KWM advises Glencore on dual acquisition of coal assets valued at $US1.7 billion

King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has advised Glencore on its acquisition of the Hail Creek Coal mine, and the Valeria coal development project. 

The acquisition will see Glencore take hold of an 82 % share in the Hail Creek Coal Mine and a 71.2 % share in the Valeria coal project, both located in Queensland's Bowen Basin. 

Hail Creek is a large-scale, long-life and low-cost mine producing two-thirds premium quality hard coking coal and one-third thermal coal for export.  The Valeria thermal coal deposit has JORC resources of 762 million tonnes. 

The KWM deal team was led by Partner Nicholas Pappas along with Tim Sherman and Katrina Parkyn (Tax), Wayne Leach (Competition), and Malcolm Brennan (FIRB). They were supported by Senior Associates James Darch, Victoria Lanyon, Rob McEvoy, and Marissa Todkill, Solicitors Will Mason and Lara Moreton and Law Graduate Ingrid Wright. 

Commenting on the deal Partner Nicholas Pappas said: 

"We were very pleased to assist Glencore reach agreement to acquire two significant assets that will contribute to the growth of their Australian coal business. This deal demanded a holistic team that could advise across a diverse range of legal aspects." 

KWM has long acted for Glencore on some of its most strategic and high profile M&A matters including the Evolution Mining Agreement and the $1.14 billion sale of its Glencore Rail (GRail) coal haulage business to US-based Genesee & Wyoming (GWA).