Feb 18 2013
IMX Resources Limited ('IMX' or the 'Company') announces that it will not proceed with the sale of its 49% interest in the Mt Woods Copper-Gold Joint Venture (the 'Mt Woods JV Project') to OZ Exploration Limited Pty Ltd ('Oz Exploration'), a wholly owned subsidiary of OZ Minerals Limited ('OZ Minerals').
In November 2012, IMX entered into a non-binding heads of agreement with OZ Minerals outlining the terms for the proposed sale of its 49% interest in the Mt Woods JV Project to OZ Exploration (the 'Proposed Transaction'). Completion of the Proposed Transaction was subject to a number of conditions, one of which was the execution of binding transaction documents, which OZL and IMX have elected not to proceed with.
As a consequence, IMX retains 100% of the iron ore rights and 49% of the non-iron ore rights over the Mt Woods JV Project, along with legal title to all of the Mt Woods JV Project exploration licenses. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement over the Mt Woods JV Project, OZ Exploration has committed to spend $20 million over a 5 year period beginning on 1 May 2010 to retain a 51% interest in the non-iron rights. As at 30 September 2012, OZ Exploration had spent approximately $14 million of the $20 million.
IMX Managing Director Neil Meadows commented:
"While disappointed not to have completed the Proposed Transaction with OZ Minerals, we recognize the complexity involved in shared-commodity agreements and respect OZ Minerals' position, as they do ours. IMX remains committed to generating value from the development of the Mt Woods Magnetite Project for which we are actively seeking a partner and as such needed to maintain clear tenure over the iron rights. At the same time, the substantial reduction in operating costs at Cairn Hill during 2012 and improved iron ore prices resulting in the Cairn Hill JV generating cash of $4.2 m per month has reduced our immediate need for additional funding via the proposed transaction with OZ Minerals. IMX and OZ Minerals remain committed joint venture partners in the Mt Woods Copper-Gold JV and OZ Minerals remains a major shareholder in IMX."
OZ Minerals had agreed that upon completion of the Proposed Transaction and subject to the approval of IMX shareholders, it would cancel its holding of 33.909 million IMX shares (the 'OZ Minerals Shares') for nil consideration. Notwithstanding that the Proposed Transaction has not been completed, OZ Minerals has informed IMX that it is their current intention to retain the shareholding in IMX for the life of the joint venture.
NEIL MEADOWS, Managing Director
Source: http://www.imxresources.com.au/