RNS MOSTLY GOOD13 Jun 2018 17:37
13 June 2018
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Petropavlovsk PLC Company Update Petropavlovsk PLC ("Petropavlovsk" or the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is pleased to announce a number of strategic and operational developments:
Negotiations to refinance IRC Limited's facility with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ("ICBC") in relation to the US$340 million project finance facility between Kimkano-Sutarsky Mining and Beneficiation Plant LLC ("K&S", a wholly owned subsidiary of IRC) and ICBC (the "ICBC Facility") are at an advanced stage with a major Russian bank.
The Group has entered into a bridge loan facility agreement (the "Bridge Loan") with IRC in order to help K&S meet the payment due under the ICBC Facility on 20 June 2018 (the "20 June Payment").
The Bridge Loan is for a Rouble amount equivalent to US$29.75 million at an interest rate of 12% per annum, and is expected to be repaid as soon as the refinancing of the ICBC Facility is completed.
IRC and Petropavlosk are in the final stages of agreeing a waiver with ICBC in respect of IRC's obligations to comply with certain financial covenants and maintain certain cash deposits with ICBC. If the waiver is obtained and the 20 June Payment is made, the good standing of the ICBC Facility will be maintained.
The Group has entered into four gold sales agreements with Sberbank for a total volume of 96koz and with an option for advance payment for up to 12 months;
The sales agreements will provide additional liquidity during a period of planned high cash outflows, the majority of which are associated with POX-related capital expenditure, thus de-risking it.
The commissioning process at the Malomir flotation plant, a key step in the development of the Company's flagship pressure oxidisation project ("POX"), is under way after being launched on schedule at the beginning of June 2018.
IRC Refinancing and Bridge Loan Following Petropavlovsk's announcement on 23 May 2018, the Company continues to monitor the situation with regards to IRC's capacity to make the 20 June Payment and otherwise maintain the ICBC Facility in good standing. The Company, in light of its role as guarantor of the ICBC Facility, is assisting in the progression of refinancing negotiations, which are at an advanced stage with a major Russian bank.
As a precautionary measure, the Group has entered into the Bridge Loan for the Rouble equivalent of US$29.75 million with IRC to help K&S to make the 20 June Payment, which is for US$35.16 million. In addition, IRC and Petropavlovsk are in the final stages of agreeing a waiver with ICBC in respect of IRC's obligations under the ICBC Facility to comply with certain financial covenants and maintain certain cash deposits with ICBC. Whilst the Company is highly confident of obtaining the waiver, there is no guarantee that it will be provided by