About Alexander Ninkov
Alex is a mining, energy and resources sector specialist, with expertise advising Australian and international companies on a range of transactions including M&A, joint venturers, takeovers, commodity offtake agreements, capital markets, and project development and operational maters.
Having worked in both Australia and the UK, Alex has advised on a number of significant cross-border deals across various sectors and jurisdictions.
Significant transactions in which Alex has been involved include advising:
- Liontown Resources Limited: in relation to all aspects of the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project, including takeover defence in connection with Albemarle’s withdrawn $6.6 billion proposed takeover, offtake arrangements with Ford, Tesla and LG, and various strategic matters.
- Newmont Corporation: in relation to the sale of its Telfer mining operation and its 70% interest in the Havieron development project to Greatland Gold for US$475 million, the associated sell-down of its 10.2% stake in Greatland valued at A$440 million as part of Greatland's restructure and listing on the ASX, and a further sell-down of its remaining 9.9% interest in Greatland valued at ~A$200 million to Wyloo.
- Evolution Mining: in relation to its A$603 million acquisition of an 80% in the Northparkes Copper Gold Mine in NSW from CMOC Group Limited and associated offtake arrangements.
- Rio Tinto: in relation to its acquisition, via its participation in the Robe River Iron Ore Associate Joint Venture, of Zanthus Resources' interest in the Yarraloola Iron Ore Project assets.
- St Barbara: in relation to the disposal of a 20% interest in the Simberi Gold Project to Kumul Mineral Holdings Limited for $100 million and associated joint venture arrangements for the development and operation of the Simberi sulphide expansion project.
- Endura Mining: in relation to all aspects of its funding arrangements for the Snowy River Gold Project, including its $150 million private placement and associated strategic matters.
- Sumitomo Corporation: in relation to its joint venture partnership with Tivan Limited for the development of the Speewah Fluorite Project in Western Australia.
- Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan: in relation to the acquisition of a portfolio of lithium, tin and tantalum royalties and critical minerals from RCF and Global Advanced Metals.
- BHP: in relation to its acquisition of Ragnar Metals Sweden AB, a subsidiary of ASX-listed Ragnar Metals, which held several tenements prospective for nickel in Sweden.
- Lotus Resources: in relation to its $76 million placement to support ramp-up to steady state production at its flagship Kayelekera Uranium Mine located in Malawi, Africa.
- Talga: in relation to various capital raisings and associated strategic matters related to its Vittangi graphite mine and associated refinery operations in Sweden.
- Qatar Investment Authority: in relation its joint venture partnership with Enel Green Power to build and operate renewable plants in Sub-Saharan Africa (including the acquisition of 50% of Enel’s stake in approximately 800MW of projects in operation and under construction in South Africa and Zambia).
- Unilever: in relation to the reorganisation of its global tea business and subsequent €4.5 billion divestment to CVC Capital Partners.
- Bayer AG: in relation to its US$875 million acquisition of UK-based biotech KaNDY Therapeutics Ltd to expand its drug development pipeline in women's health.