Magna Mining (TSXV:NICU) - Magna Bets on Copper's Future with Acquisition of KGHM's Sudbury Portfolio

Interview with Jason Jessup, CEO of Magna Mining Inc.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/magna-mining-tsxvnicu-unlocking-value-in-sudburys-high-grade-copper-nickel-projects-5062

Recording date: 10th December 2024

Magna Mining is set to acquire the McCreedy West copper mine and other Sudbury assets from KGHM in a transformational $9.3 million deal expected to close in Q1 2025. The acquisition includes the producing McCreedy West mine, two mines on care and maintenance (Levack and Podolsky), and five exploration properties in the Sudbury Basin.

McCreedy West, currently producing 317,000 tonnes annually at 1.6% copper, will serve as the foundation for Magna's growth strategy. The underground mine features three distinct zones: a nickel-rich Main zone, copper-dominant 700 Complex, and PGM-rich PM zone. Magna plans to optimize and expand production from the current 900 tonnes per day to 1,500 tonnes per day by the end of 2025, potentially generating $20-40 million in free cash flow by 2026.

The company has outlined an ambitious development sequence, using McCreedy West's cash flow to fund the restart of the historic Levack mine in 2026. Levack contains a high-grade resource of 700,000 tonnes at 4% copper, 1% nickel, and 4-5 g/t PGMs. During its previous operation under FNX Mining, Levack consistently produced exceptional grades of 8-10% copper with significant precious metal credits.

Magna's growth strategy extends beyond these initial assets. The company plans to advance its 100%-owned Crean Hill project, with a pre-feasibility study scheduled for H2 2025 and potential production by 2027. By year-end 2027, Magna envisions operating three mines in commercial production, with Podolsky representing a fourth future opportunity.

The acquisition particularly resonates with Magna's management team, led by CEO Jason Jessup, who previously operated these assets at FNX Mining. Under their management, FNX transformed similar non-core INCO assets into a $1.5 billion company that was later acquired.

Beyond the production potential, Magna sees significant exploration upside, particularly in the 2-kilometer trend between McCreedy West and Levack. This underexplored footwall environment has historically yielded high-grade discoveries, and the company expects to announce a new discovery within two years.

The strategy aligns with growing copper demand driven by global electrification trends. S&P Global forecasts copper demand to double to 50 million metric tons by 2035, driven by electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and grid modernization. With established infrastructure in the tier-one Sudbury jurisdiction and access to multiple processing facilities, Magna is positioning itself to capitalize on these favorable market fundamentals while minimizing capital requirements through staged development of its asset portfolio.

View Magna Mining's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/magna-mining

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