Extension of the Taurus Facility

AIM and Media Release 

31 October 2016

BASE RESOURCES LIMITED
Extension of the Taurus Facility

Base Resources Limited (ASX & AIM: BSE) (“Base Resources” or the “Company”) is pleased to advise that it has extended the maturity date of the fully drawn US$20 million unsecured debt facility provided by one of its major shareholders, Taurus Funds Management (“Taurus”) (“Taurus Facility”), from 31 December 2016 to 30 September 2017. 

The Taurus Facility was established in December 2014, and is held by the parent company, Base Resources.  Prior to final maturity, under the terms of the Taurus Facility, repayments are only required to be made from the surplus cash distributions (“Cash Sweeps”) of the Kwale Operations to Base Resources, as permitted by the Kwale Project Debt Facility.  These Cash Sweeps, if permitted, occur six-monthly with the first taking place in July 2016 for US$5.4 million. Following the Cash Sweep, a mandatory 50% of which was applied towards progressive repayment of the Taurus facility, the amount currently outstanding under the Taurus Facility is US$17.3 million.

The extension of the Taurus Facility final maturity date allows additional repayments to be made from two further potential Cash Sweeps in January and July 2017, and removes the need to secure external funding to repay the balance that would otherwise have been due on 31 December 2016.  With the continuing improvement in ilmenite prices experienced since July 2016, and the positive outlook for rutile prices over the coming period, it is anticipated that the Taurus Facility can be substantially repaid from Cash Sweeps prior to the extended maturity date.

As part of the extension, the mandatory proportion of Cash Sweeps to be applied toward progressive repayment of the Taurus Facility has increased from 50% to 75%.  All other terms of the Taurus Facility remain unchanged, including the interest rate of 10% on the outstanding balance.  As consideration for the extension, Base Resources will issue Taurus 10 million fully paid ordinary shares (“Consideration Shares”).  The issue of the Consideration Shares will not require shareholder approval.

The total number of fully paid ordinary shares in Base Resources on issue following the issue of the Consideration Shares is 742,231,956, and Base Resources advises that Taurus will consequently increase its interest in fully paid ordinary shares in Base Resources from approximately 14.3% to approximately 15.5%.  Application has been made for the Consideration Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM, and it is expected that the Consideration Shares will be admitted to trading on AIM from on or around Wednesday, 2 November 2016.

ENDS.

CORPORATE PROFILE

Directors

Keith Spence (Non-Executive Chairman)
Tim Carstens (Managing Director)
Colin Bwye (Executive Director)
Sam Willis (Non-Executive Director)
Michael Anderson (Non-Executive Director)
Michael Stirzaker (Non-Executive Director)
Malcolm Macpherson (Non-Executive Director)

Company Secretary
Chadwick Poletti

NOMINATED ADVISOR & BROKER
RFC Ambrian Limited

As Nominated Adviser:
Andrew Thomson / Stephen Allen
Phone: +61 (0)8 9480 2500
As Broker:
Jonathan Williams
Phone: +44 20 3440 6800

SHARE REGISTRY:  ASX
Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited

Level 11, 172 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Enquiries: 1300 850 505 / +61 (3) 9415 4000
www.computershare.com.au

SHARE REGISTRY:  AIM
Computershare Investor Services PLC

The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
BRISTOL BS99 6ZZ
Enquiries: +44 (0) 870 702 0003
www.computershare.co.uk

AUSTRALIAN MEDIA RELATIONS
Cannings Purple

Annette Ellis / Andrew Rowell
Email:aellis@canningspurple.com.au /
arowell@canningspurple.com.au
Phone: +61 (0)8 6314 6300

UK MEDIA RELATIONS
Tavistock Communications

Jos Simson / Emily Fenton
Phone: +44 (0) 207 920 3150

KENYA MEDIA RELATIONS
Africapractice (East Africa)

Evelyn Njoroge / James Njuguna/Joan Kimani
Phone: +254 (0)20 239 6899
Email:jkimani@africapractice.com

PRINCIPAL & REGISTERED OFFICE
Level 1, 50 Kings Park Road
West Perth, Western Australia, 6005
Email:  info@baseresources.com.au
Phone: +61 (0)8 9413 7400
Fax: +61 (0)8 9322 8912

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