Update - Bacanora Investment & Cadence Loan Notes

RNS Number : 5978H

Cadence Minerals PLC

01 August 2019

 

Cadence Minerals Plc

("Cadence Minerals", "Cadence" or "the Company")

Bacanora Lithium (BCN) Update on Strategic Investment by Ganfeng Lithium.

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to note the update published today by Bacanora Lithium (AIM:BCN) ("Bacanora") on its Investment Agreement and Offtake Agreement ('the Strategic Investment' or 'the Agreements') with leading global lithium company Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. ("Ganfeng" or "GFL"). As announced on 28 June 2019, the signed Agreements have been submitted to the relevant authorities in China for approval and completion.  The first of the approvals, from the PRC Ministry of Commerce, has now been received.  The remaining two approvals required ahead of completion of the Strategic Investment are currently being processed by Ganfeng and further updates will be provided as the approval process proceeds.

Bacanora is a lithium exploration and development company. Cadence holds 30% of Mexalit and Megalit joint venture companies and approximately 0.5% of Bacanora's equity. Mexalit is the owner of the El Sauz, El Sauz 1, El Sauz 2, Fleur and Fleur 1 mineral concessions, which forms part of the 20-year mine plan of the Sonora Lithium Project in Northern Mexico.

Completion of the Strategic Investment would form a major part of the Bacanora's finance package for an initial 17,500 tonnes per annum lithium carbonate operation at the large scale, high grade Sonora Project in Mexico.  For further details of the Agreements please refer to the Company's announcement on 20 May 2019, however the key terms of the Strategic Investment are provided below:

Summary of Key Terms of the Ganfeng Strategic Investment:

·      GFL to acquire 29.99% of Bacanora

·      GFL to acquire 22.5% of Sonora Lithium Ltd ("SLL"), the holding company for the Sonora Lithium Project

·      Additional long-term offtake at a market-based price per tonne

o  50% of Stage 1 lithium production

o  Up to 75% of Stage 2 lithium production

About GFL

GFL is the world's third largest and China's largest lithium compounds producer and the world's largest lithium metals producer in terms of production capacity as of 31 December 2017, according to CRU International Limited.  GFL's operations are vertically integrated, encompassing all critical stages of the value chain, including upstream lithium extraction, midstream lithium compounds and metals processing as well as downstream lithium battery production and recycling.  GFL has one of the most comprehensive product offerings split into five major categories of more than 40 lithium compounds and metals products.

The full release can be found at: https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/BCN/14171449.html

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

Restructuring of Outstanding Loan Note

As announced on the 15 July 2019 Cadence had restructured two of its three outstanding Amortising Loan Notes (http://irservices.netbuilder.com/ir/cadence/newsArticle.php?ST=REM&id=2842635) and was finalising terms to fund the balance of the Amortising Loan Note. Cadence is pleased to announce it has now completed the restructuring of the third Amortising loan on substantially the same terms as outline in the announcement of 15 July 2019.

In addition, and to, in part, fund the working capital requirements of the Amapá Project, Cadence has drawn down a further US$ 0.5 million of the Convertible Loan Note under the same terms. After this draw down the outstanding balance on the Convertible Loan Note is US$3.98 million. Which is comprised of US$2.29 million of the restructured Amortising Loan notes plus a total of US$1.75 million of additional drawdowns. The note is secured over the Company's assets.

- Ends -

For further information: Cadence Minerals plc                                                    [phone] Andrew Suckling Kiran Morzaria WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)                                 [phone] James Joyce James Sinclair-Ford Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker)                                 [phone] Jon Belliss

Qualified Person

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''believe'' ''could'' "should" ''envisage'' ''estimate'' ''intend'' ''may'' ''plan'' ''will'' or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.  Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.

 

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