Imerys in talks to sell minority stake in lithium mine project

Imerys is in exclusive talks with a potential investor to sell a minority stake in its lithium mine project in central France, with the specialist minerals firm confident it can conclude a deal by the end of January, its finance chief said on Thursday.

Presenting Imerys’ third-quarter results, chief financial officer Sebastien Rouge declined to give any details on the potential investor. Imerys said in July it would seek a partner for the project, whose cost has risen to an estimated 1.8 billion euros ($2.10 billion) from 1 billion initially.

($1 = 0.8575 euros)

(By Gus Trompiz; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)