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ABOUT

Diφatio Partners (formerly de Joncaire & Partners), established in 2015, is a boutique consultancy firm that thrives at the intersection of global finance, technology, and natural resources. From our base in London, we’ve cultivated a network of industry practitioners and subject matter experts who share our pursuit of the divine ratio — that precise balance between insight and execution that separates good counsel from exceptional results.

Tactical Approach

Our approach is hands-on and operationally driven. We source and broker physical commodities, conduct independent due diligence on every counterparty, structure transactions, and deliver real-time market intelligence drawn from live order flow analysis. Our team brings decades of combined experience across mining, precious metals manufacturing, executive search, and commodity markets — practitioners who have operated at the sharp end of their industries, committed to delivering tangible value.

Clinical Expertise

Our expertise extends beyond advisory roles, with strategic investments in natural resource operators, a proprietary market analysis desk, and an in-house PGM manufacturing and evaluation facility. This direct operational involvement ensures that when we advise on a deal, assess a counterparty, or recommend a transaction structure, we do so with the rigour of practitioners who navigate the intricacies of international markets daily and maintain the agility to act decisively when it matters.

EXPERTISE

Our expertise spans the sectors where capital, resources, technology, and talent intersect. We operate in markets that demand analytical precision and operational experience.

NATURAL

RESOURCES

EXECUTIVE 
SEARCH

MARKET INTELLIGENCE & PRICE ANALYSIS

COMMODITY BROKERAGE

ENVIRONMENTAL & MINING CONSULTING

COUNTERPARTY VERIFICATION & DUE DILIGENCE

TRANSACTION STRUCTURING & COMMERCIAL ADVISORY

PRECIOUS METALS & PGM EVALUATION

PARTNERS

We bring practical experience across natural resources, commodity markets, precious metals manufacturing, and executive search — the discipline that comes from deploying our own capital. We approach each engagement with the rigour we apply to our own investments. A partnership built on shared standards.

Alejandro Correa

Natural Resources — Principal

Alejandro Correa is a mining and metals operator with over two decades of hands-on experience across exploration, extraction, processing, and supply chain management. As the Natural Resources Principal of Diφatio Partners and founder of Metal 46 SRL, he leads a multi-metal mining and trading operation spanning tantalum, niobium, tungsten, platinum group metals, gold, silver, tin, manganese, and zinc, with offices in New York, Vancouver, Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), and Medellin (Colombia). Alejandro is the operating partner behind the Metal 46 Tantalum Project in Bolivia — a 3,450-hectare concession on a recognised pegmatite belt, now advancing through Terreno Resources Corp. (TSXV: TNO.H), a publicly listed Canadian exploration and development company. His expertise extends to environmental extraction practices, sustainable resource management, and mining infrastructure consulting, providing critical oversight on project origination and operational due diligence for natural resource ventures worldwide.

Arvind Gururajachar

Senior Commodities & Precious Materials — Principal

Arvind is a globally recognised PGM specialist and the director of Universal Platinum Private Limited (UPPL), a manufacturer and refiner of Platinum Group Metals operating from Navsari, Gujarat, India. UPPL produces finished PGM products to 99.99% purity — including platinum crucibles, PGM alloys, industrial catalysts, investment-grade bars, and PGM chemical salts. Beyond manufacturing, Arvind provides end-to-end commodity evaluation services including independent assay analysis, finished product grading, purity verification, and refinery-grade quality assessment across gold, silver, and platinum group metals. He plays a pivotal role in connecting global trade partners with verified, laboratory-certified commodity solutions and serves as a critical quality control checkpoint across Diφatio Partners’ brokerage and natural resource engagements.

Max de Joncaire

Founding Partner - Operations Principal

Maxime de Joncaire is the founding partner of Diφatio Partners, bringing over fifteen years of experience in executive search, commodity consulting, and cross-border trade. He began his career in finance recruitment, placing revenue-generating professionals across private banking, wealth management, and commodities markets — a practice he continues to maintain for select mandates. Over the past decade, his focus has expanded into physical commodity brokerage, counterparty verification, transaction structuring, and real-time market intelligence. Maxime directs the firm’s operations across all verticals, from deal origination and due diligence through pricing analysis and logistics coordination. His hands-on approach to counterparty verification and his direct involvement in live markets ensure that every engagement is grounded in operational discipline and commercial rigour.

SERVICES

Explore our full range of services to discover how we can tailor our expertise to meet your unique business needs.




We identify and place revenue-generating professionals across banking, wealth management, and commodities markets. Our focus is on rainmakers who deliver immediate commercial impact – private bankers with proven AUM track records, traders with consistent P&L performance, and relationship managers who convert prospects into institutional clients. We build comprehensive candidate dossiers aligned with business plans, handle market positioning, and ensure cultural and compensation fit. Our placements are measured by first-year revenue generation and long-term retention, not simply filled positions.


  • Private banker placement with proven AUM generation track records across European and Middle Eastern markets
  • Commodities trader recruitment for physical trading desks, derivatives operations, and systematic strategies
  • Relationship manager sourcing for institutional sales, family office coverage, and corporate banking divisions



We provide strategic counsel across the mining, energy, and commodities value chain – from project evaluation and technical due diligence through financing structures and operational optimization. Our team assesses geological risk, navigates permitting complexities, and connects resource projects with capital partners and off-take agreements. Whether evaluating acquisition targets, structuring joint ventures, or optimizing existing operations, we bring the perspective of operators who understand what separates viable deposits from commercial success stories.


  • Technical due diligence on mining acquisitions including geological assessment, reserve validation, and operational feasibility
  • Project financing structuring for resource development including joint ventures, off-take agreements, and capital partnerships
  • Operational optimization for existing mining and energy assets focused on cost efficiency and output maximization



We broker physical commodity transactions across precious metals, PGMs, and strategic minerals — managing the full cycle from counterparty identification and verification through pricing, logistics coordination, and settlement. Our pricing advisory draws on real-time market structure analysis and order flow intelligence, ensuring that every transaction is benchmarked against live market conditions rather than indicative quotes or outdated reference prices.

  • Physical gold, silver, and PGM brokerage with end-to-end counterparty verification and logistics coordination
  • Real-time commodity pricing advisory informed by live market analysis and order flow data
  • Hedging execution for clients with currency or commodity exposure during transit and settlement periods



We deliver practical environmental consulting for mining operations at every stage of development — from pre-feasibility environmental impact assessments through operational compliance and site rehabilitation. Our approach is grounded in field experience across South American mining environments, where regulatory frameworks, terrain challenges, and community dynamics demand localised expertise rather than theoretical sustainability models.


    • Environmental impact assessment and permitting support for greenfield and brownfield mining projects
    • Waste management, water systems, tailings handling, and mercury-free extraction consulting
    • Site rehabilitation planning and ongoing environmental compliance monitoring for active operations



We conduct thorough, independent due diligence on every counterparty, transaction, and source of goods — at our own cost and to our own standards. Our process covers corporate registration, beneficial ownership, sanctions screening (OFAC, EU, UN), source of funds, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. We don’t outsource verification or rely on third-party reports — we investigate directly.

  • Full counterparty verification including corporate registration, UBO disclosure, and sanctions screening
  • Source-of-goods due diligence covering mining licences, geological feasibility, and chain of custody
  • Jurisdiction-specific regulatory compliance review for export, import, and cross-border transaction structures



We advise on the commercial structuring of physical commodity transactions — defining payment terms, settlement mechanisms, escrow arrangements, and logistics frameworks that protect both parties and ensure deals close cleanly. Our structuring expertise is built from years of direct deal execution across precious metals, strategic minerals, and cross-border trade. We work alongside our clients’ banking relationships to ensure that every structure is documented, auditable, and aligned with the regulatory requirements of all jurisdictions involved.

  • Commercial deal structuring including payment terms, escrow arrangements, and settlement mechanisms
  • Logistics and delivery framework advisory for Brinks-to-Brinks, vault-to-vault, and refinery-direct transactions
  • Deal documentation review ensuring alignment with AML regulations, sanctions frameworks, and jurisdictional requirements




We provide laboratory-grade commodity evaluation and finished PGM product manufacturing through our partner facility, Universal Platinum Private Limited (UPPL), in Gujarat, India. Services span independent assay analysis, purity verification to 99.99%, finished product grading, and refinery-grade quality assessment across gold, silver, and platinum group metals — delivering the certified, independent verification that institutional buyers and LBMA-accredited refineries require.

  • Independent assay analysis and purity verification for gold, silver, and platinum group metals
  • Finished PGM product manufacturing including crucibles, alloys, industrial catalysts, investment bars, and chemical salts
  • Material verification and supply chain due diligence for physical commodity transactions


INITIATIVES

These initiatives represent our direct operational involvement across markets where we deploy capital, manage assets, and build systems alongside our advisory work. Each reflects our commitment to precision execution and our belief that the best counsel comes from hands-on experience.

01

Critical Minerals

Initiative

The Critical Minerals initiative reflects our operational philosophy: when we advise on natural resource opportunities, we do so from the perspective of operators who manage geological risk, navigate permitting complexities, and deliver product to specification. Whether you're evaluating a resource project, seeking strategic mineral supply, or looking to monetize existing reserves, we bring the discipline that comes from having our own capital at stake.


Project manager: Alejandro Correa

Project duration: Perpetual

02

Market Intelligence & Trading Analysis

Our Market Intelligence & Pricing Analysis desk delivers real-time market structure analysis for our brokerage and consulting operations. We read order flow, volume profiles, and structural price action across multiple timeframes using professional-grade tools — ensuring that every commodity price we reference and every piece of pricing guidance we provide is grounded in live market conditions. Where clients face currency or commodity exposure during physical transactions, we provide the analysis to inform their decisions.


Informational purposes only; not financial, investment, or trading advice.


Project manager: Maxime de Joncaire 

Project duration: Perpetual

03

Lab & Manufacturing

Initiative

The Lab & Manufacturing Initiative centres on our partnership with Universal Platinum Private Limited (UPPL) in Gujarat, India — a PGM manufacturer and refiner producing finished products to 99.99% purity alongside independent assay analysis, purity verification, and quality assessment. This integrated capability gives Diφatio Partners direct access to certified evaluation and finished product supply, supporting our brokerage transactions, due diligence processes, and the quality standards that institutional buyers and LBMA-accredited refineries require.


Project manager: Arvind Gururajachar

Project duration: Perpetual

04

Eco-Mining

Infra Initiative

This Eco-Mining Infra initiative reflects our commitment to responsible resource development. When we advise on mining projects or evaluate resource opportunities, we do so with direct knowledge of what it takes to build and operate mines that perform economically while maintaining environmental and social license. Whether you're developing a greenfield project, upgrading existing infrastructure, or seeking technical due diligence on mining assets, we bring the operational perspective that comes from actually building and implementing these systems.


Project manager: Alejandro Correa

Project duration: Perpetual

Critical Minerals Initiative

The Critical Minerals Initiative represents our direct involvement in strategic mineral development and distribution, anchored by our tantalum operation in Bolivia. Tantalum, essential for electronics, aerospace, and defense applications, exemplifies the kind of resource where supply security and technical expertise create genuine competitive advantage. Our Bolivian project is production-ready, positioned to serve markets where quality, traceability, and reliable supply chains command premium value.


Beyond our operating asset, we maintain sourcing and distribution capabilities across platinum group metals (PGMs) and other strategic minerals where geopolitical dynamics and technological demand intersect. We don't simply broker commodities – we understand the technical specifications, end-use applications, and regulatory environments that determine whether a mineral deposit translates into commercial success. Our network spans mining operations, refiners, and end users who require both material quality and supply certainty.

The Critical Minerals initiative reflects our operational philosophy: when we advise on natural resource opportunities, we do so from the perspective of operators who manage geological risk, navigate permitting complexities, and deliver product to specification. Whether you're evaluating a resource project, seeking strategic mineral supply, or looking to monetize existing reserves, we bring the discipline that comes from having our own capital at stake.


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Project manager - Alejandro Correa

Market Intelligence & Trading Analysis

Our Market Intelligence & Pricing Analysis desk provides real-time market structure analysis across commodities and related asset classes — the analytical backbone of our brokerage and consulting work. We combine multi-timeframe technical analysis with order flow interpretation, reading footprint data, volume profiling, and structural price action across daily, four-hour, and intraday timeframes using professional-grade tools. This ensures every price we reference and every deal we help structure is grounded in live market conditions, not lagged data or third-party estimates.


Our framework integrates momentum and trend-following signals with structural analysis at key levels. Where clients face currency or commodity exposure during physical transactions — assessing when to lock a gold price in transit, or understanding FX risk on a cross-border settlement — we provide the analysis to inform their decisions. Every element is shaped by years of live market participation.


This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Clients are responsible for their own decisions and should consult a regulated adviser where appropriate.


Our Market Intelligence & Pricing Analysis desk delivers real-time market structure analysis for our brokerage and consulting operations. We read order flow, volume profiles, and structural price action across multiple timeframes using professional-grade tools — ensuring that every commodity price we reference and every piece of pricing guidance we provide is grounded in live market conditions. Where clients face currency or commodity exposure during physical transactions, we provide the analysis to inform their decisions.


Informational purposes only; not financial, investment, or trading advice.


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Project manager: Max de Joncaire  

Project duration: Perpetual

Lab & Manufacturing Initiative

The Lab & Manufacturing Initiative centres on our partnership with Universal Platinum Private Limited (UPPL), a PGM manufacturer and refiner operating from Navsari, Gujarat, India. UPPL produces finished platinum group metal products to 99.99% purity — including platinum crucibles, PGM alloys, industrial catalysts, investment-grade bars, and PGM chemical salts — alongside independent commodity evaluation services covering assay analysis, purity verification, and refinery-grade quality assessment across gold, silver, and PGMs. This integrated manufacturing and evaluation capability gives Diφatio Partners and its clients direct access to both certified verification and finished product supply without reliance on third-party intermediaries.

Beyond transaction-level verification, the facility supports our broader due diligence process by independently validating material samples against declared specifications, identifying inconsistencies in supplier documentation, and providing the certified results that LBMA-accredited refineries and institutional buyers require before accepting delivery. The manufacturing arm enables us to offer clients a complete pathway from raw material sourcing through refining to finished product delivery — a vertically integrated capability that is rare in the independent consultancy space.


The Lab & Manufacturing Initiative centres on our partnership with Universal Platinum Private Limited (UPPL) in Gujarat, India — a PGM manufacturer and refiner producing finished products to 99.99% purity alongside independent assay analysis, purity verification, and quality assessment. This integrated capability gives Diφatio Partners direct access to certified evaluation and finished product supply, supporting our brokerage transactions, due diligence processes, and the quality standards that institutional buyers and LBMA-accredited refineries require.


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Project manager: Arvind Gururajachar

Project duration: Perpetual

Eco-Mining Infra Initiative

The Eco-Mining Infrastructure Initiative delivers end-to-end consulting for mining operations across South America, with particular focus on Colombia's diverse mineral landscape. From initial plant design and engineering through land development and operational optimization, we provide the technical expertise that transforms resource deposits into productive, compliant operations. Our approach integrates ecological considerations from project inception, ensuring mining infrastructure minimizes environmental impact while maximizing operational efficiency and output.


We don't offer theoretical sustainability frameworks – we implement practical solutions for waste management, water systems, tailings handling, and land rehabilitation that meet both regulatory requirements and community expectations. Our team understands the geological, engineering, and environmental complexities specific to South American mining contexts, where terrain challenges, permitting processes, and stakeholder dynamics require localized expertise. Whether building new operations or optimizing existing facilities, we deliver infrastructure solutions designed for the realities of operating in challenging environments.

This Eco-Mining Infra initiative reflects our commitment to responsible resource development. When we advise on mining projects or evaluate resource opportunities, we do so with direct knowledge of what it takes to build and operate mines that perform economically while maintaining environmental and social license. Whether you're developing a greenfield project, upgrading existing infrastructure, or seeking technical due diligence on mining assets, we bring the operational perspective that comes from actually building and implementing these systems.


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Project manager: Alejandro Correa

Project duration: Perpetual

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