力拓集团与中国铝业股份近日就成立合资公司，开发并经营位于几内亚的西芒杜铁矿项目签订了有约束力的协议。

力拓由安德慎和年利达律师事务所提供法律服务而中铝则由贝克∙麦坚时国际律师事务所担任代表律师。

Baker & McKenzie, AAR and Linklaters have advised Chalco, a subsidiary of Chinalco, and Rio Tinto over a year-long business development between the two conglomerates.

Both companies have finally signed a binding agreement to establish a joint venture in relation to the Simandou iron ore project. The JV will cover the development and operation of the project in Guinea, including the planning, construction and management of the mine and associated rail and port infrastructure.

Chalco will have almost a 45% interest in the project through paying US$1.35bn. Once this consideration is paid, the effective interests of Rio Tinto in the JV will be 50.35%, with the remaining 5% owned by the IFC.

This deal marks the beginning of a long-term cooperation plan between the state-run mining group and the Anglo-Australian miner, on a range of projects to jointly mine resources around the globe. The co-operation comes after the much-publicised failed US$19.5bn bid by Chinalco for Rio Tinto in early 2009, advised by Fried Frank, Wachtell Lipton, Linklaters,  AAR (for Rio Tinto)  and Clifford Chance, Mallesons and Haiwen & Partners (for Chinalco). ALB

Related stories:

• Terminated Chinalco-Rio Tinto deal still lucrative for lawyers (5 June 2009)
• Latest Rio Tinto-Chinalco chapter brings more work for Allens, Bakers (24 March 2010)
• Failed Rio-Chinalco deal takes away shine from Australia (5 June 2009)