AAA.L Regulatory News (AAA)

28 Mar 2006 07:00

First Quantum Minerals Ld27 March 2006 Not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part in or into Australia or Japan. NEWS RELEASE 06-10 March 28, 2006 www.first-quantum.com FIRST QUANTUM REFUTES ADASTRA MINERALS ASSESSMENT OF ITS OFFER AND ENCOURAGES ADASTRA SHAREHOLDERS TO TENDER TO FIRST QUANTUM'S FINAL OFFER, WHICH EXPIRES ON MARCH 31, 2006 First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum", TSX Symbol "FM", LSE Symbol "FQM")replied today to the press release filed March 24, 2006 by Adastra Minerals Inc.("Adastra") in which First Quantum's revised and final Offer to purchase all ofthe outstanding common shares of Adastra was rejected. The increased Offer iscomprised of $2.65 in cash per Adastra common share or 1 First Quantum commonshare for each 14.76 Adastra common shares, subject to pro ration. The Offer isconditional on First Quantum achieving its Minimum Tender Condition of 50.1% ofAdastra's fully diluted common shares outstanding. Unless otherwise noted, alldollar amounts referred to in this press release are in Canadian dollars. Based on First Quantum's closing share price of $45.00 on March 27, 2006, theOffer values Adastra at $3.05 per share (assuming the share election). FirstQuantum's dividend, payable May 10, 2006 to shareholders of record on April 19,2006, provides the potential for approximately an additional $0.02 per share toAdastra shareholders bringing the total value of the Offer to $3.07 per share. "On March 20, 2006 we significantly increased our Offer for Adastra and webelieve this is now clearly the only real option for Adastra shareholders toreceive full value." said Mr. Philip Pascall, Chairman and CEO of First Quantum."We strongly disagree with many of the statements made in Adastra's pressrelease. We believe Adastra has understated the risk associated with financingand developing the Kolwezi Project and has not provided Adastra shareholderswith the information necessary to make a properly informed decision. We haveoffered a significant premium payable in cash and First Quantum shares, whichprovides significant liquidity, cash flow and asset diversity, each of whichAdastra shareholders do not have at present, together with the benefit of FirstQuantum's project development experience, from financing through to operations.This is our final Offer and we encourage Adastra shareholders to tender prior toits expiry on March 31, 2006." In deciding whether to tender to the Offer, Adastra shareholders are encouragedto consider the following responses to Adastra's press release: 1. First Quantum has properly valued the Kolwezi project • First Quantum's Offer is based on a thorough review of publicly available information about the Kolwezi Project, discussions with Adastra's management and advisors and draws on First Quantum's extensive experience in developing similar projects in the region • The definitive feasibility study for Kolwezi ("DFS") is highly sensitive to key assumptions such as cobalt price and discount rates, which in First Quantum's view are aggressive • The DFS value of the Kolwezi Project is highly sensitive to any delays in the historically optimistic financing timetable indicated by Adastra - In their June 28, 2001 press release, Adastra stated "Our timetablecurrently envisages receipt of the decrees and completion of the pilot plantstudy during 2001, with completion of the feasibility and securing the projectfinance during 2002." • The DFS was not completed until March 2006, some three years beyondforecast, and project financing is not yet secured • Companies, such as Adastra, with development stage assets only, typically trade at a significant discount to NAV due to the inherent risk in the successful completion of project financing, construction, commissioning and then operations - Despite the typical significant discount to NAV, First Quantum'sOffer, valued at $3.07 per share, is equal to Adastra's own assessment of NAV of$3.07 per share • The potential for expanded output at Kolwezi, as noted by Adastra, is subject to the state of the cobalt market and may never occur. Attributing any material value to the expansion is therefore highly speculative 2. First Quantum has considered Adastra's other assets • The other projects noted by Adastra are at extremely early stages, are unproven and, in the case of Kipushi, have indeterminate ownership rights • Adastra has not disclosed the assumptions and qualifications they have used in arriving at a valuation of non-Kolwezi assets 3. First Quantum's Offer properly values the contribution of Adastra'sassets • The comparison of First Quantum's and Adastra's NAVs is flawed and inaccurate - It is inappropriate to directly compare Adastra's Kolwezi asset, whichhasn't yet been financed to allow development plans to be progressed, withassets such as First Quantum's which are either already in production or arefinanced and well advanced towards production - Adastra's reserves and resources cannot be compared with those ofFirst Quantum on a like for like basis as, for example, Adastra's reservecalculations are highly sensitive to cobalt price assumptions in developing acopper equivalent value • First Quantum's informal approach on November 30, 2005 discussed an indicative exchange ratio of 1 for 15, which valued Adastra at $1.93 per share based on First Quantum's closing share price of $29.00 on November 29, 2005. Adastra subsequently issued equity in December 2005 at $1.70 per share - First Quantum's current Offer values Adastra at $3.07 per share, apremium of 59% to the value of the November 30, 2005 indicative offer 4. The Mitsubishi option has not been fully disclosed and is not anappropriate indicator of value • It is incorrect to compare any imputed value from the Mitsubishi option to the First Quantum Offer - First Quantum's Offer is valued at $3.07 per share today, at a timewhen Adastra's Kolwezi project has significant financing and development risk.With the benefit of First Quantum's experience and based on recent marketsoundings, First Quantum is firmly of the view that Adastra will have difficultyin finalizing, if at all, satisfactory financing terms, particularly on theterms indicated - The Mitsubishi option, which in any event remains subject to duediligence, documentation and respective board approval, is effectively a freeoption to purchase an interest in the Kolwezi project many months from now onlyif a financing has been completed and the project significantly de-risked. Assuch it is incorrect and inaccurate to compare any imputed value from thistransaction with the First Quantum Offer which is available to Adastrashareholders immediately • Any difficulties in finalizing project financing may well result infurther equity dilution to Adastra shareholders and it is unclear that even ifproject financing is completed on terms as announced whether further equitydilution will still be required • Conversely, First Quantum will fund the development of the Kolweziproject with cash flow from operations • A 15 year exclusive off-take contract would be highly valuable to Mitsubishi and erode value for Adastra - First Quantum has confirmed with third party off-takers that the termsof the contract which have been made public appear to create significanttangible value for Mitsubishi. Therefore it is not appropriate to view the pricebeing contemplated for the purchase of the Kolwezi interest in isolation but itmust be considered in the context of the value offset to Mitsubishi from theoff-take terms, rendering any imputation of value to the whole of the Kolweziproject as misleading and inaccurate - First Quantum is of the view that Mitsubishi's apparent willingness toquickly increase its offer is evidence that (after previously spending a year ofdiscussions with Mitsubishi before any announcement) the offer was hastilynegotiated at the last minute and as such is not in the best interest ofshareholders - Further, the revised Mitsubishi offer for 14.9% of the Kolwezi projectwas subject to a revision to the terms of the 15 year copper offtake contract.Two additional quotational period options were granted to Mitsubishi whichfurther erodes value for Adastra by enabling Mitsubishi to optimize theircontract terms to the detriment of Adastra shareholders - As no adverse changes have come to First Quantum's attention to dateand the Mitsubishi option is still subject to a number of pre-conditions,including the negotiation of definitive agreements, First Quantum expects to bein a position to take up and pay for tendered Adastra shares very shortly afterthe expiry of its Offer on March 31st, provided its Minimum Tender Condition isachieved. 5. First Quantum is offering a significant premium for Adastra • First Quantum's is the only offer available to Adastra shareholders • The Offer currently values Adastra at $3.07 per share, which represents: - A 71% premium over the Adastra closing price on the Toronto StockExchange of $1.80 as at January 17, 2006 (the day prior to the announcement ofFirst Quantum's original offer); and - A 81% premium to the $1.70 equity issue that Adastra completed inDecember 2005;and - A 8% premium to Adastra's closing share price of $2.85 on the TorontoStock Exchange on March 27, 2006 6. First Quantum's shares provide a significantly lower risk profile andbetter liquidity for Adastra shareholders • First Quantum has provided consistent positive returns to its shareholders as compared to Adastra - For the 12 months ending January 17, 2006, First Quantum's share priceincreased 125% and the company paid dividends amounting to $0.08 per share anddeclared a $0.265 share dividend payable on May 10, 2006 to First Quantumshareholders of record on April 19, 2006 • Over the same period, Adastra's share price declined 10% and thecompany has neither paid nor declared any dividends - For the 30 trading days ending March 27, 2006, trading in FirstQuantum's shares averaged 275,000 shares traded per day with a value of $10.6million per day (TSX and AIM combined) • There is significant downside risk in holding Adastra shares without the price support the First Quantum Offer has provided First Quantum's Offer expires at 5:00 pm (Toronto time) on Friday, March 31,2006. However, because investment dealers have different cut-off times for theacceptance of tendered shares, Adastra shareholders are advised to contact theirbrokers immediately to ensure their shares are deposited in time to be taken upand paid for under the terms of the Offer. About First Quantum Minerals First Quantum is a growing mining and metals company whose principal activitiesinclude mineral exploration, development and mining. The Company produces LMEgrade "A" copper cathode, copper in concentrate, gold and sulphuric acid. TheCompany's operations in Zambia include the 100% owned Bwana Mkubwa SX/EWfacility and sulphuric acid plants and the 80% owned Kansanshi open pitcopper-gold deposit. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, First Quantum operatesthe 100% owned Lonshi open pit copper mine which provides oxide copper ore forprocessing at Bwana Mkubwa, a 100% interest in the newly discovered Frontiercopper-cobalt deposit, and 11,000 sq/km of exploration rights. In Mauritania,First Quantum is developing the 80% owned Guelb Moghrein copper gold deposit. Important Notice Reference to the word "Offer" in this news release means the offer, as amended,of First Quantum to purchase all of the common shares of Adastra The content of this press release, which has been prepared by and is theresponsibility of First Quantum, has been approved by Numis Securities Limited,Cheapside House, 138 Cheapside, London England EC2V 6LH, solely for the purposesof section 21 of the United Kingdom's Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.Numis Securities Limited is acting exclusively for First Quantum in connectionwith the Offer and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other thanFirst Quantum for providing the protections afforded to clients of NumisSecurities Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or anyother matter referred to in this press release. This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell orinvitation to purchase any securities or solicitation of an offer to buy anysecurities, pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. This announcement is for information purposes and is not a substitute for theformal offer and take-over bid circular. First Quantum has filed with the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form F-80, asamended, which includes the offer and take-over bid circular, and a tender offerstatement on Schedule 14D-1F, as amended. Adastra Shareholders are urged to readthe circular and any other materials relating to the Offer, including theregistration statement on Form F-80, as amended, and the tender offer statementon Schedule 14D-1F, as amended, because they contain important information.Copies of the circular and other materials relating to the Offer can be obtainedwhen they become available free of charge at the SEDAR website at www.sedar.comor on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. or from RBC Dominion Securities, Inc. inCanada or RBC Capital Markets Corporation in the United States, who are actingas First Quantum's dealer managers (Toll Free 1-866-246-3902 (Canada) or1-866-246-3902 (United States)) or Innisfree M&A Incorporated for the UnitedStates and other locations (Toll Free 1-888-750-5834 (English speakers) or1-877-825-8777 (French speakers)), who is acting as First Quantum's InformationAgent. This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "expect","will", "intend", "estimate" and similar expressions identify forward-lookingstatements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number ofestimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, areinherently subject to significant business, economic and competitiveuncertainties and contingencies which could cause actual results to differmaterially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-lookingstatements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherentrisks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. These risk factorsinclude, but are not limited to: realization of operational synergies, relianceon Adastra's publicly available information which may not fully identify allrisks related to their performance, success in integrating the retaildistribution systems, and the integration of supply chain management processes,as well as other risk factors listed from time to time in First Quantum'sreports, comprehensive public disclosure documents including the AnnualInformation Form, and in other filings with securities commissions in Canada (onSEDAR at www.sedar.com) and the United States (on EDGAR at www.sec.gov). On Behalf of the Board of Directors 12g3-2b-82-4461of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Listed in Standard and Poor'Sedar Profile #00006237Philip PascallChairman & CEO For further information visit our web site at www.first-quantum.com North American contact: Geoff Chater or Bill Iversen 8th Floor, 543 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 1X8 Tel: (604) 688-6577 Fax: (604) 688-3818 Toll Free: 1 (888) 688-6577 E-Mail: info@first-quantum.com United Kingdom contact: Clive Newall, President1st Floor, Mill House Mill Bay Lane Horsham West Sussex RH12 1TQ United Kingdom Tel: +44 140 327 3484 Fax: +44 140 327 3494 E-Mail: clive.newall@first-quantum.com. or Carina Corbett, 4C-Burvale, Tel: + 44 20 7907 4761 The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain of the information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private SecuritiesLitigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including butnot limited to those with respect to the prices of gold, copper and sulphuricacid, estimated future production, estimated costs of future production, theCompany's hedging policy and permitting time lines, involve known and unknownrisks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results,performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from anyfuture results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by suchforward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the actualprices of copper, gold and sulphuric acid, the factual results of currentexploration, development and mining activities, changes in project parameters asplans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in theCompany's documents filed from time to time with the British Columbia SecuritiesCommission and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. ENDS This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange