Sneak Preview: Mergers & Acquisitions in Mining Tech with Ivan Gustavino
In this sneak preview, Ax Legal’s Managing Partner Cody McFarlane speaks with Ivan Gustavino, Managing Director at Atrico, who has advised over 100 high-growth companies in mining, industrial tech, and software. With M&A activity heating up, Ivan breaks down what investors and buyers really look for in mining technology companies today.
Labor law is often the first real surprise for foreign companies in Brazil, and it is changing again. The six-day work week is ending, with very little time to prepare. Mining services, technology and energy companies will feel it most. Field teams, site rotations and round-the-clock operations do not fit neatly into a five-day week, and changing them takes planning, union agreement and clean records.
Codelco is still the world’s largest copper producer and the most important company in the Chilean economy. It is also under real pressure. Its main mines are ageing, ore grades are falling, and the projects meant to replace lost production have taken longer and cost more than planned. The next few months will be telling to show whether 2026 was a turning point or another difficult year.
Argentina has simplified the process for registered mining companies and service providers to import qualifying equipment, spare parts and inputs duty free. For mining technology and equipment suppliers, this can mean faster imports, easier movement of used equipment, and more flexibility to support multiple projects across the country.
Cerro Colorado operated for nearly three decades as an important copper producer in Chile’s Tarapacá Region. After remaining out of production for several years, BHP is now seeking to reactivate the mine through a US$1.5 billion restart project. If approved, the proposal would extend Cerro Colorado’s operating life by approximately 20 years and support annual production of up to 130,000 tonnes of copper cathodes.
Brazil is a complex market, and winning work from a Brazilian mining client is only the first challenge. The harder part is often getting your people, equipment, and technology approved and ready to operate on site. Our latest blog helps foreign mining suppliers understand the mobilization process and the key steps required before starting work on a mine site in Brazil.
Argentina has quietly become one of the world’s most important mining stories…and it is now impossible to ignore. By the mid-2030s, the country could rank among the world’s top five copper exporters and top three lithium producers, and the foundations for that are being poured right now.
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