Nevada Copper Corp. has entered into an agreement to amend its senior secured loan agreement with EXP T1 Ltd., an affiliate of Red Kite Mine Finance and postpone the exercise of certain rights and remedies that Red Kite has under the Loan Agreement.
The Agreement also sets out the terms on which the Company will purchase Red Kite's right, title and interest in Red Kite's Offtake Agreement (as defined below).
The Loan Agreement was previously amended on September 30, 2015 to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the loan to December 31, 2021 and the outside date for fulfillment of project construction draw conditions by 12 months to December 31, 2016. The Loan Agreement amendment also required that, prior to December 31, 2015 the Company would complete an equity and/or subordinated debt financing transaction for proceeds of US$20 million (the "Interim Financing Transaction"). These funds were to provide adequate working capital while also providing funding for further project optimization.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company engaged with several groups interested in Nevada Copper's Pumpkin Hollow copper project ("the Project"), however in view of the challenging capital and commodity markets, the Company also entered into discussions with Red Kite regarding the Loan Agreement. On January 2, 2016, the Company reached the Agreement, pursuant to which Red Kite will not exercise its rights and remedies under the Loan Agreement as a result of the non-completion of the Interim Financing Transaction by December 31, 2015, the Company will have until April 15, 2016 to complete an alternative financing, and the Loan Agreement will be further amended, all as set out below.
The key provisions of the Agreement are as follows:
- Loan Agreement Extension. Red Kite has agreed to:
- not exercise its rights and remedies under the Loan Agreement as a result of the non-completion of the Interim Financing Transaction by December 31, 2015 and allow until April 15, 2016 for the completion of an alternative interim financing transaction in the minimum amount of US$15 million (the "2016 Financing"), following which the Loan Agreement will be in good standing;
- reduce the minimum working capital requirement from US$10 million to US$5 million; and
- subject to certain conditions, including depositing all loan interest cash payments due in 2017 into an escrow account by December 31, 2016, extend the project construction drawdown conditions by a further 12 months to December 31, 2017.
Red Kite has advised that, subject to certain conditions, it will subscribe for up to US$2 million of the 2016 Financing.
If the Company does not complete the 2016 Financing by April 15, 2016, all amounts outstanding under the Loan Agreement will be immediately due and payable by the Company and Red Kite will be in a position to exercise all remedies available to it under the Loan Agreement and related security agreements.
- Offtake Buyback. In connection with the initial execution of the Loan Agreement, the Company entered into an offtake agreement (the "Offtake Agreement") pursuant to which Red Kite, assuming the full $200 million drawdown, would have the right to purchase up to 74.5% of the copper concentrates produced from the underground deposits at the Pumpkin Hollow Project. Red Kite's percentage offtake right is pro-rated based on the principal amount drawn under the Loan Agreement, and based on current drawdowns, Red Kite has the right to purchase 33.5% of copper concentrate production from the underground deposits. The Company has agreed to buy and Red Kite has agreed to sell its rights under the Offtake Agreement for US$10 million, which will be funded by an additional draw under the Loan Agreement. The offtake buy-back reduces the percentage of the offtake from the Pumpkin Hollow underground deposits allocated to third parties from 59% to 25.5%. Copper concentrates to be derived from ores of the larger open pit deposits remain 100% uncommitted.
The $10 million offtake buyback price will allow for lowered smelter charges and better copper price certainty on this portion of the concentrates while also providing improved financial returns upon commencement of commercial production.
The Agreement includes customary provisions for such agreements, including additional restrictive covenants applicable until the completion of the 2016 Financing.
Despite challenging capital and commodity market conditions, the Company's Pumpkin Hollow Copper Project represents an attractive, "shovel-ready" fully permitted copper project located in and ideal mine friendly location. Pumpkin Hollow is located entirely on private land close to infrastructure with all required power and water supplies secured.
Giulio Bonifacio, the CEO of Nevada Copper commented on the Agreement: "Nevada Copper is pleased to have the continued support of Red Kite. Red Kite continues to work with the Company and has made favorable amended loan terms including a further 12 month extension that give recognition to the current commodity markets. This extension is subject to ensuring adequate working capital in 2016 and will allow the necessary additional time to facilitate a strategic review process leading to a transaction that maximizes value for all stakeholders. We also view the offtake buyback as an extremely positive development that improves the overall smelter terms and reduces copper pricing risk."
Strategic Alternatives
With the goal of maximizing value to our shareholders, the Company plans to engage an adviser to present and consider all strategic alternatives available to it. A Special Committee of the Board consisting of independent directors has been appointed to review and evaluate all value-add strategic alternatives. The study of strategic alternatives will be broad, and could include, but not be limited to, a strategic investment in the Pumpkin Hollow Project or the Company by a third party, a joint venture arrangement, the sale of all or a portion of the project, a sale of the Company, a business combination with another entity, or some combination of the foregoing.
Over the past several months, the Company has conducted discussions and executed confidentiality agreements with a number of interested parties regarding potential strategic alternatives and will continue to advance those discussions.
At present, there can be no assurance as to what, if any, strategic alternatives might be pursued by the Company. The Company does not intend to disclose further details with respect to its review of strategic alternatives unless and until the board of directors has approved a specific transaction or otherwise determines that further disclosure is warranted.
Source: http://www.nevadacopper.com/