中国核电站主要运营商之一的中国广东核电集团（“中广核”）欲以12.3亿美元收购Kalahari Minerals（“Kalahari”）。Kalahari是一家在纳米比亚开采铀、金、铜及其他基底金属的矿业公司，该公司已先后在英国伦敦证券交易所AIM板及纳米比亚证券交易所上市。
观韬为中广核提供中国法方面的法律服务，同时Ashurst香港法律团队会在融资、英国法及美国法方面提供法律服务，Minter Ellison负责提供澳大利亚法方面的法律服务。而Kalahari则选择长期法律顾问伦敦的Lawrence Graham.
关于本项交易，Ashurst香港办事处的公司法合伙人Robert Ogilvy Watson表示：“我们很高兴能够参与本项重大交易，如顺利完成，本项交易将成为中国国有企业对英国上市公司的第二例收购。中广核正处在中国由对化石燃料的依赖转向清洁能源的最前沿，同时也反映出能源领域境外投资的上升趋势。
China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Corporation (CGNPC), one of the largest state-owned nuclear power producers in PRC, has made a US$1.23bn bid for Namibian miner Kalahari Minerals Plc (KAH).
KAH, which is dual-listed on London’s AIM and Namibia’s NSX, is a resource company with a focus on uranium, gold, and copper.
A Guantao team comprising Su Yusong, Guan Yue and led by partner Sun Shaosong acted for CGNPC on PRC matters, while Ashurst—the lead counsel on the deal—provided English and US law aspects. The firm’s advisory team was led by Hong Kong-based partners Robert Ogilvy Watson, and included partners Matthias Schemuth and Stuart Rubin, and London-based partners Adrian Clark and Mark Vickers.
Minter Ellison provided Australian law advice to CGNPC, while KAH turned to long-time counsel Lawrence Graham for English law advice.
According to Ashurst’s Ogilvy Watson, the transaction, if it completes, will be only the second acquisition of a UK-listed company by a Chinese SOE. "CGNPC is at the forefront of China’s diversification from its reliance on fossil fuel sources towards clean energy and is part of the growing trend towards outbound investment in the energy sector,” he said. Ogilvy Watson served as secretary to the UK Takeover Panel from 2002 to 2004.
The proposal is subject to regulatory approvals from China and UK authorities, and also requires approval from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) as CGNPC is seeking relief from ASIC to acquire a relevant interest in more than 20 per cent of Extract Resources, an Australian Uranium explorer in which KAH holds a 43% stake.
The PRC currently has 13 nuclear power reactors spread out over 4 separate sites (Daya Bay, Qinshan, Tianwan, and Ling Ao). From 2011 to 2015, China will launch nuclear energy projects with a combined generation capacity of 40 million kw, according to the government's draft 12th Five-Year Plan published one week ago.ALB
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