G+T acts as China's largest battery manufacturer invests in Australian lithium producer

Gilbert + Tobin (G+T) has helped China’s largest battery manufacturer invest in an Australian lithium producer.

The top firm advised Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) in its investment into Pilbara Minerals. CATL is investing $55m into Pilbara Minerals as part of the latter’s $91.5m equity raising.

The deal, which will give CATL an 8.5% stake in Pilbara Minerals, is an important investment for CATL, said Justin Little, the energy and resources partner who jointly headed the G+T team with corporate advisory partner Justin Mannolini. He said that the deal is the start of a long-term strategic partnership between CATL and Pilbara Minerals.

“This transaction is representative of G + T’s extensive experience in the emergence of the battery minerals sector, having acted on transactions involving all segments of the lithium supply chain,” he said.

Little and Mannolini were supported by senior associate Matt Watkins and lawyers Amelia Arndt and Melissa Haddad.

CATL is said to be the leading manufacturer of electric-vehicle batteries for numerous global brands including Toyota, BWM, Volkswagen, and Honda. G+T said that Pilbara Minerals is a emerging Australian lithium producer. It owns the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project, which is one of the largest lithium ore deposits in the world.