Freeport-McMoRan to sell its copper-gold assets in Serbia to Zijin for up to $390 million
November 5, 2019
Zijin Mining announced that it would buy Freeport-McMoRan’s copper-gold assets in Serbia for as much as $390 million.
Zijin in one of China’s largest gold producers and the move is one of many recent acquisitions in the Balkans by the company that also took over over local copper producer RTB Bor in 2018, before completing the purchase of Nevsun Resources, which also has interests in Serbia, for $1.4 billion this year.
Zijin will pay Freeport an initial $240 million for its stake in the lower zone of the Timok copper-gold mine, plus 0.4 percent of the net sales proceeds once production begins, up to an aggregate maximum amount of $150 million, according to a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Reuters reported that Zijin already has a 100 percent interest in the upper zone through its Nevsun acquisition and holds 60.4 percent of the lower zone. Freeport owns the rest of the lower zone but its holding was due to rise to 54 percent on completion of a feasibility study.
“After completion of the transaction, the company will own 100 percent interests in the resources of both the upper zone and the lower zone,” Zijin said, adding that the purchase would allow the company to increase its resources and further its internationalization.
It said the acquisition would lift its total controlled copper resources by 7.72 million tonnes, or 15.6 percent, to 57.24 million tonnes on an equity basis, while its gold resources would rise by 161 tonnes, or 9.3 percent, to 1,889 tonnes.
Development of the lower zone of Timok has not yet started but Zijin said the deal would help with unified planning, construction and operation of the project. Production from the upper zone is expected to begin in 2021, it added.
Zijin will also acquire Freeport’s interests in five exploration licenses in the surrounding area, which are currently held by a Zijin-Freeport joint venture and have “favorable potential for prospecting,” the statement said.
Zijin expects the transaction to be completed no later than Feb. 29, 2020.
Source : me.smenet.org