Boleo Project Shareholder Loans Converted; Baja and KORES Agree Key Terms of New Shareholder Agreement
02 April 2014 - 11:52PM
Marketwired
Boleo Project Shareholder Loans Converted; Baja and KORES Agree Key
Terms of New Shareholder Agreement
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Apr 2, 2014) - Baja
Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "Baja")
(TSX-VENTURE:BAJ)(OTCQB:BAJFF) announces that it is joining Korea
Resources Corporation ("KORES") and the other members of the Korean
Consortium in converting all of the outstanding shareholder loans
of Minera y Metalúrgica del Boleo S.A. P.I. de CV. ("MMB") into
equity of MMB (the "Conversion"). The Conversion is intended to
assist MMB in obtaining further financing for the Boleo Project and
in its efforts to restructure its existing project financing. Baja
and KORES have also agreed in principle on certain terms to be
included in a new MMB shareholders agreement (the "New Shareholders
Agreement") proposed to replace the current MMB shareholders
agreement (the "2010 Shareholders Agreement").
The Conversion
Pursuant to the Conversion:
- Baja has agreed to convert its US$94 million of shareholder
loans into MMB equity and the restructure of the accrued and unpaid
interest on such loans amounting to US$28 million into a separate
promissory note with an interest rate of 4% per annum;
- KORES and the other members of the Korean Consortium have also
agreed to the Conversion in respect of their shareholder loans and
the restructure of the accrued and unpaid interest; and
- In connection with the Conversion, KORES has agreed that the
interest rate applicable to the KORES-MMB loan facility of US$419
million, which replaced the US EXIM facility novated and assumed by
KORES in November 2012, is reduced from 13% to 4% per annum
effective from December 31, 2013.
Agreement regarding New Shareholders Agreement
The Company is pleased to announce that it has agreed in
principal with KORES on certain terms to be included in the
proposed New Shareholders Agreement.
Manganese production decision and payments:
Under the 2008 Share Purchase Agreement between Baja and Korean
Consortium, Baja is required to repay a US$10 million purchase
consideration deposit to the Korean Consortium if a decision is
made not to produce manganese at the Boleo Project by the final
economic completion date (the "Manganese Decision Date"). The
Korean Consortium is required to pay Baja US$13 million if a
decision is made to produce manganese at the Boleo Project by the
Manganese Decision Date. No decision respecting the production of
manganese is expected to be made by the Manganese Decision Date in
accordance with the process outlined in the2008 Share Purchase
Agreement.
Baja and KORES have agreed that the New Shareholders Agreement
will provide once the Boleo Project has started paying cash
dividends and the MMB board has decided in good faith not to
proceed with the development of manganese at the Boleo Project,
Baja will pay the Korean Consortium the US$10 million out of cash
flows paid to Baja from the Boleo Project. This defers the
possibility of Baja having to make this payment and ensures that it
will have the funds it will need to make the refund payment if it
is required. If the MMB board decides in good faith to proceed with
the development of manganese at the Boleo Project, the Korean
Consortium will pay Baja the US$13 million out of cash flows paid
to the Korean Consortium from the Boleo Project.
Distribution policy:
Baja and KORES have agreed in principle to include in the New
Shareholders Agreement a distribution policy that excess cash flows
from the Boleo Project will be distributed to MMB's shareholders
after certain priority debt service and principal repayments have
been made.
Future cash calls:
Baja is not required to make any equity contribution unless the
total Boleo Project funding cost is greater than US$1,751,190,000.
Baja and KORES have agreed that the New Shareholders Agreement will
provide that:
- If Baja is asked to make a contribution pursuant to a future
cash call in connection with new funding greater than
US$1,751,190,000 and Baja does not make its proportionate
contribution, the non-defaulting MMB shareholders will have the
right to contribute on behalf of Baja. If the contribution is made
by way of loan, the non-defaulting shareholder who lends instead of
Baja may convert such loan into MMB equity and Baja will be diluted
based on a dilution formula agreed between KORES and Baja;
- For illustrative purposes, if there is a US$100 million cash
call funded entirely by equity contributions, should Baja not
contribute in proportion to its current 10% shareholding in MMB,
Baja's 10% interest would be diluted to approximately 8.9%;
- In respect of a cash call where some portion of the cash call
attributable to other MMB shareholders is satisfied by a loan
rather than an equity contribution to MMB, the specifics of
dilution remain under discussion, but in any event will be no more
severe to Baja than that for an all equity cash call.
Despite having reached agreement with KORES on the above points,
a variety of other issues remain to be agreed in the New
Shareholders Agreement. The Company expects to continue to
negotiate these remaining terms with KORES. The agreement of the
Korean Consortium is also required for any amendments to the 2008
Share Purchase Agreement and the 2010 Shareholders Agreement in
addition to the agreement of KORES. Baja will provide an update on
the status of the New Shareholders Agreement in due course.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This
press release contains forward-looking statements or
forward-looking information (forward-looking statements). These
statements can be identified by expressions of belief, expectation
or intention, as well as those statements that are not historical
fact. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in
this press release are based on our current estimates, expectations
and projections, which the Company believes are reasonable as of
the current date. Actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements and as a
result undue reliance should not be placed on them. Additional
risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's reporting
documents filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including its Management
Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form.
Forward-looking statements are given only as at the date of this
news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or
revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
Baja Mining Corp.Tom OgryzloInterim
CEO604-685-2323info@bajamining.comwww.bajamining.com
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