2nd Jul 2012 07:00
2 July 2012
ZincOx Resources plc
("ZincOx" or the "Company")
Standard Chartered Bank mandated for the expansion of ZincOx's Korean Recycling Plant
ZincOx is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mandate with Standard Chartered Bank to restructure, arrange and underwrite project debt for the doubling of capacity through the development of the second and final Phase of the plant. This follows the successful commissioning of Phase 1 of the Company's Korean Recycling Plant ("KRP") which is ramping up to full production. This mandate represents an important step in the Company's progress towards the full financing and implementation of Phase 2.
ZincOx holds binding 10 year exclusive contracts with Korean steel mills for the supply of Electric Arc Furnace Dust ("EAFD") amounting to approximately 400,000 tonnes per annum. The steel mills agreed to the development in two phases and EAFD is now being collected and treated in the Phase 1 plant thus saving the steel mills considerable landfill fees.
The engineering for Phase 2, which largely replicates Phase 1, has already commenced and construction is planned to commence later this year, in order for the two phases to be in a position to process all EAFD produced in Korea in the last quarter of 2013.
Standard Chartered Bank is a major global bank with significant experience in the arrangement and provision of development loans with strong connections in Korea. Standard Chartered Bank has already retained its Technical Advisers for the independent review of the operation. Both the Bank and its Technical Advisers recently visited Phase 1 of KRP. In addition, the lawyers for the various parties have been instructed in order to ensure a timely provision of finance in line with the rapid development of Phase 2.
Depending on the zinc price at the time of drawdown, the mandate envisages a total debt facility of up to US$120m, which remain subject to final credit approval and documentation.
Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Woollett, the Chairman of ZincOx, said: "We have been working with Standard Chartered Bank for several months and having demonstrated the process, I am delighted to have a bank of their calibre behind the project. Furthermore, we expect the relationship established for KRP may lead to Standard Chartered Bank's involvement in other similar projects elsewhere in the world. Standard Chartered Bank's willingness to study the project and retain its Technical Advisers even before the binding mandate was completed, demonstrates to me its commitment to support our fast track development plans."
For further information please visit http://www.zincox.com/ or contact:
ZincOx Resources plc | Tel: +44 (0)1276 450 100 |
Andrew Woollett, Executive Chairman | |
Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7418 8900 |
Richard Kauffer Daniel Harris
| |
finnCap Limited (Joint Broker) Matthew Robinson Joanna Weaving
| Tel: +44 (0)20 7220 0500 |
Tavistock Communications | Tel: +44 (0)20 7920 3150 |
Lydia Eades Simon Hudson
|
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