Mining Finance and M&A Transactions

Mining Finance and M&A Transactions

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Today's debt and equity capital markets demand a wealth of knowledge about assets—buying and selling them, monetizing them and other financing considerations. No team of lawyers understands the mining asset class better than Dentons. Our Mining Finance and M&A Transactions team brings together the expertise and experience of first-class finance and M&A lawyers working with clients on a daily basis in the global mining industry. We advise clients across the full mining and metals' cycle—from exploration, to mine development, construction, production and reclamation.

Benefit from our global experience advising on: joint ventures, private placements and prospectus offerings, strategic investments, project finance, pre-export, prepayment, royalty and streaming structures, the sale and purchase of mines and mining entities, offtake agreements and the physical and financial markets into which you deliver finished products.

Our presence, expertise and experience in the key global finance-raising centers and the world's key mining regions means we know how capital is raised and how it is spent. We take pride in our deep-rooted industry knowledge and our ability to add real value and direction to any transactions we work on.

With new and often streamlined marketplaces for capital, dual listed public companies are now more common than rare. Your business will at some point transact globally for a cross-border or multi-jurisdictional opportunity. Take advantage of our global reach and expertise in 80+ countries. We can act as your guide so you tap into the market that best suits your strategy.

Whether you are considering a mineral or mining acquisition, effecting title transfers, or obtaining a title opinion to obtain project financing or a listing on a stock exchange or quotation system, Dentons offers you an experienced team of skilled lawyers to conduct thorough mining due diligence—in compressed time frames. In an increasingly competitive, challenging demand-driven market, Dentons continues to set standards of excellence in innovative structuring and robust documentation for mining finance and M&A transactions.

More About Mining Finance and M&A Transactions

Experience

China Gold International Resources Corp. Limited: Advising the Canadian TSX/HKEx listed company which operates mines in Mongolia and the in Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, on the US$500 million issuance of bonds, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Skyland Mining (BVI) Limited.
China National Gold Group Corporation: Advising on its US$300 million acquisition (through its subsidiary) of an Australian mining company, Sino Mining Guizhou Pty Ltd from Eldorado Gold Corporation, on aspects of the Sale Agreement, the Foreign Investment Review Board and completion aspects of the transaction. CNG received FIRB approval and the client successfully acquired the asset that is aimed to increase CNG’s annual gold production quantities. The multijurisdictional aspect was challenging and involved partners from our Sydney and Beijing offices working together.
China National Nuclear Corporation: Advising in its US$190 million acquisition of a 25 percent stake in the Langer Heinrich Mauritius Holdings Ltd. uranium mine from Paladin Energy Ltd.
Conuma Coal Resources Limited, a member of the ERP Group of Companies: Advising on its US$35 million acquisition of assets and assumed liabilities including three surface mining coal complexes from Walter Energy Canada in this 2017 Cross Border Turnaround of the Year award winning transaction. The complexes were purchased by Walter Energy Canada from Western Energy in 2011 for over CA$3 billion, Turnaround Atlas Awards 2017.
ERP Iron Ore, LLC, a member of the ERP Group of Companies: Advising on its acquisition of an integrated iron ore mining and pellet production company from Magnetation in this 2017 Community Impact Turnaround of the Year award winning transaction. The assets were constructed at a cost of over US$1 billion, Turnaround Atlas Awards 2017.
EuroChem Group AG: Advising one of the world’s leading mineral fertilizer producers on a US$800 million five-year pre-export financing from a syndicate of international banks.
Imperial Metals Corporation: Advising the agent and the lending syndicate in respect of Imperial Metals Corporation's CA$200 million senior secured revolving credit facility consisting of two tranches: a CA$50 million revolving working capital tranche and a CA$150 million revolving construction tranche. The senior credit facility was completed concurrently with an offering of US$325 million 7% senior notes due 2019, and a junior unsecured revolving term credit facility of up to CA$75 million. The corporation, an exploration, mine development and operating company based in Vancouver, used partial proceeds the borrowings at closing to refinance existing indebtedness, and intends to use the balance of the proceeds and borrowings to partially finance the development, construction and commissioning of the Red Chris copper and gold mine in northwestern British Columbia, for ongoing working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes.
Joint Venture Partners of Tiger Realm Coal Limited: Advising in the sale of a 20% interest in the Amaam North Project to Tigers Realm Coal Limited, an ASX listed coking coal company which is developing two projects in eastern Russia, and advising on the renegotiation of certain terms in the Amaam Project agreement.
MMG: Advising in connection with the US$5.85 billion acquisition of Las Bambas copper project in Peru from GlencoreXstrata. Awarded Global M&A Deal of the Year in the Latin America/Peru category, The American Lawyer’s 2014 Global Legal Awards, Deal of the Year 2014, China Business Law Journal, M&A Deal of the Year 2014, Latin Lawyer.
Mountain Province Diamonds: Advising on their financing for the construction of the world’s largest new diamond mine, Gahcho Kué, a joint venture with De Beers which is located in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
PanAust Limited: Acting on the acquisition of Glencore Xstrata plc’s interest in the Frieda River Copper-Gold Project in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The acquisition was effected by acquiring all of the shares held by Glencore in Xstrata Frieda River Limited, a PNG registered company. Concurrently, Dentons advised PanAust on its share placement agreement with Highlands Pacific. The value of the acquisition was approximately AU$125 million. The team included partners from our Sydney and Port Moresby offices.
Pershimco Resources Inc.: Advising the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Pershimco Resources Inc. on its CA$95 million combination with Orla Mining Ltd. by way of plan of arrangement.
Sherritt International Corporation: Advising with respect to due diligence, an internal pre-closing reorganization, and corporate/commercial matters in relation to the sale of its royalty portfolio and its interest in coal development assets for cash consideration of CA$481 million to a group led by Altius Minerals Corp. and the sale of its operating coal assets for consideration of CA$465 million to Westmoreland Coal Company, for total consideration of CA$946 million.
Taseko Mines Limited: Advising the special committee of the Board of Directors of Taseko Mines Limited in connection with its acquisition of Curis Resources Ltd., a mineral exploration and development company whose primary asset is the Florence Copper Project in Arizona.
Veris Gold Group of Companies: Advising the Monitor in connection with the Group's CCAA proceedings in Canada, as well as Chapter 15 proceedings in the US; and with respect to the disposition of the Veris Gold USA Inc. operating and real estate assets to Whitebox Advisors LLC involving properties on both sides of the border including, notably, the operating gold and milling project in Nevada with annual revenue in the range of US$200 million, awarded M&A Real Estate Deal of the Year 2015, M&A Advisor and Judicial Restructuring of the Year award for Small Markets, Global M&A Network.

Recognition

Strong Recognition in the 2019 Asia Pacific Legal Directories

January 23, 2019

In The Legal 500 directories, Kensington Swan (now Dentons Kensington Swan) has been recommended as a top-tier firm in three practice areas: Investment Funds, Projects and Resource Management (including environment) and Real Estate and Construction.

Insights

Madagascar's New Mining Code

May 14, 2024

Madagascar: Sustainable resources hold great promise, with ample opportunities for growth and development in the country’s mining sector. The New Code promotes Madagascar as a mining friendly jurisdiction that is open and welcoming of foreign business and seeks to balance the implementation of policies that attract foreign capital and expertise against the safeguarding of the interests of local communities.

Global Mining – Mining M&A South of the Rio Grande

January 29, 2024

Global: Catch up on the third in the series of Dentons’ Global Mining Centre of Excellence learning session, and hear from Jorge Neher talk about Mining M&A South of the Rio Grande: What to watch your back about Jack.

Global Mining – Mining M&A South of the Rio Grande

January 29, 2024

United Kingdom: Catch up on the third in the series of Dentons’ Global Mining Centre of Excellence learning session, and hear from Jorge Neher talk about Mining M&A South of the Rio Grande: What to watch your back about Jack.

View all insights for Mining Finance and M&A Transactions

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons advises Sev.en Energy on acquisition of US-based Blackhawk Mining

June 2, 2020

Dentons has advised international energy group Sev.en Energy on its strategic acquisition of US-based metallurgical coal producer Blackhawk Mining, LLC. C. The transaction comes on the heels of Sev.en Energy’s acquisition of a 17% ownership interest in Corsa Coal in May 2020, further reinforcing its access to the metallurgical coal mining industry in the US market.

Dentons advises Sev.en Energy on strategic acquisition of shares in Corsa Coal Corporation

May 15, 2020

Dentons has advised Sev.en Energy, a major player on the Czech energy market, on strategic acquisition of a 17.1% share in Corsa Coal Corp., a US-based metallurgical coal producer with mines in Pennsylvania and Maryland, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.