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Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Amapá Operational Update, Placing to Raise £525,000 and Loan Note Restructuring

Cadence Minerals – Amapá Operational Update, Placing to Raise £525,000 and Loan Note Restructuring.

Highlights

  • Shipping of first iron ore is on target for late Q2 2020 / early Q3 2020
  • Shipment is planned via 45,000-tonne bulk carriers at a rate of 2 -3 every two months
  • Independent surveys of these iron ore stockpiles indicate that some 1.39 million tonnes of iron ore are available for export with a stockpile average Fe grade of approx. 62.14%
  • Principal local contractors are identified, and contracts are being finalised
  • Movement of the stockpile to public port is expected in July 2020
  • Cadence has agreed to fund initial working capital via a bridging loan to DEV Mineraço S.A., owner of the Amapá iron ore project (“DEV”) and has funded this via a placing of new ordinary shares to raise £525,000

Cadence Minerals (AIM/AQSE: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to announce that the Amapá iron ore project (“Amapá Project”) remains on target to commence the shipment of its stockpile of iron ore by the end of Q2 2020 or early Q3 2020.

DEV is engaging principal contractors and expects to be able to start the movement of the material to the public port in July 2020. DEV plans to ship directly to customers via 45,000-tonne bulk carriers at a rate of 2-3 loads every two months, dependent on port berth availability.

An independent survey of these stockpiles located at the port indicates that some 1.39 million tonnes (“Mt”) of iron ore in three stockpiles with a stockpile average Fe grade of approximately 62.14% are available for export.

DEV has identified that it will require start up working capital to begin operations and Cadence has agreed to fund these amounts, via a bridging loan bearing an annual interest rate of 18% and repayable over four months from the date of advance, which we expect to be in early May 2020.

To fund the bridging loan Cadence has raised £525,000 through the placing (“Placing”) of 8,749,998 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company to new and existing investors at an issue price of 6 pence per share (“Placing Price”), representing approximately 20% discount to the closing mid-price on the day prior to this announcement. The majority of the net proceeds of this fundraise will be used for the start-up working capital required at the Amapá Project to begin the shipment of iron ore stockpiles.

About the Project

The Amapá Project was owned by Anglo American plc and Cliffs Natural Resources and consists of a large-scale iron ore mine, beneficiation plant, railway and private port. In 2012 the operation produced 6.1 Mt of iron ore concentrate and reported operating profits from their 70% ownership in the Amapá Project of US$120 million (100% – US$171 million). Before its sale in 2012, Anglo American valued its 70% stake at US$462m in its 2012 Annual Report (100% – US$600m).

As previously announced, the total historical mineral resource contains an estimated 348 Mt of ore @ 38.9% iron content (“Fe”). The ore is beneficiated at the mine to 65% Fe Pellet Feed and 62% Fe Spiral Concentrate. Based on available historic mine plans and an independent consultant review, it is expected that at full production the Amapá Project has a mine life of 14 years and at full capacity is targeting to produce up to 5.3 Mt of iron ore per annum.

Cadence Amapá Project stake

As mentioned in previous announcements there remains only one major precondition for Cadence to make its investment in the Amapá Project and release the sum of US$2.5 million currently held in escrow in a judicial trust account (“Escrow Monies”).

This precondition requires DEV to reach a settlement agreement with the secured bank creditors. On satisfaction of the prerequisites and the release of the Escrow monies, Cadence will become a 20% shareholder in the Amapá Project via our joint venture company which will own 99.9% of Dev.

Cadence’s rights over the Amapá Project have been formalised in the Judicial Restructuring Plan of DEV and ratified by the São Paulo Bankruptcy court. Dev officers have been appointed in the Judicial Restructuring Plan, with acceptance of creditors.

While we await the settlement with the secured bank creditors, The JV Partners will work with DEV to advance the restart of the Amapá Project using the proceeds of the iron ore, accelerating the production from the Amapá Project.

Funding Details

The Company entered into a placing agreement (“Placing Agreement”) with WH Ireland pursuant to which terms WH Ireland agreed to arrange the Placing. The Company has given certain customary warranties and indemnities under the Placing Agreement in favour of WH Ireland. Completion of the Placing is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement including, but not limited to, Admission.

Your attention is drawn to the detailed terms and conditions of the Placing set out in the Appendix to this Announcement (which forms part of this Announcement).

The Appendix to this Announcement contains the detailed terms and conditions of the Placing and the basis on which investors agreed to participate in the Placing. The Placing has not been underwritten by WH Ireland. Placees are deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, including the Appendix, and to have made their offer on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and to have given the representations, warranties, undertakings and acknowledgements contained in the Appendix to this Announcement.

The Placing Shares will be issued, credited as fully paid, and will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue in the capital of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid on or in respect of such shares after the date of their issue.

Loan Note Restructuring

As announced on the 15 July and 1 August 2019 Cadence restructured its loan notes, reducing the interest rate and drawing down a further US$1.75 million which was used in part to fund our investment in the Amapá Project. Cadence has agreed with the loan note holders to convert US$300,000 into 3,995,000 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company, and an issue price of 6 pence per share (“Conversion Shares”), subsequent to this conversion the balance of the loan notes will be approximately £2.303 million.

The Conversion Shares will be issued, credited as fully paid, and will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue in the capital of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid on or in respect of such shares after the date of their issue. 

Admission and Settlement

Application will be made for the admission to trading on the AIM market (“AIM”) of London Stock Exchange plc (“LSE”) and to and the AQSE Growth Market (“AQSE”) operated by Aquis Exchange Plc for the Placing Shares and Conversion Shares (“Admission”). Admission is expected to occur on or around 7 May 2020. Following Admission, the Company will have 130,951,966 Ordinary Shares in issue. There are no shares held in treasury. The total voting rights in the Company is therefore 130,951,966 and Shareholders may use this figure as the denominator by which they are required to notify their interest in, or change to their interest in, the Company under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. 

Cadence Chairman Andrew Suckling commented; “As we await final settlement with the bank creditors, our board took the decision that it was vital to commence shipment of iron ore as soon as possible. The enthusiasm shown by our JV partners in getting iron ore shipments underway promptly is also shared by the Cadence board, and in this regard I would like to thank shareholders, who have supported the placing to provide a bridging loan to make this possible.”

Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented; “As we move ever closer to the Amapá restart, I am delighted that DEV are already at contract stage with several principal local contractors to commence the iron ore shipments and enter the operational phase of the asset. I now look forward to providing you all with further updates as operations gathers pace.”

 

For further information:

Cadence Minerals plc

+44 (0) 207 440 0647

Andrew Suckling

Kiran Morzaria

WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)

+44 (0) 207 220 1666

James Joyce / James Sinclair-Ford

Harry Ansell / Daniel Bristowe

Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker)

+44 (0) 207 399 9400

Jon Belliss

Qualified Person

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ”believe” ”could” “should” ”envisage” ”estimate” ”intend” ”may” ”plan” ”will” or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.  Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014

WH Ireland Limited, which is a member of the London Stock Exchange, is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and is acting as financial adviser, nominated adviser and broker for the purposes of the AIM Rules for Companies.  WH Ireland Limited is acting exclusively for the Company in connection with the matters referred to in this Announcement and for no-one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing any advice in relation to the contents of this Announcement or any transaction, arrangement or matter referred to herein. 

This Announcement is released by the Company and contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (“MAR”), encompassing information relating to the Placing raising £525,000 and is disclosed in accordance with the Company’s obligations under Article 17 of MAR.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING

THE PLACING ANNOUNCEMENT (“ANNOUNCEMENT”) OF CADENCE MINERALS PLC (THE “COMPANY” OR “CADENCE” or “KDNC”) ACCOMPANIES THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM A PROHIBITED JURISDICTION.

TERMS DEFINED IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANINGS IN THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, SAVE AS DEFINED OR PROVIDED FOR OTHERWISE.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PLACING FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 86(7) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 AS AMENDED, (“QUALIFIED INVESTORS”) AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION (WHICH MEANS REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129) (THE “PROSPECTUS REGULATION”); AND (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE “INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS” FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE “ORDER”); (II) ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (“HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC”) OF THE ORDER; AND (C) PERSONS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THEY ARE A NATIONAL AND/OR RESIDENT (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS “RELEVANT PERSONS”).

THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DO NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF OR SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES. NEITHER THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE PLACING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE CONTENTS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN THE UNITED STATES.

EACH PLACEE (BEING THE PERSON PROCURED BY WH IRELAND LIMITED (“WH IRELAND”)) TO SUBSCRIBE FOR PLACING SHARES SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF ANY INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES.

Persons who are invited to and who choose to participate in the Placing, by making (or on whose behalf there is made) an oral or written offer to subscribe for Placing Shares (the “Placees”), will be deemed to have read and understood the Announcement, including these Terms and Conditions, in its entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, and undertakings contained in these Terms and Conditions. In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges to WH Ireland and the Company that:

1.  it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it in that capacity; and

2.  in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, (a) the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of WH Ireland has been given to the offer or resale; or (b) where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any member state of the EEA other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons.

The Company and WH Ireland will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings. WH Ireland does not make any representation to any Placees regarding an investment in the Placing Shares referred to in the Announcement (including these Terms and Conditions).

This Announcement does not constitute an offer, and may not be used in connection with an offer, to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for Placing Shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is or may be unauthorised or unlawful and any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws in such jurisdiction. This Announcement and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to do so (“Prohibited Jurisdiction”). Persons (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees) into whose possession the Announcement and these Terms and Conditions may come are required by the Company to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions of transfer of the Announcement. No public offer of securities of the Company is being made in the United Kingdom, the United States or elsewhere.

In particular, the Placing Shares referred to in the Announcement have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any laws of or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. No public offering of the Placing Shares or any other securities is being made in the United States. No money, securities or other consideration from any person inside the United States is being solicited pursuant to the Announcement or the Placing and, if sent in response to the information contained in the Announcement, will not be accepted. This Announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States.

The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of the Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada; no prospectus has been lodged with or registered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; and the Placing Shares have not been nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of a Prohibited Jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into a Prohibited Jurisdiction.

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended (“MiFID II”); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the “MiFID II Product Governance Requirements”), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any “manufacturer” (for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of (a) retail investors, (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and (c) eligible counterparties (each as defined in MiFID II); and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the “Target Market Assessment”). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the offer.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of these Terms and Conditions or the Announcement of which it forms part should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.

Terms defined elsewhere in the Announcement have the same meaning in these Terms and Conditions, unless the context requires otherwise.

Various dates referred to in the Announcement are stated on the basis of the expected timetable for the Placing. It is possible that some of these dates may be changed. The expected date for Admission is 7 May 2020 and, in any event, the latest date for Admission is 8 June 2020 (the “Long Stop Date”).

The Placing

WH Ireland has entered into a Placing Agreement with the Company under which WH Ireland has undertaken to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing Shares at the Placing Price, being 0.2 pence per Placing Share, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in these Terms and Conditions. To the extent WH Ireland does not procure subscribers for Placing Shares as required, including those Placees procured by the Company, WH Ireland will not itself subscribe for such shares.

These Terms and Conditions give details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of the participation of the Placees in, the Placing.

The Placing Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue (“Existing Ordinary Shares”), including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid on or in respect of the Existing Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.

WH Ireland and the Company reserve the right to scale back the number of Placing Shares to be allotted to any Placee in the event of an oversubscription under the Placing. WH Ireland and the Company also reserve the right not to accept offers for Placing Shares or to accept such offers in part rather than in whole.

Each Placee will be required to pay to WH Ireland, on the Company’s behalf, an amount equal to the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares that such Placee is required to be allotted in accordance with the terms set out in or referred to in these Terms and Conditions. Each Placee’s obligation to be allotted and pay for Placing Shares under the Placing will be owed to each of the Company and WH Ireland. Each Placee will be deemed to have read these Terms and Conditions in their entirety.

Neither WH Ireland nor or any shareholder, director, officer, employee or agent of WH Ireland or any of their group companies will have any liability (subject to applicable legislation and regulations) to Placees or to any person other than the Company in respect of the Placing.

Application for Admission to Trading on AIM

Application will be made to the LSE and AQSE for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will take place at 8.00 am on 7 May 2020 (or such later date as may be agreed between the Company and WH Ireland, provided that such date is no later than 8 June 2020 (the “Long Stop Date”).

Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing

Participation in the Placing is only available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate in it by WH Ireland.

1.  WH Ireland is arranging the Placing as placing agent and broker of the Company.

2.  Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by WH Ireland WH Ireland and its respective affiliates are entitled to acquire Placing Shares as principal.

3.  T he Company reserves the right to reduce or seek to increase the amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing, in its absolute discretion. The final allocations of the Placing Shares (including as to the identity of the Placees and the number of shares allocated to each Placee at the Placing Price) shall be determined by WH Ireland in their absolute discretion.

4.  Each Placee’s allocation will be confirmed to Placees orally, or by email, by WH Ireland and a trade confirmation or contract note will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter (the “Contract Note”).  These Terms and Conditions will be deemed to be incorporated into the Contract Note. WH Ireland ‘s oral or emailed confirmation to such Placee will constitute an irrevocable and legally binding commitment upon such person (who will at that point become a Placee) in favour of WH Ireland and the Company, under which it agrees to subscribe for the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price on the terms and conditions set out in these Terms and Conditions (which are deemed to be incorporated in such trade confirmation or contract note) and in accordance with the Company’s articles of association (“Articles of Association”).

5.  Any acquisition of Placing Shares will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in these Terms and Conditions and will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and, except with WH Ireland ‘s consent, will not be capable of variation or revocation after the time at which it is submitted. Each Placee will also have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, to pay WH Ireland (or as WH Ireland may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares for which such Placee has agreed to subscribe. Each Placee’s obligations will be owed to WH Ireland .

10.  Irrespective of the time at which a Placee’s allocation pursuant to the Placing is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under “Settlement”.

11.  All obligations under the Placing will be subject to fulfilment of the conditions referred to below under “Conditions to the Placing” and to the Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under “Conditions to the Placing”.

12.  By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.

13.  To the fullest extent permissible by law and the applicable rules of AIM, neither WH Ireland not any of its respective affiliates shall have any liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise whether or not a recipient of these terms and conditions) in respect of the Placing. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that the Company is responsible for the allotment of the Placing Shares to the Placees and WH Ireland shall not have any liability to the Placees for the failure of the Company to fulfil those obligations. In particular, neither WH Ireland nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of the Placing.

14.  In making an investment decision, Placees must rely on their own examination of the Company and its prospects and the terms of the Placing, including the merit and risks involved in investing in the Placing Shares.

15.  Settlement will occur on a date to be advised but is expected to be on or around 7 May 2020 (“Closing Date”).

All such times and dates will be subject to amendment at WH Ireland’s discretion, except that in no circumstances will the date scheduled for Admission be later than the Long Stop Date.

No Prospectus

The Placing Shares are being offered to a limited number of specifically invited persons only and will not be offered in such a way as to require a prospectus in the United Kingdom or in any other jurisdiction. No offering document or prospectus has been or will be submitted to be approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, the LSE or any other regulatory body in relation to the Placing and Placees’ commitments in respect of Placing Shares will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Announcement and the terms and conditions contained in these Terms and Conditions.

Settlement

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares will take place inside the CREST system.

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares will, unless otherwise agreed, take place on a delivery versus payment basis within the CREST system administered by Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited (“CREST”).

The Company will procure the delivery of the Placing Shares to CREST accounts operated by WH Ireland for the Company and WH Ireland will enter its delivery (DEL) instructions into the CREST system. The input to CREST by each Placee of a matching or acceptance instruction will then allow delivery of the relevant Placing Shares to that Placee against payment.

The Company reserves the right to require settlement for and delivery of the Placing Shares (or a portion thereof) to any Placee in any form it requires if, in WH Ireland’s opinion, delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within CREST or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee’s jurisdiction.

Following the close of the Placing, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a trade confirmation or contract note stating the number of Placing Shares, the Placing Price and the subscription amount payable to be allocated to it and will be required to provide WH Ireland with funds sufficient to purchase such securities prior to the Closing Date.

Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Company may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee’s behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the Company’s account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee’s behalf.

It is expected that settlement will take place on or about 7 May 2020 in CREST on a T+4 basis in accordance with the instructions set out in the trade confirmation. Settlement will be through WH Ireland against CREST ID: 601 A/C: WRCLT.

Following the close of the Placing, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a trade confirmation(s) stating the number of Placing Shares to be allocated to it at the Placing Price and settlement instructions.

Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with the applicable registration and settlement procedures, including if applicable, CREST rules and regulations and settlement instructions that it has in place with WH Ireland.

If the Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the trade confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation.

Trade date: 1 May 2020

Settlement date: 7 May 2020 (Electronic)

ISIN code for the Placing Shares: GB00BJP0B151

No UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax should be payable to the extent that the Placing Shares are issued into CREST to, or to the nominee of, a Placee who holds those shares beneficially (and not as agent or nominee for any other person) within the CREST system and registered in the name of such Placee or such Placee’s nominee provided that the Placing Shares are not issued to a person whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts or the provision of clearance services or to an agent or nominee for any such person.

The agreement to settle a Placee’s subscription (and/or the subscription of a person for whom such Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax depends on the settlement relating only to a subscription by it and/or such person direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not being subscribed for in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other subsequent dealing in the Placing Shares, UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable, for which neither the Company nor WH Ireland will be responsible, and the Placee to whom (or on behalf of whom, or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax undertakes to pay such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and WH Ireland in the event that the Company or WH Ireland has incurred any such liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and notify WH Ireland accordingly.

In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable outside the UK by them or any other person on the subscription by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to subscribe for any Placing Shares.

Placing Agreement

WH Ireland has entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which WH Ireland has agreed on a conditional basis to use its reasonable endeavours as agent of the Company to procure Placees at the Placing Price for the Placing Shares.

Conditions to the Placing

The Placing is conditional on, among other things:

1.  the Company having complied with its obligations and satisfying all conditions to be satisfied by them under the Placing Agreement or these Terms and Conditions which fall to be performed or satisfied on or prior to Admission;

 2.  the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms by WH Ireland 

3.  Admission taking place by the relevant time and date to be stated in the Announcement; and 

4.  the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all other respects.

If:

· any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing Shares are not fulfilled or waived (if capable of being waived) by WH Ireland by the respective time or date where specified (or such later time or date as the Company and WH Ireland may agree);

· any of such conditions becomes incapable of being fulfilled; or

· the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below,

the Placing in relation to the Placing Shares will lapse and the Placee’s rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect thereof.

WH Ireland   may, in its absolute discretion, upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive compliance by the Company with certain of the Company’s obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement save that the certain conditions including the condition relating to Admission taking place may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect the Placees’ commitments as set out in the Announcement.

WH Ireland   reserves the right to waive or extend the time and or date for the fulfilment of any of the conditions in the Placing Agreement to a time no later than 8.00 a.m. on the Long Stop Date.

If any condition in the Placing Agreement is not fulfilled or waived by WH Ireland   by the relevant time, the Placing will lapse and each Placee’s rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will cease and terminate at such time.

Neither the Company nor WH Ireland   shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision it may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and /or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of the Company and WH Ireland.

Termination

The Placing Agreement may be terminated by WH Ireland   at any time prior to Admission in certain circumstances including, among other things, following the Company failing to comply with its obligations under the Placing Agreement or the occurrence of certain force majeure events. The exercise of any right of termination pursuant to the Placing Agreement, any waiver of any condition in the Placing Agreement and any decision by WH Ireland   whether or not to extend the time for satisfaction of any condition in the Placing Agreement will be within the absolute discretion of WH Ireland. Following Admission, the Placing Agreement is not capable of rescission or termination in respect of the Placing.

The rights and obligations of the Placees shall terminate only in the circumstances described in these terms and conditions and will not be subject to termination by the Placee or any prospective Placee at any time or in any circumstances. By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by WH Ireland   of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of WH Ireland, and that WH Ireland need not make any reference to Placees and that it shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise.

Offer personal

The offering of Placing Shares and the agreement arising from acceptance of the Placing is personal to each Placee and does not constitute an offering to any other person or to the public. A Placee may not assign, transfer, or in any other manner, deal with its rights or obligations under the agreement arising from the acceptance of the Placing, without the prior written agreement of WH Ireland   in accordance with all relevant legal requirements.

Payment default

A Placee’s entitlement to receive any Placing Shares under the Placing will be conditional on WH Ireland ‘s receipt of payment in full for such Placing Shares by the relevant time to be stated in the written confirmation referred to above, or by such later time and date as WH Ireland and the Company may in their absolute discretion determine, and otherwise in accordance with that confirmation’s terms.

If any Placee fails to make such payment by the required time for any Placing Shares:

(1)  the Company may release itself, and (if at its absolute discretion it decides to do so) will be released from, all obligations it may have to allot and/or issue any such Placing Shares to such Placee or at its direction which are then unallotted and/or unissued;

(2)   the Company may exercise all rights of lien, forfeiture and set-off over and in respect of any such Placing Shares to the full extent permitted under its Articles of Association or by law and to the extent that such Placee then has any interest in or rights in respect of any such shares;

(3)   the Company or WH Ireland may sell (and each of them is irrevocably authorised by such Placee to do so) all or any of such shares on such Placee’s behalf and then retain from the proceeds, for the account and benefit of the Company relating to (or where applicable and in relation to (iii) below only, WH Ireland ): (i) any amount up to the total amount due to it as, or in respect of, allotment monies, or as interest on such monies, for any Placing Shares, (ii) any amount required to cover any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax arising on the sale, and (iii) any amount required to cover dealing costs and/or commissions necessarily or reasonably incurred by it in respect of such sale; and

(4)   such Placee will remain liable to the Company and to WH Ireland for the full amount of any losses and of any costs which either of them may suffer or incur as a result of it (i) not receiving payment in full for such Placing Shares by the required time, and/or (ii) the sale of any such Placing Shares to any other person at whatever price and on whatever terms as are actually obtained for such sale by or for it. Interest may be charged in respect of payments not received by WH Ireland for value by the required time referred to above at the rate of two percentage points above the base rate of Barclays Bank plc.

Placees’ representations, warranties and undertakings to the Company and WH Ireland

By agreeing with WH Ireland to acquire Placing Shares under the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on a Placee’s behalf) irrevocably acknowledges and confirms and represents and warrants and undertakes to, and agrees with, each of the Company and WH Ireland (in its capacity as placing agent) and each of its affiliates, in each case as a fundamental term of such Placee’s acceptance of its Placing participation and of the Company’s obligation to allot and/or issue any Placing Shares to it or at its direction, that:

(a)  it has read the Announcement in full, including these Terms and Conditions , and agrees to and accepts all the terms set out in the Announcement, including these Terms and Conditions and that its acquisition of the Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained therein;

(b)  its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances referred to in these Terms and Conditions and will not be subject to rescission or termination by it in any circumstances;

(c)  it accepts that the content of the Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and that neither WH Ireland n or any person acting on its respective behalf has or shall have any liability for any information, representation or statement contained in the Announcement or any information previously published by or on behalf of the Company and will not be liable for any Placee’s decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation or statement contained in the Announcement or otherwise;

(d)  the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which such Placee has relied in committing itself to subscribe for the Placing Shares is contained in the Announcement and any information previously published by the Company by notification to a Regulatory Information Service, such information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and that it has neither received nor relied on any other information given or representations, warranties or statements made by any WH Ireland or the Company or their respective directors, employees, officers or agents  or any other person and neither of WH Ireland nor the Company, including employees or agents nor any person acting on behalf of any of WH Ireland or the Company will be liable for any Placee’s decision to accept an invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement;

(e)  it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing;

(f)  it has not been, and will not be, given any warranty or representation in relation to the Placing Shares or to the Company or to any other member of its Group in connection with the Placing, other than (i) as included in the Announcement by the person(s) responsible for the Announcement, (ii) by the Company as included in this document, and (iii) by the Company to the effect that (1) the Announcement will comply with all relevant requirements of the AIM Rules for Companies at the time of its publication and (2) at the time that the Placee enters into a legally binding commitment to be allotted Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing the Company will not then be in breach of its obligations under the AIM Rules for Companies or applicable law to disclose publicly in the correct manner all such information as is required to be so disclosed by the Company;

(g)  it has not relied on any representation or warranty in reaching its decision to be allotted Placing Shares under the Placing, save as given or made by the Company as referred to in the previous paragraph;

(h)  it is not a client of WH Ireland in relation to the Placing and WH Ireland is not acting for it in connection with the Placing and will not be responsible to it in respect of the Placing for providing protections afforded to it or its clients under the rules of the FCA (the “FCA Rules”) or for advising it with regard to the Placing Shares and WH Ireland shall not be responsible to it or any other person for providing the protections afforded to its customers whether under the FCA Rules or otherwise, or for advising it or any other person in respect of or in connection with such arrangements. In addition any payment by it will not be treated as client money governed by the FCA Rules. It agrees that WH Ireland shall not be liable to it for any matter arising out of its role as placing agent or otherwise in connection with the Placing and that, where any such liability nevertheless arises as a matter of law, it will immediately waive any claim against WH Ireland which it may have in respect thereof;

(i)  it (or any person acting on its behalf) will pay the full allotment amount at the Placing Price as and when required in respect of all Placing Shares for which it is required to be allotted under its Placing participation and will do all things necessary on its part to ensure that payment for such shares and their delivery to it or at its direction is completed in accordance with the standing CREST instructions (or, where applicable, standing certificated settlement instructions) that it has or puts in place with WH Ireland , failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other placees or sold as WH Ireland may, in its sole discretion and without liability to such Placee decide, and it will remain liable for the shortfall below the net proceeds of such sale and the placing proceeds of the Placing Shares, and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax which may arise upon the placing or sale of such Placee’s Placing Shares on its behalf;

(j)  its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will represent a maximum number of Placing Shares which it will be entitled, and required, to be allotted, and that the Company and/or WH Ireland may call upon it to be allotted a lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but in no event in aggregate more than the aforementioned maximum;

(k)  it is entitled to be allotted Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it and it has complied, and will fully comply, with all such laws (including where applicable, the Criminal Justice Act 1993 (“CJA”), Market Abuse Regulation EU No 596/2014 (“The Market Abuse Regulation”), money laundering and terrorist financing under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2003, the Terrorism Act 2006, the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and part VIII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “Regulations”)) and has obtained all governmental and other consents (if any) which may be required for the purpose of, or as a consequence of, such allotment, and it will provide promptly to WH Ireland such evidence, if any, as to the identity or location or legal status of any person which WH Ireland may request from it in connection with the Placing (for the purpose of complying with any such laws or ascertaining the nationality of any person or the jurisdiction(s) to which any person is subject or otherwise) in the form and manner requested by WH Ireland on the basis that any failure by it to do so may result in the number of Placing Shares that are to be allotted and/or issued to it or at its direction pursuant to the Placing being reduced to such number, or to nil, as WH Ireland may decide at its sole discretion;

(l)  unless paragraph (m) below applies, it has neither received nor relied on any inside information (for the purpose of and section 56 of the CJA) in relation to its participation in the Placing;

(m)  if it has received any inside information (for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation and section 56 of the CJA) in relation to the Company and its securities, it confirms that it has not: (a) dealt (or attempted to deal) in the securities of the Company; (b) encouraged, recommended or induced another person to deal in the securities of the Company; or (c) unlawfully disclosed inside information to any person, prior to the information being made publicly available;

(n)  that it has identified its clients in accordance with the Regulations and that it has complied fully with its obligations pursuant to the Regulations;

(o)  it has observed the laws of all requisite territories, obtained any requisite governmental or other consents, complied with all requisite formalities and paid any issue, transfer or other taxes due in connection with its application in any territory and that it has not taken any action which will or might result in the Company, or WH Ireland acting in breach of the regulatory or legal requirements of any territory in connection with the Placing, application for Placing Shares or the admission to AIM of the Placing Shares;

(p)  it will not distribute any press announcement relating to the Placing or any other offering material, directly or indirectly, in or into a Prohibited Jurisdiction;

(q)  it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done or to be done by it in relation to any Placing Shares in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom and it has not made or communicated or caused to be made or communicated, and it will not make or communicate or cause to be made or communicated, any “financial promotion” in relation to Placing Shares in contravention of section 21 of FSMA;

(r)  it is a Relevant Person and it is acting as principal only in respect of the Placing or, if it is acting for any other person (i) it is duly authorised to do so, (ii) it is and will remain liable to the Company and/or WH Ireland for the performance of all its obligations as a Placee in respect of the Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for another person), (iii) it is both an “authorised person” for the purposes of FSMA and a “qualified investor” as defined at Article 2(E) of the Prospectus Regulation acting as agent for such person, and (iv) such person is either (1) a Qualified Investor or (2) its “client” (as defined in section 86(2) of FSMA) that has engaged it to act as his agent on terms which enable it to make decisions concerning the Placing or any other offers of transferable securities on his behalf without reference to him;

(s)  in the case of a Relevant Person who acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, it represents and warrants that:

(i)  the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons other than Relevant Persons or in circumstances in which the prior consent of WH Ireland has been given to the offer or resale; or

(ii)  where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any member state of the EEA other than Relevant Persons, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons;

(t)  the Placee acknowledges that no offering document, admission document or prospectus has been, or will be, prepared in connection with the Placing and it has not received a prospectus, admission document or other offering document in connection therewith;

(u)  it has not and will not make any offer to the public of the Placing Shares for the purposes of section 102B FSMA;

(v)  it agrees to be bound by the terms of the Articles of Association;

(w)  nothing has been done or will be done by it in relation to the Placing or to any Placing Shares that has resulted or will result in any person being required to publish a prospectus in relation to the Company or to any shares in the capital of the Company in accordance with FSMA or the UK Prospectus Rules or in accordance with any other laws applicable in any part of the European Union or the European Economic Area;

(x)  (i) it is not, and is not acting in relation to the Placing as nominee or agent for, a person who is or may be liable to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax in respect of any agreement to acquire (or any acquisition of) shares or other securities at a rate in excess of 0.5% (including, without limitation, under sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 concerning depositary receipts and clearance services), and the allocation, allotment, issue and/or delivery to it, or any person specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will not give rise to a liability under any such section, (ii) the person whom it specifies for registration as holder of Placing Shares will be the Placee or the Placee’s nominee, and (iii) neither WH Ireland nor the Company will be responsible to it or anyone else for any liability to pay stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax resulting from any breach of, or non-compliance, with this paragraph.  Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to participate in the Placing and it agrees to indemnify the Company and WH Ireland in respect of the same on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to the CREST account or its affiliate or agent who will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions;

(y)  it will not treat any Placing Shares in any manner that would contravene any legal or regulatory requirement applicable in any territory or jurisdiction and no aspect of its participation in the Placing will contravene any legal or regulatory requirement applicable in any territory or jurisdiction in any respect or cause the Company or WH Ireland or their respective directors, officers, employees or agents to contravene any such legal or regulatory requirement in any respect and it has obtained all governmental and other consents which may be required under the laws of the applicable territory or jurisdiction;

(z)  if a Placee is a resident in the UK: i) it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Section 86(7) of FSMA; ii) it is a person of a kind described in Article 19 and/or Article 49 and/or 43 (2) of the Order and it understands that the information contained in these Terms and Conditions is only directed at any of the following: (A) persons falling within Article 19 of the Order having professional experience in matters relating to investments; (B) persons falling within Article 49 of the Order (including companies and unincorporated associations of high net worth and trusts of high value); or (C) persons to whom it would otherwise be lawful to distribute it; and that, accordingly, any investment or investment activity to which these Terms and Conditions relates is available to it as such a person or will be engaged in only with it as such a person;

(aa)  if a Placee is an investor located within a member state of the European Economic Area, it is a “Qualified Investor” within the meaning of Article 2(E) of the Prospectus Regulation;

(bb)  (applicable terms and expressions used in this paragraph have the meanings that they have in Regulation S made under the US Securities Act) (i) the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or under the securities laws of any State of or other jurisdiction within the United States, (ii) the Placing Shares will not be offered or sold, resold, or delivered, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any US person (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act), (iii) it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer sell or deliver any of the Placing Shares to persons within the United States, directly or indirectly, (iv) neither it, its affiliates, nor any persons acting on its behalf, has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Placing Shares, (v) it will not be receiving Placing Shares with a view to resale in or into the United States, and (vi) it will not distribute this document or any offering material relating to Placing Shares, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or to any persons resident in the United States;

(cc)  it is not and, if different, the intended beneficial owner of the Placing Shares allocated to it is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired will not be, a resident or national of a Prohibited Jurisdiction or a corporation, partnership or other entity organised under the laws of a Prohibited Jurisdiction, and the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the securities legislation of a Prohibited Jurisdiction and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, taken up, renounced or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into a Prohibited Jurisdiction;

(dd)  the Placee has consented to receive information in respect of securities of the Company and other price-affected securities (as defined in FSMA) which makes it an “insider” for the purposes of Part V of FSMA and the Market Abuse Regulation, and it agrees not to deal in any securities of the Company until such time as the inside information (as defined in FSMA) of which it has been made aware has been made public for purposes of FSMA or it has been notified by WH Ireland or the Company that the proposed Placing will not proceed and any unpublished price sensitive information of which the Placee is aware has been publicly announced, and, other than in respect of its knowledge of the proposed Placing, it has neither received nor relied on any confidential price sensitive information concerning the Company or the Placing Shares;

(ee)  where the Placee is acquiring Placing Shares for one or more managed accounts, it represents and warrants that it is authorised in writing by each managed account: (a) to acquire the Placing Shares for each managed account; (b) to make on its behalf the representations, warranties, acknowledgments, undertakings and agreements in these Terms and Conditions ; and (c) to receive on its behalf any investment letter relating to the Placing in the form provided to it by WH Ireland ;

(ff)  WH Ireland may (at its absolute discretion) satisfy its obligations to procure Placees by itself agreeing to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares or by nominating any other WH Ireland person to do so;

(gg)  time is of the essence as regards its obligations under these Terms and Conditions ;

(hh)  each right or remedy of the Company and WH Ireland provided for in these Terms and Conditions is in addition to any other right or remedy which is available to such person and the exercise of any such right or remedy in whole or in part will not preclude the subsequent exercise of any such right or remedy;

(ii)  any document that is to be sent to it in connection with the Placing will be sent at its risk and may be sent to it at any address provided by it to WH Ireland :

(jj)  nothing in these Terms and Conditions will exclude any liability of any person (i) for any contents of the Announcement as a result of such person being responsible for such contents pursuant to the AIM Rules for Companies or applicable law or (ii) for fraud on its part, and all times and dates in these Terms and Conditions are subject to amendment at the discretion of WH Ireland except that in no circumstances will the date scheduled for Admission be later than the Long Stop Date;

(kk)  none of its rights or obligations in respect of the Placing is conditional on any other person agreeing to be allotted any Placing Shares under the Placing and no failure by any other Placee to meet any of its obligations in respect of the Placing will affect any of its obligations in respect of the Placing;

(ll)  it has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in shares of companies similar to the Company such that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company, it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of protecting its own interests and evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company and it is able to bear the economic risk of a complete loss of its investment in the Company;

(mm)  it has made an investigation of the pertinent facts relating to the operation of the Company to the extent it deems necessary in order to be fully informed with respect thereto;

(nn)  it will indemnify on an after tax basis and hold the Company and WH Ireland and their respective affiliates harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings in these Terms and Conditions and further agrees that the provisions of these Terms and Conditions shall survive after completion of the Placing;

(oo)  WH Ireland does not have any duty to it similar or comparable to rules of “best execution”, “suitability” and “risk warnings” as set out in the Conduct of Business Sourcebook of the FCA;

(pp)  it accepts that it is not relying on WH Ireland to advise whether or not the Placing Shares are in any way a suitable investment for it;

(qq)  it is entitled to subscribe for or purchase the Placing Shares under the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it and that it has fully observed such laws and obtained all governmental and other consents which may be required thereunder and complied with all necessary formalities;

(rr)  it irrevocably appoints any director or employee of WH Ireland as its agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any document on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of the Placing Shares being issued to it;

(ss)  it is not presently acting in concert, as defined in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, with any existing shareholder or other Placee;

(tt)  each right or remedy of the Company and WH Ireland provided for in these Terms and Conditions  is in addition to any other right or remedy which is available to such person and the exercise of any such right or remedy in whole or in part shall not preclude the subsequent exercise of any such right or remedy;

(uu)  none of its rights or obligations in respect of the Placing is conditional on any other person agreeing to acquire any Placing Shares under the Placing and no failure by any other Placee to meet any of its obligations in respect of the Placing shall affect any of its obligations in respect of the Placing;

(vv)  WH Ireland does not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement; and

(ww)  the Placee agrees that the Company and WH Ireland will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing conformations, representations, warranties, acknowledgements undertakings and agreements which are given by each Placee (or persons acting on their behalf) to WH Ireland and the Company and are irrevocable.

Entire Agreement

The terms set out in the Announcement (including these Terms and Conditions) and the allocation of Placing Shares (including the subscription amount payable) as confirmed to a Placee, constitute the entire agreement to the terms of the Placing and a Placee’s participation in the Placing to the exclusion of prior representations, understandings and agreements between them. Any variation of such terms must be in writing.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

The agreement arising out of acceptance of the Placing and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with the Placing or formation thereof (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England. Each Placee irrevocably agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England to settle any claim or dispute that arises out of or in connection with the agreement arising out of acceptance of the Placing or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).

Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Amapá Iron Ore Project Given Court Approval to Commence Iron Ore Shipments

Highlights

In a significant development in Cadence’s Brazil’s iron ore interests:

  • Brazil’s Commercial Court of São Paulo has ruled that DEV Mineração S.A., owner of the Amapá iron ore project (“DEV”) can commence the shipment of the iron ore stockpiles situated at DEV’s wholly-owned port in Santana, Amapá, Brazil.
  • Independent surveys of these iron ore stockpiles indicate that some 1.39 Mt of iron ore in three stockpiles are available for immediate export with an average Fe grade of 62.12%.
  • Permission to export the iron ore was granted as a result of a petition filed by DEV supported by judicial trustee and creditors committee.
  • The net proceeds of the iron ore sales will primarily be used to pay labour and small creditor and to bring the Amapá iron ore project  (“Amapá Project”) back into production.
  • Iron ore exports are targeted to re-commence in the coming months.

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) advises that the Amapá Project has been granted permission by the Commercial Court of São Paulo (“Court”) to begin the shipment of its stockpile from the port of Santana, located in the Amapá Province of  Brazil.

Next Steps

DEV, with Cadence’s and Indo Sino’s (“JV Partners”) support, are liaising with local authorities to obtain the required licenses and permits to rapidly commence exports, and have already received federal authorisation to export the iron ore. In addition, the JV Partners are in detailed discussions with potential offtake partners and local contractors so that the Amapá Project can begin shipment as quickly as possible.

Currently, we estimate that the first shipment from the stockpile should be in late Q2, early Q3 of this year. These timelines are, of course, dependent on the ongoing and future impacts of COVID 19 on associated movement and activities.

An independent survey of these stockpiles located at the port indicates that some 1.39 million tonnes (“Mt”) of iron ore in three stockpiles with an average Fe grade of about 62.12% are available for export.

Cadence Amapá Project stake

As mentioned in previous announcements there remains only one major precondition for Cadence to make its investment in the Amapá Project and release the sum of US$2.5 million currently held in escrow in a judicial trust account (“Escrow Monies”).

This precondition requires DEV to reach a settlement agreement with the secured bank creditors. On satisfaction of the prerequisites and the release of the Escrow monies, Cadence will become a 20% shareholder in the Amapá Project via our joint venture company which will own 99.9% of Dev.

Cadence’s rights over the Amapá Project have been formalised in the Judicial Restructuring Plan of DEV and ratified by the São Paulo Bankruptcy court. Dev officers have been appointed in the Judicial Restructuring Plan, with acceptance of creditors.

While we await the settlement with the secured bank creditors, The JV Partners will work with DEV to advance the restart of the Amapá Project using the proceeds of the iron ore, accelerating the production from the Amapá Project.

About the Project

The Amapá Project was owned by Anglo American plc and Cliffs Natural Resources and consists of a large-scale iron ore mine, beneficiation plant, railway and private port.  In 2012 the operation produced 6.1 Mt of iron ore concentrate and reported operating profits from their 70% ownership in the Amapá Project of US$120 million (100% – US$171 million). Before its sale in 2012, Anglo American valued its 70% stake at US$462m in its 2012 Annual Report (100% – US$600m).

As previously announced, the total historical mineral resource contains an estimated 348 Mt of ore @ 38.9% iron content (“Fe”). The ore is beneficiated at the mine to 65% Fe Pellet Feed and 62% Fe Spiral Concentrate. Based on available historic mine plans and an independent consultant review, it is expected that at full production the Amapá Project has a mine life of 14 years and at full capacity is targeting to produce up to 5.3 Mt of iron ore per annum.

Court Petition

The permission to export the iron ore was granted by the Court, as a result of a petition filed by DEV and supported by the judicial trustees of DEV, KMPG Brazil and the creditors committee.

The Court ruled that DEV is permitted to export sufficient iron ore to realise a US$10 million profit from the Amapá stockpiles at the port (after the deductions of all logistical, regulatory, shipping and sale costs).

The first of the net revenues from the sale of the stocks shall be used to pay historic small and employee creditors (~US$2.5 m). Thereafter funds will be used to begin recommissioning studies on the asset including plant, railway and port and to start maintenance and monitoring of the current tailing dam facilities (~ US$ 6 m) and provide ongoing working capital and historic finance obligations.

DEV also filed a further petition which requested the release of R$400,000 (~US$78,000) currently held in a judicial account to be used for essential maintenance at the wholly-owned private port and the removal of the secured bank creditors liens (“Bank Liens”) over DEV and its assets. The Court ruled to release the funds. In addition, the Court has requested that the secured bank creditors reach an agreement with the JV Partners and DEV within 60 days or the Court might rule on the annulment of the Bank Liens and consider the banks as unsecured creditors. As unsecured creditors, the bank’s credit will be subject to restructuring plan limits and discounts and be paid from free cash flow from DEV, which may be over fifteen years.

Cadence Chairman Andrew Suckling commented; “The ruling from Brazil’s São Paulo court marks a significant milestone for the re-opening of the Amapá iron ore project and its long-term benefits for stakeholders and the region. I would like to put on record my sincere thanks and gratitude for the tireless efforts by Cadence management, IndoSino and DEV and advisors. This ruling brings the Amapá Project back to life.

Despite the severe disruption created by COVID-19, management has remained focused on delivering the Amapa project as planned, all the while supported by a robust iron ore market that continues to justify the opportunity. Regardless, our primary concern at this time has been to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our staff, and it is my fervent hope that employees, shareholders, contractors and their families continue to remain safe and secure through this challenging time.”

Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented; For Cadence, this a significant step forward for the redevelopment of the fully integrated Amapá iron ore project. We are truly entering the operational phase of the asset, and despite the current turbulent and volatile market conditions, the iron ore prices remain robust. The whole Cadence and JV team have been active in delivering an excellent outcome for Amapá.  

The shipment of the iron ore stockpile at the port of Santana will now trigger long overdue payments to hundreds of local ex-employees and small creditors. It will assist with funding the necessary recommissioning studies required to re-open the mine, which will, in turn, will rejuvenate the regional economy and provide significant employment, health and educational benefits for its people.”

Our Chairman has previously referred to Amapá as a “Company Changing” project for Cadence, and it is now on its way to deliver this goal. With this in mind, I now look forward to providing shareholders with further updates as the recommissioning process moves forward.”

– Ends –

For further information:

Cadence Minerals plc +44 (0) 207 440 0647
Andrew Suckling
Kiran Morzaria
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker) +44 (0) 207 220 1666
James Joyce
James Sinclair-Ford
Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 207 399 9400
Jon Belliss

 

Qualified Person

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe” “could” “should” “envisage” “estimate” “intend” ”may” “plan” “will” or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.  Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.

Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Update on Investment in the Amapá Iron Ore Project, Brazil

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to provide an update on its investment in the Amapá Iron Ore Project, Brazil.

The Amapá Project

The Amapá Project was owned by Anglo American plc and Cliffs Natural Resources and consists of a large-scale iron ore mine, beneficiation plant, railway and private port. Before its sale in 2012, Anglo American valued its 70% stake at US $462m in its 2012 Annual Report (100% US $600m). The Amapá Project is 99.9% owned by DEV Mineração S.A. (“DEV”).

Successful Reinstatement of Railway Concession

Following the approval of the judicial restructuring plan (“JRP”) announced on August 30th, 2019, Cadence along with its partners successfully negotiated the reinstatement of a life of mine railway concession. The grant of this railway concession was an incredible achievement and was announced on December 9th, 2019.

Satisfaction of Final Precondition

Currently, there remains only one major precondition for Cadence to make its investment in the Amapá Project, the sum of US$2.5 million currently held in escrow in a judicial trust account (“Escrow Monies”).

This precondition requires DEV Mineração S.A. (“Dev”) to reach a settlement agreement with the secured bank creditors. Since our last update, Cadence and our joint venture partners Indo Sino Pte. Ltd. (“Indo Sino”) have been in negotiations with the secured bank creditors and we have offered a settlement involving a discount on the amounts owned by Dev.

This settlement is intended to be paid from part of the proceeds from the sale of the iron ore stockpile currently held at Dev’s 100% owned port facility in Santana, Amapá. Alongside our partners, we continue to negotiate with the secured bank creditors, and we will update the market once a binding agreement is reached.

On satisfaction of the preconditions and the release of the Escrow monies, Cadence will become a 20% shareholder in the Amapá Project via our joint venture company which will own 99.9% of DEV. The Escrow Monies will then be used for the payment of former employees and small trade creditors. Once Cadence becomes a shareholder in the Amapá Project, the Government of Amapá will permit Dev to start operations on the asset including the shipment of iron ore from the port.

Cadence Non-Executive Chairman Andrew Suckling commented; “The remarkable progress made by Cadence management, Indo Sino and the Governor of Amapá and his team in bringing the Amapá Project back to life continues. We are moving ever closer to commencing the process of turning Amapá and it’s dormant potential into a key contributor to the regional economy, with all the employment, health and educational  benefits that will bring to this part of Brazil.”

Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented; “Since securing the Railway concessions last December, we have worked tirelessly to reach a settlement with Dev’s secured bank creditors. It is my fervent belief that as referred to previously by our Chairman, Cadence is on the cusp of a company changing event – one that will create a long lasting store of value for our company and shareholders, as well as returning some prosperity to the Amapá region. I look forward to updating our board and investors on progress in the coming days and weeks.”

– Ends –

For further information:

Cadence Minerals plc +44 (0) 207 440 0647
Andrew Suckling
Kiran Morzaria
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker) +44 (0) 207 220 1666
James Joyce
James Sinclair-Ford
Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 207 399 9400
Jon Belliss

 

Qualified Person

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ‘‘believe’’ ‘‘could’’ “should” ‘‘envisage’’ ‘‘estimate’’ ‘‘intend’’ ‘‘may’’ ‘‘plan’’ ‘‘will’’ or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.  Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-lookingstatements.

Cadence Minerals (KDNC) Reinstatement of Critical Railway Concessions at the Amapá Iron Ore Project, Brazil.

 

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to announce that, following the approval of the judicial restructuring plan (“JRP”) announced on August 30th 2019, along with its partners it has agreed with the State of Amapá the reinstatement of a life of mine railway concession (“Concessions”) between the Amapá iron ore mine (“Amapá” “Amapá Project”) and the port in Santana, State of Amapá, Brazil.

The Amapá Project

The Amapá Project was owned by Anglo American plc and Cliffs Natural Resources and consists of a large-scale iron ore mine, beneficiation plant, railway and private port. Before its sale in 2012, Anglo American valued its 70% stake at US $462m in its 2012 Annual Report (100% US $600m). The Amapá Project is 99.9% owned by DEV Mineração S.A. (“DEV”).

Details of Railway Concession

The reinstatement of the Concessions were agreed between Cadence, Indo Sino Pte. Ltd. (“Indo Sino”), and the government of Amapá, including the state secretary of transport, state secretary of planning, state secretary of the environment, attorney generals office and the office of the Governor of Amapá.

The Concessions are in force for the life of the mine. The Concessions allow DEV’s 100% owned subsidiary to operate the railway, for the primary purpose of the shipment of iron ore over 180 km from the mine to the private port in Santana. The railway will be maintained and improved to allow the eventual shipment of approximately 5.5 million tonnes of iron ore, along with providing a passenger and good service. The concessions also allows DEV to expand the capacity of the railway to transport other goods, should there be commercial demand.

Satisfaction of Precondition 

The reinstatement of the Concessions represents the satisfaction of one of the two principal preconditions for Cadence’s investment in the Amapá Project and the release of US$2.5 million currently held in escrow in a judicial trust account.

The second principle precondition is the release of security over The Amapá Project. Along with our partners, we continue to negotiate with the secured bank creditors to reach a settlement and release the security over the Amapá Project. Once the preconditions have been met, Cadence will own 20% of the Amapá iron ore project.

On satisfaction of this, the monies held in the judicial trust account will be released for the payment of former employees and small trade creditors. On the release of the monies, the Government of Amapá will permit DEV to ship the iron ore stockpile at the port, generating early revenue for the project.

Cadence Non-Executive Chairman Andrew Suckling commented; “To echo my previous comments, in my time working with commodity projects around the world, I have rarely if ever seen a lapsed mining project with this sort of potential. The reinstatement of the life of mine railway concession is the first key step toward rehabilitation of the Amapá Project, and I speak for our board and investors when I say that we expect this to be a Company changing event. Cadence and Indo Sino, along with the Governor of Amapá and his team of Government Officials have worked tirelessly to conclude this key step, and we are grateful for all they have achieved.”

In its previous life, Amapá’s output contributed significantly to the regional economy. It is important to consider the employment opportunities and funding for infrastructure, education and health that a rehabilitated mine will bring to this part of Brazil.”

Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented; “Since the approval of the JRP in August, we have worked with Indo Sino and the Governor of Amapá to secure this first key step to bring Amapá back into production. Now we have secured the Railway concessions, once agreement has been reached with the Government of Amapá to release security over the project we can commence shipment of the iron ore stockpile. This will in turn provide approx US$ 60 million, which will be reinvested in the restart of the Amapá Project. I look forward to providing our board and investors with further progress updates.”
– Ends –
For further information:
Cadence Minerals plc
+44 (0) 207 440 0647
Andrew Suckling

Kiran Morzaria
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
+44 (0) 207 220 1666
James Joyce

James Sinclair-Ford
Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker)
+44 (0) 207 399 9400
Jon Belliss

Qualified Person
Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ‘‘believe’’ ‘‘could’’ “should” ‘‘envisage’’ ‘‘estimate’’ ‘‘intend’’ ‘‘may’’ ‘‘plan’’ ‘‘will’’ or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.

Cadence Minerals Plc (KDNC) Approval of Judicial Restructuring Plan Paves the way for the Restart of the Amapá Iron Ore Project

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC) is pleased to announce that the judicial restructuring plan (“JRP”) submitted to the commercial court of São Paulo to recover and restart operations at the Amapá iron ore project, was approved by over 90% of the credit value at the JRP meeting held in São Paulo and Macapá, Brazil and was homologated by the courts on the 29 August 2019.

Cadence Amapá Project stake

Once the preconditions relating to the railway licenses and bank creditor arrangements have been met, the US$2.5 million investment placed in the judicial trust account will be released, and Cadence will own 20% of the Amapá iron ore project. Cadence’s next stage of investment will be a further investment of US$3.5 million on the grant of all operational and environmental licenses for the Amapá Project, at which point Cadence will own 27%. Cadence also has first right of refusal to increase its stake to 49% in the Amapá Project. 

Amapá Project Operational & Financial Plan Summary   

The approval of the JRP and the fulfilment of the preconditions outlined above, will result in Cadence’s and IndoSino’s joint venture company Pedra Branca Alliance Pte Ltd. (“PBA”) owning 99.9% of DEV Mineração S.A. (“Amapá”). DEV Mineração S.A. is the owner of the Amapá iron project. The JRP approval will also allow Amapá to start operations at the project. 

The approval of the JRP was a key step to Cadence’s investment into the Amapá iron ore project. The project was formerly owned by Anglo American plc (“Anglo American”) and Cliffs Natural Resources (“Cliffs”) and consist of a large-scale iron ore mine, beneficiation plant, railway and private port (“Amapá Project”). Before its sale in 2012 Anglo American valued its 70% stake at US $462m in its 2012 Annual Report (100% US $600m)

As part of the JRP Amapá submitted an outline of an operational and financial plan that Amapá intends to implement to bring the project back into production, which included the following

  • The sale of approximately of 1.39 million tonnes (“Mt”) of stockpiles currently held at the port owned by Amapá. Planned shipment of stockpile commencing in December 2019.
  • It is estimated that these stockpiles have a net realisable value of approximately US$ 60 million, which will be reinvested in the restart of the Amapá Project.
  • Further capital investment of approximately US$168 million, of which it is estimated US$61 million will be spent on port rehabilitation and US$47 million to be spent on plant recommissioning.
  • Rehabilitation to be completed by the end of 2021 with new production in 2022. Full production by 2024 of 5.3 million tonnes (“Mt”) of iron ore per annum.
  • At full production and using US$61 per tonne of 62% Fe Amapá is forecast to have:
    • an average net revenue after shipping of US$266 million per annum,
    •  and an average EBITDA of US$136 million per annum.

Next Steps

Cadence and IndoSino will continue their work to secure all the operating and environment licenses required to operate the Amapá Project. Initially this will focus on the reinstatement of the railway concessions and finalising negotiations with the secured bank creditors. 

At site Amapá will put in place the company structures and controls required to start operations and recruit key personnel to implement the operational plan. Over the next four months our key targets will the start of detailed recommissioning studies and the start shipment of the stockpiles by the end of December 2019.  

Cadence Non-Executive Chairman Andrew Suckling commented; “In my time working with commodity projects around the world, I have rarely if ever seen a lapsed mining project with this sort of potential. The JRP has provided a comprehensive framework to rehabilitate the Amapá Project from milling and crushing to transportation and final export. Without all these elements combined and packaged together by the JRP, rehabilitation would be impossible. On a global comparison, the rehabilitated mine is expected to be competitive and cash generative with conservative assumptions.”

“Cadence management, headed by Kiran have secured an opportunity to return this former Anglo American iron ore mine to production at a level enthusiastically supported by our board and institutional investors. There is a tangible sense of excitement and anticipation around our company and boardroom as we look forward to seeing the Amapá iron ore mine come back to life.”

Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented; “For Cadence this a major step forward in the redevelopment of the fully integrated Amapá iron ore project. The overwhelming approval by the creditors for the operational and financial plan presented by Amapá, IndoSino and Cadence, was both gratifying to our team and a reflection of the strong underlying support experienced at numerous meetings with key stakeholders, creditors and state officials.”

“I would personally like to thank all involved including the legal teams*, engineers, state authorities and creditors who have worked together tirelessly to achieve this incredible first step. Cadence and IndoSino will now work on fulfilling the remaining preconditions, and I look forward to being continually and directly involved day to day as we move towards the restart of operations at the Amapá iron ore project.”

“As part of our desire to attract institutions to our Company and after positive discussions with our current institutional shareholder base, we announced, earlier this week, a proposed consolidation of our share capital”

*For Cadence Hill Dickinson LLP & Thomas Bastos Waisberg Kurzweil, for Amapá Donelli, Abreu Sodré e Martins Advogados and for IndoSino ACPA Advogados.

Details of the JRP

The information, assumptions and financial model, were prepared for the JRP only and are based on historical analysis of the costs and the review of two technical independent engineers reports published 2013 and 2015. It should be noted that this review provides a basis for a preliminary assessment of the project and its potential but further, more detailed reviews and analysis would be required to provide a Feasibility Study level report. This would include amongst other things, providing a current Mineral Resource Estimate and/or Ore Reserves, updated capital and operating costs and an independent assessment of key economic drivers and returns.

Cadence, IndoSino and Amapá submitted a JRP to the Commercial Court of São Paulo in May of this year. This plan set out a financial and operational plan to restart operations at the Amapá Project and under what terms Cadence and IndoSino will invest via its joint venture company in Amapá Project. 

The creditors meeting was held on the 22 August 2019. The creditors approved the JRP and the results o were homologated by the commercial court of São Paulo on the 29 August 2019. The JRP is part of a regulated process under the laws of Brazil, in which the company under judicial review and investors can submit a recovery plan which will allow the company under judicial review, in this case, the Amapá, to trade under a protected status while it recovers from its financial difficulties. 

The JRP has several key preconditions to the investment by PBA into Amapá; the first was the approval of the JRP, the others are the reinstatement of the railway concession to Amapá and the conclusion of an agreement with the secured bank creditors of payments from free cash flow. On the completion of these two remaining preconditions US$2.5 million (deposited by Cadence as part of the investment agreement with IndoSino) will be released from the judicial account to pay historic employee and small trade creditors. These conditions being fulfilled PBA will own 99.9% of the Amapá Project.

The JRP schedule contemplates the majority of the historic liabilities will be paid from free cash flow in years 5 to year 17 of operations, which represents a discounted NPV10 debt value of approximately US$106 million. The JRP also caps the trade creditor liabilities.

JRP Operational Plan

The JRP provides an operational and financial strategy for the redevelopment and restart of operations at the Amapá Project. The plan is based on historical minerals resource estimates and management estimates of operational and capital costs.

The key stages and economics of the redevelopment strategy are summarised below:

Recommissioning Studies

  • Amapá will start the relevant resource, engineering studies required for banking finance of the project.
  • It is anticipated that this will commend in the first quarter or second quarter of 2020 with completion in the second or third quarter of 2020.
  • The commissioning of these studies will commence only after the grant of all operational and environmental licenses.

Reinvestment of Iron Ore Stockpile Sales.

  • Amapá will begin shipping of the iron ore at stockpile as soon as possible. Based Amapá’ s current understandings this is targeted to start by the end of 2019 and take between 18 to 24 months to ship.
  • An independent survey of these stockpiles indicates some 1.39 Mt (+/- 10%) of iron ore in three stockpiles with an average Fe grade of 62.12% (+/ 10%), which based a US$80 per tonne of 62% Fe would net Amapá a forecast US$60 million net of costs.
  • These funds are to be reinvested in the capital development of the Amapá Project

Capital Investment 

  • Amapá’s current estimates of capital costs, which are based on 2013 engineering studies, is anticipated to be a total of US$168 million. This sum includes all the capital investment required to bring the mine, rail and port into full production.
  • A summary of the key capital expenditure centres are outlined below
Capital Item US$ Millions 
Processing Plant 47.0 
Fleet Contract 13.0 
Power (Transmission Line) 5.0 
Overland Conveyor 15.0 
Tailings Dam 7.0 
Railway 4.5 
Port Re-Construction 61.0 
Environment 2.3 
Contingency 13.5 
Total 168.3

 

  • The above capital investment will occur after the completion of the recommissioning studies.
  • The reconstruction is estimated to take approximately 18 months, which based on current estimates would mean the start of full operations in the fourth quarter of 2021 or first quarter of 2022.

Operational Plan

  • Based on available historical mine plans and the independent engineers review the Amapá current mine plan envisages a mine life of 14 years. 
  • As mentioned above before the start of mining, the Amapá Project will also ship the iron ore stockpiles held at the dock by the end of December 2019 and continue for between 18 and 24 months. 
  • The mine is open pit and has a planned strip ratio of 0.9:1. 
  • The beneficiation plant consists of a crushing circuit followed by screening, flotation, thickener and filtering to produce a 65% Fe Pellet Feed and a 62% Fe Spiral Concentrate. 
  • The current mine plan would mean that the Amapá Project would produce at steady-state production an estimated 4.4 Mt of 65% Fe and 0.9 Mt of 62% Fe per annum. Currently steady-state production is expected to be reached in 2024.
  • The intention is that these products would then be transported from the mine to the railhead by on-highway trucks along an unpaved road, a road haul distance of 13km. From the railhead, the products would then be transported 180km by rail to the port facility at Santana. 
  • The products would then be stockpiled at the port facility and mechanically loaded onto “Handymax” vessels which navigate the Amazon River out to sea and then transhipped onto larger “Capesize” vessels before the products are sold to the market. The products produced by the Amapá Project are well known in the market, especially in China where most of the historical production was sold.
  • It is estimated that at steady-state production of 5.3 Mt of iron ore and utilising a 62% Fe price of US$61 / tonne (27/08/2019 price Fe 62% – US$90 / tonne) Amapá will have an average :
    • US$266 million per annum of net revenue after shipping,
    • US$90 million per annum in mine, processing and transport costs
    • US$48 million per annum in environmental, sales and G&A expenses 
    • EBITDA of US$136 million per annum.

Details of the Agreement with Indo Sino

The agreement with Indo Sino is to invest in and acquire up to a 27% of a joint venture company PBA.  The approval of the JRP will result in the transfer of equity of Amapá to the PBA and PBA will own 99.9% of the Amapá Project. Should Indo Sino seek further investors or an investment in PBA the agreement also provides Cadence with a first right of refusal to increase its stake to 49% in PBA.

To acquire its 27% interest Cadence will invest US$ 6 million over two stages in PBA. The first stage is for 20% of the PBA the consideration for which is US$2.5 million. The second stage of investment is for a further 7% of JV Co for a consideration of US$3.5 million. If Cadence is unable to complete the second stage of the investment or not exercise its right of first refusal under the terms of the Agreement, Indo Sino will have a twelve-month option to buy the shares in JV Co held by Cadence for 1.5 (1 ½) times the price paid by Cadence for such shares. 

Cadence’s investment is conditional on several material pre-conditions, which include the grant of key operating licences and the release of bank securities over the asset. On completion of Cadence’s investment (not including the first right of refusal) our joint venture partner Indo Sino will own 73% of JV Co. 

The Agreement also contains security and default clauses which if triggered causes an upwards adjustment mechanism to allow Cadence to either receive cash from JV Co or receive additional shares in JV Co. In the latter case Cadence’s shareholding in the JV Co will not go above 49.9%.

On completion of the US$ 6 million investment Cadence will have the right to appoint two members to a five-member board with the remaining three comprising of one member jointly appointed by Cadence and Indo Sino and two appointed by Indo Sino.

This news release is not for distribution to United States Services or for Dissemination in the United States.

 

– Ends –

 

For further information:

Cadence Minerals plc                                                    +44 (0) 207 440 0647
Andrew Suckling  
Kiran Morzaria  
   
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)                                 +44 (0) 207 220 1666
James Joyce  
James Sinclair-Ford  
   
Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker)                                 +44 (0) 207 399 9400
Jon Belliss  

 

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014

 

Qualified Person

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

 

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ”believe” ”could” “should” ”envisage” ”estimate” ”intend” ”may” ”plan” ”will” or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.  Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.

 

 

Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Binding Investment to Acquire Interest in former Anglo American Iron Ore Mine, Amapá, NE Brazil

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to announce that further to its announcement on the 21 May 2019  it has entered into a binding investment agreement (“the  Agreement”) with Indo Sino Pte. Ltd. (“Indo Sino”) to invest in and acquire up to a 27% interest in the former Anglo American plc (“Anglo American”) and Cliffs Natural Resources (“Cliffs”) Amapá iron ore mine, beneficiation plant, railway and private port (“Amapá Project”) owned by DEV Mineração S.A. (“Amapá”).

Further information on the project is available in the Company’s announcement of the heads of terms in relation to the investment on 21 May 2019 and the terms of the binding investment agreement are consistent with the heads of terms.

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/KDNC/14082106.html

Details of the Agreement with Indo Sino

The Agreement with Indo Sino is to invest in and acquire up to a 27% of a joint venture company Pedra Branca Alliance Pte. Ltd. (“JV Co”).  On approval of the Judicial Review Process (“JRP”) and the transfer of equity of Amapá to the JV Co the JV Co will own 99.9% of the Amapá Project. Should Indo Sino seek further investors or an investment in the JV Co the agreement also provides Cadence with a first right of refusal to increase its stake to 49% in the JV Co.

To acquire its 27% interest Cadence will invest US$ 6 million over two stages in JV Co. The first stage is for 20% of the JV Co the consideration for which is US$2.5 million. The second stage of investment is for a further 7% of JV Co for a consideration of US$3.5 million. If Cadence is unable to complete the second stage of the investment or not exercise its right of first refusal under the terms of the Agreement, Indo Sino will have a twelve-month option to buy the shares in JV Co held by Cadence for 1.5 (1 ½) times the price paid by Cadence for such shares.

Cadence’s investment is conditional on several material pre-conditions, which include the grant of key operating licences and the release of bank securities over the asset. On completion of Cadence’s investment (not including the first right of refusal) our joint venture partner Indo Sino will own 73% of JV Co. The Agreement also contains security and default clauses which if triggered causes an upwards adjustment mechanism to allow Cadence to either receive cash from JV Co or receive additional shares in JV Co. In the latter case Cadence’s shareholding in the JV Co will not go above 49.9%.

On completion of the US$ 6 million investment Cadence will have the right to appoint two members to a five-member board with the remaining three comprising of one member jointly appointed by Cadence and Indo Sino and two appointed by Indo Sino.

– Ends –

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.

 

For further information:

Cadence Minerals plc

                                                   +44 (0) 207 440 0647

Andrew Suckling

Kiran Morzaria

WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)

                                +44 (0) 207 220 1666

James Joyce

James Sinclair-Ford

Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker)

                                +44 (0) 207 399 9400

Jon Belliss

 

Qualified Person

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ”believe” ”could” “should” ”envisage” ”estimate” ”intend” ”may” ”plan” ”will” or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.  Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.

Cadence Minerals #KDNC announces Heads of Terms to Acquire Interest in former Anglo American Iron Ore Mine, Amapá, NE Brazil

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding Heads of Terms (“HOT”) with IndoSino Pte Ltd. (“IndoSino”) to invest in and acquire up to a 27% interest in the former Anglo American plc (“Anglo American”) and Cliffs Natural Resources (“Cliffs”) Amapá iron ore mine, beneficiation plant, railway and private port (“Amapá Project”) owned by DEV Mineração S.A. (“Amapá”).

The Amapá Project is a large-scale iron open pit ore mine with associated rail, port and beneficiation facilities and commenced operations in December 2007.Production increased to 4.8 Mt and 6.1 Mt of iron ore concentrate product in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

The HOT stipulates that Cadence, upon entering into a binding investment agreement, will have the right to acquire 27% of the Amapá Project by investing a total of US$6 million over two stages into a joint venture company, Pedra Branca Alliance Pte Ltd. (“PBA”). Cadence’s investment is conditional, amongst other matters, on the approval of a judicial restructuring plan (“JRP”) submitted by Cadence and IndoSino to the Sao Paulo Commercial Court in Brazil, the transfer of 99.9% of the issued share capital of Amapá to PBA and Cadence raising the required finance. Cadence is in discussions with potential strategic investors to fund all or part of this investment via equity.

Cadence is currently finalising the terms of the binding investment agreement, which is expected to be entered into shortly.

Highlights

  • The Amapá Project is a large-scale open pit iron ore mine with associated rail, port and beneficiation facilities and is located in the Amapá state, north-east, Brazil.
  • Prior to its sale in 2012 Anglo American valued its 70% stake in the Amapá Project at US$866 million (100% 1.2 billion) and after impairment valued it at  US $462m in its 2012 Annual Report ( 100% US $600m) [1]
  • During its operation the mine generated an annual operating profit of up to U$171 million (100%)[2].
  • The total historic mineral resource contains an estimated 348 million tonnes (“Mt”) of ore @ 38.9% iron content (“Fe”)[3]
  • The ore is beneficiated to 65% Fe Pellet Feed and 62% Fe Spiral Concentrate.
  • Based on available historic mine plans and an independent consultant review it is expected that at full production the Amapá Project has a mine life of 14 years and at full capacity is targeting to produce up to 5.3 Mt of Iron Ore per annum.
  • Initial revenue from the project is anticpated to start in Q4 2019 from the sale of the iron ore stockpile currently located at the Port of Santana , Brazil.
  • Potential for the mine and existing infrastructure to be brought to market swiftly with mining and processing anticipated to restart in 2021 subject to the grant of the necessary permits, regulatory consents and project financing.
  • Cadence is able to acquire a significant share of the mine (up to 27% of the issued share capital of PBA) for a staged equity investment of US$ 6 million and has a first right of refusal to acquire up to 49%.
  • 65% Iron Ore (CFR) North China have increased from US$95.95 per dry metric tonne (“$/dmt”) to US$111.90 / dmt since early September 2018 to the middle of May 2019[4]

Cadence Minerals CEO Kiran Morzaria commented: 

“It is rare in our industry to be presented with an opportunity to put forward a relatively modest investment to participate in such a project that we believe provides us with a potentially transformative asset for our Company. The Amapá Project gives Cadence the potential for an exceptional ROI in the run up to full production and an opportunity to become a significant shareholder in a mid tier iron ore producer. “

“Our participation in the project has been ongoing for some 9 months, involving an extensive and comprehensive due diligence process. Through this we have gained a thorough understanding of the judicial restructuring process, and along with IndoSino, we have submitted the Judicial Restructuring Plan to the courts in Brazil”

“Given the nature of the asset the capital costs are estimated to be substantially lower than would be normally associated with developing a similar sized project from scratch. As the project restarts operations, it is hoped it can move rapidly forward to revenue generation by Q4 2019, and to see the mine fully operational in 2021.”

“On behalf of myself and the Cadence team, we are wholly enthused by the opportunity the Amapá Project presents, and we are excited by the prospect of restarting mining operations.”

The Project

As part of its due diligence and assessment Cadence has carried out multiple site visits and commissioned SRK Consulting to provide it with a high-level review of the Amapá Project. This review was based on a site visit, historical analysis and the review of technical independent engineers reports published 2013 and 2015. It should be noted that this review provides a basis for a preliminary assessment of the project and its potential but further, more detailed reviews and analysis would be required to provide a Pre-Feasibility Study level report. This would include amongst other things, providing a current Mineral Resource Estimate and/or Ore Reserves, updated capital and operating costs and an independent assessment of key economic drivers and returns.

The Amapá Project consists of an open pit iron ore mine, railway and port facility and is located in Amapá State, northeast Brazil. The Amapá mine site, forming part of the Amapá Project, is located near the towns of Pedra Branca do Amapári, and Serra do Navio, approximately 200km northwest of Macapa.

The Amapá Project has minerals rights over 5,556 hectares comprising three separate mining licenses and an exploration permit. The historic Mineral Resource contained within the licenses is of some 348 Mt at 38.9% Fe. A summary of the historic Mineral Resources from 2012 is tabulated below.

Classification Tonnes (Mt) Fe(%)
Measured 62.9 39.7%
Indicated 233.4 39.2%
Measured and Indicated 296.3 39.2%
Inferred 52.3 37.0%
Total 348.6 38.9%

Table 1 – 100 per cent. Amapá project historic resource table at 25% Fe(T) cut-off for December 2012 (Source Anglo American.)

It should be noted that the Minerals Resource was assessed by Anglo American as at the 31 December 2012 (Annual Report 2012, Anglo American, p.198) and was prepared under the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Resources and Ore Reserves 2004 edition (“JORC”). Given the passage of time this assessment is not valid under JORC. Further work and assessment would need to be undertaken to assess and update any current Mineral Resource or Ore Reserve.

Based on available historic mine plans and the independent engineers review the JV partners current mine plan envisages a mine life of 14 years. Management estimate prior to the start of mining the Amapá Project will also ship the iron ore stockpiles held at the dock which is estimated to start in Q4 of this year and continue for two years . The mine is open pit and has a planned strip ratio of 0.9:1.

The beneficiation plant consists of a crushing circuit followed by screening, flotation, thickener and filtering to produce 65% Fe Pellet Feed in addition the plant produces a 62% Fe Spiral Concentrate. The current mine plan would mean that the Amapá Project would produce at steady state production an estimated 4.4 Mt of 65% Fe and 0.9 Mt of 62% Fe per annum.

The intention is that these products would then be transported from the mine to the railhead by on-highway trucks along an unpaved road, a road haul distance of 13km. From the railhead, the products would then be transported 180km by rail to the port facility at Santana. The products would then be stockpiled at the port facility and mechanically loaded onto “Handymax” vessels which navigate the Amazon River out to sea and then transported onto larger “Capesize” vessels before the products are sold to the market. The products produced by the Amapá Project are well known in the market, especially in China where most of the historic production was sold.

Operational Plan

On approval of the JRP by the creditors of the Amapá Project and the satisfaction of the conditions precedent, which includes the grant of operating licences and regulatory consents, shipping of the Iron Ore at stockpile will commence as soon as possible. Based on our current understandings of the JRP timings, it is anticipated this is targeted to commence in Q4 2019.

Cadence’s investment will provide the initial working capital and will be utilised to complete a detailed recommissioning study and pay some of the historic creditors. The recommissioning study will provide definitive operating and capital expenditure numbers and a timeline for recommissioning. The remainder of the required capital expenditure and working capital is expected to be raised predominantly from project debt. Full recommissioning is estimated to take 12-18 months with mining production targeted to start in 2021.

Details of the Heads of Terms with IndoSino

Cadence has agreed HOT with IndoSino to acquire up to 27% of the joint venture company that on approval of the JRP and transfer of equity to PBA will own 99.9% of the Amapá Project. Should IndoSino seek further investors or investment in PBA the agreement also provides Cadence with a first right of refusal to increase its stake to 49% in PBA. To acquire its 27% interest Cadence will invest US$ 6 million over two stages in the joint venture company, Pedra Branca Alliance Pty Ltd. (“JV Co”). The first stage is for 20% of the JV Co the consideration for which is US$2.5 million, the second stage of investment is for a further 7% of JV Co for a consideration of US$3.5 million.

Cadence’s investment is conditional on several material pre-conditions, which include the grant of key operating licences, and On completion of Cadence’s investment (not including the first right of refusal) our joint venture partner IndoSino will own 73% of JV Co by assigning its registered creditor rights and pledge over three iron ore stockpiles it holds in the Amapá Project to PBA. There are conditions precedent to Cadence’s investment which mirror the conditions set out in the JRP this ensures that its investment risk is substantially mitigated.

Details of the JRP

In advance of entering into the investment agreement, Cadence has agreed that Amapa may make its original application to the court to commence the approval of the JRP. Notwithstanding the JRP naming Cadence within its application, Cadence is not directly a party to the JRP but is in regular consultation with Amapa.

Cadence and IndoSino have submitted a JRP to the Commercial Court of São Paulo. This plan sets out how and under what terms Cadence and IndoSino will invest via PBA in the Amapá Project and if approved by creditors will mean that PBA will own 99.9% of the Amapá Project. Given that there were no other valid plans submitted and the JRP was similar to a previously approved plan, the Directors believe that the JRP will be approved by the creditors.

The JRP is part of a regulated process under the laws of Brazil, in which the company under judicial review and investors can submit a recovery plan which will allow the company under judicial review, in this case the Amapá, to trade under a protected status while it recovers from its financial difficulties. The JRP provides a defined schedule of the payment of historic creditors. The JRP schedule contemplates the majority of the historic liabilities will be paid from free cash flow in years 7 to year 17 of operations which represents a discounted NPV10 debt value of approximately US$106 million.

The plan requires approval by  a general meeting of the creditors and once approved the company can continue to operate and trade under the protection of the JRP. At this point in time this meeting is expected to occur by the end of June 2019.

History of the Amapá Project

The Amapá Project commenced operations in December 2007 with first production of iron ore concentrate product of 712 kt in 2008.

In 2008 Anglo American (70%) and Cliffs (30%) acquired the Amapá Project in 2008 as part of a larger package of mining assets in Brazil.

Production steadily increased to 4.8 Mt and 6.1 Mt of iron ore concentrate product in 2011 and 2012 respectively.  During this period Anglo American report operating profits from their 70% ownership in the Amapá Project of US$120 million (100% US$171 million) and US$54 million (100% US$ 77 million)[5]

Prior to its sale in 2012 Anglo American valued it’s 70% stake in Amapá Project at US$866 million (100% 1.2 billion) it impaired the asset in its 2012 Annual Accounts to US$ 462 million (100% US$ 660 million[6]

In March 2013, before the acquisition was completed the port facility suffered a ground failure which interrupted production and mining subsequently ceased in March 2014. Anglo American completed the sale in November 2013[7].  During 2014, reconstruction work commenced at the port with some iron ore concentrate product being shipped during Dec 2013 and into 2014, via an interim barging solution The Amapá Project borrowed US$135 million senior debt from a banking group led by Intesa São Paulo and rebuilt 70% of the port.

Amapá filed for judicial protection in August 2015 in Brazil and mining ceased at the Amapá Project. In April 2017, a group agreed to invest via a creditor approved judicial review plan. However, the transaction was never completed, and Amapá was placed under judicial protection once again. A judicial order offered investors and creditors the opportunity to file a revised JRP. Cadence and IndoSino have taken the opportunity to file a revised JRP, as described above.

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