Investing.com -- Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) (ASX:RIO) in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday said that it plans to buy Arcadium Lithium (NYSE:ALTM) in a deal valued at about $6.7 billion.
The all-cash transaction, priced at $5.85 per share, represents a 90% premium to Arcadium’s closing share price of $3.08 on October 4, 2024, and a 39% premium to the company's volume-weighted average price since its inception in January this year.
This deal will boost Rio Tinto’s portfolio of energy transition commodities, which already includes aluminium, copper, and high-grade iron ore.
With Arcadium's lithium business, Rio Tinto will further establish itself as a leading player in supplying materials critical for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicle batteries.
Arcadium Lithium, a relatively young but fast-growing company, has carved out a strong presence in the lithium chemicals market.
The company operates a vertically integrated lithium supply chain, with resources in hard-rock mining, brine extraction, and the innovative direct lithium extraction process.
Currently, Arcadium has an annual production capacity of 75,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and plans to more than double this output by 2028.
For Rio Tinto, the deal is an opportunity to capitalize on the booming demand for lithium, driven by the global shift towards electric vehicles and clean energy.
Despite recent declines in spot lithium prices, long-term forecasts show strong demand growth for the metal, with estimates suggesting a compound annual growth rate of over 10% through to 2040.
Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm described the deal as a "significant step forward" in the company's long-term strategy.
Paul Graves, CEO of Arcadium Lithium, echoed these sentiments, noting that the deal reflects the value Arcadium has built up over the years.
He also mentioned the benefits of reducing shareholder exposure to market volatility while accelerating the company's ambitious growth plans.
The deal comes at an interesting time for the lithium market. After skyrocketing to record highs in recent years, lithium prices have cooled off, falling by more than 80% from their peak.
This counter-cyclical move by Rio Tinto positions the company to take advantage of what is expected to be a sustained, long-term rise in lithium demand.
With the acquisition, Rio Tinto also expects synergies in its existing operations, particularly in regions like Quebec and Argentina, where both companies have a presence.
The deal, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close by mid-2025, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
If successful, it will make Rio Tinto one of the largest lithium producers globally, further cementing its role in the energy transition.
Advisors to the deal include Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and J.P. Morgan on Rio Tinto's side, with Arcadium being advised by UBS and Gordon Dyal & Co.