Marengo Mining Limited Restructure to Redomicile to Canada
In April, 2008, Marengo listed on the TSX and concurrently raised $10.4m. Subsequently Marengo has undertaken a number of successful capital raisings and raised $127.6m, primarily through supportive North American Institutions.
This decision was made after careful consideration of the alternatives, including remaining a purely Australian company, dual listing on TSX, or listing on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM") in London. Ultimately, the Company believes that access to the much deeper capital markets of North America will assist facilitation of financing for the Yandera Project.
Reasons for the Redomicile
Marengo is currently domiciled in Australia. In the context of the Marengo Group's current operations and plans for expansion, the Marengo board of directors (the "Board") has determined that the redomicile is in the best interests of shareholders and the Board believes that the redomicile will better position the Group to realise its strategic goals. Potential advantages of the redomicile are:
- a greater ability to raise debt and equity;
- improved market sentiment and profile;
- access to a market more receptive to mining projects in Papua New Guinea;
- exposure to larger and more diverse investment markets;
- it is consistent with Marengo's growing international shareholder base and improves the potential for further international investor interest; and
- retention of ASX and POMSoX listings for investors based in Australia and Papua New Guinea respectively;
To effect the redomicile, a Scheme of Arrangement ("Scheme") is proposed, under which shareholders will be offered pro-rata equity in a new Canadian incorporated company, specifically incorporated to which will ultimately be named Marengo Mining Limited (Marengo Mining). There will be no effect on the assets and liabilities of Marengo upon completion of the restructure.
Key features of the Redomicile
- Marengo Mining will become the new parent company of the Marengo Group by way of a court approved Scheme of Arrangement conducted in accordance with Australian law (the "Scheme").
- If the Scheme is implemented, Marengo shareholders (who are classified as eligible shareholders) will receive either shares in Marengo Mining for shareholders whose shares are listed on TSX or one CHESS Depository Interest (CDI) (required because of the method of registration of shares on TSX) for shareholders whose shares are listed on either ASX or POMSoX in exchange for each Marengo share held by them in accordance with the terms of the Scheme as set out in the scheme documentation which is currently being prepared.
- Marengo will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marengo Mining.
- Application will be made for the Marengo Mining Shares to be admitted to the TSX and the CDI's to be listed on ASX and POMSoX.
- The redomicile will not have a material adverse impact on Marengo Group's existing corporate governance regime and existing shareholder protection measures.
- The implementation of the redomicile is not expected to have any adverse tax implications for Marengo or Marengo shareholders.
- In conjunction with the redomicile, Marengo's existing employee share option plan and performance rights plan will be continued.
- The redomicile is expected to be completed by late 2012.
The redomicile will only proceed if the restructure is approved by Marengo shareholders and the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Marengo is strongly focused on the Yandera Project, but has also continued to maintain its exploration activities in adjacent areas in Papua New Guinea. The Marengo Group has an objective of becoming a significant copper producer through development of the Yandera Project, while maintaining its status as a respected explorer. The restructure will provide the platform for the further financing of the Marengo Group's activities in the global equity markets. Marengo will continue to operate from its corporate office in Perth and has had a Canadian representative office in Toronto since April 2008.
The Marengo Board believes that in the present economic climate the opportunity exists to bring the Yandera Project into production, transforming the Company from an explorer into a significant copper producer. This proposed restructure will ensure that the Marengo Group is suitability positioned to manage its future capital requirements and to provide continued growth of shareholders wealth.
Shareholders will receive detailed information about the restructure and the listings shortly. It is expected that the required shareholders' meetings will be held in late November, 2012.
Please note that the Head Office of Marengo is located in Western Australia and is 12 hours ahead of Toronto time.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward looking information. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", or "might" occur or to be achieved and any other similar expressions. In providing the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions regarding: (i) the accuracy of exploration results received to date; (ii) anticipated costs and expenses; (iii) that the results of the FS continue to be positive; and (iv) that future exploration results are as anticipated. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Some of these risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under the heading "Risks Factors" in the Company's annual information form available on the SEDAR website. Forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Marengo does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. Readers should not place under reliance on forward-looking information.
For further information on the Yandera Project, including a description of Marengo's standard data verification processes, quality assurance and quality control measures, and details of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resources set out in this report and the extent to which the estimate of previously declared mineral resources set out herein may be materially affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or relevant issues, readers are directed to the technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Yandera Copper-Molybdenum-Gold Project Madang Province, Papua New Guinea", dated May 14, 2012.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
ABN: 57 099 496 474
YANDERA MINING COMPANY LIMITED (COMPANY NO. 1-53202)
MARENGO MINING (PNG) LIMITED (COMPANY NO. 1-76844)
Contact
Marengo Mining Limited
Les Emery, Managing Director/CEO
+61 8 9429 0000
marengo@marengomining.com
Investor Relations:
Marengo Mining Limited - Australia:
Dean Richardson, VP-Investor Relations
+61 8 9429 0000
deanr@marengomining.com
Marengo Mining Limited - North America:
Victoria Russell, Investor Relations
+1 416 644 8680
investor@marengomining.com
www.marengomining.com