Katanga Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Land Rights From Gécamines
ZUG, SWITZERLAND, Dec. 20, 2019 - Katanga Mining Ltd. (TSX: KAT) ("Katanga" or the "Company") today announces that its 75% subsidiary Kamoto Copper Company ("KCC") has entered into an agreement with La Générale des Carrières et des Mines ("Gécamines"), its 25% joint venture partner in KCC, to acquire from Gécamines a comprehensive land package covering areas adjacent to KCC's existing mining concessions. The land includes multiple blocks over the preferred location for construction of a new long-term tailings facility, and multiple other blocks that will enhance KCC's ability to more efficiently operate its mines, facilities and other key infrastructure requirements. If this agreement is implemented then the risks for KCC's operations resulting from land constraints, which are described in the Company's 43-101 Technical Report issued on November 7, 2019, would be mitigated.
KCC will pay up to USD 250 million to acquire the land, the total amount payable being dependent on delivery of title to the various different land areas.
The agreement also provides for (among other matters):
| (i) | an initial payment of USD 150 million to Gécamines which will be fully offset against the purchase price consideration or other payment obligations of the Company to Gécamines from time to time, | |||
| (ii) | obligations on KCC to remove tailings (estimated at circa 15m dmt), currently in a sub-section of these areas, to another suitable proximate location, | |||
| (iii) | warranties and indemnities from Gécamines concerning the land interests to be transferred, | |||
| (iv) | contingent obligations to pay "pas de porte" payments to Gécamines if KCC declares a JORC compliant reserve or otherwise elects to mine any resources in certain of the acquired land areas, on substantially the same terms as in the Settlement Agreement announced by KCC in June 2018. An amount of up to USD 120 million of the consideration may be offset against these pas de porte obligations, and | |||
| (v) | a new royalty to Gécamines of 2.5% of net sales from the acquired land areas if KCC elects to mine any resources in the acquired land areas. |
KCC expects to satisfy the consideration payments from existing liquidity. The agreement anticipates the title transfers to be effected during the course of 2020.
About Katanga Mining Limited
Katanga Mining Ltd. operates a major mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo producing refined copper and cobalt. The Company has the potential to become Africa's largest copper producer and the world's largest cobalt producer. Katanga is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KAT.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
All forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made. Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. All of the Company's forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements. The key assumptions that have been made in connection with the forward-looking statements include the following: the transactions contemplated by the agreement will be implemented on the terms set forth therein and in the time contemplated by management and that all government authorizations, title documents and related materials will be delivered in the manner set forth in the agreement; there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Company whether due to legal disputes, judicial action, labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, rollout of new equipment, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at KCC being consistent with the Company's current expectations; the Company being able to confirm the margin and cash flow improvements identified by the comprehensive business review targeting mining efficiencies and processing improvements as well as enhancements to product quality realizations and overhead cost reductions announced on April 29, 2019 (the "Review") and then successfully implementing any such improvements; continued recognition of the Company's mining concessions and other assets, rights, titles and interests in the DRC; the continued effectiveness of interim solutions for uranium identified in cobalt or the completion of the ion exchange plant in the time contemplated, at the expected cost of construction; political and legal developments in the DRC being consistent with its current expectations; the continued provision or procurement of additional funding from Glencore for operations; new equipment performing consistent with expectations; the exchange rate between the US dollar, South African rand, British pounds, Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, Congolese franc and Euro being approximately consistent with current levels; certain price assumptions for copper and cobalt; prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production, operating expenses and cost of sales forecasts for the Company meeting expectations; the accuracy of the current ore reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Company (including but not limited to ore tonnage and ore grade estimates); and labour and material costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Although Katanga has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Katanga Mining Ltd.
Contact
Longview Communications Inc., Joel Shaffer (Toronto), (416) 649-8006, jshaffer@longviewcomms.ca; Alan Bayless (Vancouver), (604) 694-6035, abayless@longviewcomms.ca