Deal Provides Capital Certainty For Major Expansion Plans
Australian gold miner Blackham Resources Limited (ASX:BLK) has signed is an updated, indicative term sheet with Mercuria Energy Group providing Blackham with A$21 million upfront.
The initial payment is in the form of a prepaid swap on gold with a supporting hedge facility, and an intention to a further A$40 milion, for a total of up to A$61 million.
The company has received credit approval from Mercuria for the A$21 million First Tranche, which is now only conditional upon the finalisation of the usual legal documentation.
The additional A$40 million will be made available upon further certain conditions being satisfied and is not part of Mercuria’s initial credit approval.
Blackham Executive Chairman, Milan Jerkovic, said the updated terms of the facility, which replaces the initial indicative non-binding term sheet announced on February 26, 2020, better aligns the drawdown of funds to the company’s current proposed capital expenditure commitment timeline. The two companies will now prepare all appropriate documents for final execution as swiftly as possible.
Mr Jerkovic said the facility gives Blackham the flexibility of drawing a further A$40 million, if required and subject to Mercuria credit approval, to further advance the Stage 1 Expansion.
Blackham has confirmed that due to COVID-19 issues, the company has delayed the planned construction of the concentrator at Wiluna by six months.
Stage 1 Expansion underground mine development and resource to reserve conversion drilling will continue in the meantime to further de-risk the proposed Stage 1 mine plan. The Blackham Board will continue to review the situation and advise of developments.
\The Mercuria credit approval to allow the company to access the additional $40 million is contingent on the company further developing and upgrading its Stage 1 Expansion mine plan and financial model. The company’s plans have been substantially progressed by a significant drilling programme involving seven rigs drilling on site (five of those six rigs are drilling at the Wiluna Mining Centre to assist with the mine planning and resource/reserve conversion), and are expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year. This remaining $40m facility is uncommitted and will be made available subject to Mercuria’s approval.
As part of the prepaid swap facility, Blackham have negotiated a favourable, ongoing hedging facility with Mercuria which will see approximately 34,000oz of gold hedged at prevailing spot gold prices over a 12-month period as a condition of the draw down.
Mr Jerkovic said this hedge facility is welcomed in a time of important cash flow management, high gold prices, as well as developing a longer-term relationship with Mercuria.
“This is an excellent result for Blackham as, along with the A$52 million equity injection early this year, it provides important funding for our Stage 1 Expansion,” Mr Jerkovic said.
“The ability to upsize the prepay amount by up to an additional A$40 million, and to align this to our revised capital requirement timetable on the Stage 1 Sulphide extension, gives us real flexibility to finish the Stage 1 Expansion and fast track studies for Stage 2.
“We are delighted to be able to enter into an agreement with a global, respected counterparty like Mercuria, and this is extremely positive for the company and our shareholders, and a great show of support for our growth strategy”.
“This initial funding from Mercuria, together with the $52 million equity funding completed last month, allows us to continue to advance our 24 month, five-point strategy which is to;
- Strengthen the balance sheet
- Maintain and increase immediate operational cash flow
- Transition to include gold concentrate production
- Expand production; and
- Undertake exploration and feasibility studies to fully develop a more than 250kozpa, long life, gold operation”
