Mining
Experience
Following are some examples of our recent international experience.
We have advised:
Following are some examples of our recent international experience.
- Falconbridge on its farm-in agreement with BHP Billiton in respect of the Gag Island Nickel project in Indonesia
- Leighton Finance on its participation in the US$404.5 million financing of the acquisition by PT Bumi Resources of PT Kaltim Prima Coal, one of Indonesia's largest coal mining companies and one of the biggest coal exporters in the world. This included advising on and negotiating the inter-relationship between security structures under the financing and the payment structures under the US$1 billion mining contract between KPC and Leighton's sister company, PT Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Indophil Resources on its acquisition of an interest in the Tampakan Copper Project in the Philippines and option arrangements with Xstrata Limited
- Barrick Gold Group in relation to new mine developments in Cowal in New South Wales and Bulyanhulu and Tulawaka in Tanzania. We also advise Barrick on its general operational and exploration work
- Straits Resources Ltd in relation to the Coal Co-operation Agreement for the Sebuku Coal Project entered into by Straits' subsidiary, PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku, the subsequent project financing of that project and other arbitration and royalty/tax issues in relation tp the project. We have also advised Straits Resources on a range of other issues relating to its Indonesian investments, including the recently acquired Mt Muro gold project
- POSCO in relation to its iron ore joint venture with BHP Billiton.
We have advised:
- the Rio Tinto group and its subsidiaries for many years. For example, we have acted on all of Hamersley Irons major mine developments for the past 21 years and continue to advise ongoing operations, including:
- its $1 billion port expansion in Dampier Western Australia
- the construction of Eastern Ranges joint venture mine development in Western Australia
- the upgrade to the Yandi mine in Western Australia
- HIsmelt's innovative new steel plant at Kwinana, Western Australia
- Dampier Salt's upgrade of its salt operations in Dampier, Western Australia
- many expansions for Argyle Diamonds - the Peabody group in relation to the acquisition of the Australian coal assets of RAG Coal International AG (being the Burton and North Goonyella mines located in Queensland). This deal, together with the acquisition of RAG's Colorado assets, totalled US$441 million
- Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) in regards to its $105 million scrip takeover bid for ASX-listed gold mining company, Emperor Mines Limited. We are also acting for DRD in relation to the acquisition of 20 per cent of the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea
- Tiwest in relation to its mineral sands and processing operations
- Dominion Mining on the construction of an underground mine development at the Challenger Gold project in South Australia
- AngloGold in establishing an exploration joint venture with various diamond explorers in respect of rights to gold from tenements in the Kimberley
- Teck Cominco in relation to its $26 million acquisition of the Lennard Shelf zinc assets from the receivers of Western Metals Limited
- Comalco Queensland in relation to the construction of its new alumina refinery plant at Gladstone
- Geraldton Port Authority in relation to its port expansion including advising in relation to its commercial arrangements with Mt Gibson Iron Ore
- Helix on the Munni Munni Platinum group metals project and joint venture with Lonmin Mining
- Billiton plc in the establishment of a dual listed structure with BHP, creating a global resources group with a value of $57 billion, the largest transaction of its kind in Australian corporate history
- Billiton Plc (as it was then known) on the purchase of the interest of Reynolds Metal Company in Worsley for the transaction value of US$1.49 billion
- Mitsubishi Development on its acquisition of further interests in the CQCA and Gregory joint ventures with BHP. This $1 billion acquisition involves complex issues surrounding the 50:50 structure and joint management and marketing roles
- North Limited in the development and infrastructure (including rail and port facilities) required to mine deposits at West Angelas in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This expansion project is to the approximate value of $800 million
- Anglo American on the acquisition of up to 23 per cent of Anaconda Nickel for a transaction value of over $243 million. We also advised Anglo American Coal on a possible acquisition in Indonesia and conducting full legal due diligence on the target company
- Samancor (a joint venture between Billiton and Anglo American) in the acquisition of the BHP Manganese Division (for a purchase price of $601 million) comprising Groote Eylandt Mining Pty Ltd and the Tasmanian Electro Metallurgical Company Pty Ltd, and continue to advise on post acquisition and operational issues
- we provide ongoing advice to Korean joint venture parties in the Mount Thawley, Drayton and Springvale coal mines
- we have advised a number of large mining houses for many years on operational issues, eg Barrick, Tiwest, Worsley Alumina and Argyle Diamonds. We work with our clients to ensure cost efficiency and commercial results in a cost driven market.