UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13E-3

(Amendment No. 4)

RULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 13(e)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd.

(Name of the Issuer)

 

 

Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd.

Rio Tinto plc

Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited

7999674 Canada Inc.

46117 Yukon Inc.

535630 Yukon Inc.

(Names of Persons Filing Statement)

Common Shares, without par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

900435108

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

 

Dustin Isaacs

Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd.

Suite 3680 – 1

Place Ville Marie, Montreal,

Quebec H3B 3P2, Canada,

+1 514-848-1567

 

Steven Allen

Company Secretary

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James’s Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

+44 (0) 20 7781 2000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

With copies to

 

Adam Givertz

Ian Hazlett

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

+1 212-373-3000

 

Alex Moore

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

199 Bay St.,

Suite 4000

Toronto, Ontario

M5L 1A9

+1 416-863-2400

 

Steve Malas

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

1 Place Ville Marie

Montreal, Quebec

H3B 1R1

+1 514-847-4747

 

Shea Small

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Box 48, Suite 5300

TD Bank Tower

Toronto, Ontario

M5K 1E6

+1 416-362-1812

 

Scott Miller

Sullivan &

Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York

10004

+1 212-558-4000

 

 

This statement is filed in connection with (check the appropriate box):

 

a. 

      The filing of solicitation materials or an information statement subject to Regulation 14A (§§240.14a-1 through 240.14b-2), Regulation 14C (§§240.14c-1 through 240.14c-101) or Rule 13e-3(c) (§240.13e-3(c)) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“the Act”).

b. 

      The filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

c. 

      A tender offer.

d. 

      None of the above.

Check the following box if the soliciting materials or information statement referred to in checking box (a) are preliminary copies:  ☐

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the transaction:  ☐

 

 

 


INTRODUCTION

This Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13E-3 (together with the exhibits hereto, this “Amended Schedule 13E-3” or “Amended Transaction Statement”), which amends and supplements the Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 29, 2022 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13E-3, filed with the SEC on October 12, 2022, Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13E-3, filed with the SEC on November 3, 2022 and Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13E-3, filed with the SEC on November 21, 2022, together, the “Initial Schedule 13E-3”), is being filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”), jointly by the following persons (each, a “Filing Person,” and collectively, the “Filing Persons”): (i) Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (formerly Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.), a corporation continued under the laws of Yukon, Canada and the issuer of the common shares, no par value (the “Shares”) that is subject to the Rule 13e-3 transaction (“Turquoise Hill” or the “Corporation”); (ii) Rio Tinto plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “Parent”); (iii) Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“RTIH” or the “Purchaser”); (iv) 7999674 Canada Inc., a company incorporated under the federal laws of Canada (“7999674 Inc.”); (v) 46117 Yukon Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of Yukon, Canada (“46117 Inc.”); and (vi) 535630 Yukon Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of Yukon, Canada (“535630 Inc.” and, together with the Parent, the Purchaser, 7999674 Inc. and 46117 Inc., the “Rio Tinto Filers”).

On September 5, 2022 the Corporation, the Purchaser and the Parent entered into an Arrangement Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Arrangement Agreement”), which provides for, among other things, the acquisition by the Purchaser, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent, of all of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation that the Parent or its affiliates do not directly or indirectly own for C$43.00 in cash per Share (the “Consideration”) through a Plan of Arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”) pursuant to Section 195 of the Business Corporations Act (Yukon) (“YBCA”), pursuant to which the Corporation would become an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent (the “Arrangement”). A copy of the Plan of Arrangement is included as Appendix B to the Management Proxy Circular, which is attached as Exhibit (a)(2)(i) hereto (the “Circular”). A special meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders (the “Meeting”) was initially called for November 1, 2022 to consider and, if thought advisable, pass a special resolution approving the Arrangement in the form attached as Appendix A to the Circular (the “Arrangement Resolution”). The Corporation previously determined to postpone the Meeting, and correspondingly the deadline for the Shareholders to validly exercise Dissent Rights in connection with the Arrangement and the deadline for the submission of proxies by the Shareholders. The Circular has been provided to the Corporation’s shareholders pursuant to applicable Canadian law.

The Circular is supplemented by the supplement, dated November 24, 2022, to the Circular, which supplement is attached as Exhibit (a)(2)(vii) (the “Circular Supplement”). Pursuant to an amended interim order issued by the Supreme Court of Yukon on November 24, 2022 (the “Amended Interim Order”), the Meeting will be held on December 9, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. (Montréal time). On November 24, 2022, the Corporation, the Purchaser and the Parent entered into an amendment to the Arrangement Agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement Amendment”), in order to amend the Plan of Arrangement and give effect to the Irrevocable Commitments (as defined in the Circular Supplement). A copy of the Arrangement Agreement Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit (d)(vii).

The cross-references in this Amended Transaction Statement are being supplied pursuant to General Instruction F to Schedule 13E-3 and show the location in the Circular Supplement of information required to be included in response to the items of Schedule 13E-3. Pursuant to General Instruction F to Schedule 13E-3, the information contained in the Circular Supplement, including all appendices thereto, is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety and the responses to each item in this Amended Transaction Statement are qualified in their entirety by the information contained in the Circular Supplement and the appendices thereto. Capitalized terms used but not expressly defined in this Amended Schedule 13E-3 are given the respective meanings given to them in the Circular or the Initial Schedule 13E-3, as applicable.

All information set forth in this Amended Transaction Statement should be read together with the information contained or incorporated by reference in the Initial Schedule 13E-3.

 

2


All information contained in, or incorporated by reference to, this Amended Transaction Statement concerning each Filing Person has been supplied by such Filing Person.

Item 4. Terms of the Transaction

Item 4 of the Initial Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:

(a)(2) Mergers or Similar Transactions.

The disclosure set forth in Items 4(d) and 8(a) of this Amended Schedule 13E-3 is hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, the information set forth in the Circular Supplement under following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

“Order Amending the Interim Order

(c) Different Terms.

The disclosure set forth in Items 4(d) and 8(a) of this Amended Schedule 13E-3 is hereby incorporated by reference.

(d) Appraisal Rights.

The information set forth in the Circular Supplement under following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

“2. Irrevocable Commitments”

“5. Deadline for Dissent Notices”

“8. Dissenting Shareholders’ Rights”

“9. Background to the Irrevocable Commitments”

Item 5. Past Contracts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements

Item 5 of the Initial Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:

(e) Agreements Involving the Subject Company’s Securities.

The disclosure set forth in Items 4(d) and 8(a) of this Amended Schedule 13E-3 is hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 8. Fairness of the Transaction

Item 8 of the Initial Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:

(a), (b) Fairness; Factors Considered in Determining Fairness.

The disclosure set forth in Item 4(d) of this Schedule 13E-3 is hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, the information set forth in the Circular Supplement under following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

“10. Recommendation of the Special Committee and the Board”

Item 12. The Solicitation or Recommendation

Item 12 of the Initial Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:

 

3


(e) Recommendation of Others

The information set forth in the Circular Supplement under following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

“10. Recommendation of the Special Committee and the Board”

Item 15. Additional Information

Item 15 of the Initial Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:

(c) Other Material Information.

The entirety of the Circular Supplement, including all appendices thereto, is incorporated by reference herein.

 

4


Item 16. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 

Exhibit

No.

   Description

(a)(2)(i)*

   Management Information Circular of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated September 27, 2022

(a)(2)(ii)*

   Form of Proxy Card

(a)(2)(iii)*

   Voting Instruction Form

(a)(2)(iv)*

   Letter of Transmittal

(a)(2)(v)*

   Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to the Circular)

(a)(2)(vi)*

   Letter to Shareholders of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to the Circular)

(a)(2)(vii)

   Supplement dated November 24, 2022 to the Management Information Circular dated September 27, 2022

(a)(2)(viii)

   Dissent Election Form

(a)(5)(i)*

   Press release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated September  5, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on September 6, 2022)

(a)(5)(ii)*

   Press release of Rio Tinto plc dated September  6, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit B to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on September 6, 2022)

(a)(5)(iii)*

   Other Shareholder Materials

(a)(5)(iv)*

   Press release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated September  29, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on September 29, 2022)

(a)(5)(v)*

   Press release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated October  4, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on October 4, 2022)

(a)(5)(vi) *

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated October  12, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on October 12, 2022)

(a)(5)(vii) *

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated October  19, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on October 19, 2022)

(a)(5)(viii) *

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated October  24, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on October 24, 2022)

(a)(5)(ix) *

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated October  26, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on October 26, 2022)

 

5


(a)(5)(x) *

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated October  31, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on October 31, 2022)

(a)(5)(xi)*

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated November  1, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on November 1, 2022)

(a)(5)(xii) *

   Press Release of Rio Tinto plc dated November  1, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit C to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 2, 2022)

(a)(5)(xiii)*

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated November  2, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on November 2, 2022)

(a)(5)(xiv) *

   Press Release of Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited dated November  17, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit C to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 17, 2022)

(a)(5)(xv) *

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated November  18, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on November 18, 2022)

(a)(5)(xvi)

   Press Release of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. dated November  24, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on November 25, 2022)

(c)(i)*

   Formal Valuation and Fairness Opinion of TD Securities Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix C to the Circular)

(c)(ii)*

   Fairness Opinions of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix D to the Circular)

(c)(iii)**

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on June 27, 2022

(c)(iv)*

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on July 11, 2022

(c)(v)*

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on July 14, 2022

(c)(vi)*

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on August 7, 2022

(c)(vii)*

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on August 8, 2022

(c)(viii)*

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on August 25, 2022

(c)(ix)*

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on August 30, 2022

(c)(x)*

   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on August 31, 2022

 

6


(c)(xi)*   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to the Special Committee on September 5, 2022
(c)(xii)*   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by TD Securities Inc. to the Special Committee on June 27, 2022
(c)(xiii)*   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by TD Securities Inc. to the Special Committee on July 6, 2022
(c)(xiv)*   Special Committee Discussion Materials Provided by TD Securities Inc. to the Special Committee on August 31, 2022
(d)(i)*   Arrangement Agreement dated September  5, 2022, among Turquoise Hill Resources, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Rio Tinto plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on September 6, 2022)
(d)(ii)*   Form of Voting Agreement entered into severally by Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited, on the one hand, and each of Maryse Saint-Laurent, Peter Gillen, Russel Robertson, George Burns, Caroline Donally, Steve Thibeault, Luke Colton, Jo-Anne Dudley, Dustin Isaacs and Roy McDowall, on the other hand (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit E to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on September 6, 2022)
(d)(iii)*   Agreement, dated November  1, 2022, among Pentwater Capital Management LP and the other parties listed on Schedule A thereto, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Rio Tinto Plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 1, 2022)
(d)(iv)*   Agreement, dated November  1, 2022, among Sailingstone Capital Partners LLC and the other the parties listed on Schedule A thereto, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Rio Tinto Plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit B to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 1, 2022)
(d)(v)*   Termination Agreement, dated November  17, 2022, among Pentwater Capital Management LP and the other parties listed on Schedule A thereto, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Rio Tinto Plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 17, 2022)
(d)(vi)*   Termination Agreement, dated November  17, 2022, among Sailingstone Capital Partners LLC and the other the parties listed on Schedule A thereto, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Rio Tinto Plc (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit B to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 17, 2022)
(d)(vii)   Amendment No. 1 to the Arrangement Agreement, dated November 24, 2022, among Turquoise Hill Resources, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Rio Tinto plc
(e)(i)*   Third Amended and Restated Heads of Agreement between Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd., dated September 5, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit C to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on September 6, 2022)
(e)(ii)*   Early Advance Funding Agreement between Cuprum Metals Pte Ltd, Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. and Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited, dated September 5, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit D to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on September 6, 2022)

 

7


(e)(iii)*   Binding Term Sheet between Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. and Rio Tinto plc through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited dated August 31, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on August 31, 2022)
(e)(iv)*   Amended and Restated Heads of Agreement between Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd., dated May  18, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on May 19, 2022)
(e)(v)*   Amended and Restated Heads of Agreement between Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd., dated January 24, 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on January 25, 2022)
(e)(vi)*   Heads of Agreement between Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd., dated April  9, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Rio Tinto Filers’ amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on April 9, 2021)
(f)(i)*   Interim Order (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix E to the Circular)
(f)(ii)*   Section  193 of the Yukon Business Corporation Act – Rights of Dissenting Shareholders (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix G to the Circular)
(f)(iii)   Amended Interim Order (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix B to the Circular Supplement)
107*   Filing Fee Table

 

*

Previously filed.

**

Certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted and separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 

8


SIGNATURES

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LTD.
By:  /s/ Steve Thibeault
Name: Steve Thibeault
Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 25, 2022

 

9


After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

RIO TINTO PLC
By:  /s/ Steven Allen
Name: Steven Allen
Title: Company Secretary
Date: November 25, 2022

 

10


After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

RIO TINTO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Steven Allen

Name: Steven Allen
Title: Director

Date: November 25, 2022

 

11


After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

7999674 CANADA INC.
By:  

/s/ Steven Allen

Name: Steven Allen
Title: Director

Date: November 25, 2022

 

12


After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

46117 YUKON INC.
By:  

/s/ Steven Allen

Name: Steven Allen
Title: Director

Date: November 25, 2022

 

13


After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

535630 YUKON INC.
By:  

/s/ Steven Allen

Name: Steven Allen
Title: Director

Date: November 25, 2022

 

14

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