AGORACOM Small-cap Investor Relations Blog

Candente Copper is currently focused on its 100% owned Canariaco project, which includes the Feasibility stage Canariaco Norte deposit as well as the Canariaco Sur deposit and Quebrada Verde prospect, located within the western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes in the Department of Lambayeque in Northern Peru. Canariaco is included in Goldman Sachs 84 Top Copper Projects Worldwide

An employee looks over sheets of copper cathode at Glencore’s Lomas Bayas copper operation in Chile. Credit: Glencore.

Copper was once again approaching the psychologically important US$3 per lb. level on the back of falling inventories, booming Chinese demand and pandemic hit supply from South America, the U.S. and Africa.

On Aug. 26, Copper for delivery in December trading in New York jumped 1.5% to US$2.9965 per lb. ($6,605 a tonne) in afternoon trading, bringing gains in 2020 to more than 7%, and 50% since the Covid-19 lows struck in March.

A new report from Roskill suggests the rally in copper, which has surprised many with its speed, has further to go.

Jonathan Barnes, associate consultant for copper at the London-based metal and minerals research firm, says while the effects of Covid-19 could decrease world consumption of the metal by 3%-4% this year, the drop in mine output and scrap flows has been greater.

This is most visible in the fall in inventories around the world.

Globally, total visible stocks, which include those on exchanges and bonded warehouses in China, fell by 40% from March through July to below 600,000 tonnes. LME warehouse inventories are at 13-year lows.

China is responsible for more than half of the world’s copper consumption, and the country is buying copper at record-setting rates.

“China is importing more refined metal from nearly every country suggesting a structural shift, not a temporary change,” says Barnes. 

“If you are looking for signs of panic buying, you can find evidence of that in China – total Chinese stocks represent less than two weeks’ consumption at current rates of use.”

In the rest of the world, where demand has dropped by much more relative to China, stocks represent only one week of consumption.

The lack of available scrap – imports are down 50% in the first half – after Beijing delayed new importing rules, has forced the Chinese buyers to replace secondary sources with cathode, further driving down visible inventories.

Roskill estimates a 300,000-tonne shortfall in imports of secondary materials — scrap, ingots and granules – into China from January to July.

Barnes believes global scrap flows may not normalize until the first quarter of next year, but would depend on new rules in China.

Roskill’s sources have not been able to confirm that China’s State Reserve Bureau has been buying up strategic stocks of copper, “but if they were, they probably would have done so earlier, when prices were much lower,” Barnes says.

Disruptions to mine supply could be between 750,000 to 1 million tonnes in 2020, with eight out of the 10 largest miners recording lower output during the first half of the year.

China’s concentrate imports are down year on year, while sourcing anodes from the central Africa copper belt is also hitting roadblocks.

Barnes says China’s two-year restocking cycle is rising in amplitude as the country’s dominance in the copper market increases, and he expects an 11.5% rise for the full year in copper imports.

The country has a structural copper market deficit, and it restocks whenever LME prices appear attractive. Moreover, says Barnes, China can take a long term view and use tomorrow what it does not need today.

Roskill expects trade data to show another bumper August for imports, despite being a seasonally muted month for shipments.

The copper price will likely rise further towards the end of 2020, Barnes says, and the current environment has strong parallels to the rebound in the copper price after the global financial crisis.

Copper hit a low of US$1.32 per lb. in January 2009, then surged to US$3.55 by April 2010, on its way to an all-time high of US$4.58 (more than $10,000 per tonne) in February 2011.

SOURCE: https://www.northernminer.com/commodities-markets/copper-price-to-extend-rally-on-signs-of-chinese-panic-buying/1003821456/

• Fortescue Metals Group Limited holds 19.9% shareholding in the Company.
• Fortesque is a strategic Advisor to advance Canariaco Norte

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Candente Copper Corp. (TSX:DNT, BVL:DNT) (“Candente Copper” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Mr. Agustin Pichot has been appointed to the board of directors of Candente Copper, representing Fortescue Metals Group Limited (“Fortescue”) who has a 19.9% shareholding in the Company.

Mr. Pichot is President of Fortescue South America and is responsible for the development of Fortescue’s mining, energy and infrastructure business across the region. 

Previously (in 2000) Mr. Pichot founded Pegas Group, a large South American sport media and marketing agency and also worked in asset management and global investment strategies in the financial sector in Argentina from 2015 to 2018.

Prior to 2010, Mr. Pichot spent 16 years as a player and national captain in world rugby representing Argentina and France.  He also served as an Executive Board Member, for both the Argentina Rugby Union and the International Rugby Board between 2011 and 2020.  A philanthropist, Mr. Pichot is also part of the executive teams of two foundations, Fundación Enrique Alberto Pichot and the Minderoo Foundation.

On another matter, John Black has advised the company that due to his many other demanding commitments, he has decided not to stand for re-election as Director at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) in September.  We are pleased to advise, however, that Mr. Black will stay on as an advisor to the Company and as a member of the Cañariaco Norte Technical Committee, which the Company is forming with Fortescue. 

About Candente Copper
Candente Copper is a mineral exploration company engaged in acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The Company is currently focused on its 100% owned Cañariaco project, which includes the Feasibility stage Cañariaco Norte deposit as well as the Cañariaco Sur deposit and Quebrada Verde prospect, located within the Western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes in the Department of Lambayeque in Northern Peru.

On behalf of the Board of Candente Copper Corp.

“Joanne C. Freeze” P.Geo.
President, CEO and Director
___________________________________
For further information please contact:

“Joanne C. Freeze” P.Geo.
President, CEO and Director
Tel +1 604-689-1957
[email protected]
www.candentecopper.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Candente Copper Corp. (TSX:DNT, BVL:DNT) (“Candente Copper” or the “Company”) advises that Mr. Luis Miguel Inchaustegui Zevallos has resigned as Advisor and Director of our Peruvian subsidiary, Cañariaco Copper Perú S.A. (”Cañariaco”) and has been named Minister of Energy and Mines of Peru. 

We thank Mr. Inchaustegui for all of his excellent advice and wish him all the best in his new endeavours.

On another matter the Company also advises that the Board of Directors has adopted a new shareholder rights plan (“Rights Plan”), which is designed to encourage the fair treatment of the Company’s Shareholders in connection with any potential take‑over bid for the Company. The Rights Plan is not intended to deter or prevent take‑over bids and is similar to plans adopted recently by several other Canadian public companies and approved by their Shareholders. 

Background and Purpose of the Rights Plan

The Rights Plan will:

1. encourage the fair treatment of shareholders of the Company in connection with any Offer to Acquire the outstanding Voting Shares;
2. ensure, to the extent possible, that the shareholders of the Company and the Board of Directors have adequate time to consider and evaluate any unsolicited Offer to Acquire the outstanding Voting Shares;
3. ensure, to the extent possible, that the Board of Directors has adequate time to identify, develop and negotiate value-enhancing alternatives, as appropriate, to any unsolicited Offer to Acquire the outstanding Voting Shares; and
4. generally assist the Board of Directors to enhance shareholder value.

Take‑over bid contests for corporate control provide a singular opportunity for Shareholders to obtain a one‑time gain. After the acquisition of effective control, the opportunity for this one‑time gain normally does not re‑occur. As with most public companies, it is possible for a person to secure control of the Company through the ownership of much less than 50% of the Company’s shares. Without a shareholder rights plan, a bidder could acquire effective control of the Company over a relatively short period of time, through open market and private purchases and using various techniques permitted under Canadian securities legislation, all without making a bid available to all Shareholders. This acquisition of control would probably be an effective deterrent to other potential offerors. The person acquiring control might also be able to consolidate and increase its control, over a period of time, without the price for control ever being tested through an open market auction. Shareholder rights plans are designed to prevent this occurrence by forcing all acquisitions of control into a public offer mode.

A public offer will not necessarily achieve all of the objectives of ensuring the maximum value to Shareholders. The Rights Plan is intended to provide the Board with sufficient time to pursue alternatives and to provide Shareholders with sufficient time to properly assess any take‑over bid.

The Company is not proposing the Rights Plan in response to or in anticipation of any acquisition or take‑over bid. The Rights Plan is not intended to prevent a take‑over of the Company, to secure continuance of current management or the directors in office, or to deter fair offers for the Company’s shares. The Rights Plan does not inhibit or prevent any Shareholder from using the proxy mechanism set out in the BCBCA to promote a change in the management or direction of the Company. The Rights Plan may, however, increase the price to be paid by a potential offeror to obtain control of the Company and may discourage certain transactions.

The Rights Plan does not affect in any way the Company’s financial condition. The initial issuance of the Rights will not dilute the Company’s shares and will not affect reported earnings or cash flow per share until the Rights separate from the underlying common shares and become exercisable. The adoption of the Rights Plan will not lessen or affect the duty of the Company’s directors to act honestly, in good faith, and in the Company’s best interests. The Rights Plan is designed to provide the directors with the means to negotiate with an offeror and with sufficient time to seek out and identify alternative transactions on behalf of the Shareholders.

The Rights Plan is subject to Toronto Stock Exchange and Shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on September 17th, 2020.  If the Shareholders do not approve the Rights Plan, it will terminate or not become effective, as applicable. The Rights Plan will also expire if the Rights are redeemed by the Company. A copy of the Rights Plan Agreement can be requested for review to [email protected].Once the Rights Plan has been approved, it will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and posted on the Company’s website at www.candentecopper.com.

About Candente Copper
Candente Copper is a mineral exploration company engaged in acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The Company is currently focused on its 100% owned Cañariaco project, which includes the Feasibility stage Cañariaco Norte deposit as well as the Cañariaco Sur deposit and Quebrada Verde prospect, located within the western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes in the Department of Lambayeque in Northern Peru.

At Cañariaco Norte, 7.5 billion pounds of copper have been delineated in a Measured and Indicated* resource of 752.4 million tonnes grading 0.49% copper equivalent** and an Inferred Resource of 157.7 million tonnes at 0.44% copper equivalent has also been delineated.

Fifteen drill holes have confirmed that Cañariaco Sur hosts a porphyry-copper deposit, however the average grade and full dimensions of the deposit are as yet unknown. Quebrada Verde also hosts a geochemical and geophysical target where porphyry style copper mineralization is exposed in creek beds. 

Candente Copper also holds other porphyry copper-gold exploration projects in Peru. 

Joanne C. Freeze, P.Geo., CEO, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the projects discussed above. She has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.

*The ‘Measured and Indicated Resource listed above consists of Measured Resources of 338.1Mt at 0.48% Cu , 0.08 g/t Au, and 2.0/t Ag (0.52% Cu Eq.), plus Indicated Resources of 414.3Mt at 0.43% Cu, 0.06 g/t Au, and 1.8 g/t Ag (o.46% Cu Eq.).  All resources quoted in this release are based on a 0.30% copper cut-off grade and 229 drill holes completed to the end of 2008.

**Copper equivalent grade including gold and silver, metal recoveries (copper 90%, gold 55%; silver 50%) and smelter returns (copper 96.5%: gold 93%; silver 90%) applied. Copper grade equivalent calculation: Cu Eq% =(Cu % + ((Au grade x Au price x Au recovery x Au smelter return%)+(Ag grade x Ag price x Ag recovery x Ag smelter return%))/(22.0462 x Cu price x 31.0135 g/t x Cu recovery x Cu smelter return%). The metal prices used are: copper US$2.50/lb, gold US$1,035/oz and silver US$17.25/oz.

On behalf of the Board of Candente Copper Corp.

“Joanne C. Freeze” P.Geo.
President, CEO and Director
___________________________________
For further information please contact:

“Joanne C. Freeze” P.Geo.
President, CEO and Director
Tel +1 604-689-1957
[email protected]
www.candentecopper.com

CANDENTE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Canariaco Included in Goldman Sachs 84 Top Copper Projects Worldwide
  • Cañariaco in Lowest Quartile of Copper Industry Production Costs
  • Definitive Feasibility 50% Complete
  • Higher grade throughput of 0.54% CuEqMill Feed Grade during first 3 years
  • Rising Copper and Gold Prices Impacting 2011 PFS
• Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. owns 19.92% interest
  • Joint technical committee created to identify optimum strategy for Cañariaco development

Project Highlights:

Cañariaco Norte is a 100% owned feasibility-stage porphyry copper deposit

• A single, contiguous, open-pit mineable deposit of 7.5B pounds Measured and Indicated,
• 1.4B pounds Inferred Porphyry Copper Deposit
• Annual production of 262,000,000lbs of copper, 39,000 oz gold & 911,000 oz silver over initial mine life of 22 yrs(@ 95,000 tpd)

Pre-Feasibility Study

• NPV of US $922M and IRR of 17.3% (using US$2.25 copper and an 8% discount rate)
• Payback of preproduction capital in 4.4 years (after-tax)
• Copper Production of 262,000,000 pounds per year
• Initial Mine life of 22 years+
• Throughput rate of 95,000 tonnes per day
• Operating costs of US$0.988 per pound of copper (including onsite/offsite costs, taxes and byproduct credits)
• Minimal infrastructure required, excellent locations for all site facilities, close to existing highway (42km away) and power grid (57km away) & abundant water at site
• Very strong community & regional support

The Cañariaco Norte Copper Project

• Canariaco in Top 80 Deposits slated for Development according to Goldman Sachs
  • 42 in South America –Cañariaco Included
  • Cañariaco in Lowest Quartile of Copper Industry Production Costs
• Large scale porphyry copper–gold-silver deposit in Northern Peru
• 7.5B pounds Measured and Indicated, plus 1.4B pounds Inferred Porphyry Copper Deposit
• Deposit and Scope of Project Development well defined by Pre-Feasibility Studies in 2011
• Annual production of 262,000,000lbs of copper, 39,000 oz gold & 911,000 oz silver over initial mine life of 22 yrs(@ 95,000 tpd)
• Operating costs of US$0.988 per pound of copper (including onsite/offsite costs, taxes and byproduct credits
• Strong Government support

Resource and Mine Plan

123 Million tonnes @ 0.58% Cu Eq (0.4% Cu cutoff) Measured

752 Million tonnes @ 0.52% Cu Eq (0.3% Cu cutoff) M & Indicated

1.0 Billion tonnes @ 0.46% Cu Eq(0.2% Cu cutoff) M & I

Current Mine Plan 728.2 Million tonnes @ 0.46% CuEqMill Feed Grade

• Higher grade throughput of 0.54% CuEqMill Feed Grade during first 3 years

Canariaco Price Sensitivities Chart

• Rising Copper and Silver Prices dramatically Project Economics
• Based on 2011 Pre-Feasibility Progress Report