Crowflight Now Debt Free After Closing Out Hedge
27 February 2009 - 5:55AM
Marketwired
CROWFLIGHT MINERALS INC. (the "Company") (TSX: CML) today announced
that it has monetized their hedge position of 2.97 million pounds
of nickel and corresponding foreign exchange price protection for
2009, thereby allowing the Company to repay its remaining CAD$7.6
million of debt. As a result of this transaction, Crowflight is now
debt free and adds another CAD$5.5 million in cash to its treasury
including the $3.0 million in the Debt Reserve Account.
Crowflight monetized the 2.97 million pound hedge at an average
realized price of US$7.74 per pound nickel (which included a
CAD$1.19 to US$1.00 exchange rate) for net proceeds of
CAD$10,134,725, with CAD$7,648,257.61 of the proceeds to be used to
pay off Crowflight's remaining debt.
Crowflight has also signed a letter of intent with Auramet
Trading LLC for a working capital line of credit of US$10 million.
Finalization of the facility remains subject to due diligence and
final binding agreements. Crowflight intends to use the facility as
an in-process working capital facility to support the Company's
mining activities and for general corporate purposes. Auramet,
based in Fort Lee, New Jersey, is a leading metals trading,
merchant banking and advisory firm specializing in the global
resource sector.
Commented Mike Hoffman, President and CEO of Crowflight, "We
have been very fortunate to have a partner such as RMB Resources
Inc. who arranged the $55 million debt facility early in 2008 with
FirstRand (Ireland) PLC, which allowed us to build the Bucko Lake
Nickel Mine. Working closely with RMB and managing exposures by
both debt and nickel hedges, Crowflight was able to create a
win-win situation in the midst of one of the most difficult times
in the nickel industry in many years. Monetizing the hedge that was
put in place to secure the debt facility, both in October 2008 and
this week, has allowed us to repay our $55 million debt facility
four years early, as well as generate over $25 million of
additional cash resources to Crowflight with no dilution to our
shareholders. We now have a first class mine and processing
facility, no debt and approximately 1 billion pounds of nickel
resources within 20 kilometres of Bucko. The working capital line
of credit from Auramet will assist Crowflight in managing working
capital as nickel concentrate is delivered to the smelter."
Crowflight continues shipping nickel concentrate from the Bucko
Lake Nickel Mine to Xstrata's smelter in Sudbury. Concentrate
quality continues to meet specifications and recovery has also
improved with recent milling, which recently achieved recoveries of
over 70%.
Crowflight Minerals - Canada's Newest Nickel Producer
Crowflight Minerals Inc. (TSX: CML) is a Canadian junior mining
company that is producing nickel at the Bucko Lake Nickel Mine near
Wabowden, Manitoba. Full commercial production is expected to be
achieved at Bucko early in the second quarter of 2009. The Company
is also focused on nickel, copper and Platinum Group Mineral (PGM)
projects in the Thompson Nickel Belt and Sudbury Basin.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information
Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the
information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such
forward-looking information may be identified by words such as
"plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes",
"may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding
use of proceeds from the hedge close-out, planned production,
timing and revenue generated from production, access to financing
on acceptable terms, and closing of the working line of credit.
Estimates regarding future production and revenues are based on
mining plans developed by management and knowledge regarding
current market prices. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future
events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially include, among
others, third party risks, production risks, metal prices,
competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory
risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the
Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by
applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly
disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Further information is available on the Company's website at
www.crowflight.com.
Total Shares Outstanding: 293.3MM
Fully Diluted: 332.1MM
52-Week Trading Range: C$0.09 - $0.80
Contacts: Crowflight Minerals Mike Hoffman President and CEO
(416) 861-2964 Crowflight Minerals Heather Colpitts Manager,
Investor and Public Relations (416) 861-5803 Email:
info@crowflight.com Website: www.crowflight.com
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