American rare earths miner Molycorp Inc. announced on Monday it will float in the market an offering of senior secured notes in the hopes of raising $650 million to help push its $1.3 billion acquisition plans of Canadian rare earth processor Neo Material Technologies Inc.

In March, Molycorp Inc., which owns the owns the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California, said it wants to buy Neo Material Technologies Inc. to support its bid of becoming a one-stop shop facility that not only mines rare earths but also produces magnets that contain the precious elements, a strategy meant to capture the entire rare earths supply and manufacturing chain.

Molycorp Inc.'s corporate strategy is to develop the entire rare earth chain, from raw material to high-value rare earth magnets. Its bid for Neo will enable it gain entry to cutting-edge processing technology, at the same time expand its product portfolio and provide valuable magnetic alloy patents across a wide spectrum of customers. Neo Material Technologies Inc. sources its concentrates from China to make rare earth oxides, alloys and magnetic materials.

Apart from the Mountain Pass rare earth mine, Molycorp Inc. also owns rare earth processing facilities in the United States and in Europe.

In January, the American rare earths producer announced it had entered into customer supply agreements representing 78 per cent of expected output from the Phase 1 expansion works at its Mountain Pass rare earth mine and oxide manufacturing facility.

Molycorp, Inc. is currently undertaking modernisation and expansion works at its rare earth oxide manufacturing facility at Mountain Pass. Phase 1 is scheduled to be mechanically complete in mid-2012. Phase 2 is expected to be completed in 2013, enabling the company to manufacture up to 40,000 metric tonnes annually of high-purity rare earth oxides.