The Conversation (0)
Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) ("ASCU" or the "Company"), an emerging U.S. copper developer, is pleased to announce that further to its June 25, 2025 press release, ASCU has completed the 0.64% buy-down of certain net smelter returns royalties on the Cactus Project (collectively, the "NSRs"; see FIGURE 1 " 2025 Royalty Map" ). Following execution of definitive documentation, total cash payments of US$8.91 million were made to RG Royalties, LLC, a subsidiary of Royal Gold Inc. (RLGD:NASDAQ) and Elemental Royalties Delaware LLC, a subsidiary of Elemental Altus Royalties Corp. (ELE:TSXV), upon which the aggregate percentage of the NSRs was reduced from 3.18% to a remaining 2.54% (collectively, the "Buy-downs").
Nick Nikolakakis, Arizona Sonoran Chief Financial Officer and VP Finance commented , "Management's focus is driven by delivering copper price exposure and potential upside to our shareholders. The completion of the Buy-downs is a natural step for the Company to generate potential additional shareholder value and reduce economic encumbrance on the asset as we advance towards project financing. In particular, the 2024 PEA demonstrated that the $8.91 million expenditure to complete the Buy-downs improves the Cactus Project valuation at variety of long‑term copper price forecasts and, therefore, increases shareholder value, now and in the long run."
The Company's subsidiaries, Cactus 110 LLC and Arizona Sonoran Copper Company USA Inc., following execution of definitive documentation, have completed the Buy-downs as follows: (i) Royal Gold's 2.5% NSR to 2.0% for US$7.0 million and (ii) Elemental Altus' 0.68% NSR to 0.54% for US$1.91 million.
Neither the TSX nor the regulating authority has approved or disproved the information contained in this press release.
Links from the PR:
FIGURE 1: "2025 Royalty Map" https://arizonasonoran.com/projects/cactus-mine-project/press-release-images/
June 25, 2025 Press Release: https://arizonasonoran.com/news-releases/arizona-sonoran-buys-down-0.64-of-the-cactus-project-royalties/
About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company ( www.arizonasonoran.com | www.cactusmine.com )
ASCU is a copper exploration and development company with a 100% interest in the brownfield Cactus Project. The Project, on privately held land, contains a large-scale porphyry copper resource and a recent 2024 PEA proposes a generational open pit copper mine with robust economic returns. Cactus is a lower risk copper developer benefitting from a State-led permitting process, in place infrastructure, highways and rail lines at its doorstep and onsite permitted water access. The Company's objective is to develop Cactus and become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, that could generate robust returns and provide a long-term sustainable and responsible operation for the community, investors and all stakeholders. The Company is led by an executive management team and Board which have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America complemented by global capital markets expertise.
Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipated", "assumptions", "become", "believes", "conceptual", "could", "delivering", "developer", "emerging", "estimates", "exploration", "expectation", "focus", "future", "generational", "later", "long-term", "objectives", "options", "potential", "proposes", "risk", "subject to", "towards", "upside", and "will", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, would, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide, result or support in the future, or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the implications of the Buy-downs (including impacts on the valuation and other economics of the Cactus Project, and any resulting shareholder value or upside related to such Buy-downs); management's focus and any delivery of copper price exposure and potential upside to shareholders; ); project financing; the 2024 PEA and results thereof (including risk, economic returns, operating costs, production, and proposal of a generational open pit copper mine); and the Company's objectives (including development of the Cactus Project, becoming a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, that could generate robust returns and provide a long-term sustainable and responsible operation for the community, investors and all stakeholders, and any other continuing or future successes). Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that those forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release which may prove to be incorrect include those set forth or referenced in this press release, as well as those stated in the Company's prior press releases referenced herein (collectively, the "Referenced PRs"), the technical report for the Cactus Project filed on August 27, 2024 (the "2024 PEA Technical Report"), the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 27, 2025 (the "AIF"), Management's Discussion and Analysis (together with the accompanying financial statements) for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the quarters already ended in 2025 (collectively, the "2024-25 Financial Disclosure") and the Company's other applicable public disclosure (collectively, "Company Disclosure"), all available on the Company's website at www.arizonasonoran.com and under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca . Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ASCU to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, the "Risk Factors" in the AIF, and the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the Referenced PRs, the 2024 PEA Technical Report and the 2024-25 Financial Disclosure. The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the AIF, the 2024-25 Financial Disclosure and other Company Disclosure. Although ASCU has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and ASCU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this press release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the AIF, the Referenced PRs, the 2024 PEA Technical Report and the 2024-25 Financial Disclosure.
Preliminary Economic Assessments
The Preliminary Economic Assessment (or 2024 PEA) referenced in this press release and summarized in the 2024 PEA Technical Report is only a conceptual study of the potential viability of the Cactus Project and the economic and technical viability of the Cactus Project has not been demonstrated. The 2024 PEA is preliminary in nature and provides only an initial, high-level review of the Cactus Project's potential and design options; there is no certainty that the 2024 PEA will be realized. For further detail on the Cactus Project and the 2024 PEA, including applicable technical notes and cautionary statements, please refer to the Company's press release dated August 7, 2024 and the 2024 PEA Technical Report, both available on the Company's website at www.arizonasonoran.com and under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250813774960/en/
For more information
Alison Dwoskin, Director, Investor Relations
647-233-4348
adwoskin@arizonasonoran.com
George Ogilvie, President, CEO and Director
416-723-0458
gogilvie@arizonasonoran.com
View original content to download multimedia: 
