Wrap Text
High-Profile South African Investors Underpin $8M Capital Raising at 29% Premium as Part of Key BEE
Re-Structure
Orion Minerals Limited
Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Australia
Australian Company Number 098 939 274
ASX share code: ORN
JSE share code: ORN
ISIN: AU000000ORN1
(“Orion” or “the Company”)
HIGH-PROFILE SOUTH AFRICAN INVESTORS UNDERPIN $8M CAPITAL RAISING AT 29% PREMIUM AS PART OF KEY BEE
OWNERSHIP RE-STRUCTURE
Prominent South African mining executives Godfrey Gomwe and Tom Borman appointed to the Orion Board
- $8.0M share placement to sophisticated and professional investors at $0.04 per Share, together with one
free attaching option for every two Shares issued ($0.05 exercise price and expiring 31 October 2019)
(Placement).
- Placement completed at a 29% premium to last ASX closing price.
- The Placement is related to a major value-enhancing restructure of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE)
holdings at the Prieska Project level, securing strong technical and financial BEE partners including local
Prieska community members.
- Black South African Investors subscribed for $4M in the Placement, including $2M subscribed for by
investors who have signed an MOU to become BEE partners at the Prieska Project level.
- In addition to the Placement, founding BEE partners to exchange their shares at Prieska Project level for
Orion Shares.
- New BEE partners to acquire a 20% holding at the Prieska Project level and fund their proportionate share
of Prieska project development costs.
- Key existing shareholders support the proposed BEE transactions, recognising the potential to unlock
value by participating in the Placement at a significant premium to market.
- Orion Board strengthened by the appointment of highly-respected South African mining executives
Godfrey Gomwe (former senior Anglo American executive) and Tom Borman (former senior BHP Billiton
executive).
Orion’s Chairman, Denis Waddell, commented:
“We are delighted with the outcome of these interrelated transactions, which have taken many months of
negotiation and preparation. The proposed BEE restructuring ahead of the imminent Mining Right grant and
completion of the Bankable Feasibility Study for the development of a world-class base metal mine at Prieska,
shows that the South African Mining Charter 3 (MC3) ownership objectives can be achieved, while enhancing
value for all shareholders. As a result of this restructuring, all Orion BEE partners will be aligned as shareholders at
the ASX-JSE listed level, sharing the equity risk and reward on equal terms with all Orion shareholders. We have also
secured the equity participation in terms of MC3 with the engagement of highly experienced BEE entrepreneurs,
including Prieska-born, female executives with successful mining, banking and commercial backgrounds.
Our key shareholders have recognised the potential value uplift brought by our new BEE partners and have
participated in the placement at a significant premium to market, matching the terms on which our incoming BEE
partners are investing.
As part of this milestone, we are also very pleased to have attracted highly respected and experienced South
African mining executives, Godfrey Gomwe and Tom Borman, as non-executive directors. Michael Hulmes has
stepped down as a non-executive director, due to his increased commitments as an executive in a new role
elsewhere. We thank Michael for his significant contribution during the Feasibility Study period and wish him well in
his new role.”
Orion Minerals Limited (ASX/JSE: ORN) (Orion or the Company) is pleased to announce a pivotal $8 million capital
raising underpinned by a group of high-profile South African investors as part of a proposed restructure of the
Company’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) equity participation at project level, achieving accelerated
compliance with the ownership aspects of South African Mining Charter 3 (MC3).
The inter-related transactions represent a pivotal milestone for Orion, ahead of the imminent grant of the Mining
Right for its flagship Prieska Zinc-Copper Project in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province (Prieska Project) and the
delivery of the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) later this quarter.
In addition to strengthening the Company’s balance sheet as it moves towards project financing, the proposed
transactions will result in the introduction of a high-profile South African BEE investor group to its share register,
ensure an appropriate alignment and restructuring of its BEE interests across both project and listed company
levels, and significantly elevate its profile amongst South African institutional investors as it prepares to develop the
Prieska Project.
Capital Raising
The Company has received commitments from investors for a $8.0M capital raising at an issue price of $0.04 per
fully paid ordinary share (Share), together with one free attaching option for every two Shares issued, to be
conducted via a placement to sophisticated and professional investors (Placement).
It is proposed that the Placement will occur in two stages, being:
• Tranche 1 – 117.125M Shares, together with one free attaching option for every two Shares issued, using
the Company’s 15% placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 to raise $4.685M; and
• Tranche 2 – 83.50M Shares, together with one free attaching option for every two Shares issued, to raise
$3.34M (subject to shareholder approval, to be sought at a general meeting of Orion shareholders planned
to be held in early June 2019).
The 100.3M options (being one option for every two Shares issued under the Placement) have an exercise price
of $0.05 and an expiry date of 31 October 2019. The options will not be quoted on the ASX or the JSE.
The Placement includes approximately $4M placed to experienced South African BEE entrepreneurs, of which
$2M is being placed to incoming BEE equity investors who will also invest at the Prieska Project level.
As part of the Placement, Tembo Capital Mining Fund II LP and its affiliated entities (Tembo Capital), has confirmed
its continued support of Orion through subscribing for $2M in the Placement.
In addition to the support obtained from South African BEE entrepreneurs and Tembo Capital, other key existing
shareholders have supported the Placement and the proposed BEE transactions.
Proceeds from the Placement will be used principally to finalise the BFS on the Company’s Prieska Project, which
is scheduled to be completed in the current quarter. Funds will also be used to continue exploration programs on
the Company’s highly prospective tenements located in the Northern Cape, South Africa and for working capital.
BEE Restructure
The proposed BEE restructuring transactions entail existing BEE shareholders in Orion’s subsidiary, Repli Trading No
27 (Pty) Ltd (Repli), which owns the Prieska Project with a Mining Right pending, exchanging their 26.7% holding in
Repli for JSE listed Orion shares. A new BEE company (BEE HoldCo) will then acquire a 20% shareholding in Repli,
facilitated by way of Orion vendor funding.
The members of BEE HoldCo will have the entitlement to provide their proportionate share of Prieska mine
development costs on equal terms with the other shareholders of Repli. Although Repli has five years to implement
the BEE ownership obligations to achieve MC3 compliance, the proposed BEE restructuring will satisfy the
important ownership component of the MC3 compliance immediately.
The members of BEE HoldCo and Orion have agreed to accelerate the establishment of Employee and
Community trusts, each of which will hold a 5% ownership interest in Repli.
New BEE
Orion has entered into a MOU with the BEE mining group entrepreneurs to establish BEE HoldCo, owned as outlined
below:
BEE Entity Name Ownership of BEE Principals BEE Status
HoldCo
Black Star Minerals (Pty) Ltd 67% Jowell Tobias 100% Black owned
(Black Star) Sharon Matthews 75% Black female owned
Johanna Tobias
Kolobe Nala Investment 33% Billy Mawasha 100% Black Owned
Company (Pty) Ltd (KNI)
The establishment of BEE HoldCo and the proposed acquisition of the 20% interest in Repli, is expected to be
completed before 11 June 2019. Details of the terms of the acquisition of the 20% shareholding in Repli will be
released once definitive agreements have been finalised.
BEE HoldCo members have demonstrated their commitment and financial capacity to complete the transaction
by subscribing for $2M in the Placement.
Founding BEE Interests Exchanged for Orion Shares
The founding BEE partners of the Prieska Project have signed agreements with Orion to relinquish their shares in
Repli and other Areachap projects in exchange for approximately 135M JSE-listed Orion Shares (Consideration
Shares). The proposed BEE restructure transaction is subject to conditions that are customary for transactions of
this nature, including execution of definitive transaction agreements and applicable board and regulatory
approvals.
Appointment of New Non-Executive Directors
As part of these milestone transactions, Orion will be appointing two highly experienced South African-based
mining executives who have specific knowledge and skill in the South African mining industry.
Godfrey Gomwe
Mr Godfrey Gomwe has extensive experience as an executive in the metals and mining industries. He is the former
Chief Executive Officer of Anglo American plc.’s Thermal Coal business, where his responsibilities included
oversight over Anglo’s Manganese interests in joint venture with BHP. Previously Executive Director of Anglo
American South Africa until August 2012, his career included roles as Head of Group Business Development Africa,
Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer of Anglo American South Africa. Previously, Godfrey was Chairman
and Chief Executive of Anglo American Zimbabwe Limited. He also served on a number of Anglo American
Operating Boards and Executive Committees including Kumba Iron Ore, Anglo American Platinum, Highveld Steel
& Vanadium and Mondi South Africa, the latter two in the capacity of Chairman.
Tom Borman
Mr Tom Borman is a respected and highly experienced global mining executive who served more than 11 years
working for the BHP Billiton Group in various senior managerial roles, including that of Chief Financial Officer of an
Australian-listed mining company. He also held senior roles in strategy and business development and served as
the project manager for the merger integration transaction between BHP Limited and Billiton.
After leaving BHP Billiton in 2006, Mr Borman joined Warrior Coal Investments (Proprietary) Limited, where he formed
part of the executive team which established and consolidated the portfolio of assets which became the
Optimum Group of companies. Optimum listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2010, and was
subsequently acquired by Glencore for R8.5 billion in March 2012.
Concurrent with the appointment of Mr Gomwe and Mr Borman, Michael Hulmes has stepped down as a non-
executive director, due to his increased commitments as an executive in a new role elsewhere. The Directors thank
Michael for his significant contribution during the Feasibility Study period and wish him well in his new role.
General Meeting
The Company will seek the required shareholder approvals for the Placement and other transactions listed above,
at a General Meeting of shareholders planned to be held in early June 2019.
Errol Smart
Managing Director and CEO
16 April 2019
ENQUIRIES
Investors Media JSE Sponsor
Errol Smart – Managing Nicholas Read Barnaby Hayward Rick Irving
Director & CEO
Denis Waddell – Chairman Read Corporate, Australia Tavistock, UK Merchantec Capital
T: +61 (0) 3 8080 7170 T: +61 (0) 419 929 046 T: +44 (0) 787 955 1355 T: +27 (0) 11 325 6363
E: info@orionminerals.com.au E: nicholas@readcorporate.com.au E: orion@tavistock.co.uk E: rick@merchantec.co.za
Suite 617, 530 Little Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC, 3000
Disclaimer
This release may include forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements may include, among other things,
statements regarding targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of metal production and prices, operating costs and results,
capital expenditures, mineral reserves and mineral resources and anticipated grades and recovery rates, and are or may be
based on assumptions and estimates related to future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions.
These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-
looking statements inherently involve subjective judgement and analysis and are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and
other factors, many of which are outside the control of Orion. Actual results and developments may vary materially from those
expressed in this release. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-
looking statements. Orion makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this
release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. All information in respect of Exploration Results and
other technical information should be read in conjunction with Competent Person Statements in this release (where
applicable). To the maximum extent permitted by law, Orion and any of its related bodies corporate and affiliates and their
officers, employees, agents, associates and advisers:
• disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to the information to reflect any change in
expectations or assumptions;
• do not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the
information in this release, or likelihood of fulfilment of any forward-looking statement or any event or results expressed or
implied in any forward-looking statement; and
• disclaim all responsibility and liability for these forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, liability for
negligence).
Profile of BEE HoldCo Members
Black Star
Black Star is a 100% black South African owned business with half of its members having been born and raised in
Prieska. 75% of the members of Black Star are black female graduate professionals including a graduate mining
engineer and accountant.
Importantly, Black Star also owns the controlling interest in Gariep Mining and Exploration Services (Pty) Ltd, a
contracting company, with strong established mining, mechanical and civil engineering, fabrication, erection and
management capacity. Gariep is a joint venture between Black Star and Louwvliet Engineering who have a
proven track record of constructing and operating open pit and underground mining operations in the Southern
African region. Orion anticipates Gariep playing an active role in future construction and mining operations.
Black Star is led by CEO, Jowell Tobias.
Jowell spent 7.5 years as a Deal Maker at the Industrial Development Corporation in the Northern Cape where he
participated and facilitated funding for diamond, copper, iron ore and manganese mines. He also did a number
of agriculture transactions that includes table grapes, raisins and citrus. His exposure also includes renewable
energy transactions that includes PV solar and hydro energy plants. In addition, the tourism transactions included
hotels and guest houses. During his tenure at the IDC he also served as a director and trustee on companies and
community trusts in the renewable energy industry.
• He also spent almost two years as Financial Planner at South African Breweries where he was responsible
for the management accounting for the Northern Cape and areas of the Free State.
• He was employed as the Administration Manager at the Auditor General for almost 3.8 years, where he
was responsible for the financial and administrative management of the Northern Cape.
• His first position after completing his training programme was as Revenue Accountant at Interstate Bus Lines
for almost two years.
• He completed his accounting training programme at Coetzee Smit in Bloemfontein where he spent more
than 4 years.
• He is currently self employed as a co-founder and MD of Black Tiger Agriculture, an integrated agriculture
business that produces, packs and export table grapes, raisins, citrus and pecan nuts to international
markets.
Kolobe Nala Investment Company (KNI)
KNI is a family owned mining investment company led by family member Billy Mawasha.
• Billy is a strategic, values-driven and people focussed business leader with strong commercial, stakeholder
engagement, operational and technical skills which he applies to deliver sustainable results and
shareholder value to businesses he leads.
• His working experience includes working for the De Beers Group, AngloGold Ashanti and Anglo American
(Kumba Iron Ore), in South Africa and Ghana and doing beneficial work in 5 other countries in Africa
(Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Mali and Guinea) in leadership, operational and technical roles. Billy also
serves on the Board of Metair Investments (Pty) Ltd.
• Billy is passionate about education and the development of others. He is a member of the Witwatersrand
University Mining School Industry Advisory Council.
• In 2017, Billy was selected as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. This is an honour
bestowed each year to recognise the most distinguished leaders under the age of 40, nominated from
around the world.
• In 2016, Billy was included in the South African Financial Mail Little Black Book as one of the country’s top
black leaders who want to lead South Africa to great things.
Profiles of New Orion Directors
Godfrey Gomwe
Godfrey, a businessman, has extensive experience as an executive in metals and mining industries. He is the former
Chief Executive Officer of Anglo American plc.’s Thermal Coal business, whose responsibilities included oversight
over Anglo’s Manganese interests in the joint venture with BHP. Previously Executive Director of Anglo American
South Africa until August 2012, his career included roles as Head of Group Business Development Africa, Finance
Director and Chief Operating Officer of Anglo American South Africa. Previously, Godfrey was Chairman and
Chief Executive of Anglo American Zimbabwe Limited. He also served on a number of Anglo American Operating
Boards and Executive Committees including Kumba Iron Ore, Anglo American Platinum, Highveld Steel &
Vanadium and Mondi South Africa, the latter two in the capacity of Chairman. Prior to joining Anglo American in
1999, Godfrey held many Leadership positions and directorships in listed and unlisted companies.
Godfrey is currently non-executive Chairman of Tshikululu Social Investments NPC and also sits on the boards of
AECI Limited and Thebe Investment Corporation Pty Ltd.
He currently manages his own businesses comprising a portfolio of branded franchised and non-franchised
businesses in Southern Africa.
He is past President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe, past Senior Vice-President of the Chamber
of Mines of Zimbabwe in addition to serving on the Executive Council of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa.
Godfrey is a Chartered Accountant (Zimbabwe) who holds a Master’s degree in Business Leadership, from the
University of South Africa (Unisa) as well as a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) Degree from the University of
Zimbabwe (UZ).
Tom Borman
Tom is a respected and highly experienced global mining executive who served more than 11 years working for
the BHP Billiton Group in various senior managerial roles, including that of Chief Financial Officer of an Australian-
listed mining company. He also held senior roles in strategy and business development, and served as the project
manager for the merger integration transaction between BHP Limited and Billiton.
His wide-ranging experience in project development spans a range of commodities and countries across Africa,
including the DRC, with previous roles including as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development and Chief
Commercial Officer of BHP Billiton’s Diamond Division between 2003 and 2006. Before this, he held other senior
roles within BHP Billiton including Chief Financial Officer of QNI Pty Ltd and Financial Manager and Assistant Group
Controller with the Billiton Group in the Netherlands.
After leaving BHP Billiton in 2006, Mr Borman joined Warrior Coal Investments (Proprietary) Limited, where he formed
part of the executive team which established and consolidated the portfolio of assets which became the
Optimum Group of companies. Optimum listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2010, and was
subsequently acquired by Glencore for R8.5 billion in March 2012.
He was also a Director of Alphamin Resources Corp. (TSXV: AFM) from March 2013 until January 2016, where he
made a significant contribution to the Company’s development strategy for the first large commercial tin mine in
the DRC, the Alphamin Bisie Tin Mine, which is on track to commence production in 2019.
Tom is currently chairman of Nzuri Copper Limited, a company listed on the ASX. Nzuri is a developer/explorer of
a high grade copper and cobalt project, Kalongwe, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mr Borman is currently self-employed and holds a number of other directorships.
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