Ms. Maria Araujo reports
GRAN COLOMBIA ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF MANDATE LETTER FOR US$100 MILLION GOLD PARTICIPATING TERM LOAN WITH STANDARD BANK
Further to the announcement on Dec. 12, 2011,
that GMP Securities LP had been retained to assist Gran Colombia Gold Corp. in the
evaluation of several debt-financing alternatives, Gran Colombia has signed an
exclusive mandate letter with Standard Bank PLC, in conjunction with
Pareto Commodities LLC, for the arrangement of a $100-million (U.S.) senior
secured term loan facility to finance the company's plan
to increase production at its Segovia operations through the
development of a new mechanized mining operation and the acquisition of
a new 2,500-tonne-per-day mill in addition to its expanded Maria Dama
mill.
Maria Consuelo Araujo, chief executive officer of the company,
commented: "We are very pleased to be working with Standard Bank. Its
facility will provide Gran Colombia with the funding required to
accelerate the growth at our Segovia operations at a prudent cost of
capital (approximately 12 to 13 per cent), third party validation of our Segovia
assets and a clear path to the next stage of the company's evolution.
Standard Bank has an unparalleled reputation in executing debt financings
in the resource sector."
The facility, expected to close at the end of January, 2012, will
incorporate gold price participation on a total of 150,000 ounces of
gold production from the Segovia operations over the five-year term of
the facility. This represents only 17 per cent of the company's total estimated
gold production from the Segovia operations over the same five-year
period. The fully financed expansion of the existing Maria Dama mill,
already in process and scheduled to be completed in the first quarter
of 2012, is expected to almost double gold production from the Segovia
operations in 2012 to approximately 130,000 ounces. The expansion of
mining and milling capabilities with the proceeds of this facility will
enable the company to increase total gold production at Segovia to
approximately 200,000 ounces annually by 2014 and to reduce long-term
cash costs below $900 (U.S.) per ounce.
Under the facility, Standard Bank will purchase 2,500 ounces of gold per
month from the company at market prices, subject
to an agreed-upon hedging program. From the monthly proceeds derived
from the sale of the minimum production, Standard Bank will deduct
interest on the facility at London interbank offered rate plus 6.5 per cent, any net premiums related
to the hedging program, principal repayments and its gold price
participation, which is only 25 per cent to 35 per cent of the gold price realized
above $1,300 (U.S.) per ounce.
The company will pay interest only on the facility during the first 12
months, allowing the company to use its operating cash flow in 2012 to
finance its planned $20-million (U.S.) 80,000-metre drilling program to expand
and upgrade its resource at its Segovia operations. Principal
repayments of $25-million (U.S.) per annum will commence at the beginning of
the second year of facility and will be made on a monthly basis. The
facility may be prepaid at any time after six months.
The facility will be secured by a pledge of the shares of certain of the
company's subsidiaries holding title to the Segovia operations, an
assignment of the specific assets of the Segovia operations, an
undertaking from the company regarding the minimum production
obligation and certain limitations on the incurrence of additional
debt, excluding project financing for the development of the Marmato
project.
We seek Safe Harbor.
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