AVZ shareholder, Huayou, is a Chinese listed company with a market cap of A$9.4b, major cobalt supply, operating in DRC. In August 2017, Huayou reported to expand its lithium battery business.
Ningbo Shanshan (MC:A$5b), a Chinese listed company, main supplier of lithium battery material.
Ningbo Shanshan, was competing with TianQi (own 51% of Greenbushes li deposit), to acquire 1/3 stake in SQM for US$1.5 billion in 2016, but the deal fell through.
Back in July 2017, Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital was looking to buy a 20% stake in SQM for US$1.9 billion. Later in August, Nissan sold its battery business to GSR Capital for approximately US$1 billion.
There are quite a few large Chinese companies interested in acquiring lithium deposits, DRC, is not a bad country for Chinese companies.
China Molybdenum Co., Ltd (“CMOC”) acquired 56% interest in Tenke Fungurume in DRC for US$2.65 billion.
AVZ's lithium deposit is shadow and high grade (not as high as Greenbushes), but likely to be the world's largest.
Should attract some suitors, imo.
Expand
