Capstone Copper to sell Mexican mine to Luca Mining for up to $385M
Capstone will focus on Chile and the US as Luca expands in Mexico with Cozamin acquisition.
Toronto-based Capstone Copper is selling its Cozamin copper-silver-zinc-lead mine in Mexico to Luca Mining for up to $385 million as the company focuses on larger copper growth projects in Chile and the United States. The deal, announced on Monday, includes $275 million in cash and $15 million in Luca shares, with an additional $35 million in deferred consideration and contingent payments tied to future copper prices.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter, pending regulatory approvals and other conditions. Capstone CEO Cashel Meagher stated that the divestiture is a strategic move to streamline their portfolio as they advance towards copper growth in Chile and the US. The sale provides Capstone with additional financial flexibility to concentrate on their copper portfolio in Chile and Arizona, including the Santo Domingo copper-iron-gold project and the $176-million Mantoverde Optimized expansion.
Capstone retains some exposure to Cozamin through the $15 million in Luca shares received at closing. The deferred portion, potentially reaching $60 million, depends on copper prices from 2027 through 2029. BMO Metals & Mining analyst Rene Cartier warned that investors should expect higher copper prices to assign value to the contingent consideration.
Luca Mining will benefit from Cozamin's third producing Mexican mine, adding to its portfolio which includes the Campo Morado polymetallic operation and the Tahuehueto gold-silver mine. Cozamin, which has operated continuously since 2006, is expected to more than double its 2027 production profile and increase its exposure to copper and silver.
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