Louis Dreyfus Commodities (“LDC”) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Louis Dreyfus Commodities Metals Suisse SA, has acquired a minority stake in Chinalco Mining Corporation International (“CMC”) as a cornerstone investor of the successful listing of CMC on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on January 31st 2013.
This new partnership is an important step for LDC’s continued development in the copper concentrates markets and a unique opportunity to establish a strategic commercial relationship with CMC and its parent, Chinalco, whilst cementing its role as one of the largest merchants of copper, lead and zinc concentrates and a substantial refined metals merchandiser. The investment is fully in line with LDC’s growth strategy in the sector and will contribute to grow LDC’s long term presence in the Peruvian market.
The transaction involves both a strategic cornerstone investment in the Initial Public Offering and an off-take agreement pursuant to which LDC will buy a share of the annual production of copper concentrates of the Toromocho Project for a period of five years.
CMC is owned by Chinalco, a Fortune 500 company and a leading metals and mining conglomerate based in China, and is acting as Chinalco’s platform for the acquisition, investment, development and operation of non-ferrous and non-aluminum mineral resources and projects overseas. CMC is currently focusing on developing the Toromocho Project which is located in central Peru in the core of the Morococha Mining district.
Louis Dreyfus Commodities is a global merchandiser of commodities, a major asset owner and a processor of agricultural goods. With more than 160 years of experience, our portfolio has grown to include Oilseeds, Grains, Rice, Freight, Finance, Juice, Cotton, Coffee, Sugar, Metals, Dairy and Fertilizers & Inputs. Our diversified activities span the value chain where we operate from farm to fork. Dedicated to providing sustenance for our planet, today we help to feed and clothe up to 500 million people, originating, processing and transporting approximately 70 million tons of food around the world annually.