Author: robertsailo

Lundin Mining and BHP Investments Canada (BHP) have completed their joint acquisition of Filo, a mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, for C$4bn ($2.78bn).

This deal grants both companies a 50% stake in Filo and its FDS copper project in the Atacama region of Chile.

When the deal was announced in July last year, BHP made a payment of C$2bn in cash for the Filo acquisition, equating to C$33 per Filo share. Lundin Mining’s contribution features $C877.8m in cash and 94.1 million of Lundin Mining shares.

Prior to the completion of the acquisition, Lundin Mining owned 100% of the Josemaria copper project in the Vicuña district of Argentina. Now, BHP has bought a 50% stake in Josemaria from Lundin Mining for $690m.

The two companies have also established a 50:50 JV called Vicuña Corp, which includes FDS and Josemaria.

Operating independently from BHP and Lundin Mining, the JV company is responsible for managing these projects.

The close proximity of the FDS and Josemaria projects enables greater economies of scale, enhanced flexibility for staged expansions and the integration of future exploration as the district develops.

Lundin Mining president and CEO Jack Lundin said: “Thanks to the strong collaboration between BHP and Lundin Mining, today we announce the formation of the newly formed Joint Arrangement, Vicuña Corp., and now enter an exciting new chapter of growth that has the potential to transform Lundin Mining into a top-tier copper producer.

“Vicuña’s newly formed team, with support from its board that is comprised equally of both Lundin Mining and BHP representatives, will work towards several key milestones during the year.

“Vicuña is targeting a mineral resource estimate for both the Filo del Sol and Josemaria deposits within the first half of 2025. This resource estimate will form the basis of an integrated technical report, which will outline the development plan for the phased construction of the district.” 

Total capital expenditure for the joint arrangement is forecast at $312m on a 100% basis for this year.

The future workplan for the JV will focus on a range of activities including FDS drilling, FDS mineral resource estimation and a Josemaria mineral resource estimation update.

It will also cover mine planning, metallurgy, hydrology wells and studies, the initiation of access road construction, and exploration at the Cumbre Verde target.

At the same time, engineering studies and trade-off analysis will be conducted in preparation for future permitting, along with the preparation of a technical report detailing an integrated project.

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Arizona Sonoran Copper Company has announced a strategic private placement valued at C$19.9m ($13.83m) with Hudbay Minerals.

Under this agreement, Hudbay will subscribe for 11,852,064 common shares of Arizona Sonoran at C$1.68 per share.

Hudbay currently holds 2,870,800 shares, representing a 2.12% interest in Arizona Sonoran prior to the private placement.

Post-closing of the placement, Hudbay will own approximately 9.99% of the common shares of Arizona Sonoran.

The funds raised from this private placement will be directed towards drilling, exploration, technical studies and further development of the Cactus copper project in Arizona.

Arizona Sonoran president and CEO George Ogilvie said: “We are pleased and appreciative to welcome this further endorsement of our project and the go-forward plan by the team at Hudbay. It is the company’s objective to develop Cactus to be a significant producer of copper cathodes for direct use by industry in the state of Arizona and the larger US supply chain.

“We welcome Hudbay, a mid-tier base metal producer with decades of base metal successes in the Americas and a strong existing footprint in Arizona, as a larger and increasingly engaged shareholder, able to lend its experience and expertise as we advance and develop Cactus.”

The Cactus Mine property is located approximately 3 miles (4.8km) north-west of the city of Casa Grande, in Pinal County, Arizona.

The property lies at the historic Sacaton Mine and the total site area is approximately 5,720 acres.

Hudbay president and CEO Peter Kukielski said: “Cactus is an exciting copper development project in Arizona. We see the US as a tier-1 mining jurisdiction and this investment increases our exposure to another high-quality development project in the region as we continue to advance our Copper World project.”

The closing of the private placement is expected to occur on or about 30 January 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

The issue price represents a 15% premium to the five-day volume weighted average price of Arizona Sonoran’s common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of close of trading on 7 January 2025.

In addition to the initial subscription, Hudbay has agreed to purchase additional common shares to maintain its 9.99% interest in Arizona Sonoran if pre-emptive rights held by other existing shareholders are exercised in relation to the private placement.

Hudbay and Arizona Sonoran will also enter into an investor rights agreement as part of the private placement.

This agreement will grant Hudbay certain customary rights and obligations, provided it maintains specific ownership thresholds in Arizona Sonoran.

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Paladin Energy has received final clearance under the Investment Canada Act (ICA) for its acquisition of Fission Uranium.

This clearance represents the last regulatory step needed to complete the court-approved arrangement under the Canada Business Corporation Act.

The acquisition is expected to close by early January 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

Paladin Energy announced the definitive agreement to acquire Fission Uranium in June this year on a 100% share takeover basis.

Upon completion, Fission shareholders will receive 0.1076 Paladin shares for each Fission share held.

Following the acquisition, Paladin shares are expected to list on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), while Fission shares will be delisted from the TSX, OTCQX and Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The merger aims to create a clean energy leader with a strong production and growth pipeline including the Langer Heinrich Mine, Patterson Lake South project and Michelin project.

This combination will enhance Paladin’s position in the uranium market, leveraging a structurally tight market and growing nuclear energy demand.

Paladin’s increased presence in international capital markets will be bolstered by its TSX listing, further establishing it as a ASX100-listed pure-play uranium producer.

The company is committed to a sustainable future, focusing on a carbon-free energy transition and strong community engagement.

Paladin CEO Ian Purdy said: “We welcome the Government of Canada’s clearance of the acquisition of Fission and believe that this decision will deliver great benefits for our company and its shareholders, as well as for stakeholders in Australia, Canada and Namibia.

“The combination of Paladin and Fission creates a world-class diverse uranium producer operating in multiple countries, with a high-quality portfolio of production, development and exploration assets.

“The addition of the PLS project in the Athabasca Basin creates a leading Canadian development hub alongside our existing Michelin project, with exploration upside across all the Canadian properties.

“Shareholders of Paladin, including former shareholders of Fission, will benefit from the increased scale of the combined company that will be one of the largest pure-play uranium companies globally, as well as greater exposure to, and interest from, international capital markets.”

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Patriot Battery Metals has announced a subscription agreement with Volkswagen, under which Patriot will provide 9.9% of the company’s issued and outstanding common shares to Volkswagen to raise gross proceeds of C$69m ($48m).

The funds from this investment will be directed towards the exploration and development of the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project, including exploration and feasibility studies, and general working capital.

The subscription agreement with Volkswagen involves the issuance of 15,557,500 common shares at C$4.42 each.

This represents a premium of 65% and 35% over the 30-day and 90-day average trading prices, respectively, on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

Additionally, Patriot will enter a binding offtake agreement with PowerCo, Volkswagen’s battery manufacturer, to supply 100,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate annually over a ten-year period.

Volkswagen and PowerCo will join an advisory committee for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project.

PowerCo’s cell production activities in Europe and North America will benefit from this supply, including its battery cell factory in St. Thomas, Canada.

The factory is expected to become PowerCo’s largest, with a production capacity of up to 90 gigawatt-hours, enough for more than one million electric vehicles annually.

The offtake agreement includes a pricing mechanism linked to lithium chemical and spodumene indices, with regular price reviews.

It is subject to conditions such as a final investment decision and necessary approvals by 30 June 2031. A comprehensive offtake agreement will replace the term sheet post-feasibility study.

Volkswagen will also gain rights to participate in future equity raises and assist in acquiring additional shares.

The agreement includes a 24-month standstill and a restriction on transferring shares for two years, except under specific conditions.

Furthermore, a non-binding memorandum of understanding between Patriot and PowerCo will explore collaboration opportunities including environmental, social and governance standards, downstream partnerships and government support.

The strategic investment is pending TSX approval and is expected to close by mid-January 2025.

Macquarie Capital is acting as financial advisor to Patriot, with Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg representing the company in Canada, and Allens in Australia.

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Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) has announced a $50m (C$71.64m) equity investment from Canada Growth Fund (CGF) and the Government of Québec, through Investissement Québec (IQ), to support its phase two ore-to-battery-material graphite operations.

This investment aims to facilitate the progress of NMG’s detailed engineering and critical path activities as the company approaches an FID.

It will help advance NMG’s phase two Matawinie Mine and Bécancour Battery Material Plant, enable the procurement of key long-lead items and support necessary activities.

The investment will also support detailed engineering, procurement and critical-path activities, as well as cover general expenses and financing costs.

NMG is preparing for FID by finalising an updated feasibility study for its phase two operations, expected early in the first quarter of 2025.

NMG founder president and CEO Eric Desaulniers said: “As a project developer, NMG requires credible financial partners to share risks and unlock value in this strategic and geopolitically important sector. Rounding up 2024 marked by significant progress in our business plan, we are setting our sights on the remaining milestones to reach FID.

“This investment by the Canada Growth Fund and the Government of Québec will enable our team to make tangible advancements and place strategic orders in preparation for our project execution.

“We are committed to delivering high-performing and reliable active anode materials to the North American battery and electric vehicle markets, contributing to a local, sustainable and reliable supply chain.”

The backing from IQ and the addition of CGF, a C$15bn public fund, strengthens NMG’s institutional investor support and provides a favourable path to project financing upon a positive FID.

Both CGF and IQ have agreed to subscribe for common shares in NMG, with the offering set to generate gross proceeds of $50m.

NMG will issue 39,682,538 common shares at $1.26 per share. Each share will include a warrant, allowing the holder to acquire an additional share at $2.38, subject to certain ownership limitations.

The common shares and warrants will be subject to a four-month hold period under Canadian securities laws.

This strike price aligns with warrants previously issued to General Motors, Panasonic Energy and Mitsui in February 2024.

NMG will enter into investor rights and registration rights agreements with CGF and IQ, restricting the sale of securities until 28 August 2025. These agreements grant CGF and IQ certain board nomination and anti-dilution rights.

CGFIM president and CEO Patrick Charbonneau said: “Investors and policymakers alike recognise the strategic importance of securing a stable supply of critical minerals, which are indispensable and essential for high-tech industries, from defence to renewable energy and batteries.

“CGF is pleased to invest in NMG and looks forward to supporting the company in its journey to create the largest fully integrated natural graphite production facility in North America.”

NMG is also working on an Impact and Benefit Agreement with the Atikamekw First Nation of Manawan and engaging with potential customers and lenders.

The investments from CGF and IQ are expected to close on or about 19 December 2024, pending standard conditions and regulatory approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

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