CIP was established in 2005 by Adam Rankine-Wilson, Alec Pismiris and Gavin Argyle with the following goals in mind:

• Control the choice of its acquisitions
• Raise capital
• Make the appropriate management and board appointments

To begin the process, CIP practices a diligent, prudent, and meticulous screening approach, including due consideration of market outlook, in its Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) services. CIP’s approach and discipline allows our co-investors to capitalise on growth and value opportunities including:

2005 – CIP investors took control of Wave Capital Limited, conducted capital raisings and attracted Michael O’Keeffe as Managing Director joining immediately after his departure as Managing Director of Glencore Australia. Wave Capital Limited changed its name to Riversdale Mining Limited (ASX:RIV). in 2013, Riversdale Mining Limited was taken over for A$3.9 Billion.

2006 – CIP investors took control of St Francis Mining Limited which changed its name to Sundance Resources’ (ASX:SDL). CIP was the corporate advisor and deal originator to the acquisition of the Mbalam project. CIP sourced the deal and advised Sundance on the acquisition, subsequently raising more than $50m to fund the acquisition, exploration and studies of the project. In 2012, Sundance was subject to a A$1.3 Billion takeover bid.

2007 – CIP investors took control of Paladio Group Limited (ASX:PDO). CIP attracted Dick Wright the previous Managing Director of Fluor Daniel Australia and recent Executive Chairman of Adrail during construction of the Darwin to Alice Springs railway. CIP raised capital, the corporate advisor and deal originator engineered the $50m reverse takeover of Decmil by Paladio. Decmil (ASX:DCG) enjoyed significant growth and in 2011 Decmil’s market capitalisation reached $400 Million.

2008 - CIP investors acquired the Vista Coal Project for C$18 Million and vended it into Xenolith Gold Limited and changed its name to Coalspur Mines (ASX:CPL) and raised capital for Coalspur. In 2010, CPL’s market capitalisation exceeded A$1Billion.

2010 – CIP investors established Cannington Coal and was corporate advisor to the acquisition of the Hannington project located in Alberta, Canada with 133Mt of surface coal.

2011 - CIP investors established NWP Coal Canada Pty Ltd, which acquired the Crown Mountain Coking Coal project and vended NWP Coal Canada into Jameson Resources (ASX: JAL). CIP attracted David Fawcett and Art Palm to the board. David Fawcett was the recipient of the 2015 CAC Award of Distinction. In 2018, Jameson entered into a tranche funding arrangement which totals C$121.5 million with Bathurst Resources Limited (ASX:BRL). After all tranches expended, Crown Mountain will be a 50/50 joint venture between Jameson and Bathurst. The PFS update has FOB cash cost of US$75 for 1.7 Million tonne per annum of premium HCC product. Jameson expects first coal production by late 2020.

2011 - Corporate Advisor for Wah Nam International Holdings (HKEX: 0159) A$220 Million reverse share takeover of Brockman Resources Limited (ASX:BCK). CIP was awarded the Corporate Deal of the Year (FY 2011/12) at the Western Australian Capital Market Awards.

2012 – CIP investors established Blairmore Coal and CIP was the corporate advisor on the acquisition of the Cat Mountain project located in Alberta, Canada with significant surface coal. Blairmore tenements include the surface coal that is adjacent (to the east) of Atrum Coal Ltd (ASX:ATU) market capitalisation of A$150 Million. Blairmore tenements have the same coal seams and are several kilometres north east of Riversdale Resources Limited’s Grassy Mountain.

2012 - CIP investors established Phalanx Coal and CIP is the corporate advisor on the acquisition of the Ram River East and Clearwater projects located in Alberta, Canada with total historical 100m tonnes of coking coal resource of significant surface coal. Phalanx tenements are adjacent to Ram River Coal Project.

2012 – CIP investors established and CIP is the corporate advisor to Oros Coal on the acquisition of coking coal project being TVI Nordegg, Bighorn, Alexo Saunders, Ram River West, Haven Creek and Scurry South projects located in Alberta, Canada with a combined historical coking coal resource of 564 Million tonnes.

2013 – CIP introduced and presented Consol Energy’s Grassy Mountain (Coking) Coal Project to Riversdale Resources Limited which it acquired for US$24 Million. In 2019, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd acquired 100% of the shares of Riversdale Resources for A$900 Million.

2013 - Corporate advisor and deal originator of the acquisition of Ram River Coal Project from Consol Energy. CIP invited Forbes & Manhattan to the deal and together successfully bid US$105 Million for the Ram River Coal property containing an in-situ metallurgical coal resource of 400 Million tonnes and subsequently raised US$115 Million from institutions including the founder of Lundin Mining Corporation (market capitalisation of C$5 Billion) to fund the acquisition and commence a bankable feasibility study.

2014 – CIA investors took control of Mamba Mineral Limited (ASX:MAB) and CIP attracted Michael O’Keeffe as Managing Director. CIP was the corporate advisor to the A$110m merger of ASX listed Mamba Minerals Ltd with TSX listed Champion Iron Mines (ASX:CIA) to create dual ASX and TSX Listed Champion Iron (ASX:CIA). Fire Lake North has a 464Mt Reserve resulting in the merged company’s EV/Reserve of $0.18 per tonne being lower than all ASX iron ore developers and has access to available rail and port. For the year ending 31 March 2022, Champion reported EBITDA of C$925 million and is doubling production to 15 million tonnes of Fe 66%. In 2022, Champion had a market capitalisation of A$2.7 Billion

2016 –Corporate advisor to North American coal producer, Westmoreland Coal Company (NASDAQ:WLB), on the sale of the Chinook metallurgical coal assets in Western Canada. Westmoreland engaged CIP to manage the asset sale process, including bid solicitation, negotiation and documentation and Westmoreland entered into a binding agreement with a private Australian group, Montem Resources, to purchase the Chinook assets for a total consideration of C$12 Million. In Sept 2020 Montem Resources successfully IPO at a A$50m market cap.

2019 - CIP investors established Peak Iron Mines Pty Ltd, which acquired Southern Iron Mines Pty Ltd and Central Iron Mines Pty Ltd. Arrium Ltd (previously One Steel) purchased these companies for A$342 Million from WPG Resources Ltd in 2011 and successfully developed the Peculiar Knob Mine producing 3mtpa (being the high-grade component of Arrium’s Opal Blend) for exporting from the Port of Whyalla, until the 2015 fall in the iron ore price. In November 2019 shipping commenced with Panamax sized vessels from Port Adelaide. Peak is mining at 2.5mtpa and is seeking to develop its Hawks Nest Magnetite and DSO projects for an additional 5mtpa.

2021 - CIP investors established Northern Iron Pty Ltd, raised $15m and acquired the Warrego Mine in the Northern Territory for A$11 Million and is developing the mine, expected to produce 1mtpa (being a high-grade 68% magnetite) and exporting from the Port of Darwin with Panamax size vessels expected to start first shipping by November 2022.