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Attention is drawn to the joint announcement dated February 2, 2012 in which Anooraq Resources Corporation and Anglo American Platinum Limited announced that they have agreed to refinance Anooraq, restructure and recapitalize the Bokoni Platinum group of companies.
Key highlights of the transaction for Anooraq include: •The Parties agree to a new strategic plan for the Bokoni group resulting in the disposal of undeveloped platinum group metals (PGM1) ounces to Amplats, recapitalization and refinancing of Anooraq and the Bokoni group, together with accelerated production growth at Bokoni Platinum Mine. The new plan includes: - accelerating production growth at Bokoni Platinum Mine through a new ZAR2.6 billion (US$325 million) capital development programme, adding 100,000 PGM ounces per annum to the Bokoni Platinum Mine production profile by 2016, which had previously been deferred until after 2020;
- implementing a strategic re-alignment of the Bokoni group exploration and development mineral assets, by consolidating these assets into existing mine operations at Amplats’ Twickenham and Mogalakwena mines, as well as an enlarged Bokoni Platinum Mines operation. The net effect of the strategic re-alignment is that Anooraq will dispose of its entire interest in the Boikgantsho Project and the Eastern section of the Ga-Phasha Project to Amplats for a net consideration of ZAR1.7 billion (US$213 million) and utilize these proceeds to partially reduce its debt outstanding to Amplats. Anooraq will continue to hold a 51% majority interest in the enlarged Bokoni Platinum Mine with Amplats retaining a 49% minority interest.
• The Parties solidify a long-term strategic partnership by Amplats extending its 26% equity investment in Anooraq through to 31 December 2018. • The Parties agree to deleverage, recapitalize and refinance the Anooraq and Bokoni group balance sheets by: - entering into an interest standstill agreement effective 1 July 2011, resulting in a ZAR300 million (US$37.5 million) interest saving for Anooraq;
- Anooraq utilizing the proceeds of the mineral asset disposal and interest standstill agreement to reduce its debt owing to Amplats by 66% from approximately ZAR3 billion (US$375 million) to approximately ZAR1 billion (US$125 million);
- Anooraq consolidating all of its historical debt owing to Amplats (ZAR1 billion (US$125 million) under one debt facility;
- Amplats extending to Anooraq an additional amount of up to ZAR1.3 billion (US$163 million) under the Consolidated Debt Facility to fund its share of growth at the Bokoni Platinum Mine operations through to 2020, with a maximum facility limit of ZAR2.3 billion (US$288 million);
- reducing Anooraq’s cost of borrowing from 16% to a weighted average interest rate escalating from 0% to approximately 12% through to 2020, with a low interest rate during the capital intensive growth phase at Bokoni Platinum Mine through to 2016
- Anooraq not being required to issue any new equity under the financial restructure, recapitalization and refinancing plan.
• The Parties extending their existing concentrate purchase agreement between Amplats and Bokoni Platinum Mine through to 2020 on the same terms. • Amplats providing Anooraq with a working capital facility of ZAR90 million (US$11 million) to fund its corporate and administrative expenses through to 2015. • Amplats and Anooraq agreed on a new operating protocol for the management of the Bokoni operations, which will increase Amplats’ active involvement in areas of the operations relating to mining, processing and capital projects execution. • A new Managing Director, Dawid Stander, has been appointed at Bokoni Platinum Mine. Commenting on the transaction, Harold Motaung, the Chief Executive of Anooraq, said, “This transaction lays the foundation for a sustainable future for Anooraq and a workable growth plan at Bokoni Platinum Mine. We have worked closely with our partners, Amplats, to put the right team and financial framework in place to facilitate a fully funded and exciting new growth phase at Bokoni Platinum Mine going forward.” Chief Executive Officer of Amplats, Neville Nicolau, commented, “This transaction provides Amplats with access to mineral properties that provide synergies with our operations at Mogalakwena and Twickenham. The refinancing and restructuring position the Bokoni Platinum Mine for expansion into a substantial and sustainable operation. The transaction is in line with our commitment to black economic empowerment. We seek not only to comply with the MPRDA but also to transfer technical, mining, project execution and management skills to our joint venture partners. We believe that this is a more sustainable BEE model. Our mining, process and capital projects teams will become more involved in the day-to-day running of the Bokoni Platinum Mine in order to facilitate skills transfer. We recognise that the successful implementation of BEE policies in the mining industry requires commitment and cooperation between mining companies, the BEE partners and Government.” The DMR said, “We are pleased that the parties have made progress with their restructure plan and look forward to them completing definitive agreements for review by the regulator. We are encouraged that the transaction supports the objectives of the MPRDA, read together with the Mining Charter and look forward to seeing both Anooraq and the Bokoni group realising their full potential as meaningful and significant participants in the South African PGM sector into the future”. More information, click here. |
