IOCA signs agreement with Anglo American to negotiate funding and offtake

Highlights

• IOCA has granted Anglo American an exclusive right to negotiate and agree terms with IOCA for up to US$15 million in funding and 100% of offtake from the Hancock Project, including:
  • US$10 million in advance payment facility.
  • 100% offtake for sinter fines and lump from the Hancock Project.
  • Offtake terms to include vessel prepayments for up to US$5 million for the first 12 months.
• Anglo American to receive an agreed royalty for 24 months.
• Exclusive right commences immediately and will conclude the earlier of 60 calendar days after IOCA delivers to Anglo American an agreed base case financial model together with all necessary supporting documents or such later date that the parties may agree upon.
• Anglo American is a leading, global mining company with a portfolio of competitive, world class operations, including annual production of more than 60 million t of premium quality iron ore from South Africa and Brazil.

Bill Brodie Good, CEO of Alien Metals, commented: “We are really pleased to have signed this mandate letter with a leading, global mining company of Anglo American’s stature.”

“The mandate letter provides a pathway to negotiate and agree the potential development debt funding, and a 100% offtake solution. This mandate letter supports our near-term production aspirations and, unlike conventional debt finance, the potential bespoke funding with offtake provides alignment between the parties for the pursuit of scale across multiple assets with a world class counterparty. The Board is continuing to assess development plans at Hancock which may reduce the initial CAPEX requirement outlined in the October 2021 scoping study and will advise once this process is complete.”

“We thank the Anglo American team for the interest in and support for our project and we look forward to working with them.”

The key terms of the mandate letter are set out below:

• IOCA has granted Anglo American an exclusivity period of 60 calendar days after IOCA delivers to Anglo American an agreed base case financial model together with all necessary supporting documents or such later date that the parties may agree upon.
• The parties have agreed to negotiate and, subject to due diligence satisfactory to Anglo American and Anglo American’s internal approvals, agree legally binding documentation for:
  • The provision by Anglo American of US$10 million of debt funding for Hancock repayable over two years.
  • Offtake by Anglo American of 100% of iron ore products from Hancock, which will include vessel prepayments of up to US$5 million for the first 12 months, for an initial period of three years or longer should the minimum quantity not be delivered.
• Conditions precedent, customary for transactions of this nature, including but not limited to:
  • New equity raised by Alien, and evidence that such amount has been utilised for Hancock in this case, of US$5 million.
  • Relevant reports, such as a technical report, environmental report, insurance report and legal due diligence report.
  • Documentation for mandatory hedging to be executed and provided by a third party or Anglo American.
  • Permits, approvals, licenses in relation to the mining and construction and operation of the project including, confirmed port allocation and permit to use main road.
• It is noted that whilst the terms of the mandate letter in particular as regards exclusivity, confidentiality and fees are expressed to be legally binding the indicative terms of any project funding and offtake are not and therefore are subject to definitive documentation.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/finance-business/31082022/ioca-signs-agreement-with-anglo-american-to-negotiate-funding-and-offtake/