Ivanhoe Mines (
TSX: IVN,
Stock Forum) made a landmark agreement with a top Chinese miner when the company announced today that it had agreed to a strategic co-development deal with Zijin Mining in regards to the Kamoa copper discovery located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the
news release, the agreement, signed in Xiamen, Zijin – through its subsidiary, Gold Mountains (H.K.) International Mining Company – will purchase a 49.5% stake in Kamoa Holding, an Ivanhoe subsidiary which currently controls 95% of the Kamoa Project.
The deal will be facilitated through a cash consideration of US$412.0 million and will be satisfied by an upfront payment of US$206.0 million in cash upon closing, which is anticipated on or around July 31, 2015. The transaction is still subject to Chinese government approvals and customary closing conditions.
The remaining $206.0 million will be paid through five equal installments every 3.5 months from closing.
The company has also agreed to sell 1% of its share interest in Kamoa Holding to Crystal River Global for US$8.32 million. This particular transaction will be facilitated through a non-interest-bearing 10-year promissory note.
As a result of the above-mentioned agreement, Zijin is committed to securing 65% of the capital required to develop the first phase of Kamoa without any recourse and on terms acceptable to Ivanhoe. Zijin will also provide any and all required completion guarantees regarding to the securing of project financing for Kamoa.
When it has successfully arranged or procured project financing, Zijin will have the right to acquire Crystal River’s 1% share interest in Kamoa. If the option hasn’t been exercised within seven years from delivery of the feasibility study, it will expire and both Ivanhoe and Zijin will have the right to purchase one-half of the 1% share from Crystal, leaving both with a 50% interest in the project.
Ivanhoe Mines founder, Executive Chairman and director, Robert Friedland, commented on the landmark deal, “This agreement with Zijin, one of the world's most accomplished miners, is further confirmation of Kamoa's distinction as one of the most significant, undeveloped mineral discoveries of our age and charts a course for the realization of significant benefits for all of Ivanhoe's and Zijin's stakeholders as well as the Congolese people. Together with the Congolese government and Zijin, we aim to meet the expectations of the Congolese people and our stakeholders in Katanga as we proceed to build a world-class, new copper mine.”
Chen Jinghe, Chairman of Zijin Mining, added, “The strategic partnership with Ivanhoe announced today, through which we plan to jointly develop Kamoa, will turn our respective strengths into synergies that will create significant value for both Zijin and Ivanhoe shareholders, as well as the societies in which we operate.”
Ivanhoe Mines was in the news recently when
the Vancouver-based company announced voting results for the election of directors four days ago.
Shares climbed 12.93% on the news to $1.31 per share.
Currently there are 772.1m outstanding shares with a market cap of $1.0 billion.