Mercuria eyes equity in African assets, new metals boss says
“You will see us very present in Africa and putting our money where our mouth is in respect of the Copperbelt,” Kostas Bintas said.
Canada’s Copper Mountain Mining (TSX:CMMC) has completed the acquisition of Australian junior Altona Mining (ASX:AOH) for A$93 million, or about $72 million at today’s rates.
As part of the deal, each Altona share will be exchanged for 0.0974 Copper Mountain shares, which equates to a 41.7% premium based on closing prices at the time of both companies first agreed on the deal, in November.
The merger gives the Vancouver-based copper miner access to Altona’s assets, which include $30 million in cash, and a permitted development project in Queensland, Australia.
Copper Mountain’s main asset is the 75%-owned Copper Mountain open pit mine, in southern British Columbia, which is forecast to produce between 34,000 and 38,500 tonnes of the red metal this year.
The combination of the two companies creates a mid-sized copper miner, with an expected annual production of about 73,000 tonnes of the metal.
