Tag Archives: mining M&A

Intertek to add Base Met Labs metallurgy capabilities to offering

Automation, Environmental, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

Intertek, a leading total quality assurance provider to industries worldwide, has agreed to acquire Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd. and Base Met Labs US Ltd (Base Met Labs), a leading provider of metallurgical testing services for the minerals sector based in North America.

Founded in 2014 and operating from laboratories in Kamloops, British Columbia, and Tucson, Arizona, Base Met Labs’ specialist focus on metallurgy capabilities complements Intertek Minerals existing strengths in geochemistry, mine site laboratories and trade inspection, creating attractive commercial synergies within Intertek’s high-quality service portfolio, Intertek says. The acquisition broadens the group’s differentiated ATIC offering in the minerals industry, expanding its Americas footprint to access the largest and growing market for mining activity globally, across Canada, the United States and Central and South America.

With a testing focus on gold, copper and other critical metals, Base Met Labs benefits from growing demand for minerals testing underpinned by strong fundamentals, with significant growth potential in battery and energy metals that will help the world’s leading mining companies accelerate into a sustainable future, Intertek adds.

With over 40 specialists operating from laboratories in Canada and the US, Base Met Labs provides a comprehensive range of metallurgical capabilities including comminution testing, flotation, automated mineralogy, mineral processing, mineral analysis and mineral extraction. Base Met Labs helps clients optimise mineral processing operations and maximise resource potential. It has also recently partnered up with SRK Consulting in Canada to offer a “pre-concentration screening test” using X-ray Transmission (XRT) based sensor technology that can not only indicate pre-concentration amenability, but also provides key inputs into the pre-concentration strategy selection and evaluation.

Intertek Minerals says it is constantly evaluating new instrumentation and technology to continuously improve quality, safety and efficiency and deliver value for our customers. Using advanced technology and innovation with a strong focus on automation, Intertek provides customers with faster, more efficient analytical options that increase production without compromising on quality. The acquisition also capitalises on the recent opening of the group’s innovative Minerals Global Centre of Excellence in Perth Australia, one of the world’s largest and most advanced minerals laboratories.

André Lacroix, Chief Executive Officer of Intertek, said: “The acquisition of Base Met Labs is highly complementary to our ATIC service offering, establishes a minerals testing footprint for Intertek on the American continent and creates attractive growth opportunities with existing and new clients. We welcome the Base Met Labs team to Intertek and look forward to working together to help the world’s leading mining companies accelerate into a sustainable future, enabling us to fulfil our mission of making the world a better, safer, more sustainable place for all.”

John Fowler, Intertek’s Senior Vice President of Minerals Exploration and Production, added: “Intertek Minerals is committed to providing a superior service for the mining industry and we are constantly challenging ourselves on the latest innovations in automation, safety, productivity and sustainability. By adding these metallurgical services to our portfolio further strengthens our commitment to support the mining industry across the whole supply chain, whilst also expanding our geographic presence in the Americas, driving enhanced access to some of the largest markets for mining activity globally.”

Bis’ Rexx, Razor and HUGO solutions up for sale

Automation, Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , ,

Australia-based Bis has put its innovation portfolio up for sale, a company spokesperson has confirmed.

The company, which serves numerous mining houses across Australia, handles, hauls and processes millions of tonnes of raw materials and commodities every year.

On the logistics side, it has a fleet for out-of-pit, on-road and off-pit applications. When it comes to material handling, it refers to itself as an expert in production input management, including inbound supply chain, out of pit, run of mine, processing, ship and train loading. And its underground services cover the hire of equipment, maintenance services and contract mining, and labour hire.

In the last decade or so, the company has leveraged this position and tight client relationships to develop innovative products aimed at solving a number of challenges mining companies experience – on surface and underground.

In the former category is the Bis Rexx hauler (pictured), a 160-t-payload mining truck with multiple steering and driving axles, enabling it to handle gradients of up to 12% when fully loaded while reducing fuel consumption by up to 40%. Rexx has already been widely trialled, including at Griffin Coal’s Ewington mine, Gold Fields’ Granny Smith mine and Glencore’s Murrin Murrin nickel operation, all in Western Australia. Both hybrid and electric power options have been discussed in the past, in addition to the potential for retrofitted automation.

Underground, Bis has developed a specialised grader for the coal market called Razor. The key features of Razor include high engine power and grader mass that has been optimised to increase tractive effort by over 30% and the use of four gears (as opposed to three) for greater flexibility on difficult ground. Whitehaven Coal secured one of the first units after launch in 2020.

The most recent innovation to come out of Bis is the HUGO (Hybrid Underground Operations) underground mining truck. Offering payloads of up to 80 tonnes, HUGO comes with a diesel-electric hybrid power train that, the company says, meets the current need for lower emission solutions, while providing a platform for decarbonisation and development in using alternative energy sources. The truck brings a 40% increase in productivity compared with today’s largest available 60-65 t trucks and a 50% increase in speed-on-grade capability, Bis says. Late last year, the company said it had reached the next stage in the commissioning process of HUGO with Proof of Concept testing.

GR Engineering’s Mipac boosts process control expertise with Paradigm buy

Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , ,

GR Engineering Services Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, Mipac Holdings Pty Ltd, has entered into an agreement to acquire Paradigm Engineers Pty Ltd, a provider of control systems and electrical engineering, automation and technology services based in Western Australia, in a deal worth A$9 million ($5.9 million).

This transaction enhances Mipac’s control system and electrical design capabilities and expands its existing footprint in Western Australia, the company said, adding that Paradigm has significant expertise working across a range of commodities, including iron ore, gold and battery minerals.

GR Engineering said: “Process controls have become increasingly relied upon as a platform to extract efficiencies and improve safety outcomes in processing operations through the adoption of technology and software solutions. Advances in control system design and product technologies and their adoption in operations are being mandated across the industry by leading industry participants to support the safe and optimised performance of assets.”

Paradigm, which states as having clients such as BHP, Rio Tinto and Newmont, is forecasting financial year 2024 revenue of A$16 million and an EBITDA margin percentage consistent with Mipac, GR Engineering says. The combined Mipac and Paradigm business is expected to generate revenue of approximately A$50 million on a pro-forma basis.

Newmont moves a step closer to acquisition of Newcrest Mining

Mining mergers and acquisitions, Precious metals, , , ,

Following completion of due diligence, Newmont says it has entered into a binding Scheme Implementation Deed (SID) under which Newmont will acquire 100% of the issued share capital in Newcrest by way of an Australian court-approved Scheme of Arrangement.

This circa-$18 billion deal will result in Newmont – already the largest gold miner by production – inheriting a significant copper production base too.

Tom Palmer, President and CEO of Newmont, said: “The combination of Newmont and Newcrest represents an exceptional value proposition for shareholders and other stakeholders. It creates an industry-leading portfolio with a multi-decade gold and copper production profile in the world’s most favourable mining jurisdictions.

“Following a robust due diligence process, we have identified a number of opportunities to unlock substantial value and will apply our experience and expertise to Newcrest’s complementary and exceptional portfolio of long-life, low-cost gold and copper assets. Leveraging our experience from the acquisition of Goldcorp four years ago, we are positioned to deliver an estimated $500 million in annual synergies and an estimated $2 billion in incremental cash flow from portfolio optimization opportunities, both part of our strategy to maximise value for shareholders and other stakeholders.”

Palmer continued: “This transaction also increases Newmont’s annual copper production – a metal vital for the new energy economy – and adds nearly 50 billion pounds (22.7 Mt) of copper reserves and resources from Newcrest to our robust and balanced portfolio. We intend to quickly realise these opportunities to create superior value for our shareholders, workforce, host communities and governments.”

Newcrest’s Chairman, Peter Tomsett, added: “This transaction combines two of the world’s leading gold producers, bringing forward significant value to Newcrest shareholders through the recognition of our outstanding growth pipeline. In addition to the ongoing benefits of merging these premier portfolios, the combined group will set a new benchmark in gold production while benefitting from a material and growing exposure to copper and a market leading position in safety and sustainability. The Newcrest Board is unanimously recommending the proposal. We are very proud of the entire Newcrest team for building a world class metals business, which will form a key part of the combined group. We believe our shareholders and other stakeholders can look forward to an exciting and prosperous future.”

For the last eight years, Newmont has been recognised as the top gold miner in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, it says, regularly ranking as the most transparent company for sustainability disclosure in the S&P 500. Beyond Newcrest’s well-established sustainability credentials and top quartile industry ranking, Newmont will apply its proven sustainability practices and leadership to Newcrest’s assets by:

  • Bringing a clear focus on mitigating safety risks along with visible, felt leadership in the field to drive a fatality-free business;
  • Building on Newmont’s sustainability leadership and commitment to meaningful social engagement based on inclusion, transparency and integrity in order to be the partner of choice for governments, host communities, suppliers and workforce;
  • Remaining committed to Newmont’s leading environmental stewardship practices and climate goals; and
  • Creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone is welcome, attracting and retaining the breadth of skills and innovation needed to continuously improve performance

This acquisition, Newcrest says, would create a world-class portfolio of assets with the highest concentration of Tier 1 operations, primarily in favourable, low-risk mining jurisdictions. Supported by this portfolio, Newmont will be well-positioned to generate strong, stable and lasting returns with best-in-class sustainability performance, well into the future.

Through the combination of high-quality operations, projects and reserves, this portfolio is expected to deliver:

  • Outstanding depth and breadth of global production focused across stable mining jurisdictions:
    • Approximately 8 Moz of total combined annual gold production upon closing the transaction, with more than 5 Moz of gold, or two-thirds of total gold production, from 10 large, long-life, low cost, Tier 1 assets; and
    • Combined annual copper production of approximately 350 MIb from Australia and Canada
  • An extensive portfolio of greenfield and brownfield growth options from the industry’s largest reserve and resource base:
    • 96 Moz of gold reserves declared by Newmont and 52 Moz declared by Newcrest, along with 111 Moz and 68 Moz of gold resources, respectively;
    • Significant majority of combined entity’s gold reserves will be located in the Americas and Australia; and
    • Value-generating projects across some of the world’s most prospective regions including Canada’s Golden Triangle
  • Meaningful increase in copper reserves, a critical metal in facilitating the transition to a new energy economy;
  • Maintaining a disciplined approach to mine planning and project development at reserve gold pricing, creating a resilient business to maximise long-term returns.

The combined business would be immediately supported by Newmont’s scalable, integrated operating model with a deep bench of experienced leaders, subject matter experts and existing regional teams in Australia and Canada, it says. Building on the experience gained following the acquisition of Goldcorp, Newmont has identified the opportunity for substantial synergies:

  • $500 million of total annual pre-tax synergies anticipated to be achieved within the first 24 months following the completion of the transaction:
    • Approximately $100 million of pre-tax general and administrative synergies driven by Newmont’s scalable, integrated operating model with existing regional teams in Australia and Canada;
    • Approximately $200 million of supply chain synergies from best-in-class pricing and existing strong partnerships with key suppliers, smelters and equipment manufacturers through unprecedented economies of scale; and
    • At least $200 million of benefits from Newmont’s proven Full Potential continuous improvement program, which improves costs and productivity through the rapid replication of leading processes and advanced technology.

Further value creation opportunities are anticipated as the Newcrest portfolio is fully integrated into Newmont, bringing together the industry’s best talent and processes across two key mining jurisdictions, including, among other things, the benefits from the experience of Newcrest’s world-class block caving team, it said.

McLanahan to expand water recycling offering with acquisition of filtration leader Diefenbach

Environmental, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , ,

McLanahan Corporation has signed an agreement to acquire Diefenbach, an Italian manufacturer of filter presses and thickeners based out of Medolago, Italy.

The two companies, which have been working together on projects since 2013, expect the acquisition to close during the June quarter of 2023.

Diefenbach has been a leader in liquid-solid separation using filter presses since its founding in 1907, when the company was focused on producing presses for the olive oil industry. In the 1950s, Diefenbach expanded into the recycling and filtration of industrial wastewater. Today, Diefenbach has sold thousands of machines and has extensive experience in selling and manufacturing this equipment for the mining and aggregate industries, as well as for chemical manufacturing, food and beverage processing, battery recycling, PET recycling, wastewater treatment and more.

As the focus on a circular economy and recycling water from industrial processes becomes more prominent on a global scale, McLanahan was looking for a partner to continue expanding its offerings in this space, it said. This will allow the company to ensure it is able to offer a more comprehensive solution to customers and industries around the world in support of these changing requirements for processing.

Cory Jenson, EVP – Sales and Business Development at McLanahan, said: “As we look toward the future, we see a growing need for wastewater and tailings management in a variety of industries as part of the circular economy. Every industry is being challenged to use less and less water and to recycle the water they are using. This acquisition offers significant synergies to McLanahan’s existing tailings solutions in mining and aggregates, which continue to remain a critical part of McLanahan’s product offerings. This new partnership allows us to offer a more competitive solution to our tailings partners around the world.”

Diefenbach will continue to operate as an independent brand in the marketplace, focusing on its core industries and markets around the world.

Komatsu to expand its underground mining equipment offering with GHH acquisition

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , ,

Komatsu has entered into an agreement to acquire Gelsenkirchen, Germany-based GHH Group GmbH (GHH), in a deal that will see it significantly expand its underground mining equipment market share.

Founded in the 1960s and currently part of the German-owned Schmidt Kranz Group, GHH offers a wide range of equipment focused on loaders (LHDs) and articulated dump trucks in the mid-seam mass mining, narrow-vein and low-profile market segments The company also supports customers with aftermarket parts and service support through the entire life of each machine.

With this acquisition, Komatsu will add GHH’s factories and rebuild facilities in key markets, in addition to its robust product offerings and talented staff, the company said.

Peter Salditt, President and CEO, Komatsu Mining Corp, said: “We are very excited about this acquisition as it represents a great opportunity for Komatsu to expand its offerings for underground mining equipment and accelerate new product development through synergies with Komatsu’s existing team and product offerings.

“By adding GHH’s factories and rebuild facilities in key markets in Europe, South Africa, India and Chile, we also aim to strengthen production and service capabilities for our customers.”

Komatsu intends to continue the service GHH provides and plans to support business as usual post-acquisition. The combined team will then work together to expand Komatsu’s offering for underground mining equipment and increase customer access to products in new territories.

GHH Group CEO, Dr Jan Petzold, said: “GHH is excited to be able to start a new journey with a strong player in the mining world. This opens huge doors for our people and our products to develop further and grow beyond what we could have hoped for.

“This is the next logical step in becoming a true global player and we look forward to becoming part of the Komatsu family.”

The official close of the acquisition is projected for the first half of 2023. 

In line with its ongoing mid-term management plan “DANTOTSU Value – Together, to ‘The Next’ for sustainable growth”, Komatsu says it is working to expand offerings for underground hard-rock mining, creating new value for customers with the development of new equipment, processes and technologies that will help operations step forward to the next stage for the workplace of the future and provide a more sustainable environment for the next generation.

GHH for its part has been doing exactly this, expanding its offering of, especially, load and haul equipment for the hard-rock mining space with the launch of the likes of the MK-42 underground truck (pictured) and, most recently, the LF10-NEO.

Epiroc to acquire Australia-based GET player CR

Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , ,

Epiroc is bolstering its exposure to the ground engaging tools (GET) market through the planned acquisition of Australia-based CR.

The company has agreed to acquire the GET and related digital solutions company as part of a plan to expand its “first-rate offering” of essential consumables and digital solutions, it says.

CR, which has an offering covering surface and underground mining, is headquartered in Brisbane and operates globally. The company’s products include cast lips, teeth, and protective shrouds installed on mining buckets and loaders. Its digital solutions include, among other offerings, the real-time GET loss detection system, GET Trakka, and the Titan 3330 payload management system. The solutions strengthen safety and productivity, and protect against expensive delays in the mining operations, according to CR.

CR has about 400 employees and had revenues of about A$240 million ($163 million) in the 12 months ending September 30, 2022.

“This acquisition will expand our offering of innovative and high-quality consumables and digital solutions that strengthen customers’ productivity and safety,” Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO, says. “We look forward to welcome the strong team at CR to Epiroc.”

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first half 2023.

Sandvik to pair Polymathian portfolio with Deswik solutions for ‘unique’ combination

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , ,

Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire Polymathian Industrial Mathematics, an Australia-based provider of advanced mine optimisation software and services.

Polymathian will be reported in Digital Mining Technologies, a division within business area Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions (SMR), Sandvik says.

Polymathian’s solutions for automated decision making and process optimisation complements the offering of Deswik, a leading mine planning software company which Sandvik acquired in April, the company added. Its product offering includes mining operations optimisation and simulation software for areas such as extraction process, material flow, energy and fuel consumption, and maintenance efficiency. It counts several of the world’s largest mining companies as customers.

Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik, said: “With the acquisition of Polymathian we continue to broaden our offering to enhance productivity in our mining customers’ value chain. Polymathian’s automated decision making and process optimisation, together with Deswik’s software tools for planning and managing production, represent a unique combination in the market.”

Polymathian will be a part of Business Unit Deswik and remain OEM agnostic, according to Sandvik.

The acquisition will enable Sandvik to further accelerate the development of its end-to-end optimisation, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and AutoMine® offerings, by leveraging Polymathian’s unique skillset and platform, it added.

Mats Eriksson, President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said: “Polymathian is a great addition to Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, and enables SMR to now have a unique digital portfolio that will help our customers to optimise their data-driven operations across the value chain and ensure their mine design is fully compatible with technologies like AutoMine and BEVs. I am very pleased to welcome Polymathian to the Group.”

Polymathian was founded in 2013, has 50 employees and is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. The company’s annual revenues per June 2022 were around SEK100 million ($9.6 million). The transaction is expected to close during the March quarter of 2023.

Sandvik completes acquisition of Schenck Process Group

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, , , , ,

Sandvik says it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the mining related business of Schenck Process Group (SP Mining).

SP Mining is one of the market leaders in screening, feeding, screening media and train loading solutions in the industry, according to Sandvik. It also has a strong aftermarket business, which includes application support, screen refurbishment, product engineering design and manufacturing and digital support services.

It will be reported in Stationary Crushing and Screening, a division in Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions (SRP).

The two companies already had a global partnership agreement in place dating from 2016 that brought together Sandvik’s high productivity cone crushers and Schenck Process’ high capacity multislope screens.

In 2022, SP Mining expects revenues of about €200 million ($199 million) of which approximately 70% is aftermarket, and an EBITA margin accretive to Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions’ margin, Sandvik said.

Sandvik announced the planned acquisition of SP Mining back in May.

FLSmidth refocuses equipment portfolio in aim to become the leading METS player

Automation, Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , , , ,

FLSmidth has announced a strategic change to enhance long-term profitability and to accelerate growth in its core Mining business, which could see it offload its portfolio of port systems, stockyard equipment, “standard bucketwheel excavators”, “continuous surface mining equipment”, and mine & overland conveyors.

The decision, which comes seven weeks after closing the acquisition of TK Mining, is the result of a planned strategic review of the combined FLSmidth Mining and former TK Mining technology product portfolio against FLSmidth’s long-term strategic direction and ambitions, FLSmidth said.

“With this change, FLSmidth is creating a new platform for improved profitability, lower risk and strategic focus on the core value creating parts of the Mining business,” it said.

The company clarified that the overall strategic rationale for the acquisition of TK Mining has been reconfirmed and the acquired business is overall in line with its expectations. Furthermore, the cost synergy potential from acquiring TK Mining has been revisited, and further cost synergies have been uncovered, FLSmidth claimed. Additionally, the pace to realise these synergies will be accelerated.

The annual cost synergy target is now expected to be around DKK 560 million ($74 million), instead of the previous DKK360 million, with the annual cost synergy run-rate now expected to be achieved by end of 2023 (previously first two years after closing of the acquisition).

The aforementioned review intended to assess all combined mining activities and products from a strategic, financial and sustainability perspective against FLSmidth’s long-term strategic direction and ambitions, the company said. As a result of the strategic review, it has been decided to split the Mining business into two separate segments for operational and reporting purposes:

  • A continuing Mining segment focused on profitability, growth and sustainability;
  • A new Non-Core Activities segment, where activities will be fully exited either by way of divestment or wind-down of the order backlog.

The new segment split will ensure sharpened strategic focus and stronger execution of the continuing Mining activities that are key to accelerate long-term profitability and growth for FLSmidth, it said. At the same time, dedicated focus and resources will be allocated to the Non-Core Activities to ensure transparency and effective execution of the divestment or wind-down and to minimise losses from these activities.

Group CEO, Mikko Keto, said this split would reduce engineering risk, while setting the company up to become the leading technology and service solutions supplier to the global mining industry

“For years FLSmidth has been focused on engineering and large-scale projects with inherently high risks, challenging execution and volatile profitability,” he said. “We are now taking decisive action to further strengthen the focus on our core business, to ensure stronger execution and to drive value creation. The world must undertake a significant green transition over the coming years and the mining industry plays a crucial part in this. With today’s strategic change, FLSmidth is better positioned than ever before to become the leading technology and service solutions supplier to the global mining industry.”

FLSmidth’s Mining segment is dedicated to provide customers with best-in-class full flowsheet technologies and services solutions to enhance their productivity and sustainability agenda. A key focus for FLSmidth Mining is to enhance profitability through a significant service and aftermarket potential, low execution risks, high technology content and process know-how, and a strong sustainability impact

This could see the company offer single services or products, as well as projects with lower risk consisting of product bundles with related performance guarantees in accordance with FLSmidth’s risk management approach.

The continuing Mining segment encompasses, but is not limited to, FLSmidth’s key products within conveying (former TK Mining’s conveyor systems); milling & grinding (including former TK Mining’s high pressure grinding rolls); crushing & feeding; separation, thickening & filtration; pumps, cyclones & valves; sizers, screens & centrifuges; pyro-processing; sampling, preparation & analysis; and mine shaft systems.

The Non-Core Activities segment comprises specific loss-making mining activities and products that are no longer deemed to be of core strategic importance to FLSmidth, the company said. The selection criteria for these activities and product types have been that either they offer limited or no aftermarket potential, are characterised by high execution risks, are highly engineered and/or lack standardisation, and the company sees no viable commercial model for FLSmidth to turn these around. Furthermore, these products are not aligned with or important for FLSmidth’s sustainability agenda, it said.

Consequently, FLSmidth will either divest or wind-down the following activities and products:

  • All legacy FLSmidth and former TK Mining brands: port systems, stockyard equipment and standard bucketwheel excavators;
  • Legacy FLSmidth Mining brands: continuous surface mining equipment and mine & overland conveyors; and
  • Former TK Mining activities: oil extraction technology and aggregate products.

Existing contracts and ongoing activities in the order backlog will be executed and honoured, if not divested, yet FLSmidth will not take new orders for the Non-Core Activities segment, it said.

A designated organisational structure will be established to oversee the Non-Core Activities segment, with the head of the segment reporting directly to the group CFO. Around 450 employees are expected to be included in the Non-Core Activities segment.

The Non-Core Activities segment comprises of an order backlog of around DKK3.6 billion as of the end of the September quarter of 2022, of which approximately half originates from FLSmidth and half from the former TK Mining. The vast majority of the order backlog relates to capital orders.

The Non-Core Activities order backlog is expected to be divested or wound down within the next three years with an expected total EBITA loss over the period of around DKK1.2 billion, FLSmidth said. The estimate is based on historical performance and costs associated with the wind-down or divestment decision. This estimate is subject to uncertainty due to the nature of winding the business down and may change depending on which of parts of the business are divested, it clarified.