The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is down 2% after announcing a deal to buy Latin Resources Ltd (ASX: LRS).
Pilbara Minerals is one of the largest lithium miners in the world, with Pilgangoora operations based in Australia.
Pilbara Minerals to acquire Latin Resources
The major ASX lithium share is going to buy 100% of Latin Resources in an all-share offer. Latin Resources shares have jumped 55% in response.
Latin Resources shareholders will receive 0.07 new Pilbara Minerals shares for each Latin Resources share held, and will own around 6.4% of Pilbara Minerals after the deal is done.
Pilbara Minerals said the deal is “highly compelling and mutually beneficial”.
This acquisition comes with Latin Resources’ Salinas lithium project which reportedly has the potential to become, outside of Africa, a top 10 hard rock lithium operation by production globally.
Why does this deal make sense?
This deal was described as “on-strategy” and “counter-cyclical” by Pilbara Minerals, but it’s compelling because it provides a premium to Latin Resources shareholders and expects to add to Pilbara Minerals’ net asset value (NAV), mineral resources and future production.
The lithium miner said Salinas would immediately add around 20% to Pilbara Minerals’ mineral resources and contribute up to approximately 30% of ‘steady state production’ with a cost base that’s expected to be competitive with Pilgangoora.
Pilbara Minerals suggested this deal makes sense for Latin Resources shareholders because of a range of diversification and other benefits, including “enhanced market positioning, a larger free float with significantly increased liquidity, enhanced access to capital markets and inclusion in relevant ASX & global indices.”
Based on the Pilbara Minerals share price of $2.85 on 14 August 2024, the transaction implies a value of around A$0.20 per share, representing a 57% premium to the 10-day average price and a 32% premium to the 30-day average price.
Deal looks likely
The Latin Resources board has unanimously recommended the scheme in the absence of a superior proposal, and subject to an independent expert concluding the deal is in the best interests of Latin Resources shareholders. All directors intend to vote in favour of the deal, as has Latin Resources’ largest shareholder Jose Luis Manzano.
Pilbara Minerals seems happy with the deal, and it may make sense to do this while there’s pain in the lithium sector. But, management will need to justify its decision in the coming years through success of the Salinas project considering 6% of the business is being given to Latin Resources shareholders.
If lithium prices can rebound, Pilbara Minerals shares could be a good buy at this lower price. However, that’s not certain with global supply ramping up and EV demand growth faltering, so I’m happy to sit on the sidelines.
