | | 2.45 |
Third Quarter | | | 9.36 | | | 5.93 | | | 3.28 | | | 2.38 |
Second Quarter | | | 8.74 | | | 4.60 | | | 2.80 | | | 1.84 |
First Quarter | | | 11.86 | | | 4.19 | | | 3.79 | | | 2.03 |
2019 | | | 14.56 | | | 5.64 | | | 3.84 | | | 2.26 |
| | Livent Share (U.S.$) | | | Allkem Share (A$)(1) | |
May 9, 2023 | | | 24.23 | | | 12.83 |
November 13, 2023 | | | 12.96 | | | 8.72 |
(1) | The USD value of one Allkem Share was approximately U.S.$8.68 and U.S.$5.56 on May 9, 2023 and November 13, 2023, respectively, based on the AUD to USD closing exchange rate of A$1.4789 per U.S.$1.00 on May 9, 2023 and A$1.5682 per U.S.$1.00 on November 13, 2023. |
| | Period End | | | Average(1) | | | Low | | | High | |
| | (A$ per U.S.$1.00) | ||||||||||
For the calendar period ended: | | | | | | | | | ||||
2023 | | | | | | | | | ||||
October 1 through November 13 | | | 1.5682 | | | 1.5702 | | | 1.5354 | | | 1.5883 |
Third Quarter | | | 1.5540 | | | 1.5287 | | | 1.4516 | | | 1.5741 |
Second Quarter | | | 1.5006 | | | 1.4968 | | | 1.4525 | | | 1.5378 |
First Quarter | | | 1.4958 | | | 1.4636 | | | 1.4012 | | | 1.5199 |
2022 | | | 1.4678 | | | 1.4424 | | | 1.3197 | | | 1.6130 |
Fourth Quarter | | | 1.4678 | | | 1.5219 | | | 1.4569 | | | 1.6130 |
Third Quarter | | | 1.5624 | | | 1.4646 | | | 1.4042 | | | 1.5624 |
Second Quarter | | | 1.4483 | | | 1.4011 | | | 1.3197 | | | 1.4588 |
First Quarter | | | 1.3362 | | | 1.3806 | | | 1.3307 | | | 1.4305 |
2021 | | | 1.3769 | | | 1.3323 | | | 1.2550 | | | 1.4290 |
Fourth Quarter | | | 1.3769 | | | 1.3728 | | | 1.3256 | | | 1.4290 |
Third Quarter | | | 1.3837 | | | 1.3613 | | | 1.3281 | | | 1.4013 |
Second Quarter | | | 1.3335 | | | 1.2989 | | | 1.2749 | | | 1.3371 |
First Quarter | | | 1.3166 | | | 1.2943 | | | 1.2550 | | | 1.3193 |
2020 | | | 1.2999 | | | 1.4525 | | | 1.2999 | | | 1.7408 |
Fourth Quarter | | | 1.2999 | | | 1.3673 | | | 1.2999 | | | 1.4229 |
Third Quarter | | | 1.3962 | | | 1.3987 | | | 1.3558 | | | 1.4460 |
Second Quarter | | | 1.4486 | | | 1.5226 | | | 1.4243 | | | 1.6672 |
First Quarter | | | 1.6292 | | | 1.5235 | | | 1.4250 | | | 1.7408 |
2019 | | | 1.4252 | | | 1.4388 | | | 1.3745 | | | 1.4917 |
(1) | The average rate for a period is the arithmetic average of the Bloomberg Generic Composite Rates observed daily during the business days of that period. |
• | Global footprint and presence in three major lithium extraction geographies, including the South American “Lithium Triangle,” Western Australia and Canada; |
• | Diverse set of products exposure, including lithium hydroxide, carbonate, spodumene and specialties; |
• | Complementary business models across chemical processing, hard rock and brine; |
• | Potential for material and highly realizable synergies; and |
• | Enhanced NewCo business strategy, featuring: |
○ | Enhanced business-critical scale and greater capacity to meet growing customer demand; |
○ | Highly complementary and vertically integrated business model; |
○ | Greater capacity and execution expertise to accelerate growth; and |
○ | Commitment to ESG values. |
• | Pro forma revenue of $1,935.3 million and $1,616.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively; |
• | Pro forma net income from continuing operations of $648.0 million and pro forma Adjusted EBITDA of $1,134.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and Pro forma net income from continuing operations of $679.4 million and pro forma Adjusted EBITDA of $1,024.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (see “—Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” below for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to pro forma net income); |
• | Pro forma cash and cash equivalents of $930.1 million as of September 30, 2023; and |
• | Fourteen key assets and approximately 2,600 employees globally across seven countries. |
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 | | | Year ended December 31, 2022 | |
Pro Forma Net Income From Continuing Operations | | | $679.4 | | | $648.0 |
Add back: | | | | | ||
Income tax expense | | | 247.5 | | | 233.2 |
Interest income, net | | | (54.8) | | | (16.2) |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 133.7 | | | 102.6 |
Pro Forma EBITDA | | | 1,005.8 | | | 967.6 |
Add back: | | | | | ||
Inventory adjustment due to purchase price allocation(a) | | | 1.6 | | | 111.4 |
Argentina remeasurement losses(b) | | | 37.0 | | | 21.2 |
Restructuring and other charges(c) | | | 44.6 | | | 90.8 |
COVID-19 related costs(d) | | | — | | | 2.4 |
Other loss related to equity method investments(e) | | | 9.2 | | | 11.3 |
Other non-recurring items(f) | | | — | | | 1.0 |
Subtract: | | | | | ||
Blue Chip Swap gain(g) | | | (74.1) | | | (69.4) |
Argentina interest income(h) | | | — | | | (1.5) |
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA | | | $1,024.1 | | | $1,134.9 |
(a) | Relates to the step-up in inventory classified as current on the unaudited condensed combined balance sheet quantified as part of purchase accounting as it is considered a one-time, non-recurring cost. |
(b) | Represents impact of currency fluctuations on tax assets and liabilities and on long-term monetary assets associated with Livent and Allkem's capital expansion as well as significant currency devaluations. |
(c) | Restructuring and other charges consist primarily of transaction costs incurred by Livent and Allkem to facilitate the transaction. Livent also continually performs strategic reviews and assesses the return on its business. This sometimes results in management changes or in a plan to restructure the operations of the business. As part of these restructuring plans, demolition costs and write-downs of long-lived assets may occur. Restructuring and other charges also include miscellaneous nonrecurring costs, exit costs, severance-related costs and environmental remediation costs incurred by Livent. |
(d) | Represents incremental costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic recorded in “Cost of sales” in Livent’s consolidated statement of operations, including but not limited to, incremental quarantine related absenteeism, incremental facility cleaning costs, COVID-19 testing, pandemic related supplies and personal protective equipment for employees, among other costs; offset by economic relief provided by foreign governments. No material impact of COVID-19 in the year ended December 31, 2022 was recorded in Allkem’s consolidated statement of profit and loss. |
(e) | Represents Livent’s 50% share (which was 25% prior to June 6, 2022) in costs incurred for certain project-related costs to align its investee’s (Nemaska Lithium) reported results with Livent’s capitalization policies, interest expense incurred by NLI and, for the calendar year ended December 31, 2022, non-recurring transaction costs related to its initial investment in NLI totaling $9.9 million, all included in Equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliates in its consolidated statement of operations. In addition, includes Allkem’s share of loss on the 75% economic interest in TLC and is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA because TLC is constructing a plant that is still in either the development or commissioning phase, all included in Share of loss of associate, net of tax in its consolidated statement of profit and loss. |
(f) | Represents Livent’s legal and professional fees and other separation-related activities totaling $0.7 million and $0.1 million partial write-off of deferred financing costs for the amendments to Livent’s Revolving Credit Facility incurred in the calendar year ended December 31, 2022 and excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA because the loss is nonrecurring. Also includes Allkem impairment and write-downs amounts totaling $0.2 million for the calendar year ended December 31, 2022, which are also considered non-recurring in nature. |
(g) | Represents non-recurring gains of $21.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 for Livent and $52.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2023 for Allkem, and non-recurring gains of $22.2 million and $47.2 million for Livent and Allkem, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022 from the sale in Argentine pesos of Argentine Sovereign U.S. dollar-denominated bonds due to the significant divergence of Argentina’s Blue Chip Swap market exchange rate from the official rate. |
(h) | Represents interest income received from the Argentina government for the period beginning when the recoverability of certain expansion-related VAT receivables were approved by the Argentina government and ending on the date when the reimbursements were paid by the Argentina government but is excluded from our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA because of its association with long-term capital projects which will not be operational until future periods. |
(1) | Excludes tantalum sales, which were minimal in the year ended December 31, 2022. |
(2) | Lithium specialties includes butyllithium (BuLi), high purity lithium metal, lithium phosphate, pharmaceutical-grade lithium carbonate, high purity lithium chloride, and specialty organics. |
(3) | Includes minimal lithium chloride (LiCl) sales in 2022. |
(4) | Remaining ownership split between TTC (25.0%) and Jujuy Energía y Minería Sociedad del Estado (JEMSE) (8.5%). |
(5) | Remaining 25.0% economic interest owned by TTC. |
(6) | Remaining 50.0% economic interest owned by Investissement Québec. |
(7) | Operated under exclusive and strict manufacturing contracts. |
(1) | Includes minimal lithium chloride sales in calendar year 2022. |
• | Mt Cattlin lithium spodumene mine in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia; |
• | Olaroz lithium facility in Jujuy Province, Argentina (of which Allkem owns a 66.5% equity interest); |
• | Cauchari lithium brine project in Jujuy Province, Argentina; |
• | Sal de Vida lithium brine project in Catamarca Province, Argentina; |
• | James Bay lithium spodumene project in Québec, Canada; and |
• | Naraha lithium hydroxide plant in Naraha, Japan (of which Allkem owns a 75% economic interest). |
• | Growth. Allkem focuses on its ability to integrate vertically and sustainably scale production. |
• | Sustainability. Allkem focuses on a net zero emissions target, human rights and local communities and safety, quality and productivity. |
• | Customer Focus. Allkem focuses on expanding a diversified customer base, while also maintaining and growing existing relationships. |
• | Product Quality. Allkem focuses on optimizing product quality and product reliability. |
• | Cost Leadership. Allkem focuses on leveraging management expertise across operations and improving bargaining power with suppliers. |
Annual Production Capacity and Production (Metric Tons) Fiscal Year Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Product(1) | | | Property | | | Production Capacity | | | Production | | | Production Capacity | | | Production | | | Production Capacity | | | Production |
Lithium Carbonate(8) | | | Olaroz(2)(3) | | | 11,638 | | | 11,107 | | | 11,638 | | | 8,554 | | | 11,638 | | | 8,386 |
Spodumene Concentrate(9) | | | Mt Cattlin(4) | | | 1,800,000(7) | | | 130,984 | | | 1,800,000(7) | | | 193,563 | | | 1,800,000(7) | | | 173,320 |
Lithium Hydroxide | | | Naraha(5)(6) | | | 7,500 | | | 150 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
(1) | Table does not include non-lithium production amounts, including borates (which business was divested by Allkem in the sale of its former Borax segment in December 2022, as discussed further in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Allkem” beginning on page 249 of this proxy statement/prospectus) and tantalum (which production is immaterial to Allkem). |
(2) | Through the Olaroz joint venture, as described in the “Properties Overview” section below, Allkem owns a 66.5% interest in Olaroz and, therefore, the table above reflects 66.5% of the Olaroz production capacity and production. |
(3) | Olaroz Stage 1 has capacity of 17,500 metric tons of lithium carbonate. Olaroz Stage 2 has capacity of 25,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate and achieved first production in July 2023, subsequent to fiscal year end. The combined capacity of Olaroz Stage 1 and Stage 2, subsequent to fiscal year end, is 42,500 metric tons of lithium carbonate. |
(4) | Allkem acquired Mt Cattlin as part of the Galaxy/Orocobre Merger on August 25, 2021. Production capacity and production shown for Mt Cattlin are for entire periods, including pre-acquisition periods. |
(5) | Naraha is a downstream production facility that further refines lithium carbonate to lithium hydroxide with a production capacity of 10,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide. |
(6) | Through the Naraha joint venture, as described in the “Properties Overview” section below, Allkem owns a 75% economic interest in Naraha and, therefore, is reporting 75% of the Naraha production capacity and production. |
(7) | Mt Cattlin production capacity is stated on the basis of metric tons of ore feeding the process facility. |
(8) | Lithium carbonate production amounts shown as lithium carbonate. Conversion to lithium metal is 0.1878 metric tons of lithium metal to 1 metric ton of lithium carbon. |
(9) | Spodumene concentrate production amounts shown as metric tons of spodumene at an average Li2O% grade of approximately 5.6%. Conversion to lithium metal is 0.02552 metric tons of lithium metal to 1 metric ton of spodumene concentrate at 5.5% Li2O. Conversion to lithium metal is 0.02784 metric tons of lithium metal to 1 metric ton of spodumene concentrate at 6.0% Li2O. |
• | Water and Brine. Brine is extracted from wells in the salt lake (salar) and pumped to large scale evaporation ponds. The processing of brines consumes industrial water, which is extracted and treated to be used in processing and is then returned to the evaporation ponds after processing to recover residual lithium. |
• | Energy. Energy is generated by natural gas generators to power processes in the production plant and provide electricity. Diesel is used on site for machinery and the transport fleet. Allkem’s greatest source of energy is supplied by solar radiation which is used for concentrating brine in the evaporation ponds. |
• | Reagents. Lime, soda ash, and other reagents and CO2 are incorporated in the process to remove impurities and crystallize and purify lithium carbonate product. In terms of volume, lime and soda ash are the highest consumables. Lime is procured locally from various suppliers with a mixture of medium-term contracts with prices tied to key consumables and long-standing relationships. Soda ash is imported from different international suppliers with a mix of medium- or long-term contractual relationships. |
• | Water. Groundwater is sourced from a bore field, a decant return line from in pit tailings storage facility and rainwater tanks. Raw water is sourced from water bores and piped to either the raw water dam to be used in the processing plant or for use in dust suppression in mining operations. Rainwater is also captured and primarily used for drill rigs. |
• | Energy. Diesel is used for electricity generation and for the transport fleet, plant and machinery. Energy is used to treat water in a reverse osmosis plant for human consumption. |
• | Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA) and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 (WA) regulated by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) regulated by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; |
• | Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (WA) regulated by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) regulated by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; |
• | Mining Act 1978 (WA) and Mining Regulations 1981 (WA), regulated by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety; |
• | Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), regulated by the Attorney-General’s Department and the National Native Title Tribunal; and |
• | Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), and Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 regulated by Worksafe WA and the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. |
• | Category I lands are reserved for the exclusive use of the Cree. They may be used for residential, community, commercial, industrial or other purposes. In addition, the Cree have an exclusive right to hunting, fishing and trapping; |
• | Category II lands are contiguous to Category I lands. They are part of the public domain of Québec. These are lands where the Cree have exclusive rights of hunting, fishing and trapping; and |
• | Category III lands represent all lands in the JBNQA territory not included in Category I and Category II lands. General access to Category III lands is in accordance with provincial legislation and regulations concerning public lands. Exclusive rights or privileges are not granted to the Cree regarding Category III, but the Cree are nevertheless granted non-exclusive rights to pursue their harvesting activities (hunting, fishing and trapping) year-round. |
Peter Coleman | | | Independent Non-Executive Chairman |
Martín Pérez de Solay | | | Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer |
Fernando Oris de Roa | | | Independent Non-Executive Director |
Leanne Heywood | | | Independent Non-Executive Director |
Alan Fitzpatrick | | | Independent Non-Executive Director |
John Turner | | | Independent Non-Executive Director |
Florencia Heredia | | | Independent Non-Executive Director |
Richard Seville | | | Non-Executive Director |
• | Respect. Allkem fosters trusted relationships with its collaborators, the different communities in which it operates and its business partners. |
• | Inclusion. Allkem promotes a working environment where everyone is treated with respect and differences are considered and celebrated. |
• | Empowerment. Allkem encourages all of its collaborators to live to their fullest potential and to be proud of the role they play. |
• | Commitment. Allkem keeps its promises, reinforcing its reputation as a trustworthy and qualified partner. |
• | Integrity. Allkem is consistent with its core values in all of its tasks and in its interactions with others. |
• | Safe and Sustainable Operations. To aim to maintain the highest levels of safety, efficiency and resilience, Allkem sets clear safety, environment and social objectives and fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement to drive efficiency, quality and sustainable development. |
• | Thriving Communities. To aim to cultivate thriving, resilient communities that are autonomous and self-sustaining, Allkem believes in creating shared value and has defined its strategy to manage, monitor and report performance against community-based sustainable development commitments. |
• | Responsible Products. To aim to be the supplier of choice for quality lithium chemicals, Allkem strives to deliver quality products in a sustainable and transparent manner throughout its global value chain that will contribute to the global transition towards a net zero carbon economy. |
Location | | | Function | | | Leased/Owned |
Australia | | | | | ||
Mt Cattlin, Western Australia | | | Production of lithium spodumene minerals and lithium concentrate | | | Owned |
Perth, Western Australia | | | Administrative | | | Leased |
Brisbane, Queensland | | | Administrative | | | Leased |
Argentina | | | | | ||
Salar de Olaroz, Jujuy | | | Production of lithium carbonate (technical and battery-grade) | | | Owned(1) |
Salar del Hombre Muerto, Catamarca | | | Production of technical and battery-grade lithium carbonate (currently under development) | | | Owned |
Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires | | | Corporate Headquarters | | | Leased |
San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy | | | Administrative | | | Leased |
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Catamarca | | | Administrative | | | Leased |
Canada | | | | | ||
James Bay, Québec | | | Production of lithium spodumene minerals and lithium concentrate (currently under development) | | | Owned |
Montreal, Québec | | | Administrative | | | Leased |
Toronto, Ontario | | | Administrative | | | Leased |
Japan | | | | | ||
Naraha, Fukushima | | | Production of technical and battery-grade lithium hydroxide (currently under development) | | | Owned(2) |
(1) | Olaroz is owned through a joint venture with ownership of 66.5% by Allkem, 25% by TTC and 8.5% by JEMSE. Cauchari is wholly owned by Allkem. |
(2) | Naraha is owned through a joint venture, TLC, with economic ownership of 75% by Allkem and 25% by TTC. |
Location | | | Ownership (%) | | | Extraction Type | | | Stage |
Australia | | | | | | | |||
Mt Cattlin, Western Australia | | | 100% | | | Hard rock | | | Production |
Argentina | | | | | | | |||
Salar de Olaroz, Jujuy (Olaroz) | | | 66.5%(1) | | | Brine | | | Exploration(2) |
Salar del Hombre Muerto, Catamarca (Sal de Vida) | | | 100% | | | Brine | | | Development |
Salar de Cauchari, Jujuy (Cauchari) | | | 100% | | | Brine | | | Development |
Canada | | | | | | | |||
James Bay, Québec | | | 100% | | | Hard rock | | | Development |
(1) | Olaroz is owned through a joint venture with ownership of 66.5% by Allkem, 25% by TTC and 8.5% by JEMSE and, pursuant to Subpart 1300, is reported in this “Properties” section only for the portion of production, mineral resources or mineral reserves attributable to Allkem’s 66.5% interest in the property. |
(2) | Allkem has started extraction at Olaroz without determining mineral reserves. |
| | Aggregate Annual Production (metric tons) Fiscal Year Ended June 30, | |||||||
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
Lithium (Lithium metal)(1) | | | | | | | |||
Australia | | | | | | | |||
Mt Cattlin | | | 3,225 | | | 5,036 | | | 4,670 |
Argentina | | | | | | | |||
Olaroz(2) | | | 2,087 | | | 1,607 | | | 1,575 |
Total lithium metal | | | 5,312 | | | 6,643 | | | 6,245 |
(1) | Lithium production amounts shown as lithium metal. Conversion to LCE is 0.1878 metric tons of lithium metal to 1 metric ton of LCE (i.e., a conversion factor of 5.323). Table does not include non-lithium production amounts, including borates (which business was divested by Allkem in the sale of its former Borax segment in December 2022, as discussed further in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Allkem” beginning on page 249 of this proxy statement/prospectus) and tantalum (which production is immaterial to Allkem). |
(2) | Lithium metal production from Olaroz represents 66.5% of production of Olaroz, which is attributable to Allkem’s interest in the Olaroz joint venture. |
| | Measured Mineral Resources | | | Indicated Mineral Resources | | | Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources | | | Inferred Mineral Resources | |||||||||||||
| | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) | |
Lithium - Hard Rock(1)(3)(13) (Ore) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Mt Cattlin(4) | | | 100 | | | 1.00% | | | 3,200 | | | 1.40% | | | 3,300 | | | 1.39% | | | 600 | | | 1.10% |
Canada | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
James Bay(5) | | | — | | | —% | | | 18,100 | | | 1.12% | | | 18,100 | | | 1.12% | | | 55,900 | | | 1.29% |
Total | | | 100 | | | 1.00% | | | 21,300 | | | 1.16% | | | 21,400 | | | 1.16% | | | 56,500 | | | 1.29% |
| | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (ppm) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (ppm) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (ppm) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (ppm) | |
Tantalum - Ta2O5(1)(3)(12) (Ore) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Mt Cattlin | | | 100 | | | 179 | | | 3,200 | | | 201 | | | 3,300 | | | 200 | | | 600 | | | 207 |
Total | | | 100 | | | 1793 | | | 200 | | | 201 | | | 3,300 | | | 200 | | | 600 | | | 207 |
| | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) | |
Lithium - Brine(2)(3)(6)(8) (Lithium metal) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Argentina | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Olaroz(7)(9) | | | 1,565 | | | 659 | | | 499 | | | 592 | | | 2,065 | | | 641 | | | 1,105 | | | 609 |
Sal de Vida(10) | | | 578 | | | 745 | | | 180 | | | 730 | | | 758 | | | 742 | | | 122 | | | 556 |
Cauchari(11) | | | 302 | | | 581 | | | 321 | | | 494 | | | 623 | | | 519 | | | 285 | | | 473 |
Total | | | 2,445 | | | 670 | | | 1,000 | | | 585 | | | 3,446 | | | 641 | | | 1,512 | | | 579 |
(1) | Hard rock assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of ore. |
(2) | Brine assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of lithium metal. |
(3) | Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
(4) | For Mt Cattlin, a cut-off grade of 0.3% Li2O was utilized for a spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500 per metric ton and an A$/US$ exchange rate of 1.43 over the entirety of the LOM of 5 to 6 years. The estimate is reported in-situ and exclusive of mineral reserves. |
(5) | For James Bay, a raised cut-off grade of 0.5% Li2O was utilized due to metallurgical considerations. The calculated break-even cut-off grade is 0.17% Li2O. Mineral resources are estimated using a long-term spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500/t and a Canadian dollar (“C$”)/US$ exchange rate of 1.33 over the entirety of the LOM of 19 years. The estimate is reported in-situ and exclusive of mineral reserves. |
(6) | Lithium metal is converted to lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with a conversion factor of 5.323 (i.e., 5.323 metric tons of LCE per 1 metric ton lithium metal). |
(7) | Through the Olaroz joint venture, Allkem owns a 66.5% interest in Olaroz and, therefore, is reporting 66.5% of the mineral resources that are subject to the Olaroz joint venture. In addition to Allkem’s stake in the Olaroz joint venture, Allkem also owns 100% of six properties immediately in the north of Olaroz, which properties’ mineral resources are reported on a 100% basis. |
(8) | For lithium brine, the estimate is reported in-situ and exclusive of mineral reserves, where the lithium mass is representative of what remains in the reservoir after the LOM. To calculate mineral resources exclusive of mineral reserves, a direct correlation was assumed between proven reserves and measured resources, as well as probable reserves and indicated resources. Proven mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from measured mineral resources, and probable mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from indicated mineral resources. The average grade for measured and indicated resources exclusive of mineral reserves was calculated based on the remaining brine volume and lithium mass. |
(9) | For Olaroz, a lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on an elevated cut-off grade for a price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 32 years. The average lithium grade of the measured and indicated mineral resources corresponds to 609 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average mineral resources concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
(10) | For Sal de Vida, an elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 40 years. The average lithium grade of the measured and indicated mineral resources corresponds to 742 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average measured and indicated mineral resources concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
(11) | For Cauchari, an elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 30 years. The average lithium grade of the measured and indicated mineral resources corresponds to 519 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average measured and indicated mineral resources concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
(12) | Tonnage of lithium hard rock ore resources reported for Mt Cattlin above include the concentration of tantalum in parts per million (ppm) reported in this row. |
(13) | LCE is converted to Li2O with a conversion factor of 2.473 (i.e., 2.473 metric tons of LCE per 1 metric ton of Li2O). Li2O is converted to lithium metal with a conversion factor of 0.464 (i.e., 0.464 metric ton of lithium metal per 1 metric ton of Li2O). |
| | Proven Mineral Reserves | | | Probable Mineral Reserves | | | Total Mineral Reserves | ||||||||||
| | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) | |
Lithium - Hard Rock (Ore)(1)(3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Mt Cattlin(3) | | | 200 | | | 0.90% | | | 7,000 | | | 1.17% | | | 7,100 | | | 1.18% |
Canada | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
James Bay(4) | | | — | | | —% | | | 37,296 | | | 1.27% | | | 37,296 | | | 1.27% |
Total | | | 200 | | | 0.90% | | | 44,296 | | | 1.25% | | | 44,396 | | | 1.26% |
| | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (ppm) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (ppm) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (ppm) | |
Tantalum - Ta2O5 (Ore)(1)(8) | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Mt Cattlin | | | 200 | | | 120 | | | 7,000 | | | 121 | | | 7,100 | | | 120 |
Total | | | 200 | | | 120 | | | 7,000 | | | 121 | | | 7,100 | | | 120 |
| | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (mg/L) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (mg/L) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (mg/L) | |
Lithium - Brine (Lithium metal)(2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Argentina | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Olaroz(5) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Sal de Vida(6) | | | 84 | | | 799 | | | 383 | | | 748 | | | 467 | | | 757 |
Cauchari(7) | | | 43 | | | 571 | | | 169 | | | 485 | | | 212 | | | 501 |
Total | | | 127 | | | 722 | | | 552 | | | 667 | | | 679 | | | 677 |
(1) | Hard rock assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of ore. |
(2) | Brine assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of lithium metal. |
(3) | For Mt Cattlin, a cut-off grade of 0.3% Li2O was utilized for a spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500 per metric ton and an A$/US$ exchange rate of 1.43 over the entirety of the LOM of 5 to 6 years. Mineral reserves are calculated in-situ. |
(4) | For James Bay, mineral reserves are reported using a cut-off grade of 0.62% Li2O and include 8.7% dilution at an average grade of 0.42% Li2O. The average LOM strip ratio is 3.56:1. Mineral reserves are estimated using a long-term spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500/t and a C$/US$ exchange rate of 1.33 over the entirety of the LOM of 19 years. Bulk density of ore is variable, outlined in the geological block model, and averages 2.7 g/t. Mineral reserves are calculated in-situ. |
(5) | No mineral reserves have been determined at Olaroz, and Allkem has started extraction at Olaroz without determining mineral reserves. |
(6) | For Sal de Vida, an elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a projected price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 40 years. The average lithium grade of the proven and probable reserves corresponds to 757 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average proven and probable reserve concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
(7) | For Cauchari, an elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a projected price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 30 years. The average lithium grade of the proven and probable reserves corresponds to 501 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average proven and probable reserves concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
(8) | Tonnage of lithium hard rock ore reserves reported for Mt Cattlin above include the concentration of tantalum in ppm reported in this row. To date, Allkem’s tantalum production has been immaterial and a byproduct of lithium mining. |
Lithium – Hard Rock | | | Amount | | | Grade | | | Grade |
(Ore) | | | (‘000s metric tons) | | | (% Li2O) | | | (Ta2O5 ppm) |
Measured Mineral Resources | | | 100 | | | 1.00% | | | 179 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 3,200 | | | 1.40% | | | 201 |
Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 3,300 | | | 1.39% | | | 200 |
Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 600 | | | 1.10% | | | 207 |
Total Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 3,900 | | | 1.34% | | | 201 |
• | Hard rock assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of ore. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | Mineral resources have been reported as in-situ. |
• | Mineral resources are reported considering a set of assumptions for reporting purposes: |
○ | A cut-off grade of 0.3% Li2O was utilized for a spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500 per metric ton, tantalum concentrate price of $20 per pound and an A$/US$ exchange rate of 1.43 over the entirety of the LOM of 5 to 6 years. |
○ | Processing costs of US$36.96/t of ore. |
○ | Mining costs of US$3.00/t of ore. |
○ | Transport costs of US$34.74/t of spodumene concentrate. |
○ | State royalty of 5%. |
○ | Li2O% metallurgical recovery of 75%. |
○ | Ta2O5 ppm metallurgical recovery of 25%. |
○ | Inherent mining dilution and recovery of 17% and 93%, respectively. |
Lithium – Hard Rock | | | Amount | | | Grade | | | Grade |
(Ore) | | | (‘000s metric tons) | | | (% Li2O) | | | (Ta2O5 ppm) |
Proven Mineral Resources (In-situ) | | | 200 | | | 0.90% | | | 120 |
Probable Mineral Reserves (In-situ) | | | 5,200 | | | 1.3% | | | 130 |
Probable Mineral Reserves (Stockpile) | | | 1,800 | | | 0.8% | | | 95 |
Total Mineral Reserves | | | 7,100 | | | 1.16% | | | 121 |
• | Hard rock assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of ore. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Mineral reserves are calculated in-situ. |
• | Mineral reserves are reported considering the following theoretical cut-off parameters: |
○ | A cut-off grade of 0.3% Li2O was utilized for a spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500 per metric ton, tantalum concentrate price of $20 per pound and an A$/US$ exchange rate of 1.43 over the entirety of the LOM of 5 to 6 years. |
○ | Processing costs of US$36.96/t of ore. |
○ | Mining costs of US$3.00/t of ore. |
○ | Transport costs of US$34.74/t of spodumene concentrate. |
○ | State royalty of 5%. |
○ | Metallurgical recovery of 70.1%. |
○ | Li2O% metallurgical recovery of 66.5%. |
○ | Ta2O5 ppm metallurgical recovery of 20%. |
○ | Inherent mining dilution and recovery of 17% and 93%, respectively. |
Lithium – Brine | | | Attributable Amount | | | Concentration |
(Lithium metal) | | | (‘000s metric tons) | | | (mg/L) |
Measured Mineral Resources | | | 1,565 | | | 659 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 499 | | | 592 |
Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 2,065 | | | 641 |
Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 1,105 | | | 609 |
Total Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 3,170 | | | 631 |
• | Brine assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of lithium metal. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | Lithium metal is converted to lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with a conversion factor of 5.323 (i.e., 5.323 metric tons of LCE per 1 metric ton of lithium metal). |
• | Through the Olaroz joint venture, Allkem owns a 66.5% interest in Olaroz and, therefore, is reporting 66.5% of the mineral resources that are subject to the Olaroz joint venture. In addition to Allkem’s stake in the Olaroz joint venture, Allkem also owns 100% of six properties immediately in the north of Olaroz, which properties’ mineral resources are reported on a 100% basis. |
• | The estimate is reported in-situ and exclusive of mineral reserves, where the lithium mass is representative of what remains in the reservoir after the LOM. To calculate mineral resources exclusive of mineral reserves, a direct correlation was assumed between proven reserves and measured resources, as well as probable reserves and indicated resources. Proven mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from measured mineral resources, and probable mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from indicated mineral resources. The average grade for measured and indicated resources exclusive of mineral reserves was calculated based on the remaining brine volume and lithium mass. |
• | An elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a projected price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 32 years. The average lithium grade of the measured and indicated mineral resources corresponds to 641 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average mineral resources concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | The estimated economic cut-off grade utilized for resource reporting purposes is 300 mg/l lithium, based on the following assumptions: |
○ | A technical grade LCE price of $20,000/metric ton. |
○ | A calculated recovery factor for the salar operation over the span of LOM is 62%, equivalent to the assumed process recovery factor of 62%. |
○ | An average annual brine pumping rate of 600 L/s is assumed. |
○ | Cost estimates are based on a combination of fixed brine extraction, G&A and plant costs and variable costs associated with raw brine pumping rate or lithium production rate and capital costs. Average LOM operating cost is calculated at approximately $4,149/metric ton LCE. |
Lithium - Brine (Lithium metal) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) |
Measured Mineral Resources | | | 578 | | | 745 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 180 | | | 730 |
Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 758 | | | 742 |
Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 122 | | | 556 |
Lithium - Brine (Lithium metal) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) |
Total Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 880 | | | 716 |
• | Brine assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of lithium metal. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | Lithium metal is converted to lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with a conversion factor of 5.323 (i.e., 5.323 metric tons of LCE per 1 metric ton of lithium metal). |
• | The estimate is reported in-situ and exclusive of mineral reserves, where the lithium mass is representative of what remains in the reservoir after the LOM. To calculate mineral resources exclusive of mineral reserves, a direct correlation was assumed between proven reserves and measured resources, as well as probable reserves and indicated resources. Proven mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from measured mineral resources, and probable mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from indicated mineral resources. The average grade for measured and indicated resources exclusive of mineral reserves was calculated based on the remaining brine volume and lithium mass. |
• | An elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a projected price of $20,000 per metric LCE ton over the entirety of the LOM of 40 years. The average lithium grade of the measured and indicated resources corresponds to 742 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average measured and indicated resources concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | The estimated economic cut-off grade utilized for resource reporting purposes is 300 mg/l lithium, based on the following assumptions: |
○ | A technical grade LCE price of $20,000/metric ton. |
○ | A calculated recovery factor for the salar operation over the span of LOM is 68%, lower than the estimated process recovery factor of 70%. |
○ | An average annual brine pumping rate of 506 L/s is assumed. |
○ | Operating cost estimates are based on a combination of fixed brine extraction, G&A and plant costs and variable costs associated with raw brine pumping rate or lithium production rate. Average LOM operating cost is calculated at approximately $4,003/metric ton LCE. |
Lithium - Brine (Lithium metal) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) |
Proven Mineral Reserves | | | 84 | | | 799 |
Probable Mineral Reserves | | | 383 | | | 748 |
Total Mineral Reserves | | | 467 | | | 757 |
• | Brine assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of lithium metal. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Lithium metal is converted to lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with a conversion factor of 5.323 (i.e., 5.323 metric tons of LCE per 1 metric ton of lithium metal). |
• | An elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a projected price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 40 years. The average lithium grade of the proven and probable reserves corresponds to 757 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average Proven and Probable reserve concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | The estimated economic cut-off grade utilized for reserve reporting purposes is 300 mg/l lithium, based on the following assumptions: |
○ | A technical grade LCE price of $20,000/metric ton. |
○ | A calculated recovery factor for the salar operation over the span of LOM is 68%, lower than the estimated process recovery factor of 70%. |
○ | An average annual brine pumping rate of 506 L/s is assumed. |
○ | Cost estimates are based on a combination of fixed brine extraction, G&A and plant costs and variable costs associated with raw brine pumping rate or lithium production rate and capital costs. Average LOM operating cost is calculated at approximately $4,003/metric ton LCE. |
Lithium - Brine (Lithium metal) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) |
Measured Mineral Resources | | | 302 | | | 581 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 321 | | | 494 |
Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 623 | | | 519 |
Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 285 | | | 473 |
Total Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 908 | | | 516 |
• | Brine assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of lithium metal. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | Lithium metal is converted to lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with a conversion factor of 5.323 (i.e., 5.323 metric tons of LCE per 1 metric ton of lithium metal). |
• | The estimate is reported in-situ and exclusive of mineral reserves, where the lithium mass is representative of what remains in the reservoir after the LOM. To calculate mineral resources exclusive of mineral reserves, a direct correlation was assumed between proven reserves and measured resources, as well as probable reserves and indicated resources. Proven mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from measured mineral resources, and probable mineral reserves (from the point of reference of brine pumped to the evaporation ponds) were subtracted from indicated mineral resources. The average grade for measured and indicated resources exclusive of mineral reserves was calculated based on the remaining brine volume and lithium mass. |
• | An elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a projected price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 30 years. The average lithium grade of the measured and indicated mineral resources corresponds to 519 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average measured and indicated resource concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | The estimated economic cut-off grade utilized for resource reporting purposes is 300 mg/l lithium, based on the following assumptions: |
○ | A technical grade LCE price of $20,000/metric ton. |
○ | A calculated recovery factor for the salar operation over the span of LOM is 66%, lower than the estimated process recovery factor of 67%. |
○ | An average annual brine pumping rate of 480 L/s is assumed. |
○ | Cost estimates are based on a combination of fixed brine extraction, G&A and plant costs and variable costs associated with raw brine pumping rate or lithium production rate and capital costs. Average LOM operating cost is calculated at approximately $4,081/metric ton LCE. |
Lithium - Brine (Lithium metal) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Concentration (mg/L) |
Proven Mineral Reserves | | | 43 | | | 571 |
Probable Mineral Reserves | | | 169 | | | 485 |
Total Mineral Reserves | | | 212 | | | 501 |
• | Brine assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of lithium metal. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Lithium metal is converted to lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with a conversion factor of 5.323 (i.e., 5.323 metric tons of LCE per 1 metric ton of lithium metal).. |
• | An elevated lithium cut-off grade of 300 mg/l was utilized based on a projected price of $20,000 per metric ton LCE over the entirety of the LOM of 30 years. The average lithium grade of the proven and probable reserves corresponds to 501 mg/l and represents the flux-weighted composite brine collected as brine is routed to the evaporation ponds. Extracted grades at individual production wells and the average proven and probable reserves concentration are well above the 300 mg/l cut-off grade, demonstrating that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | The estimated economic cut-off grade utilized for reserve reporting purposes is 300 mg/l lithium, based on the following assumptions: |
○ | A technical grade LCE price of $20,000/metric ton. |
○ | A calculated recovery factor for the salar operation over the span of LOM is 66%, lower than the estimated process recovery factor of 67%. |
○ | An average annual brine pumping rate of 480 L/s is assumed. |
○ | Cost estimates are based on a combination of fixed brine extraction, G&A and plant costs and variable costs associated with raw brine pumping rate or lithium production rate and capital costs. Average LOM operating cost is calculated at approximately $4,081/metric ton LCE. |
Lithium - Hard Rock (Ore metric tons) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) |
Measured Mineral Resources | | | — | | | —% |
Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 18,100 | | | 1.12% |
Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources | | | 18,100 | | | 1.12% |
Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 55,900 | | | 1.29% |
Total Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources | | | 74,000 | | | 1.25% |
• | Hard rock assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of ore. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated reasonable prospects for economic extraction. |
• | Mineral resources have been reported as in-situ. |
• | Mineral resources are reported using a raised cut-off grade of 0.5% Li2O due to metallurgical considerations. The calculated break-even cut-off grade is 0.17% Li2O. |
• | Mineral resources are estimated using a long-term spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500/t and a C$/US$ exchange rate of 1.33 over the entirety of the LOM of 19 years. |
• | Mineral resources were constrained using a Whittle pit optimization shell using the following set of assumptions for mineral resource reporting: |
○ | Processing costs of C$13.23/t of ore. |
○ | G&A costs of C$13.86/t of ore. |
○ | Closure, Sustaining CAPEX, and IBA payments of C$6.83/t of ore. |
○ | Mining costs of C$4.82/t of ore. |
○ | Metallurgical recovery of 70.1%. |
○ | Transport costs of $86.16/t of spodumene concentrate. |
○ | NSR royalty of 0.32%. |
○ | Average pit slope angle of 47.5 degrees. |
Lithium - Hard Rock (Ore metric tons) | | | Amount (‘000s metric tons) | | | Grade (% Li2O) |
Proven Mineral Reserves | | | — | | | —% |
Probable Mineral Reserves | | | 37,296 | | | 1.27% |
Total Mineral Reserves | | | 37,296 | | | 1.27% |
• | Hard rock assets are expressed in thousand metric tons of ore. |
• | Comparison of values may not add up due to rounding or the use of averaging methods. |
• | Mineral reserves are reported using a cut-off grade of 0.62% Li2O and include 8.7% dilution at an average grade of 0.42% Li2O. The average LOM strip ratio is 3.56:1. |
• | Mineral reserves are calculated in-situ. |
• | Mineral reserves are estimated using a long-term spodumene concentrate (6.0% Li2O) price of $1,500/t and a C$/US$ exchange rate of 1.33 over the entirety of the LOM of 19 years. |
• | Bulk density of ore is variable, outlined in the geological block model, and averages 2.7 g/t. |
• | Mineral reserves were constrained within the pit design using the following set of assumptions: |
○ | Processing costs of C$18.13/t of ore. |
○ | G&A, Royalties, IBA, Owner’s cost, Closure, and Sustaining costs of C$38.17/t of ore. |
○ | Mining costs of C$5.70/t of ore. |
○ | Metallurgical recovery of 68.9%. |
○ | Transport and Insurance costs of $105.8/t of spodumene concentrate. |
○ | Average pit slope angle of 47.5 degrees. |
• | Mt Cattlin lithium spodumene mine in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia; |
• | Olaroz lithium facility in Jujuy Province, Argentina (of which Allkem owns a 66.5% equity interest); |
• | Cauchari lithium brine project in Jujuy Province, Argentina; |
• | Sal de Vida lithium brine project in Catamarca Province, Argentina; |
• | James Bay lithium spodumene project in Québec, Canada; and |
• | Naraha lithium hydroxide plant in Naraha, Japan (of which Allkem owns a 75% economic interest). |
($ in thousands) | | | Fiscal Year Ended June 30, | ||||||
| 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
Revenue | | | 1,207,801 | | | 744,683 | | | 66,370 |
Cost of sales | | | (142,000) | | | (144,521) | | | (25,004) |
Gross profit | | | 1,065,801 | | | 600,162 | | | 41,366 |
Other income | | | 66,023 | | | 31,666 | | | 1,725 |
Corporate and administrative expenses | | | (66,470) | | | (43,509) | | | (16,868) |
Merger and acquisition costs | | | (9,945) | | | (12,760) | | | (1,243) |
Selling expenses | | | (89,562) | | | (57,024) | | | (2,966) |
Depreciation and amortization expense | | | (98,786) | | | (63,310) | | | (18,758) |
Asset impairment and write-downs | | | — | | | (244) | | | — |
Share of net loss of associate | | | (2,114) | | | (2,951) | | | (1,682) |
Foreign currency loss | | | (83,280) | | | (10,260) | | | (3,619) |
Profit/(loss) before interest and income tax | | | 781,667 | | | 441,770 | | | (2,045) |
Finance income | | | 72,311 | | | 5,980 | | | 1,602 |
Finance costs | | | (24,071) | | | (20,180) | | | (22,664) |
Profit/(loss) before income tax | | | 829,907 | | | 427,570 | | | (23,107) |
Income tax expense | | | (305,332) | | | (92,884) | | | (67,940) |
Profit/(loss) after taxation from continuing operations | | | 524,575 | | | 334,686 | | | (91,047) |
(Loss)/Profit after tax for the period from discontinued operations | | | (3,278) | | | 2,537 | | | 1,573 |
Profit/(loss) for the period | | | 521,297 | | | 337,223 | | | (89,474) |
($ in thousands) | | | Fiscal Year Ended June 30, | ||||||
| 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
Total profit/(loss) for the period | | | 521,297 | | | 337,223 | | | (89,474) |
Discontinued operations | | | 3,278 | | | (2,537) | | | (1,573) |
Total profit/(loss) for the period – continuing operations | | | 524,575 | | | 334,686 | | | (91,047) |
Add: Income tax expense | | | 305,332 | | | 92,884 | | | 67,940 |
Profit/(loss) for the period before tax | | | 829,907 | | | 427,570 | | | (23,107) |
Add merger and acquisition costs(a) | | | 9,945 | | | 12,760 | | | 1,243 |
Add amortization of customer contracts due to purchase price allocation(b) | | | — | | | 13,400 | | | — |
Add inventory adjustment due to purchase price allocation(b) | | | — | | | 12,367 | | | — |
Less other income(c) | | | (66,023) | | | (31,666) | | | (1,725) |
Add foreign currency (gains)/losses(d) | | | 83,280 | | | 10,260 | | | 3,619 |
Add share of loss of associate, net of tax(e) | | | 2,114 | | | 2,951 | | | 1,682 |
Add impairment/write-downs (writebacks)(f) | | | — | | | 244 | | | 18,138 |
Add interest (income)/costs | | | (48,240) | | | 14,200 | | | 21,062 |
Add depreciation & amortization | | | 98,786 | | | 49,910 | | | 18,758 |
EBITDAIX | | | 909,769 | | | 511,996 | | | 3,394 |
(a) | Merger and acquisition costs (2023: $9.9 million, 2022: $12.8 million, 2021: $1.2 million) are excluded from EBITDAIX because they are nonrecurring. |
(b) | In 2022, $12.4 million related to the realization of inventory at a value in excess of the cost of production and $13.4 million related to the amortization of customer contract assets acquired as a part of the Galaxy/Orocobre Merger and are excluded from EBITDAIX because they are nonrecurring and relate to non-cash valuation adjustments arising from the Galaxy/Orocobre Merger. |
(c) | Represents primarily gain from financial instruments and is excluded from EBITDAIX because it does not relate to operations. |
(d) | Represents realized and unrealized losses on AUD denominated balances in corporate entities, with a USD functional currency, Argentine Peso denominated balances in entities based in Argentina and USD balances in Canadian entities. These amounts are excluded from the calculation of EBITDAIX because they primarily relate to income tax, cash and other transactional tax balances or as associated with long-term capital projections, which are expected to be operations in future periods. |
(e) | Represents the share of loss on the 75% economic interest in TLC and is excluded from EBITDAIX because TLC is constructing a plant that is still in either the development or commissioning phase. |
(f) | Represents impairment of assets and inventory write-down reversals and is excluded from EBITDAIX because the loss (or reversal) is nonrecurring. |
• | The Project Loan Facility for Stage 1 of Olaroz provides for a total of $191.9 million. The Stage 1 loan had an outstanding principal balance of $28.5 million as of June 30, 2023, and an outstanding balance of $48.1 million and $66.9 million as of June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The interest rate for the Stage 1 loan is the Stable Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) plus a margin of 0.80%. The interest rate related to 88.6% of the loan was hedged in 2015 with such rate currently at 4.896% until the last repayment in September 2024. Sales de Jujuy Pte Ltd has provided security in favor of Mizuho Bank over the shares it owns in SDJ and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, which covers 82.35% of the outstanding principal amount; and |
• | The Project Loan Facility for Stage 2 of Olaroz provides for a total of $180 million. The Stage 2 loan had an outstanding balance of $162 million as of June 30, 2023 and an outstanding balance of $180 million and $146 million as of June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The interest rate for the Stage 2 loan is a fixed rate of 2.5119% per annum until September 2023 and then 2.6119% per annum until expiry in March 2029. |
• | The pre-export facility with Bank Macro provides for a facility limit of $13 million as of June 30, 2023, and $8 million as of both June 30, 2022 and 2021. The pre-export facility beared interest at 6% and expired on July 30, 2023 ; and |
• | The working capital facility with HSBC Australia Limited (“HSBC”) provides for a facility limit of A$5 million as of June 30, 2023, and provided for nil as of both June 30, 2022 and 2021. The working capital facility currently bears interest at 5.75% (a variable reference rate set and updated periodically by HSBC for their loan products, less margin of 5.2%) and is an on-demand facility. No amounts have been drawn through and as of June 30, 2023. |
• | A loan that provides for a total of $5.1 million. The loan had an outstanding balance of $5.1 million as of June 30, 2023. For fiscal year 2023, the loan beared interest at SOFR plus a margin of 6% per annum. The loan will be payable prior to July 2024; |
• | A loan that provides for a total of $50.1 million. The loan had an outstanding balance of $39.5 million as of June 30, 2023, and an outstanding balance of $50.1 million as of both June 30, 2022 and 2021. For fiscal year 2023, the loan beared interest at SOFR plus a margin of 6% per annum, as compared to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin of 6% per annum for fiscal years 2022 and 2021. The loan will be payable prior to July 2028; |
• | A loan that provides for a total of $39.1 million. The loan had an outstanding balance of $39.1 million as of June 30, 2023, and an outstanding balance of $34.4 million and $23.6 million as of June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For fiscal year 2023, the loan beared interest at SOFR plus a margin of 6% per annum, as compared to LIBOR plus a margin of 6% per annum for fiscal years 2022 and 2021. The loan will be payable prior to July 2030; and |
• | A loan that provides for a total of $0.3 million. The loan had an outstanding balance of $0.3 million as of each of June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021. For fiscal year 2023, the loan beared interest at SOFR plus a margin of 0.75% per annum, as compared to LIBOR plus a margin of 0.75% per annum for fiscal years 2022 and 2021. The loan will be payable prior to July 2029. |
• | Mineral rights (including lithium assets); |
• | Exploration and evaluation assets (including key forecast assumptions, such as discount rates, commodity prices and operating and capital costs); |
• | Restoration and rehabilitation provision (including estimation of timing and applicable regulatory and compliance requirements); and |
• | Measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities in various jurisdictions in which Galaxy operated. |
• | Ore reserves; |
• | Timing of expected cash flows; |
• | Exchange rates; |
• | Commodity prices; and |
• | Future capital requirements. |
• | Devaluation of the Argentine Peso compared to the USD; and |
• | Application of specific Argentine tax legislation in respect of inflation. |
• | Discount rates; |
• | Expected cost to dismantle and remove the plant from the site; and |
• | Expected timing of those costs. |
Name | | | Beneficial Ownership on November 10, 2023 Livent Shares | | | Percent of Class |
Paul W. Graves(1) | | | 853,411 | | | * |
Gilberto Antoniazzi(1) | | | 166,264 | | | * |
Sara Ponessa(1) | | | 68,173 | | | * |
Pierre Brondeau(2) | | | 400,250 | | | * |
Michael F. Barry(2) | | | 62,323 | | | * |
G. Peter D’Aloia(2) | | | 202,153 | | | * |
Christina Lampe-Önnerud (2) | | | 27,280 | | | * |
Pablo Marcet(2) | | | 34,280 | | | * |
Steven T. Merkt(2) | | | 44,498 | | | * |
Robert C. Pallash(2) | | | 74,950 | | | * |
Andrea E. Utecht(2) | | | 141,156 | | | * |
All current directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)(1)(2) | | | 2,074,738 | | | 1.15% |
* | Less than one percent of class. |
(1) | For the NEOs, Livent Shares “beneficially owned” include: (i) Livent Shares owned or controlled by the individual; (ii) Livent Shares held in the Livent Nonqualified Savings Plan and the Livent Qualified Savings Plan for the account of the individual (97,816 for Mr. Graves); and (iii) Livent Shares subject to options that are presently exercisable or will be exercisable within 60 days of November 10, 2023 (647,886 for Mr. Graves, 133,724 for Mr. Antoniazzi, 53,334 for Ms. Ponessa, and 834,994 for all current executive officers as a group). |
(2) | For the non-employee directors, Livent Shares “beneficially owned” include: (i) Livent Shares owned or controlled by the individual; and (ii) restricted stock units that are vested as of November 10, 2023 or that will vest within 60 days thereafter (43,998 for Mr. Merkt, 27,848 for Mr. Barry, 51,760 for Mr. Brondeau, 5,380 for Ms. Utecht, 56,452 for Mr. D’Aloia, 27,280 for each of Ms. Lampe-Önnerud and Mr. Marcet, 43,385 for Mr. Pallash, and 283,383 for all directors as a group). Directors have no power to vote or dispose of Livent Shares represented by restricted stock units until the Livent Shares are distributed and, until such distribution, directors have only an unsecured claim against Livent. |
Beneficial Owner | | | Number of Livent Shares Beneficially Owned | | | Percent of Outstanding Livent Shares |
BlackRock, Inc.(1) 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022 | | | 28,767,522 | | | 16.0% |
The Vanguard Group, Inc.(2) 100 Vanguard Boulevard Malvern, PA 19355 | | | 20,001,456 | | | 11.1% |
(1) | Based on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed by such beneficial owner with the SEC on January 26, 2023, BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power over 28,430,537 Livent Shares and sole dispositive power over 28,767,522 Livent Shares. |
(2) | Based on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed by such beneficial owner with the SEC on February 9, 2023, The Vanguard Group, Inc. has sole dispositive power over 19,547,781 Livent Shares, shared voting power over 281,904 Livent Shares and shared dispositive power over 453,675 Livent Shares. |
| | Allkem Shares Beneficially Owned (1) | ||||
Name | | | Number | | | Percentage |
>5% Shareholders | | | | | ||
Toyota Tsusho Corporation(2) | | | 39,296,636 | | | 6.15% |
State Street Corporation(3) | | | 35,185,964 | | | 5.50% |
Directors and Executive Officers | | | | | ||
Peter Coleman | | | 33,025 | | | * |
Martín Pérez de Solay | | | 793,317 | | | * |
Fernando Oris de Roa | | | 70,000 | | | * |
Leanne Heywood | | | 25,002 | | | * |
Alan Fitzpatrick | | | 7,320 | | | * |
John Turner | | | 90,960 | | | * |
Florencia Heredia | | | 10,650 | | | * |
Richard Seville | | | 3,000,000 | | | * |
Christian Cortes | | | 78,893 | | | * |
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (9 Persons) | | | 4,109,167 | | | * |
* | Less than one percent of the outstanding Allkem Shares. |
(1) | In accordance with SEC rules, each listed shareholder’s beneficial ownership includes: (i) all Allkem Shares the shareholder actually owns beneficially or of record; (ii) all Allkem Shares over which the shareholder has or shares voting or investment control; and (iii) all Allkem Shares subject to Allkem Performance Rights that are vested and exercisable as of, or will vest and become exercisable within 60 days of November 10, 2023. |
(2) | Based on information set forth in filings made by TTC and certain of its affiliates with the ASX pursuant to the Australian Corporations Act on August 26, 2021, which are the most recent such filings. TTC’s address is 4-9-8, Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya 450-8575, Japan. TTC’s beneficial ownership percentage was calculated by dividing the 39,296,636 Allkem Shares reported as held by TTC on August 26, 2021 by the 639,321,293 Allkem Shares outstanding as of November 10, 2023. |
(3) | Based on information set forth in filings made by State Street Corporation and certain of its affiliates with the ASX pursuant to the Australian Corporations Act on September 12, 2023. State Street Corporation’s address is One Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016. State Street Corporation’s beneficial ownership percentage was calculated by dividing the 35,185,964 Allkem Shares reported as held by State Street Corporation on September 12, 2023 by the 639,321,293 Allkem Shares outstanding as of November 10, 2023. |
• | holders of CDIs do not have legal title in the underlying NewCo Shares to which the CDIs relate (the chain of title in the NewCo Shares underlying the CDIs is summarized above); |
• | holders of CDIs are not able to vote personally as shareholders at a meeting of NewCo. Instead, holders of CDIs are provided with a voting instruction form which will enable them to instruct the Depositary Nominee in relation to the exercise of voting rights. In addition, a holder of CDIs is able to request the Depositary Nominee to appoint the CDI holder or a third party nominated by the CDI holder as its proxy so that the proxy so appointed may exercise the votes attaching to the NewCo Shares; and |
• | holders of CDIs will not be directly entitled to certain other rights conferred on holders of NewCo Shares, including the right to apply to a Bailiwick of Jersey court for an order on the grounds that the affairs of NewCo are being conducted in a manner which is unfairly prejudicial to the interests of NewCo shareholders; and the right to apply to the Jersey Financial Services Commission to have an inspector appointed to investigate the affairs of NewCo. |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | ||
ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS | |||
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The rights of Livent stockholders are currently governed by the DGCL, as well as the Livent certificate of incorporation and the Livent bylaws. | | | The rights of NewCo shareholders will be governed by Jersey law, including the Jersey Companies Law, as well as the NewCo Organizational Documents. |
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SHARE CAPITAL | |||
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Authorized and Outstanding Shares | |||
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The Livent certificate of incorporation authorizes 2,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. Livent’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LTHM.” | | | The authorized share capital of NewCo will be $5,125,000,000, divided into 5,000,000,000 ordinary shares of $1.00 par value each and 125,000,000 preferred shares of $1.00 par value each. The NewCo board of directors may issue NewCo Shares without further shareholder action, unless shareholder action is required by applicable law or by the rules of the NYSE, ASX or other stock exchange or quotation system on which any class or series of NewCo’s shares may be listed or quoted. |
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Preferred Shares | |||
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The Livent Board is authorized to provide for the issuance of preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the rights and preferences related thereto. The Livent Board may issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or by the rules of the NYSE | | | The NewCo board of directors may issue preferred shares in such class or classes or series as the NewCo board of directors may determine in accordance with the NewCo articles of association. Upon consummation of the transaction, NewCo will not have any preferred shares issued and outstanding. |
Livent | | | NewCo |
or other stock exchange or quotation system on which any class or series of Livent’s shares may be listed or quoted. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, Livent does not have any preferred stock outstanding. | | | The NewCo board of directors may issue preferred shares without further shareholder action, unless shareholder action is required by applicable law or by the rules of the NYSE, ASX or other stock exchange or quotation system on which any class or series of NewCo’s shares may be listed or quoted. |
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Certificated and Uncertificated Shares | |||
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Pursuant to the Livent bylaws, the Livent Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Each certificate or other evidence of stock ownership will be signed in the name of Livent by the Chairman of the board of directors, the president or a vice president and the secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer. In case any such officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate will have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, such certificate may nevertheless be issued by Livent with the same effect as if such officer had not ceased to be such officer at the date of its issue. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, Livent will send to the registered owner thereof, a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates. The rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates and the rights and obligations of the holder of uncertificated shares of the same class or series will be identical. | | �� | NewCo Shares may be held in either certificated or uncertificated form. Every holder of certificated shares is entitled, without payment, to have one certificate for all the shares of each class that it owns executed under NewCo’s seal or in such other manner as provided by the Jersey Companies Law and the NewCo articles of association. Upon payment of a reasonable sum, as the board of directors may determine, every holder is entitled to several certificates each for one or more of that holder’s shares. |
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Preemptive Rights | |||
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Under the DGCL, Livent stockholders do not have preemptive rights (the right of existing stockholders to participate in subsequent share issuances) unless, and except to the extent that, these rights are affirmatively granted to such stockholder in the certificate of incorporation. The Livent certificate of incorporation expressly disclaims any preemptive rights for stockholders. | | | Jersey law and the NewCo articles of association do not provide preemptive rights to NewCo shareholders to acquire newly issued NewCo Shares. |
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Redemption or Repurchase of Shares | |||
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There are no redemption, sinking fund or conversion rights with respect to the Livent Shares. If the Livent Board were to designate and issue shares of a series of preferred stock that is redeemable in accordance with its terms, such terms and relevant sections of the DGCL would govern the redemption of such shares of preferred stock. | | | The NewCo Shares will not initially be redeemable. Pursuant to the Jersey Companies Law and the NewCo articles of association, the NewCo board of directors may issue redeemable shares or convert existing non-redeemable shares, whether issued or not, into redeemable shares, which shares will be, in each case, redeemable in accordance with their terms or at the option of NewCo and/or at the option of the holder |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | (provided that an issued non-redeemable share may only be converted into a redeemable share with the agreement of the applicable holder (which agreement will be deemed to exist with respect to any non-redeemable shares tendered by such holder for conversion, repurchase, buy back or redemption and regardless of whether or not such holder is aware that NewCo is the purchaser of such shares in such transaction) or pursuant to a special resolution). Subject to the provisions of the Jersey Companies Law and the NewCo articles of association, NewCo may purchase its own shares (including any redeemable shares) or CDIs and either cancel them or hold them as treasury shares. Under Jersey law, NewCo’s purchase of its own shares or CDIs must be sanctioned by a special resolution of NewCo’s shareholders. If the purchase is to be made on a stock exchange, the special resolution must specify the maximum number of shares or CDIs to be purchased, the maximum and minimum prices which may be paid, and the date on which the authority to purchase is to expire (which may not be more than five years after the date of the resolution). If the purchase is to be made other than on a stock exchange, the purchase must be made pursuant to a written purchase contract approved in advance by a resolution of shareholders. The shares being purchased do not carry the right to vote on the resolution sanctioning the purchase or approving that contract. However, the NewCo articles of association permit its board of directors to convert any of its shares into redeemable shares with the consent of the holder of such shares, and thus allow the board of directors to authorize share redemptions in this manner without a special resolution of NewCo’s shareholders. | |
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Rights to Dividends | |||
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Section 170 of the DGCL provides that the directors of a corporation may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock subject to certain limitations. | | | The NewCo board of directors may declare and pay any dividends from time to time as the NewCo board of directors may determine. The NewCo board of directors may rescind a decision to pay a dividend before the payment date in its sole discretion. The payment of a dividend does not require shareholder confirmation or approval at a general meeting of the shareholders. Holders of NewCo Shares are entitled to receive equally, on a per share basis, any dividends that may be declared on a per share basis as adjusted with reference to any portion of the share, which is not fully paid. The NewCo board of directors may direct that a dividend will be satisfied from any available source permitted by law, including wholly or partly by the distribution of assets, |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | including paid-up shares or securities of another company. If, in the future, NewCo declares cash dividends, such dividends will be declared in U.S. dollars. The NewCo articles of association permits the NewCo board of directors to require that all dividend payments will be paid only through electronic transfer into an account selected by the shareholder rather than by a bank cheque. | |
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Appraisal Rights | |||
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In general under the DGCL, in connection with a merger or consolidation (subject to certain exceptions, such as that described below) stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation, as applicable, will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery. However, Livent stockholders are not entitled to appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the merger because Livent Shares are listed on the NYSE and holders of eligible shares of Livent are not required to receive consideration other than shares of NewCo, which are expected to be listed on the NYSE. | | | No appraisal rights are available to shareholders of a company organized under the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey. |
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Disclosure of Interests | |||
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Holders of beneficial interests in Livent Shares must comply with the beneficial ownership disclosure obligations contained in section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. | | | Holders of beneficial interests in NewCo Shares must comply with the beneficial ownership disclosure obligations contained in section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Under the NewCo articles of association, NewCo may, by written notice, require any person whom NewCo knows or has reasonable cause to believe to hold an interest in NewCo Shares or to have held an interest at any time during the three years prior, to confirm whether that is the case and give further information as to their interest as requested. Where a person fails to comply with such notice within the reasonable time period specified in the notice or has made a statement which is false or inadequate, then, unless the NewCo board of directors determines otherwise, the following restrictions will apply to the applicable shares and to any new shares issued in right of those shares for so long as such person remains in default under the notice: • no voting rights will be exercisable in respect of those shares; |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | • any dividend or other distribution payable in respect of those shares will be withheld by NewCo without interest; and • no transfer of those shares will be registered except for an “excepted transfer”. An “excepted transfer” means a transfer: • pursuant to acceptance of a takeover offer under the Jersey Companies Law; • made through the NYSE, ASX or any other stock exchange on which NewCo Shares are normally traded; or • of the whole of a person’s beneficial interest in the shares to an unaffiliated third party. | |
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SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS | |||
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Time and Place of Meetings | |||
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Under the Livent bylaws, all meetings of stockholders will be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the board of directors (or the Chairman of the board of directors in the absence of a designation by the board of directors). Under the Livent bylaws, written notice of any meeting must be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of Livent. Each such notice must state the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. | | | General meetings may be held at such place or places, date and time as may be decided by the NewCo board of directors in accordance with the NewCo articles of association or as otherwise provided by the Jersey Companies Laws. Under the NewCo articles of association and applicable stock exchange listing rules (including any rules relating to the settlement of transfers of securities), the notice for a general meeting must be sent to all shareholders and holders of CDIs. The content of a notice of a general meeting called by the NewCo board of directors is to be decided by the NewCo board of directors, but it must designate the meeting as an annual or extraordinary general meeting and must state the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting and any other matters required by the Jersey Companies Law. |
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Voting Rights, Cumulative Voting | |||
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Each Livent stockholder will be entitled to one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote and held by such stockholder. The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, and Livent’s certificate of incorporation is silent on this point. The Livent certificate of incorporation provides that the holders of Livent common stock are entitled to vote on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to | | | Each NewCo Share will entitle the holder to one vote per share at any general meeting of shareholders. An ordinary resolution requires approval by the holders of a majority of the voting rights represented at a meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting thereon. A special resolution requires approval by the holders of two-thirds of the voting rights represented at a meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting thereon (or such greater majority as the NewCo articles of association may prescribe). |
Livent | | | NewCo |
vote, except that holders of common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the certificate of incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding classes or series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected class or series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such classes or series, to vote thereon under the certificate of incorporation or pursuant to Delaware law. | | | Voting rights with respect to any class of preferred shares (if any) will be determined by the NewCo board of directors and set out in the relevant statement of rights for such class. Neither Jersey law nor the NewCo articles of association restrict non-resident shareholders from holding or exercising voting rights in relation of NewCo Shares. There are no provisions in the Jersey Companies Law relating to cumulative voting. |
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Action by Written Consent | |||
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Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided for in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Livent’s certificate of incorporation prohibits stockholder actions to be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting because no one person or group beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of Livent capital stock entitled to vote at a special meeting of stockholders. | | | Under Jersey law, unless prohibited by a company’s articles of association, a unanimous resolution in writing passed by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter may affect any matter that otherwise may be brought before a shareholders’ meeting, except for the removal of auditors. The NewCo articles of association prohibit shareholder actions to be taken by unanimous written resolution. Under the NewCo articles of association, any action required or permitted to be taken by shareholders or any class of them must be effected at a general meeting of NewCo or of the class in question and may not be effected by any consent or resolution in writing of the shareholders. |
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Quorum | |||
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Under the DGCL and Livent bylaws, the holders of a majority of the total number of shares issued and outstanding, and entitled to vote at the applicable meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of the business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. | | | Under the NewCo articles of association, no business may be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum (the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting) is present in person or by proxy at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. |
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Annual Meetings of Stockholders / Shareholders | |||
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Under the DGCL, if a corporation does not hold an annual meeting to elect directors within the thirteen-month period following its last annual meeting, the Delaware Court of Chancery may summarily order a meeting to be held upon the application of any stockholder or director. | | | Under Jersey law, NewCo must hold an annual general meeting once every calendar year and not more than 18 months may elapse between two successive annual general meetings, at such date, time and place as may be determined by the NewCo board of directors. |
Livent | | | NewCo |
The Livent bylaws provide that the annual meeting of the stockholders will be held on such date and at such time as may be fixed by resolution of the board of directors. At the annual meeting, stockholders will elect directors and transact such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting. | | | A general shareholder meeting may only be called by a resolution of the NewCo board of directors or as otherwise provided in the Jersey Companies Law. Under the NewCo articles of association and applicable stock exchange listing rules (including relating to the settlement of transfers of securities), the notice for the annual general meeting must be sent to all shareholders and holders of CDIs. The NewCo board of directors may determine that the shareholders entitled to receive a notice of a general meeting are the shareholders on the register on a day determined by NewCo. |
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Special Meetings of Stockholders / Shareholders | |||
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Under the DGCL, special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the board of directors or by such other person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws. The Livent bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time and for any purpose or purposes only by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire board of directors or the Chairman of the board of directors, acting in his or her sole discretion, and may not be called by any other person or persons. | | | The NewCo board of directors may, and upon request of shareholders as required by Jersey law (and as described below) must, convene an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders. Under the Jersey Companies Law, shareholders of NewCo holding 10% or more of the company’s voting rights and entitled to vote at the relevant meeting may legally require the directors to call a meeting of shareholders. Under the Jersey Companies Law, upon receiving a requisition notice from shareholders, the NewCo board of directors must call a special meeting to be held as soon as practicable but in any case not later than two months after the date of the deposit of the requisition. If the directors do not within 21 days from the date of the deposit of the requisition proceed to call a meeting to be held within two months of that date, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves call a meeting, but a meeting so called may not be held after three months from that date. |
Livent | | | NewCo |
Shareholder Proposals | |||
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The Livent bylaws provide that for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of Livent by delivering to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of Livent not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than 70 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A stockholders’ notice to the secretary must set forth for each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on Livent’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of Livent which are beneficially owned by the stockholder and (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. No business may be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the aforementioned procedures. | | | Under the NewCo articles of association and in accordance therewith, a shareholder of record who has the right to vote at an annual general meeting may, in the case of an annual general meeting, on giving notice to NewCo no earlier than 120 days and no later than 90 days before the date which is one year after the date of the previous annual general meeting (subject to limited exceptions specified in the NewCo articles of association), require that annual general meeting to conduct such other business as may be a proper matter for shareholder action. In addition, a shareholder (i) who is a shareholder of record both as of the date such notice is delivered to NewCo and on the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting and (ii) who has the right to vote at general meetings may propose persons for nomination as directors subject to complying with the applicable requirements set forth in the NewCo articles of association, including delivery to NewCo of specified information on director nominees. Shareholder nominations must be made by notice of (i) in the case of annual general meetings, no earlier than 120 days and no later than 90 days (in each case from the anniversary date of the preceding annual general meeting), or (ii) in the case of extraordinary general meetings called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of such meeting. |
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SHAREHOLDER SUITS | |||
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Delaware’s law regarding derivative actions is judicially made, either through case law or court rules. Under Delaware law, prior to initiating a derivative suit against a corporation, stockholders must first make a demand on the board to determine if such suit is in the best interest of the corporation (except in certain situations in which such a demand would be futile, as determined by Delaware law). Under the DGCL, in any derivative suit instituted by a stockholder of a corporation, it shall be stated in the complaint that the plaintiff was a stockholder of the corporation at the time of the transaction of which such stockholder complains or that such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved upon such stockholder by operation of law. | | | Under Article 141 of the Jersey Companies Law, a shareholder may apply to court for relief on the grounds that the company’s affairs are being or have been conducted in a manner which is unfairly prejudicial to the interests of its shareholders generally or of some part of its shareholders (including at least the member) or that an actual or proposed act or omission of the company (including an act or omission on its behalf) is or would be so prejudicial. There may also be common or customary law personal actions available to shareholders. Under Article 143 of the Jersey Companies Law (which sets out the types of relief a court may grant in relation to an action brought under Article 141 of the Jersey Companies Law), the court may make an order regulating the affairs of a company in the future, |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | requiring a company to refrain from doing or continuing to do an act complained of, authorizing civil proceedings and providing for the purchase of shares by a company or by any of its other shareholders. | |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |||
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Size and Classification | |||
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Under the Livent bylaws, the number of directors constituting the whole Livent Board is fixed by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole board, except that the number may not be less than three or more than 15. There are currently nine directors on the Livent Board. Under Livent’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the board of directors is classified and directors hold office for a term of three years, with each term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which the director was elected, subject to the election and qualification of a successor to such director and to the earlier death, resignation or removal of such director. | | | Under Article 73 of the Jersey Companies Law, NewCo (as a public limited company) must always have a minimum of two directors. Under the NewCo articles of association, the number of directors may not be more than 15. The NewCo board of directors is not classified. |
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Election | |||
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Livent directors are elected by the stockholders by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to such director at any stockholder meeting called for the purpose of the election of directors at which a quorum is present. However, if as of a date that is 14 days in advance of the date the corporation files its definitive proxy statement (regardless of whether or not thereafter revised or supplemented) with the SEC the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors will be elected by the vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors generally. Any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at a meeting only if written notice of such stockholder’s intent to make such nomination has been given to the secretary of Livent in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Livent bylaws. The presiding officer of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with such procedure. | | | Under the NewCo articles of association, each director will be elected by the vote of the majority of votes cast with respect to the director at any meeting of the shareholders called for the purpose of the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if as of a date that is 14 days in advance of the date NewCo files its definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission the number of directors exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors will be elected by the vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors generally. As described under “—Shareholder Proposals” above, certain shareholders that comply with the notice requirements and other requirements of NewCo’s articles of association will have the right to nominate director nominees. The NewCo board of directors may not nominate for election or re-election as director any candidate who has not agreed to tender, promptly following the meeting at which he or she is elected as director, an |
Livent | | | NewCo |
The Livent bylaws also provide that the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors may not nominate for election or reelection as director any candidate who has not agreed to tender, promptly following the meeting at which he or she is elected as director, an irrevocable resignation that will be effective upon (a) the failure to receive the required number of votes for reelection at the next annual meeting of stockholders at which he or she faces reelection, and (b) acceptance of such resignation by the board of directors. If an incumbent director nominee fails to receive the required number of votes for reelection, within 90 days after certificate of the election results, the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors will recommend to the board of directors whether to accept or reject the resignation or whether other action should be taken and the board of directors will act on such committee’s recommendation. | | | irrevocable resignation that will be effective upon (i) the failure to receive the required number of votes for re-election at the next annual meeting of shareholders at which he or she faces re-election, and (ii) acceptance of such resignation by the NewCo board of directors. The NewCo articles of association provide that if an incumbent director does not receive the required number of votes for re-election, within 90 days after certification of the election results, a governance committee of the NewCo board of directors will recommend to the board whether to accept or reject the resignation or whether other action should be taken and the NewCo board of directors will act on such recommendation. Under the NewCo articles of association, all directors are subject to annual re-election by shareholders. Directors will hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting following his or her appointment, unless such director is re-elected at the general meeting. Where the number of persons validly proposed for election or re-election as a director is greater than the number of directors to be elected, the persons receiving the most votes (up to the number of directors to be elected) will be elected as directors and an absolute majority of votes cast will not be a pre-requisite to the election of such directors. |
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Removal | |||
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Under the Livent bylaws and certificate of incorporation, and subject to certain stockholder rights stated therein, a director may only be removed for cause. | | | Under the NewCo articles of association, a director may only be removed from office by ordinary resolution of NewCo shareholders in a general meeting for cause, including, but not limited to: • the director’s conviction (with a plea of nolo contendere deemed to be a conviction) of a serious felony involving moral turpitude or a violation of U.S. federal or state securities law, but excluding a conviction based entirely on vicarious liability; or • the director’s commission of any material act of dishonesty (such as embezzlement) resulting or intended to result in material personal gain or enrichment of the director at the expense of NewCo or any subsidiary and which act, if made subject to criminal charges, would be reasonably likely to be charged as a felony. |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | For these purposes nolo contendere, felony and moral turpitude have the meaning given to them by the laws of the U.S. or any relevant state thereof and will include equivalent acts in any other jurisdiction. | |
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Vacancies | |||
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The Livent bylaws provide that vacancies on the board of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors will hold office for a term that will coincide with the remaining term of the class of directors to which he or she is elected. A director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors will have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor. The board of directors will not fill a director vacancy or newly created directorship with any candidate who has not agreed to tender, promptly following his or her appointment to the board of directors, the same form of resignation as described under “—Election” above. | | | The NewCo articles of association provide that any vacancy occurring on the NewCo board of directors (whether caused by increase in size of the NewCo board of directors, or by death, disability, resignation, removal or otherwise) will only be filled by a majority of the NewCo board of directors then in office, even though fewer than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any directors appointed by the NewCo board of directors to fill a vacancy will hold office until the next annual general meeting following his or her appointment. |
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Powers of the Board of Directors | |||
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Pursuant to the Livent bylaws, the board of directors will have the entire management of the business of Livent and will have and may exercise all the powers of Livent. The board of directors may also designate two or more of their number to constitute an executive committee, which committee will have and may exercise, when the board is not in session, all of the powers of the board in the management of the business and affairs of Livent, including the power to appoint assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, and to authorize the seal of Livent to be affixed to all papers which may require it. The executive committee may make rules for the calling, holding and conduct of its meetings and the keeping of records thereof. The Livent bylaws also provide that the board of directors may delegate for the time being the powers or duties of any officer of the corporation, in case of his absence, disability, death or removal, or for any other reason, to any other officer or to any director. | | | Subject to the provisions of the Jersey Companies Law and the NewCo articles of association, the business of NewCo is managed by the board, which can exercise all the powers of NewCo. |
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Fiduciary Duties of Directors | |||
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Under Delaware law, the standards of conduct for directors have developed through Delaware court case law. Generally, directors must exercise a duty of care and duty of loyalty and good faith to the company and its stockholders. Members of a board of directors or any committee designated by the board of directors are similarly entitled to rely in good faith upon the records | | | Under the Jersey Companies Law, a director of a Bailiwick of Jersey company, in exercising the director’s powers and discharging the director’s duties, must: • act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company; and |
Livent | | | NewCo |
of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports and statements presented to the corporation by corporate officers, employees, committees of the board of directors or other persons as to matters such member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence, provided that such other person has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation. | | | • exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. Customary law is also an important source of law in the area of directors’ duties in Jersey as it expands upon and provides a more detailed understanding of the general duties and obligations of directors. The Bailiwick of Jersey courts view English common law as highly persuasive in this area. In summary, the following duties will apply as manifestations of the general fiduciary duty under the Jersey Companies Law: Duty to act in good faith A director has a duty to act in what he or she bona fide considers to be the best interests of the company. He or she must not act for any collateral purpose. In keeping with such a position of trust, the courts will give the individual director discretion to determine this, and are likely only to infer that he or she was not acting in good faith if no reasonable director could have believed that the course of action was in the best interests of the company. Generally, as with other fiduciary duties, the duty of good faith is owed by every director individually and not collectively as a board and is owed only to the company and not to any other person, be it another company or an individual. Duty to act with diligence A director will be responsible for the conduct of the company’s business and have a duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence in doing so. Therefore the directors should keep fully informed as to the financial position of the company, and seek to attend board meetings and participate in the management of the company whenever possible. |
| | Duty to exercise powers for a proper purpose Even if directors are acting in good faith and in the interests of the company and its shareholders as a whole, they must nevertheless use their powers for the purposes for which they were conferred and not for any collateral purpose. Duty to account for profits Jersey law generally precludes a director from taking a personal profit from any opportunities arising from his |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | directorship, even if he is acting honestly and for the good of the company. However, the NewCo articles of association permit the director to be personally interested in arrangements involving NewCo, subject to the requirement to disclose such interest. The NewCo articles of association entitle directors to receive compensation and payment of expenses as determined by the NewCo board of directors. | |
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers | |||
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The Livent bylaws provide that current or former directors or officers of Livent that are made a party or are threatened to be made a party to or are involved in any proceeding, by reason of the fact of their role as a director or officer of Livent or are or were serving at the request of Livent as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by Livent (whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent) will be indemnified and held harmless by Livent to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL against all expense, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification will continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and will inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators: provided that in the case of a proceeding initiated by any such person, Livent must provide indemnification only if such proceeding was authorized by the whole board of directors (subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Livent bylaws). The right to indemnification is a contract right and includes the right to be paid by Livent the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, consistent with the DGCL and the limitations set forth in the Livent bylaws. Livent may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of Livent against any liability, cost or expense. Livent may enter into contracts with any director, officer, employee or agent of Livent or of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise where a director or officer of Livent was serving at the request of Livent as a director, officer, employee or agent and may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use | | | Under the Jersey Companies Law, a Bailiwick of Jersey company may not exempt from liability nor indemnify any person from any liability which would otherwise attach to that person by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director of the company, subject to certain specified exceptions: • any liability incurred in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal): ○ in which judgment is given in the person’s favor or the person is acquitted; ○ which are discontinued otherwise than for some benefit conferred by the person or on the person’s behalf or some detriment suffered by the person; or ○ which are settled on terms which include such benefit or detriment and, in the opinion of a majority of the directors of the company (excluding any director who conferred such benefit or on whose behalf such benefit was conferred or who suffered such detriment), the person was substantially successful on the merits in the person’s resistance to the proceedings; • any liability incurred otherwise than to the company if the person acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company; • any liability incurred in connection with an application made under Article 212 of the Jersey Companies Law in which relief is granted to the person by the court; or • any liability against which the company normally maintains insurance for persons other than directors. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, every present or former director or officer of NewCo |
Livent | | | NewCo |
other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect such indemnifications. | | | will be indemnified by NewCo against any loss or liability incurred by him by reason of being or having been such a director or officer. The NewCo board of directors may authorize the purchase or maintenance by NewCo for any current or former director or officer of such insurance as is permitted by applicable law in respect of any liability which would otherwise attach to such current or former director or officer. |
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Limitation of Director Liability | |||
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The DGCL allows corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breach of directors’ fiduciary duty of care through a provision in the certificate of incorporation. An amendment, repeal or elimination of such a provision shall not affect its application with respect to an act or omission by a director occurring before such amendment, repeal or elimination unless the provision provides otherwise at the time of such act or omission. The duty of care requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors must exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. In the absence of a limitation on liability in the certificate of incorporation, directors may be liable to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for acts of gross negligence. Livent’s certificate of incorporation limits the liability of its directors to the fullest extent permitted by this law. Specifically, Livent’s directors are not personally liable for monetary damages for any breach of their fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability: • for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Livent or its stockholders; • for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; • under Section 174 of the DGCL; or • for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. This limitation may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors, and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited the corporation’s stockholders. | | | Subject to the exceptions set out above, the Jersey Companies Law does not contain any other provision permitting Jersey companies to limit the liabilities of directors for breach of fiduciary duty. Under Article 212 of the Jersey Companies Law, Bailiwick of Jersey courts have power to relieve a director of liability in proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust if it appears that the director acted honestly and, given the circumstances, ought fairly to be excused. |
Livent | | | NewCo |
Directors’ Conflict of Interest | |||
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Under the DGCL, no contract or transaction between a corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between a corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers, are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, will be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s votes are counted for such purpose, if: • the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of directors or the committee, and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; • the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or • the contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of directors, a committee or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at the applicable meeting. | | | Under Jersey law, each director who has, directly or indirectly, an interest of which he or she is aware in a transaction entered into or proposed to be entered into by NewCo or a subsidiary of NewCo which to a material extent conflicts or may conflict with the interests of NewCo, must disclose to NewCo the nature and extent of his or her interest. Under the NewCo articles of association, such director may be counted in the quorum of any NewCo board of directors meeting at which the conflicted transaction is considered (unless prohibited by the Jersey Companies Law) but cannot cast a vote in respect of the matter. Failure to disclose an interest entitles NewCo or a shareholder to apply to the court for an order setting aside the transaction concerned and directing that the director account to NewCo for any profit or gain realized. Notwithstanding a failure to disclose an interest, a transaction is not voidable and a director is not accountable for profits if the transaction is disclosed in reasonable detail in the notice calling the meeting and confirmed by special resolution. In addition, a court must not set aside a transaction (but it may still require that the director account for any profit or gain realized) unless it is satisfied that the interests of third parties who have acted in good faith would not thereby be unfairly prejudiced and that the transaction was not reasonable or fair to NewCo at the time it was entered into. |
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MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATIONS | |||
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General | |||
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Under Section 251 of the DGCL, a merger requires (i) the board of directors of each corporation that desires to merge to adopt a resolution approving an agreement of merger and declaring its advisability and (ii) the adoption of the executed agreement of merger by holders of a majority of the outstanding voting power of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon of each corporation at an annual or special meeting. | | | A merger carried out in accordance with the Jersey Merger Regime set out under Part 18B of the Jersey Companies Law (the “Jersey Merger Regime”) requires shareholder approval by special resolution. The NewCo articles of association do not alter the default voting threshold provided by Jersey law and do not permit shareholder actions by written consent, so any merger carried out in accordance with the Jersey Merger |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | Regime will require shareholder approval by special resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the voting rights represented at a meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting thereon (or such greater majority as the NewCo articles of association may prescribe). For the avoidance of doubt, the transaction that is the subject of this proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute a merger for the purposes of the Jersey Companies Law and is therefore not being carried out in accordance with the Jersey Merger Regime. | |
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Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders | |||
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Unless otherwise provided in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in certain “business combination” transactions with any “interested stockholder” (each as defined below) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the Livent certificate of incorporation, because no one person or group beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of Livent capital stock entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, Livent is governed by Section 203 of DGCL. Under the Livent certificate of incorporation, because no one person or group beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of Livent capital stock entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, certain business combinations require the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of the outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, regardless of whether no vote or a lower percentage may be required by law or otherwise. However, such higher percentage is not required, and only the affirmative vote required by law or the Livent certificate of incorporation will be required, if the business combination has been approved by a majority of the disinterested directors. Under the Livent certificate of incorporation, a “business combination” includes: • any merger or consolidation of Livent or any subsidiary with (a) any interested stockholder or (b) any other corporation (whether or not itself an interested stockholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or | | | Under the NewCo articles of association, NewCo will be prohibited from engaging in any business combination with any “interested shareholder” for a period of three years following the time that such shareholder became an interested shareholder (subject to certain specified exceptions), unless (in addition to other exceptions) prior to such business combination the NewCo board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an “interested shareholder.” An “interested shareholder” is (subject to certain specified exceptions) any person (together with its affiliates and associates) that (i) owns more than 15% of NewCo’s voting stock or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of NewCo and owned more than 15% of NewCo’s voting stock within three years of the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an “interested shareholder.” |
Livent | | | NewCo |
• any merger, sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any interested stockholder or any affiliate of any interested stockholder of any assets of Livent or any subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value of $20,000,000 or more; or • the issuance or transfer by Livent or any subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of Livent or any subsidiary to any interested stockholder or any affiliate of any interested stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $20,000,000 or more; or • the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Livent proposed by or on behalf of an interested stockholder or any affiliate of any interested stockholder; or • any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of Livent, or any merger or consolidation of Livent with any of its subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an interested stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of Livent or any subsidiary which is directly or indirectly owned by any interested stockholder or any affiliate of any interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” includes any person (other than Livent, any subsidiary or any employee benefit plan of Livent) who or which: • is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock; • is an affiliate of Livent and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock; or • is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of voting stock which were at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by any | | |
Livent | | | NewCo |
interested stockholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. | | | |
| | ||
Parent-Subsidiary Mergers | |||
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The DGCL provides that a parent corporation, by resolution of its board of directors and without any stockholder vote, may merge with any subsidiary of which it owns at least 90% of each class of its capital stock, subject to certain limitations where the subsidiary is not wholly owned. | | | The Jersey Companies Law provides that a parent company, by way of special resolution, may merge with any subsidiary, subject to certain statutory conditions. |
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Holding Company Reorganization | |||
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Under Section 251(g) of the DGCL, a Delaware corporation may reorganize itself into a holding company structure without stockholder approval so long it adheres to certain requirements. | | | The Jersey Companies Law provides that a holding company merger between a holding company and one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries in which the holding company continues as the survivor company, or an inter-subsidiary merger between companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of the same holding body, must be approved by a special resolution of each merging company, but without approval of a merger agreement and subject to certain statutory conditions. |
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EXCLUSIVE FORUM | |||
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Under the Livent certificate of incorporation and Livent bylaws, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any actual or purported derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of Livent to Livent or the Livent’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Livent certificate of incorporation or the Livent bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware, will, in each case, be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware), in all cases subject to such courts having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of Livent will be deemed to have notice of and consented to the above provisions. | | | The NewCo articles of association will provide that each member submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Royal Court of Jersey and the courts which may hear appeals from that court. However, the Royal Court of Jersey will (unless the Jersey Companies Law or any other Jersey law provides otherwise or unless the board of directors of NewCo determines otherwise) be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of NewCo; (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer of NewCo to NewCo or its members, creditors or other constituents; (iii) any action asserting a claim against NewCo or any director or officer of NewCo arising pursuant to any provision of the Jersey Companies Law or the NewCo articles of association (as either may be amended from time to time); or (iv) any action asserting a claim against NewCo or a NewCo director or officer governed by the internal affairs doctrine (unless the Jersey Companies Law or any other Jersey law provides otherwise or the board of directors of NewCo determines otherwise). The exclusive forum provision would not prevent derivative shareholder actions based on claims arising under U.S. federal securities laws from being raised in a U.S. court and would not prevent a U.S. court from asserting jurisdiction over such claims. However, there is uncertainty whether a |
Livent | | | NewCo |
| | U.S. or Bailiwick of Jersey court would enforce the exclusive forum provision for actions for breach of fiduciary duty and other claims. | |
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DISSOLUTION | |||
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Under the DGCL, a corporation may voluntarily dissolve (i) if the board of directors adopts a resolution to that effect by a majority vote of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote thereon and a certificate of dissolution is filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, or (ii) without action of the directors of Livent if all the stockholders entitled to vote thereon consent in writing and a certificate of dissolution is filed with the Delaware Secretary of State. | | | Under the Jersey Companies Law, a company may be wound up voluntarily (summary winding up), under supervision (creditors’ winding up), or by the courts of Jersey (winding up on just and equitable grounds). A special resolution of a company is required to approve a summary winding up. A creditors’ winding up can either be commenced by a special resolution of the shareholders or by a creditor with a claim of not less than £3,000 against a Bailiwick of Jersey company making an application to the Royal Court of Jersey for an order commencing a creditors’ winding-up. In the case of a winding up on just and equitable grounds, a company may be wound up by the Bailiwick of Jersey court if the court is of the opinion that it is (i) just and equitable to do so; or (ii) it is expedient and in the public interest to do so. Subject to the NewCo articles of association and the rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares, if NewCo is wound up and the property of NewCo available for distribution among the shareholders is more than sufficient to pay (i) all the debts and liabilities of the Company and (ii) the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up, the excess must be divided among the shareholders in proportion to the number of shares held by them, irrespective of the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares. |
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| | If NewCo is wound up, the directors or liquidator (as applicable) may, subject to the NewCo articles of association and any other sanction required by the Jersey Companies Law, do either or both of the following: (i) divide in specie among the shareholders the whole or any part of the assets of NewCo and, for that purpose, value any assets and determine how the division will be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders; and/or (ii) vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of shareholders and those liable to contribute to the winding up. | |
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AMENDMENTS TO ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS | |||
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Certain provisions of the Livent certificate of incorporation and the Livent bylaws may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the then-outstanding voting stock of Livent. Subject to the requirements described above, Livent reserves the right to amend the certificate of incorporation | | | The memorandum of association and articles of association of a Bailiwick of Jersey company each may only be amended by special resolution, requiring approval by the holders of two-thirds of the voting rights represented at a meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting thereon (or such greater majority as the NewCo articles of association may prescribe). |
Livent | | | NewCo |
in any manner prescribed by Delaware law or the Livent certificate of incorporation, and all rights granted to stockholders are subject to such reservation. Subject to the requirements described above, the Livent bylaws may otherwise be amended at any regular or special meeting of the board of directors or of the stockholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole board of directors, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, as the case may be. | | |
• | six current Allkem directors (each of whom has been nominated by Allkem); and |
• | six current Livent directors (each of whom has been nominated by Livent). |
• | The NewCo board of directors will consist of 12 directors, six of whom will be from the existing Allkem Board, and six of whom will be from the existing Livent Board, including the current Chief Executive Officer of Livent. The initial Chair of the NewCo board of directors will be the Chairman of the existing Allkem Board as of immediately prior to the scheme implementation. |
• | At least four standing committees of the NewCo board of directors, including an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a Sustainability Committee. |
• | Each of the Chair of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee as of the effective time will be from the existing Allkem Board, as determined by Allkem prior to the scheme effectiveness. Each of the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Sustainability Committee as of the effective time will be from the existing Livent Board, as determined by Livent prior to the scheme effectiveness. |
• | reviewing the annual report, proxy statement and periodic SEC filings, such as NewCo’s reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, and ensuring that NewCo’s financial reports fairly represent its operations, performance and condition; |
• | reviewing with management NewCo’s earnings releases; |
• | reviewing the effectiveness and adequacy of NewCo’s internal controls; |
• | reviewing significant changes in accounting policies; |
• | selecting an independent registered public accounting firm and confirming its independence; |
• | pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm; and |
• | reviewing the effectiveness, scope and performance of activities of the independent registered public accounting firm and the internal audit function. |
• | reviewing and approving executive compensation policies and practices and establishing total compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, among other officers; |
• | reviewing annually NewCo’s compensation programs, policies and practices; |
• | reviewing the terms of employment agreements, severance agreements, change in control agreements and other compensatory arrangements; |
• | monitoring corporate programs relating to diversity, equity and inclusion; |
• | recommending to the board of directors NewCo’s submissions to shareholders on executive compensation matters and assessing the results of such votes; and |
• | reviewing executive stock ownership guidelines and overseeing clawback, hedging, and pledging policies. |
• | reviewing and recommending director candidates; |
• | recommending the number, function, composition and Chairs of the board of directors’ committees; |
• | overseeing corporate governance, including an annual review of governance principles; |
• | reviewing and approving director compensation policies, including the determination of director compensation; |
• | overseeing board of directors and committee evaluation procedures; and |
• | determining director independence. |
• | reviewing and overseeing employee occupational safety and health, and process safety programs; |
• | monitoring environmental responsibility and risk mitigation programs, including those relating to climate change, green-house gases, water, waste, energy and biodiversity; |
• | monitoring corporate social responsibility programs, including those relating to community, health and safety, human rights and responsible supply chain; |
• | reviewing sustainability disclosures; |
• | monitoring audits and assurance of sustainability data and data collection methodology, including through independent third party audits, studies, and sustainability rating bodies; and |
• | reviewing and overseeing sustainability management systems. |
• | the applicable U.S. courts had jurisdiction over the case, as recognized under Jersey law; |
• | the judgment is given on the merits and is final, conclusive and non-appealable; |
• | the judgment relates to the payment of a sum of money, not being taxes, fines or similar governmental penalties; |
• | the defendant is not immune under the principles of public international law; |
• | the same matters at issue in the case were not previously the subject of a judgment or disposition in a separate court; |
• | the judgment was not obtained by fraud; and |
• | the recognition and enforcement of the judgment is not contrary to public policy in Jersey. |
• | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2023; |
• | Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 4, 2023, and for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023; |
• | Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 16, 2023; and |
• | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on May 1, 2023, May 10, 2023, August 2, 2023, September 25, 2023, October 24, 2023 and November 15, 2023. |
| | Page No. | |
Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended June 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 | | | |
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| |
• | Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. |
• | Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. |
• | Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed. |
• | Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements. |
• | Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
| | Note | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
Revenue | | | 1 | | | 1,207,801 | | | 744,683 | | | 66,370 |
Cost of sales | | | | | (142,000) | | | (144,521) | | | (25,004) | |
Gross profit | | | | | 1,065,801 | | | 600,162 | | | 41,366 | |
Other income | | | 3a | | | 66,023 | | | 31,666 | | | 1,725 |
Corporate and administrative expenses | | | 3b | | | (66,470) | | | (43,509) | | | (16,868) |
Merger and acquisition costs | | | | | (9,945) | | | (12,760) | | | (1,243) | |
Selling expenses | | | 3c | | | (89,562) | | | (57,024) | | | (2,966) |
Depreciation and amortisation expense | | | 10,11 | | | (98,786) | | | (63,310) | | | (18,758) |
Asset impairment and write-downs | | | | | — | | | (244) | | | — | |
Share of net loss of associate | | | 22 | | | (2,114) | | | (2,951) | | | (1,682) |
Foreign currency loss | | | 3d | | | (83,280) | | | (10,260) | | | (3,619) |
Profit/(loss) before interest and income tax | | | | | 781,667 | | | 441,770 | | | (2,045) | |
Finance income | | | 3e | | | 72,311 | | | 5,980 | | | 1,602 |
Finance costs | | | 3f | | | (24,071) | | | (20,180) | | | (22,664) |
Profit/(loss) before income tax | | | | | 829,907 | | | 427,570 | | | (23,107) | |
Income tax expense | | | 5a | | | (305,332) | | | (92,884) | | | (67,940) |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Profit/(loss) after taxation from continuing operations | | | | | 524,575 | | | 334,686 | | | (91,047) | |
Discontinued operations: | | | | | | | | | ||||
(Loss)/profit after tax for the period from discontinued operations | | | 2 | | | (3,278) | | | 2,537 | | | 1,573 |
Profit/(loss) for the period | | | | | 521,297 | | | 337,223 | | | (89,474) | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to: | | | | | | | | | ||||
Owners of the parent entity | | | | | 441,711 | | | 305,674 | | | (59,625) | |
Non-controlling interests | | | | | 79,586 | | | 31,549 | | | (29,849) | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Profit/(loss) for the period | | | | | 521,297 | | | 337,223 | | | (89,474) | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Earnings per share for profit/(loss) attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company | | | | | | | | | ||||
Basic earnings per share (US cents per share) | | | 6 | | | 69.31 | | | 51.59 | | | (18.02) |
Diluted earnings per share (US cents per share) | | | 6 | | | 68.92 | | | 51.34 | | | (18.02) |
Earnings per share for profit/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company | | | | | | | | | ||||
Basic earnings per share (US cents per share) | | | 6 | | | 69.82 | | | 51.16 | | | (18.50) |
Diluted earnings per share (US cents per share) | | | 6 | | | 69.43 | | | 50.91 | | | (18.50) |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
| | Note | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
Profit/(loss) for the period | | | | | 521,297 | | | 337,223 | | | (89,474) | |
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax | | | | | | | | | ||||
(Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss) | | | | | | | | | ||||
Foreign currency translation (losses)/gains – subsidiaries | | | 16b | | | (19,291) | | | (2,560) | | | 1,500 |
Foreign currency translation losses – associate | | | 16b | | | (458) | | | (291) | | | (88) |
Net gains on revaluation of derivatives – hedging instruments | | | | | 1,010 | | | 2,945 | | | 2,159 | |
(Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss) | | | | | | | | | ||||
Changes in fair value of financial assets designated at fair value through other comprehensive income | | | 16b | | | (424) | | | (5,985) | | | — |
Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the year, net of tax | | | | | (19,163) | | | (5,891) | | | 3,571 | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax | | | | | 502,134 | | | 331,332 | | | (85,903) | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to: | | | | | | | | | ||||
Owners of the parent entity | | | | | 422,210 | | | 298,797 | | | (56,777) | |
Non-controlling interests | | | | | 79,924 | | | 32,535 | | | (29,126) | |
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax | | | | | 502,134 | | | 331,332 | | | (85,903) |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | Note | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
Current assets | | | | | | | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 17 | | | 821,429 | | | 663,538 |
Trade and other receivables | | | 7 | | | 142,915 | | | 81,804 |
Inventory | | | 9 | | | 126,474 | | | 76,241 |
Prepayments | | | 8 | | | 30,879 | | | 10,298 |
Total current assets | | | | | 1,121,697 | | | 831,881 | |
Non-current assets | | | | | | | |||
Other receivables | | | 7 | | | 42,724 | | | 49,241 |
Inventory | | | 9 | | | 86,665 | | | 53,402 |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | | | | | 3,474 | | | 4,048 | |
Other financial assets | | | 17 | | | 21,372 | | | 16,356 |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 10 | | | 2,943,452 | | | 2,557,882 |
Intangible assets | | | 11 | | | 520,487 | | | 525,012 |
Exploration and evaluation assets | | | 12 | | | 467,557 | | | 424,961 |
Investment in associate | | | 22 | | | 4,017 | | | 890 |
Other non-current assets | | | | | 2,670 | | | 3,841 | |
Deferred tax assets | | | 5b | | | 3,078 | | | 25,217 |
Total non-current assets | | | | | 4,095,496 | | | 3,660,850 | |
Total assets | | | | | 5,217,193 | | | 4,492,731 | |
Current liabilities | | | | | | | |||
Trade and other payables | | | 14 | | | 137,354 | | | 96,443 |
Derivative financial instruments | | | | | — | | | 1,086 | |
Loans and borrowings | | | 17 | | | 42,519 | | | 37,574 |
Provisions | | | 15 | | | 13,870 | | | 14,297 |
Lease liabilities | | | 13 | | | 13,329 | | | 10,197 |
Income tax payable | | | | | 176,174 | | | 44,692 | |
Other liabilities | | | | | 62,600 | | | 18,247 | |
Total current liabilities | | | | | 445,846 | | | 222,536 | |
Non-current liabilities | | | | | | | |||
Other payables | | | 14 | | | 29,022 | | | 30,973 |
Derivative financial instruments | | | | | — | | | 336 | |
Loans and borrowings | | | 17 | | | 231,756 | | | 274,103 |
Provisions | | | 15 | | | 47,456 | | | 59,350 |
Lease liabilities | | | 13 | | | 39,917 | | | 38,222 |
Deferred tax liability | | | 5c | | | 849,445 | | | 785,845 |
Total non-current liabilities | | | | | 1,197,596 | | | 1,188,829 | |
Total liabilities | | | | | 1,643,442 | | | 1,411,365 | |
Net assets | | | | | 3,573,751 | | | 3,081,366 | |
Equity | | | | | | | |||
Issued capital | | | 16a | | | 2,686,134 | | | 2,686,134 |
Treasury shares | | | 16a | | | (2,311) | | | — |
Reserves | | | 16b | | | (5,790) | | | (14,114) |
Retained earnings | | | | | 725,131 | | | 316,554 | |
Equity attributable to the owners of Allkem | | | | | 3,403,164 | | | 2,988,574 | |
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests | | | | | 170,587 | | | 92,792 | |
Total equity | | | | | 3,573,751 | | | 3,081,366 |
| | Note | | | Issued capital US$’000 | | | Treasury Shares US$’000 | | | Reserves US$’000 | | | Retained earnings US$’000 | | | Total US$’000 | | | Non- controlling interests US$’000 | | | Total US$’000 | |
Balance as at 1 July 2020 | | | | | 548,462 | | | — | | | (16,608) | | | 70,505 | | | 602,359 | | | 88,215 | | | 690,574 | |
Loss for the year | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (59,625) | | | (59,625) | | | (29,849) | | | (89,474) | |
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year | | | 16b | | | — | | | — | | | 2,848 | | | — | | | 2,848 | | | 723 | | | 3,571 |
Total comprehensive income/(loss) | | | | | — | | | — | | | 2,848 | | | (59,625) | | | (56,777) | | | (29,126) | | | (85,903) | |
Shares issued during the year i) | | | 16a | | | 120,050 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 120,050 | | | — | | | 120,050 |
Share-based payments | | | 16b | | | — | | | — | | | 1,902 | | | — | | | 1,902 | | | — | | | 1,902 |
Other movements | | | | | — | | | — | | | (806) | | | — | | | (806) | | | (726) | | | (1,532) | |
Balance as at 30 June 2021 | | | | | 668,512 | | | — | | | (12,664) | | | 10,880 | | | 666,728 | | | 58,363 | | | 725,091 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||
Balance as at 1 July 2021 | | | | | 668,512 | | | — | | | (12,664) | | | 10,880 | | | 666,728 | | | 58,363 | | | 725,091 | |
Profit for the year | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 305,674 | | | 305,674 | | | 31,549 | | | 337,223 | |
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year | | | 16b | | | — | | | — | | | (6,877) | | | — | | | (6,877) | | | 986 | | | (5,891) |
Total comprehensive income/(loss) | | | | | — | | | — | | | (6,877) | | | 305,674 | | | 298,797 | | | 32,535 | | | 331,332 | |
Shares issued during the year i) | | | 16a | | | 2,017,622 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2,017,622 | | | — | | | 2,017,622 |
Share-based payments | | | 16b | | | — | | | — | | | 5,427 | | | — | | | 5,427 | | | — | | | 5,427 |
Other movements | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,894 | | | 1,894 | |
Balance as at 30 June 2022 | | | | | 2,686,134 | | | — | | | (14,114) | | | 316,554 | | | 2,988,574 | | | 92,792 | | | 3,081,366 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||
Balance as at 1 July 2022 | | | | | 2,686,134 | | | — | | | (14,114) | | | 316,554 | | | 2,988,574 | | | 92,792 | | | 3,081,366 | |
Profit for the year | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 441,711 | | | 441,711 | | | 79,586 | | | 521,297 | |
Reclassification to profit or loss | | | 2,16b | | | — | | | — | | | 5,749 | | | — | | | 5,749 | | | — | | | 5,749 |
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year | | | 16b | | | — | | | — | | | (25,250) | | | — | | | (25,250) | | | 338 | | | (24,912) |
Total comprehensive income/(loss) | | | | | — | | | — | | | (19,501) | | | 441,711 | | | 422,210 | | | 79,924 | | | 502,134 | |
Acquisition of treasury shares | | | 16a | | | — | | | (17,939) | | | — | | | — | | | (17,939) | | | — | | | (17,939) |
Issue of treasury shares for share-based payments | | | 16a | | | — | | | 15,628 | | | (15,628) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Share-based payments | | | 16b | | | — | | | — | | | 11,048 | | | — | | | 11,048 | | | — | | | 11,048 |
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests ii) | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (3,706) | | | (3,706) | |
Transfer of retained earnings to legal and discretionary reserve | | | 16b | | | — | | | — | | | 32,405 | | | (32,405) | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Other | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (729) | | | (729) | | | 1,577 | | | 848 | |
Balance as at 30 June 2023 | | | | | 2,686,134 | | | (2,311) | | | (5,790) | | | 725,131 | | | 3,403,164 | | | 170,587 | | | 3,573,751 |
i) | Shares issued are net of transaction costs (net of tax) |
ii) | Dividends paid by subsidiaries in the Group that had non-controlling interests |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | | ||||
Receipts from customers | | | | | 1,200,846 | | | 730,342 | | | 89,165 | |
Payments to suppliers and employees | | | | | (371,700) | | | (284,191) | | | (97,133) | |
Interest received | | | | | 54,958 | | | 6,003 | | | 1,993 | |
Interest paid | | | | | (14,066) | | | (10,544) | | | (12,435) | |
Income tax paid | | | | | (79,128) | | | — | | | — | |
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | | | 25 | | | 790,910 | | | 441,610 | | | (18,410) |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities | | | | | | | | | ||||
Cash acquired from business combination | | | | | — | | | 209,525 | | | — | |
Payments for exploration and evaluation assets | | | | | (40,497) | | | (22,699) | | | (1,105) | |
Proceeds from the sale of assets | | | | | — | | | 1,499 | | | 2,450 | |
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | | | | | (493,721) | | | (238,719) | | | (96,508) | |
Loans provided to related party | | | | | (15,471) | | | (18,700) | | | — | |
Proceeds from financial instruments | | | | | 66,359 | | | 32,033 | | | 2,711 | |
Proceeds from financial assets | | | | | — | | | — | | | 815 | |
Payment for deposits | | | | | (5,017) | | | — | | | — | |
Payments for investment in associate | | | 22 | | | (5,699) | | | — | | | — |
Cash disposed from disposal of subsidiary | | | 2 | | | (14,468) | | | — | | | — |
Proceeds on disposal of subsidiary | | | 2 | | | 200 | | | — | | | — |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | | | (508,314) | | | (37,061) | | | (91,637) | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | | | ||||
Proceeds from issue of shares (net of transaction costs) | | | | | — | | | (636) | | | 119,351 | |
Payments of treasury shares | | | 16a | | | (17,939) | | | — | | | — |
Payments of lease liabilities | | | | | (9,302) | | | (9,413) | | | (3,323) | |
Proceeds from borrowings | | | | | — | | | 44,800 | | | 113,971 | |
Proceeds from minority interests | | | | | 838 | | | 1,894 | | | — | |
Repayment of borrowings | | | | | (36,121) | | | (33,673) | | | (31,045) | |
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | | | | | (3,705) | | | — | | | — | |
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities | | | | | (66,229) | | | 2,972 | | | 198,954 | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | | | | | 216,367 | | | 407,521 | | | 88,907 | |
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts, at the beginning of the year | | | | | 663,538 | | | 258,319 | | | 171,836 | |
Effect of exchange rates on cash holdings in foreign currencies | | | | | (58,476) | | | (2,302) | | | (2,424) | |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts, at the end of the year | | | 17 | | | 821,429 | | | 663,538 | | | 258,319 |
- | Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), |
- | Have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value, |
- | Are presented in US Dollars ($US or USD), with all amounts in the financial report being rounded off to the nearest thousand US Dollars, unless otherwise indicated, |
- | Where necessary, comparative information has been reclassified to conform with changes in presentation in the current year. |
- | Revenue and expenses of Borax Argentina S.A., a discontinued operation as at the date of the financial statements, have been re-presented in the consolidated statement of profit and loss, and in the 2022 and 2021 comparatives to separately disclose the contribution of discontinued operations. The restatement reflects the sale of Borax Argentina S.A. which was completed on 16 December 2022 and is detailed in Note 2. |
- | Adopt all new and amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the IASB that are relevant to the operations of the Group and effective for reporting periods beginning on or before 1 July 2022, and |
- | Equity accounting for its associate is detailed in Note 22. |
Note | | | Critical accounting policy |
1 | | | Revenue |
4 | | | Business Combination |
10 | | | Impairment |
5 | | | Deferred Taxation |
9 | | | Inventory |
12 | | | Exploration and evaluation |
15 | | | Provision for rehabilitation |
20 | | | Share-based payments |
- | asset carrying values may be affected due to changes in estimated future production levels, |
- | depreciation, depletion and amortisation charged in the statement of profit or loss may change where such charges are determined on the units of production basis, or where the useful economic lives of assets change, |
- | decommissioning, site restoration and environmental provisions may change where changes in estimated resources affect expectations about the timing or cost of these activities, |
- | the carrying amount of deferred tax assets may change due to changes in estimates of the likely recovery of the tax benefits. |
| | | | | | | | Movement (%) | | | Movement (%) | ||||
Spot Rates | | | 30 June 2023 | | | 30 June 2022 | | | 30 June 2021 | | | 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2022 | | | 30 June 2022 to 30 June 2021 |
ARS -> USD 1 | | | 256.7000 | | | 125.2300 | | | 95.7100 | | | (104.98%) | | | (30.84%) |
YEN -> USD 1 | | | 144.6761 | | | 136.3778 | | | 110.4914 | | | (6.08%) | | | (23.43%) |
AUD-> USD 1 | | | 1.5083 | | | 1.4516 | | | 1.3301 | | | (3.91%) | | | (9.13%) |
CAD-> USD 1 | | | 1.3294 | | | 1.2897 | | | 1.2394 | | | (3.08%) | | | (4.06%) |
Average Rates (Year) | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
ARS -> USD 1 | | | 247.8067 | | | 105.4145 | | | 83.8555 | | | (135.08%) | | | (25.71%) |
YEN -> USD 1 | | | 140.9211 | | | 117.2517 | | | 106.4626 | | | (20.19%) | | | (10.13%) |
AUD-> USD 1 | | | 1.4909 | | | 1.3774 | | | 1.3412 | | | (8.24%) | | | (2.70%) |
CAD-> USD 1 | | | 1.3309 | | | 1.2652 | | | 1.2832 | | | (5.19%) | | | 1.40% |
| | Corporate | | | Olaroz | | | Mt Cattlin | | | Sal De Vida | | | James Bay | | | Total before eliminations | | | Eliminations on consolidation | | | Total Group | |
| | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | | | 2023 | |
| | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | |
Revenue | | | — | | | 592,211 | | | 615,590 | | | — | | | — | | | 1,207,801 | | | — | | | 1,207,801 |
EBITDAIX(1) | | | (36,092) | | | 475,181 | | | 515,881 | | | (146) | | | (702) | | | 954,122 | | | (44,353) | | | 909,769 |
Less depreciation & amortisation | | | (1,363) | | | (16,320) | | | (80,259) | | | (786) | | | (58) | | | (98,786) | | | — | | | (98,786) |
EBITIX(2) | | | (37,455) | | | 458,861 | | | 435,622 | | | (932) | | | (760) | | | 855,336 | | | (44,353) | | | 810,983 |
Less interest income/(costs) | | | 39,367 | | | 13,830 | | | 18,119 | | | (9,942) | | | (4) | | | 61,370 | | | (13,130) | | | 48,240 |
EBTIX(3) | | | 1,912 | | | 472,691 | | | 453,741 | | | (10,874) | | | (764) | | | 916,706 | | | (57,483) | | | 859,223 |
Less merger costs(4) | | | (9,514) | | | — | | | — | | | (431) | | | — | | | (9,945) | | | — | | | (9,945) |
Add other income – gains from financial instruments | | | 839 | | | — | | | — | | | 65,184 | | | — | | | 66,023 | | | — | | | 66,023 |
Add foreign currency gains/(losses) | | | 7,797 | | | (79,143) | | | 908 | | | (8,868) | | | (1,010) | | | (80,316) | | | (2,964) | | | (83,280) |
Less share of loss of associate, net of tax | | | (2,114) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,114) | | | — | | | (2,114) |
Segment profit/(loss) for the period before tax | | | (1,080) | | | 393,548 | | | 454,649 | | | 45,011 | | | (1,774) | | | 890,354 | | | (60,447) | | | 829,907 |
Income tax (expense)/benefit | | | (3,679) | | | (158,810) | | | (130,879) | | | (27,976) | | | — | | | (321,344) | | | 16,012 | | | (305,332) |
Total profit/(loss) for the year – continuing operations | | | (4,759) | | | 234,738 | | | 323,770 | | | 17,035 | | | (1,774) | | | 569,010 | | | (44,435) | | | 524,575 |
Discontinued operations(5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (3,278) | |||||||
Total profit for the year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 521,297 |
(1) | EBITDAIX - Segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation, merger costs, gains from financial instruments, foreign |
(2) | EBITIX - Segment earnings before interest, taxes, impairment, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), business combination acquisition costs, non-cash business combination adjustments, and share of associate’s losses. |
(3) | EBTIX - Segment earnings before taxes, impairment, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), business combination acquisition costs, non-cash business combination adjustments, and share of associate’s losses. |
(4) | Details of the business combination are included in Note 4. The Mt Cattlin segment includes US$12.4 million related to the realisation of inventory at a value in excess of the cost of production and US$13.4 million related to the amortisation of customer contract assets acquired as part of the business combination. |
(5) | The discontinued operations represent the results of Borax (refer Note 2). |
| | Corporate | | | Olaroz | | | Mt Cattlin | | | Sal De Vida | | | James Bay | | | Total before eliminations | | | Eliminations on consolidation | | | Total Group | |
| | 2022 | | | 2022 | | | 2022 | | | 2022 | | | 2022 | | | 2022 | | | 2022 | | | 2022 | |
| | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | | | US $'000 | |
Revenue | | | — | | | 292,758 | | | 451,925 | | | — | | | — | | | 744,683 | | | — | | | 744,683 |
EBITDAIX(1) | | | (25,505) | | | 220,431 | | | 336,178 | | | (510) | | | (344) | | | 530,250 | | | (18,254) | | | 511,996 |
Less depreciation & amortisation | | | (1,149) | | | (17,717) | | | (30,309) | | | (697) | | | (38) | | | (49,910) | | | — | | | (49,910) |
EBITIX(2) | | | (26,654) | | | 202,714 | | | 305,869 | | | (1,207) | | | (382) | | | 480,340 | | | (18,254) | | | 462,086 |
Less interest income/(costs) | | | 15,454 | | | (24,153) | | | 1,177 | | | 747 | | | (4) | | | (6,779) | | | (7,421) | | | (14,200) |
EBTIX(3) | | | (11,200) | | | 178,561 | | | 307,046 | | | (460) | | | (386) | | | 473,561 | | | (25,675) | | | 447,886 |
Less acquisition costs(4) | | | (12,760) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (12,760) | | | — | | | (12,760) |
Less amortisation of customer contracts due to purchase price allocation(4) | | | — | | | — | | | (13,400) | | | — | | | — | | | (13,400) | | | — | | | (13,400) |
Less inventory adjustment due to purchase price allocation(4) | | | — | | | — | | | (12,367) | | | — | | | — | | | (12,367) | | | — | | | (12,367) |
Add other income – gains from financial instruments | | | 4,547 | | | — | | | — | | | 27,119 | | | — | | | 31,666 | | | — | | | 31,666 |
Add foreign currency gains/(losses) | | | (3,024) | | | (7,481) | | | 1,099 | | | (1,173) | | | (1,310) | | | (11,889) | | | 1,629 | | | (10,260) |
Less share of loss of associate, net of tax | | | (2,951) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,951) | | | — | | | (2,951) |
Less impairment/write-downs | | | (244) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (244) | | | — | | | (244) |
Segment profit/(loss) for the year before tax | | | (25,632) | | | 171,080 | | | 282,378 | | | 25,486 | | | (1,696) | | | 451,616 | | | (24,046) | | | 427,570 |
Income tax (expense)/benefit | | | 63,221 | | | (74,935) | | | (84,713) | | | (3,667) | | | (4) | | | (100,098) | | | 7,214 | | | (92,884) |
Total profit/(loss) for the year – continuing operations | | | 37,589 | | | 96,145 | | | 197,665 | | | 21,819 | | | (1,700) | | | 351,518 | | | (16,832) | | | 334,686 |
Discontinued operations(5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,537 | |||||||
Total profit for the year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 337,223 |
(1) | EBITDAIX - Segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation, impairment, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), business combination acquisition costs, non-cash business combination adjustments, and share of associate’s losses. Includes an elimination of unrealised profits of US$18,247,000 for sales by Olaroz to the equity-accounted associate. |
(2) | EBITIX - Segment earnings before interest, taxes, impairment, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), business combination acquisition costs, non-cash business combination adjustments, and share of associate’s losses. |
(3) | EBTIX - Segment earnings before taxes, impairment, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), business combination acquisition costs, non-cash business combination adjustments, and share of associate’s losses. |
(4) | On 25 August 2021, the Group acquired Galaxy Resources Limited. Acquisition-related costs for business combination of US$12.8 million included stamp duty of US$3.9 million and merger facilitation fees of US$5.6 million in 2022. The Mt Cattlin segment includes US$12.4 million related to the realisation of inventory at a value in excess of the cost of production and US$13.4 million related to the amortisation of customer contract assets acquired as part of the business combination. Details of the business combination are included in Note 4. |
(5) | The discontinued operations represent the results of Borax (refer Note 2). |
| | Corporate | | | Olaroz | | | Total underlying | | | Eliminations on consolidation | | | Total Group | |
| | 2021 | | | 2021 | | | 2021 | | | 2021 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
Revenue | | | — | | | 66,370 | | | 66,370 | | | — | | | 66,370 |
EBITDAIX(1) | | | (8,058) | | | 11,452 | | | 3,394 | | | — | | | 3,394 |
Less depreciation & amortisation | | | (464) | | | (18,294) | | | (18,758) | | | — | | | (18,758) |
EBITIX(2) | | | (8,522) | | | (6,842) | | | (15,364) | | | — | | | (15,364) |
Less interest income/(costs) | | | 14,685 | | | (29,739) | | | (15,054) | | | (6,008) | | | (21,062) |
EBTIX(3) | | | 6,163 | | | (36,581) | | | (30,418) | | | (6,008) | | | (36,426) |
Less acquisition costs(4) | | | (1,243) | | | — | | | (1,243) | | | — | | | (1,243) |
Add other income – gains from financial instruments | | | 1,725 | | | — | | | 1,725 | | | — | | | 1,725 |
Add realisation of inventory write-downs | | | — | | | 18,138 | | | 18,138 | | | — | | | 18,138 |
Add foreign currency gains/(losses) | | | 327 | | | (3,946) | | | (3,619) | | | — | | | (3,619) |
Less share of loss of associate, net of tax | | | (1,682) | | | — | | | (1,682) | | | — | | | (1,682) |
Segment loss for the year before tax | | | 5,290 | | | (22,389) | | | (17,099) | | | (6,008) | | | (23,107) |
Income tax expense | | | — | | | (67,940) | | | (67,940) | | | — | | | (67,940) |
Total loss for the year – continuing operations | | | 5,290 | | | (90,329) | | | (85,039) | | | (6,008) | | | (91,047) |
Discontinued operations(5) | | | | | | | | | | | 1,573 | ||||
Total loss for the year | | | | | | | | | | | (89,474) |
(1) | EBITDAIX - Segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation, impairment, rehabilitation provision remeasurement, realisation of inventory write-downs, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), and share of associate’s losses. |
(2) | EBITIX - Segment earnings before interest, taxes, impairment, rehabilitation provision remeasurement, realisation of inventory write-downs, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), and share of associate’s losses. |
(3) | EBTIX - Segment earnings before taxes, impairment, rehabilitation provision remeasurement, realisation of inventory write-downs, gains from financial instruments, foreign currency gains/(losses), and share of associate’s losses. |
(4) | Details of the business combination are included in Note 4. |
(5) | The discontinued operations represent the results of Borax (refer Note 2). |
| | Corporate | | | Borax1 | | | Olaroz | | | Mt Cattlin | | | Sal De Vida | | | James Bay | | | Eliminations on consolidation | | | Total Group | |
| | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Segment assets | | | 1,486,800 | | | — | | | 1,696,269 | | | 737,865 | | | 2,018,808 | | | 393,541 | | | (1,116,090) | | | 5,217,193 |
Segment liabilities | | | (233,886) | | | — | | | (1,161,138) | | | (361,029) | | | (567,634) | | | (88,149) | | | 768,394 | | | (1,643,442) |
Other disclosures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Investment in associate | | | 4,017 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 4,017 |
Additions to property plant and equipment, exploration and evaluation assets | | | 2,150 | | | — | | | 266,452 | | | 97,418 | | | 135,508 | | | 80,028 | | | (13,130) | | | 568,426 |
2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Segment assets | | | 1,362,782 | | | 18,921 | | | 1,309,031 | | | 460,650 | | | 1,980,697 | | | 473,159 | | | (1,112,509) | | | 4,492,731 |
Segment liabilities | | | (120,104) | | | (12,147) | | | (1,020,864) | | | (457,864) | | | (469,403) | | | (147,850) | | | 816,867 | | | (1,411,365) |
Other disclosures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Investment in associate | | | 890 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 890 |
Additions to property plant and equipment, exploration and evaluation assets | | | 433 | | | 1,634 | | | 160,885 | | | 32,430 | | | 63,740 | | | 2,840 | | | — | | | 261,962 |
| | Corporate | | | Borax1 | | | Olaroz | | | Mt Cattlin | | | Sal De Vida | | | James Bay | | | Eliminations on consolidation | | | Total Group | |
| | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities | | | (21,399) | | | 516 | | | 453,221 | | | 418,224 | | | (11,320) | | | (29,908) | | | (18,424) | | | 790,910 |
Cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities | | | (52,090) | | | (15,929)2 | | | (241,292) | | | (85,644) | | | (78,873) | | | (73,252) | | | 38,766 | | | (508,314) |
Cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities | | | (105,281) | | | 15,060 | | | (42,683) | | | (105,480) | | | 90,232 | | | 102,265 | | | (20,342) | | | (66,229) |
2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities | | | (31,984) | | | (389) | | | 152,604 | | | 320,636 | | | 747 | | | (4) | | | — | | | 441,610 |
Cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities | | | 198,567 | | | (1,233) | | | (140,742) | | | (37,788) | | | (53,065) | | | (2,800) | | | — | | | (37,061) |
Cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities | | | (993) | | | (24) | | | 10,089 | | | (6,100) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2,972 |
2021 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities | | | (17,943) | | | 1,792 | | | (2,259) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (18,410) |
Cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities | | | 1,749 | | | 1,766 | | | (95,152) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (91,637) |
Cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities | | | 118,966 | | | (35) | | | 80,023 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 198,954 |
1 | Borax was divested during the financial year 30 June 2023 (refer Note 2). |
2 | Inclusive of (US$14,468,000) cash disposed from disposal of Borax. |
For the year ended 30 June 2023 | | | | | Mt Cattlin | | | Olaroz | | | Total | |
| | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | ||
Type of goods | | | Timing of recognition | | | | | | | |||
Lithium Carbonate | | | A point in time | | | — | | | 579,932 | | | 579,932 |
Spodumene concentrate | | | A point in time | | | 513,695 | | | — | | | 513,695 |
Spodumene concentrate – low grade | | | A point in time | | | 99,738 | | | — | | | 99,738 |
Tantalum | | | A point in time | | | 2,157 | | | — | | | 2,157 |
Other | | | A point in time | | | — | | | 12,279 | | | 12,279 |
Total revenue | | | | | 615,590 | | | 592,211 | | | 1,207,801 | |
Geographical markets | | | | | | | | | ||||
Asia | | | | | 613,433 | | | 544,438 | | | 1,157,871 | |
Europe | | | | | — | | | 33,070 | | | 33,070 | |
South America | | | | | — | | | 625 | | | 625 | |
North America | | | | | — | | | 14,078 | | | 14,078 | |
Australia | | | | | 2,157 | | | — | | | 2,157 | |
Total revenue | | | | | 615,590 | | | 592,211 | | | 1,207,801 |
For the year ended 30 June 2022 | | | | | Mt Cattlin | | | Olaroz | | | Total | |
| | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | ||
Type of goods | | | Timing of recognition | | | | | | | |||
Lithium Carbonate | | | A point in time | | | — | | | 292,758 | | | 292,758 |
Spodumene concentrate | | | A point in time | | | 445,832 | | | — | | | 445,832 |
Tantalum | | | A point in time | | | 6,093 | | | — | | | 6,093 |
Total revenue | | | | | 451,925 | | | 292,758 | | | 744,683 |
For the year ended 30 June 2022 | | | | | Mt Cattlin | | | Olaroz | | | Total | |
| | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | ||
Geographical markets | | | | | | | | | ||||
Asia | | | | | 445,832 | | | 280,634 | | | 726,466 | |
Europe | | | | | — | | | 9,898 | | | 9,898 | |
North America | | | | | — | | | 2,226 | | | 2,226 | |
Australia | | | | | 6,093 | | | — | | | 6,093 | |
Total revenue | | | | | 451,925 | | | 292,758 | | | 744,683 |
For the year ended 30 June 2021 | | | | | | | Olaroz | | | Total | ||
| | | | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |||
Type of goods | | | Timing of recognition | | | | | | | |||
Lithium Carbonate | | | A point in time | | | | | 66,370 | | | 66,370 | |
Total revenue | | | | | | | 66,370 | | | 66,370 | ||
Geographical markets | | | | | | | | | ||||
Asia | | | | | | | 51,804 | | | 51,804 | ||
Europe | | | | | | | 12,605 | | | 12,605 | ||
North America | | | | | | | 1,961 | | | 1,961 | ||
Total revenue | | | | | | | 66,370 | | | 66,370 |
• | Allkem transferred to Golden Wattle (a group associated with MSR) all of the issued shares in the two Borax holding companies which included US$13.8 million cash for employee and rehabilitation liabilities: and |
• | MSR sold to an Allkem subsidiary 100% ownership of the María Victoria Tenement. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
Revenue | | | 13,278 | | | 25,135 | | | 18,390 |
Other income | | | 322 | | | 367 | | | 7,505 |
Expenses excluding net finance costs | | | (11,377) | | | (23,387) | | | (24,265) |
Finance income, net | | | 248 | | | 422 | | | (57) |
Profit from operations | | | 2,471 | | | 2,537 | | | 1,573 |
Foreign currency translation reserve reclassified to profit or loss on disposal | | | (5,749) | | | — | | | — |
(Loss)/profit from discontinued operations | | | (3,278) | | | 2,537 | | | 1,573 |
Net cash flows of the Borax disposal group | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 |
| | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
Operating | | | 516 | | | (389) | | | 1,792 |
Investing | | | (1,461) | | | (1,233) | | | 1,766 |
Financing – provided by Allkem group | | | 15,060 | | | (24) | | | (35) |
Net cash inflow/(outflow) | | | 14,115 | | | (1,646) | | | 3,523 |
| | | | | | ||||
Earnings per share from discontinued operation | | | | | | | |||
Basic earnings per share (US cents per share) | | | (0.51) | | | 0.43 | | | 0.48 |
Diluted earnings per share (US cents per share) | | | (0.51) | | | 0.43 | | | 0.48 |
| | 2023 | |
| | US$'000 | |
Cash and cash equivalent | | | 14,468 |
Inventory | | | 6,226 |
Other assets | | | 6 |
Receivables | | | 6,473 |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 4,890 |
Payables | | | (5,917) |
Provisions | | | (6,382) |
Net assets disposed | | | 19,764 |
Less: Cash consideration received | | | (200) |
Add: Cash consideration paid for property | | | 400 |
Cost capitalised on acquisition of property | | | 19,964 |
Cash received from sale of the discontinued operation | | | 200 |
Cash sold as part of discontinued operation | | | (14,468) |
Net cash outflow on disposal of the discontinued operation | | | (14,268) |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | | | US$'000 | |
3a) Other income | | | | | | | |||
Gains from financial instruments | | | 66,023 | | | 31,666 | | | 1,725 |
Total other income | | | 66,023 | | | 31,666 | | | 1,725 |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
3b) Corporate and administrative expenses | | | | | | | | | ||||
Employee benefit expenses | | | | | (29,257) | | | (19,560) | | | (7,515) | |
Audit fees | | | 26 | | | (436) | | | (447) | | | (243) |
Legal and consulting fees | | | | | (10,006) | | | (5,990) | | | (1,210) | |
Share-based payments | | | 20 | | | (10,768) | | | (5,254) | | | (1,848) |
Travel | | | | | (4,752) | | | (1,172) | | | (163) | |
Insurance | | | | | (1,212) | | | (1,525) | | | (1,033) | |
Office & communication costs | | | | | (5,547) | | | (3,726) | | | (1,261) | |
Listing & investor relations costs | | | | | (916) | | | (1,335) | | | (513) | |
Bank Fees | | | | | (1,716) | | | (956) | | | (616) | |
Environmental monitoring & studies | | | | | (949) | | | (361) | | | (330) | |
Restructuring costsi) | | | | | — | | | — | | | (1,361) | |
Other costs | | | | | (911) | | | (3,183) | | | (775) | |
Total corporate and administrative expenses | | | | | (66,470) | | | (43,509) | | | (16,868) |
i) | There were no restructuring costs during the year ended 30 June 2023 (2022: nil). During the year ended 30 June 2021 the group incurred US$1,361,000 restructuring costs from continuing operations. Included in such costs, there was a termination payment for a supply agreement of US$1,200,000 (Olaroz segment), and fixed costs of US$161,000 (Olaroz segment) which were not allocated to the cost of inventories due to the reduction of production volumes resulting from COVID-19. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
3c) Selling costs | | | | | | | |||
Export duties | | | (20,445) | | | (9,162) | | | (2,283) |
Mining royalty | | | (47,650) | | | (29,540) | | | (622) |
Dispatching & logistics | | | (21,467) | | | (18,322) | | | (61) |
Total selling costs | | | (89,562) | | | (57,024) | | | (2,966) |
| | | | | | ||||
3d) Foreign currency loss | | | | | | | |||
Total foreign currency loss | | | (83,280) | | | (10,260) | | | (3,619) |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
3e) Finance income | | | | | | | |||
Interest income on loans receivable | | | 23 | | | 46 | | | 118 |
Interest income from short term deposits | | | 72,288 | | | 5,934 | | | 1,484 |
Total finance income | | | 72,311 | | | 5,980 | | | 1,602 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
3f) Finance costs | | | | | | | |||
Interest expense on external loans and borrowings and other finance costs amortised | | | (4,246) | | | (8,598) | | | (11,744) |
Interest expense on loans and borrowings from related | | | (3,840) | | | (2,543) | | | (2,333) |
Interest expense on lease liabilities | | | (5,597) | | | (4,669) | | | (2,520) |
Other finance costs related to related party loans | | | (2,876) | | | (1,851) | | | (1,730) |
Change in fair value of financial assets and liabilities | | | (6,268) | | | (2,487) | | | (4,277) |
Unwinding of the rehabilitation provision | | | (1,244) | | | (32) | | | (60) |
Total finance costs | | | (24,071) | | | (20,180) | | | (22,664) |
i) | The interest expense to the related party is non-cash and will be paid on repayment of the loans (Note 27). Total interest is US$8,217,000 (2022: US$5,004,000, 2021: US$4,336,000) and US$4,377,000 (2022: US$2,461,000, 2021: US$2,003,000) of this has been capitalised to property, plant and equipment. |
| | Fair Value recognised on acquisitioni) | |
| | US $’000 | |
Assets | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 209,525 |
Trade and other receivables | | | 2,958 |
Inventory | | | 43,243 |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | | | 10,088 |
Assets classified as held for sale | | | 1,449 |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 1,474,876 |
Exploration and evaluation assets | | | 356,395 |
Other current assets | | | 16,798 |
Other non-current receivablesii) | | | 4,518 |
Other non-current assets | | | 4,000 |
Deferred tax asset | | | 10,000 |
| | 2,133,850 | |
Liabilities | | | |
Trade and other payables | | | 43,298 |
Advance payments | | | 16,499 |
Provisions | | | 30,297 |
Lease liabilities | | | 15,635 |
Deferred tax liability | | | 534,017 |
| | 639,746 | |
Total identifiable net assets at fair value | | | 1,494,104 |
Goodwill arising on acquisition | | | 524,017 |
Total consideration | | | 2,018,121 |
Satisfied by: | | | |
Equity instruments (ordinary shares of Allkem) | | | 2,018,121 |
Total consideration transferred | | | 2,018,121 |
Analysis of cash flows on acquisition | | | |
Net cash acquired with the subsidiary (included in cash flows from investing activities) | | | 209,525 |
Net cash flow on acquisition | | | 209,525 |
i) | The purchase price allocation is final as at 30 June 2022. |
ii) | Fair value has been determined using a discounted cash flow valuation technique based on forecast timing of receipts and discount rate relevant to the cash flow stream (Level 3). |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
5a) Income tax expense | | | | | | | |||
Current income tax expense | | | (254,585) | | | (44,887) | | | — |
Deferred tax expense | | | (48,831) | | | (47,997) | | | (67,940) |
Amounts under provided in prior years | | | (1,916) | | | — | | | — |
Total income tax expense | | | (305,332) | | | (92,884) | | | (67,940) |
Deferred income tax expense included in income tax expense comprises: | | | | | | | |||
Decrease/(increase) in deferred tax assets | | | 5,984 | | | (68,073) | | | 12,600 |
Decrease in deferred tax liabilities | | | (54,815) | | | (44,603) | | | (80,540) |
Benefit of previously unrecognised tax losses, tax credits or temporary differences | | | — | | | 64,679 | | | — |
| | (48,831) | | | (47,997) | | | (67,940) |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | ||
5b) Deferred tax assets | | | | | | | |||
Carry forward tax losses | | | | | 2,944 | | | 37,311 | |
Financial liabilities | | | | | 37,631 | | | 32,680 | |
Other non-financial liabilities | | | | | 36,598 | | | 19,444 | |
Total deferred tax assets | | | | | 77,173 | | | 89,435 | |
Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions | | | | | (74,095) | | | (64,218) | |
Net deferred tax assets | | | | | 3,078 | | | 25,217 |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | ||
5c) Deferred tax liabilities | | | | | | | |||
Property, plant and equipment | | | | | (796,340) | | | (704,773) | |
Inventories | | | | | (2,773) | | | (18,200) | |
Other financial assets | | | | | (41,452) | | | (17,768) | |
Exploration and evaluation assets | | | | | (82,975) | | | (109,322) | |
Total deferred tax liabilities | | | | | (923,540) | | | (850,063) | |
Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions | | | | | 74,095 | | | 64,218 | |
Net deferred tax liabilities | | | | | (849,445) | | | (785,845) |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Profit/(loss) before income tax expense from continuing operations | | | 829,907 | | | 427,570 | | | (23,107) |
(Loss)/profit before income tax from discontinued operations | | | (3,278) | | | 2,537 | | | 1,573 |
Tax (expense)/benefit at Australian tax rate of 30% (2022: 30%, 2021: 30%) | | | (247,989) | | | (129,032) | | | 6,460 |
Tax effect of amounts which are (not deductible)/taxable in calculating taxable income: | | | | | | | |||
Share-based payments | | | (3,230) | | | (1,576) | | | (554) |
Share of loss of associates | | | (634) | | | (885) | | | (505) |
Other | | | — | | | — | | | 106 |
Non-deductible expenses | | | (11,925) | | | (4,259) | | | — |
Tax losses and credits for the year not recognised | | | (2,327) | | | (3,111) | | | — |
Previously unrecognised tax losses and temporary differences | | | 4,732 | | | 67,172 | | | 1,513 |
Impact of tax rates applicable outside of Australia | | | (19,859) | | | (9,031) | | | (49,669) |
Foreign exchange and effects of hyperinflation | | | (26,016) | | | (12,162) | | | (25,291) |
Amounts under provided in prior years | | | 1,916 | | | — | | | — |
Income tax expense | | | (305,332) | | | (92,884) | | | (67,940) |
- | When the deferred income tax liability arose from the initial recognition of goodwill or of an asset or liability in a transaction that was not a business combination and that, at the time of the transaction, affected neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss. |
- | In respect of deductible/taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests in joint ventures, when the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent: | | | | | | | |||
Profit/(loss) for the financial year | | | 521,297 | | | 337,223 | | | (89,474) |
Exclude non-controlling interests | | | (79,586) | | | (31,549) | | | 29,849 |
Net profit used in the calculation of basic and dilutive EPS | | | 441,711 | | | 305,674 | | | (59,625) |
Exclude loss/(profit) from discontinued operations | | | 3,278 | | | (2,537) | | | (1,573) |
Net profit/(loss) used in the calculation of basic and dilutive EPS from continuing operationsi) | | | 444,989 | | | 303,137 | | | (61,198) |
| | No. | | | No. | | | No. | |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period used in the calculation of basic EPS | | | 637,323,060 | | | 592,546,337 | | | 330,859,370 |
Weighted average number of options and performance rights outstandingii) | | | 3,560,122 | | | 2,892,020 | | | — |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period used in the calculation of dilutive EPS | | | 640,883,182 | | | 595,438,357 | | | 330,859,370 |
i) | Basis and dilutive EPS related to discontinued operations is detailed in Note 2. |
ii) | Weighted average performance rights outstanding for 2021 that may be issued in the future and potentially dilute the earnings per share that have not been considered in the calculation due to anti-dilutive effect: 2,533,348. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current trade and other receivables | | | | | ||
Trade receivables | | | 77,919 | | | 43,915 |
Interest receivable | | | 18,161 | | | 558 |
Other receivables | | | 2,953 | | | 16,810 |
Receivable from joint venture partyiii) | | | 2,016 | | | — |
VAT tax credits & other tax receivablei) | | | 41,866 | | | 20,521 |
Total current trade and other receivables | | | 142,915 | | | 81,804 |
| | | | |||
Non-current other receivables | | | | | ||
Receivable from joint venture partyiii) | | | 6,134 | | | 6,555 |
Receivable from associate | | | 31,934 | | | 16,463 |
Other receivables | | | 1,216 | | | 1,911 |
VAT tax creditsii) | | | 3,440 | | | 24,312 |
Total non-current other receivables | | | 42,724 | | | 49,241 |
i) | Trade receivables are net of provisional price adjustments (US$43,002,000) (2022: nil, 2021: nil). See Note 1 for further details. |
ii) | The Group has a total of US$41,713,000 (2022: US$32,399,000, 2021: US$24,471,000) of current and non-current Value Added Tax (VAT) recoveries due from the Argentina revenue authority. The Group records VAT at fair value due to the hyperinflationary economy in Argentina and the highly devaluing local currency. Fair value has been determined using a discounted cash flow valuation technique based on the forecast timing of recovery of VAT, and interest rate and exchange rate relevant for that time period (Level 3). The gains and losses are recognised within finance costs in the income statement as a change in fair value of financial assets and liabilities (refer Note 3f). |
iii) | Fair value has been determined using a discounted cash flow valuation technique based on forecast timing of receipts and discount rate relevant to the cash flow stream (Level 3). The gains and losses are recognised within finance costs in the income statement as a change in fair value of financial assets and liabilities (refer Note 3f). |
iv) | Receivable from associate are denominated in JPY and collectable between 2025 to 2028. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Prepayments to suppliers | | | 30,569 | | | 9,881 |
Prepayments to tax authorities | | | 310 | | | 417 |
Total current prepayments | | | 30,879 | | | 10,298 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current | | | | | ||
Finished products | | | 29,891 | | | 28,449 |
Work in progress | | | 68,813 | | | 25,711 |
Materials and spare parts | | | 27,770 | | | 22,081 |
Total current | | | 126,474 | | | 76,241 |
Non-current | | | | | ||
Work in progress | | | 86,665 | | | 51,894 |
Materials and spare parts | | | — | | | 1,508 |
Total non-current | | | 86,665 | | | 53,402 |
- | Labour costs, materials and contractor expenses which are directly attributable to the processing of commodities ready-for-sale (lithium carbonate, spodumene concentrate and other products). |
- | The depreciation of mining properties and leases and of property, plant and equipment used in the extraction and processing of brine, production of lithium carbonate and production of spodumene concentrate. |
- | Production overheads. |
| | Land & buildings | | | Plant & equipment | | | Mine properties | | | Leased Plant & Equipment(1) | | | Deferred stripping | | | Work in progress | | | Total | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Cost | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
As at 1 July 2021 | | | 7,212 | | | 457,237 | | | 247,322 | | | 34,538 | | | 138 | | | 243,398 | | | 989,845 |
Additions – purchases | | | 9,785 | | | 99,268 | | | 74,839 | | | — | | | 25,439 | | | 29,388 | | | 238,719 |
Capitalised interest | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 5,904 | | | 5,904 |
Leases - additions/modifications | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2,736 | | | — | | | — | | | 2,736 |
Acquisition of a subsidiary (Note 4) | | | — | | | 101,095 | | | 1,360,712 | | | 13,069 | | | — | | | — | | | 1,474,876 |
Remeasurement of rehabilitation provision | | | — | | | — | | | 4,955 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 4,955 |
Internal transfers | | | — | | | 5,915 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (5,915) | | | — |
Exchange differences | | | (59) | | | — | | | — | | | (6) | | | — | | | (264) | | | (329) |
As at 30 June 2022 | | | 16,938 | | | 663,515 | | | 1,687,828 | | | 50,337 | | | 25,577 | | | 272,511 | | | 2,716,706 |
Additions - purchases | | | 624 | | | 10,128 | | | 68,012 | | | — | | | 69,857 | | | 334,465 | | | 483,086 |
Capitalised interest | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 10,783 | | | 10,783 |
Leases - additions/modifications | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 14,496 | | | — | | | — | | | 14,496 |
Remeasurement of rehabilitation provision | | | — | | | (4,068) | | | 1,528 | | | — | | | — | | | (188) | | | (2,728) |
Divestment of subsidiary | | | (1,139) | | | (2,698) | | | — | | | (37) | | | — | | | (2,507) | | | (6,381) |
Disposals | | | — | | | (42) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (241) | | | (283) |
Internal transfers | | | — | | | 138,578 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (138,578) | | | — |
Exchange differences | | | (198) | | | (2,373) | | | (4,727) | | | (1) | | | (1,779) | | | 1,501 | | | (7,577) |
As at 30 June 2023 | | | 16,225 | | | 803,040 | | | 1,752,641 | | | 64,795 | | | 93,655 | | | 477,746 | | | 3,208,102 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Accumulated depreciation/ impairment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
As at 1 July 2021 | | | (6,946) | | | (93,173) | | | (3,892) | | | (6,483) | | | (138) | | | (128) | | | (110,760) |
Depreciation expense | | | (699) | | | (26,811) | | | (13,932) | | | (6,221) | | | (2,006) | | | — | | | (49,669) |
Depreciation capitalised to inventory | | | — | | | (28) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (28) |
Exchange differences | | | 826 | | | 218 | | | — | | | 520 | | | 69 | | | — | | | 1,633 |
As at 30 June 2022 | | | (6,819) | | | (119,794) | | | (17,824) | | | (12,184) | | | (2,075) | | | (128) | | | (158,824) |
Depreciation expense | | | (441) | | | (16,866) | | | (11,251) | | | (11,780) | | | (58,143) | | | — | | | (98,481) |
Depreciation capitalised to inventory | | | — | | | (14,921) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (14,921) |
Divestment of subsidiary | | | 1,128 | | | 337 | | | — | | | 25 | | | — | | | — | | | 1,490 |
Disposals | | | — | | | 42 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 42 |
Exchange differences | | | 121 | | | 1,836 | | | 3,322 | | | 9 | | | 756 | | | — | | | 6,044 |
As at 30 June 2023 | | | (6,011) | | | (149,366) | | | (25,753) | | | (23,930) | | | (59,462) | | | (128) | | | (264,650) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||
Net Book Value | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||
As at 30 June 2022 | | | 10,119 | | | 543,721 | | | 1,670,004 | | | 38,153 | | | 23,502 | | | 272,383 | | | 2,557,882 |
As at 30 June 2023 | | | 10,214 | | | 653,674 | | | 1,726,888 | | | 40,865 | | | 34,193 | | | 477,618 | | | 2,943,452 |
- | Buildings and infrastructure: 20 to 30 years |
- | Plant: 5 to 40 years |
- | Leased plant and equipment: lease period – 1 to 10 years |
- | Mining extraction equipment: Units of production |
- | Mine properties: Units of production |
| | Goodwill | | | Software | | | Total | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
At cost | | | 519,817 | | | 2,412 | | | 522,229 |
Accumulated depreciation | | | — | | | (1,742) | | | (1,742) |
As at 30 June 2023 | | | 519,817 | | | 670 | | | 520,487 |
At cost | | | 524,017 | | | 2,432 | | | 526,449 |
Accumulated depreciation | | | — | | | (1,437) | | | (1,437) |
As at 30 June 2022 | | | 524,017 | | | 995 | | | 525,012 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Balance at beginning of year | | | 525,012 | | | 727 |
Goodwill - acquired as part of business combination (Note 4) | | | — | | | 524,017 |
Software - additions | | | — | | | 544 |
Software - disposals | | | (20) | | | — |
Software - amortisation expense | | | (305) | | | (276) |
Goodwill – exchange differences | | | (4,200) | | | — |
Balance at the end of year | | | 520,487 | | | 525,012 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Balance at beginning of year | | | 424,961 | | | 45,867 |
Acquired as part of business combinationi) | | | — | | | 356,395 |
Acquired in exchange for Borax operationii) | | | 19,964 | | | — |
Capitalised exploration expenditure | | | 40,097 | | | 22,699 |
Exchange differences | | | (17,465) | | | — |
Balance at the end of year | | | 467,557 | | | 424,961 |
i) | On 25 August 2021, the Group acquired Galaxy Resources Limited. |
ii) | The María Victoria property was acquired in exchange for the Borax operation. Refer Note 2. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Lease liabilities | | | | | ||
Balance at the beginning of the year | | | 48,419 | | | 35,685 |
Recognised as part of business combinationi) | | | — | | | 15,635 |
Additions/modifications | | | 14,496 | | | 6,512 |
Accretion of interest - expense | | | 5,597 | | | 4,702 |
Lease payments | | | (14,917) | | | (14,420) |
Exchange differences | | | (350) | | | 305 |
Balance at the end of the year | | | 53,245 | | | 48,419 |
i) | On 25 August 2021, the Group acquired Galaxy Resources Limited. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Lease liabilities are due as follows: | | | | | ||
Not later than 1 year | | | 13,329 | | | 10,197 |
Total current | | | 13,329 | | | 10,197 |
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years | | | 18,227 | | | 17,167 |
Later than 5 years | | | 21,690 | | | 21,055 |
Total non-current | | | 39,917 | | | 38,222 |
Balance at 30 June | | | 53,246 | | | 48,419 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Right of use assets – included in property, plant, and equipment (Note 10) | | | | | ||
Land and buildings | | | 2,555 | | | 2,127 |
Plant and equipment | | | 38,310 | | | 36,026 |
Carrying amount of right of use assets at 30 June | | | 40,865 | | | 38,153 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Amounts recognised in the statement of profit or loss: | | | | | | | |||
Depreciation charge for right of use assets | | | | | | | |||
Land and buildings | | | (812) | | | (384) | | | (310) |
Plant and equipment | | | (10,968) | | | (5,887) | | | (1,746) |
Total depreciation charge | | | (11,780) | | | (6,271) | | | (2,056) |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current | | | | | | | |||
Trade payables and accrued expensesi) | | | | | 127,509 | | | 93,859 | |
Advance payments from customers | | | | | 3,899 | | | 403 | |
Interest payable | | | | | 1,554 | | | 2,181 | |
Interest payable to a related party | | | 27 | | | 4,392 | | | |
Total current | | | | | 137,354 | | | 96,443 | |
Non-current | | | | | | | |||
Other payables and accrued expenses | | | | | 12,364 | | | 13,477 | |
Interest payable to a related party | | | 27 | | | 16,658 | | | 17,496 |
Total non-current | | | | | 29,022 | | | 30,973 |
i) | The amounts are unsecured and non-interest bearing and generally on 30 to 60 day terms. The carrying amounts approximate fair value. |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current | | | | | | | |||
Employee benefits | | | 15a | | | 4,075 | | | 3,843 |
Provision for rehabilitation | | | 15b | | | 9,795 | | | 10,454 |
Total current | | | | | 13,870 | | | 14,297 | |
Non-current | | | | | | | |||
Employee benefits | | | 15a | | | 553 | | | 419 |
Provision for rehabilitation | | | 15b | | | 46,903 | | | 58,732 |
Other provisions | | | | | — | | | 199 | |
Total non-current | | | | | 47,456 | | | 59,350 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Annual leave | | | 4,075 | | | 3,334 |
Long service leave | | | 553 | | | 419 |
Borax Argentina S.A. defined benefit pension plan | | | — | | | 509 |
Total | | | 4,628 | | | 4,262 |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Balance at the beginning of year | | | | | 69,186 | | | 33,934 | |
Recognised as part of business combinationi) | | | | | — | | | 30,297 | |
Additions reflected in property, plant and equipment | | | 10 | | | 1,528 | | | 6,257 |
Changes in assumptions reflected in property, plant and equipment | | | 10 | | | (4,256) | | | (1,334) |
Divestment of subsidiaryii) | | | | | (6,311) | | | — | |
Expenditure on rehabilitations activities | | | | | (4,261) | | | — | |
Foreign currency translation movement | | | | | (432) | | | — | |
Unwinding of the rehabilitation provision | | | | | 1,244 | | | 32 | |
Balance at the end of year | | | | | 56,698 | | | 69,186 |
i) | On 25 August 2021, the Group acquired Galaxy Resources Limited. |
ii) | Divested as part of the Borax discontinued operation (refer Note 2). |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
Issued capital | | | Note | | | No. shares | | | No. shares | | | No. shares | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 |
Balance at the beginning of year | | | | | 637,657,586 | | | 344,158,072 | | | 277,092,327 | | | 2,686,134 | | | 668,512 | | | 548,462 | |
Performance rights exercisedi) | | | 19 | | | — | | | 900,942 | | | 114,516 | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Shares issued, net of transactions costsii) | | | | | — | | | 292,598,572 | | | 66,951,229 | | | — | | | 2,017,622 | | | 120,050 | |
Balance at the end of year | | | | | 637,657,586 | | | 637,657,586 | | | 344,158,072 | | | 2,686,134 | | | 2,686,134 | | | 668,512 | |
Treasury shares | | | Note | | | No. shares | | | No. shares | | | No. shares | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 |
Balance at the beginning of year | | | | | 500 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Treasury shares acquired | | | 19 | | | 1,818,326 | | | 500 | | | — | | | 17,939 | | | — | | | — |
Performance rights exercisedi) | | | | | (1,584,104) | | | — | | | — | | | (15,628) | | | — | | | — | |
Balance at the end of year | | | | | 234,722 | | | 500 | | | — | | | 2,311 | | | — | | | — |
i) | Represents performance rights exercised under the Company’s share-based payments plans and executive service agreements. Refer to Note 19 for share-based payments. |
ii) | Transaction costs (net of tax) for the shares issued in 2022 were US$446,000 (2021: US$3,706,000). 292,598,572 ordinary shares were issued on 25 August 2021 at a price of US$6.90 (AU$9.52) per share as a result of the Galaxy Resources Ltd business combination (refer Note 4). |
| | Share- based payments | | | Cashflow hedge | | | Foreign currency translation | | | Other | | | Total | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Balance as at 1 July 2020 | | | 7,829 | | | (2,362) | | | (35,453) | | | 13,378 | | | (16,608) |
Foreign currency translation differences | | | — | | | — | | | 1,412 | | | — | | | 1,412 |
Cashflow hedge through other comprehensive income | | | — | | | 1,436 | | | — | | | — | | | 1,436 |
Other comprehensive income | | | — | | | 1,436 | | | 1,412 | | | — | | | 2,848 |
Share-based payments | | | 1,902 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,902 |
Other movements | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (806) | | | (806) |
Balance as at 30 June 2021 | | | 9,731 | | | (926) | | | (34,041) | | | 12,572 | | | (12,664) |
| | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Balance as at 1 July 2021 | | | 9,731 | | | (926) | | | (34,041) | | | 12,572 | | | (12,664) |
Foreign currency translation differences | | | — | | | — | | | (2,851) | | | — | | | (2,851) |
Cashflow hedge through other comprehensive income | | | — | | | 1,959 | | | — | | | — | | | 1,959 |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (5,985) | | | (5,985) |
Other comprehensive income/(loss) | | | — | | | 1,959 | | | (2,851) | | | (5,985) | | | (6,877) |
Share-based payments | | | 5,427 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 5,427 |
Balance as at 30 June 2022 | | | 15,158 | | | 1,033 | | | (36,892) | | | 6,587 | | | (14,114) |
| | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Balance as at 1 July 2022 | | | 15,158 | | | 1,033 | | | (36,892) | | | 6,587 | | | (14,114) |
Reclassification to income statementi) | | | — | | | — | | | 5,749 | | | — | | | 5,749 |
Foreign currency translation differences | | | — | | | — | | | (25,498) | | | — | | | (25,498) |
Cashflow hedge through other comprehensive income | | | — | | | 672 | | | — | | | — | | | 672 |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (424) | | | (424) |
Other comprehensive income/(loss) | | | — | | | 672 | | | (19,749) | | | (424) | | | (19,501) |
Issue of treasury shares for share-based payments | | | (15,628) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (15,628) |
Share-based payments | | | 11,048 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 11,048 |
Transfer of retained earnings to legal and discretionary reserve | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 32,405 | | | 32,405 |
Balance as at 30 June 2023 | | | 10,578 | | | 1,705 | | | (56,641) | | | 38,568 | | | (5,790) |
i) | Foreign currency translation reserve related to the Borax discontinued operation (refer Note 2). |
ii) | The transfer of retained earnings to the legal and discretionary reserve was completed in accordance with local Argentinean corporate law. |
| | | | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |||
| | Interest rate | | | Maturity | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current | | | | | | | | | ||||
Loans & borrowings - project loan (a) | | | SOFR + 0.80% | | | 2023-2024 | | | (37,382) | | | (37,574) |
Related party loans (c) | | | | | | | (5,137) | | | — | ||
Total current debt | | | | | | | (42,519) | | | (37,574) | ||
| | | | | | | | |||||
Non-current | | | | | | | | | ||||
Loans & borrowings - project loan (a) | | | 2.51% - 2.61% | | | 2024-2029 | | | (152,840) | | | (189,327) |
Related party loans (c) | | | | | | | (78,916) | | | (84,776) | ||
Total non-current debt | | | | | | | (231,756) | | | (274,103) | ||
| | | | | | | | |||||
Total debt | | | | | | | (274,275) | | | (311,677) | ||
| | | | | | | | |||||
Cash at bank and on hand | | | | | | | 81,459 | | | 142,668 | ||
Short term deposits (d) | | | | | | | 739,970 | | | 520,870 | ||
Total cash and cash equivalents | | | | | | | 821,429 | | | 663,538 | ||
Financial assets - non-current (e) | | | | | | | 21,372 | | | 16,356 | ||
Total cash and financial assets | | | | | | | 842,801 | | | 679,894 | ||
| | | | | | | | |||||
Net cash/(debt) | | | | | | | 568,526 | | | 368,217 | ||
| | | | | | | | |||||
Equity | | | | | | | (3,573,751) | | | (3,081,366) | ||
Capital and net cash | | | | | | | (3,005,225) | | | (2,713,149) | ||
| | | | | | | | |||||
Cash ratio | | | | | | | 19% | | | 14% |
- | US$39.5 million (2022: US$50.1 million) bears interest at SOFR + 6% (2022: LIBOR + 6%) per annum and will be payable prior to July 2028. |
- | US$39.1 million (2022: US$34.4 million) bears interest at SOFR + 6% (2022: LIBOR + 6%) per annum and will be payable prior to July 2030. |
- | US$273,000 (2022: US$273,000) bears interest at SOFR + 0.75% (2022: LIBOR + 0.75%) per annum and will be payable prior to July 2029. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Effect on profit after tax and equity as a result of a: | | | | | ||
1% +/- reasonably possible change in interest rates | | | (4,007) | | | (2,781) |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Effect on profit after tax and equity as a result of a: | | | | | ||
50% +/- reasonably possible change in US$ (vs ARS) | | | (20,014) | | | (13,490) |
10% +/- reasonably possible change in US$ (vs AU$) | | | 1,410 | | | 1,694 |
• | development and commercial acceptance of lithium-based applications and technologies, and/or |
• | the introduction of new technologies that may not be based on lithium, |
• | forward selling by producers, |
• | the cost of production, |
• | new mine developments and mine closures, |
• | advances in various production technologies for such minerals and general global economic conditions. |
| | Notional amount | | | Carrying amount assets/(liability) | | | Change in fair value used for measuring ineffectiveness | ||||||||||
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
Cash Flow Hedges Interest Rate Risk | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 |
Interest Rate Swaps | | | 25,425 | | | 42,585 | | | 163 | | | (1,422) | | | (1,585) | | | (3,948) |
| | Cash flow hedge reserve | | | Change in fair value used for measuring ineffectiveness | |||||||
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
Cash Flow Hedge (before tax) | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 |
Forecast floating interest payments | | | 1,705 | | | 1,033 | | | (1,585) | | | (3,948) |
| | Within 12 months | | | 1 to 5 years | | | Over 5 years | | | Total | | | Carrying amount | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Payables | | | 137,352 | | | 29,022 | | | — | | | 166,374 | | | 166,374 |
Loans and borrowings | | | 51,403 | | | 237,549 | | | 60,172 | | | 349,124 | | | 274,275 |
Lease liabilities | | | 13,329 | | | 18,227 | | | 21,690 | | | 53,246 | | | 53,246 |
Total as at 30 June 2023 | | | 202,084 | | | 284,798 | | | 81,862 | | | 568,744 | | | 493,895 |
| | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Payables | | | 96,443 | | | 30,973 | | | — | | | 127,416 | | | 127,416 |
Loans and borrowings | | | 43,698 | | | 150,806 | | | 295,602 | | | 490,106 | | | 311,677 |
Lease liabilities | | | 14,270 | | | 27,968 | | | 29,936 | | | 72,174 | | | 48,419 |
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap | | | 1,086 | | | 336 | | | — | | | 1,422 | | | 1,422 |
Total as at 30 June 2022 | | | 155,497 | | | 210,083 | | | 325,538 | | | 691,118 | | | 488,934 |
Financial assets | | | | | Carrying Amount | | | Fair Value | |||||||
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 17 | | | 821,429 | | | 663,538 | | | 821,429 | | | 663,538 |
Financial assets - non-current | | | 17 | | | 21,372 | | | 16,356 | | | 21,372 | | | 16,356 |
Financial assets at FVOCI | | | | | 3,474 | | | 4,048 | | | 3,474 | | | 4,048 | |
Financial assets at amortised cost: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Trade and other receivables - current | | | 7 | | | 99,033 | | | 61,283 | | | 99,033 | | | 61,283 |
Trade and other receivables - non-current | | | 7 | | | 1,216 | | | 1,911 | | | 1,216 | | | 1,911 |
Financial assets at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
VAT tax credits & other tax receivable - current | | | 7 | | | 41,866 | | | 20,521 | | | 41,866 | | | 20,521 |
Receivable from a joint venture party - current | | | 7 | | | 2,016 | | | — | | | 2,016 | | | — |
Receivable from a joint venture party - non-current | | | 7 | | | 6,134 | | | 6,555 | | | 6,134 | | | 6,555 |
Receivable from associate | | | 7 | | | 31,934 | | | 16,463 | | | 31,934 | | | 16,463 |
VAT tax credits | | | 7 | | | 3,440 | | | 24,312 | | | 3,440 | | | 24,312 |
Total financial assets | | | | | 1,031,914 | | | 814,987 | | | 1,031,914 | | | 814,987 |
Financial liabilities | | | | | Carrying Amount | | | Fair Value | |||||||
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Financial liabilities at amortised cost: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Trade and other payables - current | | | 14 | | | 137,354 | | | 96,443 | | | 137,354 | | | 96,443 |
Trade and other payables - non-current | | | 14 | | | 29,022 | | | 30,973 | | | 29,022 | | | 30,973 |
Loans and borrowings - current | | | 17 | | | 42,519 | | | 37,574 | | | 42,047 | | | 37,574 |
Loans and borrowings - non-current | | | 17 | | | 231,756 | | | 274,103 | | | 225,915 | | | 274,103 |
Financial liabilities at fair value: | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Derivatives - interest rate swap | | | 18 | | | — | | | 1,422 | | | — | | | 1,422 |
Total financial liabilities | | | | | 440,651 | | | 440,515 | | | 434,338 | | | 440,515 |
| | | | 1 July 2022 | | | Business Combination | | | Net Cash Flow | | | Other | | | 30 June 2023 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Financial liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Current | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Loans and borrowings | | | 17 | | | 37,574 | | | — | | | — | | | 4,945 | | | 42,519 |
Lease liabilities | | | 13 | | | 10,197 | | | — | | | (9,320) | | | 12,452 | | | 13,329 |
Non-current | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Loans and borrowings | | | 17 | | | 274,103 | | | — | | | (37,402) | | | (4,945) | | | 231,756 |
Lease liabilities | | | 13 | | | 38,222 | | | — | | | — | | | 1,695 | | | 39,917 |
Total financial liabilities arising from financing activities | | | | | 360,096 | | | — | | | (46,722) | | | 14,147 | | | 327,521 |
| | | | 1 July 2021 | | | Business Combination | | | Net Cash Flow | | | Other | | | 30 June 2022 | ||
| | Note | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Financial liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Current | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Loans and borrowings | | | 17 | | | 34,683 | | | — | | | 2,880 | | | 11 | | | 37,574 |
Lease liabilities | | | 13 | | | 2,562 | | | 15,635 | | | (9,413) | | | 1,413 | | | 10,197 |
Non-current | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
Loans and borrowings | | | 17 | | | 266,278 | | | — | | | 8,247 | | | (422) | | | 274,103 |
Lease liabilities | | | 13 | | | 33,123 | | | — | | | — | | | 5,099 | | | 38,222 |
Total financial liabilities arising from financing activities | | | | | 336,646 | | | 15,635 | | | 1,714 | | | 6,101 | | | 360,096 |
TSR performance condition (absolute, 50%) | | | Proportion of PROP which vest |
If TSR falls below 7.5% return per annum | | | None of the performance rights vest |
If TSR lies between 7.5% and 10% return per annum | | | 50% of the performance rights vest |
If TSR lies between 10% and 12.5% return per annum | | | 75% of the performance rights vest |
If TSR lies at or above the 12.5% return per annum | | | 100% the performance rights vest |
TSR performance condition (relative, 50%)1 | | | Proportion of PROP which vest |
Less than 50th percentile | | | None of the performance rights vest |
Equal to or greater than 50th percentile | | | 50% of the performance rights vest |
Greater than 75th percentile | | | 100% of the performance rights vest |
1 | TSR performance condition over the measurement period relative to the constituent companies of the ASX 300 Resources Index subject to the thresholds. |
Performance Condition - Relative TSR | | | Proportion of Relative TSR Awards vesting |
If Relative TSR below 50th percentile | | | Nil |
If Relative TSR at the 50th percentile | | | 50% |
If Relative TSR between 50th and 75th Percentile | | | Straight-line pro-rata between 50% and 75% |
If Relative TSR above 75th percentile | | | 100% |
Production Capacity Vesting Percentage: Performance conditions for 2023-PROP Measurement date: 30 June 2025 | | | | | ||
Achievement (tonnes) | | | % of Base | | | % of Bonus PCPR to vest |
120,000 or more | | | 100% | | | 100% |
115,000 to 119,999 | | | 100% | | | 80% |
110,000 to 114,999 | | | 100% | | | 60% |
105,000 to 109,999 | | | 100% | | | 40% |
100,001 to 104,999 | | | 100% | | | 20% |
100,000 | | | 100% | | | 0% |
75,000 to 99,999 | | | Pro-rata straight line vesting 75% to 99% | | | 0% |
Less than 75,000 | | | Nil | | | 0% |
Performance conditions for 2022-PROP Measurement date: 30 June 2024 | | | | | ||
Achievement (tonnes) | | | % of Base | | | % of Bonus PCPR to vest |
100,000 or more | | | 100% | | | 100% |
95,000 to 99,999 | | | 100% | | | 80% |
90,000 to 94,999 | | | 100% | | | 60% |
85,000 to 89,999 | | | 100% | | | 40% |
80,000 to 84,999 | | | 100% | | | 20% |
75,000 to 79,999 | | | 100% | | | 0% |
56,250 to 74,999 | | | Pro-rata straight line vesting 75% to 99% | | | 0% |
Less than 56,250 | | | Nil | | | 0% |
Grant Date | | | Vesting date | | | Expiry date | | | Exercise price (AU$) | | | 1 July 2022 No. | | | Granted No | | | Vested No.1 | | | Forfeited/ lapsed No. | | | 30 June 2023 No. |
11 Mar 2020 | | | 31Aug 2022 | | | 30Sep 2022 | | | — | | | 1,221,519 | | | — | | | (1,221,519) | | | — | | | — |
13 Nov 2020 | | | 31Aug 2023 | | | 30Sep 2023 | | | — | | | 228,649 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 228,649 |
17 Dec 2020 | | | 31Aug 2023 | | | 30Sep 2023 | | | — | | | 991,410 | | | — | | | (174,036) | | | (57,304) | | | 760,070 |
10 Nov 2021 | | | 25Aug 2022 | | | 25Aug 2024 | | | — | | | 214,870 | | | — | | | (214,870) | | | — | | | — |
10 Nov 2021 | | | 25Aug 2023 | | | 25Aug 2025 | | | — | | | 168,053 | | | — | | | — | | | (20,523) | | | 147,530 |
10 Nov 2021 | | | 25Aug 2024 | | | 25Aug 2026 | | | — | | | 54,500 | | | — | | | — | | | (19,578) | | | 34,922 |
30 Nov 2021 | | | 30Sep 2022 | | | 30Sep 2024 | | | — | | | 131,219 | | | — | | | (115,344) | | | (15,875) | | | — |
30 Nov 2021 | | | 30Sep 2023 | | | 30Sep 2025 | | | — | | | 42,621 | | | — | ��� | | (17,755) | | | — | | | 24,866 |
30 Nov 2021 | | | 30Sep 2024 | | | 30Sep 2026 | | | — | | | 222,806 | | | — | | | (66,153) | | | — | | | 156,653 |
22 May2022 | | | 1Sep 2022 | | | 1Sep 2024 | | | — | | | 270,997 | | | — | | | (242,404) | | | (28,593) | | | — |
22 May2022 | | | 30Sep 2024 | | | 30Sep 2026 | | | — | | | 634,290 | | | — | | | — | | | (89,997) | | | 544,293 |
22 May2022 | | | 30Sep 2024 | | | 30Sep 2026 | | | — | | | 65,357 | | | — | | | — | | | (7,676) | | | 57,681 |
15 Nov 2022 | | | 15 Nov 2025 | | | 15 Nov 2027 | | | — | | | — | | | 129,923 | | | (9,450) | | | — | | | 120,473 |
15 Nov 2022 | | | 15 Nov 2023 | | | 15 Nov 2025 | | | — | | | — | | | 48,189 | | | — | | | — | | | 48,189 |
23 Dec 2022 | | | 1Sep 2023 | | | 1Sep 2025 | | | — | | | — | | | 337,439 | | | — | | | (12,142) | | | 325,297 |
23 Dec 2022 | | | 1Sep 2024 | | | 1Sep 2026 | | | — | | | — | | | 43,615 | | | — | | | — | | | 43,615 |
23 Dec 2022 | | | 1Sep 2025 | | | 1Sep 2027 | | | — | | | — | | | 942,295 | | | — | | | (25,700) | | | 916,595 |
21 Mar 2023 | | | 1Sep 2023 | | | 1Sep 2025 | | | — | | | — | | | 35,525 | | | — | | | — | | | 35,525 |
21 Mar 2023 | | | 1Sep 2025 | | | 1Sep 2027 | | | — | | | — | | | 47,775 | | | — | | | — | | | 47,775 |
Total performance rights – unvested | | | | | 4,246,291 | | | 1,584,761 | | | (2,061,531) | | | (277,388) | | | 3,492,133 |
1. | The performance rights held by Mr Kaplan (formerly CFO, deceased 10 February 2023) are deemed to have vested for accounting purposes. |
| | Exercise price (AU$) | | | 1 July 2022 No. | | | Vested No | | | Exercised No. | | | 30 June 2023 No. | |||||||
Total performance rights – vested and not exercised | | | — | | | — | | | 2,061,531 | | | (1,584,104) | | | 477,427 |
PR Grant | | | 2021 - PROP | | | 2022 - LTI | ||||||||||||
Grant date | | | 13-Nov-20 | | | 13-Nov-20 | | | 17-Dec-20 | | | 17-Dec-20 | | | 30-Nov-21 | | | 30-Nov-21 |
Number issued | | | 114,325 | | | 114,324 | | | 538,154 | | | 538,154 | | | 89,122 | | | 133,684 |
Fair value at grant date (AU$) | | | 1.79 | | | 2.20 | | | 3.25 | | | 3.60 | | | 7.73 | | | 10.22 |
Share price (AU$) | | | 2.97 | | | 2.97 | | | 4.31 | | | 4.31 | | | 10.22 | | | 10.22 |
Exercise price (AU$) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | |
Expected volatility | | | 52% | | | 52% | | | 53% | | | 53% | | | 54% | | | 54% |
Right's life | | | 3 years | | | 3 years | | | 3 years | | | 3 years | | | 2.8 years | | | 2.8 years |
Expected dividends | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Risk-free interest rate | | | 0.10% | | | 0.10% | | | 0.10% | | | 0.10% | | | 0.81% | | | 0.81% |
PR Grant | | | 2022 - LTI | | | 2022 - Merger Completion | ||||||||||||
Grant date | | | 22-May-22 | | | 22-May-22 | | | 22-May-22 | | | 22-May-22 | | | 10-Nov-21 | | | 30-Nov-21 |
Number issued | | | 229,826 | | | 143,652 | | | 260,812 | | | 65,357 | | | 161,976 | | | 42,097 |
Fair value at grant date (AU$) | | | 13.05 | | | 13.05 | | | 10.81 | | | 13.05 | | | 9.18 | | | 10.22 |
Share price (AU$) | | | 13.05 | | | 13.05 | | | 13.05 | | | 13.05 | | | 9.18 | | | 10.22 |
Exercise price (AU$) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Expected volatility | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 54% |
Right's life | | | 2.4 years | | | 2.4 years | | | 2.4 years | | | 2.4 years | | | 0.8 years | | | 0.8 years |
Expected dividends | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Risk-free interest rate | | | 2.62% | | | 2.62% | | | 2.62% | | | 2.62% | | | 1.73% | | | 0.81% |
PR Grant | | | 2022 – Merger Completion | | | 2023 - LTI | ||||||||||||||||
Grant date | | | 10-Nov-21 | | | 10-Nov-21 | | | 10-Nov-21 | | | 10-Nov-21 | | | 15-Nov-22 | | | 15-Nov-22 | | |||
Number issued | | | 52,894 | | | 52,894 | | | 115,159 | | | 54,500 | | | 51,969 | | | 77,954 | | |||
Fair value at grant date (AU$) | | | 9.18 | | | 9.18 | | | 9.18 | | | 9.18 | | | 10.71 | | | 14.25 | | |||
Share price (AU$) | | | 9.18 | | | 9.18 | | | 9.18 | | | 9.18 | | | 14.25 | | | 14.25 | | |||
Exercise price (AU$) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |||
Expected volatility | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 56% | | | 56% | | |||
Right's life | | | 0.8 years | | | 1.8 years | | | 1.8 years | | | 2.8 years | | | 2.9 years | | | 2.9 years | | |||
Expected dividends | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |||
Risk-free interest rate | | | 1.73% | | | 1.73% | | | 1.73% | | | 1.73% | | | 3.27% | | | 3.27% | |
PR Grant | | | 2023 - LTI | | | 2023 - STI | |||||||||||||||
Grant date | | | 23-Dec-22 | | | 23-Dec-22 | | | 21-Mar-23 | | | 21-Mar-23 | | | 15-Nov-22 | | | 23-Dec-22 | | | 21-Mar-23 |
Number issued | | | 340,847 | | | 601,448 | | | 18,237 | | | 29,538 | | | 48,189 | | | 313,824 | | | 14,522 |
Fair value at grant date (AU$) | | | 9.06 | | | 13.13 | | | 6.61 | | | 10.28 | | | 14.25 | | | 13.13 | | | 10.28 |
Share price (AU$) | | | 13.13 | | | 13.13 | | | 10.28 | | | 10.28 | | | 14.25 | | | 13.13 | | | 10.28 |
Exercise price (AU$) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Expected volatility | | | 55% | | | 55% | | | 53% | | | 53% | | | 56% | | | 55% | | | 53% |
Right's life | | | 2.7 years | | | 2.7 years | | | 2.5 years | | | 2.5 years | | | 0.8 years | | | 0.7 years | | | 0.8 years |
Expected dividends | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Risk-free interest rate | | | 3.01% | | | 3.01% | | | 2.83% | | | 2.83% | | | 3.27% | | | 3.01% | | | 2.83% |
| | Country of incorporation Principal place of business tax residency | | | % equity interest held by the Group | ||||
Entity Name | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |||
Borax Argentina Holding No 1 Pty Ltd i) | | | Australia | | | — | | | 100.00 |
Borax Argentina Holding No 2 Pty Ltd i) | | | Australia | | | — | | | 100.00 |
Borax Argentina S.A. i) | | | Argentina | | | — | | | 100.00 |
Sales De Jujuy Pte Ltd | | | Singapore | | | 72.68 | | | 72.68 |
Sales De Jujuy S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 66.50 | | | 66.50 |
Borax Brasil Pelstras E Conferencias Ltda | | | Brazil | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
La Frontera Minerals S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Olaroz Lithium S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
El Trigal S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Los Andes Compañía Minera S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 66.81 | | | 66.81 |
A.C.N. 646 148 754 Pty Ltd | | | Australia | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Advantage Lithium S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 100.00 | | | 85.00 |
Allkem Corporate Services Pty Ltd ii) | | | Australia | | | 100.00 | | | — |
South American Salar Minerals Pty Ltd | | | Australia | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
South American Salar S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Resources Pty Ltd | | | Australia | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Lithium Australia Pty Ltd | | | Australia | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Resources International Ltd | | | Hong Kong | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Lithium Holdings BV | | | Netherlands | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Lithium (CANADA) INC | | | Canada | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Lithium ONE INC | | | Canada | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Lithium (ONTARIO) INC | | | Canada | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Allkem Financial Services Pty Ltd (formerly General Mining Corporation Pty Ltd) | | | Australia | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
Galaxy Lithium (SAL DE VIDA) S.A. | | | Argentina | | | 100.00 | | | 100.00 |
i) | Entities disposed and presented as discontinued operations (refer Note 2). |
ii) | Incorporated 19 December 2022. |
- | Power over the investee (i.e. existing rights that give it the current ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee), |
- | Exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee, and |
- | The ability to use its power over the investee to affect its returns. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Revenue | | | 592,211 | | | 292,758 | | | 66,370 |
Cost of sales | | | (50,665) | | | (40,982) | | | (24,950) |
Gross profit | | | 541,546 | | | 251,776 | | | 41,420 |
Corporate and administrative costs | | | (29,039) | | | (15,957) | | | (8,864) |
Selling costs | | | (37,200) | | | (15,384) | | | (2,966) |
Net finance income/(costs) | | | 13,830 | | | (24,153) | | | (29,739) |
Depreciation | | | (16,320) | | | (17,717) | | | (18,294) |
Foreign exchange | | | (79,159) | | | (7,478) | | | (3,947) |
Profit/(loss) before income tax | | | 393,658 | | | 171,087 | | | (22,390) |
Income tax expense/(benefit) | | | (158,810) | | | (74,935) | | | (67,940) |
Profit/(loss) for the year from continuing operations | | | 234,848 | | | 96,152 | | | (90,330) |
Other comprehensive income | | | 672 | | | 1,959 | | | 1,435 |
Total comprehensive profit/(loss) | | | 235,520 | | | 98,111 | | | (88,895) |
| | | | | | ||||
Profit/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests | | | 79,586 | | | 31,549 | | | (29,371) |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current assets | | | 321,011 | | | 180,001 |
Non-current assets | | | 1,344,006 | | | 1,117,399 |
Total assets | | | 1,665,017 | | | 1,297,400 |
Current liabilities | | | 231,127 | | | 75,730 |
Non-current liabilities | | | 930,000 | | | 945,131 |
Total labilities | | | 1,161,127 | | | 1,020,861 |
Net assets | | | 503,890 | | | 276,539 |
| | | | |||
Total equity | | | 503,890 | | | 276,539 |
| | | | |||
Attributable to: | | | | | ||
Equity holders of the parent | | | 333,303 | | | 183,747 |
Non-controlling interest | | | 170,587 | | | 92,792 |
Total equity attributable to members | | | 503,890 | | | 276,539 |
Entity Name | | | Country of incorporation & principal place of business | | | % economic interest held by the Group | |||
| 2023 | | | 2022 | |||||
Toyotsu Lithium Corporation (TLC) | | | Japan | | | 75.00 | | | 75.00 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Balance at the beginning of year | | | 890 | | | 4,230 |
Additional capital contribution during the period | | | 5,699 | | | — |
Loss from equity accounted investment in associates | | | (2,114) | | | (2,951) |
Foreign currency translation reserve | | | (458) | | | (389) |
Balance at the end of year | | | 4,017 | | | 890 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Revenue | | | 60,845 | | | — | | | — |
Cost of sales | | | (60,740) | | | — | | | — |
Corporate and administrative expenses | | | (2,833) | | | (3,888) | | | (2,193) |
Loss before income tax | | | (2,728) | | | (3,888) | | | (2,193) |
Income tax expense | | | (90) | | | (47) | | | (50) |
Loss for the period | | | (2,818) | | | (3,935) | | | (2,243) |
Total comprehensive loss | | | (2,818) | | | (3,935) | | | (2,243) |
Allkem's share of the loss for the year | | | (2,114) | | | (2,951) | | | (1,682) |
Allkem's share of total comprehensive loss | | | (2,114) | | | (2,951) | | | (1,682) |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current assets | | | 114,495 | | | 29,074 |
Non-current assets | | | 49,877 | | | 68,977 |
Total assets | | | 164,372 | | | 98,051 |
Current liabilities | | | 107,935 | | | 50,820 |
Non-current liabilities | | | 51,082 | | | 46,045 |
Total liabilities | | | 159,017 | | | 96,865 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Net assets | | | 5,355 | | | 1,186 |
Contributed equity | | | 16,563 | | | 8,964 |
Reserves | | | (934) | | | (323) |
Accumulated losses | | | (10,274) | | | (7,455) |
Total equity | | | 5,355 | | | 1,186 |
| | | | |||
Allkem's share of total equity | | | 4,017 | | | 890 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current assets | | | 192,465 | | | 341,875 |
Non-current assets | | | 2,688,066 | | | 2,482,719 |
Total assets | | | 2,880,531 | | | 2,824,594 |
Current liabilities | | | 195,104 | | | 74,195 |
Non-current liabilities | | | 1,222 | | | 3,576 |
Total liabilities | | | 196,326 | | | 77,771 |
Net assets | | | 2,684,205 | | | 2,746,823 |
Contributed equity | | | 2,663,213 | | | 2,665,524 |
Reserves | | | (37,184) | | | (43,978) |
Accumulated profits | | | 58,176 | | | 125,277 |
Total equity | | | 2,684,205 | | | 2,746,823 |
(Loss)/profit for the year | | | (5,923) | | | 52,325 |
Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year | | | (5,923) | | | 52,325 |
- | Allkem Ltd; |
- | Galaxy Resources Pty Ltd; and |
- | Galaxy Lithium Australia Pty Ltd; |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Revenue | | | 615,589 | | | 451,931 |
Cost of sales | | | (46,983) | | | (74,077) |
Gross profit | | | 568,606 | | | 377,854 |
Other income | | | 7,087 | | | 1,824 |
Corporate and administrative expenses | | | (32,844) | | | (20,066) |
Merger and acquisition costs | | | (9,514) | | | (12,760) |
Selling expenses | | | (52,549) | | | (41,640) |
Depreciation and amortisation expense | | | (78,085) | | | (28,558) |
Foreign currency gain | | | 22,191 | | | 18,884 |
Asset impairment and write down | | | (18,515) | | | — |
Profit before interest and income tax | | | 406,377 | | | 295,538 |
Finance income | | | 49,535 | | | 18,036 |
Finance costs | | | 1,102 | | | (1,390) |
Profit before income tax | | | 457,014 | | | 312,184 |
Income tax expense | | | (116,866) | | | (17,989) |
Profit for the year | | | 340,148 | | | 294,195 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Current assets | | | | | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 638,175 | | | 562,504 |
Trade and other receivables | | | 114,216 | | | 100,532 |
Inventory | | | 41,951 | | | 13,113 |
Prepayments | | | 1,583 | | | 834 |
Total current assets | | | 795,925 | | | 676,983 |
Non-current assets | | | | | ||
Other receivables | | | 306,027 | | | 299,846 |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 90,951 | | | 81,751 |
Financial assets | | | 5,000 | | | — |
Intangible assets | | | 168 | | | 252 |
Exploration and evaluation assets | | | 8,906 | | | 3,065 |
Net deferred tax assets | | | 3,078 | | | 25,217 |
Investments at fair value through other comprehensive income | | | 3,474 | | | 4,048 |
Investment in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures | | | 1,956,161 | | | 2,002,326 |
Other | | | 2,670 | | | 3,841 |
Total non-current assets | | | 2,376,435 | | | 2,420,346 |
Total assets | | | 3,172,360 | | | 3,097,329 |
Current liabilities | | | | | ||
Trade and other payables | | | 42,405 | | | 41,180 |
Provisions | | | 2,326 | | | 1,896 |
Income tax payable | | | 73,405 | | | 40,672 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Lease liabilities | | | 9,651 | | | 7,317 |
Total current liabilities | | | 127,787 | | | 91,065 |
Non-current liabilities | | | | | ||
Other payables | | | — | | | 1,670 |
Loans and borrowings | | | — | | | 723 |
Provisions | | | 12,069 | | | 13,357 |
Lease liabilities | | | 2,227 | | | 1,820 |
Total non-current liabilities | | | 14,296 | | | 17,570 |
Total liabilities | | | 142,083 | | | 108,635 |
Net assets | | | 3,030,277 | | | 2,988,694 |
| | | | |||
Equity | | | | | ||
Issued capital | | | 2,663,213 | | | 2,665,524 |
Reserves | | | (37,183) | | | (43,978) |
Retained earnings | | | 404,247 | | | 367,148 |
Total equity | | | 3,030,277 | | | 2,988,694 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Profit/(loss) after income tax | | | 521,297 | | | 337,223 | | | (89,474) |
| | | | | | ||||
Adjustments for: | | | | | | | |||
Non-cash employee benefits expense | | | 10,768 | | | 5,427 | | | 1,902 |
Depreciation and amortisation | | | 98,786 | | | 63,344 | | | 18,759 |
Impairment loss | | | — | | | 244 | | | 912 |
Foreign currency translation reserve transferred to profit | | | 5,749 | | | — | | | — |
Gain on disposal of assets | | | — | | | — | | | (2,450) |
Gain on financial instruments | | | (66,023) | | | (32,033) | | | (2,711) |
Share of net losses of associates | | | 2,114 | | | 2,951 | | | 1,682 |
Unwinding of discount on rehabilitation provision | | | 1,244 | | | 32 | | | 368 |
FX loss from equity raise | | | — | | | — | | | 700 |
Non-cash finance costs | | | — | | | — | | | 4,719 |
Unrealised foreign exchange | | | 58,476 | | | 5,038 | | | 4,781 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:i) | | | | | | | |||
(Increase) in receivables | | | (44,425) | | | (46,254) | | | (7,136) |
(Increase)/decrease in inventory | | | (74,802) | | | 7,965 | | | (24,430) |
(Increase)/decrease in prepayments | | | (20,587) | | | (5,955) | | | 3,978 |
(Increase)/decrease in payables | | | 39,798 | | | (2,403) | | | 5,016 |
Increase in net deferred tax liabilities | | | 85,889 | | | 48,898 | | | 67,940 |
Increase in income tax payable | | | 131,482 | | | 44,692 | | | — |
(Decrease) in provisions | | | (3,209) | | | (5,806) | | | (2,966) |
Increase in other liabilities | | | 44,353 | | | 18,247 | | | — |
| | | | | | ||||
Net cash provided by /(used in) operating activities | | | 790,910 | | | 441,610 | | | (18,410) |
i) | Net of assets acquired as part of business combination |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$ | | | US$ | | | US$ | |
Audit and review of financial statements | | | | | | | |||
- Australia | | | 287,505 | | | 323,581 | | | 187,986 |
- Argentina | | | 148,405 | | | 177,500 | | | 121,832 |
Other audit services | | | | | | | |||
- Australia | | | 368,647 | | | — | | | — |
Total auditors’ remuneration | | | 804,557 | | | 501,081 | | | 309,818 |
Corporate and administrative expenses | | | 435,910 | | | 446,033 | | | 242,720 |
Acquisition and merger costs | | | 368,647 | | | — | | | — |
Discontinued operations | | | — | | | 55,048 | | | 67,098 |
Total auditors’ remuneration | | | 804,557 | | | 501,081 | | | 309,818 |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | ||
Transactions impacting the statement of profit or loss | | | Note | | | US$ | | | US$ | | | US$ |
Sales to a related party | | | 1 | | | 592,211,349 | | | 292,757,620 | | | 66,370,456 |
Interest expense to a related party (gross of any capitalisation) | | | 3f | | | (8,387,484) | | | (5,009,465) | | | (4,357,875) |
| | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | ||
Transactions impacting the statement of financial position: | | | Note | | | US$ | | | US$ |
Trade and other receivables from a related party | | | | | | | |||
Trade receivables - current | | | 7 | | | 36,716,013 | | | 39,078,658 |
Other receivables - current | | | 7 | | | — | | | 13,869,439 |
Receivables - non-currenti) | | | 7 | | | 31,934,000 | | | 16,462,784 |
Loans payable to a related party | | | | | | | |||
Current | | | 17 | | | 5,137,222 | | | — |
Non-current | | | 17 | | | 78,915,783 | | | 84,776,481 |
Interest payable to a related party | | | | | | | |||
Current | | | 14 | | | 4,392,192 | | | — |
Non-current | | | 14 | | | 16,658,291 | | | 17,495,483 |
i) | Non-current receivable from associate is denominated in Japanese Yen. |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | US$ | | | US$ | | | US$ | |
Short-term employee benefits | | | 2,481,676 | | | 2,544,973 | | | 1,367,716 |
Post-employment benefits | | | 18,928 | | | 20,246 | | | 18,343 |
Other long-term benefits | | | 9,205 | | | 22,903 | | | 6,094 |
Share-based payments | | | 2,106,185 | | | 1,446,613 | | | 513,484 |
Total compensation | | | 4,615,994 | | | 4,034,735 | | | 1,905,637 |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | US$’000 | | | US$’000 | |
Not later than 1 year | | | | | ||
Exploration commitmentsi) | | | 10,657 | | | 1,124 |
Contracts – Property plant and equipmentii) | | | 179,194 | | | 114,919 |
Contracts – Operatingii) | | | 19,059 | | | 7,104 |
Total | | | 208,909 | | | 123,148 |
Later than 1 year but not later than 5 years | | | | | ||
Exploration commitmentsi) | | | 9,449 | | | 4,762 |
Contracts – Property plant and equipment | | | 51,187 | | | — |
Contracts - Operatingii) | | | 33,302 | | | 3,832 |
Total | | | 93,938 | | | 8,594 |
i) | The Group must meet minimum expenditure commitments in relation to option agreements over exploration tenements and to maintain those tenements in good standing. The commitments exist at balance sheet date but have not been brought to account. If the relevant mineral tenement is relinquished the expenditure commitment also ceases. |
ii) | The Group has contractual commitments regarding purchase agreements for construction and equipment at its operations and development sites. |
iii) | The Group has contractual commitments regarding purchase agreements for consumables and energy at its operations. |
- | When the GST/VAT incurred on a sale or a purchase of assets or services is not payable to or recoverable from the taxation authority, in which case the GST/VAT is recognised as part of the revenue or the expense item or as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset, as applicable, and |
- | When receivables and payables are stated with the amount of GST/VAT included. |
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Exhibit A | | | Conditions to the Scheme | | | |
Exhibit B | | | Required Governmental Consents | | | |
Exhibit C | | | Form of Deed Poll | | | |
Exhibit D | | | Form of Scheme of Arrangement | | | |
Exhibit E | | | Forms of Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of New Topco | | | |
Exhibit F | | | Form of Joinder Agreement | | |
| | Allkem Limited | ||||
| | Level 35, 71 Eagle St | ||||
| | Brisbane, Queensland 4000 | ||||
| | Attention: | | | Rick Anthon, Corporate Development | |
| | | | John Sanders, Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary | ||
| | Email: | | | rick.anthon@allkem.co | |
| | | | john.sanders@allkem.co | ||
| | | | |||
| | with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||||
| | | | |||
| | Sidley Austin LLP | ||||
| | One South Dearborn | ||||
| | Chicago, Illinois 60603 | ||||
| | United States of America | ||||
| | Attention: | | | Brian J. Fahrney | |
| | | | Joseph P. Michaels | ||
| | Email: | | | bfahrney@sidley.com | |
| | | | joseph.michaels@sidley.com | ||
| | | | |||
| | King & Wood Mallesons | ||||
| | Level 30, QVI Building, 250 St Georges Terrace | ||||
| | Perth, Western Australia 6000 | ||||
| | Attention: | | | Antonella Pacitti | |
| | Email: | | | Antonella.Pacitti@au.kwm.com | |
| | | | |||
| | if to Lion or a New Topco Party, to: | ||||
| | | | |||
| | Livent Corporation | ||||
| | c/o Livent Corporation | ||||
| | 1818 Market Street, Suite 2550 | ||||
| | Philadelphia, PA 19103 | ||||
| | United States of America | ||||
| | Attention: | | | Gilberto Antoniazzi; | |
| | | | General Counsel | ||
| | Email: | | | gilberto.antoniazzi@livent.com; | |
| | | | sara.ponessa@livent.com | ||
| | | |
| | with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||||
| | | | |||
| | Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | ||||
| | 450 Lexington Avenue | ||||
| | New York, NY 10017 | ||||
| | United States of America | ||||
| | Attention: | | | William H. Aaronson; | |
| | | | Cheryl Chan | ||
| | Email: | | | william.aaronson@davispolk.com; | |
| | | | cheryl.chan@davispolk.com | ||
| | | | |||
| | Allens | ||||
| | Level 28, 126 Philip St | ||||
| | Sydney, NSW 2000 | ||||
| | Australia | ||||
| | Attention: | | | Guy Alexander | |
| | Email: | | | Guy.Alexander@allens.com.au | |
| | | | |||
| | if to Lion or a New Topco Party, to: | ||||
| | | | |||
| | Lightning-A Limited | ||||
| | Percy Exchange, 8-34 Percy Place, | ||||
| | Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 | ||||
| | Attn: Juan Carlos Cruz Chellew | ||||
| | Attention: | | | Gilberto Antoniazzi; | |
| | | | General Counsel | ||
| | Email: | | | gilberto.antoniazzi@livent.com; | |
| | | | sara.ponessa@livent.com | ||
| | | | |||
| | with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||||
| | | | |||
| | Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | ||||
| | 450 Lexington Avenue | ||||
| | New York, NY 10017 | ||||
| | United States of America | ||||
| | Attention: | | | William H. Aaronson; | |
| | | | Cheryl Chan | ||
| | Email: | | | william.aaronson@davispolk.com; | |
| | | | cheryl.chan@davispolk.com | ||
| | Allens | ||||
| | Level 28, 126 Philip St | ||||
| | Sydney, NSW 2000 | ||||
| | Australia | ||||
| | Attention: | | | Guy Alexander | |
| | Email: | | | Guy.Alexander@allens.com.au |
Defined Term | | | Location |
“Agreement” | | | Preamble |
“Anaconda” | | | Preamble |
“Anaconda ASIC Documents” | | | Section 4.4(a) |
“Anaconda Canadian Securities Commissions Documents” | | | Section 4.12(a)(ii) |
“Anaconda Board of Directors” | | | Recitals, Section 5.4(i) |
“Anaconda Board Recommendation” | | | Recitals |
“Anaconda Capitalization Date” | | | Section 4.2(a) |
“Anaconda Change of Recommendation” | | | Section 5.4(d)(vi) |
“Anaconda Disclosure Documents” | | | Section 4.12(a)(ii) |
“Anaconda Disclosure Letter” | | | Article IV |
“Anaconda Governing Documents” | | | Section 4.1 |
“Anaconda Indemnified Parties” | | | Section 6.4 |
“Anaconda Leased Real Property” | | | Section 4.15(b) |
“Anaconda Material Contracts” | | | Section 4.17(a) |
“Anaconda Nominees” | | | Section 6.10(a)(ii) |
“Anaconda Owned Real Property” | | | Section 4.15(a) |
“Anaconda Permits” | | | Section 4.7(b) |
“Anaconda Permitted Lien” | | | Section 4.15(a) |
“Anaconda Related Parties” | | | Section 8.2(e)(ii) |
“Anaconda Representative” | | | Section 5.1(a) |
“Anaconda Shares” | | | Recitals |
Defined Term | | | Location |
“Anaconda Termination Fee” | | | Section 8.2(c) |
“Applicable Date” | | | Section 3.4(a) |
“Audit Committee” | | | Section 6.10(a)(vii) |
“CDI” | | | Recitals |
“Certificate of Merger” | | | Section 2.4 |
“Code” | | | Recitals |
“Commissioner” | | | Recitals |
“Compensation Committee” | | | Section 6.10(a)(vii) |
“Continuation Period” | | | Section 6.6(a) |
“Continuing Employees” | | | Section 6.6(b) |
“D&O Insurance” | | | Section 6.4(c) |
“Damages” | | | Section 8.2(e)(i) |
“Delaware Code” | | | Section 2.2 |
“DTC” | | | Section 2.8(b) |
“Duties Act” | | | Recitals |
“Effective Time” | | | Section 2.4 |
“Enforceability Exceptions” | | | Section 3.3(a) |
“Excess Offer Shares” | | | Section 2.8(h) |
“Exchange Agent” | | | Section 2.1 |
“Exchange Fund” | | | Section 2.8(a) |
“FATA” | | | Exhibit A |
“Form S-4” | | | Section 5.5(a)(i) |
“Fractional Share Consideration” | | | Section 2.8(h) |
“Indemnified Parties” | | | Section 6.4 |
“Independent Expert Event” | | | Section 5.4(e)(iv) |
“Intended Tax Treatment” | | | Recitals |
“Irish IntermediateCo” | | | Recitals |
“Joinder Agreements” | | | Recitals |
“Labor Organization” | | | Section 3.13(b) |
“Letter of Transmittal” | | | Section 2.8(b) |
“Lion” | | | Preamble |
“Lion Assumed Option” | | | Section 2.9(c) |
“Lion Assumed RSU” | | | Section 2.9(a)(i) |
“Lion Board of Directors” | | | Recitals, Section 5.3(i) |
“Lion Board Recommendation” | | | Recitals |
“Lion Capitalization Date” | | | Section 3.2(a) |
“Lion Cancelled Director RSUs” | | | Section 2.9(d) |
“Lion Cancelled RSUs” | | | Section 2.9(a)(ii) |
“Lion Change of Recommendation” | | | Section 5.3(d)(vi) |
“Lion Director RSU” | | | Section 2.9(d) |
“Lion Disclosure Letter” | | | Article III |
“Lion Eligible Shares” | | | Section 2.7(a) |
“Lion Excluded Shares” | | | Section 2.7(a) |
“Lion Filings” | | | Section 3.4(a) |
“Lion Governing Documents” | | | Section 3.1 |
“Lion Indemnified Parties” | | | Section 6.4 |
“Lion Leased Real Property” | | | Section 3.15(b) |
“Lion Material Contracts” | | | Section 3.18(a) |
“Lion Nominees” | | | Section 6.10(a)(ii) |
“Lion Option” | | | Section 2.9(c) |
Defined Term | | | Location |
“Lion Owned Real Property” | | | Section 3.15(a) |
“Lion Permits” | | | Section 3.7(b) |
“Lion Permitted Lien” | | | Section 3.15(a) |
“Lion Preferred Stock” | | | Section 3.2(a) |
“Lion PSU” | | | Section 2.9(b) |
“Lion Related Parties” | | | Section 8.2(e)(i) |
“Lion Representative” | | | Section 5.2(a) |
“Lion RSU” | | | Section 2.9(a)(i) |
“Lion Shares” | | | Recitals |
“Lion Termination Fee” | | | Section 8.2(b) |
“Merger” | | | Recitals |
“Merger Closing” | | | Section 2.3 |
“Merger Consideration” | | | Section 2.7(a) |
“Merger Exchange Ratio” | | | Recitals |
“Merger Sub Stockholder Approval” | | | Section 3.3(a)(iii) |
“New Topco” | | | Preamble |
“New Topco Board” | | | Recitals |
“New Topco Capital Increase” | | | Section 6.10(b) |
“New Topco Share” | | | Recitals |
“New Plans” | | | Section 6.6(b) |
“Nominating Committee” | | | Section 6.10(a)(vii) |
“Outstanding Performance Rights” | | | Section 1.5(a) |
“Parties” | | | Preamble |
“Party” | | | Preamble |
“Payment” | | | Section 8.2(d) |
“Payor” | | | Section 8.2(d) |
“Proceedings” | | | Section 3.11 |
“Proxy Statement” | | | Section 5.5(a)(i) |
“Recipient” | | | Section 8.2(d) |
“Replacement Awards” | | | Section 1.5(c) |
“Restriction” | | | Section 6.2(b)(i) |
“Sale Nominee” | | | Section 1.4(a) |
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” | | | Section 3.5 |
“Scheme Consideration” | | | Recitals |
“Subdivision 14-D” | | | Section 2.10 |
“Surviving Corporation” | | | Section 2.2 |
“Sustainability Committee” | | | Section 6.10(a)(vii) |
“Transaction Litigation” | | | Section 6.8 |
“Transactions” | | | Recitals |
“Treasurer” | | | Exhibit A |
“Unvested Performance Rights” | | | Section 1.5(a)(i) |
“U.S. Merger Sub” | | | Preamble |
“VAT Amount” | | | Section 9.4 |
| | ALLKEM LIMITED | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | /s/ Martín Pérez de Solay | |
| | Name: | | | Martín Pérez de Solay | |
| | Title: | | | Chief Executive Officer |
| | LIGHTNING-A LIMITED | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | /s/ Juan Carlos Cruz Chellew | |
| | Name: | | | Juan Carlos Cruz Chellew | |
| | Title: | | | Director |
| | LIVENT CORPORATION | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | /s/ Paul Graves | |
| | Name: | | | Paul Graves | |
| | Title: | | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
1. | Subject to paragraph 4 of this Exhibit A, the Parties’ obligations with respect to the Scheme Implementation do not become binding unless and until satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver by each of Anaconda and Lion on or before the Sanction Date of the following conditions: |
(a) | as at 8:00 a.m. AWST on the Sanction Date, each of the conditions set out in this Exhibit A (other than the conditions in paragraph 1(b) and paragraph 1(c) of this Exhibit A) has been satisfied or waived (where permitted); |
(b) | the approval by the Court (or any court of competent jurisdiction on appeal therefrom) (without material modification) of the Scheme pursuant to Section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Act; |
(c) | the lodging by Anaconda of an office copy of the Court approving the Scheme under Section 411(4)(b) of the Australian Act; |
(d) | the Merger Closing shall be capable of occurring, and would reasonably be expected to occur, as promptly as practicable following the Scheme Implementation in accordance with the Steps Plan; |
(e) | the Anaconda Shareholder Approval being duly obtained at the Scheme Meeting (or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken); |
(f) | the Lion Stockholder Approval being duly obtained at the Lion Special Meeting (or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, in each case at which a vote on such approval was taken); |
(g) | (i) the NYSE having approved the listing of the New Topco Shares to be issued to the holders of Lion Shares and the New Topco Shares, including New Topco Shares underlying the CDIs, to be issued to holders of Anaconda Shares pursuant to the Scheme and the Merger, subject to official notice of issuance, and (ii) ASX having provided approval for the admission of New Topco as a foreign exempt listing to the official list of ASX and the approval for official quotation of the CDIs, whether or not such approval is subject to conditions; |
(h) | all applicable Governmental Consents under the respective Antitrust Laws and the Investment Screening Laws of the jurisdictions set forth in Exhibit B on any terms described therein (as the same may be amended with the written consent of Anaconda and Lion) with respect to the Scheme and the Merger shall have been obtained or made (as applicable) and remain in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods (including any extensions by agreement or operation of law) applicable to the Scheme and the Merger with respect thereto shall have expired, lapsed or been terminated (as applicable); |
(i) | the Form S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order (which has not been withdrawn) or Proceedings initiated by the SEC seeking any stop order; |
(j) | (i) no Governmental Entity of a competent jurisdiction shall have issued any Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the Merger or the Scheme and (ii) no Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any Party shall have adopted any Law that is in effect and makes consummation of the Merger or the Scheme illegal or otherwise prohibited (it being understood that if any such Law arises out of or relates to Antitrust Laws or Investment Screening Laws, the presence of such Law will only be a failure to meet a condition under this paragraph 1(j) of this Exhibit A to the extent it would constitute a Material Restraint); |
(k) | as at 8:00 a.m. AWST on the Sanction Date, neither the Agreement nor the Deed Poll having been terminated in accordance with its terms. |
2. | Subject to paragraph 5 of this Exhibit A, Anaconda’s obligations with respect to the Scheme Implementation will also be conditional upon the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver by Anaconda on or before the Sanction Date of the following conditions: |
(a) | (i) the representations and warranties of Lion set forth in Section 3.2(a), Section 3.2(b), Section 3.2(c), Section 3.2(f), Section 3.2(g) and Section 3.2(h) (in the case of Section 3.2(f), Section 3.2(g) and Section 3.2(h), only as applied to Lion and not Lion Subsidiaries) shall be true and correct, subject only to de minimis inaccuracies, (A) on the date of this Agreement and (B) at the Sanction Date as though made |
(b) | Each of Lion and the New Topco Parties shall have in all material respects performed the obligations and complied with the covenants required by the Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Sanction Date; |
(c) | Lion shall have delivered to Anaconda a certificate, dated as of the Sanction Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Lion, certifying on behalf of Lion to the effect that the conditions set forth in paragraphs 2(a) and 2(b) of this Exhibit A have been satisfied; |
(d) | there shall not have been any Lion Material Adverse Effect; |
(e) | the Independent Expert shall have issued the IER, which concludes that the Scheme is in the best interest of Anaconda Shareholders and the Independent Expert does not change, withdraw or qualify its conclusion in any written update to its IER or withdraw the IER; and |
(f) | Anaconda shall have received confirmation (verbal or otherwise) from the ATO that either (1) there are no material impediments to or material issues to be resolved which may prevent the ATO from issuing the ATO Class Ruling or (2) the ATO is prepared to issue the ATO Class Ruling, in a form and substance satisfactory to Anaconda (acting reasonably), confirming that qualifying Australian resident Anaconda Shareholders will be eligible to choose rollover relief to the extent to which they receive New Topco Shares or CDIs in exchange for their Anaconda Shares in connection with the Scheme. For the avoidance of doubt, should an ATO Class Ruling not be available for all qualifying Australian resident Anaconda Shareholders, an ATO Class Ruling that includes (or would include, when issued) a confirmation that qualifying Australian resident shareholders who hold their shares on capital account are eligible to claim rollover relief will be acceptable to Anaconda. |
3. | Subject to paragraph 6 of this Exhibit A, Lion’s and New Topco’s obligations with respect to the Scheme Implementation will also be conditional upon the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver by Lion on or before the Sanction Date of the following conditions: |
(a) | (i) the representations and warranties of Anaconda set forth in Section 4.2(a), Section 4.2(c), Section 4.2(d) and Section 4.2(e) (in the case of Section 4.2(c), Section 4.2(d) and Section 4.2(e), only as applied to Anaconda and not Anaconda Subsidiaries) shall be true and correct, subject only to de minimis inaccuracies, (A) on the date of this Agreement and (B) at the Sanction Date as though made on the Sanction Date (in each case except to the extent that any such representation and warranty speaks as of a particular date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct as of such date); (ii) the representations and warranties of Anaconda set forth in (x) Section 4.10(a) shall be true and correct in all respects and (y) the first sentence of Section 4.1, Section 4.2(b), Section 4.2(c), Section 4.2(d), Section 4.2(e), Section 4.2(f), Section 4.3(a), Section 4.16 and Section 4.19 (in the case of Section 4.2(c), |
(b) | Anaconda shall have in all material respects performed the obligations and complied with the covenants required by the Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Sanction Date; |
(c) | Anaconda shall have delivered to Lion a certificate, dated as of the Sanction Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Anaconda, certifying on behalf of Anaconda to the effect that the conditions set forth in paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) of this Exhibit A have been satisfied; |
(d) | there shall not have been any Anaconda Material Adverse Effect; and |
(e) | Lion shall have sought and received an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, or, if Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is unable or unwilling to provide such opinion, Sidley Austin LLP (whichever such firm delivers such opinion, “Company Tax Counsel”), dated as of the Sanction Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lion, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion and as of the date thereof, (i) either (A) the Merger should qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code or (B) the Merger and the Scheme, taken together, should qualify as an exchange described in Section 351(a) of the Code, and (ii) the transfer of Lion Eligible Shares by Lion Stockholders pursuant to the Merger (other than by any Lion Stockholder who is a U.S. person and would be a “five-percent transferee shareholder” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(ii)) of New Topco following the Merger that does not enter into a five-year gain recognition agreement in the form provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8(c)) should qualify for an exception to Section 367(a)(1) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Company Tax Counsel may rely on the tax representation letters provided for in Section 6.13(c), and such other information provided to it by Lion, New Topco and/or Anaconda for purposes of rendering such opinion. |
4. | Anaconda and Lion reserve the right (but shall be under no obligation) to waive (to the extent permitted by applicable Law), in whole or in part, all or any of the conditions in paragraph 1 of this Exhibit A (provided that each Party agrees to any such waiver). |
5. | Anaconda reserves the right (but shall be under no obligation) to waive, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, all or any of the conditions in paragraph 2. |
6. | Lion reserves the right (but shall be under no obligation) to waive, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, all or any of the conditions in paragraph 3. |
1. | Australia, pursuant to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) |
2. | Canada, pursuant to the Competition Act 1985 |
3. | China, pursuant to the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China |
4. | Japan, pursuant to the Act on Prohibition of Private Monopolization and Maintenance of Fair Trade (Law No. 54 of 1947) |
5. | South Korea, pursuant to the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act |
6. | U.S., pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 |
1. | Australia, pursuant to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) (“FATA”), on the following terms: |
a. | New Topco has received written notice under the FATA, by or on behalf of the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia (“Treasurer”), advising that (or to the effect that) the Commonwealth Government of Australia has no objections to the Scheme, and where it would be a notifiable action or a notifiable national security action under the FATA, the Merger, either unconditionally or subject only to (A) “standard” tax conditions which are in the form, or substantially in the form, of those set out in Part D of the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board’s Guidance Note 12 “Tax Conditions” (in the form last updated on 9 July 2021) and (B) any conditions or undertakings that are acceptable to Anaconda, Lion and New Topco, each acting reasonably; or |
b. | following the giving of notice of the Transactions under the FATA, the Treasurer becomes precluded by passage of time from making an order or decision under Division 2 of Part 3 of the FATA in respect of the Scheme, where it would be or involve a notifiable action or a notifiable national security action under the FATA, the Merger, and the 10 day period referred to in section 82(2)(a) of the FATA has ended or the period referred to in section 82(2)(b) of the FATA has ended (whichever is applicable). |
2. | UK, pursuant to the National Security and Investment Act 2022 |
3. | U.S., consisting of the CFIUS Approval |
1. | Any jurisdiction if and to the extent an Antitrust Law or Investment Screening Law thereof enters into force after the date of the Agreement and prior to the Sanction Date which requires a Governmental Consent with respect to the Scheme or the Merger, provided that the violation or contravention of such Antitrust Law or Investment Screening Law would reasonably be expected to result in a material and adverse effect on New Topco and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on an ongoing basis following the Effective Time. |
2. | Any jurisdiction if and to the extent a Governmental Entity thereof exercises authority pursuant to an Antitrust Law or Investment Screening Law to require any Party to seek or obtain a Governmental Consent therefrom prior to the Sanction Date, provided that the violation or contravention of such requirement would reasonably be expected to result in a material and adverse effect on New Topco and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on an ongoing basis following the Effective Time. |
(A) | On or about 10 May 2023, Allkem, Livent and New TopCo entered into a transaction agreement with respect to (among other things) the Scheme and associated matters (Transaction Agreement). |
(B) | Under the Transaction Agreement: |
(1) | Allkem has agreed to propose the Scheme, pursuant to which (among other things): |
(i) | New TopCo will provide to each Eligible Shareholder the Scheme Consideration in respect of each of their Scheme Shares; and |
(ii) | the Eligible Shareholders will transfer to New TopCo, and New TopCo will acquire, all of the Scheme Shares; and |
(2) | New TopCo has agreed to (among other things) enter into this Deed Poll. |
(C) | New TopCo is executing this Deed Poll to covenant in favour of the Eligible Shareholders and the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders to perform its obligations under the Scheme. |
1 | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
(a) | an administrator being appointed to the person; |
(b) | any of the following occurring: |
(i) | a controller or analogous person being appointed to the person or any of the person’s property; |
(ii) | an application being made to a court for an order to appoint a controller, provisional liquidator, trustee for creditors or in bankruptcy or analogous person to the person or any of the person’s property, other than where the application is stayed, withdrawn, dismissed or set aside within 14 days; or |
(iii) | an appointment of the kind referred to in subparagraph (ii) being made (whether or not following a resolution or application); |
(c) | the person being taken under section 459F(1) of the Corporations Act to have failed to comply with a statutory demand; |
(d) | an application being made to a court for an order for its winding up which is not set aside within 14 days; |
(e) | an order being made, or the person passing a resolution, for its winding up; |
(f) | the person: |
(i) | suspending payment of its debts, ceasing (or threatening to cease) to carry on all or a material part of its business, stating that it is unable to pay its debts or being or becoming otherwise insolvent; or |
(ii) | being unable to pay its debts or otherwise insolvent; |
(g) | the person entering into a compromise or arrangement with, or assignment for the benefit of, its members or creditors generally; |
(h) | a court or other authority enforcing any judgment or order against the person for the payment of money or the recovery of any property; or |
(i) | any analogous event under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, |
1.2 | Rules for interpreting this Deed Poll |
2 | NATURE OF THIS DEED POLL |
(a) | This Deed Poll may be relied on and enforced by any Scheme Shareholder and by the Sale Nominee in accordance with its terms even though the Scheme Shareholders and the Sale Nominee are not party to it; and |
(b) | Under the Scheme, each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee each irrevocably appoints Allkem and each of its directors and officers, jointly and severally, as its agent and attorney to enforce this Deed Poll against New TopCo. |
3 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT AND TERMINATION |
3.1 | Conditions precedent |
3.2 | Termination |
(a) | Unless New TopCo and Allkem otherwise agree in writing (and, if required, as approved by the Court), New TopCo’s obligations under this Deed Poll will automatically terminate, and the terms of this Deed Poll will be of no further force or effect, if the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms. |
(b) | If this Deed Poll is terminated pursuant to clause 3.2(a): |
(i) | New TopCo is released from its obligations under this Deed Poll; and |
(ii) | each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee retains any rights, powers or remedies it has against New TopCo in respect of any breach of this Deed Poll that occurred before it was terminated. |
4 | SCHEME OBLIGATIONS |
4.1 | Undertaking to provide Scheme Consideration |
(a) | provide the Scheme Consideration to each Eligible Shareholder on the Scheme Implementation Date; and |
(b) | undertake and perform all other actions and obligations, and give each covenant, attributed to it or otherwise contemplated of it under the Scheme, as if named as a party to the Scheme, |
4.2 | Consideration Shares to rank equally |
(a) | be duly issued and fully paid; |
(b) | be free from any Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind; and |
(c) | rank equally in all respects, including for future dividends, with all existing New TopCo Shares then on issue. |
5 | PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS GENERALLY |
5.1 | Performance of the Scheme |
6 | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
(a) | (status) it is a validly existing corporation in accordance with the laws of its place of incorporation and remains in good standing thereunder; |
(b) | (power) it has full legal capacity and power to enter into this Deed Poll and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Deed Poll; |
(c) | (corporate authority) it has taken all corporate action that is necessary to authorise it to enter into this Deed Poll and it has taken or will take all corporate action that is necessary to authorise it to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Deed Poll; |
(d) | (Deed Poll effective) this Deed Poll constitutes valid and binding obligations on it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; |
(e) | (no contravention) the entry by it into, its compliance with its obligations and the exercise of its rights under, this Deed Poll do not and will not conflict with: |
(i) | its constituent documents or cause a limitation on its powers or the powers of its directors to be exceeded; or |
(ii) | any law binding on or applicable to it or its assets, |
(f) | (no Insolvency Event) it is not affected by an Insolvency Event. |
7 | CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS |
(a) | New TopCo having fully performed its obligations under this Deed Poll; and |
(b) | termination of this Deed Poll pursuant to clause 3.2. |
8 | NOTICES |
8.1 | How to give a notice |
(a) | in writing, legible and in English, signed by or on behalf of the person giving it; |
(b) | addressed to the person to whom it is to be given; and |
(c) | either: |
(i) | delivered or sent by pre-paid mail (by airmail, if the addressee is overseas) to that person’s address; or |
(ii) | sent in electronic form (such as email). |
8.2 | When a notice is given |
(a) | if sent by mail: |
(i) | within Australia – three Business Days after posting; or |
(ii) | to or from a place outside Australia – seven Business Days after posting; |
(b) | if sent in electronic form: |
(i) | if it is transmitted by 5.00 pm on a Business Day – when sent; or |
(ii) | if it is transmitted after 5.00 pm on a Business Day, or at any time on a day that is not a Business Day – on the next Business Day, |
8.3 | Address for notices |
Address: | | | Percy Exchange, 8-34 Percy Place, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 |
Email: | | | [•] |
Attention: | | | Attention: The Secretary |
Copy to: | | | Guy Alexander, Allens at Guy.Alexander@allens.com.au William H. Aaronson, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at william.aaronson@davispolk.com Cheryl Chan, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at cheryl.chan@davispolk.com |
9 | GENERAL |
9.1 | Amendment |
(a) | before the Second Court Date, the amendment or variation is agreed to in writing by Allkem (on behalf of each Scheme Shareholder but without the need for Allkem to refer the amendment or variation to any Scheme Shareholder) and, if required, is approved by the Court; or |
(b) | on or after the Second Court Date, the amendment or variation is agreed to in writing by Allkem (on behalf of each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee but without the need for Allkem to refer the amendment or variation to any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee) and is approved by the Court, |
9.2 | Assignment |
(a) | The rights created by this Deed Poll are personal to New TopCo, each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee and, except with the prior written consent of Allkem and New TopCo, cannot and must not be assigned, encumbered, charged or otherwise dealt with at law or in equity by a Scheme Shareholder or by the Sale Nominee. |
(b) | Any purported dealing in contravention of clause 9.2(a) is invalid. |
9.3 | Waiver of rights |
(a) | no other conduct of a party (including a failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, the right) operates as a waiver of the right or otherwise prevents the exercise of that right; |
(b) | a waiver of a right on one or more occasions does not operate as a waiver of that right if it arises again; and |
(c) | the exercise, or partial exercise, of a right does not prevent any further exercise of that right or of any other right. |
9.4 | Operation of this Deed Poll |
(a) | The rights, powers and remedies of New TopCo, the Scheme Shareholders and the Sale Nominee under this Deed Poll are in addition to, and do not replace, exclude or limit, any other rights, powers or remedies provided by law independently of this Deed Poll. |
(b) | Any provision of this Deed Poll that is void, illegal or unenforceable: |
(i) | in a particular jurisdiction does not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of that provision in any other jurisdiction or of the remaining provisions of this Deed Poll in that or any other jurisdiction; and |
(ii) | is, where possible, to be severed to the extent necessary to make this Deed Poll valid, legal or enforceable, unless this would materially change the intended effect of this Deed Poll. |
9.5 | Duty |
(a) | pay all stamp duty payable or assessed as being payable in connection with this Deed Poll, the Scheme, or the transfer by the Eligible Shareholders of the Scheme Shares pursuant to the Scheme (including any fees, fines, penalties and interest in connection with any of these amounts); and |
(b) | indemnify each Eligible Shareholder against any liability arising from any failure by New TopCo to comply with clause 9.5(a). |
9.6 | Consent |
9.7 | Further acts |
9.8 | Governing law |
(a) | This Deed Poll and any dispute arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Deed Poll is governed by the laws of Western Australia. |
(b) | New TopCo irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia (Western Australian registry) and of the courts competent to determine appeals from that court with respect to any proceedings |
Signed Sealed and Delivered by New TopCo in the presence of: | | | ![]() |
| | ||
Signature of Witness | | | Signature of Authorised Signatory |
| | ||
Name of Witness | | | Name of Authorised Signatory |
(1) | Allkem Limited (ACN 112 589 910) whose registered office is at Level 35, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 (Allkem); |
(2) | Eligible Shareholders; and |
(3) | Ineligible Overseas Shareholders. |
(A) | Allkem is a public company limited by shares incorporated in Australia. It has its registered office at registered office is at Level 35, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. Allkem is admitted to the official list of ASX and Allkem Shares are quoted on the securities exchange operated by ASX and the TSX. |
(C) | Livent Corporation (Livent) is a public corporation incorporated in Delaware, in the United States of America. It has its principal executive office at [•]. Livent stock is listed on NYSE. |
(D) | New TopCo (New TopCo) is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey. It has its registered address at [•]. |
(E) | Allkem, Livent and New TopCo entered into the Transaction Agreement on or about 10 May 2023 to facilitate (among other things) the implementation of this Scheme as part of the Transaction. |
(F) | By no later than the day that is one Business Day prior to the First Court Date, New TopCo will have executed the Deed Poll under which New TopCo will covenant in favour of the Eligible Shareholders and Ineligible Overseas Shareholders to perform the obligations attributable to it under this Scheme, including to provide the Scheme Consideration to Eligible Shareholders in accordance with the terms of this Scheme. |
(G) | If this Scheme becomes Effective: |
(a) | after the Scheme Record Date and prior to Scheme Implementation, all of the Ineligible Shares will be transferred to the Sale Nominee; and |
(b) | on the Implementation Date: |
(i) | New TopCo will provide the Scheme Consideration to Eligible Shareholders (including the Sale Nominee) in accordance with the terms of this Scheme and the Deed Poll; |
(ii) | all of the Scheme Shares, and all of the rights and entitlements attaching to them as at the Implementation Date, will be transferred to New TopCo; and |
(iii) | Allkem will enter New TopCo’s name in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of all of the Scheme Shares; and |
(c) | following the Implementation Date, the Consideration CDIs issued to the Sale Nominee on Scheme Implementation in respect of the Ineligible Shares transferred to it under paragraph (a) will be sold by the Sale Nominee, with the net proceeds of such Consideration CDIs being paid to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders on a pro-rata basis. |
1 | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
(a) | when used in relation to the Implementation Date and the Scheme Record Date, has the meaning given in the ASX Listing Rules; and |
(b) | in all other cases, means any day other than: |
(i) | a Saturday or a Sunday; or |
(ii) | a day on which banking and savings and loan institutions are authorised or required by law to be closed in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the Bailiwick of Jersey or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America. |
(a) | a Scheme Shareholder who is not an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder; and |
(b) | the Sale Nominee. |
(a) | a Security Interest; or |
(b) | an easement, restrictive covenant, caveat or similar restriction over property. |
(a) | each Allkem Share held by a Scheme Shareholder (other than an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder) as at the Scheme Record Date; and |
(b) | each Allkem Share held by an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder and transferred to the Sale Nominee after the Scheme Record Date and prior to Scheme Implementation pursuant to clause 4.4 of this Scheme. |
(a) | a security interest that is subject to the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth); |
(b) | any other mortgage, charge, pledge or lien; or |
(c) | any other interest or arrangement of any kind that in substance secures the payment of money or the performance of an obligation, or that gives a creditor priority over unsecured creditors in relation to any property. |
1.2 | Rules for interpreting this Scheme |
(a) | A reference to: |
(i) | a legislative provision or legislation (including subordinate legislation) is to that provision or legislation as amended, re-enacted or replaced, and includes any subordinate legislation issued under it; |
(ii) | a clause is to a clause of this Scheme; |
(iii) | a document (including this Scheme) or agreement, or a provision of a document (including this Scheme) or agreement, is to that document, agreement or provision as amended, supplemented, replaced or novated; |
(iv) | a group of persons is a reference to any 2 or more of them jointly and to each of them individually; |
(v) | a party to this Scheme, or to any other document or agreement, includes a permitted substitute or a permitted assign of that party; |
(vi) | a person includes any type of entity or body of persons, whether or not it is incorporated or has a separate legal identity, and any executor, administrator or successor in law of the person; and |
(vii) | any thing (including a right, amount, obligation or concept) includes each part of it. |
(b) | A singular word includes the plural, and vice versa. |
(c) | A word that suggests one gender includes the other genders. |
(d) | If a word or phrase is defined, any other grammatical form of that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. |
(e) | If an example is given of anything (including a right, obligation or concept), such as by saying it includes something else, the example does not limit the scope of that thing. |
(f) | The word officer has the same meaning as given by the Corporations Act. |
(g) | A reference to A$, $ or dollar is to Australian currency. |
(h) | A reference to time in this Scheme is a reference to Australian Western Standard Time, unless otherwise expressly specified. |
(i) | Nothing in this Scheme is to be construed adversely to a party just because that party prepared this Scheme or prepared or proposed the relevant part of this Scheme. |
1.3 | Non–Business Days |
2 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
2.1 | Conditions precedent to the Scheme |
(a) | As at 8.00 am on the Second Court Date, the conditions in Exhibit A of the Transaction Agreement (other than the conditions in paragraph 1(b) and 1(c) of Exhibit A of the Transaction Agreement) has been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement. |
(b) | Prior to 8.00 am on the Second Court Date, neither the Transaction Agreement nor the Deed Poll has been terminated in accordance with their terms. |
(c) | The order of the Court made under section 411(4)(b) of the Corporations Act (and, if applicable, section 411(6) of the Corporations Act, subject to such alterations or conditions being agreed in accordance with clause 3.3) approving this Scheme comes into effect pursuant to section 411(10) of the Corporations Act on or before either or both of the Transaction Agreement and the Deed Poll are terminated in accordance with their respective terms. |
2.2 | Certificates |
(a) | Before 8.30 am on the Second Court Date: |
(i) | Allkem must provide to the Court: |
(A) | a certificate, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within Allkem’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied |
(B) | a certificate from Livent, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within Livent’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied; and |
(ii) | New TopCo must provide to the Court a certificate, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within New TopCo’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied. |
(b) | The certificates referred to in clause 2.2(a) constitute conclusive evidence that the conditions precedent in clauses 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied. |
2.3 | Scheme Effective Date |
2.4 | When Scheme will lapse |
3 | THE SCHEME |
3.1 | Lodgement of copy of Court Order with ASIC |
(a) | as soon as possible after the date on which the Court makes the Court Orders and in accordance with the time limit set out in item 10 of Appendix 7A of the ASX Listing Rules; or |
(b) | on such other Business Day and by such other time as agreed to in writing by Livent and Allkem. |
3.2 | Transfer of Scheme Shares |
(a) | subject to New TopCo taking the steps to provide the Scheme Consideration which it is required to take on the Scheme Implementation Date under clause 4, all of the Scheme Shares, together with all rights and entitlements attaching to the Scheme Shares as at the Scheme Implementation Date, will be transferred to New TopCo without the need for any further act by any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee (other than acts performed by Allkem or its directors and officers as attorney and agent for the Scheme Shareholders and the Sale Nominee under this Scheme) by: |
(i) | Allkem delivering to New TopCo a duly completed registrable Scheme Transfer to transfer the Scheme Shares to New TopCo, which Scheme Transfer has been duly executed by Allkem (or any of its directors and officers) as the attorney and agent of each Eligible Shareholder as a transferor under clauses 6.2 and 6.4; and |
(ii) | New TopCo duly completing and executing the Scheme Transfer as transferee and delivering the Scheme Transfer to Allkem for registration; and |
(b) | immediately following receipt of the Scheme Transfer in accordance with clause 3.2(a)(ii), Allkem must: |
(i) | attend to registration of the Scheme Transfer; and |
(ii) | enter or procure the entry of the name and address of New TopCo in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of all of the Scheme Shares. |
3.3 | Alteration or condition to Scheme |
(a) | Allkem may, by its counsel, consent on behalf of all persons concerned, including each Scheme Shareholder (and, to avoid doubt, the Sale Nominee), to those alterations or conditions; and |
(b) | each Scheme Shareholder (and, to avoid doubt, the Sale Nominee) agrees to any such alterations or conditions that counsel for Allkem has consented to. |
4 | SCHEME CONSIDERATION |
4.1 | Elections by Eligible Shareholders |
(a) | Each Eligible Shareholder (other than the Sale Nominee) may become a Share Electing Shareholder by providing Allkem with a duly completed Share Election before 7.00 pm (Sydney time) on the day that is three Business Days prior to the Scheme Record Date. |
(b) | To avoid doubt, a Share Election submitted by an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder will be of no force or effect. |
4.2 | Entitlement to Scheme Consideration |
(a) | On the Scheme Implementation Date, in consideration for the transfer to New TopCo of Scheme Shares under the terms of this Scheme, each Eligible Shareholder will be entitled to receive the Scheme Consideration in respect of each of their Scheme Shares in accordance with this clause 4. |
(b) | Subject to clauses 4.3 to 4.7 the Scheme Consideration to be provided to each Eligible Shareholder will be: |
(i) | where the Eligible Shareholder is not a Share Electing Shareholder or is the Sale Nominee , 1 Consideration CDI for each Scheme Share; and |
(ii) | where the Eligible Shareholder is a Share Electing Shareholder and is not the Sale Nominee, 1 Consideration Share for each Scheme Share. |
4.3 | Provision of Scheme Consideration |
(a) | on the Scheme Implementation Date (or, in the case of sub-paragraphs (C), (D), (E) and (F) of clause 4.3(a)(iii), by no later than the Business Day following the Scheme Implementation Date): |
(i) | issue to each Eligible Shareholder (or procure the issue to each Eligible Shareholder of) the applicable Scheme Consideration in accordance with this Scheme; |
(ii) | in the case of Scheme Consideration that is required to be provided to Eligible Shareholders in the form of Consideration Shares, procure that the name and address of each relevant Eligible Shareholder is entered in the New TopCo Share Register as the holder of the applicable Consideration Shares (being the name and Registered Address of the relevant Eligible Shareholder as at the Scheme Record Date); and |
(iii) | in the case of Scheme Consideration that is required to be provided to Eligible Shareholders in the form of Consideration CDIs: |
(A) | issue to CDN (or to a custodian who will hold the New TopCo Shares on CDN’s behalf) to be held on trust that number of New TopCo Shares that will enable CDN to issue Consideration CDIs as contemplated by this clause 4.3; |
(B) | procure that the name and address of CDN or of its custodian (as applicable) is entered into the New TopCo Share Register in respect of those New TopCo Shares underlying the Consideration CDIs, and that a share certificate or holding statement (or equivalent document) in the name of CDN representing those New TopCo Shares is sent to CDN; |
(C) | procure that CDN issues to each relevant Eligible Shareholder the number of Consideration CDIs to which it is entitled under this clause 4.3; and |
(D) | procure that the name and address of each relevant Eligible Shareholder is entered in the records maintained by CDN or its custodian (as applicable) or both, as the holder of the Consideration CDIs issued to that Eligible Shareholder; |
(E) | in the case of each such Eligible Shareholder who held Scheme Shares on the CHESS subregister, procure that the Consideration CDIs are held on the CHESS subregister; and |
(F) | in the case of each such Eligible Shareholder who held Scheme Shares on the issuer sponsored subregister, the Consideration CDIs are held on the issuer sponsored subregister; and |
(b) | no later than two Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date, send or procure the dispatch to each Eligible Shareholder, to their Registered Address as at the Scheme Record Date (or, in the case of the Sale Nominee, as specified in the Ineligible Share Transfer), a securities certificate, holding statement or allotment confirmation representing the Consideration Shares or Consideration CDIs (as applicable) issued to that Eligible Shareholder. |
4.4 | Ineligible Overseas Shareholders |
(a) | New TopCo has no obligation to issue, and will not issue, any Scheme Consideration under this Scheme to any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder. |
(b) | Allkem must: |
(i) | prior to the First Court Hearing, appoint the Sale Nominee; |
(ii) | ensure that, under the Terms of Appointment, the Sale Nominee irrevocably undertakes to and is otherwise obliged to do all such things required by this clause 4.4 of this Scheme (including, but not limited to, under clause 4.4(c)); and |
(iii) | procure that the Sale Nominee: |
(A) | performs all acts attributed to it under this clause 4.4; and |
(B) | otherwise does all things necessary to give effect to this clause 4.4. |
(c) | After the Scheme Record Date, and prior to Scheme Implementation, all of the Allkem Shares which were held by Ineligible Overseas Shareholders as at the Scheme Record Date (each an Ineligible Share and together the Ineligible Shares), together with all rights and entitlements attaching to those Ineligible Shares, will be transferred to the Sale Nominee: |
(i) | without the need for any further act by any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder (other than acts performed by Allkem or its directors or officers as attorney and agent for the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders); and |
(ii) | on the basis that, if (1) the Scheme lapses under clause 2.4, or (2) Scheme Implementation has not occurred within 5 Business Days after the Scheme Record Date (or such later time determined by Allkem in its sole discretion), (each a Return Event), the Sale Nominee must return the Ineligible Consideration Shares to the relevant Ineligible Overseas Shareholders as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event, no later than 15 Business Days after the date on which Allkem gives written notice of the Return Event to the Sale Nominee) without any cost incurred by or fee payable to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder. |
(d) | Allkem must procure that the Sale Nominee accepts the transfer of the Ineligible Shares under clause 4.4(c) by immediately executing the Ineligible Share Transfer as transferee and delivering it to Allkem for registration. |
(e) | In order to give effect to the transfer of Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee under clause 4.4(c), Allkem will: |
(i) | as attorney and agent for each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, execute the Ineligible Share Transfer provided under clause 4.4(d); and |
(ii) | register the transfer of the Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee and enter the name of the Sale Nominee in the Allkem Share Register in respect of all of the Ineligible Shares transferred under clause 4.4(c). |
(f) | Allkem must procure that the Sale Nominee, and must enforce its contractual rights to ensure that the Sale Nominee: |
(i) | sells the CDIs issued as Scheme Consideration in respect of the Ineligible Shares (Ineligible Consideration CDIs) (on ASX or off-market) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no more than 15 Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date, in the manner, and on the terms, the Sale Nominee determines in good faith (and at the risk of the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder); and |
(ii) | as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no more than 10 Business Days after settlement of all the sales of the Ineligible Consideration CDIs under clause 4.4(f)(i), remits to Allkem the Net Proceeds. |
(g) | Promptly after receipt of the Net Proceeds, Allkem must pay each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, or procure the payment to each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder of, such proportion of the Net Proceeds to which that Ineligible Overseas Shareholder is entitled (rounded down to the nearest cent), to be determined in accordance with the following formula: |
(h) | The Net Proceeds will be payable to Ineligible Overseas Shareholders in Australian dollars. |
(i) | Each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder acknowledges and agrees that: |
(i) | none of Allkem, Livent, New TopCo or the Sale Nominee give any assurance as to the price or foreign exchange rate that will be achieved for the sale of the Ineligible Consideration CDIs described in clause 4.4(f); and |
(ii) | Allkem, Livent, New TopCo and the Sale Nominee each expressly disclaim any fiduciary duty to any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder that may arise in connection with this clause 4.4. |
(j) | Allkem must pay or procure that each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder is paid any amounts owing under clause 4.4(g) by either (in the absolute discretion of Allkem): |
(i) | where an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder has, before the Scheme Record Date, made a valid election in accordance with the requirements of the Allkem Share Registry to receive dividend payments from Allkem by electronic funds transfer to a bank account nominated by the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, paying, or procuring the payment of, the relevant amount in Australian currency by electronic means in accordance with that election; or |
(ii) | dispatching, or procuring the dispatch of, a cheque for the relevant amount in Australian currency to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder by prepaid post to their Registered Address (as at the Scheme Record Date), such cheque being drawn in the name of the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder (in the case of joint holders, the cheque will be drawn in the name of the joint holders and dispatched in accordance with the procedures set out in clause 4.6(b)). |
(k) | Each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder appoints Allkem, and each director and officer of Allkem, as its agent to receive on its behalf any financial services guide (or similar or equivalent document) and any other notices (including any updates of those documents) that the Sale Nominee is required to provide to Ineligible Overseas Shareholders under the Corporations Act or any other applicable law. |
(l) | Payment of the relevant amounts calculated in accordance with clauses 4.4(g) to an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4.4 satisfies in full New TopCo’s obligations to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder under this Scheme in respect of the Scheme Consideration. |
4.5 | Other ineligible Scheme Shareholders |
(a) | Where the issue of Scheme Consideration to which an Eligible Shareholder would otherwise be entitled under this Scheme would result in a breach of law: |
(i) | New TopCo will issue the maximum possible Scheme Consideration to that Eligible Shareholder without giving rise to such a breach; and |
(ii) | any further Scheme Consideration to which that Eligible Shareholder is entitled, but the issue of which to that Eligible Shareholder would give rise to such a breach, will instead be issued to the Sale Nominee and dealt with under clause 4.4, as if: |
(A) | references to “Ineligible Overseas Shareholders” also included that Eligible Shareholder; and |
(B) | references to “Ineligible Consideration CDIs” also included any of that Eligible Shareholder’s Scheme Consideration that has been issued to the Sale Nominee. |
(b) | Where the issue of Scheme Consideration to the Sale Nominee under this Scheme would result in a breach of law, Allkem must use its reasonable best efforts to appoint another person as the Sale Nominee in accordance with clause 4.4. |
4.6 | Joint holders |
(a) | any Scheme Consideration will be issued to and registered in the names of the joint holders; and |
(b) | any other document required to be sent under this Scheme will be forwarded to the holder whose name appears first in the Allkem Share Register as at the Scheme Record Date or to the joint holders. |
4.7 | Orders of a court or Governmental Entity |
(a) | If New TopCo or Allkem (or the Allkem Share Registry) receives written notice of an order or direction made by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a Governmental Entity that: |
(i) | requires consideration to be provided to a third party (either through payment of a sum or the issuance of a security) in respect of Scheme Shares held by a particular Eligible Shareholder, which would otherwise be payable or required to be issued to that Eligible Shareholder by Allkem or New TopCo in accordance with this clause 4 (including in connection with any withholding or deduction under clauses 4.7(b)), then Allkem or New TopCo (as applicable) will be entitled to procure that provision of that consideration is made in accordance with that order or direction; or |
(ii) | prevents Allkem or New TopCo from providing consideration to any particular Scheme Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, or the payment or issuance of such consideration is otherwise prohibited by applicable law, Allkem or New TopCo (as applicable) will be entitled to: |
(A) | in the case of any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, retain an amount, in Australian dollars, equal to the relevant Ineligible Overseas Shareholder’s share of any proceeds of sale received by Allkem pursuant to clause 4.4; and |
(B) | not issue (or, in the case of Allkem, direct New TopCo not to issue), or issue (or, in the case of Allkem, direct New TopCo to issue) to a permitted trustee or nominee, such Scheme Consideration as that Scheme Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to under clause 4.3, |
(b) | New TopCo and Allkem (as applicable) may deduct and withhold from any consideration that would otherwise be provided to a Scheme Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, any amount that New TopCo or Allkem (as applicable) determines is required to be deducted and withheld from that consideration under any applicable law, including any order, direction or notice made or given by a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Government Entity. |
(c) | To the extent that amounts are so deducted or withheld, such deducted or withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes under this Scheme as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made, provided that such deducted or withheld amounts are actually remitted to the appropriate taxing agency. |
(d) | To avoid doubt, any payment or retention by Allkem or New TopCo (as applicable) under clauses 4.7(a), 4.7(b) and 4.7(c) will constitute the full discharge of New TopCo’s obligations under clause 4.3 with respect to the amount so paid or retained until, in the case of clause 4.7(a)(ii), the amount is no longer required to be retained. |
4.8 | Consideration Shares to rank equally |
(a) | the Consideration Shares to be issued (including the New TopCo Shares underlying the Consideration CDIs) as the Scheme Consideration will, on issue: |
(i) | be duly issued and fully paid in accordance with applicable laws and the memorandum and articles of association of New TopCo; |
(ii) | be free from any Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise, or restriction on transfer of any kind, other than as provided for in the memorandum and articles of association of New TopCo or as required under applicable law; and |
(iii) | rank equally in all respects, including for future dividends, with all existing New TopCo Shares then on issue; and |
(b) | it will apply for, or has applied for: |
(i) | the listing of the Consideration Shares on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; |
(ii) | admission of New TopCo to the official list of ASX (as a foreign exempt listing) commencing on the Business Day following the Scheme Effective Date; and |
(iii) | official quotation of the Consideration CDIs on ASX, subject to customary conditions, commencing: |
(A) | on the Business Day following the Scheme Effective Date (or such later day as ASX may require) until the Scheme Implementation Date, on a deferred settlement basis; and |
(B) | on the Business Day following the Scheme Implementation Date, on an ordinary (T+2) basis. |
4.9 | Unclaimed monies |
(a) | Allkem may cancel a cheque issued under clause 4.4(j)(ii) if the cheque: |
(i) | is returned to Allkem; or |
(ii) | has not been presented for payment within 6 months after the date on which the cheque was sent. |
(b) | During the period of 12 months commencing on the Scheme Implementation Date, on request in writing from a Scheme Shareholder to Allkem (or the Allkem Share Registry) (which request may not be made until the date that is 20 Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date), Allkem must reissue a cheque that was previously cancelled under clause 4.9(a). |
(c) | The Unclaimed Money Act will apply in relation to any Scheme Consideration that becomes “unclaimed money” (as defined in section 6 of the Unclaimed Money Act). |
4.10 | Title to and rights in Scheme Shares |
(a) | Immediately upon the provision of the Scheme Consideration to each Eligible Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, New TopCo will be beneficially entitled to the Scheme Shares transferred to it under this Scheme pending registration by Allkem of the name and address of New TopCo in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the Scheme Shares. |
(b) | To the extent permitted by law, the Scheme Shares (including all rights and entitlements attaching to the Scheme Shares) transferred under this Scheme to New TopCo will, at the time of transfer to New TopCo, vest in New TopCo free from all: |
(i) | Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise; and |
(ii) | restrictions on transfer of any kind. |
(c) | To avoid doubt, notwithstanding clause 4.10(a), to the extent that clause 4.7(a) applies to any Eligible Shareholder, New TopCo will be beneficially entitled to any Scheme Shares held by that Eligible Shareholder immediately upon compliance with clause 4.7 on the Scheme Implementation Date as if New TopCo had provided the Scheme Consideration to that Eligible Shareholder. |
5 | DEALINGS IN ALLKEM SHARES |
5.1 | Allkem Share dealings that are recognised |
(a) | in the case of dealings of the type to be effected using CHESS, the transferee is registered in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the relevant Allkem Shares as at the Scheme Record Date; and |
(b) | in all other cases, registrable transfers or transmission applications in respect of those dealings, or valid requests in respect of other alternations, are received by the Allkem Share Registry at or before the Scheme Record Date, |
5.2 | Allkem to register transfer and transmission applications |
5.3 | Transfers received after Scheme Record Date not recognised |
5.4 | Allkem to maintain Allkem Share Register to determine entitlements |
(a) | In order to determine entitlements to the Scheme Consideration, Allkem must maintain, or procure the maintenance of, the Allkem Share Register in accordance with this clause 5 until the Scheme Consideration has been paid to Scheme Shareholders and New TopCo has been entered into the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the Scheme Shares. |
(b) | The Allkem Share Register in this form will solely determine entitlements to the Scheme Consideration. |
5.5 | Holding statements no effect from Scheme Record Date |
(a) | All holding statements for Allkem Shares (other than any holding statements (1) in favour of the Sale Nominee with respect to the Ineligible shares or (2) in favour of New TopCo) will cease to have effect as documents of title (or evidence thereof) after the Scheme Record Date. |
(b) | Each entry on the Allkem Share Register at and from the Scheme Record Date (other than those entries in respect of New TopCo or a transfer in accordance with clause 4.4(c) to the Sale Nominee) will cease to have any effect other than as evidence of an entitlement to the Scheme Consideration in respect of the Scheme Shares relating to that entry. |
5.6 | Allkem to provide contact information for Scheme Shareholders |
5.7 | Suspension of trading |
5.8 | Termination of official quotation |
(a) | to ASX, for: |
(i) | removal of Allkem from the official list of ASX; and |
(ii) | termination of the official quotation of Allkem Shares on ASX; |
(b) | to TSX for the delisting of Allkem from TSX with effect on and from the close of trading on the Scheme Effective Date, or such other date as Livent and Allkem may agree, acting reasonably, following consultation with TSX. |
6 | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
6.1 | Allkem giving effect to the Scheme |
6.2 | Scheme Shareholders’ agreements and consents |
(a) | agrees for all purposes to: |
(i) | in the case of Ineligible Overseas Shareholders, the transfer of their Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee; |
(ii) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders: |
(A) | become a member of New TopCo; |
(B) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders who are issued Consideration CDIs pursuant to this Scheme, to have their name entered in the records maintained by CDN or its custodian (as applicable) or both, as the holder of CDIs; |
(C) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders who are issued Consideration Shares pursuant to this Scheme, to have their name registered in the New TopCo Share Register as a holder of New TopCo Shares; and |
(D) | be bound by the memorandum of association and articles of association of New TopCo; and |
(iii) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders, the transfer of their Scheme Shares, together with all rights and entitlements attaching to those Scheme Shares, to New TopCo, |
(b) | agrees for all purposes and to the extent permitted by law, that all instructions, notifications or elections made by the Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee to Allkem (binding or deemed to be binding between the Scheme Shareholder and Allkem) relating to Allkem or its securities (except for tax file numbers), including instructions, notifications or elections relating to: |
(i) | whether distributions or dividends are to be paid by cheque or into a specific account; and |
(ii) | notices or other communications from Allkem, |
(c) | agrees to the variation, cancellation or modification of the rights attached to their Scheme Shares constituted by or resulting from, and in accordance with, this Scheme; |
(d) | acknowledges that this Scheme binds Allkem, all Scheme Shareholders (including those who did not attend the Scheme Meeting and those who did not vote, or voted against this Scheme, at the Scheme Meeting) and the Sale Nominee; |
(e) | consents to Allkem, New TopCo and Livent doing all things (including executing all deeds, instruments, transfers or other documents) as may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to this Scheme and the transactions contemplated by it; and |
(f) | acknowledges and agrees that Allkem, as agent of each Scheme Shareholder and of the Sale Nominee, may sub–delegate its functions under this Scheme to any of its directors and officers, jointly and severally, |
6.3 | Scheme Shareholders’ warranties |
(a) | Each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee is taken to have warranted to Allkem and New TopCo (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, to the Sale Nominee), and to have appointed and authorised Allkem as its attorney and agent to warrant to New TopCo (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, to the Sale Nominee), that: |
(i) | all their Allkem Shares (including any rights and entitlements attaching to their Allkem Shares) that are transferred under this Scheme will, at the time of their transfer, be fully paid and free from all: |
(A) | Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise; and |
(B) | restrictions on transfer of any kind; |
(ii) | they have full power and capacity to transfer their Allkem Shares to New TopCo (or, in the case of Ineligible Overseas Shareholders, to the Sale Nominee), together with any rights and entitlements attaching to those Allkem Shares, under this Scheme; and |
(iii) | as at the Scheme Record Date, they have no existing right to be issued any other Allkem Shares or any other form of securities in Allkem. |
(b) | Allkem undertakes in favour of each Scheme Shareholder (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, for the Sale Nominee) that it will provide such warranty to New TopCo as agent and attorney of each Scheme Shareholder. |
6.4 | Appointment of Allkem as attorney of Scheme Shareholders and Sale Nominee |
(a) | execute any document or do any other act necessary, expedient or incidental to give full effect to this Scheme and the transactions contemplated by it, including executing and delivering the Scheme Transfer under clause 3.2 and the Ineligible Share Transfer under clause 4.4; and |
(b) | enforce the Deed Poll against New TopCo, |
6.5 | Appointment of New TopCo as agent, attorney and sole proxy in respect of Scheme Shares |
(a) | irrevocably appoints New TopCo as its attorney and agent (and directs New TopCo as its attorney and agent to appoint any of the directors and officers of New TopCo as its sole proxy and, where applicable, corporate representative, of that Eligible Shareholder) to: |
(i) | attend shareholders’ meetings of Allkem; |
(ii) | exercise the votes attaching to the Scheme Shares registered in the name of the Eligible Shareholder; and |
(iii) | sign any Allkem Shareholders’ resolution (whether in person, by proxy or by corporate representative); |
(b) | must take all other action in the capacity of a registered holder of Scheme Shares as New TopCo reasonably directs; |
(c) | undertake not to attend or vote at any shareholders’ meetings of Allkem or sign any Allkem Shareholders’ resolution (whether in person, by proxy or by corporate representative) other than pursuant to clause 6.5(a); and |
(d) | acknowledges and agrees that in exercising the powers conferred by clause 6.5(a), New TopCo and any director, officer or agent nominated by New TopCo may act in the best interests of New TopCo as the intended registered holder of the Scheme Shares. |
(a) | This Scheme binds Allkem, all of the Scheme Shareholders (including those who did not attend the Scheme Meeting and those who did not vote, or voted against this Scheme, at the Scheme Meeting) and the Sale Nominee and, to the extent of any inconsistency, overrides the constitution of Allkem. |
(b) | Any covenant from any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee in favour of New TopCo or any obligation owed by any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee to New TopCo will be enforceable by New TopCo against such person directly and, to the extent necessary, may enforce such rights through Allkem as party to the Scheme. |
6.7 | No liability when acting in good faith |
6.8 | Deed Poll |
6.9 | Notices |
(a) | Where a notice, transfer, transmission application, direction or other communication referred to in this Scheme is sent by post to Allkem, it will be deemed to be received on the date (if any) on which it is actually received at Allkem’s registered office or at the Allkem Share Registry and on no other date. |
(b) | The accidental omission to give notice of the Scheme Meeting or the non-receipt of such notice by an Allkem Shareholder will not, unless so ordered by the Court, invalidate the Scheme Meeting or the proceedings of the Scheme Meeting. |
6.10 | Stamp duty |
6.11 | Governing law |
(a) | This Scheme and any dispute arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Scheme is governed by the laws of Western Australia. |
(b) | Each party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia (Western Australian registry) and of the courts competent to determine appeals from that court with respect to any proceedings that may be brought at any time arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Scheme. Each party irrevocably waives any objection to the venue of any legal process in these courts on the basis that the process has been brought in any inconvenient forum. |
1. | The name of the Company is [•] plc. |
2. | The Company is a public company limited by shares. |
3. | The Company is a par value company. |
4. | The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. |
5. | The liability of each member arising from his or her holding of a share is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on it. |
6. | The share capital of the Company is US$[•] divided into [•] ordinary shares of US$[•] each and [•] preferred shares of US$[•] each. |
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Preliminary |
Definitions and interpretation |
(a) | The meanings of the terms used in these articles are set out below. |
Term | | | Meaning |
Acting Chairperson | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 7.7(d). |
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affiliate | | | a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person. |
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annual general meeting | | | an annual general meeting of the Company that the Companies Law requires to be held. |
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Board | | | the directors for the time being of the Company or those directors who are present at a meeting at which there is a quorum. |
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Business Day | | | has the meaning given to that term in the listing rules of the New York Stock Exchange. |
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CDI | | | means a CHESS depositary interest that represents a beneficial ownership in a share in the Company registered in the name of CDI Nominee (or in the name of a nominee or custodian who will hold the shares in the Company on CDI Nominee’s behalf). |
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CDI Nominee | | | means CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Limited (ACN 071 346 506). |
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CHESS | | | the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System operated by ASX Settlement Pty Ltd. |
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Companies Law | | | the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991. |
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Control, including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with | | | the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting shares of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting shares, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this provision, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity. |
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CREST Order | | | the Companies (Uncertificated Securities) (Jersey) Order 1999, as amended from time to time, including any provisions of or under the Companies Law which alter or replace such regulations. |
Term | | | Meaning |
Default Shares | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 6.2(a). |
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Derivative Security | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 7.3(f)(3). |
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Designated Stock Exchange | | | the New York Stock Exchange, the Australian Securities Exchange or any other stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s securities are then traded. |
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directors | | | the directors of the Company. |
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distribution | | | has the meaning given to that expression in Article 114 of the Companies Law. |
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dividend | | | any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on shares pursuant to these articles. |
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DTC | | | the Depositary Trust Company or any successor company. |
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DTC Depositary | | | Cede & Co. and/or any other custodian, depositary or nominee of DTC which holds shares under arrangements that facilitate the holding and trading of beneficial interests in ordinary shares in the DTC System. |
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DTC Proxy | | | in relation to any shares held by the DTC Depositary, any person who is, for the purposes of any general meeting or resolution, appointed a proxy (whether by way of instrument of proxy, power of attorney, mandate or otherwise) by: a) the DTC Depositary; or b) a proxy, attorney or other agent appointed by any other person whose authority is ultimately derived (whether directly or indirectly) from the DTC Depositary. |
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DTC System | | | the electronic system operated by DTC by which title to securities or interests in securities may be evidenced and transferred in dematerialised form. |
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Exchange Act | | | the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
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Exemption Order | | | the Companies (Transfers of Shares – Exemptions) (Jersey) Order 2014 as amended from time to time, including any provisions of or under the Companies Law which alter or replace such regulations. |
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extraordinary general meeting | | | any general meeting of the Company other than the annual general meeting. |
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Liabilities | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 11.2. |
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Listing Rules | | | the listing rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
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Officer | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 11.1. |
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Term | | | Meaning |
public announcement | | | disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service in the United States or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |
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Record Time | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 7.4. |
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Representative | | | in relation to a member that is a body corporate means a person authorised by the body corporate to act as its representative at the meeting. |
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Seal | | | any common seal, duplicate seal or certificate seal of the Company. |
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share | | | means shares in the Company. |
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special resolution | | | a resolution of the Company passed as a special resolution in accordance with the Companies Law. |
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Statement of Rights | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 2.4. |
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Transmission Event | | | 1 for a member who is an individual – the member’s death, the member’s bankruptcy, or a member becoming of unsound mind, or a person who, or whose estate, is liable to be dealt with in any way under the laws relating to mental health; and 2 for a member who is a body corporate – the insolvency, bankruptcy or dissolution of the member or the succession by another body corporate to the assets and liabilities of the member. |
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Uncertificated | | | in relation to a share, means a share title to which is recorded in the register as being held in uncertificated form and title to which, by virtue of the CREST Order, may be transferred by means of a relevant system. |
(b) | A reference in these articles to a partly paid share is a reference to a share on which there is an amount unpaid. |
(c) | A reference in these articles to an amount unpaid on a share includes a reference to any amount of the issue price which is unpaid. |
(d) | A reference in these articles to a call or an amount called on a share includes a reference to a sum that, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable on issue or at a fixed date. |
(e) | Except where a special resolution or another percentage is specified, a reference to a resolution or ordinary resolution of the Company is a reference to a resolution passed by a majority of votes cast by the members present at a general meeting. |
(f) | A reference in these articles to a member for the purposes of a meeting of members is a reference to a registered holder of shares as at the relevant Record Time. |
(g) | A reference in these articles to a member present at a general meeting is a reference to a member present in person, electronically in accordance with article 7.5(d) or by proxy, attorney or Representative. |
(h) | A chairperson or deputy chairperson appointed under these articles may be referred to as chairman or chairwoman, or deputy chairman or chairwoman, or as chair, if applicable. |
(i) | A reference in these articles to a person holding or occupying a particular office or position is a reference to any person who occupies or performs the duties of that office or position. |
(j) | A reference to a document being ‘signed’ or to ‘signature’ includes that document being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method and, in the case of a communication in electronic form, includes the document being authenticated in accordance with the Companies Law or any other method approved by the Board. |
(k) | Unless the contrary intention appears, in these articles: |
(1) | the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular; |
(2) | words that refer to any gender include all genders; |
(3) | words used to refer to persons generally include natural persons as well as bodies corporate, bodies politic, partnerships, joint ventures, associations, boards, groups or other bodies (whether or not the body is incorporated); |
(4) | a reference to a person includes that person’s successors and legal personal representatives; |
(5) | a reference to a statute or regulation, or a provision of any of them includes all statutes, regulations or provisions amending, consolidating or replacing them, and a reference to a statute includes all regulations, proclamations, ordinances and by-laws issued under that statute; |
(6) | a reference to the Listing Rules includes any variation, consolidation, amendment or replacement of those rules and is to be taken to be subject to any applicable waiver or exemption; and |
(7) | where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings. |
(l) | Specifying anything in these articles after the words ‘including’, ‘includes’ or ‘for example’ or similar expressions does not limit what else is included unless there is express wording to the contrary. |
(m) | In these articles, headings and bold type are only for convenience and do not affect the meaning of these articles. |
Standard Table not to apply |
Exercising powers |
(a) | The Company may, in any way the Companies Law permits: |
(1) | exercise any power; |
(2) | take any action; or |
(3) | engage in any conduct or procedure; |
(b) | Where these articles provide that a person ‘may’ do a particular act or thing, the act or thing may be done at the person’s discretion. |
(c) | Where these articles confer a power to do a particular act or thing, the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be taken as including a power exercisable in the same way and subject to the same conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend or vary that act or thing. |
(d) | Where these articles confer a power to do a particular act or thing, the power may be exercised from time to time and may be exercised subject to conditions. |
(e) | Where these articles confer a power to do a particular act or thing concerning particular matters, the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be taken to include a power to do that act or thing as to only some of those matters or as to a particular class of those matters, and to make different provision concerning different matters or different classes of matters. |
(f) | Where these articles confer a power to make appointments to an office or position (except the power to appoint a director under article 8.1(b)), the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be taken to include a power: |
(1) | to appoint a person to act in the office or position until a person is formally appointed to the office or position; |
(2) | to remove or suspend any person appointed (without prejudice to any rights or obligations under any contract between the person and the Company); and |
(3) | to appoint another person temporarily in the place of any person removed or suspended or in the place of any sick or absent holder of the office or position. |
(g) | Where these articles give power to a person to delegate a function or power: |
(1) | the delegation may be concurrent with, or (except in the case of a delegation by the Board) to the exclusion of, the performance or exercise of that function or power by the person; |
(2) | the delegation may be either general or limited in any way provided in the terms of delegation; |
(3) | the delegation need not be to a specified person but may be to any person holding, occupying or performing the duties of a specified office or position; |
(4) | the delegation may include the power to delegate; and |
(5) | where performing or exercising that function or power depends on that person’s opinion, belief or state of mind about a matter, that function or power may be performed or exercised by the delegate on the delegate’s opinion, belief or state of mind about that matter. |
Currency |
Share capital |
Share capital and share issues |
(a) | The share capital of the Company is as specified in the Memorandum of Association and the shares of the Company shall have the rights and be subject to the conditions contained in these articles and, to the extent applicable, in the Statement of Rights relating to preferred shares of any class. |
(b) | Subject to these articles, the Board may, from time to time in its discretion: |
(1) | issue, allot or grant options for, or otherwise dispose of, shares in the Company; and |
(2) | decide: |
(A) | the persons to whom shares are issued or options are granted; |
(B) | the terms on which shares are issued or options are granted; and |
(C) | the rights and restrictions attached to those shares or options. |
Rights attaching to ordinary shares |
(a) | As regards income – Each ordinary share confers on the holder thereof the right to receive such profits of the Company available for distribution as the Board may declare after any payment to the members holding shares of any other class other than ordinary shares of any amount then payable in accordance with the relevant Statement of Rights or other terms of issue of that class. |
(b) | As regards capital – If the Company is wound up, the holder of an ordinary share is entitled, following payment to the members holding shares of any other class other than ordinary shares of all amounts then payable to them in accordance with the relevant Statement of Rights or other terms of issue of that class, to repayment of the stated amount of the capital paid up thereon and thereafter any surplus assets of the Company then remaining shall be distributed pari passu among the holders of the ordinary shares in proportion to the amounts paid up thereon. |
(c) | As regards voting – At any general meeting of the Company and any separate class meeting of the holders of ordinary shares, every person who was a holder of ordinary shares at the Record Time and who is present at such meeting has one vote for every ordinary share of which such person was the holder as of the Record Time. |
(d) | As regards redemption – the ordinary shares are not redeemable, unless issued as redeemable or converted into redeemable ordinary shares pursuant to article 2.6. |
Series or classes of preferred shares |
Rights of preferred shares |
(a) | the series or class to which each preferred share shall belong, such series or class to be designated with a series or class number and, if the Board so determines, title; |
(b) | details of any dividends payable in respect of the relevant series or class, if any, including whether such dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative, the dividend rate of such series or class, and the dates and preferences of dividends on such series or class; |
(c) | details of rights attaching to shares of the relevant series or class to receive a return of capital on a winding up of the Company; |
(d) | details of the voting rights attaching to shares of the relevant series or class (which may provide, without limitation, that each preferred share shall have more than one vote on a poll at any general meeting of the Company); |
(e) | a statement as to whether shares of the relevant series or class are redeemable (either at the option of the holder and/or the Company) and, if so, on what terms such shares are redeemable (including, and only if so determined by the Board, the amount for which such shares shall be redeemed (or a method or formula for determining the same) and the date on which they shall be redeemed); |
(f) | a statement as to whether shares of the relevant series or class are convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares, or any other security, of the Company or any other person (in each case, either at the option of the holder and/or the Company) and, if so, on what rates or terms such shares are convertible or exchangeable; |
(g) | the right, if any, to subscribe for or to purchase any securities of the Company or any other person; |
(h) | any other designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, obligations and restrictions, if any, attaching to preferred shares of any class or series as the Board may determine in its discretion; and/or |
(i) | the price at which shares of the relevant series or class shall be issued. |
Effect of Statement of Rights |
(a) | it is binding on members and the Board as if contained in these articles; |
(b) | it must be filed on behalf of the Company with the Registrar of Companies in Jersey in accordance with the Companies Law; |
(c) | the provisions of article 2.11 apply to any variation or abrogation thereof that may be effected by the Company or the Board; and |
(d) | upon the redemption of a preferred share (if it is redeemable) pursuant to the Statement of Rights relating thereto, the holder thereof ceases to be entitled to any rights in respect thereof and accordingly such holder’s name must be removed from the register of members and the share must thereupon be cancelled. |
Redeemable shares |
(a) | issue; or |
(b) | convert existing non-redeemable shares, whether issued or not, into, shares that are to be redeemed, or are liable to be redeemed, either in accordance with their terms or at the option of the Company and/or at the option of the holder; provided that an issued non-redeemable share may only be converted into a redeemable share pursuant to article 2.6(b) with the agreement of the applicable holder (which agreement shall be deemed to exist with respect to any non-redeemable shares tendered by such holder for conversion, repurchase, buy back or redemption and regardless of whether or not such holder is aware that the Company is the purchaser of such shares in such transaction) or pursuant to a special resolution. |
Fractions of shares |
(a) | Subject to the Companies Law, the Company may, in the Board’s discretion, issue fractions of a share of any class. |
(b) | A fraction of a share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a share of that class of shares. |
Alteration of share capital |
(a) | making cash payments; |
(b) | determining that fractions may be disregarded to adjust the rights of all members; |
(c) | appointing a trustee to deal with any fractions on behalf of members; and |
(d) | rounding down or rounding up each fractional entitlement to the nearest whole share. |
Purchase of shares |
Conversion or reclassification of shares |
(a) | Subject to article 2.11 and the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company may by special resolution convert or reclassify shares from one class to another. |
(b) | Notwithstanding article 2.11 but subject to the Companies Law, the Board may convert or reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of any existing class from time to time in one or more existing classes of shares without the approval of members of the Company. |
Variation of class rights |
(a) | The rights attached to any class of shares may, unless their terms of issue state otherwise, be varied by a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of shares of the class. |
(b) | The provisions of these articles relating to general meetings apply, with necessary changes, to separate class meetings as if they were general meetings. |
(c) | The rights conferred on the holders of any class of shares are to be taken as not having been varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking ahead, after or pari passu with them, unless the terms of issue provide otherwise. |
(d) | The rights conferred upon the holders of ordinary shares are to be taken as not having been varied by the creation, issue, redemption or conversion of any preferred shares. |
Shareholder rights plan |
(a) | The Board is hereby authorised to establish a shareholder rights plan including approving the execution of any document relating to the adoption and/or implementation of a rights plan. A rights plan may be in such form and may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine in its absolute discretion. |
(b) | The Board is hereby authorised to grant rights to subscribe for shares of the Company in accordance with a rights plan. |
(c) | The Board may, in accordance with a rights plan, exercise any power under such rights plan (including a power relating to the issuance, redemption or exchange of rights or shares) on a basis that excludes one or more members, including a member who has acquired or may acquire a significant interest in or control of the Company. |
(d) | The Board is authorised to exercise the powers under this article 2.12 for any purpose that the Board, in its discretion, deems reasonable and appropriate, including, without limitation, to ensure that: |
(1) | any process which may result in an acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company is conducted in an orderly manner; |
(2) | all holders of ordinary shares will be treated fairly and in a similar manner; |
(3) | any potential acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company which would be unlikely to treat all members of the Company fairly and in a similar manner would be prevented; |
(4) | the use of abusive tactics by any person in connection with any potential acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company would be prevented; |
(5) | an optimum price for shares would be received by or on behalf of all members of the Company; |
(6) | the success of the Company would be promoted for the benefit of its members as a whole; |
(7) | the long-term interests of the Company, its employees, its members and its business would be safeguarded; |
(8) | the Company would not suffer serious economic harm; |
(9) | the Board has additional time to gather relevant information or pursue appropriate strategies; or |
(10) | all or any of the above. |
Joint holders of shares |
(a) | they are liable individually as well as jointly for all payments, including calls, in respect of the share; |
(b) | subject to article 2.13(a), on the death of any one of them the survivor is the only person the Company will recognise as having any title to the share; |
(c) | any one of them may give effective receipts for any dividend, bonus, interest or other distribution or payment in respect of the share; and |
(d) | except where persons are jointly entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event, the Company may, but is not required to, register more than four (4) persons as joint holders of the share. |
Equitable and other claims |
(a) | recognise a person as holding a share on trust, even if the Company has notice of a trust; or |
(b) | recognise, or be bound by, any equitable, contingent, future or partial claim to or interest in a share by any other person, except an absolute right of ownership in the registered holder, even if the Company has notice of that claim or interest. |
Issue of share certificates |
(a) | Subject to article 2.15(e), upon being entered in the register of members as the holder of a share, a member is entitled: |
(1) | without payment, to one certificate for all the shares of each class held by that member (and, upon transferring a part of the member’s holding of shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and |
(2) | upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that member’s shares. |
(b) | Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the shares to which it relates and whether they are fully paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine and the Companies Law permits. |
(c) | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
(d) | If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
(1) | evidence; |
(2) | indemnity; |
(3) | payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
(4) | payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate, |
(e) | Subject to article 2.15(f), at any time the relevant shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange (provided that the Designated Stock Exchange remains an ‘approved stock exchange’ (as defined in the Exemption Order)), the Company shall not be required to (although may, in its absolute discretion choose to), produce a share certificate in accordance with this article 2.15. |
(f) | Following a written request at any time from a member to the Company requesting a share certificate in respect of shares held by that member, the Company shall, within two (2) months of receipt by the Company of that written request, complete and have ready for delivery the certificate of such shares in respect of which the request was made, unless the conditions of allotment of the shares otherwise provide. |
Calls, forfeiture, indemnities, lien and surrender |
Calls |
(a) | Subject to the terms on which any shares are issued, the Board may: |
(1) | make calls on the members for any amount unpaid on their shares which is not by the terms of issue of those shares made payable at fixed times; and |
(2) | on the issue of shares, differentiate between members as to the amount of calls to be paid and the time for payment. |
(b) | The Board may require a call to be paid by instalments. |
(c) | The Board must send members notice of a call at least fourteen (14) days before the amount called is due, specifying the amount of the call, the time for payment and the manner in which payment must be made. |
(d) | Each member must pay the amount called to the Company by the time and in the manner specified for payment. |
(e) | A call is taken to have been made when the resolution of the Board authorising the call is passed. |
(f) | The Board may revoke a call or extend the time for payment. |
(g) | A call is valid even if a member for any reason does not receive notice of the call. |
(h) | If an amount called on a share is not paid in full by the time specified for payment, the person who owes the amount must pay: |
(1) | interest on the unpaid part of the amount from the date payment is due to the date payment is made, at a rate determined under article 3.7; and |
(2) | any costs, expenses or damages the Company incurs due to the failure to pay or late payment. |
(i) | Any amount unpaid on a share that, by the terms of issue of the share, becomes payable on issue or at a fixed date: |
(1) | is treated for the purposes of these articles as if that amount were payable under a call duly made and notified; and |
(2) | must be paid on the date on which it is payable under the terms of issue of the share. |
(j) | The Board may, to the extent the law permits, waive or compromise all or part of any payment due to the Company under the terms of issue of a share or under this article 3.1. |
Proceedings to recover calls |
(a) | In a proceeding to recover a call, or an amount payable due to the failure to pay or late payment of a call, proof that: |
(1) | the name of the defendant is entered in the register as the holder or one of the holders of the share on which the call is claimed; |
(2) | the resolution making the call is recorded in the minute book; and |
(3) | notice of the call was given to the defendant complying with these articles, |
(b) | In article 3.2(a), defendant includes a person against whom the Company alleges a set-off or counterclaim, and a proceeding to recover a call or an amount is to be interpreted accordingly. |
Payments in advance of calls |
(a) | The Board may accept from a member the whole or a part of the amount unpaid on a share even though no part of that amount has been called. |
(b) | The Board may authorise payment by the Company of interest on an amount accepted under article 3.3(a), until the amount becomes payable, at a rate agreed between the Board and the member paying the amount. |
(c) | The Board may repay to a member any amount accepted under article 3.3(a). |
Forfeiting partly paid shares |
(a) | If a member fails to pay the whole of a call or an instalment of a call by the time specified for payment, the Board may serve a notice on that member: |
(1) | requiring payment of the unpaid part of the call or instalment, together with any interest that has accrued and all costs, expenses or damages that the Company has incurred due to the failure to pay; |
(2) | specifying a further time (at least fourteen (14) days after the date of the notice) by which, and the manner in which, the amount payable under article 3.4(a)(1) must be paid; and |
(3) | stating that if the whole of the amount payable under article 3.4(a)(1) is not paid by the time and in the manner specified, the shares on which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
(b) | If a member does not comply with a notice served under article 3.4(a), the Board may by resolution forfeit any share concerning which the notice was given at any time after the day named in the notice and before the payment required by the notice is made. |
(c) | A forfeiture under article 3.4(b) includes all dividends, interest and other amounts payable by the Company on the forfeited share and not actually paid before the forfeiture. |
(d) | Where a share has been forfeited: |
(1) | notice of the resolution must be given to the member in whose name the share stood immediately before the forfeiture; and |
(2) | an entry of the forfeiture, with the date, must be made in the register of members. |
(e) | Failure to give the notice or to make the entry required under article 3.4(d) does not invalidate the forfeiture. |
(f) | A forfeited share becomes the property of the Company and the Board may sell, reissue or otherwise dispose of the share as it thinks fit and, in the case of reissue or other disposal, with or without crediting as paid up any amount paid on the share by any former holder. |
(g) | A person whose shares have been forfeited ceases to be a member as to the forfeited shares, but must, unless the Board decides otherwise, pay to the Company: |
(1) | all calls, instalments, interest, costs, expenses and damages owing on the shares at the time of the forfeiture; and |
(2) | interest on the unpaid part of the amount payable under article 3.4(g)(1), from the date of the forfeiture to the date of payment, at a rate determined under article 3.7. |
(h) | The forfeiture of a share extinguishes all interest in, and all claims and demands against the Company relating to, the forfeited share and, subject to article 3.6(h), all other rights attached to the share. |
(i) | The Board may: |
(1) | exempt a share from all or part of this article 3.4; |
(2) | waive or compromise all or part of any payment due to the Company under this article 3.4; and |
(3) | before a forfeited share has been sold, reissued or otherwise disposed of, cancel the forfeiture on the conditions it decides. |
Lien on shares |
(a) | The Company has a first lien on: |
(1) | each partly paid share for all unpaid calls and instalments due on that share; and |
(2) | each share for any amounts the Company is required by law to pay and has paid in respect of that share. |
(b) | The Company’s lien on a share extends to all dividends, interest and other amounts payable on the share and to the proceeds of sale of the share. |
(c) | The Board may sell a share on which the Company has a lien as it thinks fit where: |
(1) | an amount for which a lien exists under this article 3.5 is presently payable; and |
(2) | the Company has given the registered holder a written notice, at least fourteen (14) days before the date of the sale, stating and demanding payment of that amount. |
(d) | The Board may do anything necessary or desirable to protect any lien, charge or other right to which the Company is entitled under these articles or a law. |
(e) | When the Company registers a transfer of shares on which the Company has a lien without giving the transferee notice of its claim, the Company’s lien is released so far as it relates to amounts owing by the transferor or any predecessor in title. |
(f) | The Board may: |
(1) | exempt a share from all or part of this article 3.5; and |
(2) | waive or compromise all or part of any payment due to the Company under this article 3.5. |
Sale, reissue or other disposal of shares by the Company |
(a) | A reference in this article 3.6 to a sale of a share by the Company is a reference to any sale, reissue or other disposal of a share under article 3.4(f) or article 3.5(c). |
(b) | When the Company sells a share, the Company may: |
(1) | receive the purchase money or consideration given for the share; |
(2) | effect a transfer of the share or execute or appoint a person to execute, on behalf of the former holder, a transfer of the share; and |
(3) | register as the holder of the share the person to whom the share is sold. |
(c) | A person to whom the Company sells shares need not take any steps to investigate the regularity or validity of the sale, or to see how the purchase money or consideration on the sale is applied. That person’s title to the shares is not affected by any irregularity by the Company in relation to the sale. A sale of the share by the Company is valid even if a Transmission Event occurs to the member before the sale. |
(d) | The only remedy of a person who suffers a loss because of a sale of a share by the Company is a claim for damages against the Company, but the Company shall not be liable for a loss caused by the price at which the shares are sold in good faith. |
(e) | The proceeds of a sale of shares by the Company must be applied in paying: |
(1) | first, the expenses of the sale; |
(2) | secondly, all amounts payable (whether presently or not) by the former holder to the Company, |
(f) | Until the proceeds of a sale of a share sold by the Company are claimed or otherwise disposed of according to law, the Board may invest or use the proceeds in any other way for the benefit of the Company. |
(g) | The Company is not required to pay interest on money payable to a former holder under this article 3.6. |
(h) | On completion of a sale, reissue or other disposal of a share under article 3.4(f), the rights which attach to the share which were extinguished under article 3.4(h) revive. |
(i) | A written statement by a director or secretary of the Company that a share in the Company has been: |
(1) | duly forfeited under article 3.4(b); |
(2) | duly sold, reissued or otherwise disposed of under article 3.4(f); or |
(3) | duly sold under article 3.5(c), |
Interest payable by member |
(a) | For the purposes of articles 3.1(h)(1) and 3.4(g)(2), the rate of interest payable to the Company is: |
(1) | if the Board has fixed a rate, that rate; or |
(2) | in any other case, a rate per annum 2% higher than the rate prescribed in respect of unpaid judgments in the Royal Court of Jersey. |
(b) | Interest accrues daily and may be capitalised monthly or at such other intervals the Board decides. |
Distributions |
Dividends |
(a) | Subject to each Statement of Rights and the provisions of the Companies Law, the Board may pay any dividends from time to time as the Board may determine, including any interim dividends. |
(b) | The Board may rescind a decision to pay a dividend, before the payment date in its sole discretion. |
(c) | The Board may pay any dividend required to be paid under the terms of issue of a share. |
(d) | The Board may pay half-yearly, quarterly or at other suitable intervals to be settled by them any dividend which may be payable at a fixed rate. |
(e) | Paying a dividend does not require confirmation or approval at a general meeting. |
(f) | Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares: |
(1) | all dividends must be paid equally on all shares, except that a partly paid share confers an entitlement only to the proportion of the dividend which the amount paid (not credited) on the share is of the total amounts paid and payable (excluding amounts credited); |
(2) | for the purposes of article 4.1(f)(1), unless the Board decides otherwise, an amount paid on a share in advance of a call is to be taken as not having been paid until it becomes payable; and |
(3) | interest is not payable by the Company on any dividend or any amounts payable therewith. |
(g) | The Board may fix a record date for a dividend. |
(h) | A dividend in respect of a share must be paid, subject to the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange (including any rules relating to the settlement of transfers of securities), to the person who is registered, or entitled under articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 to be registered, as the holder of the share: |
(1) | where the Board has fixed a record date in respect of the dividend, on that date; or |
(2) | where the Board has not fixed a record date in respect of that dividend, on the date fixed for payment of the dividend, |
(i) | When resolving to pay a dividend, the Board may direct payment of the dividend from any available source permitted by law, including: |
(1) | wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets, including paid-up shares or other securities of the Company or of another body corporate, either generally or to specific members; and |
(2) | to particular members wholly or partly out of any particular fund or reserve or out of profits derived from any particular source, and to the other members wholly or partly out of any other particular fund or reserve or out of profits derived from any other particular source. |
(j) | Where a person is entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event, the Board may, but need not, retain any dividends payable on that share until that person becomes registered as the holder of that share or transfers it. |
(k) | The Board may retain from any dividend payable to a member any amount presently payable by the member to the Company and apply the amount retained to the amount owing. |
(l) | The Board may decide the method of payment of any dividend or other amount in respect of a share. Different methods of payment may apply to different members or groups of members (such as overseas members). Without limiting any other method of payment which the Company may adopt, payment in respect of a share may be made: |
(1) | by such electronic or other means approved by the Board directly to an account (of a type approved by the Board) nominated in writing by the member or the joint holders; or |
(2) | by cheque sent to the address of the member shown in the register of members or, in the case of joint holders, to the address shown in the register of members of any of the joint holders, or to such other address as the member or any of the joint holders in writing direct. |
(m) | A cheque sent under article 4.1(l): |
(1) | may be made payable to bearer or to the order of the member to whom it is sent or any other person the member directs; and |
(2) | is sent at the member’s risk. |
(n) | If the Board decides that payments will be made by electronic transfer into an account (of a type approved by the Board) nominated by a member, but no such account is nominated by the member or an electronic transfer into a nominated account is rejected or refunded, the Company may credit the amount payable to an account of the Company to be held until the member nominates a valid account. |
(o) | Where a member does not have a registered address or the Company believes that a member is not known at the member’s registered address or cheques have been returned undelivered or other payment methods have failed on more than one occasion, the Company may credit an amount payable in respect of the member’s shares to an account of the Company to be held until the member claims the amount payable or nominates a valid account. |
(p) | An amount credited to an account under articles 4.1(n) or 4.1(o) is to be treated as having been paid to the member at the time it is credited to that account. The Company will not be a trustee of the money and no interest will accrue on the money. The money may be used for the benefit of the Company until claimed or otherwise disposed of according to applicable law. |
(q) | If a cheque for an amount payable under article 4.1(l) is not presented for payment for at least eleven (11) calendar months after issue or an amount is held in an account under articles 4.1(n) or 4.1(o) for at least eleven (11) calendar months, the Board may stop payment on the cheque and invest or otherwise make use of the amount for the benefit of the Company until claimed or otherwise disposed of according to applicable law. |
(r) | A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of ten (10) years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
(s) | Provided the directors act reasonably and in accordance with the Companies Law, they shall not incur any personal liability to the holders of shares conferring a preference for any damage that they may suffer by reason of the payment of an interim dividend on any shares having deferred or non-preferred rights. |
Capitalising profits |
(a) | Subject to: |
(1) | any rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares; and |
(2) | any special resolution of the Company; |
(3) | forming part of the undivided profits of the Company; |
(4) | representing profits arising from an ascertained accretion to capital or a revaluation of the assets of the Company; |
(5) | arising from the realisation of any assets of the Company; or |
(6) | otherwise available for distribution as a dividend. |
(b) | The Board may resolve that all or any part of the capitalised amount is to be applied: |
(1) | in paying up in full, at an issue price decided by the Board, any unissued shares in or other securities of the Company; |
(2) | in paying up any amounts unpaid on shares or other securities held by the members; |
(3) | partly as specified in article 4.2(b)(1) and partly as specified in article 4.2(b)(2); or |
(4) | any other method permitted by law. |
(c) | Articles 4.1(f), 4.1(g), 4.1(h), and 4.1(s) apply, so far as they can and with any necessary changes, to capitalising an amount under this article 4.2 as if references in those articles to: |
(1) | a dividend were references to capitalising an amount; and |
(2) | a record date were references to the date the Board resolves to capitalise the amount under this article 4.2. |
(d) | Where the terms of options (existing at the date the resolution referred to in article 4.2(b) is passed) entitle the holder to an issue of bonus shares under this article 4.2, the Board may in determining the number of unissued shares to be so issued, allow in an appropriate manner for the future issue of bonus shares to options holders. |
Ancillary powers |
(a) | To give effect to any resolution to reduce the capital of the Company, to satisfy a dividend as set out in article 4.1(i)(1) or to capitalise any amount under article 4.2, the Board may settle as it thinks expedient any difficulty that arises in making the distribution or capitalisation and, in particular: |
(1) | make cash payments in cases where members are entitled to fractions of shares or other securities; |
(2) | decide that amounts or fractions of less than a particular value decided by the Board may be disregarded to adjust the rights of all parties; |
(3) | fix the value for distribution of any specific assets; |
(4) | pay cash or issue shares or other securities to any member to adjust the rights of all parties; |
(5) | vest any of those specific assets, cash, shares or other securities in a trustee on trust for the persons entitled to the distribution or capitalised amount; and |
(6) | authorise any person to make, on behalf of all the members entitled to any specific assets, cash, shares or other securities as a result of the distribution or capitalisation, an agreement with the Company or another person which provides, as appropriate, for the distribution or issue to them of shares or other securities credited as fully paid up or for payment by the Company on their behalf of the amounts or any part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing shares or other securities by applying their respective proportions of the amount resolved to be distributed or capitalised. |
(b) | Any agreement made under an authority referred to in article 4.3(a)(6) is effective and binds all members concerned. |
(c) | If a distribution, transfer or issue of specific assets, shares or securities to a particular member or members is, in the Board’s discretion, considered impracticable or would give rise to parcels of securities that do not constitute a marketable parcel, the Board may make a cash payment to those members or allocate the assets, shares or securities to a trustee to be sold on behalf of, and for the benefit of, those members, instead of making the distribution, transfer or issue to those members. Any proceeds receivable by members under this article 4.3(c) will be net of expenses incurred by the Company and trustee in selling the relevant assets, shares or securities. |
(d) | If the Company distributes to members (either generally or to specific members) securities in the Company or in another body corporate or trust (whether as a dividend or otherwise and whether or not for value), each of those members appoints the Company as such member’s agent to do anything needed to give effect to that distribution, including agreeing to become a member of that other body corporate. |
Reserves |
(a) | The Board may set aside out of the Company’s profits any reserves or provisions it decides. |
(b) | The Board may appropriate to the Company’s profits any amount previously set aside as a reserve or provision. |
(c) | Setting aside an amount as a reserve or provision does not require the Board to keep the amount separate from the Company’s other assets or prevent the amount being used in the Company’s business or being invested as the Board decides. |
Carrying forward profits |
Transfer of shares |
Form of transfer |
(a) | Subject to the following articles about the transfer of shares, a member may transfer any certificated shares or, Uncertificated shares in accordance with the CREST Order, to another person by completing an instrument of transfer, in a common form or in a form approved by the directors, executed: |
(1) | where the shares are fully paid, by or on behalf of that member; and |
(2) | where the shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that member and the transferee. |
(b) | Subject to the provisions of the CREST Order the transferor of a share is deemed to remain the holder until the name of the transferee is entered in the register in respect of it. |
Transfers of uncertificated shares |
(a) | The Company shall register the transfer of any shares held in Uncertificated form by means of a relevant system in accordance with the Companies Law and the CREST Order and the rules of the relevant system. |
(b) | The Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register any transfer of an Uncertificated share where permitted by these articles, the Companies Law and the CREST Order. |
Transfers of certificated shares |
(a) | An instrument of transfer of a certificated share may be in any usual form or in any other form which the Board may approve and shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (except in the case of a fully paid share) by or on behalf of the transferee. |
(b) | The Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register any instrument of transfer of a certificated share: |
(1) | which is not fully paid up but, in the case of a class of shares which has been admitted to trading on the Designated Stock Exchange, not so as to prevent dealings in those shares from taking place on an open and proper basis; |
(2) | on which the Company has a lien; or |
(3) | as otherwise required by applicable law. |
(c) | The Board may also refuse to register any instrument of transfer of a certificated share unless it is: |
(1) | left at the registered office of the Company, or at such other place as the Board may decide, for registration; |
(2) | accompanied by the certificate for the shares to be transferred and such other evidence (if any) as the Board may reasonably require to prove the title of the intending transferor or his right to transfer the shares; and |
(3) | in respect of only one class of shares. |
Power to suspend registration |
(a) | The Board may suspend registration of the transfer of shares at such times and for such periods (not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year) as it determines. |
(b) | The registration of transfers of shares or of transfers of any class of shares may be suspended at such times and for such periods (not exceeding 30 days in any year) as the Board may determine in its discretion. Unless otherwise permitted by the CREST Order, the Company may not close any register relating to a participating security without the consent of the approved operator of the relevant system. |
Fee, if any, payable for registration |
(a) | If the Board so decides, the Company may charge a reasonable fee for the registration of any instrument of transfer or other document relating to the title to a share. |
Company may retain instrument of transfer |
(a) | The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the Board refuses to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given. |
Transmission of shares |
(a) | Subject to article 5.7(c), where a member dies, the only persons the Company will recognise as having any title to the member’s shares or any benefits accruing on those shares are: |
(1) | where the deceased was a sole holder, the legal personal representative of the deceased; and |
(2) | where the deceased was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors. |
(b) | Article 5.7(a) does not release the estate of a deceased member from any liability on a share, whether that share was held by the deceased solely or jointly with other persons. |
(c) | The Board may register a transfer of shares signed by a member before a Transmission Event even though the Company has notice of the Transmission Event. |
(d) | A person who becomes entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event may, on producing such evidence as the Board requires to prove that person’s entitlement to the share, choose: |
(1) | to be registered as the holder of the share by signing and giving the Company a written notice stating that choice; or |
(2) | to nominate some other person to be registered as the transferee of the share by executing or effecting in some other way a transfer of the share to that other person. |
(e) | The provisions of these articles concerning the right to transfer shares and the registration of transfers of shares apply, so far as they can and with any necessary changes, to a notice or transfer under article 5.7(d) as if the relevant Transmission Event had not occurred and the notice or transfer were executed or effected by the registered holder of the share. |
(f) | Where two (2) or more persons are jointly entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event they will, on being registered as the holders of the share, be taken to hold the share as joint tenants and article 2.13 will apply to them. |
Disclosure of interests |
Tracing notices |
(a) | The Company may give notice to any person whom the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe: |
(1) | to hold an interest (as defined in article 6.2(i)(4)) in the Company’s shares (of a class of shares admitted to trading); or |
(2) | to have held an interest in the Company’s shares (of a class of shares admitted to trading) at any time during the three (3) years immediately preceding the date on which on which the notice is issued. |
(b) | The notice may require the person: |
(1) | to confirm that such person holds such an interest in the Company’s shares or (as the case may be) to state whether or not it is the case, and |
(2) | if such person holds, or has during that time held, any such interest, to give such further information as may be required in accordance with the following provisions of this article 6.1. |
(c) | The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed to give particulars of the person’s own present or past interest in the Company’s shares held by such person at any time during the three (3) year period mentioned above. |
(d) | The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed, where: |
(1) | such person’s interest is a present interest and another interest in the shares subsists, or |
(2) | another interest in the shares subsisted during the three (3) year period mentioned above at a time when such person’s interest subsisted, to give, to the best of such person’s knowledge, such particulars with respect to that other interest as are required by the notice. |
(e) | The particulars referred to in articles 6.1(c) and 6.1(d) include: |
(1) | the identity of any person who holds an interest in the shares in question; and |
(2) | the terms of any agreement or arrangement to which any person who holds an interest in such shares is or was party: |
(A) | relating to the exercise of any right conferred by the shares or the acquisition of any interest in the shares; or |
(B) | which constitutes a Derivative Security. |
(f) | The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed, where the person’s interest is a past interest, to give (to the best of such person’s knowledge) particulars of the identity of the person who held that interest immediately upon the person ceasing to hold it. |
(g) | The information required by the notice must be given within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice. |
Failure to Respond |
(a) | If a member, or any other person appearing to have an interest in shares held by that member, has been given a notice under article 6.1 and has failed in relation to any shares (the Default Shares) to give the Company the information thereby required within three (3) Business Days from the time reasonably specified in the notice, the following sanctions shall apply, unless the Board otherwise determines in relation to the Default Shares: |
(1) | the member shall not be entitled in respect of the Default Shares to be present or to vote (either in person or by representative or proxy) at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares or on any poll, or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in respect of the Default Shares in relation to any such meeting or poll; |
(2) | any dividend (or other distribution) payable in respect of the Default Shares shall be withheld by the Company (without interest) and the member shall not be entitled to elect to receive shares instead of any such dividend (or other distribution); and |
(3) | no transfer, other than an excepted transfer, of any shares held by the member may be registered unless: |
(i) | the member is not in default as regards supplying the information required; and |
(ii) | the member proves to the satisfaction of the Board that no person in default as regards supplying such information has an interest in any of the shares the subject of the transfer. |
(b) | In support of article 6.2(a), the Board may, at any time while sanctions under article 6.2(a) apply in relation to any shares, effect a transfer of the shares (or any interest in them) in favour of such nominee as specified by the Board. |
(c) | Where any person appearing to have an interest in the Default Shares has been duly served with a notice or copy thereof and the Default Shares which are the subject of such notice are held by a person holding shares or rights or interests in shares in the Company on a nominee basis who has been determined by the Company to be an approved nominee (an Approved Nominee): |
(1) | the provisions of this article 6 shall be treated as applying only to such Default Shares held by the Approved Nominee and not (insofar as such person’s apparent interest is concerned) to any other shares held by the Approved Nominee; and |
(2) | where the member upon whom a default notice is served is an Approved Nominee acting in its capacity as such, the obligations of the Approved Nominee as a member of the Company are limited to disclosing to the Company such information as is known to it relating to any person appearing to have an interest in the shares held by it. |
(d) | Where the sanctions under article 6.2(a) apply in relation to any shares, they shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of seven (7) days (or such shorter period as the Board may determine) following the earlier of: |
(1) | receipt by the Company of the information required by the notice mentioned in that article; and |
(2) | receipt by the Company of notice that the shares have been transferred by means of an excepted transfer. |
(e) | The Board may in its absolute discretion suspend or cancel any of the sanctions at any time in relation to any Default Shares. |
(f) | Upon sanctions ceasing to have effect in relation to any shares, any dividend withheld in respect of the shares must be paid to the relevant member and, if the Board has effected a transfer under article 6.2(b), the shares must be transferred back to the previous holder. |
(g) | Any new shares in the Company issued in right of Default Shares shall be subject to the same sanctions as apply to the Default Shares, and the Board may make any right to an allotment of the new shares subject to sanctions corresponding to those which will apply to those shares on issue, provided that: |
(1) | any sanctions applying to, or to a right to, new shares by virtue of this article 6.2 shall cease to have effect when the sanctions applying to the related Default Shares cease to have effect (and shall be suspended or cancelled if and to the extent that the sanctions applying to the related Default Shares are suspended or cancelled); and |
(2) | article 6.2(a) shall apply to the exclusion of this article 6.2(g) if the Company gives a separate notice under article 6.1 in relation to the new shares. |
(h) | Where, on the basis of information obtained from a member in respect of any shares held by such member, the Company gives a notice under article 6.1 to any other person, it shall at the same time send a copy of the notice to the member. The accidental omission to do so, or the non-receipt by the member of the copy, shall, however, not invalidate or otherwise affect the application of article 6.2. |
(i) | For the purposes of articles 6.1 and 6.2: |
(1) | an excepted transfer means, in relation to any shares held by a member: |
(A) | a transfer pursuant to acceptance of a takeover offer (within the meaning of article 116 of the Companies Law) in respect of shares in the Company; |
(B) | a transfer in consequence of a sale made through any stock exchange on which the shares are normally traded; or |
(C) | a transfer which is shown to the satisfaction of the Board to be made in consequence of a sale of the whole of the beneficial interest in the shares to a person who is unconnected with the member and with any other person appearing to be interested in the shares; |
(3) | a person, other than the member holding a share, will be treated as appearing to have an interest in such share if the member has informed the Company that the person has, or might have, an interest in such share, or if the Company (after taking account of any information obtained from the member or, pursuant to a notice under article 6.1, from anyone else) knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person has, or may have, an interest in such share; |
(4) | a person shall be treated as having an interest in the Company’s shares if, for the purposes of sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Exchange Act, the person would be deemed to constitute a beneficial owner of the share (which shall include holding a CDI); and |
(5) | reference to a person having failed to give the Company the information required by a notice, includes reference to: |
(A) | the person having failed or refused to give all or any part of it; |
(B) | the person having given any information which the person knows to be false in a material particular or having recklessly given information which is false in a material particular; and |
(C) | the Company knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that any of the information provided is false or materially incorrect. |
(e) | Nothing in article 6.2 limits the powers of the Company under article 6.1 or any other powers of the Company whatsoever. |
General meetings |
Calling general meetings |
(a) | A general meeting may only be called: |
(1) | by a Board resolution; or |
(2) | as otherwise required by the Companies Law. |
(b) | The Board may, by public announcement, change the venue for, postpone or cancel a general meeting, but: |
(1) | a meeting that is called in accordance with a members’ requisition under the Companies Law; or |
(2) | any other meeting that is not called by a Board resolution, |
(c) | At an annual general meeting, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board shall be considered and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual general meeting, nominations and other business must be a proper matter for member action and must be: |
(1) | specified in the notice of general meeting given by or at the direction of the Board in accordance with article 7.2; |
(2) | brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or a duly authorised committee thereof; or |
(3) | otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a member who: |
(A) | is a member of record of the Company (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed or such nomination(s) are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Company) both at the time the notice provided for in article 7.3 is delivered to the general counsel of the Company and on the record date for the determination of members entitled to vote at the general meeting, |
(B) | is entitled to vote at the meeting, and |
(C) | complies with the procedures and requirements set forth in article 7.3. |
(d) | Except as otherwise provided by the Companies Law, at an extraordinary general meeting, only such business may be conducted as is a proper matter for member action and as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of general meeting given by or at the direction of the Board in accordance with article 7.2. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Board from submitting matters to the members at any extraordinary general meeting requested by members. |
(e) | Further, if the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such extraordinary general meeting, then nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made: |
(1) | by or at the direction of the Board or by the general counsel; or |
(2) | by any member of the Company who satisfies each of the requirements set forth in subclauses (A), (B) and (C) of article 7.1(c)(3) above. |
Notice of general meetings |
(a) | Subject to the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange (including any rules relating to the settlement of transfers of securities), notice of a general meeting must be given to each person who at the time of giving the notice: |
(1) | is a member or auditor of the Company; or |
(2) | is entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event and has provided evidence of such entitlement that is satisfactory to the Board. |
(b) | The annual general meeting shall be designated as such and all other general meetings shall be designated extraordinary general meetings. |
(c) | The content of a notice of a general meeting called by the Board is to be decided by the Board, but it must state the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting and any other matters required by the Companies Law. |
(d) | Except with the approval of the Board or the chairperson, no person may move any amendment to a proposed resolution or to a document that relates to such a resolution. |
(e) | A person may waive notice of any general meeting by written notice to the Company. |
(f) | Failure to give a member or any other person notice of a general meeting or a proxy form does not invalidate anything done or any resolution passed at the general meeting if: |
(1) | the failure occurred by accident or inadvertent error; |
(2) | before or after the meeting, the person notifies the Company of the person’s agreement to that thing or resolution; or |
(3) | such failure is waived in accordance with article 7.2(g). |
(g) | A person’s attendance at a general meeting waives any objection that person may have to: |
(1) | a failure to give notice, or the giving of a defective notice, of the meeting unless the person at the beginning of the meeting objects to the holding of the meeting; and |
(2) | the consideration of a particular matter at the meeting which is not within the business referred to in the notice of the meeting, unless the person objects to considering the matter when it is presented. |
Nominations and Proposals by Members |
(a) | For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual general meeting by a member in accordance with article 7.1(c)(3), the member must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the general counsel of the Company even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the members or public announcement from the Board. |
(b) | To be timely in the case of an annual general meeting, a member’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company or such other place designated by the Company for such purposes, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual general meeting (provided, however, that in the event that there was no annual general meeting in the prior year or the date of the annual general meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than ninety (90) days after such anniversary date, notice by the member must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual general meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual general meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company). |
(c) | In the event the Company calls an extraordinary general meeting for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any member who is (i) a member of record of the Company (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination(s) are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Company) both at the time the notice provided for in article 7.3 is delivered to the general counsel of the Company and on the record date for the determination of members entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting and (ii) entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Company’s notice of general meeting, if the member complies with the procedures and requirements set forth in this article 7.3. To be timely, such notice shall be delivered to the Company’s general counsel at the principal executive offices of the Company not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such extraordinary general meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such extraordinary general meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the extraordinary general meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. |
(d) | In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of a general meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a member’s notice as described in these articles. |
(e) | The number of nominees a member may nominate for election at a general meeting shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such general meeting, and for the avoidance of doubt, no member shall be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the applicable time periods. |
(f) | A member’s notice providing for the nomination of persons for election to the Board or other business proposed to be brought before a general meeting shall set out, as to the member giving the notice the following information, in each case as of the date of such member’s notice: |
(1) | the name and address of such member, as they appear on the Company’s books, and of each of its Member Associated Persons; |
(2) | the class or series and number of shares of the Company which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (provided that a person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series and number of shares of the Company as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future) and owned of record by such member or any of its Member Associated Persons; |
(3) | the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, or similar rights, obligations or commitments with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class |
(4) | any agreement, arrangement, understanding, or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such member or any of its Member Associated Persons, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such member or Member Associated Person with respect to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company, or that provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series or shares or other securities of the Company; |
(5) | a complete and accurate description of any performance-related fees (other than asset-based fees) to which such member or any Member Associated Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of the Company’s securities or any Derivative Securities, including any such fees to which members of any Member Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household may be entitled; |
(6) | a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Company that such member or any of its Member Associated Persons has; |
(7) | any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such member or any of its Member Associated Persons has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Company; |
(8) | any direct or indirect interest of such member or any of its Member Associated Persons in any contract with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any principal competitor of the Company (a list of which will be provided by the Company following a written request therefor by the member to the general counsel of the Company) (including, without limitation, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); |
(9) | any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company owned beneficially by such member or any of its Member Associated Persons that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company; |
(10) | any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such member or any of its Member Associated Persons is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any; |
(11) | a description of all agreements, arrangements, and understandings between such member or any of its Member Associated Persons and any other person(s) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of shares of the Company or Derivative Securities; |
(12) | all other information relating to such member or any of its Member Associated Persons that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, such business or the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; |
(13) | all other information that, as of the date of the notice, would be required to be included in a filing with respect to the Company on Schedule 13D (including the exhibits thereto) under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto) by such member or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made; |
(14) | the identification of the names and addresses of other members (including beneficial owners) known by such member to support the nomination(s) or other business proposal(s) submitted by such member and, to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Company owned beneficially or of record by such other members(s) or other beneficial owner(s); |
(15) | a statement as to whether either such member or any of its Member Associated Persons intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such member’s nominees and/or approve such proposal (as applicable) and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the members in support of such nomination or proposal (as applicable) and/or solicit the holders of shares in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act; |
(16) | a representation that the member is a holder of record or a beneficial owner of shares of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy, attorney or Representative at the meeting to propose such nomination and/or other business (as applicable); and |
(17) | such additional information that the Company may reasonably request regarding such member or any of its Member Associated Persons. |
(g) | A member’s notice providing for the nomination of persons for election to the Board shall, in addition to the information required by clause (f) above, set out, as to each person whom the member proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director: |
(1) | such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; |
(2) | a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other agreements, arrangements and understandings, and any other material relationships, between or among such member or any of its Member Associated Persons, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee or its affiliates or associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the member making the nomination or any of its Member Associated Persons were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant or such Member Associated Person; |
(3) | a completed and signed questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of such person to serve as a director, in a form to be provided by the Company after receiving a request by such member to the general counsel of the Company; |
(4) | all information with respect to such person that would be required to be set forth in a member’s notice pursuant to this article 7.3 if such person were a member or beneficial owner, on whose behalf the nomination was made, submitting a notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Company in accordance with this article 7.3; |
(5) | such person’s written representation and agreement (in a form to be provided by the Company after receiving a request by such member to the general counsel of the Company): |
(A) | that such person is not and will not become party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Company or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, |
(B) | that such person is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Company, |
(C) | that such person would, if elected as a director, comply with all of the Company’s corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality and share ownership and trading policies and guidelines applicable generally to the Company’s directors (such policies and guidelines to be provided by the Company upon written request to the general counsel of the Company); |
(D) | that such person will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Company and its members that are or will be true and correct and that do not and will not omit to state any fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and |
(E) | that such person will tender his or her resignation as a director of the Company if the Board determines that such person failed to comply with the provisions of such representation and agreement in any material respect, provides such person notice of any such determination and, if such non-compliance may be cured, such person fails to cure such non-compliance within ten (10) Business Days after delivery of such notice to such person. |
(6) | all other information relating to such person or such person’s associates that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made by such member or any Member Associated Person in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election or otherwise required pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and |
(7) | such additional information that the Company may reasonably request to determine the eligibility or qualifications of such person to serve as a director or an independent director of the Company, or that could be material to a reasonable member’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee as a director. |
(h) | A member’s notice regarding business proposed to be brought before a general meeting other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board shall, in addition to the information required by clause (f) above, set out: |
(1) | a brief description of: |
(A) | the business desired to be brought before such meeting, including the text of any resolution proposed for consideration by the members; |
(B) | the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and |
(C) | any material interest of such member or any of its Member Associated Persons in such business, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such member or Member Associated Person and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the member, |
(2) | if the matter such member proposes to bring before any general meeting involves an amendment to the Company’s memorandum or articles of association, the specific wording of such proposed amendment, and |
(3) | such additional information that the Company may reasonably request regarding the business that such member proposes to bring before the meeting. |
(i) | The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act if a member has notified the Company of its intention to present such proposal at an annual general meeting in compliance with such rule and such member’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for such annual general meeting. |
(j) | For purposes of this article 7.3, the term associate shall be as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. |
(k) | For purposes of this article 7.3, a Member Associated Person of any member submitting a proposal or nomination pursuant to this article 7 means: |
(1) | any beneficial owner of shares of the Company on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made by such member; |
(2) | any affiliate or associate of such member or such beneficial owner described in clause (1); |
(3) | any person or entity who is a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision at law)) with, or any person acting in concert in respect of any matter involving the Company or its securities with, either such member or such beneficial owner described in clause (1); |
(4) | any member of the immediate family of such member or such beneficial owner described in clause (1); |
(5) | any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such member, such beneficial owner described in clause (1) or any other Member Associated Person with respect to any proposed business or nominations, as applicable; and |
(6) | each person whom the member proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director. |
(l) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these articles, a member shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this article 7.3, including Rule 14a-19. |
(m) | Nothing in this article 7.3 shall be deemed to: |
(1) | affect any rights of members to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act (including, without limitation, Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act); |
(2) | confer upon any member a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Company’s proxy statement; or |
(3) | affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred shares to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of these articles. |
(n) | The Board may require any proposed nominee to submit to interviews with the Board or any committee thereof, and such proposed nominee shall make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten (10) days following such request. |
(o) | The member providing notice pursuant to this section shall confirm or update the information contained in such member’s notice, if necessary, (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the notice of the meeting so that such information is true and correct as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) Business Days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof so that such information is true and correct as of the date that is ten (10) Business Days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) Business Days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement). For the avoidance of doubt, any information provided pursuant to this article 7.3(o) shall not be deemed to cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies in a notice previously delivered pursuant to this article 7.3 and shall not extend the time period for the delivery of notice pursuant to this article 7.3. If a member fails to provide such written update within such period, the information as to which such written update relates may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this article 7.3. |
(p) | If any information submitted pursuant to this article 7.3 by any member shall be inaccurate in any material respect (as determined by the Board or a committee thereof), such information shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this article 7.3. Any member providing notice pursuant to this article 7.3 shall notify the general counsel of the Company in writing at the principal executive offices of the Company of any inaccuracy or change in any information submitted pursuant to this article 7.3 (including if any member or any Member Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies from the Company’s members) within two (2) Business Days after becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change, and any such |
(q) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this article 7.3, if the member (or a qualified representative of the member) does not appear at the general meeting of the Company to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business must not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company. |
(r) | For purposes of this article 7.3, to be considered a qualified representative of the member, a person must be a duly authorised officer, manager or partner of such member or must be authorised by a writing executed by such member or an electronic transmission delivered by such member to act for such member as proxy at the general meeting and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the general meeting. |
(s) | Any member and each of its Member Associated Persons soliciting proxies from other members must use a proxy card color other than white, which color shall be reserved for the exclusive use of the Board. |
(t) | The chairperson of the Board shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before a general meeting was made or proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in article 7.3 (including whether the member or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (or is part of a group which solicited) did or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such member’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such member’s representation as required by article 7.3(f)) and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with article 7.3, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded. |
(u) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this article 7.3, unless otherwise required by law, if (x) any member or Member Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to any proposed nominee and (y) such member or Member Associated Person subsequently notifies the Company that it no longer intends to solicit proxies in support of the election or re-election of such proposed nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act or fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Company that such member or Member Associated Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence) and (2) no other member or Member Associated Person has provided notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to such proposed nominee and has complied with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (or has failed to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Company that such member or Member Associated Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence), then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Company (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). Upon request by the Company, if any member provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act, such member shall deliver to the Company, no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act. |
Record time for members |
(a) | For the purpose of determining whether a person is entitled as a member to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting and how many votes such person may cast, the Company may specify in the notice of the |
(b) | Changes to the entries in the register of members of the Company after the Record Time shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to receive notice of, attend or vote at such meeting. |
(c) | The Record Time applies to any adjournment or postponement of the meeting, unless the Company determines a new record time for the adjourned or postponed meeting. |
Admission to general meetings |
(a) | The chairperson of a general meeting may take any action he or she considers appropriate for the safety of persons attending the meeting and the orderly conduct of the meeting and may refuse admission to, or require to leave and remain out of, the meeting any person: |
(1) | in possession of a pictorial-recording or sound-recording device; |
(2) | in possession of a placard or banner; |
(3) | in possession of an article considered by the chairperson to be dangerous, offensive or liable to cause disruption; |
(4) | who refuses to produce or permit examination of any article, or the contents of any article, in the person’s possession; |
(5) | who refuses to comply with a request to turn off a mobile telephone, personal communication device or similar device; |
(6) | who behaves or threatens to behave or who the chairperson has reasonable grounds to believe may behave in a dangerous, offensive or disruptive way; or |
(7) | who is not entitled to receive notice of the meeting. |
(b) | A person, whether a member or not, requested by the Board or the chairperson to attend a general meeting is entitled to be present and, at the request of the chairperson, to speak at the meeting. |
(c) | If the chairperson of a general meeting considers that there is not enough room for the members who wish to attend the meeting, he or she may arrange for any person whom he or she considers cannot be seated in the main meeting room to observe or attend the general meeting in a separate room. Even if the members present in the separate room are not able to participate in the conduct of the meeting, the meeting will nevertheless be treated as validly held in the main room. |
(d) | A separate meeting place may be linked to the main place of a general meeting by an instantaneous audio-visual communication device which, by itself or in conjunction with other arrangements: |
(1) | gives the member or general body of members in the separate meeting place a reasonable opportunity to participate in proceedings in the main place; |
(2) | enables the chairperson to be aware of proceedings in the other place; and |
(3) | enables the member or members in the separate meeting place to vote on a poll, |
(e) | If, before or during the meeting, any technical difficulty occurs where one or more of the matters set out in article 7.5(d) is not satisfied, the chairperson may: |
(1) | adjourn the meeting until the difficulty is remedied; or |
(2) | continue to hold the meeting in the main place (and any other place which is linked under article 7.5(d)) and transact business, and no member may object to the meeting being held or continuing. |
(f) | Nothing in this article 7.5 or in article 7.8 is to be taken to limit the powers conferred on the chairperson by law. |
Quorum at general meetings |
(a) | No business may be transacted at a general meeting, except the election of a chairperson and the adjournment of the meeting, unless a quorum of members is present when the meeting proceeds to business. |
(b) | A quorum is persons holding or representing by proxy, attorney or Representative at least a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting. |
(c) | If a quorum is not present within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for the general meeting: |
(1) | where the meeting was called at the request of members, the meeting must be dissolved; or |
(2) | in any other case, the meeting stands adjourned to the day, time and place the directors present decide or, if they do not make a decision, to the same day in the next week at the same time and place and if a quorum is not present at the adjourned meeting within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting must be dissolved. |
Chairperson of general meetings |
(a) | The chairperson of the Board or, in the absence of the chairperson, the deputy chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Company or any such other person as the chairperson, deputy chairperson or chief executive officer may appoint, is entitled, if present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for a general meeting and willing to act, to preside as chairperson at the meeting. |
(b) | The directors present may choose any officer or director of the Company to preside as chairperson if, at a general meeting, the chairperson, deputy chairperson or chief executive officer is not present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for the meeting and another person has not otherwise been appointed pursuant to article 7.7(a). |
(c) | If the directors do not choose a chairperson under article 7.7(b), the members present must elect as chairperson of the meeting: |
(1) | another director who is present and willing to act; or |
(2) | if no other director is present and willing to act, a member or officer of the Company who is present and willing to act. |
(d) | A chairperson of a general meeting may, for any item of business or discrete part of the meeting, vacate the chair in favour of another person nominated by him or her (Acting Chairperson). Where an instrument of proxy appoints the chairperson as proxy for part of the proceedings for which an Acting Chairperson has been nominated, the instrument of proxy is taken to be in favour of the Acting Chairperson for the relevant part of the proceedings. |
(e) | Wherever the term ‘chairperson’ is used in this article 7, it is to be read as a reference to the chairperson of the general meeting, unless the context indicates otherwise. |
Conduct at general meetings |
(a) | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the chairperson is responsible for the general conduct of the meeting and for the procedures to be adopted at the meeting. |
(b) | The chairperson may, at any time the chairperson considers it necessary or desirable for the efficient and orderly conduct of the meeting: |
(1) | impose a limit on the time that a person may speak on each motion or other item of business and terminate debate or discussion on any business, question, motion or resolution being considered by the meeting and require the business, question, motion or resolution to be put to a vote of the members present; |
(2) | adopt any procedures for casting or recording votes at the meeting whether on a show of hands or on a poll, including the appointment of scrutineers; and |
(3) | decide not to put to the meeting any resolution proposed in the notice convening the meeting (other than a resolution proposed by members in accordance with the Companies Law or required by the Companies Law to be put to the meeting). |
(c) | A decision by a chairperson under articles 7.8(a) or 7.8(b) is final. |
(d) | Subject to article 7.1(b), whether or not a quorum is present, the chairperson may postpone the meeting before it has started if, at the time and place appointed for the meeting, he or she considers that: |
(1) | there is not enough room for the number of members who wish to attend the meeting; or |
(2) | a postponement is necessary in light of the behaviour of persons present or for any other reason so that the business of the meeting can be properly carried out. |
(e) | A postponement under article 7.8(d) will be to another time, which may be on the same day as the meeting, and may be to another place (and the new time and place will be taken to be the time and place for the meeting as if specified in the notice that called the meeting originally). |
(f) | Subject to article 7.1(b), the chairperson may at any time during the course of the meeting: |
(1) | adjourn the meeting or any business, motion, question or resolution being considered or remaining to be considered by the meeting either to a later time at the same meeting or to an adjourned meeting; and |
(2) | for the purpose of allowing any poll to be taken or determined, suspend the proceedings of the meeting for such period or periods as he or she decides without effecting an adjournment. No business may be transacted and no discussion may take place during any suspension of proceedings unless the chairperson otherwise allows. |
(g) | The chairperson’s rights under articles 7.8(d) and 7.8(f) are exclusive and, unless the chairperson requires otherwise, no vote may be taken or demanded by the members present concerning any postponement, adjournment or suspension of proceedings. |
(h) | Only unfinished business may be transacted at a meeting resumed after an adjournment. |
(i) | Where a meeting is postponed or adjourned under this article 7.8, notice of the postponed or adjourned meeting must be given by public announcement, but need not be given to any other person. |
(j) | Where a meeting is postponed or adjourned, the Board may, by public announcement, postpone, cancel or change the place of the postponed or adjourned meeting. |
Decisions at general meetings |
(a) | Except where a special resolution or another percentage is required, questions arising at a general meeting must be decided by a majority of votes cast by the members present at the meeting. A decision made in this way is for all purposes, a decision of the members. |
(b) | If the votes are equal on a proposed resolution, the chairperson of the meeting has a casting vote, in addition to any deliberative vote. |
(c) | Each matter submitted to a general meeting is to be decided on a poll. |
(d) | A poll at a general meeting must be taken in the way and at the time the chairperson directs. The result of the poll as declared by the chairperson is the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
Voting rights |
(a) | Subject to these articles and the Companies Law and to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares, at a general meeting, every member present has one vote for each share held as at the Record Time by the member entitling the member to vote, except for partly paid shares, each of which confers only the fraction of one vote which the amount paid (not credited) on the share bears to the total amounts paid and payable (excluding amounts credited) on the share. An amount paid in advance of a call is disregarded for this purpose. |
(b) | A joint holder may vote at a meeting either personally or by proxy, attorney or Representative as if that person was the sole holder. If more than one joint holder tenders a vote in respect of the relevant shares, the vote of the holder named first in the register who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, attorney or Representative, must be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders. |
(c) | The parent or guardian of an infant member may vote at any general meeting on such evidence being produced of the relationship or of the appointment of the guardian as the Board may require and any vote so tendered by a parent or guardian of an infant member must be accepted to the exclusion of the vote of the infant member. |
(d) | A person entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event may vote at a general meeting in respect of that share in the same way as if that person were the registered holder of the share if, at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting (or such shorter time as the Board determines), the Board: |
(1) | admitted that person’s right to vote at that meeting in respect of the share; or |
(2) | was satisfied of that person’s right to be registered as the holder of, or to transfer, the share. |
(e) | Where a member holds a share on which a call or other amount payable to the Company has not been duly paid: |
(1) | that member is only entitled to be present at a general meeting and vote if that member holds, as at the Record Time, other shares on which no money is then due and payable; and |
(2) | on a poll, that member is not entitled to vote in respect of that share but may vote in respect of any shares that member holds, as at the Record Time, on which no money is then due and payable. |
(f) | A member is not entitled to vote any particular shares on a resolution if, under the Companies Law or the Listing Rules: |
(1) | the member must not vote or must abstain from voting those particular shares on the resolution; or |
(2) | a vote of those particular shares on the resolution by the member must be disregarded for any purposes. |
(g) | An objection to the validity of a vote tendered at a general meeting must be: |
(1) | raised before or immediately after the result of the vote is declared; and |
(2) | referred to the chairperson, whose decision is final. |
(h) | A vote tendered, but not disallowed by the chairperson under article 7.10(g), is valid for all purposes, even if it would not otherwise have been valid. |
(i) | The chairperson may decide any difficulty or dispute which arises as to the number of votes that may be cast by or on behalf of any member and the decision of the chairperson is final. |
Representation at general meetings |
(a) | Subject to these articles, each member entitled to vote at a general meeting may vote: |
(1) | in person or, where a member is a body corporate, by its Representative; |
(2) | by proxy; or |
(3) | by attorney. |
(b) | A proxy, attorney or Representative may, but need not, be a member of the Company. |
(c) | An instrument appointing a proxy is valid if it is in accordance with the Companies Law or in any form approved by the Board. |
(d) | A vote given in accordance with an instrument appointing a proxy or attorney is valid despite the transfer of the share in respect of which the instrument was given if the transfer is not registered by the time at which the instrument appointing the proxy or attorney is required to be received under article 7.11(h). |
(e) | Unless otherwise provided in the appointment of a proxy, attorney or Representative, an appointment will be taken to confer authority: |
(1) | even though the appointment may refer to specific resolutions and may direct the proxy, attorney or Representative how to vote on those resolutions, to do any of the acts specified in article 7.11(f); and |
(2) | even though the appointment may refer to a specific meeting to be held at a specified time or venue, where the meeting is rescheduled, adjourned or postponed to another time or changed to another venue, to attend and vote at the rescheduled, adjourned or postponed meeting or at the new venue. |
(f) | The acts referred to in article 7.11(e)(1) are: |
(1) | to vote on any amendment moved to the proposed resolutions and on any motion that the proposed resolutions not be put or any similar motion; |
(2) | to vote on any motion before the general meeting, whether or not the motion is referred to in the appointment; and |
(3) | to act generally at the meeting (including to speak, demand a poll, join in demanding a poll and to move motions). |
(g) | A proxy form issued by the Company must allow for the insertion of the name of the person to be primarily appointed as proxy and may provide that, in circumstances and on conditions specified in the form that are not inconsistent with these articles, the chairperson of the relevant meeting (or another person specified in the form) is appointed as proxy. |
(h) | A proxy or attorney may not vote at a general meeting or adjourned or postponed meeting or on a poll unless the instrument appointing the proxy or attorney, and the authority under which the instrument is signed or a certified copy of the authority, are received by the Company: |
(1) | at least forty-eight (48) hours, or such lesser time as specified by the Board in the notice of meeting, (or in the case of an adjournment or postponement of a meeting, any lesser time that the Board or the chairperson of the meeting decides) before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned or postponed meeting or taking the poll, as applicable; or |
(2) | where article 7.11(i)(2) applies, such shorter period before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned or postponed meeting or taking the poll, as applicable, as the Company determines in its discretion. |
(i) | Where the Company receives an instrument appointing a proxy or attorney in accordance with this article 7.11 and within the time period specified in article 7.11(h)(1), the Company is entitled to: |
(1) | clarify with the appointing member any instruction in relation to that instrument by written or verbal communication and make any amendments to the instrument required to reflect any clarification; and |
(2) | where the Company considers that the instrument has not been duly executed, return the instrument to the appointing member and request that the member duly execute the instrument and return it to the Company within the period determined by the Company under article 7.11(h)(2) and notified to the member. |
(j) | The member is taken to have appointed the Company as its attorney for the purpose of any amendments made to an instrument appointing a proxy in accordance with article 7.11(i)(1). An instrument appointing a proxy or attorney which is received by the Company in accordance with article 7.11(i)(2) is taken to have been validly received by the Company. |
(k) | The appointment of a proxy or attorney is not revoked by the appointor attending and taking part in the general meeting, but if the appointor votes on a resolution, the proxy or attorney is not entitled to vote, and must not vote, as the appointor’s proxy or attorney on the resolution. |
(l) | Unless written notice of the matter has been received at the Company’s registered office (or at another place specified for lodging an appointment of a proxy, attorney or Representative for the meeting) within the time period specified under articles 7.11(i) or 7.11(h) (as applicable), a vote cast by a proxy, attorney or Representative is valid even if, before the vote is cast: |
(1) | a Transmission Event occurs to the member; or |
(2) | the member revokes the appointment of the proxy, attorney or Representative or revokes the authority under which a third party appointed the proxy, attorney or Representative. |
(m) | The chairperson may require a person acting as a proxy, attorney or Representative to establish to the chairperson’s satisfaction that the person is the person duly appointed to act. If the person fails to satisfy the requirement, the chairperson may: |
(1) | exclude the person from attending or voting at the meeting; or |
(2) | permit the person to exercise the powers of a proxy, attorney or Representative on the condition that, if required by the Company, such person produce evidence of the appointment within the time set by the chairperson. |
(n) | The chairperson may delegate his or her powers under article 7.11(m) to any person. |
DTC System Voting Arrangements |
(a) | Subject to the Companies Law, for the purpose of facilitating the giving of voting instructions for any general meeting by any person who holds, or holds interests in, beneficial interests in shares that are held and traded in the DTC System: |
(1) | each DTC Proxy may appoint (whether by way of instrument of proxy, power of attorney, mandate or otherwise) more than one person as its proxy in respect of the same general meeting or resolution provided that the instrument of appointment shall specify the number of shares in respect of which the proxy is appointed and only one proxy may attend the general meeting and vote in respect of any one share; |
(2) | each DTC Proxy may appoint (by power of attorney, mandate or otherwise) an agent (including, without limitation, a proxy solicitation agent or similar person) for the purposes of obtaining voting instructions and submitting them to the Company on behalf of that DTC Proxy, whether in hard copy form or electronic form; |
(3) | each instrument of appointment made by a DTC Proxy or its agent shall, unless the Company is notified to the contrary in writing at least three hours before the start of the meeting (or adjourned meeting), be deemed to confer on the relevant proxy or agent the power and authority to appoint one or more sub proxies or sub agents or otherwise sub delegate any or all of its powers to any person; |
(4) | the Board may accept any instrument of appointment made by a DTC Proxy or its agent as sufficient evidence of the authority of that DTC Proxy or agent or require evidence of the authority under which any such appointment has been made; and |
(5) | the Board may, to give effect to the intent of this article 7.12: |
(A) | make such arrangements, either generally or in any particular case, as it thinks fit (including, without limitation, making or facilitating arrangements for the submission to the Company of voting instructions on behalf of DTC Proxies, whether in hard copy form or electronic form); |
(B) | make such regulations, either generally or in any particular case, as it thinks fit, whether in addition to, or in substitution for, any other provision of these articles; and |
(C) | do such other acts and things as it considers necessary or desirable (including, without limitation, approving the form of any instrument of appointment of proxy or agent, whether in hard copy form or electronic form). |
(b) | If any question arises at or in relation to a general meeting as to whether any person has been validly appointed as a proxy or agent by a DTC Proxy or its agent to vote (or exercise any other right) in respect of any shares: |
(1) | if the question arises at a general meeting, the question will be determined by the chairperson of the meeting in his or her sole discretion; or |
(2) | if the question arises otherwise than at a general meeting, the question will be determined by the Board in its sole discretion. |
No member action by written resolution |
Directors |
Appointment and retirement of directors |
(a) | The maximum number of directors is to be determined by the Board, but may not be more than fifteen (15). The Board may not determine a maximum which is less than the number of directors in office at the time the determination takes effect. |
(b) | The Board may appoint any eligible person to be a director, either as an addition to the existing directors or to fill a casual vacancy, but so that the total number of directors does not exceed the maximum number fixed under these articles. |
(c) | The Board or a committee of the Board shall not nominate for election or re-election as director any candidate who has not agreed to tender, promptly following the meeting at which he or she is elected as director, an irrevocable resignation that will be effective upon (i) the failure to receive the required number of votes for re-election at the next annual meeting of members at which he or she faces re-election, and (ii) acceptance of such resignation by the Board. |
(d) | Each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director at any meeting of the members called for the purpose of the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if as of a date that is fourteen (14) days in advance of the date the Company files its definitive proxy statement (regardless of whether or not thereafter revised or supplemented) with the Securities and Exchange Commission the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors generally. For purposes of this article 8.1(d), a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of votes “withheld” with respect to that director. |
(e) | If an incumbent director nominee fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election, within ninety (90) days after certification of the election results, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation or whether other action should be taken and the Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation. |
(f) | A director appointed by the Board under article 8.1(b) holds office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting following his or her appointment. |
(g) | Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding class or series of preferred shares, each director shall be elected at each annual general meeting and shall hold office until the next succeeding annual general meeting and until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, but subject to prior death, resignation, disqualification or removal from office. |
(h) | Where the number of persons validly proposed for election or re-election as a director is greater than the number of directors to be elected, the persons receiving the most votes (up to the number of directors to be elected) shall be elected as directors and an absolute majority of votes cast shall not be a pre-requisite to the election of such directors. |
(i) | The retirement of a director from office under these articles and the re-election of a director or the election of another person to that office (as the case may be) takes effect at the conclusion of the meeting at which the retirement and re-election or election occur. |
(j) | Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding class or series of preferred shares, any vacancy on the Board, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall only be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board then in office, even though fewer than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. |
Vacating office |
(a) | becomes prohibited or disqualified by applicable law from acting as a director of the Company; |
(b) | resigns by written notice to the Company; or |
(c) | is removed from office under article 8.3. |
Removal from office |
(a) | the director’s conviction (with a plea of nolo contendere deemed to be a conviction) of a serious felony involving moral turpitude or a violation of U.S. federal or state securities law, but excluding a conviction based entirely on vicarious liability; or |
(b) | the director’s commission of any material act of dishonesty (such as embezzlement) resulting or intended to result in material personal gain or enrichment of the director at the expense of the Company or any subsidiary and which act, if made the subject to criminal charges, would be reasonably likely to be charged as a felony, |
Remuneration |
(a) | Each director may be paid such remuneration out of the funds of the Company as the Board determines for his or her services as a director, including fees and reimbursement of expenses. |
(b) | Remuneration under article 8.4(a) may be provided in such manner that the Board decides, including by way of non-cash benefit, such as a contribution to a superannuation fund. |
(c) | Any director who performs extra services, makes any special exertions for the benefit of the Company or who otherwise performs services which, in the opinion of the Board, are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a non- executive director, may be remunerated for the services (as determined by the Board) out of the funds of the Company. |
Director need not be a member |
(a) | Unless the Board determines otherwise from time to time in its discretion, a director is not required to hold any shares in the Company to qualify for appointment. |
(b) | A director is entitled to attend and speak at general meetings and at meetings of the holders of a class of shares, even if he or she is not a member or a holder of shares in the relevant class. |
Directors may contract with the Company and hold other offices |
(a) | The Board may make regulations requiring the disclosure of interests that a director, and any person deemed by the Board to be related to or associated with the director, may have in any matter concerning the Company or a related body corporate. Any regulations made under these articles bind all directors. |
(b) | No act, transaction, agreement, instrument, resolution or other thing is invalid or voidable only because a person fails to comply with any regulation made under article 8.6(a). |
(c) | A director is not disqualified from contracting or entering into an arrangement with the Company as vendor, purchaser or in another capacity, merely because the director holds office as a director or because of the fiduciary obligations arising from that office. |
(d) | A contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which a director is in any way interested is not invalid or voidable merely because the director holds office as a director or because of the fiduciary obligations arising from that office. |
(e) | A director who is interested in any arrangement involving the Company is not liable to account to the Company for any profit realised under the arrangement merely because the director holds office as a director or because of the fiduciary obligations arising from that office. |
(f) | A director may hold any other office or position (except auditor) in the Company or any related body corporate in conjunction with his or her directorship and may be appointed to that office or position on terms (including remuneration and tenure) the Board decides. |
(g) | A director may be or become a director or other officer of, or interested in, any related body corporate or any other body corporate promoted by or associated with the Company, or in which the Company may be interested as a vendor, and need not account to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits the director receives as a director or officer of, or from having an interest in, that body corporate. |
(h) | A director who has an interest in a matter that is being considered at a meeting of the Board may, despite that interest, be present and be counted in a quorum at the meeting, unless that is prohibited by the Companies Law, but may not vote on the matter if such interest is one which to a material extent conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the Company and of which the director is aware, and in respect of any such matter the decision of the chairperson of the meeting shall be final. No act, transaction, agreement, instrument, resolution or other thing is invalid or voidable only because a director fails to comply with this prohibition. |
(i) | The Board may exercise the voting rights given by shares in any corporation held or owned by the Company in any way the Board decides. This includes voting for any resolution appointing a director as a director or other officer of that corporation or voting for the payment of remuneration to the directors or other officers of that corporation. |
(j) | A director who is interested in any contract or arrangement may, despite that interest, participate in the execution of any document by or on behalf of the Company evidencing or otherwise connected with that contract or arrangement. |
Powers and duties of directors |
(a) | The business and affairs of the Company are to be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which (in addition to the powers and authorities conferred on it by these articles) may exercise all powers and do all things that are: |
(1) | within the power of the Company; and |
(2) | are not by these articles or by law directed or required to be done by the Company in a general meeting. |
(b) | The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company: |
(1) | to borrow or raise money in any other way; |
(2) | to charge any of the Company’s property or business or any of its uncalled capital; and |
(3) | to issue debentures or give any security for a debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any other person. |
(c) | Debentures or other securities may be issued on the terms and at prices decided by the Board, including bearing interest or not, with rights to subscribe for, or exchange into, shares or other securities in the Company or a related body corporate or with special privileges as to redemption, participating in share issues, attending and voting at general meetings and appointing directors. |
(d) | The Board may decide how cheques, promissory notes, banker’s drafts, bills of exchange or other negotiable instruments must be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as applicable, by or on behalf of the Company. |
(e) | The Board may: |
(1) | appoint or employ any person as an officer, agent or attorney of the Company for the purposes, with the powers, discretions and duties (including those vested in or exercisable by the Board), for any period and on any other conditions they decide; |
(2) | authorise an officer, agent or attorney to delegate any of the powers, discretions and duties vested in the officer, agent or attorney; and |
(3) | remove or dismiss any officer, agent or attorney of the Company at any time, with or without cause. |
(f) | A power of attorney may contain any provisions for the protection and convenience of the attorney or persons dealing with the attorney that the Board decides. |
(g) | Nothing in this article 8.7 limits the general nature of article 8.7(a). |
Delegation by the Board |
(a) | The Board may delegate any of its powers to one director, a committee of the Board, or any person or persons. |
(b) | A director, committee of the Board, or person to whom any powers have been so delegated must exercise the powers delegated in accordance with any directions of the Board. |
(c) | The acceptance of a delegation of powers by a director may, if the Board so resolves, be treated as an extra service or special exertion performed by the delegate for the purposes of article 8.4(e). |
(d) | The provisions of these articles applying to meetings and resolutions of the Board apply, so far as they can and with any necessary changes, to meetings and resolutions of a committee of the Board, except to the extent they are contrary to any direction given under article 8.8(b). |
Proceedings of directors |
(a) | The directors may meet together to attend to business and adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they decide. |
(b) | The contemporaneous linking together by telephone or other electronic means of a sufficient number of directors to constitute a quorum, constitutes a meeting of the Board. All the provisions in these articles relating to meetings of the Board apply, as far as they can and with any necessary changes, to meetings of the Board by telephone or other electronic means. |
(c) | A meeting by telephone or other electronic means is to be taken to be held at the place where the chairperson of the meeting is or at such other place the chairperson of the meeting decides, as long as at least one of the directors involved was at that place for the duration of the meeting. |
(d) | A director taking part in a meeting by telephone or other electronic means is to be taken to be present in person at the meeting and all directors participating in the meeting will (unless there is a specific statement otherwise) be taken to have consented to the holding of the meeting by the relevant electronic means. |
(e) | If, before or during the meeting, any technical difficulty occurs where one or more directors cease to participate, the chairperson may adjourn the meeting until the difficulty is remedied or may, where a quorum of directors remains present, continue with the meeting. |
Calling meetings of the Board |
(a) | The chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Company or a majority of the Board may call a meeting of the Board. |
(b) | A secretary must, if requested by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Company or a majority of the Board, call a meeting of the Board. |
Notice of meetings of the Board |
(a) | Notice of a meeting of the Board must be given to each person who is, at the time the notice is given, a director, except a director on leave of absence approved by the Board. |
(b) | A notice of a meeting of the Board: |
(1) | must specify the time and place of the meeting; |
(2) | need not state the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting; |
(3) | may, if necessary, be given immediately before the meeting; and |
(4) | may be given in person or by post or by telephone, fax or other electronic means, or in any other way consented to by the directors from time to time. |
(c) | A director may waive notice of a meeting of the Board by giving notice to that effect in person or by post or by telephone, fax or other electronic means. |
(d) | Failure to give a director notice of a meeting of the Board does not invalidate anything done or any resolution passed at the meeting if: |
(1) | the failure occurred by accident or inadvertent error; or |
(2) | the director attended the meeting or waived notice of the meeting (whether before or after the meeting). |
(e) | A person who attends a meeting of the Board waives any objection that person may have to a failure to give notice of the meeting. |
Quorum at meetings of the Board |
(a) | No business may be transacted at a meeting of the Board unless a quorum of directors is present at the time the business is dealt with. |
(b) | Unless the Board decides differently, a majority of the total number of directors in office constitutes a quorum. |
(c) | If there is a vacancy in the office of a director, the remaining directors may act. But, if their number is not sufficient to constitute a quorum, they may act only in an emergency or to increase the number of directors to a number sufficient to constitute a quorum or to call a general meeting of the Company. |
Chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Board |
(a) | The Board must elect a director to the office of chairperson of the Board and may elect one or more directors to the office of deputy chairperson of the Board. The Board may decide the period for which those offices will be held. |
(b) | Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the chairperson of the Board or, in his or her absence, by the director who is designated by the chairperson of the Board prior to the applicable meeting, if any, or, in his or her absence, by the deputy chairperson of the Board, if any, or, in his or her absence, by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The general counsel of the Company shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the chair of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. |
Decisions of the Board |
(a) | The Board, at a meeting at which a quorum is present, may exercise any authorities, powers and discretions vested in or exercisable by the Board under these articles. |
(b) | Questions arising at a meeting of the Board must be decided by a majority of votes cast by the directors present and entitled to vote on the matter. |
Written resolutions |
(a) | A resolution in writing signed by all directors or a resolution in writing of which notice has been given to all directors and which is signed by all directors entitled to vote on the resolution is a valid resolution of the Board. The resolution is taken to have been passed by a meeting of the Board when the last director signs or consents to the resolution unless provided otherwise in such written resolution. |
(b) | A director may consent to a resolution by: |
(1) | signing the document containing the resolution (or a copy of that document); or |
(2) | giving to the Company a written notice (including by fax to its registered office or other electronic means) addressed to the general counsel or to the chairperson of the Board signifying assent to the resolution and either setting out its terms or otherwise clearly identifying them. |
Validity of acts |
(a) | a defect in the appointment of a person as a director or a member of a committee; or |
(b) | a person so appointed being disqualified or not being entitled to vote, |
Business combinations with interested members |
Business combinations with interested members |
(a) | Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the Company must not engage in any business combination with any interested member for a period of three (3) years following the time that such member became an interested member, unless: |
(1) | prior to such time the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the member becoming an interested member; |
(2) | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the member becoming an interested member, the interested member owned at least 85% of the voting shares of the Company outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting shares outstanding (but not the outstanding voting shares owned by the interested member) those shares owned: |
(A) | by persons who are directors and also officers; and |
(B) | employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender, exchange or takeover offer; or |
(3) | at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the Board and authorised at a general meeting, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting shares which is not owned by the interested member. |
(b) | The restrictions contained in article 9.1(a) shall not apply if: |
(1) | the Company does not have a class of voting shares that is either: |
(A) | listed on a stock exchange; or |
(B) | held of record by more than 2,000 members, unless any of the foregoing results from action taken, directly or indirectly, by an interested member or from a transaction in which a person becomes an interested member; |
(2) | a member becomes an interested member inadvertently and: |
(A) | as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the member ceases to be an interested member; and |
(B) | would not, at any time within the three (3)-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Company and such member, have been an interested member but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or |
(3) | the business combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which: |
(A) | constitutes one of the transactions described in article 9.1(c); |
(B) | is with or by a person who either was not an interested member during the previous three (3) years or who became an interested member with the approval of the Board or during the period described in article 9.1(b)(1); and |
(C) | is approved or not opposed by a majority of the members of the Board then in office (but not less than one (1)) who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested member during the previous three (3) years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. |
(4) | the business combination is with an interested member who became an interested member at a time when the restrictions contained in this article 9.1 did not apply by reason of article 9.1(b)(1). |
(c) | The proposed transactions referred to in article 9.1(b)(3)(A) are limited to: |
(1) | a merger or consolidation of the Company (except for a merger in respect of which no vote of the members of the Company is required); |
(2) | a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Company) having an aggregate market value equal to 50% or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the Company; or |
(3) | a proposed tender, exchange or takeover offer for 50% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company. |
(d) | The Company shall give not less than twenty (20) days’ notice to all interested members prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in article 9.1(c)(1) or 9.1(c)(2). |
(e) | As used in this article 9.1, the term: |
(1) | Associate, when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: |
(A) | any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting shares; |
(B) | any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and |
(C) | any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person; |
(2) | Business combination, when used in reference to the Company and any interested member of the Company, means: |
(A) | any merger or consolidation of the Company (including by way of compromise, arrangement, reconstruction, amalgamation or takeover) or any direct or indirect majority- owned subsidiary of the Company with (A) the interested member, or (B) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested member and as a result of such merger or consolidation article 9.1(a) is not applicable to the surviving entity; |
(B) | any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a member of the Company, to or with the interested member, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the Company; |
(C) | any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Company or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company of any shares of the Company or of such subsidiary to the interested member, except: |
(i) | pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of the Company or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested member became such; |
(ii) | pursuant to a merger of the Company with or into a single direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; |
(iii) | pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of the Company or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of shares of the Company subsequent to the time the interested member became such; |
(iv) | pursuant to an exchange offer by the Company to purchase shares made on the same terms to all holders of said shares; or |
(v) | any issuance or transfer of shares by the Company; |
(D) | any transaction involving the Company or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the shares of any class or series, or securities convertible into the shares of any class or series, of the Company or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested member, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested member; or |
(E) | any receipt by the interested member of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a member of the Company), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in clauses (A)-(D) of this article 9.1(e)(2)) provided by or through the Company or any direct or indirect majority- owned subsidiary; |
(3) | Interested member means any person (other than the Company and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company) that: |
(A) | is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company; or |
(B) | is an affiliate or associate of the Company and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company at any time within the three (3)-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested member, and the affiliates and associates of such person; |
(4) | Owner, including the terms own and owned, when used with respect to any shares, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates: |
(A) | beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly; or |
(B) | has (i) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of shares tendered pursuant to a tender, exchange or takeover offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered shares are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (ii) the right to vote such shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any shares because of such person’s right to vote such shares if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such shares arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or |
(C) | has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in clause (B) of this article 9.1(e)(4)), or disposing of such shares with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such shares. |
Officers |
Executive directors |
(a) | The Board may appoint one or more of the directors to be an officer. For the avoidance of doubt, an officer need not be a director. |
(b) | A director who is an officer may be referred to by any title the Board decides on. |
Provisions applicable to all officers |
(a) | The officers of the Company shall be a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and a controller, all of whom shall be elected by the Board. The Board or the chief executive officer of the Company may appoint such other officers, including one or more assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers and assistant controllers as either of them shall deem necessary, who shall have such authority and perform such duties as may be prescribed in such appointment. |
(b) | The appointment of an officer may be for the period, at the remuneration and on the conditions the Board decides. |
(c) | The Board may: |
(1) | delegate to or give an officer any powers, discretions and duties it decides; |
(2) | withdraw, suspend or vary any of the powers, discretions and duties given to an officer; and |
(3) | authorise the officer to delegate any of the powers, discretions and duties given to the officer. |
(d) | Unless the Board decides otherwise, the office of a director who is employed by the Company or by a subsidiary of the Company automatically becomes vacant if the director ceases to be so employed. |
(e) | An act done by a person acting as an officer is not invalidated by: |
(1) | a defect in the person’s appointment as an officer; |
(2) | the person being disqualified to be an officer; or |
(3) | the person having vacated office, |
Indemnity and insurance |
Persons to whom articles 11.2 and 11.4 apply |
(a) | to each person who is or has been a director or officer (within the meaning of article 10.2(a)) of the Company; and |
(b) | to such other officers or former officers of the Company or of its related bodies corporate as the Board in each case determines; |
Indemnity |
Extent of indemnity |
(a) | is enforceable without the Officer having to first incur any expense or make any payment; |
(b) | is a continuing obligation and is enforceable by the Officer even though the Officer may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or its related bodies corporate; and |
(c) | applies to Liabilities incurred both before and after the adoption of these articles. |
Insurance |
(a) | purchase and maintain insurance; and/or |
(b) | pay or agree to pay a premium for insurance, |
Savings |
(a) | affects any other right or remedy that a person to whom those articles apply may have in respect of any Liability referred to in those articles; |
(b) | limits the capacity of the Company to indemnify or provide or pay for insurance for any person to whom those articles do not apply; or |
(c) | limits or diminishes the terms of any indemnity conferred or agreement to indemnify entered into prior to the adoption of these articles. |
Deed |
Winding up |
Distributing surplus |
(a) | if the Company is wound up and the property of the Company available for distribution among the members is more than sufficient to pay: |
(1) | all the debts and liabilities of the Company; and |
(2) | the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up, |
(b) | for the purpose of calculating the excess referred to in article 12.1(a), any amount unpaid on a share is to be treated as property of the Company; |
(c) | the amount of the excess that would otherwise be distributed to the holder of a partly paid share under article 12.1(a) must be reduced by the amount unpaid on that share at the date of the distribution; and |
(d) | if the effect of the reduction under article 12.1(c) would be to reduce the distribution to the holder of a partly paid share to a negative amount, the holder must contribute that amount to the Company. |
Dividing property |
(a) | If the Company is wound up, the liquidator or the directors, as the case may be, may, subject to these articles and any other sanction required by the Companies Law, do either or both of the following: |
(1) | divide in specie among the members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members; |
(2) | vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of members and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
(b) | No member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
(c) | If any of the property to be divided under article 12.2(a) includes securities with a liability to calls, any person entitled under the division to any of the securities may, within ten (10) days after the passing of the special resolution referred to in article 12.2(a), by written notice direct the liquidator to sell the person’s proportion of the securities and account for the net proceeds. The liquidator must, if practicable, act accordingly. |
(d) | Nothing in this article 12.2 takes away from or affects any right to exercise any statutory or other power which would have existed if this article were omitted. |
(e) | Article 4.3 applies, so far as it can and with any necessary changes, to a division by a liquidator under article 12.2(a) as if references in article 4.3 to: |
(1) | the Board were references to the liquidator; and |
(2) | a distribution or capitalisation were references to the division under article 12.2(a). |
Inspection of and access to records |
(a) | A person who is not a director does not have the right to inspect any of the Board papers, books, records or documents of the Company, except as provided by law, or these articles, or as authorised by the Board. |
(b) | The Company may enter into contracts with its directors or former directors agreeing to provide continuing access for a specified period after the director ceases to be a director to Board papers, books, records and documents of the Company which relate to the period during which the director or former director was a director on such terms and conditions as the Board thinks fit and which are not inconsistent with this article 13. |
(c) | The Company may procure that its subsidiaries provide similar access to Board papers, books, records or documents as that set out in articles 13(a) and 13(b). |
(d) | This article 13 does not limit any right the directors or former directors otherwise have. |
Seals |
Manner of execution |
Common seal |
Safe custody of Seal |
Using the Seal |
Seal register |
(a) | The Company may keep a Seal register and, on affixing the Seal to any document (other than a certificate for securities of the Company) may enter in the register particulars of the document, including a short description of the document. |
(b) | The register, or any details from it that the Board requires, may be produced at meetings of the Board for noting the use of the Seal since the previous meeting of the Board. |
(c) | Failure to comply with articles 14.5(a) or 14.5(b) does not invalidate any document to which the Seal is properly affixed. |
Duplicate seals and certificate seals |
(a) | The Company may have one or more duplicate seals for use in place of its common seal outside the state or territory where its common seal is kept. Each duplicate seal must be a facsimile of the common seal of the Company with the addition on its face of the words ‘duplicate seal’ and the name of the place where it is to be used. |
(b) | A document sealed with a duplicate seal, or a certificate seal as provided in article 14.7, is to be taken to have been sealed with the common seal of the Company. |
Sealing and signing certificates |
Notices |
Notices by the Company to members |
(a) | Without limiting any other way in which notice may be given to a member under these articles, the Companies Law, applicable securities laws and/or the Listing Rules, the Company may give a notice to a member by: |
(1) | delivering it personally to the member; |
(2) | sending it by prepaid post to the member’s address in the register of members or any other address the member supplies to the Company for giving notices; |
(3) | sending it by fax or other electronic means to the fax number or electronic address the member has supplied to the Company for giving notices; or |
(4) | publishing the notice on a website and providing notification to that effect to the member by any of the other means permitted under this article 15.1. |
(b) | The Company may give a notice to the joint holders of a share by giving the notice in the way authorised by article 15.1(a) to the joint holder named first in the register of members for the share. |
(c) | The Company may give a notice to a person entitled to a share as a result of a Transmission Event by delivering it or sending it in the manner authorised by article 15.1(a) addressed to the name or title of the person, to: |
(1) | the address, fax number or electronic address that person has supplied to the Company for giving notices to that person; or |
(2) | if that person has not supplied an address, fax number or electronic address, to the address, fax number or electronic address to which the notice might have been sent if that Transmission Event had not occurred. |
(d) | A notice given to a member under articles 15.1(a) or 15.1(b) is, even if a Transmission Event has occurred and whether or not the Company has notice of that occurrence: |
(1) | duly given for any shares registered in that person’s name, whether solely or jointly with another person; and |
(2) | sufficiently served on any person entitled to the shares because of the Transmission Event. |
(e) | A notice given to a person who is entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event is sufficiently served on the member in whose name the share is registered. |
(f) | A person who, because of a transfer of shares, becomes entitled to any shares registered in the name of a member, is taken to have received every notice which, before that person’s name and address is entered in the register of members for those shares, is given to the member complying with this article 15.1. |
(g) | A signature to any notice given by the Company to a member under this article 15.1 may be printed or affixed by some mechanical, electronic or other means. |
(h) | Where a member does not have a registered address or where the Company believes that member is not known at the member’s registered address, all notices are taken to be: |
(1) | given to the member if the notice is exhibited in the Company’s registered office for a period of forty-eight (48) hours; and |
(2) | served at the commencement of that period, |
Notices by the Company to directors |
(a) | delivering it personally to him or her; |
(b) | sending it by prepaid post to his or her usual residential or business address, or any other address he or she has supplied to the Company for giving notices; or |
(c) | sending it by fax or other electronic means to the fax number or electronic address he or she has supplied to the Company for giving notices. |
Notices by directors to the Company |
(a) | delivering it to the Company’s registered office; |
(b) | sending it by prepaid post to the Company’s registered office; or |
(c) | sending it by fax or other electronic means to the principal fax number or electronic address at the Company’s registered office. |
Time of service |
(a) | A notice from the Company properly addressed and posted is taken to be served at 10.00am (local time in the place of dispatch) on the day after the date it is posted. |
(b) | A certificate signed by a secretary or officer of the Company to the effect that a notice was duly posted under these articles is conclusive evidence of that fact. |
(c) | Where the Company sends a notice by fax, the notice is taken as served at the time the fax is sent if the correct fax number appears on the facsimile transmission report produced by the sender’s fax machine. |
(d) | Where the Company sends a notice by electronic transmission, the notice is taken as served at the time the electronic transmission is sent. |
(e) | Where the Company gives a notice to a member by any other means permitted by the Companies Law relating to the giving of notices and electronic means of access to them, the notice is taken as given at 10.00am (local time in the place of the Company’s principal office) on the day after the date on which the member is notified that the notice is available. |
(f) | Where a given number of days’ notice or notice extending over any other period must be given, the day of service is not to be counted in the number of days or other period. |
Other communications and documents |
Written notices |
General |
Submission to jurisdiction |
(a) | Each member submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Royal Court of Jersey and the courts which may hear appeals from that court. |
(b) | Unless the Companies Law or any other Jersey law provides otherwise or unless the Board determines otherwise, the Royal Court of Jersey is the sole and exclusive forum for: |
(1) | any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, |
(2) | any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer of the Company to the Company or its members, creditors or other constituents, |
(3) | any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Law or these articles (as either may be amended from time to time), or |
(4) | any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. |
Prohibition and enforceability |
(a) | Any provision of, or the application of any provision of, these articles which is prohibited in any place is, in that place, ineffective only to the extent of that prohibition. |
(b) | Any provision of, or the application of any provision of, these articles which is void, illegal or unenforceable in any place does not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of that provision in any other place or of the remaining provisions in that or any other place. |
Corporate governance policies |
(a) | The directors may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or the Listing Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives, which shall be intended to set forth the policies of the Company and the directors on various corporate governance related matters, as the directors shall determine from time to time. |
1 | This proviso will only be included in the Joinder Agreement for U.S. Merger Sub. |
2 | To be included in the Joinder for U.S. Merger Co. |
3 | To be included in the Joinder for U.S. Merger Co. |
| | [Joined Party] | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | ||
| | Name: | | | ||
| | Title: | | |
| | LIVENT CORPORATION | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | /s/ Paul Graves | |
| | Name: | | | Paul Graves | |
| | Title: | | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | ALLKEM LIMITED | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | /s/ Martín Pérez de Solay | |
| | Name: | | | Martín Pérez de Solay | |
| | Title: | | | Managing Director and CEO |
(1) | Allkem Limited (ACN 112 589 910) whose registered office is at Level 35, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 (Allkem); |
(2) | Eligible Shareholders; and |
(3) | Ineligible Overseas Shareholders. |
(A) | Allkem is a public company limited by shares incorporated in Australia. It has its registered office at registered office is at Level 35, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. Allkem is admitted to the official list of ASX and Allkem Shares are quoted on the securities exchange operated by ASX and the TSX. |
(C) | Livent Corporation (Livent) is a public corporation incorporated in Delaware, in the United States of America. It has its principal executive office at [•]. Livent stock is listed on NYSE. |
(D) | New TopCo (New TopCo) is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey. It has its registered address at [•]. |
(E) | Allkem, Livent and New TopCo entered into the Transaction Agreement on or about 10 May 2023 to facilitate (among other things) the implementation of this Scheme as part of the Transaction. |
(F) | By no later than the day that is one Business Day prior to the First Court Date, New TopCo will have executed the Deed Poll under which New TopCo will covenant in favour of the Eligible Shareholders and Ineligible Overseas Shareholders to perform the obligations attributable to it under this Scheme, including to provide the Scheme Consideration to Eligible Shareholders in accordance with the terms of this Scheme. |
(G) | If this Scheme becomes Effective: |
(a) | after the Scheme Record Date and prior to Scheme Implementation, all of the Ineligible Shares will be transferred to the Sale Nominee; and |
(b) | on the Implementation Date: |
(i) | New TopCo will provide the Scheme Consideration to Eligible Shareholders (including the Sale Nominee) in accordance with the terms of this Scheme and the Deed Poll; |
(ii) | all of the Scheme Shares, and all of the rights and entitlements attaching to them as at the Implementation Date, will be transferred to New TopCo; and |
(iii) | Allkem will enter New TopCo’s name in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of all of the Scheme Shares; and |
(c) | following the Implementation Date, the Consideration CDIs issued to the Sale Nominee on Scheme Implementation in respect of the Ineligible Shares transferred to it under paragraph (a) will be sold by the Sale Nominee, with the net proceeds of such Consideration CDIs being paid to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders on a pro-rata basis. |
1 | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
(a) | when used in relation to the Implementation Date and the Scheme Record Date, has the meaning given in the ASX Listing Rules; and |
(b) | in all other cases, means any day other than: |
(i) | a Saturday or a Sunday; or |
(ii) | a day on which banking and savings and loan institutions are authorised or required by law to be closed in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the Bailiwick of Jersey or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America. |
1 | Entity name for Canadian transfer agent to be confirmed |
(a) | a Scheme Shareholder who is not an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder; and |
(b) | the Sale Nominee. |
(a) | a Security Interest; or |
(b) | an easement, restrictive covenant, caveat or similar restriction over property. |
(a) | each Allkem Share held by a Scheme Shareholder (other than an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder) as at the Scheme Record Date; and |
(b) | each Allkem Share held by an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder and transferred to the Sale Nominee after the Scheme Record Date and prior to Scheme Implementation pursuant to clause 4.4 of this Scheme. |
(a) | a security interest that is subject to the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth); |
(b) | any other mortgage, charge, pledge or lien; or |
(c) | any other interest or arrangement of any kind that in substance secures the payment of money or the performance of an obligation, or that gives a creditor priority over unsecured creditors in relation to any property. |
1.2 | Rules for interpreting this Scheme |
(a) | A reference to: |
(i) | a legislative provision or legislation (including subordinate legislation) is to that provision or legislation as amended, re-enacted or replaced, and includes any subordinate legislation issued under it; |
(ii) | a clause is to a clause of this Scheme; |
(iii) | a document (including this Scheme) or agreement, or a provision of a document (including this Scheme) or agreement, is to that document, agreement or provision as amended, supplemented, replaced or novated; |
(iv) | a group of persons is a reference to any 2 or more of them jointly and to each of them individually; |
(v) | a party to this Scheme, or to any other document or agreement, includes a permitted substitute or a permitted assign of that party; |
(vi) | a person includes any type of entity or body of persons, whether or not it is incorporated or has a separate legal identity, and any executor, administrator or successor in law of the person; and |
(vii) | any thing (including a right, amount, obligation or concept) includes each part of it. |
(b) | A singular word includes the plural, and vice versa. |
(c) | A word that suggests one gender includes the other genders. |
(d) | If a word or phrase is defined, any other grammatical form of that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. |
(e) | If an example is given of anything (including a right, obligation or concept), such as by saying it includes something else, the example does not limit the scope of that thing. |
(f) | The word officer has the same meaning as given by the Corporations Act. |
(g) | A reference to A$, $ or dollar is to Australian currency. |
(h) | A reference to time in this Scheme is a reference to Australian Western Standard Time, unless otherwise expressly specified. |
(i) | Nothing in this Scheme is to be construed adversely to a party just because that party prepared this Scheme or prepared or proposed the relevant part of this Scheme. |
1.3 | Non–Business Days |
2 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
2.1 | Conditions precedent to the Scheme |
(a) | As at 8.00 am on the Second Court Date, the conditions in Exhibit A of the Transaction Agreement (other than the conditions in paragraph 1(b) and 1(c) of Exhibit A of the Transaction Agreement) has been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement. |
(b) | Prior to 8.00 am on the Second Court Date, neither the Transaction Agreement nor the Deed Poll has been terminated in accordance with their terms. |
(c) | The order of the Court made under section 411(4)(b) of the Corporations Act (and, if applicable, section 411(6) of the Corporations Act, subject to such alterations or conditions being agreed in accordance with clause 3.3) approving this Scheme comes into effect pursuant to section 411(10) of the Corporations Act on or before either or both of the Transaction Agreement and the Deed Poll are terminated in accordance with their respective terms. |
2.2 | Certificates |
(a) | Before 8.30 am on the Second Court Date: |
(i) | Allkem must provide to the Court: |
(A) | a certificate, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within Allkem’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied |
(B) | a certificate from Livent, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within Livent’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied; and |
(ii) | New TopCo must provide to the Court a certificate, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within New TopCo’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied. |
(b) | The certificates referred to in clause 2.2(a) constitute conclusive evidence that the conditions precedent in clauses 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied. |
2.3 | Scheme Effective Date |
2.4 | When Scheme will lapse |
3 | THE SCHEME |
3.1 | Lodgement of copy of Court Order with ASIC |
(a) | as soon as possible after the date on which the Court makes the Court Orders and in accordance with the time limit set out in item 10 of Appendix 7A of the ASX Listing Rules; or |
(b) | on such other Business Day and by such other time as agreed to in writing by Livent and Allkem. |
3.2 | Transfer of Scheme Shares |
(a) | subject to New TopCo taking the steps to provide the Scheme Consideration which it is required to take on the Scheme Implementation Date under clause 4, all of the Scheme Shares, together with all rights and entitlements attaching to the Scheme Shares as at the Scheme Implementation Date, will be transferred to New TopCo without the need for any further act by any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee (other than acts performed by Allkem or its directors and officers as attorney and agent for the Scheme Shareholders and the Sale Nominee under this Scheme) by: |
(i) | Allkem delivering to New TopCo a duly completed registrable Scheme Transfer to transfer the Scheme Shares to New TopCo, which Scheme Transfer has been duly executed by Allkem (or any of its directors and officers) as the attorney and agent of each Eligible Shareholder as a transferor under clauses 6.2 and 6.4; and |
(ii) | New TopCo duly completing and executing the Scheme Transfer as transferee and delivering the Scheme Transfer to Allkem for registration; and |
(b) | immediately following receipt of the Scheme Transfer in accordance with clause 3.2(a)(ii), Allkem must: |
(i) | attend to registration of the Scheme Transfer; and |
(ii) | enter or procure the entry of the name and address of New TopCo in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of all of the Scheme Shares. |
3.3 | Alteration or condition to Scheme |
(a) | Allkem may, by its counsel, consent on behalf of all persons concerned, including each Scheme Shareholder (and, to avoid doubt, the Sale Nominee), to those alterations or conditions; and |
(b) | each Scheme Shareholder (and, to avoid doubt, the Sale Nominee) agrees to any such alterations or conditions that counsel for Allkem has consented to. |
4 | SCHEME CONSIDERATION |
4.1 | Elections by Eligible Shareholders |
(a) | Each Eligible Shareholder (other than the Sale Nominee and the Eligible Canadian Branch Shareholders) may become a Share Electing Shareholder by providing Allkem with a duly completed Share Election before 7.00 pm (Sydney time) on the day that is three Business Days prior to the Scheme Record Date. |
(b) | Each Eligible Canadian Branch Shareholder may become a CDI Electing Shareholder by providing Allkem with a duly completed CDI Election before 7.00 pm (Sydney time) on the day that is three Business Days prior to the Scheme Record Date. |
(c) | To avoid doubt, a Share Election or CDI Election submitted by an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder will be of no force or effect. |
4.2 | Entitlement to Scheme Consideration |
(a) | On the Scheme Implementation Date, in consideration for the transfer to New TopCo of Scheme Shares under the terms of this Scheme, each Eligible Shareholder will be entitled to receive the Scheme Consideration in respect of each of their Scheme Shares in accordance with this clause 4. |
(b) | Subject to clauses 4.3 to 4.7, the Scheme Consideration to be provided to each Eligible Shareholder will be: |
(i) | where the Eligible Shareholder is: |
(A) | not a Share Electing Shareholder; |
(B) | not an Eligible Canadian Branch Shareholder unless the Eligible Shareholder is a CDI Electing Shareholder; or |
(C) | the Sale Nominee, |
(ii) | where the Eligible Shareholder is: |
(A) | a Share Electing Shareholder; or |
(B) | an Eligible Canadian Branch Shareholder who is not a CDI Electing Shareholder; and |
4.3 | Provision of Scheme Consideration |
(a) | on the Scheme Implementation Date (or, in the case of sub-paragraphs (C), (D), (E) and (F) of clause 4.3(a)(iii), by no later than the Business Day following the Scheme Implementation Date): |
(i) | issue to each Eligible Shareholder (or procure the issue to each Eligible Shareholder of) the applicable Scheme Consideration in accordance with this Scheme; |
(ii) | in the case of Scheme Consideration that is required to be provided to Eligible Shareholders in the form of Consideration Shares, procure that the name and address of each relevant Eligible Shareholder is entered in the New TopCo Share Register as the holder of the applicable Consideration Shares (being the name and Registered Address of the relevant Eligible Shareholder as at the Scheme Record Date); and |
(iii) | in the case of Scheme Consideration that is required to be provided to Eligible Shareholders in the form of Consideration CDIs: |
(A) | issue to CDN (or to a custodian who will hold the New TopCo Shares on CDN's behalf) to be held on trust that number of New TopCo Shares that will enable CDN to issue Consideration CDIs as contemplated by this clause 4.3; |
(B) | procure that the name and address of CDN or of its custodian (as applicable) is entered into the New TopCo Share Register in respect of those New TopCo Shares underlying the Consideration CDIs, and that a share certificate or holding statement (or equivalent document) in the name of CDN representing those New TopCo Shares is sent to CDN; |
(C) | procure that CDN issues to each relevant Eligible Shareholder the number of Consideration CDIs to which it is entitled under this clause 4.3; and |
(D) | procure that the name and address of each relevant Eligible Shareholder is entered in the records maintained by CDN or its custodian (as applicable) or both, as the holder of the Consideration CDIs issued to that Eligible Shareholder; |
(E) | in the case of each such Eligible Shareholder who held Scheme Shares on the CHESS subregister, procure that the Consideration CDIs are held on the CHESS subregister; and |
(F) | in the case of each such Eligible Shareholder who held Scheme Shares on the issuer sponsored subregister, the Consideration CDIs are held on the issuer sponsored subregister; and |
(b) | no later than one Business Day after the Scheme Implementation Date, send or procure the dispatch to each Eligible Shareholder, to their Registered Address as at the Scheme Record Date (or, in the case of the Sale Nominee, as specified in the Ineligible Share Transfer), a securities certificate, holding statement or allotment confirmation representing the Consideration Shares or Consideration CDIs (as applicable) issued to that Eligible Shareholder. |
4.4 | Ineligible Overseas Shareholders |
(a) | New TopCo has no obligation to issue, and will not issue, any Scheme Consideration under this Scheme to any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder. |
(b) | Allkem must: |
(i) | prior to the First Court Hearing, appoint the Sale Nominee; |
(ii) | ensure that, under the Terms of Appointment, the Sale Nominee irrevocably undertakes to and is otherwise obliged to do all such things required by this clause 4.4 of this Scheme (including, but not limited to, under clause 4.4(c)); and |
(iii) | procure that the Sale Nominee: |
(A) | performs all acts attributed to it under this clause 4.4; and |
(B) | otherwise does all things necessary to give effect to this clause 4.4. |
(c) | After the Scheme Record Date, and prior to Scheme Implementation, all of the Allkem Shares which were held by Ineligible Overseas Shareholders as at the Scheme Record Date (each an Ineligible Share and together the Ineligible Shares), together with all rights and entitlements attaching to those Ineligible Shares, will be transferred to the Sale Nominee: |
(i) | without the need for any further act by any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder (other than acts performed by Allkem or its directors or officers as attorney and agent for the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders); and |
(ii) | on the basis that, if (1) the Scheme lapses under clause 2.4, or (2) Scheme Implementation has not occurred within 5 Business Days after the Scheme Record Date (or such later time determined by Allkem in its sole discretion), (each a Return Event), the Sale Nominee must return the Ineligible Consideration Shares to the relevant Ineligible Overseas Shareholders as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event, no later than 15 Business Days after the date on which Allkem gives written notice of the Return Event to the Sale Nominee) without any cost incurred by or fee payable to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder. |
(d) | Allkem must procure that the Sale Nominee accepts the transfer of the Ineligible Shares under clause 4.4(c) by immediately executing the Ineligible Share Transfer as transferee and delivering it to Allkem for registration. |
(e) | In order to give effect to the transfer of Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee under clause 4.4(c), Allkem will: |
(i) | as attorney and agent for each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, execute the Ineligible Share Transfer provided under clause 4.4(d); and |
(ii) | register the transfer of the Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee and enter the name of the Sale Nominee in the Allkem Share Register in respect of all of the Ineligible Shares transferred under clause 4.4(c). |
(f) | Allkem must procure that the Sale Nominee, and must enforce its contractual rights to ensure that the Sale Nominee: |
(i) | sells the CDIs issued as Scheme Consideration in respect of the Ineligible Shares (Ineligible Consideration CDIs) (on ASX or off-market) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no more than 15 Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date, in the manner, and on the terms, the Sale Nominee determines in good faith (and at the risk of the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder); and |
(ii) | as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no more than 10 Business Days after settlement of all the sales of the Ineligible Consideration CDIs under clause 4.4(f)(i), remits to Allkem the Net Proceeds. |
(g) | Promptly after receipt of the Net Proceeds, Allkem must pay each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, or procure the payment to each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder of, such proportion of the Net Proceeds to which that Ineligible Overseas Shareholder is entitled (rounded down to the nearest cent), to be determined in accordance with the following formula: |
(h) | The Net Proceeds will be payable to Ineligible Overseas Shareholders in Australian dollars. |
(i) | Each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder acknowledges and agrees that: |
(i) | none of Allkem, Livent, New TopCo or the Sale Nominee give any assurance as to the price or foreign exchange rate that will be achieved for the sale of the Ineligible Consideration CDIs described in clause 4.4(f); and |
(ii) | Allkem, Livent, New TopCo and the Sale Nominee each expressly disclaim any fiduciary duty to any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder that may arise in connection with this clause 4.4. |
(j) | Allkem must pay or procure that each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder is paid any amounts owing under clause 4.4(g) by either (in the absolute discretion of Allkem): |
(i) | where an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder has, before the Scheme Record Date, made a valid election in accordance with the requirements of the Allkem Share Registry to receive dividend payments from Allkem by electronic funds transfer to a bank account nominated by the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, paying, or procuring the payment of, the relevant amount in Australian currency by electronic means in accordance with that election; or |
(ii) | dispatching, or procuring the dispatch of, a cheque for the relevant amount in Australian currency to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder by prepaid post to their Registered Address (as at the Scheme Record Date), such cheque being drawn in the name of the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder (in the case of joint holders, the cheque will be drawn in the name of the joint holders and dispatched in accordance with the procedures set out in clause 4.6(b)). |
(k) | Each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder appoints Allkem, and each director and officer of Allkem, as its agent to receive on its behalf any financial services guide (or similar or equivalent document) and any other notices (including any updates of those documents) that the Sale Nominee is required to provide to Ineligible Overseas Shareholders under the Corporations Act or any other applicable law. |
(l) | Payment of the relevant amounts calculated in accordance with clauses 4.4(g) to an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4.4 satisfies in full New TopCo’s obligations to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder under this Scheme in respect of the Scheme Consideration. |
4.5 | Other ineligible Scheme Shareholders |
(a) | Where the issue of Scheme Consideration to which an Eligible Shareholder would otherwise be entitled under this Scheme would result in a breach of law: |
(i) | New TopCo will issue the maximum possible Scheme Consideration to that Eligible Shareholder without giving rise to such a breach; and |
(ii) | any further Scheme Consideration to which that Eligible Shareholder is entitled, but the issue of which to that Eligible Shareholder would give rise to such a breach, will instead be issued to the Sale Nominee and dealt with under clause 4.4, as if: |
(A) | references to “Ineligible Overseas Shareholders” also included that Eligible Shareholder; and |
(B) | references to “Ineligible Consideration CDIs” also included any of that Eligible Shareholder’s Scheme Consideration that has been issued to the Sale Nominee. |
(b) | Where the issue of Scheme Consideration to the Sale Nominee under this Scheme would result in a breach of law, Allkem must use its reasonable best efforts to appoint another person as the Sale Nominee in accordance with clause 4.4. |
4.6 | Joint holders |
(a) | any Scheme Consideration will be issued to and registered in the names of the joint holders; and |
(b) | any other document required to be sent under this Scheme will be forwarded to the holder whose name appears first in the Allkem Share Register as at the Scheme Record Date or to the joint holders. |
4.7 | Orders of a court or Governmental Entity |
(a) | If New TopCo or Allkem (or the Allkem Share Registry) receives written notice of an order or direction made by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a Governmental Entity that: |
(i) | requires consideration to be provided to a third party (either through payment of a sum or the issuance of a security) in respect of Scheme Shares held by a particular Eligible Shareholder, which would otherwise be payable or required to be issued to that Eligible Shareholder by Allkem or New TopCo in accordance with this clause 4 (including in connection with any withholding or deduction under clauses 4.7(b)), then Allkem or New TopCo (as applicable) will be entitled to procure that provision of that consideration is made in accordance with that order or direction; or |
(ii) | prevents Allkem or New TopCo from providing consideration to any particular Scheme Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, or the payment or issuance of such consideration is otherwise prohibited by applicable law, Allkem or New TopCo (as applicable) will be entitled to: |
(A) | in the case of any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, retain an amount, in Australian dollars, equal to the relevant Ineligible Overseas Shareholder's share of any proceeds of sale received by Allkem pursuant to clause 4.4; and |
(B) | not issue (or, in the case of Allkem, direct New TopCo not to issue), or issue (or, in the case of Allkem, direct New TopCo to issue) to a permitted trustee or nominee, such Scheme Consideration as that Scheme Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to under clause 4.3, |
(b) | New TopCo and Allkem (as applicable) may deduct and withhold from any consideration that would otherwise be provided to a Scheme Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, any amount that New TopCo or Allkem (as applicable) determines is required to be deducted and withheld from that consideration under any applicable law, including any order, direction or notice made or given by a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Government Entity. |
(c) | To the extent that amounts are so deducted or withheld, such deducted or withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes under this Scheme as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made, provided that such deducted or withheld amounts are actually remitted to the appropriate taxing agency. |
(d) | To avoid doubt, any payment or retention by Allkem or New TopCo (as applicable) under clauses 4.7(a), 4.7(b) and 4.7(c) will constitute the full discharge of New TopCo’s obligations under clause 4.3 with respect to the amount so paid or retained until, in the case of clause 4.7(a)(ii), the amount is no longer required to be retained. |
4.8 | Consideration Shares to rank equally |
(a) | the Consideration Shares to be issued (including the New TopCo Shares underlying the Consideration CDIs) as the Scheme Consideration will, on issue: |
(i) | be duly issued and fully paid in accordance with applicable laws and the memorandum and articles of association of New TopCo; |
(ii) | be free from any Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise, or restriction on transfer of any kind, other than as provided for in the memorandum and articles of association of New TopCo or as required under applicable law; and |
(iii) | rank equally in all respects, including for future dividends, with all existing New TopCo Shares then on issue; and |
(b) | it will apply for, or has applied for: |
(i) | the listing of the Consideration Shares on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; |
(ii) | admission of New TopCo to the official list of ASX (as a foreign exempt listing) commencing on the Business Day following the Scheme Effective Date; and |
(iii) | official quotation of the Consideration CDIs on ASX, subject to customary conditions, commencing: |
(A) | on the Business Day following the Scheme Effective Date (or such later day as ASX may require) until the Scheme Implementation Date, on a deferred settlement basis; and |
(B) | on the Business Day following the Scheme Implementation Date, on an ordinary (T+2) basis. |
4.9 | Unclaimed monies |
(a) | Allkem may cancel a cheque issued under clause 4.4(j)(ii) if the cheque: |
(i) | is returned to Allkem; or |
(ii) | has not been presented for payment within 6 months after the date on which the cheque was sent. |
(b) | During the period of 12 months commencing on the Scheme Implementation Date, on request in writing from a Scheme Shareholder to Allkem (or the Allkem Share Registry) (which request may not be made until the date that is 20 Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date), Allkem must reissue a cheque that was previously cancelled under clause 4.9(a). |
(c) | The Unclaimed Money Act will apply in relation to any Scheme Consideration that becomes “unclaimed money” (as defined in section 6 of the Unclaimed Money Act). |
4.10 | Title to and rights in Scheme Shares |
(a) | Immediately upon the provision of the Scheme Consideration to each Eligible Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, New TopCo will be beneficially entitled to the Scheme Shares transferred to it under this Scheme pending registration by Allkem of the name and address of New TopCo in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the Scheme Shares. |
(b) | To the extent permitted by law, the Scheme Shares (including all rights and entitlements attaching to the Scheme Shares) transferred under this Scheme to New TopCo will, at the time of transfer to New TopCo, vest in New TopCo free from all: |
(i) | Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise; and |
(ii) | restrictions on transfer of any kind. |
(c) | To avoid doubt, notwithstanding clause 4.10(a), to the extent that clause 4.7(a) applies to any Eligible Shareholder, New TopCo will be beneficially entitled to any Scheme Shares held by that Eligible Shareholder immediately upon compliance with clause 4.7 on the Scheme Implementation Date as if New TopCo had provided the Scheme Consideration to that Eligible Shareholder. |
5 | DEALINGS IN ALLKEM SHARES |
5.1 | Allkem Share dealings that are recognised |
(a) | in the case of dealings of the type to be effected using CHESS, the transferee is registered in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the relevant Allkem Shares as at the Scheme Record Date; and |
(b) | in all other cases, registrable transfers or transmission applications in respect of those dealings, or valid requests in respect of other alternations, are received by the Allkem Share Registry at or before the Scheme Record Date, |
5.2 | Allkem to register transfer and transmission applications |
5.3 | Transfers received after Scheme Record Date not recognised |
5.4 | Allkem to maintain Allkem Share Register to determine entitlements |
(a) | In order to determine entitlements to the Scheme Consideration, Allkem must maintain, or procure the maintenance of, the Allkem Share Register in accordance with this clause 5 until the Scheme Consideration has been paid to Scheme Shareholders and New TopCo has been entered into the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the Scheme Shares. |
(b) | The Allkem Share Register in this form will solely determine entitlements to the Scheme Consideration. |
5.5 | Holding statements no effect from Scheme Record Date |
(a) | All holding statements for Allkem Shares (other than any holding statements (1) in favour of the Sale Nominee with respect to the Ineligible shares or (2) in favour of New TopCo) will cease to have effect as documents of title (or evidence thereof) after the Scheme Record Date. |
(b) | Each entry on the Allkem Share Register at and from the Scheme Record Date (other than those entries in respect of New TopCo or a transfer in accordance with clause 4.4(c) to the Sale Nominee) will cease to have any effect other than as evidence of an entitlement to the Scheme Consideration in respect of the Scheme Shares relating to that entry. |
5.6 | Allkem to provide contact information for Scheme Shareholders |
5.7 | Suspension of trading |
5.8 | Termination of official quotation |
(a) | to ASX, for: |
(i) | removal of Allkem from the official list of ASX; and |
(ii) | termination of the official quotation of Allkem Shares on ASX; |
(b) | to TSX for the delisting of Allkem from TSX with effect on and from the close of trading on the Scheme Effective Date, or such other date as Livent and Allkem may agree, acting reasonably, following consultation with TSX. |
6 | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
6.1 | Allkem giving effect to the Scheme |
6.2 | Scheme Shareholders' agreements and consents |
(a) | agrees for all purposes to: |
(i) | in the case of Ineligible Overseas Shareholders, the transfer of their Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee; |
(ii) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders: |
(A) | become a member of New TopCo; |
(B) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders who are issued Consideration CDIs pursuant to this Scheme, to have their name entered in the records maintained by CDN or its custodian (as applicable) or both, as the holder of CDIs; |
(C) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders who are issued Consideration Shares pursuant to this Scheme, to have their name registered in the New TopCo Share Register as a holder of New TopCo Shares; and |
(D) | be bound by the memorandum of association and articles of association of New TopCo; and |
(iii) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders, the transfer of their Scheme Shares, together with all rights and entitlements attaching to those Scheme Shares, to New TopCo, in each case, in accordance with this Scheme; |
(b) | agrees for all purposes and to the extent permitted by law, that all instructions, notifications or elections made by the Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee to Allkem (binding or deemed to be binding between the Scheme Shareholder and Allkem) relating to Allkem or its securities (except for tax file numbers), including instructions, notifications or elections relating to: |
(i) | whether distributions or dividends are to be paid by cheque or into a specific account; and |
(ii) | notices or other communications from Allkem, |
(c) | agrees to the variation, cancellation or modification of the rights attached to their Scheme Shares constituted by or resulting from, and in accordance with, this Scheme; |
(d) | acknowledges that this Scheme binds Allkem, all Scheme Shareholders (including those who did not attend the Scheme Meeting and those who did not vote, or voted against this Scheme, at the Scheme Meeting) and the Sale Nominee; |
(e) | consents to Allkem, New TopCo and Livent doing all things (including executing all deeds, instruments, transfers or other documents) as may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to this Scheme and the transactions contemplated by it; and |
(f) | acknowledges and agrees that Allkem, as agent of each Scheme Shareholder and of the Sale Nominee, may sub–delegate its functions under this Scheme to any of its directors and officers, jointly and severally, |
6.3 | Scheme Shareholders' warranties |
(a) | Each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee is taken to have warranted to Allkem and New TopCo (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, to the Sale Nominee), and to have appointed and authorised Allkem as its attorney and agent to warrant to New TopCo (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, to the Sale Nominee), that: |
(i) | all their Allkem Shares (including any rights and entitlements attaching to their Allkem Shares) that are transferred under this Scheme will, at the time of their transfer, be fully paid and free from all: |
(A) | Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise; and |
(B) | restrictions on transfer of any kind; |
(ii) | they have full power and capacity to transfer their Allkem Shares to New TopCo (or, in the case of Ineligible Overseas Shareholders, to the Sale Nominee), together with any rights and entitlements attaching to those Allkem Shares, under this Scheme; and |
(iii) | as at the Scheme Record Date, they have no existing right to be issued any other Allkem Shares or any other form of securities in Allkem. |
(b) | Allkem undertakes in favour of each Scheme Shareholder (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, for the Sale Nominee) that it will provide such warranty to New TopCo as agent and attorney of each Scheme Shareholder. |
6.4 | Appointment of Allkem as attorney of Scheme Shareholders and Sale Nominee |
(a) | execute any document or do any other act necessary, expedient or incidental to give full effect to this Scheme and the transactions contemplated by it, including executing and delivering the Scheme Transfer under clause 3.2 and the Ineligible Share Transfer under clause 4.4; and |
(b) | enforce the Deed Poll against New TopCo, and Allkem accepts such appointment in respect of itself and on behalf of each of its directors and officers. |
6.5 | Appointment of New TopCo as agent, attorney and sole proxy in respect of Scheme Shares |
(a) | irrevocably appoints New TopCo as its attorney and agent (and directs New TopCo as its attorney and agent to appoint any of the directors and officers of New TopCo as its sole proxy and, where applicable, corporate representative, of that Eligible Shareholder) to: |
(i) | attend shareholders' meetings of Allkem; |
(ii) | exercise the votes attaching to the Scheme Shares registered in the name of the Eligible Shareholder; and |
(iii) | sign any Allkem Shareholders' resolution (whether in person, by proxy or by corporate representative); |
(b) | must take all other action in the capacity of a registered holder of Scheme Shares as New TopCo reasonably directs; |
(c) | undertake not to attend or vote at any shareholders' meetings of Allkem or sign any Allkem Shareholders' resolution (whether in person, by proxy or by corporate representative) other than pursuant to clause 6.5(a); and |
(d) | acknowledges and agrees that in exercising the powers conferred by clause 6.5(a), New TopCo and any director, officer or agent nominated by New TopCo may act in the best interests of New TopCo as the intended registered holder of the Scheme Shares. |
6.6 | Binding effect of Scheme |
(a) | This Scheme binds Allkem, all of the Scheme Shareholders (including those who did not attend the Scheme Meeting and those who did not vote, or voted against this Scheme, at the Scheme Meeting) and the Sale Nominee and, to the extent of any inconsistency, overrides the constitution of Allkem. |
(b) | Any covenant from any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee in favour of New TopCo or any obligation owed by any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee to New TopCo will be enforceable by New TopCo against such person directly and, to the extent necessary, may enforce such rights through Allkem as party to the Scheme. |
6.7 | No liability when acting in good faith |
6.8 | Deed Poll |
6.9 | Notices |
(a) | Where a notice, transfer, transmission application, direction or other communication referred to in this Scheme is sent by post to Allkem, it will be deemed to be received on the date (if any) on which it is actually received at Allkem's registered office or at the Allkem Share Registry and on no other date. |
(b) | The accidental omission to give notice of the Scheme Meeting or the non-receipt of such notice by an Allkem Shareholder will not, unless so ordered by the Court, invalidate the Scheme Meeting or the proceedings of the Scheme Meeting. |
6.10 | Stamp duty |
6.11 | Governing law |
(a) | This Scheme and any dispute arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Scheme is governed by the laws of Western Australia. |
(b) | Each party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia (Western Australian registry) and of the courts competent to determine appeals from that court with respect to any proceedings that may be brought at any time arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Scheme. Each party irrevocably waives any objection to the venue of any legal process in these courts on the basis that the process has been brought in any inconvenient forum. |
| | LIVENT CORPORATION | |||||||
| | | | | | ||||
| | By: | | | /s/ Paul Graves | ||||
| | | | Name: | | | Paul Graves | ||
| | | | Title: | | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | ALLKEM LIMITED | |||||||
| | | | | | ||||
| | By: | | | /s/ Martín Pérez de Solay | ||||
| | | | Name: | | | Martín Pérez de Solay | ||
| | | | Title: | | | Managing Director and CEO |
(A) | On or about 10 May 2023, Allkem, Livent and Arcadium Lithium entered into a transaction agreement with respect to (among other things) the Scheme and associated matters (Transaction Agreement). |
(B) | Under the Transaction Agreement: |
(1) | Allkem has agreed to propose the Scheme, pursuant to which (among other things): |
(i) | Arcadium Lithium will provide to each Eligible Shareholder the Scheme Consideration in respect of each of their Scheme Shares; and |
(ii) | the Eligible Shareholders will transfer to Arcadium Lithium, and Arcadium Lithium will acquire, all of the Scheme Shares; and |
(2) | Arcadium Lithium has agreed to (among other things) enter into this Deed Poll. |
(C) | Arcadium Lithium is executing this Deed Poll to covenant in favour of the Eligible Shareholders and the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders to perform its obligations under the Scheme. |
1 | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
(a) | an administrator being appointed to the person; |
(b) | any of the following occurring: |
(i) | a controller or analogous person being appointed to the person or any of the person’s property; |
(ii) | an application being made to a court for an order to appoint a controller, provisional liquidator, trustee for creditors or in bankruptcy or analogous person to the person or any of the person’s property, other than where the application is stayed, withdrawn, dismissed or set aside within 14 days; or |
(iii) | an appointment of the kind referred to in subparagraph (ii) being made (whether or not following a resolution or application); |
(c) | the person being taken under section 459F(1) of the Corporations Act to have failed to comply with a statutory demand; |
(d) | an application being made to a court for an order for its winding up which is not set aside within 14 days; |
(e) | an order being made, or the person passing a resolution, for its winding up; |
(f) | the person: |
(i) | suspending payment of its debts, ceasing (or threatening to cease) to carry on all or a material part of its business, stating that it is unable to pay its debts or being or becoming otherwise insolvent; or |
(ii) | being unable to pay its debts or otherwise insolvent; |
(g) | the person entering into a compromise or arrangement with, or assignment for the benefit of, its members or creditors generally; |
(h) | a court or other authority enforcing any judgment or order against the person for the payment of money or the recovery of any property; or |
(i) | any analogous event under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, |
1.2 | Rules for interpreting this Deed Poll |
2 | NATURE OF THIS DEED POLL |
(a) | This Deed Poll may be relied on and enforced by any Scheme Shareholder and by the Sale Nominee in accordance with its terms even though the Scheme Shareholders and the Sale Nominee are not party to it; and |
(b) | Under the Scheme, each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee each irrevocably appoints Allkem and each of its directors and officers, jointly and severally, as its agent and attorney to enforce this Deed Poll against Arcadium Lithium. |
3 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT AND TERMINATION |
(a) | Unless Arcadium Lithium and Allkem otherwise agree in writing (and, if required, as approved by the Court), Arcadium Lithium’s obligations under this Deed Poll will automatically terminate, and the terms of this Deed Poll will be of no further force or effect, if the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms. |
(b) | If this Deed Poll is terminated pursuant to clause 3.2(a): |
(i) | Arcadium Lithium is released from its obligations under this Deed Poll; and |
(ii) | each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee retains any rights, powers or remedies it has against Arcadium Lithium in respect of any breach of this Deed Poll that occurred before it was terminated. |
(a) | provide the Scheme Consideration to each Eligible Shareholder on the Scheme Implementation Date; and |
(b) | undertake and perform all other actions and obligations, and give each covenant, attributed to it or otherwise contemplated of it under the Scheme, as if named as a party to the Scheme, |
(a) | be duly issued and fully paid; |
(b) | be free from any Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind; and |
(c) | rank equally in all respects, including for future dividends, with all existing Arcadium Lithium Shares then on issue. |
(a) | (status) it is a validly existing corporation in accordance with the laws of its place of incorporation and remains in good standing thereunder; |
(b) | (power) it has full legal capacity and power to enter into this Deed Poll and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Deed Poll; |
(c) | (corporate authority) it has taken all corporate action that is necessary to authorise it to enter into this Deed Poll and it has taken or will take all corporate action that is necessary to authorise it to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Deed Poll; |
(d) | (Deed Poll effective) this Deed Poll constitutes valid and binding obligations on it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; |
(e) | (no contravention) the entry by it into, its compliance with its obligations and the exercise of its rights under, this Deed Poll do not and will not conflict with: |
(i) | its constituent documents or cause a limitation on its powers or the powers of its directors to be exceeded; or |
(ii) | any law binding on or applicable to it or its assets, |
(f) | (no Insolvency Event) it is not affected by an Insolvency Event. |
(a) | Arcadium Lithium having fully performed its obligations under this Deed Poll; and |
(b) | termination of this Deed Poll pursuant to clause 3.2. |
(a) | in writing, legible and in English, signed by or on behalf of the person giving it; |
(b) | addressed to the person to whom it is to be given; and |
(c) | either: |
(i) | delivered or sent by pre-paid mail (by airmail, if the addressee is overseas) to that person's address; or |
(ii) | sent in electronic form (such as email). |
(a) | if sent by mail: |
(i) | within Australia – three Business Days after posting; or |
(ii) | to or from a place outside Australia – seven Business Days after posting; |
(b) | if sent in electronic form: |
(i) | if it is transmitted by 5.00 pm on a Business Day – when sent; or |
(ii) | if it is transmitted after 5.00 pm on a Business Day, or at any time on a day that is not a Business Day – on the next Business Day, |
Address: | | | Percy Exchange, 8-34 Percy Place, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 |
Email: | | | [•] |
Attention: | | | Attention: The Secretary |
Copy to: | | | Guy Alexander, Allens at Guy.Alexander@allens.com.au William H. Aaronson, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at william.aaronson@davispolk.com Cheryl Chan, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at cheryl.chan@davispolk.com |
(a) | before the Second Court Date, the amendment or variation is agreed to in writing by Allkem (on behalf of each Scheme Shareholder but without the need for Allkem to refer the amendment or variation to any Scheme Shareholder) and, if required, is approved by the Court; or |
(b) | on or after the Second Court Date, the amendment or variation is agreed to in writing by Allkem (on behalf of each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee but without the need for Allkem to refer the amendment or variation to any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee) and is approved by the Court, |
(a) | The rights created by this Deed Poll are personal to Arcadium Lithium, each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee and, except with the prior written consent of Allkem and Arcadium Lithium, cannot and must not be assigned, encumbered, charged or otherwise dealt with at law or in equity by a Scheme Shareholder or by the Sale Nominee. |
(b) | Any purported dealing in contravention of clause 9.2(a) is invalid. |
(a) | no other conduct of a party (including a failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, the right) operates as a waiver of the right or otherwise prevents the exercise of that right; |
(b) | a waiver of a right on one or more occasions does not operate as a waiver of that right if it arises again; and |
(c) | the exercise, or partial exercise, of a right does not prevent any further exercise of that right or of any other right. |
(a) | The rights, powers and remedies of Arcadium Lithium, the Scheme Shareholders and the Sale Nominee under this Deed Poll are in addition to, and do not replace, exclude or limit, any other rights, powers or remedies provided by law independently of this Deed Poll. |
(b) | Any provision of this Deed Poll that is void, illegal or unenforceable: |
(i) | in a particular jurisdiction does not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of that provision in any other jurisdiction or of the remaining provisions of this Deed Poll in that or any other jurisdiction; and |
(ii) | is, where possible, to be severed to the extent necessary to make this Deed Poll valid, legal or enforceable, unless this would materially change the intended effect of this Deed Poll. |
(a) | pay all stamp duty payable or assessed as being payable in connection with this Deed Poll, the Scheme, or the transfer by the Eligible Shareholders of the Scheme Shares pursuant to the Scheme (including any fees, fines, penalties and interest in connection with any of these amounts); and |
(b) | indemnify each Eligible Shareholder against any liability arising from any failure by Arcadium Lithium to comply with clause 9.5(a). |
(a) | This Deed Poll and any dispute arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Deed Poll is governed by the laws of Western Australia. |
(b) | Arcadium Lithium irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia (Western Australian registry) and of the courts competent to determine appeals from that court with respect to any proceedings that may be brought at any time arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Deed Poll. Arcadium Lithium irrevocably waives any objection to the venue of any legal process in these courts on the basis that the process has been brought in any inconvenient forum. |
Signed Sealed and Delivered by Arcadium Lithium in the presence of: | | | ![]() |
| | ||
Signature of Witness | | | Signature of Authorised Signatory |
| | ||
| | ||
Name of Witness | | | Name of Authorised Signatory |
(1) | Allkem Limited (ACN 112 589 910) whose registered office is at Level 35, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 (Allkem); |
(2) | Eligible Shareholders; and |
(3) | Ineligible Overseas Shareholders. |
(A) | Allkem is a public company limited by shares incorporated in Australia. It has its registered office at registered office is at Level 35, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. Allkem is admitted to the official list of ASX and Allkem Shares are quoted on the securities exchange operated by ASX and the TSX. |
(C) | Livent Corporation (Livent) is a public corporation incorporated in Delaware, in the United States of America. It has its principal executive office at 1818 Market Street, Suite 2550, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Livent stock is listed on NYSE. |
(D) | Arcadium Lithium plc (Arcadium Lithium) is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of the Bailiwick of Jersey. It has its registered address at Suite 12, Gateway Hub, Shannon Airport House, Shannon, Co. Clare V14 E370 Ireland. |
(E) | Allkem, Livent and Arcadium Lithium entered into the Transaction Agreement on or about 10 May 2023 to facilitate (among other things) the implementation of this Scheme as part of the Transaction. |
(F) | By no later than the day that is one Business Day prior to the First Court Date, Arcadium Lithium will have executed the Deed Poll under which Arcadium Lithium will covenant in favour of the Eligible Shareholders and Ineligible Overseas Shareholders to perform the obligations attributable to it under this Scheme, including to provide the Scheme Consideration to Eligible Shareholders in accordance with the terms of this Scheme. |
(G) | If this Scheme becomes Effective: |
(a) | after the Scheme Record Date and prior to Scheme Implementation, all of the Ineligible Shares will be transferred to the Sale Nominee; and |
(b) | on the Implementation Date: |
(i) | Arcadium Lithium will provide the Scheme Consideration to Eligible Shareholders (including the Sale Nominee) in accordance with the terms of this Scheme and the Deed Poll; |
(A) | following the Implementation Date, the Consideration CDIs issued to the Sale Nominee on Scheme Implementation in respect of the Ineligible Shares transferred to it under paragraph (a) will be sold by the Sale Nominee, with the net proceeds of such Consideration CDIs being paid to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders on a pro-rata basis. |
1 | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
(a) | when used in relation to Allkem’s Australian principal share register, means Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited ABN 48 078 279 277; and |
(b) | when used in relation to Allkem’s Canadian branch share register, means Computershare Investor Services Inc. |
(a) | when used in relation to the Implementation Date and the Scheme Record Date, has the meaning given in the ASX Listing Rules; and |
(b) | in all other cases, means any day other than: |
(i) | a Saturday or a Sunday; or |
(ii) | a day on which banking and savings and loan institutions are authorised or required by law to be closed in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the Bailiwick of Jersey or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America. |
(a) | in the case of Allkem Principal Register Shareholders, 5.00pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on the day that is three Business Days prior to the Record Date; |
(b) | in the case of Allkem Canadian Branch Shareholders, 5.00pm (Toronto time) / 10.00pm (UTC) on the day that is three Business Days prior to the Record Date. |
(a) | a Scheme Shareholder who is not an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder; and |
(b) | the Sale Nominee. |
(a) | a Principal Register Shareholder on the Record Date; or |
(b) | the Sale Nominee. |
(a) | a Security Interest; or |
(b) | an easement, restrictive covenant, caveat or similar restriction over property. |
(a) | the nominee appointed by Allkem in accordance with clause 4.4 of this Scheme to sell the Ineligible Consideration CDIs under the terms of this Scheme (or any person holding legal title to the Ineligible Shares or the Ineligible Consideration CDIs (as applicable) for the benefit of, and as agent for, that person); or |
(b) | if the Terms of Appointment with the Sale Nominee contemplated by paragraph (a) immediately above are terminated after Implementation, any alternate nominee appointed by Allkem on the terms contemplated by clause 4.4 to sell the Ineligible Consideration CDIs under the terms of this Scheme (or any person holding legal title to the Ineligible Shares or the Ineligible Consideration CDIs (as applicable) for the benefit of, and as agent for, that person), |
(a) | each Allkem Share held by a Scheme Shareholder (other than an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder) as at the Scheme Record Date; and |
(b) | each Allkem Share held by an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder and transferred to the Sale Nominee after the Scheme Record Date and prior to Scheme Implementation pursuant to clause 4.4 of this Scheme. |
(a) | a security interest that is subject to the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth); |
(b) | any other mortgage, charge, pledge or lien; or |
(c) | any other interest or arrangement of any kind that in substance secures the payment of money or the performance of an obligation, or that gives a creditor priority over unsecured creditors in relation to any property. |
1.2 | Rules for interpreting this Scheme |
(a) | A reference to: |
(i) | a legislative provision or legislation (including subordinate legislation) is to that provision or legislation as amended, re-enacted or replaced, and includes any subordinate legislation issued under it; |
(ii) | a clause is to a clause of this Scheme; |
(iii) | a document (including this Scheme) or agreement, or a provision of a document (including this Scheme) or agreement, is to that document, agreement or provision as amended, supplemented, replaced or novated; |
(iv) | a group of persons is a reference to any 2 or more of them jointly and to each of them individually; |
(v) | a party to this Scheme, or to any other document or agreement, includes a permitted substitute or a permitted assign of that party; |
(vi) | a person includes any type of entity or body of persons, whether or not it is incorporated or has a separate legal identity, and any executor, administrator or successor in law of the person; and |
(vii) | any thing (including a right, amount, obligation or concept) includes each part of it. |
(b) | A singular word includes the plural, and vice versa. |
(c) | A word that suggests one gender includes the other genders. |
(d) | If a word or phrase is defined, any other grammatical form of that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. |
(e) | If an example is given of anything (including a right, obligation or concept), such as by saying it includes something else, the example does not limit the scope of that thing. |
(f) | The word officer has the same meaning as given by the Corporations Act. |
(g) | A reference to time in this Scheme is a reference to Australian Western Standard Time, unless otherwise expressly specified. |
(h) | Nothing in this Scheme is to be construed adversely to a party just because that party prepared this Scheme or prepared or proposed the relevant part of this Scheme. |
1.3 | Non–Business Days |
2 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
2.1 | Conditions precedent to the Scheme |
(a) | As at 8.00 am on the Second Court Date, the conditions in Exhibit A of the Transaction Agreement (other than the conditions in paragraph 1(b) and 1(c) of Exhibit A of the Transaction Agreement) have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement. |
(b) | Prior to 8.00 am on the Second Court Date, neither the Transaction Agreement nor the Deed Poll has been terminated in accordance with their terms. |
(c) | The order of the Court made under section 411(4)(b) of the Corporations Act (and, if applicable, section 411(6) of the Corporations Act, subject to such alterations or conditions being agreed in accordance with clause 3.3) approving this Scheme comes into effect pursuant to section 411(10) of the Corporations Act on or before either or both of the Transaction Agreement and the Deed Poll are terminated in accordance with their respective terms. |
2.2 | Certificates |
(a) | Before 8.30 am on the Second Court Date: |
(i) | Allkem must provide to the Court: |
(A) | a certificate, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within Allkem’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied; and |
(B) | a certificate from Livent, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within Livent’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied; and |
(ii) | Arcadium Lithium must provide to the Court a certificate, in the form of a deed, confirming whether or not, in respect of matters within Arcadium Lithium’s knowledge, the conditions precedent in clause 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied. |
(b) | The certificates referred to in clause 2.2(a) constitute conclusive evidence that the conditions precedent in clauses 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) have been satisfied. |
2.3 | Scheme Effective Date |
2.4 | When Scheme will lapse |
3 | THE SCHEME |
3.1 | Lodgement of copy of Court Order with ASIC |
(a) | as soon as possible after the date on which the Court makes the Court Orders and in accordance with the time limit set out in item 10 of Appendix 7A of the ASX Listing Rules; or |
(b) | on such other Business Day and by such other time as agreed to in writing by Livent and Allkem. |
3.2 | Transfer of Scheme Shares |
(a) | subject to Arcadium Lithium taking the steps to provide the Scheme Consideration which it is required to take on the Scheme Implementation Date under clause 4, all of the Scheme Shares, together with all rights and entitlements attaching to the Scheme Shares as at the Scheme Implementation Date, will be transferred to Arcadium Lithium without the need for any further act by any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee (other than acts performed by Allkem or its directors and officers as attorney and agent for the Scheme Shareholders and the Sale Nominee under this Scheme) by: |
(i) | Allkem delivering to Arcadium Lithium a duly completed registrable Scheme Transfer to transfer the Scheme Shares to Arcadium Lithium, which Scheme Transfer has been duly executed by Allkem (or any of its directors and officers) as the attorney and agent of each Eligible Shareholder as a transferor under clauses 6.2 and 6.4; and |
(ii) | Arcadium Lithium duly completing and executing the Scheme Transfer as transferee and delivering the Scheme Transfer to Allkem for registration; and |
(b) | immediately following receipt of the Scheme Transfer in accordance with clause 3.2(a)(ii), Allkem must: |
(i) | attend to registration of the Scheme Transfer; and |
(ii) | enter or procure the entry of the name and address of Arcadium Lithium in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of all of the Scheme Shares. |
3.3 | Alteration or condition to Scheme |
(a) | Allkem may, by its counsel, consent on behalf of all persons concerned, including each Scheme Shareholder (and, to avoid doubt, the Sale Nominee), to those alterations or conditions; and |
(b) | each Scheme Shareholder (and, to avoid doubt, the Sale Nominee) agrees to any such alterations or conditions that counsel for Allkem has consented to. |
4 | SCHEME CONSIDERATION |
4.1 | Elections by Eligible Shareholders |
(a) | Each Eligible Principal Register Shareholder (other than the Sale Nominee) may become a Share Electing Shareholder by providing Allkem with a duly completed Share Election before 5.00 pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on the Election Date. |
(b) | Each Eligible Canadian Branch Shareholder may become a CDI Electing Shareholder by providing Allkem with a duly completed CDI Election before 5.00 pm (Toronto time) / 10:00pm (UTC) on the Election Date. |
(c) | To avoid doubt, a Share Election or CDI Election submitted by an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder will be of no force or effect. |
4.2 | Entitlement to Scheme Consideration |
(a) | On the Scheme Implementation Date, in consideration for the transfer to Arcadium Lithium of Scheme Shares under the terms of this Scheme, each Eligible Shareholder will be entitled to receive the Scheme Consideration in respect of each of their Scheme Shares in accordance with this clause 4. |
(b) | Subject to clauses 4.3 to 4.7, the Scheme Consideration to be provided to each Eligible Shareholder will be: |
(i) | where the Eligible Shareholder is: |
(A) | an Eligible Principal Register Shareholder who is not a Share Electing Shareholder; or |
(B) | an Eligible Canadian Branch Shareholder who is a CDI Electing Shareholder, |
(ii) | where the Eligible Shareholder is: |
(A) | an Eligible Principal Register Shareholder who is a Share Electing Shareholder; or |
(B) | an Eligible Canadian Branch Shareholder who is not a CDI Electing Shareholder; and |
4.3 | Provision of Scheme Consideration |
(a) | on the Scheme Implementation Date (or, in the case of sub-paragraphs (C), (D), (E) and (F) of clause 4.3(a)(iii), by no later than the Business Day following the Scheme Implementation Date): |
(i) | provide to each Eligible Shareholder (or procure the issue to each Eligible Shareholder of) the applicable Scheme Consideration in accordance with this Scheme; |
(ii) | in the case of Scheme Consideration that is required to be provided to Eligible Shareholders in the form of Consideration Shares, procure that the name and address of each relevant Eligible Shareholder is entered in the Arcadium Lithium Share Register as the holder of the applicable Consideration Shares (being the name and Registered Address of the relevant Eligible Shareholder as at the Scheme Record Date); and |
(iii) | in the case of Scheme Consideration that is required to be provided to Eligible Shareholders in the form of Consideration CDIs: |
(A) | issue to CDN (or to a custodian who will hold the Arcadium Lithium Shares on CDN's behalf) to be held on trust that number of Arcadium Lithium Shares that will enable CDN to issue Consideration CDIs as contemplated by this clause 4.3; |
(B) | procure that the name and address of CDN or of its custodian (as applicable) is entered into the Arcadium Lithium Share Register in respect of those Arcadium Lithium Shares underlying the Consideration CDIs, and that a share certificate or holding statement (or equivalent document) in the name of CDN representing those Arcadium Lithium Shares is sent to CDN; |
(C) | procure that CDN issues to each relevant Eligible Shareholder the number of Consideration CDIs to which it is entitled under this clause 4.3; and |
(D) | procure that the name and address of each relevant Eligible Shareholder is entered in the records maintained by CDN or its custodian (as applicable) or both, as the holder of the Consideration CDIs issued to that Eligible Shareholder; |
(E) | in the case of each such Eligible Shareholder who held Scheme Shares on the CHESS subregister, procure that the Consideration CDIs are held on the CHESS subregister; and |
(F) | in the case of each such Eligible Shareholder who held Scheme Shares on the issuer sponsored subregister, the Consideration CDIs are held on the issuer sponsored subregister; and |
(b) | no later than six Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date, send or procure the dispatch to each |
4.4 | Ineligible Overseas Shareholders |
(a) | Arcadium Lithium has no obligation to issue, and will not issue, any Scheme Consideration under this Scheme to any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder. |
(b) | Allkem must: |
(i) | prior to the First Court Hearing, appoint the Sale Nominee; |
(ii) | ensure that, under the Terms of Appointment, the Sale Nominee irrevocably undertakes to and is otherwise obliged to do all such things required by this clause 4.4 of this Scheme (including, but not limited to, under clause 4.4(c)); and |
(iii) | procure that the Sale Nominee: |
(A) | performs all acts attributed to it under this clause 4.4; and |
(B) | otherwise does all things necessary to give effect to this clause 4.4. |
(c) | After the Scheme Record Date, and prior to Scheme Implementation, all of the Allkem Shares which were held by Ineligible Overseas Shareholders as at the Scheme Record Date (each an Ineligible Share and together the Ineligible Shares), together with all rights and entitlements attaching to those Ineligible Shares, will be transferred to the Sale Nominee: |
(i) | without the need for any further act by any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder (other than acts performed by Allkem or its directors or officers as attorney and agent for the Ineligible Overseas Shareholders); and |
(ii) | on the basis that, if (1) the Scheme lapses under clause 2.4, or (2) Scheme Implementation has not occurred within 5 Business Days after the Scheme Record Date (or such later time determined by Allkem in its sole discretion), (each a Return Event), the Sale Nominee must return the Ineligible Consideration Shares to the relevant Ineligible Overseas Shareholders as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event, no later than 15 Business Days after the date on which Allkem gives written notice of the Return Event to the Sale Nominee) without any cost incurred by or fee payable to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder. |
(d) | Allkem must procure that the Sale Nominee accepts the transfer of the Ineligible Shares under clause 4.4(c) by immediately executing the Ineligible Share Transfer as transferee and delivering it to Allkem for registration. |
(e) | In order to give effect to the transfer of Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee under clause 4.4(c), Allkem will: |
(i) | as attorney and agent for each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, execute the Ineligible Share Transfer provided under clause 4.4(d); and |
(ii) | register the transfer of the Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee and enter the name of the Sale Nominee in the Allkem Share Register in respect of all of the Ineligible Shares transferred under clause 4.4(c). |
(f) | Allkem must procure that the Sale Nominee, and must enforce its contractual rights to ensure that the Sale Nominee: |
(i) | sells the CDIs issued as Scheme Consideration in respect of the Ineligible Shares (Ineligible Consideration CDIs) (on ASX or off-market) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no more than 15 Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date, in the manner, and on the terms, the Sale Nominee determines in good faith (and at the risk of the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder); and |
(ii) | as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no more than 10 Business Days after settlement of all the sales of the Ineligible Consideration CDIs under clause 4.4(f)(i), remits to Allkem the Net Proceeds. |
(g) | Promptly after receipt of the Net Proceeds, Allkem must pay each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, or procure the payment to each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder of, such proportion of the Net Proceeds to which that Ineligible Overseas Shareholder is entitled (rounded down to the nearest cent), to be determined in accordance with the following formula: |
(h) | The Net Proceeds will be payable to Ineligible Overseas Shareholders in Australian dollars. |
(i) | Each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder acknowledges and agrees that: |
(i) | none of Allkem, Livent, Arcadium Lithium or the Sale Nominee give any assurance as to the price or foreign exchange rate that will be achieved for the sale of the Ineligible Consideration CDIs described in clause 4.4(f); and |
(ii) | Allkem, Livent, Arcadium Lithium and the Sale Nominee each expressly disclaim any fiduciary duty to any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder that may arise in connection with this clause 4.4. |
(j) | Allkem must pay or procure that each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder is paid any amounts owing under clause 4.4(g) by either (in the absolute discretion of Allkem): |
(i) | where an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder has, before the Scheme Record Date, made a valid election in accordance with the requirements of the Allkem Share Registry to receive dividend payments from Allkem by electronic funds transfer to a bank account nominated by the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, paying, or procuring the payment of, the relevant amount in Australian currency by electronic means in accordance with that election; |
(ii) | by Global Wire Payment Service, if an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder has elected to receive payments electronically in their local currency using the Allkem Share Registry’s Global Wire Payment Service; or |
(iii) | dispatching, or procuring the dispatch of, a cheque for the relevant amount in Australian currency to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder by prepaid post to their Registered Address (as at the Scheme Record Date), such cheque being drawn in the name of the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder (in the case of joint holders, the cheque will be drawn in the name of the joint holders and dispatched in accordance with the procedures set out in clause 4.6(b)). |
(k) | Each Ineligible Overseas Shareholder appoints Allkem, and each director and officer of Allkem, as its agent to receive on its behalf any financial services guide (or similar or equivalent document) and any other notices (including any updates of those documents) that the Sale Nominee is required to provide to Ineligible Overseas Shareholders under the Corporations Act or any other applicable law. |
(l) | Payment of the relevant amounts calculated in accordance with clauses 4.4(g) to an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4.4 satisfies in full Arcadium Lithium’s obligations to the Ineligible Overseas Shareholder under this Scheme in respect of the Scheme Consideration. |
4.5 | Other ineligible Scheme Shareholders |
(a) | Where the issue of Scheme Consideration to which an Eligible Shareholder would otherwise be entitled under this Scheme would result in a breach of law: |
(i) | Arcadium Lithium will issue the maximum possible Scheme Consideration to that Eligible Shareholder without giving rise to such a breach; and |
(ii) | any further Scheme Consideration to which that Eligible Shareholder is entitled, but the issue of which to that Eligible Shareholder would give rise to such a breach, will instead be issued to the Sale Nominee and dealt with under clause 4.4, as if: |
(A) | references to “Ineligible Overseas Shareholders” also included that Eligible Shareholder; and |
(B) | references to “Ineligible Consideration CDIs” also included any of that Eligible Shareholder’s Scheme Consideration that has been issued to the Sale Nominee. |
(b) | Where the issue of Scheme Consideration to the Sale Nominee under this Scheme would result in a breach of law, Allkem must use its reasonable best efforts to appoint another person as the Sale Nominee in accordance with clause 4.4. |
4.6 | Joint holders |
(a) | any Scheme Consideration will be issued to and registered in the names of the joint holders; and |
(b) | any other document required to be sent under this Scheme will be forwarded to the holder whose name appears first in the Allkem Share Register as at the Scheme Record Date or to the joint holders. |
4.7 | Orders of a court or Governmental Entity |
(a) | If Arcadium Lithium or Allkem (or the Allkem Share Registry) receives written notice of an order or direction made by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a Governmental Entity that: |
(i) | requires consideration to be provided to a third party (either through payment of a sum or the issuance of a security) in respect of Scheme Shares held by a particular Eligible Shareholder, which would otherwise be payable or required to be issued to that Eligible Shareholder by Allkem or Arcadium Lithium in accordance with this clause 4 (including in connection with any withholding or deduction under clauses 4.7(b)), then Allkem or Arcadium Lithium (as applicable) will be entitled to procure that provision of that consideration is made in accordance with that order or direction; or |
(ii) | prevents Allkem or Arcadium Lithium from providing consideration to any particular Scheme Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, or the payment or issuance of such consideration is otherwise prohibited by applicable law, Allkem or Arcadium Lithium (as applicable) will be entitled to: |
(A) | in the case of any Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, retain an amount, in Australian dollars, equal to the relevant Ineligible Overseas Shareholder's share of any proceeds of sale received by Allkem pursuant to clause 4.4; and |
(B) | not issue (or, in the case of Allkem, direct Arcadium Lithium not to issue), or issue (or, in the case of Allkem, direct Arcadium Lithium to issue) to a permitted trustee or nominee, such Scheme Consideration as that Scheme Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to under clause 4.3, |
(b) | Arcadium Lithium and Allkem (as applicable) may deduct and withhold from any consideration that would otherwise be provided to a Scheme Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, any amount that Arcadium Lithium or Allkem (as applicable) determines is required to be deducted and withheld from that consideration under any applicable law, including any order, direction or notice made or given by a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Government Entity. |
(c) | To the extent that amounts are so deducted or withheld, such deducted or withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes under this Scheme as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made, provided that such deducted or withheld amounts are actually remitted to the appropriate taxing agency. |
(d) | To avoid doubt, any payment or retention by Allkem or Arcadium Lithium (as applicable) under clauses 4.7(a), 4.7(b) and 4.7(c) will constitute the full discharge of Arcadium Lithium’s obligations under clause 4.3 with respect to the amount so paid or retained until, in the case of clause 4.7(a)(ii), the amount is no longer required to be retained. |
4.8 | Consideration Shares to rank equally |
(a) | the Consideration Shares to be issued (including the Arcadium Lithium Shares underlying the Consideration CDIs) as the Scheme Consideration will, on issue: |
(i) | be duly issued and fully paid in accordance with applicable laws and the memorandum and articles of association of Arcadium Lithium; |
(ii) | be free from any Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise, or restriction on transfer of any kind, other than as provided for in the memorandum and articles of association of Arcadium Lithium or as required under applicable law; and |
(iii) | rank equally in all respects, including for future dividends, with all existing Arcadium Lithium Shares then on issue; and |
(b) | it will apply for, or has applied for: |
(i) | the listing of the Consideration Shares on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; |
(ii) | admission of Arcadium Lithium to the official list of ASX (as a foreign exempt listing) commencing on the Business Day following the Scheme Effective Date; and |
(iii) | official quotation of the Consideration CDIs on ASX, subject to customary conditions, commencing: |
(A) | on the Business Day following the Scheme Effective Date (or such later day as ASX may require) until the Scheme Implementation Date, on a deferred settlement basis; and |
(B) | on the Business Day following the Scheme Implementation Date, on an ordinary (T+2) basis. |
4.9 | Unclaimed monies |
(a) | Allkem may cancel a cheque issued under clause 4.4(j)(iii) if the cheque: |
(i) | is returned to Allkem; or |
(ii) | has not been presented for payment within 6 months after the date on which the cheque was sent. |
(b) | During the period of 12 months commencing on the Scheme Implementation Date, on request in writing from a Scheme Shareholder to Allkem (or the Allkem Share Registry) (which request may not be made until the date that is 20 Business Days after the Scheme Implementation Date), Allkem must reissue a cheque that was previously cancelled under clause 4.9(a). |
(c) | The Unclaimed Money Act will apply in relation to any Scheme Consideration that becomes “unclaimed money” (as defined in section 6 of the Unclaimed Money Act). |
4.10 | Title to and rights in Scheme Shares |
(a) | Immediately upon the provision of the Scheme Consideration to each Eligible Shareholder in accordance with this clause 4, Arcadium Lithium will be beneficially entitled to the Scheme Shares transferred to it under this Scheme pending registration by Allkem of the name and address of Arcadium Lithium in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the Scheme Shares. |
(b) | To the extent permitted by law, the Scheme Shares (including all rights and entitlements attaching to the Scheme Shares) transferred under this Scheme to Arcadium Lithium will, at the time of transfer to Arcadium Lithium, vest in Arcadium Lithium free from all: |
(i) | Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise; and |
(ii) | restrictions on transfer of any kind. |
(c) | To avoid doubt, notwithstanding clause 4.10(a), to the extent that clause 4.7(a) applies to any Eligible Shareholder, Arcadium Lithium will be beneficially entitled to any Scheme Shares held by that Eligible Shareholder immediately upon compliance with clause 4.7 on the Scheme Implementation Date as if Arcadium Lithium had provided the Scheme Consideration to that Eligible Shareholder. |
5 | DEALINGS IN ALLKEM SHARES |
5.1 | Allkem Share dealings that are recognised |
(a) | in the case of dealings of the type to be effected using CHESS, the transferee is registered in the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the relevant Allkem Shares as at the Scheme Record Date; and |
(b) | in all other cases, registrable transfers or transmission applications in respect of those dealings, or valid requests in respect of other alternations, are received by the Allkem Share Registry at or before the Scheme Record Date, |
5.2 | Allkem to register transfer and transmission applications |
5.3 | Transfers received after Scheme Record Date not recognised |
5.4 | Allkem to maintain Allkem Share Register to determine entitlements |
(a) | In order to determine entitlements to the Scheme Consideration, Allkem must maintain, or procure the maintenance of, the Allkem Share Register in accordance with this clause 5 until the Scheme Consideration has been paid to Scheme Shareholders and Arcadium Lithium has been entered into the Allkem Share Register as the holder of the Scheme Shares. |
(b) | The Allkem Share Register in this form will solely determine entitlements to the Scheme Consideration. |
5.5 | Holding statements no effect from Scheme Record Date |
(a) | All holding statements for Allkem Shares (other than any holding statements (1) in favour of the Sale Nominee with respect to the Ineligible Shares or (2) in favour of Arcadium Lithium) will cease to have effect as documents of title (or evidence thereof) after the Scheme Record Date. |
(b) | Each entry on the Allkem Share Register at and from the Scheme Record Date (other than those entries in respect of Arcadium Lithium or a transfer in accordance with clause 4.4(c) to the Sale Nominee) will cease to have any effect other than as evidence of an entitlement to the Scheme Consideration in respect of the Scheme Shares relating to that entry. |
5.6 | Allkem to provide contact information for Scheme Shareholders |
5.7 | Suspension of trading |
(a) | to ASX, to suspend trading of Allkem Shares on ASX with effect from the close of trading on the Scheme Effective Date; and |
(b) | to TSX, to suspend trading of Allkem Shares on TSX with effect from 4.00pm (Toronto time) on the Scheme Effective Date. |
5.8 | Termination of official quotation |
(a) | to ASX, for: |
(i) | removal of Allkem from the official list of ASX; and |
(ii) | termination of the official quotation of Allkem Shares on ASX; |
(b) | to TSX, for the delisting of Allkem from TSX with effect on or about the close of trading (Toronto time) on the trading day immediately following the Scheme Implementation Date, or such other date as Livent and Allkem may agree, acting reasonably, following consultation with TSX. |
6 | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
6.1 | Allkem giving effect to the Scheme |
6.2 | Scheme Shareholders' agreements and consents |
(a) | agrees for all purposes to: |
(i) | in the case of Ineligible Overseas Shareholders, the transfer of their Ineligible Shares to the Sale Nominee; |
(ii) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders: |
(A) | become a member of Arcadium Lithium; |
(B) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders who are issued Consideration CDIs pursuant to this Scheme, to have their name entered in the records maintained by CDN or its custodian (as applicable), or both, as the holder of CDIs; |
(C) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders who are issued Consideration Shares pursuant to this Scheme, to have their name registered in the Arcadium Lithium Share Register as a holder of Arcadium Lithium Shares; and |
(D) | be bound by the memorandum of association and articles of association of Arcadium Lithium; and |
(iii) | in the case of Eligible Shareholders, the transfer of their Scheme Shares, together with all rights and entitlements attaching to those Scheme Shares, to Arcadium Lithium, |
(b) | agrees for all purposes and to the extent permitted by law, that all instructions, notifications or elections made by the Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee to Allkem (binding or deemed to be binding between the Scheme Shareholder and Allkem) relating to Allkem or its securities (except for tax file numbers), including instructions, notifications or elections relating to: |
(i) | whether distributions or dividends are to be paid by cheque or into a specific account; and |
(ii) | notices or other communications from Allkem, |
(c) | agrees to the variation, cancellation or modification of the rights attached to their Scheme Shares constituted by or resulting from, and in accordance with, this Scheme; |
(d) | acknowledges that this Scheme binds Allkem, all Scheme Shareholders (including those who did not attend the Scheme Meeting and those who did not vote, or voted against this Scheme, at the Scheme Meeting) and the Sale Nominee; |
(e) | consents to Allkem, Arcadium Lithium and Livent doing all things (including executing all deeds, instruments, transfers or other documents) as may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to this Scheme and the transactions contemplated by it; and |
(f) | acknowledges and agrees that Allkem, as agent of each Scheme Shareholder and of the Sale Nominee, may sub–delegate its functions under this Scheme to any of its directors and officers, jointly and severally, |
6.3 | Scheme Shareholders' warranties |
(a) | Each Scheme Shareholder and the Sale Nominee is taken to have warranted to Allkem and Arcadium Lithium (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, to the Sale Nominee), and to have appointed and authorised Allkem as its attorney and agent to warrant to Arcadium Lithium (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, to the Sale Nominee), that: |
(i) | all their Allkem Shares (including any rights and entitlements attaching to their Allkem Shares) that are transferred under this Scheme will, at the time of their transfer, be fully paid and free from all: |
(A) | Encumbrances, pledges and interests of third parties of any kind, whether legal or otherwise; and |
(B) | restrictions on transfer of any kind; |
(ii) | they have full power and capacity to transfer their Allkem Shares to Arcadium Lithium (or, in the case of Ineligible Overseas Shareholders, to the Sale Nominee), together with any rights and entitlements attaching to those Allkem Shares, under this Scheme; and |
(iii) | as at the Scheme Record Date, they have no existing right to be issued any other Allkem Shares or any other form of securities in Allkem. |
(b) | Allkem undertakes in favour of each Scheme Shareholder (and, in the case of an Ineligible Overseas Shareholder, for the Sale Nominee) that it will provide such warranty to Arcadium Lithium as agent and attorney of each Scheme Shareholder. |
6.4 | Appointment of Allkem as attorney of Scheme Shareholders and Sale Nominee |
(a) | execute any document or do any other act necessary, expedient or incidental to give full effect to this Scheme and the transactions contemplated by it, including: |
(i) | as attorney and agent for Eligible Shareholders (including the Sale Nominee), executing and delivering the Scheme Transfer under clause 3.2 and; |
(ii) | as attorney and agent for Ineligible Overseas Shareholders, executing and delivering the Ineligible Share Transfer under clause 4.4; and |
(b) | enforce the Deed Poll against Arcadium Lithium, |
6.5 | Appointment of Arcadium Lithium as agent, attorney and sole proxy in respect of Scheme Shares |
(a) | irrevocably appoints Arcadium Lithium as its attorney and agent (and directs Arcadium Lithium as its attorney and agent to appoint any of the directors and officers of Arcadium Lithium as its sole proxy and, where applicable, corporate representative, of that Eligible Shareholder) to: |
(i) | attend shareholders' meetings of Allkem; |
(ii) | exercise the votes attaching to the Scheme Shares registered in the name of the Eligible Shareholder; and |
(iii) | sign any Allkem Shareholders' resolution (whether in person, by proxy or by corporate representative); |
(b) | must take all other action in the capacity of a registered holder of Scheme Shares as Arcadium Lithium reasonably directs; |
(c) | undertake not to attend or vote at any shareholders' meetings of Allkem or sign any Allkem Shareholders' resolution (whether in person, by proxy or by corporate representative) other than pursuant to clause 6.5(a); and |
(d) | acknowledges and agrees that in exercising the powers conferred by clause 6.5(a), Arcadium Lithium and any director, officer or agent nominated by Arcadium Lithium may act in the best interests of Arcadium Lithium as the intended registered holder of the Scheme Shares. |
6.6 | Binding effect of Scheme |
(a) | This Scheme binds Allkem, all of the Scheme Shareholders (including those who did not attend the Scheme Meeting and those who did not vote, or voted against this Scheme, at the Scheme Meeting) and the Sale Nominee and, to the extent of any inconsistency, overrides the constitution of Allkem. |
(b) | Any covenant from any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee in favour of Arcadium Lithium or any obligation owed by any Scheme Shareholder or the Sale Nominee to Arcadium Lithium will be enforceable by Arcadium Lithium against such person directly and, to the extent necessary, may enforce such rights through Allkem as party to the Scheme. |
6.7 | No liability when acting in good faith |
6.8 | Deed Poll |
6.9 | Notices |
(a) | Where a notice, transfer, transmission application, direction or other communication referred to in this Scheme is sent by post to Allkem, it will be deemed to be received on the date (if any) on which it is actually received at Allkem's registered office or at the Allkem Share Registry and on no other date. |
(b) | The accidental omission to give notice of the Scheme Meeting or the non-receipt of such notice by an Allkem Shareholder will not, unless so ordered by the Court, invalidate the Scheme Meeting or the proceedings of the Scheme Meeting. |
6.10 | Stamp duty |
6.11 | Governing law |
(a) | This Scheme and any dispute arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Scheme is governed by the laws of Western Australia. |
(b) | Each party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia (Western Australian registry) and of the courts competent to determine appeals from that court with respect to any proceedings that may be brought at any time arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of this Scheme. Each party irrevocably waives any objection to the venue of any legal process in these courts on the basis that the process has been brought in any inconvenient forum. |
1. | The name of the Company is [•] plc. |
2. | The Company is a public company limited by shares. |
3. | The Company is a par value company. |
4. | The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. |
5. | The liability of each member arising from his or her holding of a share is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on it. |
6. | The share capital of the Company is US$[•] divided into [•] ordinary shares of US$[•] each and [•] preferred shares of US$[•] each. |
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Definitions and interpretation |
(a) | The meanings of the terms used in these articles are set out below. |
Term | | | Meaning |
Acting Chairperson | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 7.7(d). |
affiliate | | | a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person. |
annual general meeting | | | an annual general meeting of the Company that the Companies Law requires to be held. |
Board | | | the directors for the time being of the Company or those directors who are present at a meeting at which there is a quorum. |
Business Day | | | has the meaning given to that term in the listing rules of the New York Stock Exchange. |
CDI | | | means a CHESS depositary interest that represents a beneficial ownership in a share in the Company registered in the name of CDI Nominee (or in the name of a nominee or custodian who will hold the shares in the Company on CDI Nominee’s behalf). |
CDI Nominee | | | means CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Limited (ACN 071 346 506). |
CHESS | | | the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System operated by ASX Settlement Pty Ltd. |
Companies Law | | | the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991. |
Control, including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with | | | the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting shares of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting shares, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this provision, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity. |
CREST Order | | | the Companies (Uncertificated Securities) (Jersey) Order 1999, as amended from time to time, including any provisions of or under the Companies Law which alter or replace such regulations. |
Default Shares | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 6.2(a). |
Derivative Security | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 7.3(f)(3). |
Designated Stock Exchange | | | the New York Stock Exchange, the Australian Securities Exchange or any other stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s securities are then traded. |
directors | | | the directors of the Company. |
Term | | | Meaning |
distribution | | | has the meaning given to that expression in Article 114 of the Companies Law. |
dividend | | | any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on shares pursuant to these articles. |
DTC | | | the Depositary Trust Company or any successor company. |
DTC Depositary | | | Cede & Co. and/or any other custodian, depositary or nominee of DTC which holds shares under arrangements that facilitate the holding and trading of beneficial interests in ordinary shares in the DTC System. |
DTC Proxy | | | in relation to any shares held by the DTC Depositary, any person who is, for the purposes of any general meeting or resolution, appointed a proxy (whether by way of instrument of proxy, power of attorney, mandate or otherwise) by: a) the DTC Depositary; or b) a proxy, attorney or other agent appointed by any other person whose authority is ultimately derived (whether directly or indirectly) from the DTC Depositary. |
DTC System | | | the electronic system operated by DTC by which title to securities or interests in securities may be evidenced and transferred in dematerialised form. |
Exchange Act | | | the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
Exemption Order | | | the Companies (Transfers of Shares – Exemptions) (Jersey) Order 2014 as amended from time to time, including any provisions of or under the Companies Law which alter or replace such regulations. |
extraordinary general meeting | | | any general meeting of the Company other than the annual general meeting. |
Liabilities | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 11.2. |
Listing Rules | | | the listing rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
Officer | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 11.1. |
public announcement | | | disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service in the United States or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |
Record Time | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 7.4. |
Representative | | | in relation to a member that is a body corporate means a person authorised by the body corporate to act as its representative at the meeting. |
Seal | | | any common seal, duplicate seal or certificate seal of the Company. |
share | | | means shares in the Company. |
special resolution | | | a resolution of the Company passed as a special resolution in accordance with the Companies Law. |
Statement of Rights | | | has the meaning given to that term in article 2.4. |
Transmission Event | | | 1 for a member who is an individual – the member’s death, the member’s bankruptcy, or a member becoming of unsound mind, or a person who, or whose estate, is liable to be dealt with in any way under the laws relating to mental health; and |
Term | | | Meaning |
| | 2 for a member who is a body corporate – the insolvency, bankruptcy or dissolution of the member or the succession by another body corporate to the assets and liabilities of the member. | |
Uncertificated | | | in relation to a share, means a share title to which is recorded in the register as being held in uncertificated form and title to which, by virtue of the CREST Order, may be transferred by means of a relevant system. |
(b) | A reference in these articles to a partly paid share is a reference to a share on which there is an amount unpaid. |
(c) | A reference in these articles to an amount unpaid on a share includes a reference to any amount of the issue price which is unpaid. |
(d) | A reference in these articles to a call or an amount called on a share includes a reference to a sum that, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable on issue or at a fixed date. |
(e) | Except where a special resolution or another percentage is specified, a reference to a resolution or ordinary resolution of the Company is a reference to a resolution passed by a majority of votes cast by the members present at a general meeting. |
(f) | A reference in these articles to a member for the purposes of a meeting of members is a reference to a registered holder of shares as at the relevant Record Time. |
(g) | A reference in these articles to a member present at a general meeting is a reference to a member present in person, electronically in accordance with article 7.5(d) or by proxy, attorney or Representative. |
(h) | A chairperson or deputy chairperson appointed under these articles may be referred to as chairman or chairwoman, or deputy chairman or chairwoman, or as chair, if applicable. |
(i) | A reference in these articles to a person holding or occupying a particular office or position is a reference to any person who occupies or performs the duties of that office or position. |
(j) | A reference to a document being ‘signed’ or to ‘signature’ includes that document being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method and, in the case of a communication in electronic form, includes the document being authenticated in accordance with the Companies Law or any other method approved by the Board. |
(k) | Unless the contrary intention appears, in these articles: |
(1) | the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular; |
(2) | words that refer to any gender include all genders; |
(3) | words used to refer to persons generally include natural persons as well as bodies corporate, bodies politic, partnerships, joint ventures, associations, boards, groups or other bodies (whether or not the body is incorporated); |
(4) | a reference to a person includes that person’s successors and legal personal representatives; |
(5) | a reference to a statute or regulation, or a provision of any of them includes all statutes, regulations or provisions amending, consolidating or replacing them, and a reference to a statute includes all regulations, proclamations, ordinances and by-laws issued under that statute; |
(6) | a reference to the Listing Rules includes any variation, consolidation, amendment or replacement of those rules and is to be taken to be subject to any applicable waiver or exemption; and |
(7) | where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings. |
(l) | Specifying anything in these articles after the words ‘including’, ‘includes’ or ‘for example’ or similar expressions does not limit what else is included unless there is express wording to the contrary. |
(m) | In these articles, headings and bold type are only for convenience and do not affect the meaning of these articles. |
(a) | The Company may, in any way the Companies Law permits: |
(1) | exercise any power; |
(2) | take any action; or |
(3) | engage in any conduct or procedure; |
(b) | Where these articles provide that a person ‘may’ do a particular act or thing, the act or thing may be done at the person’s discretion. |
(c) | Where these articles confer a power to do a particular act or thing, the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be taken as including a power exercisable in the same way and subject to the same conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend or vary that act or thing. |
(d) | Where these articles confer a power to do a particular act or thing, the power may be exercised from time to time and may be exercised subject to conditions. |
(e) | Where these articles confer a power to do a particular act or thing concerning particular matters, the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be taken to include a power to do that act or thing as to only some of those matters or as to a particular class of those matters, and to make different provision concerning different matters or different classes of matters. |
(f) | Where these articles confer a power to make appointments to an office or position (except the power to appoint a director under article 8.1(b)), the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be taken to include a power: |
(1) | to appoint a person to act in the office or position until a person is formally appointed to the office or position; |
(2) | to remove or suspend any person appointed (without prejudice to any rights or obligations under any contract between the person and the Company); and |
(3) | to appoint another person temporarily in the place of any person removed or suspended or in the place of any sick or absent holder of the office or position. |
(g) | Where these articles give power to a person to delegate a function or power: |
(1) | the delegation may be concurrent with, or (except in the case of a delegation by the Board) to the exclusion of, the performance or exercise of that function or power by the person; |
(2) | the delegation may be either general or limited in any way provided in the terms of delegation; |
(3) | the delegation need not be to a specified person but may be to any person holding, occupying or performing the duties of a specified office or position; |
(4) | the delegation may include the power to delegate; and |
(5) | where performing or exercising that function or power depends on that person’s opinion, belief or state of mind about a matter, that function or power may be performed or exercised by the delegate on the delegate’s opinion, belief or state of mind about that matter. |
(a) | The share capital of the Company is as specified in the Memorandum of Association and the shares of the Company shall have the rights and be subject to the conditions contained in these articles and, to the extent applicable, in the Statement of Rights relating to preferred shares of any class. |
(b) | Subject to these articles, the Board may, from time to time in its discretion: |
(1) | issue, allot or grant options for, or otherwise dispose of, shares in the Company; and |
(2) | decide: |
(A) | the persons to whom shares are issued or options are granted; |
(B) | the terms on which shares are issued or options are granted; and |
(C) | the rights and restrictions attached to those shares or options. |
(a) | As regards income – Each ordinary share confers on the holder thereof the right to receive such profits of the Company available for distribution as the Board may declare after any payment to the members holding shares of any other class other than ordinary shares of any amount then payable in accordance with the relevant Statement of Rights or other terms of issue of that class. |
(b) | As regards capital – If the Company is wound up, the holder of an ordinary share is entitled, following payment to the members holding shares of any other class other than ordinary shares of all amounts then payable to them in accordance with the relevant Statement of Rights or other terms of issue of that class, to repayment of the stated amount of the capital paid up thereon and thereafter any surplus assets of the Company then remaining shall be distributed pari passu among the holders of the ordinary shares in proportion to the amounts paid up thereon. |
(c) | As regards voting – At any general meeting of the Company and any separate class meeting of the holders of ordinary shares, every person who was a holder of ordinary shares at the Record Time and who is present at such meeting has one vote for every ordinary share of which such person was the holder as of the Record Time. |
(d) | As regards redemption – the ordinary shares are not redeemable, unless issued as redeemable or converted into redeemable ordinary shares pursuant to article 2.6. |
(a) | the series or class to which each preferred share shall belong, such series or class to be designated with a series or class number and, if the Board so determines, title; |
(b) | details of any dividends payable in respect of the relevant series or class, if any, including whether such dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative, the dividend rate of such series or class, and the dates and preferences of dividends on such series or class; |
(c) | details of rights attaching to shares of the relevant series or class to receive a return of capital on a winding up of the Company; |
(d) | details of the voting rights attaching to shares of the relevant series or class (which may provide, without limitation, that each preferred share shall have more than one vote on a poll at any general meeting of the Company); |
(e) | a statement as to whether shares of the relevant series or class are redeemable (either at the option of the holder and/or the Company) and, if so, on what terms such shares are redeemable (including, and only if so determined by the Board, the amount for which such shares shall be redeemed (or a method or formula for determining the same) and the date on which they shall be redeemed); |
(f) | a statement as to whether shares of the relevant series or class are convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares, or any other security, of the Company or any other person (in each case, either at the option of the holder and/or the Company) and, if so, on what rates or terms such shares are convertible or exchangeable; |
(g) | the right, if any, to subscribe for or to purchase any securities of the Company or any other person; |
(h) | any other designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, obligations and restrictions, if any, attaching to preferred shares of any class or series as the Board may determine in its discretion; and/or |
(i) | the price at which shares of the relevant series or class shall be issued. |
(a) | it is binding on members and the Board as if contained in these articles; |
(b) | it must be filed on behalf of the Company with the Registrar of Companies in Jersey in accordance with the Companies Law; |
(c) | the provisions of article 2.11 apply to any variation or abrogation thereof that may be effected by the Company or the Board; and |
(d) | upon the redemption of a preferred share (if it is redeemable) pursuant to the Statement of Rights relating thereto, the holder thereof ceases to be entitled to any rights in respect thereof and accordingly such holder’s name must be removed from the register of members and the share must thereupon be cancelled. |
(a) | issue; or |
(b) | convert existing non-redeemable shares, whether issued or not, into, shares that are to be redeemed, or are liable to be redeemed, either in accordance with their terms or at the option of the Company and/or at the option of the holder; provided that an issued non-redeemable share may only be converted into a redeemable share pursuant to article 2.6(b) with the agreement of the applicable holder (which agreement shall be deemed to exist with respect to any non-redeemable shares tendered by such holder for conversion, repurchase, buy back or redemption and regardless of whether or not such holder is aware that the Company is the purchaser of such shares in such transaction) or pursuant to a special resolution. |
(a) | Subject to the Companies Law, the Company may, in the Board’s discretion, issue fractions of a share of any class. |
(b) | A fraction of a share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a share of that class of shares. |
(a) | making cash payments; |
(b) | determining that fractions may be disregarded to adjust the rights of all members; |
(c) | appointing a trustee to deal with any fractions on behalf of members; and |
(d) | rounding down or rounding up each fractional entitlement to the nearest whole share. |
(a) | Subject to article 2.11 and the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company may by special resolution convert or reclassify shares from one class to another. |
(b) | Notwithstanding article 2.11 but subject to the Companies Law, the Board may convert or reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of any existing class from time to time in one or more existing classes of shares without the approval of members of the Company. |
(a) | The rights attached to any class of shares may, unless their terms of issue state otherwise, be varied by a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of shares of the class. |
(b) | The provisions of these articles relating to general meetings apply, with necessary changes, to separate class meetings as if they were general meetings. |
(c) | The rights conferred on the holders of any class of shares are to be taken as not having been varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking ahead, after or pari passu with them, unless the terms of issue provide otherwise. |
(d) | The rights conferred upon the holders of ordinary shares are to be taken as not having been varied by the creation, issue, redemption or conversion of any preferred shares. |
(a) | The Board is hereby authorised to establish a shareholder rights plan including approving the execution of any document relating to the adoption and/or implementation of a rights plan. A rights plan may be in such form and may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine in its absolute discretion. |
(b) | The Board is hereby authorised to grant rights to subscribe for shares of the Company in accordance with a rights plan. |
(c) | The Board may, in accordance with a rights plan, exercise any power under such rights plan (including a power relating to the issuance, redemption or exchange of rights or shares) on a basis that excludes one or more members, including a member who has acquired or may acquire a significant interest in or control of the Company. |
(d) | The Board is authorised to exercise the powers under this article 2.12 for any purpose that the Board, in its discretion, deems reasonable and appropriate, including, without limitation, to ensure that: |
(1) | any process which may result in an acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company is conducted in an orderly manner; |
(2) | all holders of ordinary shares will be treated fairly and in a similar manner; |
(3) | any potential acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company which would be unlikely to treat all members of the Company fairly and in a similar manner would be prevented; |
(4) | the use of abusive tactics by any person in connection with any potential acquisition of a significant interest or change of control of the Company would be prevented; |
(5) | an optimum price for shares would be received by or on behalf of all members of the Company; |
(6) | the success of the Company would be promoted for the benefit of its members as a whole; |
(7) | the long-term interests of the Company, its employees, its members and its business would be safeguarded; |
(8) | the Company would not suffer serious economic harm; |
(9) | the Board has additional time to gather relevant information or pursue appropriate strategies; or |
(10) | all or any of the above. |
(a) | they are liable individually as well as jointly for all payments, including calls, in respect of the share; |
(b) | subject to article 2.13(a), on the death of any one of them the survivor is the only person the Company will recognise as having any title to the share; |
(c) | any one of them may give effective receipts for any dividend, bonus, interest or other distribution or payment in respect of the share; and |
(d) | except where persons are jointly entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event, the Company may, but is not required to, register more than four (4) persons as joint holders of the share. |
(a) | recognise a person as holding a share on trust, even if the Company has notice of a trust; or |
(b) | recognise, or be bound by, any equitable, contingent, future or partial claim to or interest in a share by any other person, except an absolute right of ownership in the registered holder, even if the Company has notice of that claim or interest. |
(a) | Subject to article 2.15(e), upon being entered in the register of members as the holder of a share, a member is entitled: |
(1) | without payment, to one certificate for all the shares of each class held by that member (and, upon transferring a part of the member’s holding of shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and |
(2) | upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that member’s shares. |
(b) | Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the shares to which it relates and whether they are fully paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine and the Companies Law permits. |
(c) | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
(d) | If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
(1) | evidence; |
(2) | indemnity; |
(3) | payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
(4) | payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate, |
(e) | Subject to article 2.15(f), at any time the relevant shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange (provided that the Designated Stock Exchange remains an ’approved stock exchange’ (as defined in the Exemption Order)), the Company shall not be required to (although may, in its absolute discretion choose to), produce a share certificate in accordance with this article 2.15. |
(f) | Following a written request at any time from a member to the Company requesting a share certificate in respect of shares held by that member, the Company shall, within two (2) months of receipt by the Company of that written request, complete and have ready for delivery the certificate of such shares in respect of which the request was made, unless the conditions of allotment of the shares otherwise provide. |
Calls, forfeiture, indemnities, lien and surrender |
(a) | Subject to the terms on which any shares are issued, the Board may: |
(1) | make calls on the members for any amount unpaid on their shares which is not by the terms of issue of those shares made payable at fixed times; and |
(2) | on the issue of shares, differentiate between members as to the amount of calls to be paid and the time for payment. |
(b) | The Board may require a call to be paid by instalments. |
(c) | The Board must send members notice of a call at least fourteen (14) days before the amount called is due, specifying the amount of the call, the time for payment and the manner in which payment must be made. |
(d) | Each member must pay the amount called to the Company by the time and in the manner specified for payment. |
(e) | A call is taken to have been made when the resolution of the Board authorising the call is passed. |
(f) | The Board may revoke a call or extend the time for payment. |
(g) | A call is valid even if a member for any reason does not receive notice of the call. |
(h) | If an amount called on a share is not paid in full by the time specified for payment, the person who owes the amount must pay: |
(1) | interest on the unpaid part of the amount from the date payment is due to the date payment is made, at a rate determined under article 3.7; and |
(2) | any costs, expenses or damages the Company incurs due to the failure to pay or late payment. |
(i) | Any amount unpaid on a share that, by the terms of issue of the share, becomes payable on issue or at a fixed date: |
(1) | is treated for the purposes of these articles as if that amount were payable under a call duly made and notified; and |
(2) | must be paid on the date on which it is payable under the terms of issue of the share. |
(j) | The Board may, to the extent the law permits, waive or compromise all or part of any payment due to the Company under the terms of issue of a share or under this article 3.1. |
(a) | In a proceeding to recover a call, or an amount payable due to the failure to pay or late payment of a call, proof that: |
(1) | the name of the defendant is entered in the register as the holder or one of the holders of the share on which the call is claimed; |
(2) | the resolution making the call is recorded in the minute book; and |
(3) | notice of the call was given to the defendant complying with these articles, |
(b) | In article 3.2(a), defendant includes a person against whom the Company alleges a set-off or counterclaim, and a proceeding to recover a call or an amount is to be interpreted accordingly. |
(a) | The Board may accept from a member the whole or a part of the amount unpaid on a share even though no part of that amount has been called. |
(b) | The Board may authorise payment by the Company of interest on an amount accepted under article 3.3(a), until the amount becomes payable, at a rate agreed between the Board and the member paying the amount. |
(c) | The Board may repay to a member any amount accepted under article 3.3(a). |
(a) | If a member fails to pay the whole of a call or an instalment of a call by the time specified for payment, the Board may serve a notice on that member: |
(1) | requiring payment of the unpaid part of the call or instalment, together with any interest that has accrued and all costs, expenses or damages that the Company has incurred due to the failure to pay; |
(2) | specifying a further time (at least fourteen (14) days after the date of the notice) by which, and the manner in which, the amount payable under article 3.4(a)(1) must be paid; and |
(3) | stating that if the whole of the amount payable under article 3.4(a)(1) is not paid by the time and in the manner specified, the shares on which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
(b) | If a member does not comply with a notice served under article 3.4(a), the Board may by resolution forfeit any share concerning which the notice was given at any time after the day named in the notice and before the payment required by the notice is made. |
(c) | A forfeiture under article 3.4(b) includes all dividends, interest and other amounts payable by the Company on the forfeited share and not actually paid before the forfeiture. |
(d) | Where a share has been forfeited: |
(1) | notice of the resolution must be given to the member in whose name the share stood immediately before the forfeiture; and |
(2) | an entry of the forfeiture, with the date, must be made in the register of members. |
(e) | Failure to give the notice or to make the entry required under article 3.4(d) does not invalidate the forfeiture. |
(f) | A forfeited share becomes the property of the Company and the Board may sell, reissue or otherwise dispose of the share as it thinks fit and, in the case of reissue or other disposal, with or without crediting as paid up any amount paid on the share by any former holder. |
(g) | A person whose shares have been forfeited ceases to be a member as to the forfeited shares, but must, unless the Board decides otherwise, pay to the Company: |
(1) | all calls, instalments, interest, costs, expenses and damages owing on the shares at the time of the forfeiture; and |
(2) | interest on the unpaid part of the amount payable under article 3.4(g)(1), from the date of the forfeiture to the date of payment, at a rate determined under article 3.7. |
(h) | The forfeiture of a share extinguishes all interest in, and all claims and demands against the Company relating to, the forfeited share and, subject to article 3.6(h), all other rights attached to the share. |
(i) | The Board may: |
(1) | exempt a share from all or part of this article 3.4; |
(2) | waive or compromise all or part of any payment due to the Company under this article 3.4; and |
(3) | before a forfeited share has been sold, reissued or otherwise disposed of, cancel the forfeiture on the conditions it decides. |
(a) | The Company has a first lien on: |
(1) | each partly paid share for all unpaid calls and instalments due on that share; and |
(2) | each share for any amounts the Company is required by law to pay and has paid in respect of that share. |
(b) | The Company’s lien on a share extends to all dividends, interest and other amounts payable on the share and to the proceeds of sale of the share. |
(c) | The Board may sell a share on which the Company has a lien as it thinks fit where: |
(1) | an amount for which a lien exists under this article 3.5 is presently payable; and |
(2) | the Company has given the registered holder a written notice, at least fourteen (14) days before the date of the sale, stating and demanding payment of that amount. |
(d) | The Board may do anything necessary or desirable to protect any lien, charge or other right to which the Company is entitled under these articles or a law. |
(e) | When the Company registers a transfer of shares on which the Company has a lien without giving the transferee notice of its claim, the Company’s lien is released so far as it relates to amounts owing by the transferor or any predecessor in title. |
(f) | The Board may: |
(1) | exempt a share from all or part of this article 3.5; and |
(2) | waive or compromise all or part of any payment due to the Company under this article 3.5. |
(a) | A reference in this article 3.6 to a sale of a share by the Company is a reference to any sale, reissue or other disposal of a share under article 3.4(f) or article 3.5(c). |
(b) | When the Company sells a share, the Company may: |
(1) | receive the purchase money or consideration given for the share; |
(2) | effect a transfer of the share or execute or appoint a person to execute, on behalf of the former holder, a transfer of the share; and |
(3) | register as the holder of the share the person to whom the share is sold. |
(c) | A person to whom the Company sells shares need not take any steps to investigate the regularity or validity of the sale, or to see how the purchase money or consideration on the sale is applied. That person’s title to the shares is not affected by any irregularity by the Company in relation to the sale. A sale of the share by the Company is valid even if a Transmission Event occurs to the member before the sale. |
(d) | The only remedy of a person who suffers a loss because of a sale of a share by the Company is a claim for damages against the Company, but the Company shall not be liable for a loss caused by the price at which the shares are sold in good faith. |
(e) | The proceeds of a sale of shares by the Company must be applied in paying: |
(1) | first, the expenses of the sale; |
(2) | secondly, all amounts payable (whether presently or not) by the former holder to the Company, |
(f) | Until the proceeds of a sale of a share sold by the Company are claimed or otherwise disposed of according to law, the Board may invest or use the proceeds in any other way for the benefit of the Company. |
(g) | The Company is not required to pay interest on money payable to a former holder under this article 3.6. |
(h) | On completion of a sale, reissue or other disposal of a share under article 3.4(f), the rights which attach to the share which were extinguished under article 3.4(h) revive. |
(i) | A written statement by a director or secretary of the Company that a share in the Company has been: |
(1) | duly forfeited under article 3.4(b); |
(2) | duly sold, reissued or otherwise disposed of under article 3.4(f); or |
(3) | duly sold under article 3.5(c), |
(a) | For the purposes of articles 3.1(h)(1) and 3.4(g)(2), the rate of interest payable to the Company is: |
(1) | if the Board has fixed a rate, that rate; or |
(2) | in any other case, a rate per annum 2% higher than the rate prescribed in respect of unpaid judgments in the Royal Court of Jersey. |
(b) | Interest accrues daily and may be capitalised monthly or at such other intervals the Board decides. |
(a) | Subject to each Statement of Rights and the provisions of the Companies Law, the Board may pay any dividends from time to time as the Board may determine, including any interim dividends. |
(b) | The Board may rescind a decision to pay a dividend, before the payment date in its sole discretion. |
(c) | The Board may pay any dividend required to be paid under the terms of issue of a share. |
(d) | The Board may pay half-yearly, quarterly or at other suitable intervals to be settled by them any dividend which may be payable at a fixed rate. |
(e) | Paying a dividend does not require confirmation or approval at a general meeting. |
(f) | Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares: |
(1) | all dividends must be paid equally on all shares, except that a partly paid share confers an entitlement |
(2) | for the purposes of article 4.1(f)(1), unless the Board decides otherwise, an amount paid on a share in advance of a call is to be taken as not having been paid until it becomes payable; and |
(3) | interest is not payable by the Company on any dividend or any amounts payable therewith. |
(g) | The Board may fix a record date for a dividend. |
(h) | A dividend in respect of a share must be paid, subject to the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange (including any rules relating to the settlement of transfers of securities), to the person who is registered, or entitled under articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 to be registered, as the holder of the share: |
(1) | where the Board has fixed a record date in respect of the dividend, on that date; or |
(2) | where the Board has not fixed a record date in respect of that dividend, on the date fixed for payment of the dividend, |
(i) | When resolving to pay a dividend, the Board may direct payment of the dividend from any available source permitted by law, including: |
(1) | wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets, including paid-up shares or other securities of the Company or of another body corporate, either generally or to specific members; and |
(2) | to particular members wholly or partly out of any particular fund or reserve or out of profits derived from any particular source, and to the other members wholly or partly out of any other particular fund or reserve or out of profits derived from any other particular source. |
(j) | Where a person is entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event, the Board may, but need not, retain any dividends payable on that share until that person becomes registered as the holder of that share or transfers it. |
(k) | The Board may retain from any dividend payable to a member any amount presently payable by the member to the Company and apply the amount retained to the amount owing. |
(l) | The Board may decide the method of payment of any dividend or other amount in respect of a share. Different methods of payment may apply to different members or groups of members (such as overseas members). Without limiting any other method of payment which the Company may adopt, payment in respect of a share may be made: |
(1) | by such electronic or other means approved by the Board directly to an account (of a type approved by the Board) nominated in writing by the member or the joint holders; or |
(2) | by cheque sent to the address of the member shown in the register of members or, in the case of joint holders, to the address shown in the register of members of any of the joint holders, or to such other address as the member or any of the joint holders in writing direct. |
(m) | A cheque sent under article 4.1(l): |
(1) | may be made payable to bearer or to the order of the member to whom it is sent or any other person the member directs; and |
(2) | is sent at the member’s risk. |
(n) | If the Board decides that payments will be made by electronic transfer into an account (of a type approved by the Board) nominated by a member, but no such account is nominated by the member or an electronic transfer into a nominated account is rejected or refunded, the Company may credit the amount payable to an account of the Company to be held until the member nominates a valid account. |
(o) | Where a member does not have a registered address or the Company believes that a member is not known at the member’s registered address or cheques have been returned undelivered or other payment methods have failed on more than one occasion, the Company may credit an amount payable in respect of the member’s shares to an account of the Company to be held until the member claims the amount payable or nominates a valid account. |
(p) | An amount credited to an account under articles 4.1(n) or 4.1(o) is to be treated as having been paid to the member at the time it is credited to that account. The Company will not be a trustee of the money and no interest will accrue on the money. The money may be used for the benefit of the Company until claimed or otherwise disposed of according to applicable law. |
(q) | If a cheque for an amount payable under article 4.1(l) is not presented for payment for at least eleven (11) calendar months after issue or an amount is held in an account under articles 4.1(n) or 4.1(o) for at least eleven (11) calendar months, the Board may stop payment on the cheque and invest or otherwise make use of the amount for the benefit of the Company until claimed or otherwise disposed of according to applicable law. |
(r) | A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of ten (10) years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
(s) | Provided the directors act reasonably and in accordance with the Companies Law, they shall not incur any personal liability to the holders of shares conferring a preference for any damage that they may suffer by reason of the payment of an interim dividend on any shares having deferred or non-preferred rights. |
(a) | Subject to: |
(1) | any rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares; and |
(2) | any special resolution of the Company; |
(3) | forming part of the undivided profits of the Company; |
(4) | representing profits arising from an ascertained accretion to capital or a revaluation of the assets of the Company; |
(5) | arising from the realisation of any assets of the Company; or |
(6) | otherwise available for distribution as a dividend. |
(b) | The Board may resolve that all or any part of the capitalised amount is to be applied: |
(1) | in paying up in full, at an issue price decided by the Board, any unissued shares in or other securities of the Company; |
(2) | in paying up any amounts unpaid on shares or other securities held by the members; |
(3) | partly as specified in article 4.2(b)(1) and partly as specified in article 4.2(b)(2); or |
(4) | any other method permitted by law. |
(c) | Articles 4.1(f), 4.1(g), 4.1(h), and 4.1(s) apply, so far as they can and with any necessary changes, to capitalising an amount under this article 4.2 as if references in those articles to: |
(1) | a dividend were references to capitalising an amount; and |
(2) | a record date were references to the date the Board resolves to capitalise the amount under this article 4.2. |
(d) | Where the terms of options (existing at the date the resolution referred to in article 4.2(b) is passed) entitle the holder to an issue of bonus shares under this article 4.2, the Board may in determining the number of unissued shares to be so issued, allow in an appropriate manner for the future issue of bonus shares to options holders. |
(a) | To give effect to any resolution to reduce the capital of the Company, to satisfy a dividend as set out in article 4.1(i)(1) or to capitalise any amount under article 4.2, the Board may settle as it thinks expedient any difficulty that arises in making the distribution or capitalisation and, in particular: |
(1) | make cash payments in cases where members are entitled to fractions of shares or other securities; |
(2) | decide that amounts or fractions of less than a particular value decided by the Board may be disregarded to adjust the rights of all parties; |
(3) | fix the value for distribution of any specific assets; |
(4) | pay cash or issue shares or other securities to any member to adjust the rights of all parties; |
(5) | vest any of those specific assets, cash, shares or other securities in a trustee on trust for the persons entitled to the distribution or capitalised amount; and |
(6) | authorise any person to make, on behalf of all the members entitled to any specific assets, cash, shares or other securities as a result of the distribution or capitalisation, an agreement with the Company or another person which provides, as appropriate, for the distribution or issue to them of shares or other securities credited as fully paid up or for payment by the Company on their behalf of the amounts or any part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing shares or other securities by applying their respective proportions of the amount resolved to be distributed or capitalised. |
(b) | Any agreement made under an authority referred to in article 4.3(a)(6) is effective and binds all members concerned. |
(c) | If a distribution, transfer or issue of specific assets, shares or securities to a particular member or members is, in the Board’s discretion, considered impracticable or would give rise to parcels of securities that do not constitute a marketable parcel, the Board may make a cash payment to those members or allocate the assets, shares or securities to a trustee to be sold on behalf of, and for the benefit of, those members, instead of making the distribution, transfer or issue to those members. Any proceeds receivable by members under this article 4.3(c) will be net of expenses incurred by the Company and trustee in selling the relevant assets, shares or securities. |
(d) | If the Company distributes to members (either generally or to specific members) securities in the Company or in another body corporate or trust (whether as a dividend or otherwise and whether or not for value), each of those members appoints the Company as such member’s agent to do anything needed to give effect to that distribution, including agreeing to become a member of that other body corporate. |
(a) | The Board may set aside out of the Company’s profits any reserves or provisions it decides. |
(b) | The Board may appropriate to the Company’s profits any amount previously set aside as a reserve or provision. |
(c) | Setting aside an amount as a reserve or provision does not require the Board to keep the amount separate from the Company’s other assets or prevent the amount being used in the Company’s business or being invested as the Board decides. |
(a) | Subject to the following articles about the transfer of shares, a member may transfer any certificated shares or, Uncertificated shares in accordance with the CREST Order, to another person by completing an instrument of transfer, in a common form or in a form approved by the directors, executed: |
(1) | where the shares are fully paid, by or on behalf of that member; and |
(2) | where the shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that member and the transferee. |
(b) | Subject to the provisions of the CREST Order the transferor of a share is deemed to remain the holder until the name of the transferee is entered in the register in respect of it. |
(a) | The Company shall register the transfer of any shares held in Uncertificated form by means of a relevant system in accordance with the Companies Law and the CREST Order and the rules of the relevant system. |
(b) | The Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register any transfer of an Uncertificated share where permitted by these articles, the Companies Law and the CREST Order. |
(a) | An instrument of transfer of a certificated share may be in any usual form or in any other form which the Board may approve and shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (except in the case of a fully paid share) by or on behalf of the transferee. |
(b) | The Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register any instrument of transfer of a certificated share: |
(1) | which is not fully paid up but, in the case of a class of shares which has been admitted to trading on the Designated Stock Exchange, not so as to prevent dealings in those shares from taking place on an open and proper basis; |
(2) | on which the Company has a lien; or |
(3) | as otherwise required by applicable law. |
(c) | The Board may also refuse to register any instrument of transfer of a certificated share unless it is: |
(1) | left at the registered office of the Company, or at such other place as the Board may decide, for registration; |
(2) | accompanied by the certificate for the shares to be transferred and such other evidence (if any) as the Board may reasonably require to prove the title of the intending transferor or his right to transfer the shares; and |
(3) | in respect of only one class of shares. |
(a) | The Board may suspend registration of the transfer of shares at such times and for such periods (not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year) as it determines. |
(b) | The registration of transfers of shares or of transfers of any class of shares may be suspended at such times and for such periods (not exceeding 30 days in any year) as the Board may determine in its discretion. Unless otherwise permitted by the CREST Order, the Company may not close any register relating to a participating security without the consent of the approved operator of the relevant system. |
(a) | If the Board so decides, the Company may charge a reasonable fee for the registration of any instrument of transfer or other document relating to the title to a share. |
(a) | The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the Board refuses to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given. |
(a) | Subject to article 5.7(c), where a member dies, the only persons the Company will recognise as having any title to the member’s shares or any benefits accruing on those shares are: |
(1) | where the deceased was a sole holder, the legal personal representative of the deceased; and |
(2) | where the deceased was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors. |
(b) | Article 5.7(a) does not release the estate of a deceased member from any liability on a share, whether that share was held by the deceased solely or jointly with other persons. |
(c) | The Board may register a transfer of shares signed by a member before a Transmission Event even though the Company has notice of the Transmission Event. |
(d) | A person who becomes entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event may, on producing such evidence as the Board requires to prove that person’s entitlement to the share, choose: |
(1) | to be registered as the holder of the share by signing and giving the Company a written notice stating that choice; or |
(2) | to nominate some other person to be registered as the transferee of the share by executing or effecting in some other way a transfer of the share to that other person. |
(e) | The provisions of these articles concerning the right to transfer shares and the registration of transfers of shares apply, so far as they can and with any necessary changes, to a notice or transfer under article 5.7(d) as if the relevant Transmission Event had not occurred and the notice or transfer were executed or effected by the registered holder of the share. |
(f) | Where two (2) or more persons are jointly entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event they will, on being registered as the holders of the share, be taken to hold the share as joint tenants and article 2.13 will apply to them. |
(a) | The Company may give notice to any person whom the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe: |
(1) | to hold an interest (as defined in article 6.2(i)(4)) in the Company’s shares (of a class of shares admitted to trading); or |
(2) | to have held an interest in the Company’s shares (of a class of shares admitted to trading) at any time during the three (3) years immediately preceding the date on which on which the notice is issued. |
(b) | The notice may require the person: |
(1) | to confirm that such person holds such an interest in the Company’s shares or (as the case may be) to state whether or not it is the case, and |
(2) | if such person holds, or has during that time held, any such interest, to give such further information as may be required in accordance with the following provisions of this article 6.1. |
(c) | The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed to give particulars of the person’s own present or past interest in the Company’s shares held by such person at any time during the three (3) year period mentioned above. |
(d) | The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed, where: |
(1) | such person’s interest is a present interest and another interest in the shares subsists, or |
(2) | another interest in the shares subsisted during the three (3) year period mentioned above at a time when such person’s interest subsisted, to give, to the best of such person’s knowledge, such particulars with respect to that other interest as are required by the notice. |
(e) | The particulars referred to in articles 6.1(c) and 6.1(d) include: |
(1) | the identity of any person who holds an interest in the shares in question; and |
(2) | the terms of any agreement or arrangement to which any person who holds an interest in such shares is or was party: |
(A) | relating to the exercise of any right conferred by the shares or the acquisition of any interest in the shares; or |
(B) | which constitutes a Derivative Security. |
(f) | The notice may require the person to whom it is addressed, where the person’s interest is a past interest, to give (to the best of such person’s knowledge) particulars of the identity of the person who held that interest immediately upon the person ceasing to hold it. |
(g) | The information required by the notice must be given within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice. |
(a) | If a member, or any other person appearing to have an interest in shares held by that member, has been given a notice under article 6.1 and has failed in relation to any shares (the Default Shares) to give the Company the information thereby required within three (3) Business Days from the time reasonably specified in the notice, the following sanctions shall apply, unless the Board otherwise determines in relation to the Default Shares: |
(1) | the member shall not be entitled in respect of the Default Shares to be present or to vote (either in person or by representative or proxy) at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares or on any poll, or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in respect of the Default Shares in relation to any such meeting or poll; |
(2) | any dividend (or other distribution) payable in respect of the Default Shares shall be withheld by the Company (without interest) and the member shall not be entitled to elect to receive shares instead of any such dividend (or other distribution); and |
(3) | no transfer, other than an excepted transfer, of any shares held by the member may be registered unless: |
(i) | the member is not in default as regards supplying the information required; and |
(ii) | the member proves to the satisfaction of the Board that no person in default as regards supplying such information has an interest in any of the shares the subject of the transfer. |
(b) | In support of article 6.2(a), the Board may, at any time while sanctions under article 6.2(a) apply in relation to any shares, effect a transfer of the shares (or any interest in them) in favour of such nominee as specified by the Board. |
(c) | Where any person appearing to have an interest in the Default Shares has been duly served with a notice or copy thereof and the Default Shares which are the subject of such notice are held by a person holding shares or rights or interests in shares in the Company on a nominee basis who has been determined by the Company to be an approved nominee (an Approved Nominee): |
(1) | the provisions of this article 6 shall be treated as applying only to such Default Shares held by the Approved Nominee and not (insofar as such person’s apparent interest is concerned) to any other shares held by the Approved Nominee; and |
(2) | where the member upon whom a default notice is served is an Approved Nominee acting in its capacity as such, the obligations of the Approved Nominee as a member of the Company are limited to disclosing to the Company such information as is known to it relating to any person appearing to have an interest in the shares held by it. |
(d) | Where the sanctions under article 6.2(a) apply in relation to any shares, they shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of seven (7) days (or such shorter period as the Board may determine) following the earlier of: |
(1) | receipt by the Company of the information required by the notice mentioned in that article; and |
(2) | receipt by the Company of notice that the shares have been transferred by means of an excepted transfer. |
(e) | The Board may in its absolute discretion suspend or cancel any of the sanctions at any time in relation to any Default Shares. |
(f) | Upon sanctions ceasing to have effect in relation to any shares, any dividend withheld in respect of the shares must be paid to the relevant member and, if the Board has effected a transfer under article 6.2(b), the shares must be transferred back to the previous holder. |
(g) | Any new shares in the Company issued in right of Default Shares shall be subject to the same sanctions as apply to the Default Shares, and the Board may make any right to an allotment of the new shares subject to sanctions corresponding to those which will apply to those shares on issue, provided that: |
(1) | any sanctions applying to, or to a right to, new shares by virtue of this article 6.2 shall cease to have effect when the sanctions applying to the related Default Shares cease to have effect (and shall be suspended or cancelled if and to the extent that the sanctions applying to the related Default Shares are suspended or cancelled); and |
(2) | article 6.2(a) shall apply to the exclusion of this article 6.2(g) if the Company gives a separate notice under article 6.1 in relation to the new shares. |
(h) | Where, on the basis of information obtained from a member in respect of any shares held by such member, the Company gives a notice under article 6.1 to any other person, it shall at the same time send a copy of the notice to the member. The accidental omission to do so, or the non-receipt by the member of the copy, shall, however, not invalidate or otherwise affect the application of article 6.2. |
(i) | For the purposes of articles 6.1 and 6.2: |
(1) | an excepted transfer means, in relation to any shares held by a member: |
(A) | a transfer pursuant to acceptance of a takeover offer (within the meaning of article 116 of the Companies Law) in respect of shares in the Company; |
(B) | a transfer in consequence of a sale made through any stock exchange on which the shares are normally traded; or |
(C) | a transfer which is shown to the satisfaction of the Board to be made in consequence of a sale of the whole of the beneficial interest in the shares to a person who is unconnected with the member and with any other person appearing to be interested in the shares; |
(3) | a person, other than the member holding a share, will be treated as appearing to have an interest in such share if the member has informed the Company that the person has, or might have, an interest in such share, or if the Company (after taking account of any information obtained from the member or, pursuant to a notice under article 6.1, from anyone else) knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person has, or may have, an interest in such share; |
(4) | a person shall be treated as having an interest in the Company’s shares if, for the purposes of sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Exchange Act, the person would be deemed to constitute a beneficial owner of the share (which shall include holding a CDI); and |
(5) | reference to a person having failed to give the Company the information required by a notice, includes reference to: |
(A) | the person having failed or refused to give all or any part of it; |
(B) | the person having given any information which the person knows to be false in a material particular or having recklessly given information which is false in a material particular; and |
(C) | the Company knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that any of the information provided is false or materially incorrect. |
(e) | Nothing in article 6.2 limits the powers of the Company under article 6.1 or any other powers of the Company whatsoever. |
(a) | A general meeting may only be called: |
(1) | by a Board resolution; or |
(2) | as otherwise required by the Companies Law. |
(b) | The Board may, by public announcement, change the venue for, postpone or cancel a general meeting, but: |
(1) | a meeting that is called in accordance with a members’ requisition under the Companies Law; or |
(2) | any other meeting that is not called by a Board resolution, |
(c) | At an annual general meeting, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board shall be considered and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual general meeting, nominations and other business must be a proper matter for member action and must be: |
(1) | specified in the notice of general meeting given by or at the direction of the Board in accordance with article 7.2; |
(2) | brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or a duly authorised committee thereof; or |
(3) | otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a member who: |
(A) | is a member of record of the Company (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed or such nomination(s) are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Company) both at the time the notice provided for in article 7.3 is delivered to the general counsel of the Company and on the record date for the determination of members entitled to vote at the general meeting, |
(B) | is entitled to vote at the meeting, and |
(C) | complies with the procedures and requirements set forth in article 7.3. |
(d) | Except as otherwise provided by the Companies Law, at an extraordinary general meeting, only such business may be conducted as is a proper matter for member action and as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of general meeting given by or at the direction of the Board in accordance with article 7.2. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Board from submitting matters to the members at any extraordinary general meeting requested by members. |
(e) | Further, if the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such extraordinary general meeting, then nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made: |
(1) | by or at the direction of the Board or by the general counsel; or |
(2) | by any member of the Company who satisfies each of the requirements set forth in subclauses (A), (B) and (C) of article 7.1(c)(3) above. |
(a) | Subject to the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange (including any rules relating to the settlement of transfers of securities), notice of a general meeting must be given to each person who at the time of giving the notice: |
(1) | is a member or auditor of the Company; or |
(2) | is entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event and has provided evidence of such entitlement that is satisfactory to the Board. |
(b) | The annual general meeting shall be designated as such and all other general meetings shall be designated extraordinary general meetings. |
(c) | The content of a notice of a general meeting called by the Board is to be decided by the Board, but it must state the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting and any other matters required by the Companies Law. |
(d) | Except with the approval of the Board or the chairperson, no person may move any amendment to a proposed resolution or to a document that relates to such a resolution. |
(e) | A person may waive notice of any general meeting by written notice to the Company. |
(f) | Failure to give a member or any other person notice of a general meeting or a proxy form does not invalidate anything done or any resolution passed at the general meeting if: |
(1) | the failure occurred by accident or inadvertent error; |
(2) | before or after the meeting, the person notifies the Company of the person’s agreement to that thing or resolution; or |
(3) | such failure is waived in accordance with article 7.2(g). |
(g) | A person’s attendance at a general meeting waives any objection that person may have to: |
(1) | a failure to give notice, or the giving of a defective notice, of the meeting unless the person at the beginning of the meeting objects to the holding of the meeting; and |
(2) | the consideration of a particular matter at the meeting which is not within the business referred to in the notice of the meeting, unless the person objects to considering the matter when it is presented. |
(a) | For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual general meeting by a member in accordance with article 7.1(c)(3), the member must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the general counsel of the Company even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the members or public announcement from the Board. |
(b) | To be timely in the case of an annual general meeting, a member’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company or such other place designated by the Company for such purposes, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual general meeting (provided, however, that in the event that there was no annual general meeting in the prior year or the date of the annual general meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than ninety (90) days after such anniversary date, notice by the member must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual general meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual general meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company). |
(c) | In the event the Company calls an extraordinary general meeting for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any member who is (i) a member of record of the Company (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination(s) are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Company) both at the time the notice provided for in article 7.3 is delivered to the general counsel of the Company and on the record date for the determination of members entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting and (ii) entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Company’s notice of general meeting, if the member complies with the procedures and requirements set forth in this article 7.3. To be timely, such notice shall be delivered to the Company’s |
(d) | In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of a general meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a member’s notice as described in these articles. |
(e) | The number of nominees a member may nominate for election at a general meeting shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such general meeting, and for the avoidance of doubt, no member shall be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the applicable time periods. |
(f) | A member’s notice providing for the nomination of persons for election to the Board or other business proposed to be brought before a general meeting shall set out, as to the member giving the notice the following information, in each case as of the date of such member’s notice: |
(1) | the name and address of such member, as they appear on the Company’s books, and of each of its Member Associated Persons; |
(2) | the class or series and number of shares of the Company which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (provided that a person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series and number of shares of the Company as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future) and owned of record by such member or any of its Member Associated Persons; |
(3) | the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, or similar rights, obligations or commitments with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company, whether or not such instrument, right, obligation or commitment shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares or other securities of the Company (each a “Derivative Security”), which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by such member or any of its Member Associated Persons; |
(4) | any agreement, arrangement, understanding, or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such member or any of its Member Associated Persons, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such member or Member Associated Person with respect to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company, or that provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series or shares or other securities of the Company; |
(5) | a complete and accurate description of any performance-related fees (other than asset-based fees) to which such member or any Member Associated Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of the Company’s securities or any Derivative Securities, including any such fees to which members of any Member Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household may be entitled; |
(6) | a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Company that such member or any of its Member Associated Persons has; |
(7) | any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such member or any of its Member Associated Persons has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Company; |
(8) | any direct or indirect interest of such member or any of its Member Associated Persons in any contract with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any principal competitor of the Company (a list of which will be provided by the Company following a written request therefor by the member to the general counsel of the Company) (including, without limitation, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); |
(9) | any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company owned beneficially by such member or any of its Member Associated Persons that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company; |
(10) | any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such member or any of its Member Associated Persons is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any; |
(11) | a description of all agreements, arrangements, and understandings between such member or any of its Member Associated Persons and any other person(s) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of shares of the Company or Derivative Securities; |
(12) | all other information relating to such member or any of its Member Associated Persons that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, such business or the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; |
(13) | all other information that, as of the date of the notice, would be required to be included in a filing with respect to the Company on Schedule 13D (including the exhibits thereto) under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto) by such member or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made; |
(14) | the identification of the names and addresses of other members (including beneficial owners) known by such member to support the nomination(s) or other business proposal(s) submitted by such member and, to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Company owned beneficially or of record by such other members(s) or other beneficial owner(s); |
(15) | a statement as to whether either such member or any of its Member Associated Persons intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such member’s nominees and/or approve such proposal (as applicable) and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the members in support of such nomination or proposal (as applicable) and/or solicit the holders of shares in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act; |
(16) | a representation that the member is a holder of record or a beneficial owner of shares of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy, attorney or Representative at the meeting to propose such nomination and/or other business (as applicable); and |
(17) | such additional information that the Company may reasonably request regarding such member or any of its Member Associated Persons. |
(g) | A member’s notice providing for the nomination of persons for election to the Board shall, in addition to the information required by clause (f) above, set out, as to each person whom the member proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director: |
(1) | such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; |
(2) | a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other agreements, arrangements and understandings, and any other material relationships, between or among such member or any of its Member Associated Persons, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee or its affiliates or associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that |
(3) | a completed and signed questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of such person to serve as a director, in a form to be provided by the Company after receiving a request by such member to the general counsel of the Company; |
(4) | all information with respect to such person that would be required to be set forth in a member’s notice pursuant to this article 7.3 if such person were a member or beneficial owner, on whose behalf the nomination was made, submitting a notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Company in accordance with this article 7.3; |
(5) | such person’s written representation and agreement (in a form to be provided by the Company after receiving a request by such member to the general counsel of the Company): |
(A) | that such person is not and will not become party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Company or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, |
(B) | that such person is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Company, |
(C) | that such person would, if elected as a director, comply with all of the Company’s corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality and share ownership and trading policies and guidelines applicable generally to the Company’s directors (such policies and guidelines to be provided by the Company upon written request to the general counsel of the Company); |
(D) | that such person will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Company and its members that are or will be true and correct and that do not and will not omit to state any fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and |
(E) | that such person will tender his or her resignation as a director of the Company if the Board determines that such person failed to comply with the provisions of such representation and agreement in any material respect, provides such person notice of any such determination and, if such non-compliance may be cured, such person fails to cure such non-compliance within ten (10) Business Days after delivery of such notice to such person. |
(6) | all other information relating to such person or such person’s associates that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made by such member or any Member Associated Person in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election or otherwise required pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and |
(7) | such additional information that the Company may reasonably request to determine the eligibility or qualifications of such person to serve as a director or an independent director of the Company, or that could be material to a reasonable member’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee as a director. |
(h) | A member’s notice regarding business proposed to be brought before a general meeting other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board shall, in addition to the information required by clause (f) above, set out: |
(1) | a brief description of: |
(A) | the business desired to be brought before such meeting, including the text of any resolution proposed for consideration by the members; |
(B) | the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and |
(C) | any material interest of such member or any of its Member Associated Persons in such business, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such member or Member Associated Person and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the member, |
(2) | if the matter such member proposes to bring before any general meeting involves an amendment to the Company’s memorandum or articles of association, the specific wording of such proposed amendment, and |
(3) | such additional information that the Company may reasonably request regarding the business that such member proposes to bring before the meeting. |
(i) | The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act if a member has notified the Company of its intention to present such proposal at an annual general meeting in compliance with such rule and such member’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for such annual general meeting. |
(j) | For purposes of this article 7.3, the term associate shall be as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. |
(k) | For purposes of this article 7.3, a Member Associated Person of any member submitting a proposal or nomination pursuant to this article 7 means: |
(1) | any beneficial owner of shares of the Company on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made by such member; |
(2) | any affiliate or associate of such member or such beneficial owner described in clause (1); |
(3) | any person or entity who is a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision at law)) with, or any person acting in concert in respect of any matter involving the Company or its securities with, either such member or such beneficial owner described in clause (1); |
(4) | any member of the immediate family of such member or such beneficial owner described in clause (1); |
(5) | any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such member, such beneficial owner described in clause (1) or any other Member Associated Person with respect to any proposed business or nominations, as applicable; and |
(6) | each person whom the member proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director. |
(l) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these articles, a member shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this article 7.3, including Rule 14a-19. |
(m) | Nothing in this article 7.3 shall be deemed to: |
(1) | affect any rights of members to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act (including, without limitation, Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act); |
(2) | confer upon any member a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Company’s proxy statement; or |
(3) | affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred shares to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of these articles. |
(n) | The Board may require any proposed nominee to submit to interviews with the Board or any committee thereof, and such proposed nominee shall make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten (10) days following such request. |
(o) | The member providing notice pursuant to this section shall confirm or update the information contained in such member’s notice, if necessary, (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the notice of the meeting so that such information is true and correct as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) Business Days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof so that such information is true and correct as of the date that is ten (10) Business Days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) Business Days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement). For the avoidance of doubt, any information provided pursuant to this article 7.3(o) shall not be deemed to cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies in a notice previously delivered pursuant to this article 7.3 and shall not extend the time period for the delivery of notice pursuant to this article 7.3. If a member fails to provide such written update within such period, the information as to which such written update relates may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this article 7.3. |
(p) | If any information submitted pursuant to this article 7.3 by any member shall be inaccurate in any material respect (as determined by the Board or a committee thereof), such information shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this article 7.3. Any member providing notice pursuant to this article 7.3 shall notify the general counsel of the Company in writing at the principal executive offices of the Company of any inaccuracy or change in any information submitted pursuant to this article 7.3 (including if any member or any Member Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies from the Company’s members) within two (2) Business Days after becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change, and any such notification shall clearly identify the inaccuracy or change, it being understood that no such notification may cure any deficiencies or inaccuracies with respect to any prior submission by such member. Upon written request of the general counsel of the Company on behalf of the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof), any such member shall provide, within seven (7) Business Days after delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board, any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Company, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by such member pursuant to this article 7.3 and (B) a written affirmation of any information submitted by such member pursuant to this article 7.3 as of an earlier date. If a member fails to provide such written verification or affirmation within such period, the information as to which written verification or affirmation was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this article 7.3. |
(q) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this article 7.3, if the member (or a qualified representative of the member) does not appear at the general meeting of the Company to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business must not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company. |
(r) | For purposes of this article 7.3, to be considered a qualified representative of the member, a person must be a duly authorised officer, manager or partner of such member or must be authorised by a writing executed by such member or an electronic transmission delivered by such member to act for such member as proxy at the general meeting and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the general meeting. |
(s) | Any member and each of its Member Associated Persons soliciting proxies from other members must use a proxy card color other than white, which color shall be reserved for the exclusive use of the Board. |
(t) | The chairperson of the Board shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before a general meeting was made or proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in article 7.3 (including whether the member or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (or is part of a group which solicited) did or did not so solicit, |
(u) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this article 7.3, unless otherwise required by law, if (x) any member or Member Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to any proposed nominee and (y) such member or Member Associated Person subsequently notifies the Company that it no longer intends to solicit proxies in support of the election or re-election of such proposed nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act or fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Company that such member or Member Associated Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence) and (2) no other member or Member Associated Person has provided notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to such proposed nominee and has complied with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (or has failed to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Company that such member or Member Associated Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence), then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Company (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). Upon request by the Company, if any member provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act, such member shall deliver to the Company, no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act. |
(a) | For the purpose of determining whether a person is entitled as a member to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting and how many votes such person may cast, the Company may specify in the notice of the meeting a date (the Record Time), not more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date fixed for the meeting, as the date for the determination of the members entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at the meeting or to appoint a proxy to do so. |
(b) | Changes to the entries in the register of members of the Company after the Record Time shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to receive notice of, attend or vote at such meeting. |
(c) | The Record Time applies to any adjournment or postponement of the meeting, unless the Company determines a new record time for the adjourned or postponed meeting. |
(a) | The chairperson of a general meeting may take any action he or she considers appropriate for the safety of persons attending the meeting and the orderly conduct of the meeting and may refuse admission to, or require to leave and remain out of, the meeting any person: |
(1) | in possession of a pictorial-recording or sound-recording device; |
(2) | in possession of a placard or banner; |
(3) | in possession of an article considered by the chairperson to be dangerous, offensive or liable to cause disruption; |
(4) | who refuses to produce or permit examination of any article, or the contents of any article, in the person’s possession; |
(5) | who refuses to comply with a request to turn off a mobile telephone, personal communication device or similar device; |
(6) | who behaves or threatens to behave or who the chairperson has reasonable grounds to believe may behave in a dangerous, offensive or disruptive way; or |
(7) | who is not entitled to receive notice of the meeting. |
(b) | A person, whether a member or not, requested by the Board or the chairperson to attend a general meeting is entitled to be present and, at the request of the chairperson, to speak at the meeting. |
(c) | If the chairperson of a general meeting considers that there is not enough room for the members who wish to attend the meeting, he or she may arrange for any person whom he or she considers cannot be seated in the main meeting room to observe or attend the general meeting in a separate room. Even if the members present in the separate room are not able to participate in the conduct of the meeting, the meeting will nevertheless be treated as validly held in the main room. |
(d) | A separate meeting place may be linked to the main place of a general meeting by an instantaneous audio-visual communication device which, by itself or in conjunction with other arrangements: |
(1) | gives the member or general body of members in the separate meeting place a reasonable opportunity to participate in proceedings in the main place; |
(2) | enables the chairperson to be aware of proceedings in the other place; and |
(3) | enables the member or members in the separate meeting place to vote on a poll, |
(e) | If, before or during the meeting, any technical difficulty occurs where one or more of the matters set out in article 7.5(d) is not satisfied, the chairperson may: |
(1) | adjourn the meeting until the difficulty is remedied; or |
(2) | continue to hold the meeting in the main place (and any other place which is linked under article 7.5(d)) and transact business, and no member may object to the meeting being held or continuing. |
(f) | Nothing in this article 7.5 or in article 7.8 is to be taken to limit the powers conferred on the chairperson by law. |
(a) | No business may be transacted at a general meeting, except the election of a chairperson and the adjournment of the meeting, unless a quorum of members is present when the meeting proceeds to business. |
(b) | A quorum is persons holding or representing by proxy, attorney or Representative at least a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting. |
(c) | If a quorum is not present within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for the general meeting: |
(1) | where the meeting was called at the request of members, the meeting must be dissolved; or |
(2) | in any other case, the meeting stands adjourned to the day, time and place the directors present decide or, if they do not make a decision, to the same day in the next week at the same time and place and if a quorum is not present at the adjourned meeting within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting must be dissolved. |
(a) | The chairperson of the Board or, in the absence of the chairperson, the deputy chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Company or any such other person as the chairperson, deputy chairperson or chief executive officer may appoint, is entitled, if present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for a general meeting and willing to act, to preside as chairperson at the meeting. |
(b) | The directors present may choose any officer or director of the Company to preside as chairperson if, at a general meeting, the chairperson, deputy chairperson or chief executive officer is not present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for the meeting and another person has not otherwise been appointed pursuant to article 7.7(a). |
(c) | If the directors do not choose a chairperson under article 7.7(b), the members present must elect as chairperson of the meeting: |
(1) | another director who is present and willing to act; or |
(2) | if no other director is present and willing to act, a member or officer of the Company who is present and willing to act. |
(d) | A chairperson of a general meeting may, for any item of business or discrete part of the meeting, vacate the chair in favour of another person nominated by him or her (Acting Chairperson). Where an instrument of proxy appoints the chairperson as proxy for part of the proceedings for which an Acting Chairperson has been nominated, the instrument of proxy is taken to be in favour of the Acting Chairperson for the relevant part of the proceedings. |
(e) | Wherever the term ‘chairperson’ is used in this article 7, it is to be read as a reference to the chairperson of the general meeting, unless the context indicates otherwise. |
(a) | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the chairperson is responsible for the general conduct of the meeting and for the procedures to be adopted at the meeting. |
(b) | The chairperson may, at any time the chairperson considers it necessary or desirable for the efficient and orderly conduct of the meeting: |
(1) | impose a limit on the time that a person may speak on each motion or other item of business and terminate debate or discussion on any business, question, motion or resolution being considered by the meeting and require the business, question, motion or resolution to be put to a vote of the members present; |
(2) | adopt any procedures for casting or recording votes at the meeting whether on a show of hands or on a poll, including the appointment of scrutineers; and |
(3) | decide not to put to the meeting any resolution proposed in the notice convening the meeting (other than a resolution proposed by members in accordance with the Companies Law or required by the Companies Law to be put to the meeting). |
(c) | A decision by a chairperson under articles 7.8(a) or 7.8(b) is final. |
(d) | Subject to article 7.1(b), whether or not a quorum is present, the chairperson may postpone the meeting before it has started if, at the time and place appointed for the meeting, he or she considers that: |
(1) | there is not enough room for the number of members who wish to attend the meeting; or |
(2) | a postponement is necessary in light of the behaviour of persons present or for any other reason so that the business of the meeting can be properly carried out. |
(e) | A postponement under article 7.8(d) will be to another time, which may be on the same day as the meeting, and may be to another place (and the new time and place will be taken to be the time and place for the meeting as if specified in the notice that called the meeting originally). |
(f) | Subject to article 7.1(b), the chairperson may at any time during the course of the meeting: |
(1) | adjourn the meeting or any business, motion, question or resolution being considered or remaining to be considered by the meeting either to a later time at the same meeting or to an adjourned meeting; and |
(2) | for the purpose of allowing any poll to be taken or determined, suspend the proceedings of the meeting for such period or periods as he or she decides without effecting an adjournment. No business may be transacted and no discussion may take place during any suspension of proceedings unless the chairperson otherwise allows. |
(g) | The chairperson’s rights under articles 7.8(d) and 7.8(f) are exclusive and, unless the chairperson requires otherwise, no vote may be taken or demanded by the members present concerning any postponement, adjournment or suspension of proceedings. |
(h) | Only unfinished business may be transacted at a meeting resumed after an adjournment. |
(i) | Where a meeting is postponed or adjourned under this article 7.8, notice of the postponed or adjourned meeting must be given by public announcement, but need not be given to any other person. |
(j) | Where a meeting is postponed or adjourned, the Board may, by public announcement, postpone, cancel or change the place of the postponed or adjourned meeting. |
(a) | Except where a special resolution or another percentage is required, questions arising at a general meeting must be decided by a majority of votes cast by the members present at the meeting. A decision made in this way is for all purposes, a decision of the members. |
(b) | If the votes are equal on a proposed resolution, the chairperson of the meeting has a casting vote, in addition to any deliberative vote. |
(c) | Each matter submitted to a general meeting is to be decided on a poll. |
(d) | A poll at a general meeting must be taken in the way and at the time the chairperson directs. The result of the poll as declared by the chairperson is the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
(a) | Subject to these articles and the Companies Law and to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares or class of shares, at a general meeting, every member present has one vote for each share held as at the Record Time by the member entitling the member to vote, except for partly paid shares, each of which confers only the fraction of one vote which the amount paid (not credited) on the share bears to the total amounts paid and payable (excluding amounts credited) on the share. An amount paid in advance of a call is disregarded for this purpose. |
(b) | A joint holder may vote at a meeting either personally or by proxy, attorney or Representative as if that person was the sole holder. If more than one joint holder tenders a vote in respect of the relevant shares, the vote of the holder named first in the register who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, attorney or Representative, must be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders. |
(c) | The parent or guardian of an infant member may vote at any general meeting on such evidence being produced of the relationship or of the appointment of the guardian as the Board may require and any vote so tendered by a parent or guardian of an infant member must be accepted to the exclusion of the vote of the infant member. |
(d) | A person entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event may vote at a general meeting in respect of that share in the same way as if that person were the registered holder of the share if, at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting (or such shorter time as the Board determines), the Board: |
(1) | admitted that person’s right to vote at that meeting in respect of the share; or |
(2) | was satisfied of that person’s right to be registered as the holder of, or to transfer, the share. |
(e) | Where a member holds a share on which a call or other amount payable to the Company has not been duly paid: |
(1) | that member is only entitled to be present at a general meeting and vote if that member holds, as at the Record Time, other shares on which no money is then due and payable; and |
(2) | on a poll, that member is not entitled to vote in respect of that share but may vote in respect of any shares that member holds, as at the Record Time, on which no money is then due and payable. |
(f) | A member is not entitled to vote any particular shares on a resolution if, under the Companies Law or the Listing Rules: |
(1) | the member must not vote or must abstain from voting those particular shares on the resolution; or |
(2) | a vote of those particular shares on the resolution by the member must be disregarded for any purposes. |
(g) | An objection to the validity of a vote tendered at a general meeting must be: |
(1) | raised before or immediately after the result of the vote is declared; and |
(2) | referred to the chairperson, whose decision is final. |
(h) | A vote tendered, but not disallowed by the chairperson under article 7.10(g), is valid for all purposes, even if it would not otherwise have been valid. |
(i) | The chairperson may decide any difficulty or dispute which arises as to the number of votes that may be cast by or on behalf of any member and the decision of the chairperson is final. |
(a) | Subject to these articles, each member entitled to vote at a general meeting may vote: |
(1) | in person or, where a member is a body corporate, by its Representative; |
(2) | by proxy; or |
(3) | by attorney. |
(b) | A proxy, attorney or Representative may, but need not, be a member of the Company. |
(c) | An instrument appointing a proxy is valid if it is in accordance with the Companies Law or in any form approved by the Board. |
(d) | A vote given in accordance with an instrument appointing a proxy or attorney is valid despite the transfer of the share in respect of which the instrument was given if the transfer is not registered by the time at which the instrument appointing the proxy or attorney is required to be received under article 7.11(h). |
(e) | Unless otherwise provided in the appointment of a proxy, attorney or Representative, an appointment will be taken to confer authority: |
(1) | even though the appointment may refer to specific resolutions and may direct the proxy, attorney or Representative how to vote on those resolutions, to do any of the acts specified in article 7.11(f); and |
(2) | even though the appointment may refer to a specific meeting to be held at a specified time or venue, where the meeting is rescheduled, adjourned or postponed to another time or changed to another venue, to attend and vote at the rescheduled, adjourned or postponed meeting or at the new venue. |
(f) | The acts referred to in article 7.11(e)(1) are: |
(1) | to vote on any amendment moved to the proposed resolutions and on any motion that the proposed resolutions not be put or any similar motion; |
(2) | to vote on any motion before the general meeting, whether or not the motion is referred to in the appointment; and |
(3) | to act generally at the meeting (including to speak, demand a poll, join in demanding a poll and to move motions). |
(g) | A proxy form issued by the Company must allow for the insertion of the name of the person to be primarily appointed as proxy and may provide that, in circumstances and on conditions specified in the form that are not inconsistent with these articles, the chairperson of the relevant meeting (or another person specified in the form) is appointed as proxy. |
(h) | A proxy or attorney may not vote at a general meeting or adjourned or postponed meeting or on a poll unless the instrument appointing the proxy or attorney, and the authority under which the instrument is signed or a certified copy of the authority, are received by the Company: |
(1) | at least forty-eight (48) hours, or such lesser time as specified by the Board in the notice of meeting, (or in the case of an adjournment or postponement of a meeting, any lesser time that the Board or the chairperson of the meeting decides) before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned or postponed meeting or taking the poll, as applicable; or |
(2) | where article 7.11(i)(2) applies, such shorter period before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned or postponed meeting or taking the poll, as applicable, as the Company determines in its discretion. |
(i) | Where the Company receives an instrument appointing a proxy or attorney in accordance with this article 7.11 and within the time period specified in article 7.11(h)(1), the Company is entitled to: |
(1) | clarify with the appointing member any instruction in relation to that instrument by written or verbal communication and make any amendments to the instrument required to reflect any clarification; and |
(2) | where the Company considers that the instrument has not been duly executed, return the instrument to the appointing member and request that the member duly execute the instrument and return it to the Company within the period determined by the Company under article 7.11(h)(2) and notified to the member. |
(j) | The member is taken to have appointed the Company as its attorney for the purpose of any amendments made to an instrument appointing a proxy in accordance with article 7.11(i)(1). An instrument appointing a proxy or attorney which is received by the Company in accordance with article 7.11(i)(2) is taken to have been validly received by the Company. |
(k) | The appointment of a proxy or attorney is not revoked by the appointor attending and taking part in the general meeting, but if the appointor votes on a resolution, the proxy or attorney is not entitled to vote, and must not vote, as the appointor’s proxy or attorney on the resolution. |
(l) | Unless written notice of the matter has been received at the Company’s registered office (or at another place specified for lodging an appointment of a proxy, attorney or Representative for the meeting) within the time period specified under articles 7.11(i) or 7.11(h) (as applicable), a vote cast by a proxy, attorney or Representative is valid even if, before the vote is cast: |
(1) | a Transmission Event occurs to the member; or |
(2) | the member revokes the appointment of the proxy, attorney or Representative or revokes the authority under which a third party appointed the proxy, attorney or Representative. |
(m) | The chairperson may require a person acting as a proxy, attorney or Representative to establish to the chairperson’s satisfaction that the person is the person duly appointed to act. If the person fails to satisfy the requirement, the chairperson may: |
(1) | exclude the person from attending or voting at the meeting; or |
(2) | permit the person to exercise the powers of a proxy, attorney or Representative on the condition that, if required by the Company, such person produce evidence of the appointment within the time set by the chairperson. |
(n) | The chairperson may delegate his or her powers under article 7.11(m) to any person. |
(a) | Subject to the Companies Law, for the purpose of facilitating the giving of voting instructions for any general meeting by any person who holds, or holds interests in, beneficial interests in shares that are held and traded in the DTC System: |
(1) | each DTC Proxy may appoint (whether by way of instrument of proxy, power of attorney, mandate or otherwise) more than one person as its proxy in respect of the same general meeting or resolution provided that the instrument of appointment shall specify the number of shares in respect of which the proxy is appointed and only one proxy may attend the general meeting and vote in respect of any one share; |
(2) | each DTC Proxy may appoint (by power of attorney, mandate or otherwise) an agent (including, without limitation, a proxy solicitation agent or similar person) for the purposes of obtaining voting instructions and submitting them to the Company on behalf of that DTC Proxy, whether in hard copy form or electronic form; |
(3) | each instrument of appointment made by a DTC Proxy or its agent shall, unless the Company is notified to the contrary in writing at least three hours before the start of the meeting (or adjourned meeting), be deemed to confer on the relevant proxy or agent the power and authority to appoint one or more sub proxies or sub agents or otherwise sub delegate any or all of its powers to any person; |
(4) | the Board may accept any instrument of appointment made by a DTC Proxy or its agent as sufficient evidence of the authority of that DTC Proxy or agent or require evidence of the authority under which any such appointment has been made; and |
(5) | the Board may, to give effect to the intent of this article 7.12: |
(A) | make such arrangements, either generally or in any particular case, as it thinks fit (including, without limitation, making or facilitating arrangements for the submission to the Company of voting instructions on behalf of DTC Proxies, whether in hard copy form or electronic form); |
(B) | make such regulations, either generally or in any particular case, as it thinks fit, whether in addition to, or in substitution for, any other provision of these articles; and |
(C) | do such other acts and things as it considers necessary or desirable (including, without limitation, approving the form of any instrument of appointment of proxy or agent, whether in hard copy form or electronic form). |
(b) | If any question arises at or in relation to a general meeting as to whether any person has been validly appointed as a proxy or agent by a DTC Proxy or its agent to vote (or exercise any other right) in respect of any shares: |
(1) | if the question arises at a general meeting, the question will be determined by the chairperson of the meeting in his or her sole discretion; or |
(2) | if the question arises otherwise than at a general meeting, the question will be determined by the Board in its sole discretion. |
(a) | The maximum number of directors is to be determined by the Board, but may not be more than fifteen (15). The Board may not determine a maximum which is less than the number of directors in office at the time the determination takes effect. |
(b) | The Board may appoint any eligible person to be a director, either as an addition to the existing directors or to fill a casual vacancy, but so that the total number of directors does not exceed the maximum number fixed under these articles. |
(c) | The Board or a committee of the Board shall not nominate for election or re-election as director any candidate who has not agreed to tender, promptly following the meeting at which he or she is elected as director, an irrevocable resignation that will be effective upon (i) the failure to receive the required number of votes for re-election at the next annual meeting of members at which he or she faces re-election, and (ii) acceptance of such resignation by the Board. |
(d) | Each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director at any meeting of the members called for the purpose of the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if as of a date that is fourteen (14) days in advance of the date the Company files its definitive proxy statement (regardless of whether or not thereafter revised or supplemented) with the Securities and Exchange Commission the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors generally. For purposes of this article 8.1(d), a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of votes “withheld” with respect to that director. |
(e) | If an incumbent director nominee fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election, within ninety (90) days after certification of the election results, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation or whether other action should be taken and the Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation. |
(f) | A director appointed by the Board under article 8.1(b) holds office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting following his or her appointment. |
(g) | Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding class or series of preferred shares, each director shall be elected at each annual general meeting and shall hold office until the next succeeding annual general meeting and until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, but subject to prior death, resignation, disqualification or removal from office. |
(h) | Where the number of persons validly proposed for election or re-election as a director is greater than the number of directors to be elected, the persons receiving the most votes (up to the number of directors to be elected) shall be elected as directors and an absolute majority of votes cast shall not be a pre-requisite to the election of such directors. |
(i) | The retirement of a director from office under these articles and the re-election of a director or the election of another person to that office (as the case may be) takes effect at the conclusion of the meeting at which the retirement and re-election or election occur. |
(j) | Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding class or series of preferred shares, any vacancy on the Board, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall only be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board then in office, even though fewer than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. |
(a) | becomes prohibited or disqualified by applicable law from acting as a director of the Company; |
(b) | resigns by written notice to the Company; or |
(c) | is removed from office under article 8.3. |
(a) | the director’s conviction (with a plea of nolo contendere deemed to be a conviction) of a serious felony involving moral turpitude or a violation of U.S. federal or state securities law, but excluding a conviction based entirely on vicarious liability; or |
(b) | the director’s commission of any material act of dishonesty (such as embezzlement) resulting or intended to result in material personal gain or enrichment of the director at the expense of the Company or any subsidiary and which act, if made the subject to criminal charges, would be reasonably likely to be charged as a felony, |
(a) | Each director may be paid such remuneration out of the funds of the Company as the Board determines for his or her services as a director, including fees and reimbursement of expenses. |
(b) | Remuneration under article 8.4(a) may be provided in such manner that the Board decides, including by way of non-cash benefit, such as a contribution to a superannuation fund. |
(c) | Any director who performs extra services, makes any special exertions for the benefit of the Company or who otherwise performs services which, in the opinion of the Board, are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a non- executive director, may be remunerated for the services (as determined by the Board) out of the funds of the Company. |
(a) | Unless the Board determines otherwise from time to time in its discretion, a director is not required to hold any shares in the Company to qualify for appointment. |
(b) | A director is entitled to attend and speak at general meetings and at meetings of the holders of a class of shares, even if he or she is not a member or a holder of shares in the relevant class. |
(a) | The Board may make regulations requiring the disclosure of interests that a director, and any person deemed by the Board to be related to or associated with the director, may have in any matter concerning the Company or a related body corporate. Any regulations made under these articles bind all directors. |
(b) | No act, transaction, agreement, instrument, resolution or other thing is invalid or voidable only because a person fails to comply with any regulation made under article 8.6(a). |
(c) | A director is not disqualified from contracting or entering into an arrangement with the Company as vendor, purchaser or in another capacity, merely because the director holds office as a director or because of the fiduciary obligations arising from that office. |
(d) | A contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which a director is in any way interested is not invalid or voidable merely because the director holds office as a director or because of the fiduciary obligations arising from that office. |
(e) | A director who is interested in any arrangement involving the Company is not liable to account to the Company for any profit realised under the arrangement merely because the director holds office as a director or because of the fiduciary obligations arising from that office. |
(f) | A director may hold any other office or position (except auditor) in the Company or any related body corporate in conjunction with his or her directorship and may be appointed to that office or position on terms (including remuneration and tenure) the Board decides. |
(g) | A director may be or become a director or other officer of, or interested in, any related body corporate or any other body corporate promoted by or associated with the Company, or in which the Company may be interested as a vendor, and need not account to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits the director receives as a director or officer of, or from having an interest in, that body corporate. |
(h) | A director who has an interest in a matter that is being considered at a meeting of the Board may, despite that interest, be present and be counted in a quorum at the meeting, unless that is prohibited by the Companies Law, but may not vote on the matter if such interest is one which to a material extent conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the Company and of which the director is aware, and in respect of any such matter the decision of the chairperson of the meeting shall be final. No act, transaction, agreement, instrument, resolution or other thing is invalid or voidable only because a director fails to comply with this prohibition. |
(i) | The Board may exercise the voting rights given by shares in any corporation held or owned by the Company in any way the Board decides. This includes voting for any resolution appointing a director as a director or other officer of that corporation or voting for the payment of remuneration to the directors or other officers of that corporation. |
(j) | A director who is interested in any contract or arrangement may, despite that interest, participate in the execution of any document by or on behalf of the Company evidencing or otherwise connected with that contract or arrangement. |
(a) | The business and affairs of the Company are to be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which (in addition to the powers and authorities conferred on it by these articles) may exercise all powers and do all things that are: |
(1) | within the power of the Company; and |
(2) | are not by these articles or by law directed or required to be done by the Company in a general meeting. |
(b) | The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company: |
(1) | to borrow or raise money in any other way; |
(2) | to charge any of the Company’s property or business or any of its uncalled capital; and |
(3) | to issue debentures or give any security for a debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any other person. |
(c) | Debentures or other securities may be issued on the terms and at prices decided by the Board, including bearing interest or not, with rights to subscribe for, or exchange into, shares or other securities in the Company or a related body corporate or with special privileges as to redemption, participating in share issues, attending and voting at general meetings and appointing directors. |
(d) | The Board may decide how cheques, promissory notes, banker’s drafts, bills of exchange or other negotiable instruments must be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as applicable, by or on behalf of the Company. |
(e) | The Board may: |
(1) | appoint or employ any person as an officer, agent or attorney of the Company for the purposes, with the powers, discretions and duties (including those vested in or exercisable by the Board), for any period and on any other conditions they decide; |
(2) | authorise an officer, agent or attorney to delegate any of the powers, discretions and duties vested in the officer, agent or attorney; and |
(3) | remove or dismiss any officer, agent or attorney of the Company at any time, with or without cause. |
(f) | A power of attorney may contain any provisions for the protection and convenience of the attorney or persons dealing with the attorney that the Board decides. |
(g) | Nothing in this article 8.7 limits the general nature of article 8.7(a). |
(a) | The Board may delegate any of its powers to one director, a committee of the Board, or any person or persons. |
(b) | A director, committee of the Board, or person to whom any powers have been so delegated must exercise the powers delegated in accordance with any directions of the Board. |
(c) | The acceptance of a delegation of powers by a director may, if the Board so resolves, be treated as an extra service or special exertion performed by the delegate for the purposes of article 8.4(e). |
(d) | The provisions of these articles applying to meetings and resolutions of the Board apply, so far as they can and with any necessary changes, to meetings and resolutions of a committee of the Board, except to the extent they are contrary to any direction given under article 8.8(b). |
(a) | The directors may meet together to attend to business and adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they decide. |
(b) | The contemporaneous linking together by telephone or other electronic means of a sufficient number of directors to constitute a quorum, constitutes a meeting of the Board. All the provisions in these articles relating to meetings of the Board apply, as far as they can and with any necessary changes, to meetings of the Board by telephone or other electronic means. |
(c) | A meeting by telephone or other electronic means is to be taken to be held at the place where the chairperson of the meeting is or at such other place the chairperson of the meeting decides, as long as at least one of the directors involved was at that place for the duration of the meeting. |
(d) | A director taking part in a meeting by telephone or other electronic means is to be taken to be present in person at the meeting and all directors participating in the meeting will (unless there is a specific statement otherwise) be taken to have consented to the holding of the meeting by the relevant electronic means. |
(e) | If, before or during the meeting, any technical difficulty occurs where one or more directors cease to participate, the chairperson may adjourn the meeting until the difficulty is remedied or may, where a quorum of directors remains present, continue with the meeting. |
(a) | The chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Company or a majority of the Board may call a meeting of the Board. |
(b) | A secretary must, if requested by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Company or a majority of the Board, call a meeting of the Board. |
(a) | Notice of a meeting of the Board must be given to each person who is, at the time the notice is given, a director, except a director on leave of absence approved by the Board. |
(b) | A notice of a meeting of the Board: |
(1) | must specify the time and place of the meeting; |
(2) | need not state the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting; |
(3) | may, if necessary, be given immediately before the meeting; and |
(4) | may be given in person or by post or by telephone, fax or other electronic means, or in any other way consented to by the directors from time to time. |
(c) | A director may waive notice of a meeting of the Board by giving notice to that effect in person or by post or by telephone, fax or other electronic means. |
(d) | Failure to give a director notice of a meeting of the Board does not invalidate anything done or any resolution passed at the meeting if: |
(1) | the failure occurred by accident or inadvertent error; or |
(2) | the director attended the meeting or waived notice of the meeting (whether before or after the meeting). |
(e) | A person who attends a meeting of the Board waives any objection that person may have to a failure to give notice of the meeting. |
(a) | No business may be transacted at a meeting of the Board unless a quorum of directors is present at the time the business is dealt with. |
(b) | Unless the Board decides differently, a majority of the total number of directors in office constitutes a quorum. |
(c) | If there is a vacancy in the office of a director, the remaining directors may act. But, if their number is not sufficient to constitute a quorum, they may act only in an emergency or to increase the number of directors to a number sufficient to constitute a quorum or to call a general meeting of the Company. |
(a) | The Board must elect a director to the office of chairperson of the Board and may elect one or more directors to the office of deputy chairperson of the Board. The Board may decide the period for which those offices will be held. |
(b) | Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the chairperson of the Board or, in his or her absence, by the director who is designated by the chairperson of the Board prior to the applicable meeting, if any, or, in his or her absence, by the deputy chairperson of the Board, if any, or, in his or her absence, by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The general counsel of the Company shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the chair of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. |
(a) | The Board, at a meeting at which a quorum is present, may exercise any authorities, powers and discretions vested in or exercisable by the Board under these articles. |
(b) | Questions arising at a meeting of the Board must be decided by a majority of votes cast by the directors present and entitled to vote on the matter. |
(a) | A resolution in writing signed by all directors or a resolution in writing of which notice has been given to all directors and which is signed by all directors entitled to vote on the resolution is a valid resolution of the Board. The resolution is taken to have been passed by a meeting of the Board when the last director signs or consents to the resolution unless provided otherwise in such written resolution. |
(b) | A director may consent to a resolution by: |
(1) | signing the document containing the resolution (or a copy of that document); or |
(2) | giving to the Company a written notice (including by fax to its registered office or other electronic means) addressed to the general counsel or to the chairperson of the Board signifying assent to the resolution and either setting out its terms or otherwise clearly identifying them. |
(a) | a defect in the appointment of a person as a director or a member of a committee; or |
(b) | a person so appointed being disqualified or not being entitled to vote, |
(a) | Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the Company must not engage in any business combination with any interested member for a period of three (3) years following the time that such member became an interested member, unless: |
(1) | prior to such time the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the member becoming an interested member; |
(2) | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the member becoming an interested member, the interested member owned at least 85% of the voting shares of the Company outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting shares outstanding (but not the outstanding voting shares owned by the interested member) those shares owned: |
(A) | by persons who are directors and also officers; and |
(B) | employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender, exchange or takeover offer; or |
(3) | at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the Board and authorised at a general meeting, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting shares which is not owned by the interested member. |
(b) | The restrictions contained in article 9.1(a) shall not apply if: |
(1) | the Company does not have a class of voting shares that is either: |
(A) | listed on a stock exchange; or |
(B) | held of record by more than 2,000 members, unless any of the foregoing results from action taken, directly or indirectly, by an interested member or from a transaction in which a person becomes an interested member; |
(2) | a member becomes an interested member inadvertently and: |
(A) | as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the member ceases to be an interested member; and |
(B) | would not, at any time within the three (3)-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Company and such member, have been an interested member but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or |
(3) | the business combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which: |
(A) | constitutes one of the transactions described in article 9.1(c); |
(B) | is with or by a person who either was not an interested member during the previous three (3) years or who became an interested member with the approval of the Board or during the period described in article 9.1(b)(1); and |
(C) | is approved or not opposed by a majority of the members of the Board then in office (but not less than one (1)) who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested member during the previous three (3) years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. |
(4) | the business combination is with an interested member who became an interested member at a time when the restrictions contained in this article 9.1 did not apply by reason of article 9.1(b)(1). |
(c) | The proposed transactions referred to in article 9.1(b)(3)(A) are limited to: |
(1) | a merger or consolidation of the Company (except for a merger in respect of which no vote of the members of the Company is required); |
(2) | a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Company) having an aggregate market value equal to 50% or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the Company; or |
(3) | a proposed tender, exchange or takeover offer for 50% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company. |
(d) | The Company shall give not less than twenty (20) days’ notice to all interested members prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in article 9.1(c)(1) or 9.1(c)(2). |
(e) | As used in this article 9.1, the term: |
(1) | Associate, when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: |
(A) | any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting shares; |
(B) | any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and |
(C) | any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person; |
(2) | Business combination, when used in reference to the Company and any interested member of the Company, means: |
(A) | any merger or consolidation of the Company (including by way of compromise, arrangement, reconstruction, amalgamation or takeover) or any direct or indirect majority- owned subsidiary of the Company with (A) the interested member, or (B) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested member and as a result of such merger or consolidation article 9.1(a) is not applicable to the surviving entity; |
(B) | any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a member of the Company, to or with the interested member, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the Company; |
(C) | any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Company or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company of any shares of the Company or of such subsidiary to the interested member, except: |
(i) | pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of the Company or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested member became such; |
(ii) | pursuant to a merger of the Company with or into a single direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; |
(iii) | pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of the Company or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of shares of the Company subsequent to the time the interested member became such; |
(iv) | pursuant to an exchange offer by the Company to purchase shares made on the same terms to all holders of said shares; or |
(v) | any issuance or transfer of shares by the Company; |
(D) | any transaction involving the Company or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the shares of any class or series, or securities convertible into the shares of any class or series, of the Company or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested member, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested member; or |
(E) | any receipt by the interested member of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a member of the Company), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in clauses (A)-(D) of this article 9.1(e)(2)) provided by or through the Company or any direct or indirect majority- owned subsidiary; |
(3) | Interested member means any person (other than the Company and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company) that: |
(A) | is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company; or |
(B) | is an affiliate or associate of the Company and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company at any time within the three (3)-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested member, and the affiliates and associates of such person; |
(4) | Owner, including the terms own and owned, when used with respect to any shares, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates: |
(A) | beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly; or |
(B) | has (i) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of shares tendered pursuant to a tender, exchange or takeover offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered shares are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (ii) the right to vote such shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any shares because of such person’s right to vote such shares if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such shares arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or |
(C) | has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in clause (B) of this article 9.1(e)(4)), or disposing of such shares with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such shares. |
(a) | The Board may appoint one or more of the directors to be an officer. For the avoidance of doubt, an officer need not be a director. |
(b) | A director who is an officer may be referred to by any title the Board decides on. |
(a) | The officers of the Company shall be a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and a controller, all of whom shall be elected by the Board. The Board or the chief executive officer of the Company may appoint such other officers, including one or more assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers and assistant controllers as either of them shall deem necessary, who shall have such authority and perform such duties as may be prescribed in such appointment. |
(b) | The appointment of an officer may be for the period, at the remuneration and on the conditions the Board decides. |
(c) | The Board may: |
(1) | delegate to or give an officer any powers, discretions and duties it decides; |
(2) | withdraw, suspend or vary any of the powers, discretions and duties given to an officer; and |
(3) | authorise the officer to delegate any of the powers, discretions and duties given to the officer. |
(d) | Unless the Board decides otherwise, the office of a director who is employed by the Company or by a subsidiary of the Company automatically becomes vacant if the director ceases to be so employed. |
(e) | An act done by a person acting as an officer is not invalidated by: |
(1) | a defect in the person’s appointment as an officer; |
(2) | the person being disqualified to be an officer; or |
(3) | the person having vacated office, |
(a) | to each person who is or has been a director or officer (within the meaning of article 10.2(a)) of the Company; and |
(b) | to such other officers or former officers of the Company or of its related bodies corporate as the Board in each case determines; |
(a) | is enforceable without the Officer having to first incur any expense or make any payment; |
(b) | is a continuing obligation and is enforceable by the Officer even though the Officer may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or its related bodies corporate; and |
(c) | applies to Liabilities incurred both before and after the adoption of these articles. |
(a) | purchase and maintain insurance; and/or |
(b) | pay or agree to pay a premium for insurance, |
(a) | affects any other right or remedy that a person to whom those articles apply may have in respect of any Liability referred to in those articles; |
(b) | limits the capacity of the Company to indemnify or provide or pay for insurance for any person to whom those articles do not apply; or |
(c) | limits or diminishes the terms of any indemnity conferred or agreement to indemnify entered into prior to the adoption of these articles. |
(a) | if the Company is wound up and the property of the Company available for distribution among the members is more than sufficient to pay: |
(1) | all the debts and liabilities of the Company; and |
(2) | the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up, |
(b) | for the purpose of calculating the excess referred to in article 12.1(a), any amount unpaid on a share is to be treated as property of the Company; |
(c) | the amount of the excess that would otherwise be distributed to the holder of a partly paid share under article 12.1(a) must be reduced by the amount unpaid on that share at the date of the distribution; and |
(d) | if the effect of the reduction under article 12.1(c) would be to reduce the distribution to the holder of a partly paid share to a negative amount, the holder must contribute that amount to the Company. |
(a) | If the Company is wound up, the liquidator or the directors, as the case may be, may, subject to these articles and any other sanction required by the Companies Law, do either or both of the following: |
(1) | divide in specie among the members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members; |
(2) | vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of members and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
(b) | No member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
(c) | If any of the property to be divided under article 12.2(a) includes securities with a liability to calls, any person entitled under the division to any of the securities may, within ten (10) days after the passing of the special resolution referred to in article 12.2(a), by written notice direct the liquidator to sell the person’s proportion of the securities and account for the net proceeds. The liquidator must, if practicable, act accordingly. |
(d) | Nothing in this article 12.2 takes away from or affects any right to exercise any statutory or other power which would have existed if this article were omitted. |
(e) | Article 4.3 applies, so far as it can and with any necessary changes, to a division by a liquidator under article 12.2(a) as if references in article 4.3 to: |
(1) | the Board were references to the liquidator; and |
(2) | a distribution or capitalisation were references to the division under article 12.2(a). |
(a) | A person who is not a director does not have the right to inspect any of the Board papers, books, records or documents of the Company, except as provided by law, or these articles, or as authorised by the Board. |
(b) | The Company may enter into contracts with its directors or former directors agreeing to provide continuing access for a specified period after the director ceases to be a director to Board papers, books, records and documents of the Company which relate to the period during which the director or former director was a director on such terms and conditions as the Board thinks fit and which are not inconsistent with this article 13. |
(c) | The Company may procure that its subsidiaries provide similar access to Board papers, books, records or documents as that set out in articles 13(a) and 13(b). |
(d) | This article 13 does not limit any right the directors or former directors otherwise have. |
(a) | The Company may keep a Seal register and, on affixing the Seal to any document (other than a certificate for securities of the Company) may enter in the register particulars of the document, including a short description of the document. |
(b) | The register, or any details from it that the Board requires, may be produced at meetings of the Board for noting the use of the Seal since the previous meeting of the Board. |
(c) | Failure to comply with articles 14.5(a) or 14.5(b) does not invalidate any document to which the Seal is properly affixed. |
(a) | The Company may have one or more duplicate seals for use in place of its common seal outside the state or territory where its common seal is kept. Each duplicate seal must be a facsimile of the common seal of the Company with the addition on its face of the words ‘duplicate seal’ and the name of the place where it is to be used. |
(b) | A document sealed with a duplicate seal, or a certificate seal as provided in article 14.7, is to be taken to have been sealed with the common seal of the Company. |
(a) | Without limiting any other way in which notice may be given to a member under these articles, the Companies Law, applicable securities laws and/or the Listing Rules, the Company may give a notice to a member by: |
(1) | delivering it personally to the member; |
(2) | sending it by prepaid post to the member’s address in the register of members or any other address the member supplies to the Company for giving notices; |
(3) | sending it by fax or other electronic means to the fax number or electronic address the member has supplied to the Company for giving notices; or |
(4) | publishing the notice on a website and providing notification to that effect to the member by any of the other means permitted under this article 15.1. |
(b) | The Company may give a notice to the joint holders of a share by giving the notice in the way authorised by article 15.1(a) to the joint holder named first in the register of members for the share. |
(c) | The Company may give a notice to a person entitled to a share as a result of a Transmission Event by delivering it or sending it in the manner authorised by article 15.1(a) addressed to the name or title of the person, to: |
(1) | the address, fax number or electronic address that person has supplied to the Company for giving notices to that person; or |
(2) | if that person has not supplied an address, fax number or electronic address, to the address, fax number or electronic address to which the notice might have been sent if that Transmission Event had not occurred. |
(d) | A notice given to a member under articles 15.1(a) or 15.1(b) is, even if a Transmission Event has occurred and whether or not the Company has notice of that occurrence: |
(1) | duly given for any shares registered in that person’s name, whether solely or jointly with another person; and |
(2) | sufficiently served on any person entitled to the shares because of the Transmission Event. |
(e) | A notice given to a person who is entitled to a share because of a Transmission Event is sufficiently served on the member in whose name the share is registered. |
(f) | A person who, because of a transfer of shares, becomes entitled to any shares registered in the name of a member, is taken to have received every notice which, before that person’s name and address is entered in the register of members for those shares, is given to the member complying with this article 15.1. |
(g) | A signature to any notice given by the Company to a member under this article 15.1 may be printed or affixed by some mechanical, electronic or other means. |
(h) | Where a member does not have a registered address or where the Company believes that member is not known at the member’s registered address, all notices are taken to be: |
(1) | given to the member if the notice is exhibited in the Company’s registered office for a period of forty-eight (48) hours; and |
(2) | served at the commencement of that period, |
(a) | delivering it personally to him or her; |
(b) | sending it by prepaid post to his or her usual residential or business address, or any other address he or she has supplied to the Company for giving notices; or |
(c) | sending it by fax or other electronic means to the fax number or electronic address he or she has supplied to the Company for giving notices. |
(a) | delivering it to the Company’s registered office; |
(b) | sending it by prepaid post to the Company’s registered office; or |
(c) | sending it by fax or other electronic means to the principal fax number or electronic address at the Company’s registered office. |
(a) | A notice from the Company properly addressed and posted is taken to be served at 10.00am (local time in the place of dispatch) on the day after the date it is posted. |
(b) | A certificate signed by a secretary or officer of the Company to the effect that a notice was duly posted under these articles is conclusive evidence of that fact. |
(c) | Where the Company sends a notice by fax, the notice is taken as served at the time the fax is sent if the correct fax number appears on the facsimile transmission report produced by the sender’s fax machine. |
(d) | Where the Company sends a notice by electronic transmission, the notice is taken as served at the time the electronic transmission is sent. |
(e) | Where the Company gives a notice to a member by any other means permitted by the Companies Law relating to the giving of notices and electronic means of access to them, the notice is taken as given at 10.00am (local time in the place of the Company’s principal office) on the day after the date on which the member is notified that the notice is available. |
(f) | Where a given number of days’ notice or notice extending over any other period must be given, the day of service is not to be counted in the number of days or other period. |
(a) | Each member submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Royal Court of Jersey and the courts which may hear appeals from that court. |
(b) | Unless the Companies Law or any other Jersey law provides otherwise or unless the Board determines otherwise, the Royal Court of Jersey is the sole and exclusive forum for: |
(1) | any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, |
(2) | any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer of the Company to the Company or its members, creditors or other constituents, |
(3) | any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Law or these articles (as either may be amended from time to time), or |
(4) | any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. |
(a) | Any provision of, or the application of any provision of, these articles which is prohibited in any place is, in that place, ineffective only to the extent of that prohibition. |
(b) | Any provision of, or the application of any provision of, these articles which is void, illegal or unenforceable in any place does not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of that provision in any other place or of the remaining provisions in that or any other place. |
(a) | The directors may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or the Listing Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives, which shall be intended to set forth the policies of the Company and the directors on various corporate governance related matters, as the directors shall determine from time to time. |
1. | reviewed a draft of the Transaction Agreement dated May 9, 2023; |
2. | reviewed publicly available financial statements and other information of each of the Company and Allkem; |
3. | reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating information of each of the Company and Allkem, respectively; |
4. | reviewed certain non-public projected financial data relating to Allkem prepared by the management of Allkem (the “Allkem Projections”), which data was adjusted by the management of the Company resulting in two Company adjusted Allkem cases (the “Company-Allkem Projections”); |
5. | reviewed certain non-public projected financial data relating to the Company prepared and furnished to us by the management of the Company (together with the Allkem Projections and the Company-Allkem Projections, the “Projections”); |
6. | reviewed information relating to certain strategic, financial, operational and operating model tax efficiency benefits anticipated from the Transaction, prepared by the management of the Company and the management of Allkem (the “Synergies”); |
7. | reviewed certain analyses and forecasts for the Company pro-forma for the Transaction, as approved for our use by the Company (the “Pro Forma Projections”); |
8. | reviewed certain estimates of lithium reserves and resources for Allkem prepared by its management and third-party engineering firms, which data was adjusted and extrapolated by the management of the Company (the “Allkem Resources Estimates”); |
9. | reviewed certain estimates of lithium reserves and resources for the Company prepared by its management and third-party engineering firms (together with the Allkem Resources Estimates, the “Resources Estimates”); |
10. | reviewed certain lithium price assumptions and the outlook for future lithium prices published by independent information service providers and Company provided their lithium price assumptions (including price sensitivity) for lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate and spodumene for use in the analysis (the “Pricing Assumptions”); |
11. | discussed the past and current operations and financial condition and the prospects of Allkem and of the Company with senior executives of the Company; |
12. | compared the financial terms of the Transaction with the publicly available financial terms of certain transactions which we believe to be generally relevant; |
13. | reviewed the historical trading prices and trading activity for the Allkem Common Stock and Company Common Stock; |
14. | performed such other studies and analyses, reviewed such other information and considered such other factors as we deemed appropriate. |
By: | | | /s/ Gordan E. Dyal | | | |
| | Name: Gordon E. Dyal | | | ||
| | Title: Founding Partner | | |