Freeport-McMoRan Faces a $3.5 Billion Question

Freeport-McMoRan Is Up ~13% in May: Can Hot Streak Continue? According to Reuters, citing a statement from Rio Tinto (RIO) (TRQ), the miner is in talks with Indonesia’s Inalum to sell its stake in Grasberg for $3.5 billion.* Grasberg is the second-largest copper mine after Escondida, which is operated by BHP Billiton (BHP). According to the statement, “No agreement has been reached and there is no certainty that a binding agreement with Indonesia’s state mining holding company Inalum will be signed.” Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is also separately negotiating a stake sale with the Indonesian government (EIDO).