CST acquires Peru's Chariot Resources

Value: US$235m
Hong Kong-listed China Sci-Tech to acquire Toronto-listed Chariot Resources, whose primary asset is a copper mine
Firm Client Role

Freshfields 
Lead partner: Kay Ian Ng

 CST Hong Kong counsel

Fasken Martineau

 CST Canadian counsel

Muniz, Ramirez, Perez-Taiman & Olaya

 CST Peruvian counsel
Shearman & Sterling Chariot Hong Kong counsel
McMillan Chariot Canadian counsel
Rodrigo, Elias & Medrano, Abogado Chariot Peruvian counsel

CST acquires Cape Lambert Lady Annie project

Value: US$120m
China Sci-Tech to acquire the entire share capital of Cape Lambert Lady Annie Exploration, a copper mine project in Australia, from Cape Lambert Resources
Firm Client Role

Freshfields 
Lead partner: Kay Ian Ng

 CST Hong Kong counsel

Norton Rose

 CST Australian counsel

Freehills

 Cape Lambert Australian counsel


Following the lead of large oil & gas companies, domestic mining businesses have also been actively seeking resources and investment overseas. Chinalco, Zijin Mining, China Minmetals, Hunan Valin and Yanzhou Coal Ming, among many others, have expanded their mining assets in places such as Africa, Australia and South America. The optimism-filled mining sector has also driven large institutional investors, such as CIC and China Sci-Tech (CST), to invest globally.

CST, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, has recently completed a number of transactions involving copper mining projects in Australia and Peru, worth a combined total of US$1.4bn. It sought out a number of law firms to advise on these transactions, including Freshfields and Norton Rose.

In addition to the acquisitions of Cape Lambert Lady Annie project and Chariot Resources, CST also placed US$1bn worth of shares in total to finance the two acquisitions and for working capital purposes.

It's the first time Freshfields has had a mandate from CST. The firm's team, which was involved in the M&A and financing transactions, was led by Kay Ian Ng, global co-head of equity capital markets and Hong Kong managing partner. Ng said that coordinating two major transactions across many jurisdictions was a major challenge.

Quick facts: The global market for copper at approximately 19 million tonnes per annum is strong and expanding - about 46% is supplied by Australia and South American countries.
CST's legal advisors are likely to be instructed again soon by the client, as its strategic transformation continues. "The acquisitions represent a major strategic step made by the company to transform into a leading copper mining company,'' said Chiu Tao, chairman of CST. "Going forward, we will continue to look for quality copper investment opportunities aiming to enhance shareholder value further."

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