Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Albemarle Corporation presented its financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024, highlighting several critical aspects of the company's operations, financial health, and market dynamics.</li><li>The fourth quarter saw Albemarle reporting net sales of $1.2 billion, although this marked a decline primarily attributed to lower lithium market pricing.</li><li>Nevertheless, the company achieved a positive milestone with an adjusted EBITDA of $251 million, showing enhancements in productivity, cost efficiency, and sales volumes across its business segments.</li></ul>

Albemarle Corporation presented its financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024, highlighting several critical aspects of the company's operations, financial health, and market dynamics.The fourth quarter saw Albemarle reporting net sales of $1.2 billion, although this marked a decline primarily attributed to lower lithium market pricing.Nevertheless, the company achieved a positive milestone with an adjusted EBITDA of $251 million, showing enhancements in productivity, cost efficiency, and sales volumes across its business segments.

Albemarle Corporation: These Recent Lithium Market Shifts & Diversification Moves Could Reshape Its Future!

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 9th October, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a> reached an agreement to buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40438:1" rel="noopener">Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU/ALTM US)</a> for US$5.85/share (~A$8.70/share), a ~90% premium to undisturbed.</li>
<li>The proxy statement is now out, with a Scheme Meeting scheduled for 23 December. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025. The long stop is the 9th October 2025.</li>
<li>Trading wide-ish at a gross spread of 11.9%, reflecting the timing to secure regulatory approvals - notably from China - as opposed the Offer Price being viewed as opportunistic.</li>
</ul>


Back on the 9th October, Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) reached an agreement to buy Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU/ALTM US) for US$5.85/share (~A$8.70/share), a ~90% premium to undisturbed.
The proxy statement is now out, with a Scheme Meeting scheduled for 23 December. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025. The long stop is the 9th October 2025.
Trading wide-ish at a gross spread of 11.9%, reflecting the timing to secure regulatory approvals - notably from China - as opposed the Offer Price being viewed as opportunistic.


Rio Tinto/Arcadium: Trading Wide Ahead Of 23rd Dec Vote

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc-2f9bfa3a-65a7-41f9-a157-e59603846420" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40439:1" rel="noopener">Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US)</a> scheme meeting relating to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a>’s US$5.85 offer is on 23 December. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025.</li>
<li>The high current 12.3% spread reflects risk related to regulatory and shareholder approvals. The numerous required regulatory approvals pose a risk to completion and/or timing.  </li>
<li>Despite depressed lithium prices, the offer remains unattractive on several fronts. Blackwattle, which opposes the offer, could rally others to force a bump. Rio conceding to a bump is uncertain. </li>
</ul>


The Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US) scheme meeting relating to Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)’s US$5.85 offer is on 23 December. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025.
The high current 12.3% spread reflects risk related to regulatory and shareholder approvals. The numerous required regulatory approvals pose a risk to completion and/or timing.  
Despite depressed lithium prices, the offer remains unattractive on several fronts. Blackwattle, which opposes the offer, could rally others to force a bump. Rio conceding to a bump is uncertain. 


Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US/LTM AU): Scheme Vote on 23 December as Risks Mount

<ul><li>Albemarle Corporation's Q3 2024 earnings demonstrated strong execution with volumetric growth in its Energy Storage division and year-over-year EBITDA growth in its Specialties and Ketjen segments.</li><li>The company's liquidity and leverage metrics are strong, with Albemarle maintaining leverage well below covenant limits and demonstrating operating cash conversion of over 100%.</li><li>Baptista Research looks to evaluate the different factors that could influence the company's price in the near future and attempts to carry out an independent valuation of the company using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology.</li></ul>

Albemarle Corporation's Q3 2024 earnings demonstrated strong execution with volumetric growth in its Energy Storage division and year-over-year EBITDA growth in its Specialties and Ketjen segments.The company's liquidity and leverage metrics are strong, with Albemarle maintaining leverage well below covenant limits and demonstrating operating cash conversion of over 100%.Baptista Research looks to evaluate the different factors that could influence the company's price in the near future and attempts to carry out an independent valuation of the company using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology.

Albemarle Corporation: Will Its Volume Growth & Asset Utilization Help Bring A Shift In The Competitive Dynamics? - Major Drivers

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a> has reached an agreement to buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40438:1" rel="noopener">Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)</a>/<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcadium-lithium-plc-2f9bfa3a-65a7-41f9-a157-e59603846420" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40439:1" rel="noopener">(ALTM US)</a> for US$5.85/share (~A$8.70/share), a ~90% premium to the October 4th closing price of $US3.08/share.</li>
<li>Terms remain below where Arcadium was trading back in January of this year. But it is perhaps disingenuous to call the Offer Price opportunistic. More a counter-cyclical move.</li>
<li>The Scheme Offer is subject to a 75% shareholder vote and minimal regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025. The long stop is the 9th October 2025.</li>
</ul>



Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) has reached an agreement to buy Arcadium Lithium (LTM AU)/(ALTM US) for US$5.85/share (~A$8.70/share), a ~90% premium to the October 4th closing price of $US3.08/share.
Terms remain below where Arcadium was trading back in January of this year. But it is perhaps disingenuous to call the Offer Price opportunistic. More a counter-cyclical move.
The Scheme Offer is subject to a 75% shareholder vote and minimal regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025. The long stop is the 9th October 2025.


Rio Tinto/Arcadium: More Brine To Compliment Rocks

United States

Albemarle Corporation produces specialty and fine chemicals.  The Company's chemicals are additives to or intermediates for plastics, polymers and elastomers, cleaning products, agricultural compounds, pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, drilling compounds, and biocides.  Albemarle produces the majority of its products in the United States.

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Albemarle Corp (ALB US)

Albemarle Corporation: These Recent Lithium Market Shifts & Diversification Moves Could Reshape Its Future!

Albemarle Corporation presented its financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024, highlighting several critical aspects of...

Baptista Research

Rio Tinto/Arcadium: Trading Wide Ahead Of 23rd Dec Vote

This looks done. Trading at a 11.9%/20.5% gross/annualised return, assuming mid 2025 completion. That looks attractive. The key risk is one of...

David Blennerhassett

Arcadium Lithium (ALTM US/LTM AU): Scheme Vote on 23 December as Risks Mount

A tempting wide gross spread comes with a health warning due to a long-dated offer with potential regulatory and shareholder approvals risks.

Arun George

Albemarle Corporation: Will Its Volume Growth & Asset Utilization Help Bring A Shift In The Competitive Dynamics? - Major Drivers

Albemarle Corporation's Q3 2024 earnings demonstrated strong execution with volumetric growth in its Energy Storage division and year-over-year...

Baptista Research

Rio Tinto/Arcadium: More Brine To Compliment Rocks

This looks done.Trading at a 6.1%/8.6% gross/annualised return using mid 2025 completion. That's okay. Not super attractive. Additionally, run a...

David Blennerhassett

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