23 Jan 2013 15:56
Nordgold secures Bridge Loan Financing for High River Gold Acquisition
(Amsterdam, 23 January 2012) Nord Gold N.V. ("Nordgold" or the "Company") (LSE: NORD), an established pure-play emerging-markets gold producer, announces that it has successfully secured $280 million in Bridge Financing, coordinated by Natixis, Sberbank CIB and Societe Generale.
The proceeds have been used to finance the acquisition of all the outstanding shares of High River Gold Mines Ltd. ("High River", TSX: HRG, Canada) not already owned by Nordgold, as announced in December 2012.
This six month Bridge Financing facility provides Nordgold with the flexibility to make multiple drawdowns in order to match payments to minorities as they became due. As a result of the successful transaction, Nordgold has raised its stake in HRG from 75.06% to 97.9%. Consolidation of a 100% stake in HRG is planned for 1H2013.
This bridge financing marks Nordgold's first loan involving Western European banks. Societe Generale is acting as Facility Agent under the Bridge Loan.
The Company plans to refinance the Bridge Loan using medium-term financing. Nordgold has mandated Natixis, Sberbank CIB and Societe Generale as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners to refinance the Bridge Loan through a new gold Pre-Export Finance Facility.
Nordgold CEO Nikolai Zelenski commented:
"This bridge financing from an international banking group allowed us to successfully close the HRG deal. It has helped us to optimize Nordgold's corporate structure and to reduce related administrative costs for the benefit of all our shareholders".
Enquiries
Nordgold | |
Alexey ShchedrinDirector of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations | Tel: +7 (917) 502 2048 |
Diana AsonovaPress Secretary | Tel: +7 (916) 347 9847 |
Maitland | |
Peter OgdenJames Devas | Tel: +44 (0)20 7379 5151 |
About Nordgold
Nord Gold N.V. (Nordgold, LSE: NORD) is an international pure-play emerging-markets gold producer established in 2007. The Company has expanded rapidly through acquisitions and organic investment, achieving a rate of growth unmatched in the industry during that period. Nordgold's gold production reached 717 Koz in 2012.
The company operates nine mines in Russia, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Nordgold has one development project, five advanced exploration projects and a diverse portfolio of early exploration projects and licenses in CIS and West Africa. Nordgold employs over 10,000 workers on two continents.
The Company's proven and probable reserves total 12.7 Moz, while measured, indicated and inferred resources are estimated at 30.2 Moz of gold equivalent.
For further information on Nordgold please visit the Company's websitehttp://www.nordgold.com
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