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Pin to quick picksWeatherly International Plc Regulatory News (WTI)

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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
2nd Nov 200612:02 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
31st Oct 20062:08 pmRNSResults to June 30 2006
4th Oct 200610:12 amRNSLuanshya licence dispute
8th Sep 20069:24 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
8th Sep 20067:00 amRNSChange of year end date
1st Sep 20067:01 amRNSSmelter restart
29th Aug 20067:01 amRNSExercise of Warrants
8th Aug 20069:52 amRNSCopper supply deals
28th Jul 20067:01 amRNSAdditional Listing
14th Jul 20064:10 pmRNSEGM Statement
14th Jul 20064:09 pmRNSEGM Statement
10th Jul 20067:01 amRNSAcquisition
28th Jun 20067:00 amRNSRestoration - Weatherly Int
23rd Jun 20067:01 amRNSProposed Acquisition
12th Jun 20064:01 pmRNSAGM Statement
26th Apr 20068:00 amRNSOngopolo acquisition
26th Apr 20068:00 amRNSFinal Results
26th Apr 20068:00 amRNSSuspension - Weatherly Int
6th Mar 200612:09 pmRNSExclusive talks with Ongopolo
3rd Feb 20067:00 amRNSLuanshya progress
19th Dec 20057:00 amRNSDirectorate Change
15th Dec 20058:52 amRNSAIM Admission
14th Dec 200512:40 pmRNSDirectorate Change
14th Dec 200512:38 pmRNSEGM Statement
7th Dec 200512:25 pmRNSSch 1 Update - Weatherly Int
29th Nov 200510:07 amRNSSch 1 - Weatherly Int plc
22nd Nov 20053:27 pmRNSDisclosure of Shareholding
21st Nov 20057:02 amRNSAcquisition
9th Nov 20052:33 pmRNSChange of Adviser
29th Sep 20051:23 pmRNSInterim Results
30th Aug 20057:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
25th Aug 20057:01 amRNSIssue of Equity
3rd Aug 20051:07 pmRNSDirectorate Change
28th Jul 20057:00 amRNSAcquisition
27th Jul 200512:45 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
15th Jul 20055:17 pmRNSAGM, EGM Directorate change
24th Jun 20057:01 amRNSAcquisition
24th Jun 20057:01 amRNSFinal Results

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