Nickel Industries (ASX:NIC) struck a deal to acquire a 36% stake in an Indonesian high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) project as part of a long-term collaboration with its Indonesian partner in nickel ore mining, according to a Wednesday filing with the Australian bourse.
Indonesian investor PT Jaya Agung Investasi has rights to acquire 85.7% of the equity in the HPAL project. Nickel Industries and its partner will acquire these rights in exchange for a 30% stake in mine companies PT Abadi Nikel Nusantara and PT Erabaru Timur Lestari, per the filing.
The share-for-share transaction values the two mine companies at about $1.34 billion and the HPAL project at $671 million, both on a pre-money basis.
In May, Nickel Industries agreed to acquire a 60% equity interest in the two mine companies for an aggregate of $149 million.
Nickel Industries said it is now effectively monetizing an 18% equity interest in the two mine companies, at an implied acquisition cost of $44.7 million, in return for an effective 36% stake in the HPAL project at an implied value of $241.6 million.
After the deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, Nickel Industries will continue to be the largest shareholder and operator of the mine companies with a 42% stake, followed by PT Jaya with 30% and its local partner at 28%.
The HPAL project is under construction with a designed annual nameplate production of 28,357 nickel tonnes. Its commissioning is expected to start in mid-2027.
Shares of Nickel Industries fell 2% in recent Wednesday trade.