Francisco Acuña

Francisco Acuña Email and Phone Number

Manager BD | Financing and acquisitions @ IXM
Chile
Francisco Acuña's Location
Chile, Chile
About Francisco Acuña

Looking to unlock value in the mining sector by combining technical know-how, business savviness, international experience and entrepreneurial spirit to solve complex challenges and create opportunities. Francisco is a Chemical Civil Engineer from the University of Concepción and M.Sc. Industry, Trade & Development from the University of Manchester, with +12 years of experience in the mining sector and international experience throughout the mining business. His entrepreneurial spirit has allowed him to develop a wide network of contacts in the industry. He is currently leading CRU’s Consulting team in the region, a top-tier commodity market intelligence consulting firm headquartered in the UK, focused on base metals and battery metals projects in the Americas. Prior to this, he was an independent advisor and founded a boutique consulting firm while residing in the US, providing M&A and strategy advice in exploration businesses and mining projects to mining companies and financial institutions globally. Francisco began his career at BHP, involved in the strategic development of Minera Escondida, working on geo-metallurgical studies and the feasibility of future deposits in the district; as well as in the development of new leaching technologies for the company.

Francisco Acuña's Current Company Details
IXM

Ixm

View
Manager BD | Financing and acquisitions
Chile
Website:
ixmetals.com
Employees:
377
Francisco Acuña Work Experience Details
  • Ixm
    Manager Bd | Financing And Acquisitions
    Ixm
    Chile
  • Ecowinning Technologies
    Advisory Board Member
    Ecowinning Technologies Mar 2024 - Present
    Chile
  • Cru
    Principal Consultant
    Cru Mar 2022 - Present
    Santiago Metropolitan Area
    Principal Consultant at the Santiago office, acting as practice lead in the South America region and leading a team of 7 consultants with a primary focus in copper and battery metals. CRU Consulting is the specialist consultancy arm of CRU providing independent, data-driven and proprietary advice to the world’s leading metals and mining companies, financial institutions and governments. Responsibilities and key areas of development have included: · Build relations across stakeholders in the mining sector for the Americas, as focal point for regional expertise within the copper and battery metals sectors. This accounts for mining companies, financial institutions such as banks, funds and IFIs, and government institutions. · Construct and grow the business pipeline in South America, with a special focus in Andean countries. · Lead a team of six consultants in the region, and collaborative coordinate across functions in the organization (including analysists, sales, events and other stakeholders). · Direct multiple complex consulting projects in strategy development, market entry, competitiveness and marketing. Ensured overall quality of the work, managed client relationships and coordinated global teams of cross-functional and multi-cultural consultants. · Media relationship and regular speaker at international mining & metals conferences in Latin America delivering expert insights on the mining industry.
  • Cru
    Senior Consultant
    Cru Nov 2019 - Feb 2022
    Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile
    Francisco joined the Santiago office as Senior Consultant in 2019. Relevant projects include: · Support major copper projects financing, lenders report and M&A due diligence processes. This includes mining-related infrastructure due diligence for private equity funds. · Strategy and market intelligence assessments, including: advisory on tax and royalties policies impact in the copper industry; complex concentrates commercialization; copper blister market; and novel processing technology total addressable market in the copper sector. · Concentrate products marketability strategy, including complex concentrates, molybdenum and nickel by-products. · Valuation and risk assessment for downstream roasting capacity for major mining company, as well as implementation of new leaching technology/infrastructure advisory. · Regional advisor for lithium batteries value chain policy and development strategies in Latam for leading international financial institutions.
  • Independent
    Independent Advisor
    Independent Jul 2019 - Oct 2019
    Santiago Province, Chile
    Independent advisor for private & publicly-listed mining companies, structuring transactions and new business opportunities for both buy- and sell-side. • M&A: Deal terms negotiation for exploration project option agreement and royalty transaction. • Financing: Evaluation of private equity financing, project financing and royalty financing.
  • Kura Minerals
    Founder & Head Business Development
    Kura Minerals Jul 2016 - Jun 2019
    Baton Rouge, La (Usa) - Santiago (Chile)
    Founder of Kura Minerals, a vehicle for mining companies and equity investment firms looking to develop exploration and mining projects within the Latin America region. An established brand, and an innovative consulting firm that increased sales 10x on it first year of full-scale operation in Chile (2018).Milestones:• Incubated while based in United States in 2016, and expanded towards full scale operation in Chile starting 2018. • Design, implementation and development of the business model and marketing strategy; building relationships within major and junior mining companies, commodities traders, governmental bodies and financial institutions internationally• Negotiate several exploration and feasibility stage projects acquisition transactions (M&A), and alternative financing (royalties and private equity) for mining projects. Completed agreements valued over US$ 20 Millions.• Representation and in-country management of TSX-V and ASX mining companies operating in Chile• Develop in-house back office tool to manage clients, expenses, accounting and projects• Develop multi-commodities portfolio of projects in Chile, including grassroots to near production, GIS database and online platform. The platform was awarded Corfo’s Startup Chile and finalist at Fundación Chile’s Think Big Mining
  • Bhp Billiton
    Metallurgical Development Engineer
    Bhp Billiton Jul 2012 - Nov 2014
    Antofagasta Province, Chile
    Development, Infrastructure and Strategic ResourcesMinera Escondida Role description and achievements:• Support the asset’s strategic long term planning and growth, providing processing feasibility for new ore deposits in the Escondida site. • Responsible for Process chapters in selection phase study in a > 250 MMUSD capital project. • Metallurgical (mineral processing) testworking budgeting, design and execution with local and international specialists. • Mineral processing design and geometallurgical block modeling.• Review and control the Superintendence budget (approx. 3 MMUSD p.a.).• Successful completion of the BHP Billiton Graduate Foundation Program.
  • Bhp Billiton
    Process Engineer
    Bhp Billiton Dec 2010 - Jun 2012
    Antofagasta Province, Chile
    Base Metals Technology - Cpy ProjectBHP Billiton Graduate ProgramRole description and achievements:• Researcher in novel leaching process technologies for the Copper Group.• Support R&D Project from conceptual framework up to industrial piloting.• Supervise pilot plant operation.• Support Spence and Escondida assets for heap leaching process optimization.• Coordinate technical feasibility study for solar energy powered heap leaching heatingsystem.• Managing 30 people during weekend Pilot Plant emergency shutdown.
  • Dow Chemical
    Process Engineer Student Intern
    Dow Chemical Dec 2008 - Jan 2009
    Concepción Province, Chile
    PetroDow Polyethylene Plant - The Dow Chemical CompanyInternship Talcahuano, ChileProcess Engineer Student Intern Overview:• Support the Projects Team by delivering a conceptual level feasibility study for the construction of a cooling tower system.

Francisco Acuña Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Francisco Acuña

What company does Francisco Acuña work for?

Francisco Acuña works for Ixm

What is Francisco Acuña's role at the current company?

Francisco Acuña's current role is Manager BD | Financing and acquisitions.

What schools did Francisco Acuña attend?

Francisco Acuña attended The University Of Manchester, Universidad De Concepción.

Who are Francisco Acuña's colleagues?

Francisco Acuña's colleagues are Jeffrey Nengwenani, Nora S., Dintle Beryl Lefalatsa, Tlhompho Tetsoane, Stephane Gheung, Shiwei Zhai, Cristóbal Fuenzalida.

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