09:21 AM EDT, 08/13/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Arizona Sonoran Copper ( ASCUF ) , an emerging U.S. copper developer, on Wednesday said it completed the 0.64% buy-down of certain net smelter returns (NSR) royalties on the Cactus Project.

The company said total cash payments of US$8.91 million were made to Royal Gold unit RG Royalties, and Elemental Altus Royalties ( ELEMF ) unit Elemental Royalties Delaware. The aggregate percentage of the NSRs was reduced from 3.18% to a remaining 2.54%.

Arizona Sonoran's units, Cactus 110 and Arizona Sonoran Copper Company USA, following execution of definitive documentation, have completed the buy-downs of Royal Gold's 2.5% NSR to 2.0% for US$7.0 million and Elemental Altus' 0.68% NSR to 0.54% for US$1.91 million.

The completion of the Buy-downs is a natural step for the Company to generate potential additional shareholder value and reduce economic encumbrance on the asset as we advance towards project financing," said Arizona Sonoran Chief Financial Officer Nick Nikolakakis. "In particular, the 2024 PEA demonstrated that the $8.91 million expenditure to complete the Buy-downs improves the Cactus Project valuation at variety of long-term copper price forecasts and, therefore, increases shareholder value, now and in the long run."

Shares of the company closed up 2.9% to $2.47 on Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.