VANCOUVER: Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO) has entered into a definitive agreement, effective March 25, 2024, to acquire the remaining 12.5% interest in the Gibraltar Mine from Dowa Metals & Mining Co. and Furukawa Co..
Under the terms of the Agreement, Taseko will acquire Dowa and Furukawa’s shares in Cariboo Copper Corp and will then own 100% of Cariboo shares and have an effective 100% interest in the Gibraltar Mine.
The acquisition price consists of a minimum amount of CAD 117 million payable over a period of ten years and potential contingent payments depending on copper prices and Gibraltar’s cashflow. An initial CAD 5 million will be paid to Dowa and Furukawa (CAD 2.5 million each) shortly following closing and the remaining amounts will be settled with annual payments commencing in March 2026.
Stuart McDonald, President & CEO of Taseko, commented, “We are happy to once again own 100% of the Gibraltar mine, our foundational asset, which will continue to generate strong returns for the Company for many years to come. This acquisition provides 14% growth in our attributable copper production, and is immediately cashflow accretive as we advance construction at our Florence Copper Project.
We also receive additional offtake rights as the Cariboo offtake contract comes back to Taseko, providing potential cost savings and longer-term strategic benefits as we continue to develop our North American copper production profile.”
“We have established a positive relationship with Dowa and Furukawa over the last 14 years. Given that both groups are reducing their copper smelting businesses and are exiting their copper mining investments, we’ve been able to structure this exit from our long-term partnership in a mutually beneficial manner,” concluded Mr. McDonald.
An initial C$5 million payment will be made to Dowa and Furukawa shortly following closing. The remaining cash consideration will be repayable in annual payments commencing in March 2026. The annual payments will be based on the average LME copper price of the previous calendar year, subject to an annual cap based on a percentage of cashflow from the Gibraltar Mine.
At copper prices below US$4.00 per pound, the annual payment will be C$5 million, increasing pro-rata to a maximum annual payment of C$15.25 million at copper prices of US$5.00 per pound or higher. The annual payments also can not exceed 6.25% of Gibraltar’s annual cashflow for the 2025 to 2028 calendar years, and 10% of Gibraltar’s cashflow for the 2029 to 2033 calendar years. Any outstanding balance on the minimum acquisition amount of C$117 million will be repayable in a final balloon payment in March 2034.
Total consideration is capped at CAD 142 million, limiting the contingent consideration to a maximum of CAD 25 million. In addition, Taseko has the option to settle the full acquisition price at any time prior to 2029 by making total payments of CAD 117 million.
The company’s minimum payment obligations are in the form of loans from Dowa and Furukawa to Cariboo. The loans are guaranteed by Taseko, and a portion of the loans are secured by Cariboo’s 25% joint venture interest in the Gibraltar Mine. The loans contain minimum protective covenants including the requirement not to amend the joint venture agreement for the Gibraltar mine, or sell Cariboo’s 25% interest in the joint venture.
Under the Cariboo offtake arrangements entered into in 2010, Dowa and Furukawa were entitled to receive 30% of Gibraltar’s copper concentrate offtake for the life of mine, at benchmark terms. Upon closing of this acquisition, the Cariboo offtake agreement will be terminated and Taseko will retain full marketing rights for 100% of Gibraltar’s concentrate offtake going forward.

Marula Mining forms lithium and copper mining subsidiary in Zimbabwe