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THE WATERBERG COAL COMPANY LTD - Business update and cautionary announcement

Release Date: 16/09/2014 12:15
Code(s): WCC     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Business update and cautionary announcement

The Waterberg Coal Company Limited
(formerly Range River Gold Limited)
(Incorporated in Australia)
(Registration number ABN 64 065 480 453)
ASX: WCC | JSE: WCC | ISIN: AU000000WCC9
(“WCC” or “the Company”)


BUSINESS UPDATE AND CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT

Shareholders are advised that further to the Company’s quarterly report published on 31 July 2014, the
Company wishes to provide the following business update on its current activities.

1. Update on projects and funding arrangements

   1.1         The Eskom Project

               The Waterberg Coal Project (“WCP”) was the subject of a Definitive Feasibility Study
               (“DFS”). The DFS was prepared in order to comply with the Memorandum of
               Understanding (“MOU”) entered into by the project company (Sekoko Coal (Pty) Ltd)
               and Eskom on 23 March 2012 for the production and delivery of 10 million tonnes per
               annum (mtpa) of coal product from the WCP on a take or pay basis. Pursuant to the
               MOU, a 300,000 tonne bulk burn test has also been successfully completed (at the
               Majuba Power Station) as part of the Conditions Precedent’s to the MOU.

               As at today, discussions with Eskom are ongoing to resolve the outstanding
               requirements in order to convert the offtake MOU into a Coal Supply Agreement
               (“CSA”). These outstanding requirements include coal specification finalisation, final
               pricing, delivery dates and the provision to Eskom of a satisfactory due diligence report
               on the DFS. This report is expected to be finalised by the end of October 2014.

               During the period that the DFS has been the subject of the independent due diligence
               review, the project partners have been in discussions with potential funding parties. The
               potential funding for this project is predicated on, inter alia, the completion of the CSA
               with Eskom and a satisfactory outcome of the due diligence review. It is anticipated that
               it could take up to a period of six to 12 months after receipt of the review report for the
               debt funders to provide the project funding.

   1.2         The Export Project

               Accruing from the substantial technical work on the Eskom Project by the project
               partners and due to the anticipated project delay, the project partners have identified the
               potential for a stand-alone Export Project.

               This project will be subject to a stand-alone definitive feasibility study. The project
               partners are presently considering separate funding options for the Export Project.
               Shareholders will be updated accordingly in this regard as the strategy is defined.

2. The Convertible Secured Facility (“Facility”)

   On 9 April 2013, WCC drew down on the Facility, with a face value of A$35 million, from a
   syndicate of Lenders with The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited as facility agent
   (the “Lenders”).

   The funding from the Facility has been used, inter alia, to acquire a 45.88% shareholding in
   Firestone Energy Limited (ASX: FSE) which holds a 60% economic interest in the Waterberg Coal
   Joint Venture (“Project”); and to acquire an effective 10% direct interest in the Project through a
   25% shareholding in the project company, Sekoko Coal (Pty) Ltd.

   The Facility term is 18 months with maturity date being 9 October 2014. It was always
   contemplated that either the Lenders would convert their respective portion of the Facility into listed
   equity in WCC; or alternatively a portion of the Eskom Project funding facility would be utilised to
   retire the amount owing pursuant to the Facility. The delays referred to above have necessitated
   the need for the Facility to be restructured. WCC has entered into discussions with the Lenders
   with respect to the restructuring of the Facility; including an extension to the Facility’s maturity
   date. At the current date such discussions are ongoing and no arrangements have yet been
   concluded for the restructure, extension or conversion of the Facility.

3. Update on working capital requirements

   The Company has cash and liquid securities totalling $1,002,271. Pending the agreement on
   restructuring and extensions of the facility; WCC has arrangements with parties to provide
   additional working capital.

4. Cautionary announcement

   Further to the information provided in this announcement, WCC will provide shareholders with an
   update in terms of funding and working capital requirements in due course.

   Accordingly, shareholders are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the Company’s
   securities until a further announcement in this regard, is made.


Stephen Miller
Director
The Waterberg Coal Company Limited

16 September 2014


JSE Sponsor
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited

  Market Release

             

  THE WATERBERG COAL COMPANY LIMITED
           ABN 64 065 480 453

                   Registered office:
Level 2, 1 Walker Avenue West Perth, Western Australia 6005
                       Australia


                Tel:+61 8 9485 0888
                Fax: +61 8 9485 0077

                 South African office:
                 Level 1, The Place,
                    1 Sandton Dr
                   Sandton, 2146
                    South Africa

                Tel: +27 10 594 2240
                Fax: +27 10 594 2253


                      Contact:
                  Mr Stephen Miller
               Executive Director/CEO
                         Or
                 Investor relations
                   in South Africa:
                    Bruce Tinney
                 +27 (83) 408 3028

                      E-mail:
             info@waterbergcoal.com.au



                       Directors:
            Dr Mathews Phosa (Chairman)
                     Stephen Miller
            (Executive Director and CEO)
                       Lee Boyd
          (Director and Company Secretary)


                 ASX / JSE Symbol: WCC

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