Sept 17 (Reuters) - Canadian mining company Ivanhoe

Mines ( IVPAF ) said on Wednesday it will raise $500 million from

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) in a private placement, giving

the sovereign wealth fund a 4% stake.

QIA will buy 57.5 million Ivanhoe shares at C$12 apiece,

below the stock's closing price of C$13.19 on Tuesday.

The proceeds will support growth opportunities in critical

minerals exploration and development as well as general

corporate purposes, the miner said.

Ivanhoe operates three principal projects in southern

Africa, including its flagship Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the

Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world's largest

high-grade copper deposits.

The deal gives QIA customary rights including the option for

board representation if its stake exceeds 10%.

Ivanhoe's major shareholders Zijin Mining and

CITIC Metal Africa can maintain their equity through matching

investments, the company said.

QIA had also invested in miners such as Glencore ( GLCNF ) in

2018 and TechMet in 2024.