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Operations and Funding Update

30 Jun 2017 15:04

RNS Number : 7898J
Weatherly International PLC
30 June 2017
 

30 June 2017

Weatherly International plc

("Weatherly" or "the Company")

 Operations and Funding Update 

 

On 27th and 28th April, the Company announced that copper cathode production rates at Tschudi had fallen to 24% below nameplate due to slower than anticipated leach rates for mixed oxide / sulphide ore, and that debt repayments due to Orion Mine Finance (Master) Fund I LP ("Orion") had been rescheduled.

 

Investigations continue into whether or not leach rates can be accelerated to match those predicted in the 2012 Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) by varying site operating parameters. In the meantime, mining and stacking rates have been accelerated to compensate and production rates have improved in May and June as expected, such that full year copper production guidance is unchanged at 14,500 to 15,000 tonnes.

 

Capital construction of the stage two leach pads is underway and permanent loss of recoverable copper metal by sealing and over-stacking of partially leached ore is expected to be minimised as a result.

 

As previously indicated, the Company is unable to generate sufficient surplus cash at current copper prices to fund the pad construction capital plus the additional working capital required for accelerated mining and stacking of slower-leaching ore as well as all loan repayments to Orion when due. The Company believes it will need US$10m additional funding to construct the new pads and deal with the working capital issues that have arisen from the slower leaching at Tschudi.

 

Orion has agreed to further amendments to the terms of its funding arrangements as described below and have also agreed to enter into a new uncommitted US$10m facility to cover the additional funding requirement, the terms for which are at an advanced stage of discussion. Details of the new facility will be announced when it is executed.

 

Debt Financing

 

Weatherly has entered into a further amendment and restatement agreement in relation to its existing facility with Orion (the "Amendment and Restated Agreement"). Under the facility as amended by the Amendment and Restatement Agreement (the "Amended Facility"), the first repayment of Facility B Loan has been deferred to 31 August 2017 and Orion has agreed, effective until 31 August 2017, to limit its acceleration and enforcement rights on the terms set out in the Amended Facility. The Facility B Final Maturity Date has been changed to 28 February 2020, and each Facility B repayment will be increased so that the Facility B Loans will be repayable in 11 equal repayments.

The repayment of the US$8.6 million lent under Facilities C and D of the Amended Facility has been deferred until 31 August 2017.

Orion is a related party of the Company by virtue of Orion being a substantial shareholder in the Company and consequently the execution of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement is deemed to be a related party transaction under the AIM Rules for Companies. The independent directors of Weatherly (being all of the directors other than Edwin Bennett, by virtue of his association with Orion) consider, having consulted with Weatherly's nominated adviser, RFC Ambrian Limited, that the terms of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement are fair and reasonable insofar as Weatherly's shareholders are concerned.

If copper prices remain at current levels it is unlikely that the Company and its subsidiaries will generate sufficient surplus cash to meet all loan repayments under the revised Amended Facility when due. The Company continues to positively engage with Orion on the subject.

 

 

 

For further information please contact:

 

Weatherly International plc +44 (0) 1707 800 774

Craig Thomas, Chief Executive Officer

Kevin Ellis, CFO and Company Secretary

 

RFC Ambrian Limited +44 (0) 20 3440 6800

(Nominated Adviser & Broker)

Nominated adviser contact: Stephen Allen / Bhavesh Patel

Broker contact: Kim Eckhof

 

Blytheweigh +44 (0) 20 7138 3204

(Financial PR) Tim Blythe / Camilla Horsfall / Nick Elwes

 

About Weatherly

 

Weatherly is an AIM listed copper mining company operating in Namibia in southern Africa. Its principal assets are one operating open pit copper mine called Tschudi and two underground copper projects called Otjihase and Matchless.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
MSCSDMFDSFWSEIM
Date   Source Headline
12th May 20153:41 pmRNSNotification of Major Interest in Shares
11th May 20157:30 amRNSRestoration - Weatherly International Plc
8th May 20157:00 amRNSTrading Update
16th Apr 20159:27 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
30th Mar 20155:41 pmRNSChange of Address and Registered Office
19th Mar 20155:33 pmRNSInterim Results
18th Mar 201511:52 amRNSUpdate on Suspension of Trading in Shares
17th Feb 201510:40 amRNSStatement RE: Suspension of Shares
16th Feb 20151:35 pmRNSSuspension - Weatherly International Plc
9th Feb 20157:00 amRNSUpdate on Weatherly International Option
3rd Feb 20153:58 pmRNSNotification of Major Interest in Shares
30th Jan 20157:00 amRNSUpdate on Progress at Tschudi Copper Mine
21st Jan 20157:00 amRNSQuarterly Operations and Production Update
7th Jan 20157:00 amRNSUpdate on Progress at Tschudi Copper Mine
31st Dec 20147:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
10th Dec 20147:00 amRNSGrant of Options
3rd Dec 20145:02 pmRNSResult of Open Offer and Placing
18th Nov 20147:00 amRNSPosting of Open Offer Circular
10th Nov 20147:00 amRNSFundraising and Proposed Open Offer
10th Nov 20147:00 amRNSPOLO TAKES PLACEMENT IN WEATHERLY INTERNATIONAL
7th Nov 201411:18 amRNSResult of AGM
7th Nov 20147:00 amRNSTrading Update
16th Oct 201411:21 amRNSNotice of AGM - Time Correction
16th Oct 20147:00 amRNSNotice of AGM
10th Oct 20144:26 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
8th Oct 20143:54 pmRNSCompany Presentation on Website
7th Oct 20147:00 amRNSQ1 2015 Operational Update
7th Oct 20147:00 amRNSFinal Results
2nd Sep 20147:00 amRNSChange of Adviser
15th Jul 20147:00 amRNSQuarterly Update
30th Jun 20147:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
27th Jun 201410:41 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
25th Jun 20147:00 amRNSGrant of Options
20th Jun 20142:15 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
16th Jun 20142:12 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
2nd Jun 201411:39 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
2nd Jun 20147:00 amRNSSubscription to raise approximately £1.7 million
19th May 20147:00 amRNSTschudi Project and Central Operations Update
15th Apr 20147:00 amRNSQuarterly Operations and Production Update
18th Mar 20145:45 pmRNSStatement re. Central Operations
17th Mar 20147:00 amRNSInterim Results
20th Jan 20147:00 amRNSQuarterly Operations and Production Update
15th Jan 20147:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
31st Dec 20137:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
11th Dec 20137:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
10th Dec 201311:17 amRNSResult of AGM
5th Dec 201311:55 amRNSPlacing and Subscription to Raise approx. £1.1m
2nd Dec 20137:00 amRNSChange of Adviser
25th Nov 20134:34 pmRNSNotice of AGM
11th Nov 20137:00 amRNSDrawdown of Tranche B of the Tschudi Loan

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