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.
Argentina’s copper industry is finally waking up after years on the sidelines. With billions in new investments, world-class projects moving forward, and policy reforms creating momentum, the country is positioning itself as one of the last great frontiers for copper. For suppliers and technology companies, this moment offers a rare chance to shape how Argentina’s mining future is built.
The Vicuña District, straddling the high Andes between Chile and Argentina, is shaping up to be one of the most significant new mining hubs in the Americas. For mining suppliers, it offers a multi-decade pipeline of work across some of the most advanced and exciting copper-gold projects currently in development.
BHP is investing over $10 billion in Chile to strengthen its position in global copper production. The expansion of Escondida, Spence, and Cerro Colorado will boost demand for mining equipment, construction, and engineering, while automation, electrification, and digital technologies create new opportunities for tech suppliers.
While many mining companies are advancing with the easier, more accessible opportunities for reducing emissions, the challenge becomes significantly more complex when considering the entire mining value chain. Scope 3 emissions are just starting to receive more attention from mining companies. It is by the far the hardest to reduce because these emissions stem from services and products provided by their suppliers.
While many business executives understand the basics of how AI works, there is still a gap in knowledge that make it difficult subject to discuss in detail. AI’s rise means more than just keeping pace with technological advances; it’s about understanding the foundational concepts and principles that underpin these systems. These technical aspects – once the domain of data scientists and engineers – now intersect with law, ethics, and business strategy.
Argentina has taken a different approach to developing its lithium industry compared to its neighbours, which has it made it an investment destination. As the world’s fourth largest lithium producer, it is expected to triple its output in the near term as new projects are completed and they ramp up to their targets.
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