‘Confusing, convoluted mess’: Ring of Fire set for speedy development under new owner, but challenges loom – by Gabriel Friedman (Financial Post – January 14, 2022)

https://financialpost.com/

Wyloo plans to build nickel mine in next five years, stoking renewed debate about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples

In the last days of December, Australia’s Wyloo Metals Ltd. offered $617 million in cash to buy Noront Resources Ltd., ending a bidding war with fellow Australian mining giant BHP Group, and emerging as the presumptive new owner of the collection of mineral claims in Ontario’s James Bay Lowlands known as the Ring of Fire.

The deal, expected to close in the next few months, leads to at least one major question: What happens next in the Ring of Fire? Cut off from the rest of Ontario, the project would require more than $1 billion of taxpayer investment in roads and infrastructure.

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Australia’s Wyloo Metals hopes to have Ring of Fire nickel mine, access road by 2026 – by Niall McGee (Globe and Mail – December 23, 2021)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/

Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd., the winner of a fierce bidding war for Noront Resources Ltd., hopes to have a large nickel mine in operation in the Ring of Fire, and an access road built into the remote minerals district in northern Ontario, within five years.

Earlier this week, BHP Group Ltd. said it was not willing to improve upon Wyloo’s offer of $617-million ($1.10 a share) for Noront, ending a seven-month battle. Wyloo, a private equity firm based in Perth, Australia, that specializes in investing in large resource projects, is backed by billionaire Andrew Forrest, founder of iron ore giant Fortescue Metals Group.

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NEWS RELEASE: UPDATE — Noront and Wyloo Metals Enter Into Binding Agreement for Previously-Announced Acquisition of Noront for C$1.10 per Share (December 22, 2021)

  • BHP elects not to exercise its right to match; Support Agreement with BHP terminated
  • Improved Wyloo Metals offer of C$1.10 in cash per share represents a 358% premium to Noront’s unaffected closing price on May 21, 2021 and a 47% premium to BHP’s C$0.75 per share offer
  • Wyloo Metals’ offer also provides shareholders with the option of retaining some or all of their shares in Noront
  • Noront’s Board of Directors unanimously supports transaction with Wyloo Metals

TORONTO and PERTH, Australia, Dec. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSXV: NOT) and Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd (“Wyloo Metals”) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a binding arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”), pursuant to which Wyloo Metals has agreed to acquire up to all of the outstanding common shares of the Company (each, a “Common Share”)

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NEWS RELEASE: WYLOO METALS TO ACQUIRE NORONT IN TRANSFORMATIONAL DEAL FOR NORTHERN ONTARIO

Wyloo Metals is pleased to announce it will enter into a binding agreement with the Board of Noront Resources Ltd. (TSXV:NOT) (“Noront”) as part of its long-term strategy to responsibly develop the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario.

The announcement is a significant milestone and paves the way for Wyloo Metals to revitalise Noront under the leadership of a new and proven Board of Directors, led by Dr Andrew Forrest AO.

Tattarang Chair Dr Andrew Forrest AO paid tribute to the Wyloo Metals team for recognising the significance of the Ring of Fire and the vital role its deposits will play in securing Canada’s critical metal supply chain.

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NEWS RELEASE: BHP announces it will not match Wyloo’s proposal to acquire Noront

TORONTO and MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 21, 2021 /CNW/ – BHP Lonsdale Investments Pty Ltd (“BHP Lonsdale”), a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP, today announced that it will not increase or extend its offer for Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront”).

BHP Chief Development Officer, Johan van Jaarsveld, said: “BHP is committed to its strict capital discipline framework. While the Eagle’s Nest deposit is a promising resource, we do not see adequate long-term value for BHP shareholders to support an increase in BHP’s offer in order to match the C$1.10 per share proposal from Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd.”

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NEWS RELEASE: Noront Reaches Agreement With Wyloo Metals to Acquire Noront for C$1.10 Per Share (December 21, 2021)

  • Noront Board of Directors unanimously determines improved Wyloo Metals Offer of C$1.10 per share to be a Superior Proposal
  • Improved Wyloo Offer of C$1.10 in cash per share represents a 358% premium to Noront’s unaffected closing price on May 21, 2021 and a 47% premium to BHP’s C$0.75 per share offer
  • BHP has five business days to match Wyloo Metals’ offer

TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSXV: NOT) today announced it has settled an arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd and Wyloo Canada Holdings Pty Ltd (together, “Wyloo Metals”) under which Wyloo Metals has agreed to acquire up to all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Noront (“Common Shares”) that it does not already own, directly or indirectly, for C$1.10 per Common Share by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporation Act (Ontario) (the “Wyloo Offer”).

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NEWS RELEASE: Noront Acknowledges Receipt of Proposal and Draft Transaction Documents From Wyloo Metals (December 14, 2021)

TORONTO, Dec. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSXV: NOT) announces that it has received a non-binding letter dated December 12, 2021, and related draft arrangement agreement and other ancillary transaction documents (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), from Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd and Wyloo Canada Holdings Pty Ltd (together, “Wyloo Metals”) in respect of the Updated Wyloo Proposal (as defined below).

The Transaction Documents outline, among other things, the terms and conditions upon which Wyloo Metals would be prepared to acquire all of the common shares of Noront not already owned by Wyloo Metals for cash consideration of C1.10 per common share of the Company (the “Updated Wyloo Proposal”). The Updated Wyloo Proposal is subject to, among other things, negotiating and executing definitive Transaction Documents with Wyloo Metals.

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BHP extends Noront bid deadline again amid Wyloo talks – by Cecilia Jamasmie (Mining.com – December 3, 2021)

https://www.mining.com/

BHP (ASX, LON, NYSE: BHP) has once again extended the deadline for Noront Resources’ (TSX-V: NOT) investors to accept or refuse its bid from December 14 to January 14, 2022, as talks with rival Wyloo Metals regarding the imminent takeover of the Canadian miner progress.

The world’s largest miner and the Canadian company have also amended a support agreement inked in July and amended on October 19 relating to Noront’s backing of BHP’s offer in order to extend the outside date in that agreement from December 14 to January 21, 2022.

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BHP continues talks with Wyloo on acquiring Noront’s Ring of Fire assets – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – November 24, 2021)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Melbourne miner extending bid offer to mid-December

BHP, the world’s largest mining company, said it needs more time to reach an agreement with rival Wyloo Metals on taking over Noront Resources and its Ring of Fire mineral assets in Ontario’s Far North.

In a news release, BHP said it continues to have discussions with Wyloo Metals, Noront’s largest shareholder at 37 per cent, regarding its potential support of BHP’s C$0.75 per share offer to acquire Noront. Noront is siding with the BHP bid.

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Fortescue Metals Group warns of further iron ore price volatility, Twiggy defends ‘crazy’ green ambitions – by Rebecca Le May (News.com.au – November 9, 2021)

https://www.news.com.au/

Fortescue Metals Group has defended its “crazy” green ambitions, saying the bold plans are a commercial imperative, not just environmental.

The miner’s new Fortescue Future Industries division has been inking deals around the world to look into massive “green” hydrogen and renewable energy projects, with founder and chair Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest flagging potential costs worth more than $US100bn ($134.6bn).

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Orford Mining partners with Wyloo Metals to explore West Raglan in Quebec – by Daniel Sekulich (Northern Miner – November 2021)

Global mining news

Well before Wyloo Metals began its fight with BHP (NYSE: BHP; LSE: BHP; ASX: BHP) for Noront Resources (TSXV: NOT), the Australian company signed a definitive agreement with Toronto-based junior Orford Mining (TSXV: ORM) for its West Raglan nickel project in Quebec’s Nunavik region.

The deal, signed in January, sees Wyloo earning up to 80% of the West Raglan project by spending $25 million on exploration over the next seven years. Wyloo was expected to spend $1 million of the $25 million this year, but has already spent $1.7 million.

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BHP in talks with Wyloo over acquisition of Noront’s Ring of Fire assets – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – November 2, 2021)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

BHP extending the initial expiry of its offer from Nov. 9 to Nov. 16

The two leading Australian bidders for Noront Resources and its Ring of Fire nickel and metal assets are discussing a “mutually beneficial arrangement” regarding the sale of the Far North junior mining company.

Currently, Wyloo Metals, a subsidiary of Tattarang, led by Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest, is the largest shareholder of Noront at 37 per cent.

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Fortescue iron ore shipments hit all-time high – by Michael Philipps (Australian Mining – October 28, 2021)

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Fortescue Metals Group has reported record first quarter iron ore shipments of 45.6 million tonnes (Mt), a three per cent increase on the same period last year.

Ore processed and railed also achieved record first quarter volumes, reflecting strong operational performance across the supply chain and expanded system capacity following the ramp up of Eliwana.

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Tender shares to BHP, Noront Resources tells shareholders – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – October 28, 2021)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Lacking Wyloo counteroffer, deal remains best option for Ring of Fire assets

Noront Resources is urging its shareholders to tender their shares to BHP by Nov. 5, which would give the Australian miner control over a massive undeveloped metals project in the mineral-rich Ring of Fire.

BHP put its latest offer on the table on Oct. 20, increasing its previous bid by 36 per cent and including a 7 per cent premium to that of a rival Australian suitor, Wyloo Metals, which offered $0.70 per share just two days earlier.

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Forrest v BHP may be start of green M&A fights – by James Thomson (Australian Financial Review – October 19, 2021)

https://www.afr.com/

BHP and Andrew Forrest’s battle over a small Canadian nickel hopeful isn’t going to be the last M&A fight sparked by the energy transition.

Tick. Tick. Tick. BHP has just five days to decide whether it wants to try to top Andrew Forrest’s offer for Canadian nickel hopeful Noront Resources, which won the backing of the minnow’s board on Monday night.

The smart money is on the Global Australian striking back, despite the full-court press Forrest has put on the Noront board. BHP chief executive Mike Henry is chasing future-facing commodities hard, and nickel, which is crucial to the production of batteries, is a prime target.

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