Traxys Group Expands Mining and Materials Investments Platform Forms Joint Venture with Mining & Materials Management Partners to Pursue Global Opportunities

7 January 2016

New York and Vancouver – The Traxys Group is pleased to announce the formation of Traxys Capital Partners LP (TCP), a newly formed private equity and advisory vehicle focused on strategic investments in the mining, minerals, specialty materials and chemicals sectors. TCP will be managed by Mining & Materials Management Partners Co. (MMMP), a team of highly experienced operating executives and investment bankers, working together with the Traxys Group.

The executives of MMMP include Derek White, Paul Blythe, John Brim and Laz Nikeas. Derek White was most recently CEO of KGHM International and previously Executive Vice President of QuadraFNX. Paul Blythe is a founder and former President and CEO of QuadraFNX. John Brim was previously head of BNP Paribas North America Corporate Finance, where he specialized in Energy and Commodities M&A advisory. Laz Nikeas was most previously the head of BNP Paribas’ mining, minerals and materials M&A advisory practice for North America. 

Mark Kristoff, Chief Executive Officer of Traxys, said, “We are thrilled to form this venture with MMMP and its principals. Traxys has worked closely with the MMMP team for a number of years. By joining forces we have expanded our investment capabilities at a very interesting time for value creation in the commodity cycle. This joint venture furthers the strategy developed with our shareholders to extend our investment capabilities across the mining and minerals sector and secure marketing agreements with new and existing producers for the medium to long term.” Derek White and Laz Nikeas on behalf of MMMP said, “We believe Traxys’ global footprint and successful trading and logistics platform, together with the investment banking, operational management and project development skills of MMMP, makes for a strong and successful partnership. The partnership brings 100 years of combined experience in this sector and, with the strong support from The Carlyle Group and affiliates of Louis M. Bacon, we are excited about the future possibilities.”

Traxys Capital Partners LP will be supported by the Traxys Group and its existing investors. David Stonehill, Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, said, “We are excited to have the executives of MMMP as part of the Traxys family. Consistent with our original investment thesis, we believe this strong team will enable Traxys and its shareholders to continue to be an active participant in the physical trading and supply chain management sector with investments in associated mining and processing assets.”

TCP will be based in New York City and in Vancouver, Canada.

About Traxys 

Traxys, headquartered in Luxembourg, is a physical commodity trader and merchant in the metals and natural resources sectors. Its logistics, marketing, distribution, supply chain management and trading activities are conducted by over 300 employees, in over 20 offices worldwide, and its annual turnover is in excess of $6 billion. Traxys’ focus is primarily on the marketing and sourcing of base metals and concentrates, minor and alloying metals, industrial minerals and chemicals, and materials for steel mills and foundries, and the management of all parts of the supply chain, from producer to consumer, worldwide. 

Traxys is a privately held company. Its principal shareholders are global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG), affiliates of Louis M. Bacon, the founder, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and principal investment manager of Moore Capital Management, LP, and Traxys Management.

To learn more about Traxys, go to: www.traxys.com.

Media contacts: 

Traxys Group 

Mark Kristoff, CEO 

Phone: +1-212-918-8000 

[email protected]

Traxys Capital Partners 

Laz Nikeas, Principal 

Phone: +1-212-940-9325 

[email protected]

Derek White, Principal 

Phone: +1-604-609-7174 

[email protected]