has acquired
Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank serving the middle market, today announced that it served as financial advisor to Strategic Bauxite on its acquisition of First Bauxite and led the formation of Strategic Bauxite’s equity capital consortium. The asset has been deemed a critical mineral resource by the US government and Cascadia’s Equity Capital Solutions (ECS) team is pleased to have helped facilitate a private / public partnership to secure this important reserve.
The transaction reflects the Cascadia team’s ability to develop tailored equity solutions for complex, often esoteric, middle-market transactions. Cascadia ECS works across sectors and geographies to connect institutional capital with companies and sponsors executing acquisitions, growth initiatives, recapitalizations, and other strategic initiatives.
Strategic Bauxite is an independent private equity sponsor and metals and mining sector specialist. The acquisition provides Strategic Bauxite with a vertically integrated, high-grade refractory bauxite platform in Guyana with significant long-term growth potential.
First Bauxite operates the Bonasika mining and beneficiation complex, producing high-purity refractory-grade bauxite for a range of industrial applications, including refractories and steelmaking, water treatment, flame retardants, abrasives and welding, and glass manufacturing. Its Bonasika operations are supported by an extensive mineral resource base with a mine life of more than 20 years, as well as additional opportunities across high-purity quartz sand and clay resources.
The transaction brought together private sector capital and significant U.S. federal government support to facilitate the acquisition and future growth of a strategically important critical minerals platform. The investment is expected to support increased production and expanded downstream processing and refining capabilities while creating additional value-added activity in Guyana.
“The First Bauxite transaction is a strong example of the unique opportunities that our Equity Capital Solutions platform specializes in — Cascadia formed a syndicate of highly sophisticated investors, fully aligned on the future of the Bonasika assets,” said Michael Kahn, Director, Equity Capital Solutions at Cascadia.
Sim Ketchum, Co-Head of Equity Capital Solutions at Cascadia Capital, added, “The deal is very timely given securing reliable, diversified sources of refractory-grade bauxite has become a priority for both the U.S. public and private sectors. We were pleased to advise Strategic Bauxite on the acquisition and its equity raise. It brings together private investment and the U.S. Department of War’s Economic Defense Unit around a high-quality, vertically integrated critical mineral operation with significant growth potential.”