Capstone Copper strikes deal to sell 25% stake in Chilean projects for $360m

Core Viewpoint - Capstone Copper has entered into an agreement with Orion Resource Partners for a 25% ownership stake in the Santo Domingo and Sierra Norte projects in Chile, with a total cash consideration of approximately $360 million [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Details - Orion will pay $225 million upon a positive final investment decision (FID) at Santo Domingo, with an additional $75 million to follow within six months [1]. - Contingent payments of up to $60 million will be linked to specific project milestones [2]. - Orion will also invest $10 million in new Capstone shares at a 5% premium over the recent volume-weighted average price, providing immediate financial backing for exploration activities [2]. Group 2: Project Significance - The Santo Domingo project is viewed as a key element for Capstone's transformational growth in the Atacama region of Chile [3]. - The project is characterized by industry-competitive capital intensity and first quartile cash costs, essential for maintaining growth in the critical minerals sector [4]. - The agreement reduces Capstone's equity investment in Santo Domingo to approximately $400 million (C$561.7 million) based on proportional contributions and project financing [5]. Group 3: Strategic Relationships - Orion has been a substantial equity holder in Capstone and has shown strong support for the management team, indicating a long-standing relationship [5]. - Capstone retains a buy-back option to regain full ownership of Santo Domingo after achieving commercial production, ensuring Orion receives a specified return [6]. - Orion's chief investment officer expressed confidence in Capstone's ability to build and operate Santo Domingo as a high-quality copper operation, crucial for the clean energy transition [7].