25th Mar 2014 10:08
25 March 2014
For Immediate Release
Asia Resource Minerals plc ("ARMS" or the "Company")
Completion of the Separation Transaction
The Company is pleased to announce completion of the Separation Transaction, which was approved by Shareholders at the EGM on 17 December 2013. This has involved the disposal of the Company's 29.2% interest in Bumi Resources to the Bakrie Group for $501 million in cash and the acquisition by RACL, a company owned by the Company's current Chairman, Samin Tan, of the Bakrie Group's entire 23.8% indirect interest in the Company. As a result, companies controlled by Samin Tan now own 47.6% of the total shares of the Company.
Nick von Schirnding, Chief Executive Officer of ARMS said: "I am delighted to be able to announce that we have successfully completed the Separation. It has been a long and difficult process and we have overcome numerous challenges along the way to achieve a highly attractive outcome for our shareholders in the circumstances. I am grateful for the continued support of shareholders as we continue to deliver our key objectives in turning the business around."
Nick Salmon, Senior Independent Director speaking on behalf of the Committee of Independent Directors, added: "We believe that delivering separation from the Bakries and now being in a position to return at least $400m to shareholders is a significant achievement given the very difficult situation given rise by the way the company was initially created, structured and operated. We will continue our efforts to recover value for shareholders in particular taking all appropriate actions in respect to Rosan Roeslani with the appropriate authorities in the UK, Indonesia and other relevant jurisdictions. At the same time we are fully cooperating with the previously disclosed regulatory investigations regarding the Company's formation in 2010 and subsequent events, all of which have created a major additional workload for the management. We would like to thank Nick von Schirnding and his team for their extraordinary efforts over the past year and a half and Samin Tan for his key role in unlocking the previous stalemate and helping deliver the separation."
- ENDS-
Note to editors:
March 2010: Vallar Ltd is formed, re-registers as Vallar plc in June 2010, and lists in July as a cash shell
March-April 2011: Vallar purchases 25% of Bumi Resources from Bakrie Group and 75% of PT Berau Coal from Mutiara
By August 2011: Bumi Resources interest is increased to 29.2%, Berau interest is increased to 84.7% and Bumi plc is inserted as the new parent company for the Group pursuant to a scheme of arrangement
October 2012: Bumi plc receives a proposal from the Bakrie Group to separate from Bakrie Group via a disposal of Bumi Resources to the Bakries, and a cancellation of the Bakrie holding in Bumi plc
July 2013: Borneo announces the proposed acquisition by Samin Tan controlled entities of the Bakries' interest in Bumi plc
December 2013: Bumi plc shareholders vote in favour of the Separation Transaction and the change of name to Asia Resource Minerals plc
March 2014: The Separation Transaction is completed with the sale of the Bumi Resources stake for $501m, a 215% premium to the market price in Indonesia prior to completion
For enquiries, please contact:
Asia Resource Minerals plc
Sean Wade +44 (0) 20 7201 7511 | RLM Finsbury
Ed Simpkins / Charles O'Brien +44 (0) 20 7251 3801 |
Related Shares:
ARMS.L