Last checked at 12 Jul 2023 09:20
China Nonferrous Gold Limited
(“CNG” or the “Company”)
Extension to Loan Agreements
Related Party Transaction
China Nonferrous Gold Limited (AIM: CNG), the mineral exploration and mining company currently mining the Pakrut gold project in the Republic of Tajikistan, announces that the Company has extended the repayment period for a series of loans that are in place with CNMC Trade Company Limited (“CNMC Trade”) and CNMC International Capitals Company Limited (“CNMC International”). The loans being extended total US$238.39m (CNMC Trade: USD $177.65 million and CNMC International: USD $60.74 million) (together the “Loans”)
At the date of this announcement, the Company has total debt facilities (all from connected parties and with no commercial banking facilities) of c. US$316m (unaudited).
Extension of CNMC Trade Loans
The current loans provided by CNMC Trade, which are to be extended and which were detailed in the announcement dated 26 March 2021 and 18 March 2022, are set out below. The Company has negotiated a lower interest rate than under the previous arrangement and the interest rate is now linked to SOFR instead of LIBOR, following LIBOR being discontinued. Other than the change to the interest rate and the extension to the term, no other changes have been made to any of the loan agreements:
A loan of US$123.6m: -the Company has today signed an extension agreement pursuant to which the repayment date for this loan has been extended to 20 December 2023. The annual interest rate of the loan has been amended to SOFR plus 0.936% (it was previously 3.25% over 3 month LIBOR), and this new interest rate has been applied retrospectively from 16 March 2023. Interest will be payable on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December each year; A loan of US$20m: - the Company has today signed an extension agreement pursuant to which the repayment date for this loan has been extended to 26 November 2023. The annual interest rate of the loan has been changed to SOFR plus 0.936% (it was previously 3.25% over 3 month LIBOR), and this new interest rate has been applied retrospectively from 16 March 2023. Interest will be payable on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December each year; A loan of US$14.55m: - the Company has today signed an extension agreement pursuant to which the repayment date for this loan will be extended to 31 December 2023. The annual interest rate of the loan has been amended to SOFR plus 0.936% (it was previously 3.00%), and this new interest rate has been applied retrospectively from 16 March 2023. Interest will be payable on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December each year; A loan of US$19.50m: - the Company has today signed an extension agreement pursuant to which the repayment date for this loan will be extended to 19 April 2024.The annual interest rate of the loan has been changed to SOFR plus 0.936% (it was previously 0.5% over 3 month LIBOR) and this new interest rate has been applied retrospectively from 20 April 2023. Interest will be payable on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December each year;Extension of Loans with CNMC International
In addition, the loan provided by CNMC International of US$60.74m, which has also been extended so that the repayment date for this loan is now 8 December 2023. The annual interest rate of the loan has been changed to SOFR plus 0.936% (it was previously 3.25% over 3 month LIBOR), and this new interest rate has been applied retrospectively from 16 March 2023. Interest will be payable on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December each year. There have been no other changes to this loan arrangement.
Related Party Transaction
As CNMC Trade and CNMC International are wholly owned subsidiaries of China Nonferrous Metals Mining (Group)Co., Ltd which in turn is the parent company of China Nonferrous Metals Int’l Mining Co., Ltd (“CNMIM”), a substantial shareholder of the Company the extension of the CNMC Trade and CNMC International Loans are deemed to be related party transactions pursuant to AIM Rule 13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. The Company’s Directors (excluding Yu Lixian, Feng Zhishuo and Wang Xiaohua, who are connected to CNMIM) consider, having consulted with CNG’s Nominated Adviser, WH Ireland Limited, that the terms of the extension of the Loans are fair and reasonable insofar as the shareholders of CNG are concerned.
The Company continues to engage with commercial banking partners to explore a wider refinancing of the business and will update shareholders in due course.
For further information please visit the Company’s website (www.cnfgold.com) or contact:
China Nonferrous Gold Limited
Feng Zhishuo, Managing Director
Tel: +86 10 8442 6627
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
Katy Mitchell, Andrew de Andrade
Tel: 0207 220 1666
BlytheRay (PR)
Tim Blythe, Megan Ray
Tel: +44 (0)20 7138 3224
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014
Project Summary
The Pakrut gold project, of which CNG has 100 per cent ownership, is situated in Tajikistan approximately 120 km northeast of the capital city Dushanbe. Pakrut is located within the Tien Shan gold belt, which extends from Uzbekistan into Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Western China, and which hosts a number of multi-million ounce gold deposits.
About Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a secular republic located in Central Asia. The country is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation organization. Tajikistan hosts numerous operating precious metal mines as well as the largest aluminum smelter in Central Asia. CNG's management team has extensive experience in the mining industry in Tajikistan.
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