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☆ Tycoon’s lithium grab leaves investors hanging
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australia’s richest person has stifled Albemarle’s (ALB.N) A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) pursuit of lithium producer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) with deft use of the country’s takeover rules. At A$3 a share, the offer represented a near-100% premium to Liontown’s undisturbed price. And because she never paid more than the A$3 a share Albemarle put on the table, her share purchases did not count as a superior offer. CONTEXT NEWSU.S.-based lithium producer Albemarle on Oct. 16 said it has abandoned its A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) offer for smaller Australian rival Liontown Resources, citing “growing complexities associated with the proposed transaction” as a reason. The firm said that in building its stake it never paid more than A$3 per share, the same price as Albemarle’s takeover offer.

Persons: Gina Rinehart, Kent Masters, Rinehart, Albemarle, Masters, Liontown, Kathleen, It’s, Hancock, Lisa Jucca, Katrina Hamlin, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Liontown, Kent, Liontown Resources, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, Hancock, Liontown

☆ Albemarle pushed into corner, dumps $4.2 billion lithium play for Liontown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMELBOURNE, Oct 16 (Reuters) - U.S.-based miner Albemarle (ALB.N) said it had dumped a A$6.6 billion ($4.16 billion) buyout bid for Australian lithium developer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX), in part because of "growing complexities" around the transaction. Liontown went into trading halt just after making the announcement to the market, pending a finalisation of funding for its flagship Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia, which is due to start producing lithium next year. Liontown had last week granted the world's biggest lithium chemical maker an extra week to examine its books and allow Albemarle to put forward a binding offer. "Our engagement with the Liontown team has been meaningful and productive. Hancock has not yet approached Liontown which until now has been under an exclusivity deal with Albemarle, the source added.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Albemarle, Hancock, Gina Rinehart, Liontown, Kathleen Valley, Kent Masters, Melanie Burton, Scott Murdoch, Rishav Chatterjee, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Liontown Resources, Ford Motor, LG Energy, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Albemarle, Western Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Albemarle jumps into global race to reinvent lithium production
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. Already the world's largest lithium producer, a successful move into the DLE sector would likely cement Albemarle's dominance in the fast-growing industry amid the push to electrify the global economy. DLE technologies vary, but they each aim to roughly double lithium extraction rates from brine deposits compared to traditional evaporation ponds. No DLE technology has reached commercial production without the use of those ponds, though, sparking a global race to be the first. If the tests are successful, the company could essentially bolt on DLE equipment to its bromine operations.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Kent Masters, Albemarle, Masters, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, General Motors, Ford, Tetra Technologies, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Albemarle, Arkansas

May 4 (Reuters) - Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) is open to renegotiating its Chile lithium contract before 2043 and would seek access to even more of the country's vast reserves of the metal used to make electric vehicle batteries, CEO Kent Masters told Reuters on Thursday. Albemarle and SQM's contracts only grant access to the Atacama salt flats, or salars, but Boric hopes to open up many other salars across his country for lithium production, a step that will require DLE technologies. Many DLE technologies use lots of potable water and electricity, a limitation that Albemarle has acknowledged and one it is working to limit. Chile and Albemarle could cement their dominant role in the global lithium and EV industries if they can get one or more DLE technology to succeed. Masters declined to comment on Australian lithium developer's Liontown Resources Ltd (LTR.AX) rejection in March of Albemarle's $3.7 billion takeover bid.

[1/2] Lithium evaporation ponds are seen at Albemarle Lithium production facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S. October 6, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaMay 3 (Reuters) - Lithium producer Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) cut its annual profit forecast on Wednesday despite posting a better-than-expected quarterly earnings, citing softening prices for the metal used to make electric vehicle batteries. For the year, Albemarle cut its sales forecast to a range of $9.8 billion to $11.5 billion, from a prior forecast of $11.3 billion to $12.9 billion. The adjusted earnings forecast was trimmed to a range of $3.3 billion to $4 billion, from a prior $4.2 billion to $5.1 billion. Australian officials said earlier on Wednesday that Albemarle had agreed to spend $1 billion to expand lithium processing facilities in Western Australia.

☆ Stocks making the biggest premarket moves: Coca-Cola, First Solar, C3.ai and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

First Solar — Shares dropped 2.5% in the premarket following a downgrade by Citi to sell from neutral. Credit Suisse — U.S.-listed shares of the Swiss bank gained about 2% in the premarket. Credit Suisse said it experienced net asset outflows of 61.2 billion Swiss francs ($68 billion) during the first quarter. However, it reported 12.43 billion Swiss franc profit for the quarter thanks to the write-off of 15 billion Swiss francs of AT1 bonds. Albemarle — Shares of the mining company gained nearly 3% in premarket trading, trimming Albemarle's losses from last week.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Fox, Albemarle, First Republic and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

People walk by the News Corporation headquarters, home to Fox News, on April 18, 2023 in New York City. First Solar – Shares of the solar company lost 3.2% after a Citi downgrade to sell cited margin risks and concerns that Inflation Reduction Act benefits are already reflected in the share price. Medtronic — Shares added 4% during midday trading after being upgraded to overweight from equal weight by Wells Fargo on Sunday. Sunrun , Enphase Energy — Shares of Sunrun and Enphase Energy were higher Monday after Citi added positive catalyst watches on the solar companies, saying it sees further share gains. The Wall Street bank opened a 90-day positive catalyst watch on Enphase Energy, citing a strong backlog and expectations for record-high margins.

☆ Albemarle CEO Kent Masters explains Chile's push to nationalize the country's lithium
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAlbemarle CEO Kent Masters explains Chile's push to nationalize the country's lithiumKent Masters, CEO of Albemarle, discusses a new push from the Chilean government to control new contracts for lithium mines. Hosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC.

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Lithium giant Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) expects China's electric vehicle (EV) market to grow 40% this year, or at least by 3 million vehicles, boosting demand for the battery metal in the world's largest auto market. China's government has been phasing out subsidies for EVs, but Albemarle said so far those steps have had only a "limited impact" on EV demand. Executives attributed weak Chinese auto sales data in January to the Lunar New Year holiday. Chinese lithium customers are not slowing orders and the country's stockpiles of cathodes and battery parts are decreasing, a harbinger of demand for the battery metal, executives said. The company is also in "active discussions" about restructuring its MRBL joint venture in Australia with Mineral Resources Ltd (MIN.AX).

☆ Albemarle CEO Kent Masters on surging lithium demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAlbemarle CEO Kent Masters on surging lithium demandAlbemarle CEO Kent Masters joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss volume driven by electric vehicle growth, surging lithium demand, and the evolving landscape for battery supply chains.

President Joe Biden last week doled out $2.8 billion to miners developing new U.S. sources of lithium, nickel, copper and other EV minerals, as well as battery parts manufacturers and recyclers. Those grants followed August's Inflation Reduction Act, which links EV tax credits to minerals extracted domestically or from 20 allies. "People have a misconception about how quickly we can get mines up and running given the U.S. permitting process," said Megan O'Connor, Nth Cycle's CEO. "Hopefully, they'll give us some help and fast track some of the permitting process," said Kent Masters, Albemarle's CEO. The yawning divide between America and China's approaches to funding the EV supply chain is now a top concern for many policymakers and their advisers in the nation's capital.

☆ Lithium supply-demand imbalance stays like it is for an extended period, says Albemarle CEO
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLithium supply-demand imbalance stays like it is for an extended period, says Albemarle CEOKent Masters, Albemarle Corporation CEO, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss lithium's ability to keep up with investments, how North American lithium investment compares to Australia and China, and more.

A sacks of lithium carbonate is seen at Albemarle Lithium production facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S. October 6, 2022. The European Commission is weighing a proposal by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that would classify lithium carbonate, chloride and hydroxide as dangerous for human health. Albemarle has been lobbying against the proposed rules, but believes that they're likely to be approved, Kent Masters, Albemarle's CEO, said in an interview. Albemarle had warned earlier this year that the regulations might force it to close a processing plant in Germany. Europe produces very little lithium and must import the metal to processing facilities such as Albemarle's.

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