Angloplat, Anooraq Revise Planned Black Empowerment Deal
May 14 2009 - 8:49AM
Dow Jones News
Anglo Platinum Ltd. (AMS.JO) Thursday said the consideration
payable by Anooraq Resources Corp. (ANO) for their proposed black
economic empowerment transaction has been renegotiated, and a
revised Lebowa mining plan has been determined.
The companies have renegotiated the transaction consideration to
2.6 billion rand from ZAR3.6 billion, with Anglo Platinum agreeing
to reinvest a portion of the consideration in order to share in
expected future equity upside in Anooraq.
The mining plan for Lebowa has been revised to reflect new
forecasts for production of platinum ounces in concentrate of
150,000 oz per annum by 2012.
The decrease from the previous forecast of 200,000 oz per annum
reflects the current constrained market conditions, which have also
necessitated the deferral of the Middelpunt Hill UG2 capital
expansion project at Lebowa. Estimated capital expenditure on this
project is ZAR3.2 billion over a four year period.
The companies remain of the view that the Lebowa resource,
together with the mine's established infrastructure, is of the
highest quality, comprising a significant near surface PGM resource
base, represented by 26 kilometers of continuous strike length
along the Merensky and UG2 reef horizons when combined with
Ga-Phasha.