Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Disposal of Interests in Northern Minerals Limited) Orders 2024

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2024N00475 In force Notifiable Instrument

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Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Disposal of Interests in Northern Minerals Limited) Orders 2024

I, Jim Chalmers, Treasurer, being satisfied of the matters in subsection 69(1A) of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975, make the following instrument.

Dated   2 June 2024

 

Dr Jim Chalmers

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1  Name 

2  Commencement

3  Authority

4  Definitions

Part 2—Disposal orders

5  Disposal order—Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd

6  Disposal order—Black Stone Resources Limited

7  Disposal order—Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited

8  Disposal order—Ms Ximei Liu

9  Disposal order—Mr Xi Wang

Part 1—Preliminary

 

1  Name

  This instrument is the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Disposal of Interests in Northern Minerals Limited) Orders 2024.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 4 and anything in this instrument not elsewhere covered by this table

The day after this instrument is registered.

 

2.  Part 2

The 31st day after this instrument is registered.

 

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975.

4  Definitions

Note:  Expressions have the same meaning in this instrument as in the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 as in force from time to time—see paragraph 13(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003.

  In this instrument:

ABN has the meaning given by the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999.

Northern Minerals means Northern Minerals Limited (ABN 61 119 966 353).

NTU shareholder register is the register of members set up and maintained by Northern Minerals as required by sections 168 and 169 of the Corporations Act 2001.

the Act means the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975.

Part 2—Disposal orders

5  Disposal order—Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd

 (1) Under subsection 69(2) of the Act, Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd, being the foreign person mentioned in subsection (2), is directed to dispose of the following interests, within 60 days from the day on which this section commences, to one or more persons who are not associates of Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd:

 (a) interests in 80,000,000 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd on 6 September 2023.

Note: For other orders made under the Act relating to Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd, see Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Prohibition of Proposed Action) Order (No. 1) 2023.

 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd is the foreign person entered on the NTU shareholder register with that name and the following address:

 

  12 Jalan Sampurna
  Singapore 268280
  SINGAPORE

 

6  Disposal order—Black Stone Resources Limited

 (1) Under subsection 69(2) of the Act, Black Stone Resources Limited, being the foreign person mentioned in subsection (2), is directed to dispose of the following interests, within 60 days from the day on which this section commences, to one or more persons who are not associates of Black Stone Resources Limited:

 (a) interests in 166,666,667 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Black Stone Resources Limited on 6 September 2023.

 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), Black Stone Resources Limited is the foreign person entered on the NTU shareholder register with that name and the following address:

 

  Vistra Corporate Services Centre
  Wickhams Cay II
  Road Town
  Tortola
  BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

 

7  Disposal order—Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited

 (1) Under subsection 69(2) of the Act, Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited, being the foreign person mentioned in subsection (2), is directed to dispose of the following interests, within 60 days from the day on which this section commences, to one or more persons who are not associates of Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited:

 (a) interests in 165,035,368 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited through brokers, agents, custodians or other similar financial intermediaries, between 12 May 2022 and 14 March 2023.

 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited is the corporation with that name (or a similar name using abbreviations or symbols) and incorporated and registered in the United Arab Emirates.

8  Disposal order—Ms Ximei Liu

 (1) Under subsection 69(2) of the Act, Ms Ximei Liu, being the foreign person mentioned in subsection (2), is directed to dispose of the following interests, within 60 days from the day on which this section commences, to one or more persons who are not associates of Ms Ximei Liu:

 (a) interests in 100,000,000 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Ms Ximei Liu on 6 September 2023.

 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), Ms Ximei Liu is the foreign person entered on the NTU shareholder register with that name and the following address:

 

  Apartment 401 Building 1
  Hu Pan Yuan Tianqiao District
  Jinan Shandong
  CHINA

 

9  Disposal order—Mr Xi Wang

 (1) Under subsection 69(2) of the Act, Mr Xi Wang, being the foreign person mentioned in subsection (2), is directed to dispose of the following interests, within 60 days from the day on which this section commences, to one or more persons who are not associates of Mr Xi Wang:

 (a) interests in 100,000,000 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Mr Xi Wang on 6 September 2023; and

 (b) interests in 139,435 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Mr Xi Wang on 17 October 2023; and

 (c) interests in 810,097 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Mr Xi Wang on 18 October 2023; and

 (d) interests in 450,000 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Mr Xi Wang on 23 October 2023; and

 (e) interests in 472,065 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Mr Xi Wang on 25 October 2023.

Note: The cumulative total of interests in ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, as acquired by Mr Xi Wang, that are the subject of this direction is 101,871,597 ordinary shares.

 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), Mr Xi Wang is the foreign person entered on the NTU shareholder register with that name and the following address:

 

  912 Sims Avenue #08-55
  Singapore 408972
  SINGAPORE

 

Overview

The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Disposal of Interests in Northern Minerals Limited) Orders 2024 was enacted on 2 June 2024 by Dr Jim Chalmers, the Treasurer, under the authority of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975. This legislative instrument was introduced to address concerns related to foreign acquisitions and takeovers, specifically targeting the disposal of interests in Northern Minerals Limited by certain foreign entities. The orders are designed to ensure that these entities divest their interests in Northern Minerals within a specified timeframe to maintain national security and economic stability. The enactment follows the identification of potential national security risks associated with the identified foreign interests in Northern Minerals. The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 empowers the Treasurer to issue such orders when satisfied that the national security of Australia is at risk. The policy objective of these orders is to mitigate any potential threats by requiring the disposal of shares by specified foreign persons and entities, thereby ensuring that control over Northern Minerals remains within entities that do not pose a national security risk. The orders detail specific disposal requirements for Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd, Black Stone Resources Limited, Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited, Ms Ximei Liu, and Mr Xi Wang, mandating the sale of their shares in Northern Minerals within 60 days from the commencement of the orders.

Scope and Application

The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Disposal of Interests in Northern Minerals Limited) Orders 2024 applies to specific foreign persons and entities that have acquired shares in Northern Minerals Limited, as detailed in the disposal orders within the instrument. These entities include Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd, Black Stone Resources Limited, Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited, Ms Ximei Liu, and Mr Xi Wang. Each of these entities or individuals is directed to dispose of their specified interests in Northern Minerals Limited within 60 days from the date the order commences. The geographic reach of these orders is national, extending across Australia as per the requirements of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within these specific disposal orders; however, the overarching Act provides for certain conditions under which acquisitions may be exempt or subject to different regulatory scrutiny. The application and scope of the Act can be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments made under its authority.

Key Provisions

The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers (Disposal of Interests in Northern Minerals Limited) Orders 2024 (F2024N00475) sets out specific directions for foreign persons to dispose of their interests in Northern Minerals Limited. The instrument, made under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975, mandates the disposal of certain shares in Northern Minerals by foreign entities within a specified timeframe. Section 5 directs Yuxiao Fund Pte Ltd to dispose of 80 million ordinary shares in Northern Minerals, while Section 6 mandates Black Stone Resources Limited to dispose of 166,666,667 ordinary shares. Section 7 requires Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Limited to dispose of 165,035,368 ordinary shares. Section 8 directs Ms Ximei Liu to dispose of 100 million ordinary shares, and Section 9 mandates Mr Xi Wang to dispose of a cumulative total of 101,871,597 ordinary shares in Northern Minerals. The Act imposes obligations on the listed entities to ensure the timely disposal of their specified shares in Northern Minerals. The disposal must be completed within 60 days from the date the order commences, and the shares must be transferred to persons who are not associates of the disposing entity. This is intended to maintain control over foreign investments in Australian entities, particularly those of strategic importance. Each entity must ensure that the transfer of shares is conducted in compliance with the order and report the completion of the disposal to the relevant authorities. Breach of these disposal orders constitutes an offence under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975. The Act provides for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Civil penalties can include substantial fines, while criminal penalties may include imprisonment. Specifically, for corporations, the maximum penalty can be significant, reflecting the serious nature of the failure to comply with national security directives related to foreign investments. The precise details of the penalties are governed by the broader provisions of the Act, which allow for severe sanctions to ensure compliance with national security interests.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.