2010-09-30 08:01:00 CEST
2010-09-30 08:01:01 CEST
Ruukki Group Oyj - Tender offer
RUUKKI GROUP ANNOUNCES A RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER FOR UK BASED CHROMEX MINING PLC
07:01 London, 09:01 Helsinki, 30 September 2010 - Ruukki Group Plc, Stock Exchange Release RUUKKI GROUP ANNOUNCES A RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER FOR UK BASED CHROMEX MINING PLC Ruukki Group Plc has made today an announcement in accordance with the Rule 2.5 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers in the United Kingdom (“Takeover Code”) that it has reached an agreement on the terms of a recommended offer by joint venture company Synergy Africa Limited (“Synergy Africa”) to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Chromex Mining Plc (“Chromex”) at approximately GBP 37.0 million (EUR 42.9 million)(exchange rate on 29 September 2010). Ruukki and Kermas Limited (“Kermas”) have entered into a joint venture through the establishment and financing of Synergy Africa in order to facilitate the acquisition of Chromex pursuant to the offer. Ruukki's ownership in Synergy Africa is 51 per cent. and Kermas' is 49 per cent. Kermas is the largest shareholder of Ruukki with a 28.51 per cent. holding. This announcement is given in addition to the official Rule 2.5 announcement to present the information in a form that is familiar to NASDAQ OMX Helsinki based investors. Investors should not rely wholly on this announcement and should read the Rule 2.5 announcement, which has been published as Ruukki's stock exchange release earlier today on 30 September at 07:00 London time (09:00 Helsinki time). Chromex is a public company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange operating in chrome production by acquiring, controlling and developing chromite mining and processing facilities. It currently has two key mining assets located on the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, which between them have a gross total chromite resource of approximately 41 million tonnes as well as exploration claims in Zimbabwe. The offer is for GBP 0.365 (EUR 0.424) per Chromex share in cash. It represents a premium of 82.5 per cent. to the closing price of GBP 0.20 (EUR 0.232) per Chromex share on 14 July (being the last business day prior to the commencement of the offer period) and a premium of 83.4 per cent. to the average 90 day period up to and including the 14 July 2010 (being the last business day prior to the commencement of the offer period). The Chromex Directors, who have been so advised by Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited, consider the terms of the Offer and the Warrant Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing advice to the Chromex Directors, Panmure Gordon has taken into account the Chromex Directors' commercial assessments. The Chromex Directors intend to recommend unanimously that Chromex shareholders accept the Offer and that holders of Chromex Warrants accept the Warrant Offer, as the Chromex Directors and their connected parties have irrevocably undertaken to do so in respect of their own beneficial holdings in Chromex comprising, in aggregate, 10,050,000 Chromex shares, representing in aggregate approximately 11.3 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Chromex. Synergy Africa has also received irrevocable undertakings from certain other holders of Chromex shares to accept the offer in respect of 35,975,000 Chromex shares representing approximately 40.4 per cent. of the entire existing issued share capital of Chromex. Accordingly, Synergy Africa has received irrevocable undertakings to accept, or procure the acceptance of, the offer in respect of, in aggregate, 46,025,000 Chromex shares, representing approximately 51.7 per cent. of Chromex's entire existing issued share capital. Background to and reasons for the offer: Ruukki's current operation in South Africa, Mogale, consists of processing facilities only. Mogale does not have any security of chrome ore supply as ore is procured from various sources on short term contracts. Chromex's Stellite mine, located in one of the world's premier chromite mining districts, is in operation with all the necessary infrastructure in place. In addition, Chromex has a total of 41 million tonnes of chrome resources, with new order mining rights making it an attractive and logical acquisition target. Stellite is located approximately 80 kilometres from Mogale. Ruukki expects that the offer will enable Ruukki to achieve its stated strategy of increasing production capacity, expanding market share and vertically integrating its whole business through: a) vertical integration of the South African operations as Mogale will secure its own, long term ore supply, thereby completing the business model of mining, processing, sales and marketing; b) expansion of Ruukki's production volumes as Chromex's Stellite mine is currently in operation. In addition to the expected increase from 20,000 ROM tonnes per month to 40,000 ROM tonnes per month when the DMS circuit is installed, Ruukki believes there is an opportunity to further increase Chromex's forecast monthly production rate over the short to medium term if the underground development plans for Stellite and Mecklenburg are successfully implemented; c) supporting the planned increase in the production capacity of Ruukki's South African operations through the additional, potential increase in the production volume from Chromex's Stellite mine; d) potential to increase Ruukki's processing capacity as there is the opportunity for two DC furnaces to be built at the Stellite mine. Ruukki has entered into a framework agreement with MCC of China for the construction of two such DC furnaces. Ruukki has significant technological skill and experience in successfully operating DC furnaces. Until such time as these furnaces are built, any excess ore supply from Stellite will be exported to customers in China or India; e) consolidating Ruukki's presence in one of the world's premier chromite mining regions and geographically diversifying into Zimbabwe with the greenfields project, Waylox; f) enabling synergies in the areas of operational expertise, human resources, cost savings and efficiencies. Ruukki anticipates retaining most of all of Chromex's operational team. It is expected that following completion, Ruukki will bring in-house the sales and marketing operations which Chromex currently outsources; and g) diversifying Ruukki's product range with the production of chemical, metallurgical, refractory and foundry grade concentrates and PGE by-products, as well as excess ore supply available for export in the short to medium term. Chromex's operations will benefit from Ruukki's management expertise and knowledge in mining, minerals processing and sales and marketing expertise. During the year ended 30 September 2009, Chromex's Group Income Statement shows a loss before tax of GBP 151,000 (EUR 175,214) (2008: loss GBP 1,406,000 (EUR 1,631,469)). After adjusting for future tax there was a profit after tax of GBP 195,000 (EUR 226,270) (2008: loss GBP 1,406,000 (EUR 1,631,469)). These results reflect the fact that much of the year was taken up with the construction of the Stellite processing plant, while producing sufficient chrome to provide positive cash flow, and retaining valuable chrome resources in the ground pending an upturn in prices. The loss before and after tax for the period 1 October 2009 - 31 March 2010 was GBP 399,000 (EUR 462,984) (2009 - profits GBP 81,000 (EUR 93,989); after tax GBP 47,000 (EUR 54,537)). This was a period of reduced volumes and lower than expected recoveries as well as low Rand based chrome prices. Unaudited consolidated income statement for the six months ended 31 March 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 6 Months | 6 Months | Year ended | | | ended 31 | ended 31 | 30 September | | | March 2010 | March 2009 | 2009 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Revenue | 964 | 1,613 | 2,016 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Cost of sales | (683) | (1,068) | (1,204) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Gross (loss)/profit | 281 | 545 | 812 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Administrative expenses | (668) | (500) | (993) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Cost of bankable | - | (27) | (8) | | feasibility study | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Operating (loss)/profit | (387) | 18 | (189) | | before finance costs | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Finance income | 7 | 63 | 38 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Finance expense | (19) | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | (Loss)/profit before tax | (399) | 81 | (151) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Taxation | - | (34) | 346 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | (Loss)/profit for the | (399) | 47 | 195 | | period | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | (Loss)/profit per share | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Basic | (0.47)p | 0.06p | 0.23p | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Diluted | (0.47)p | 0.05p | 0.23p | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unaudited consolidated balance sheet as at 31 March 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 6 Months | 6 Months | Year ended | | | ended 31 | ended 31 | 30 September | | | March 2010 | March 2009 | 2009 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Assets | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Non-current assets | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Property, plant and equipment | 10,438 | 6,824 | 9,699 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deferred tax | 569 | 79 | 525 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Intangible assets | - | 886 | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 11,007 | 7,789 | 10,224 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Current assets | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Inventories | 1,111 | 134 | 766 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Trade and other receivables | 76 | 407 | 611 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Cash and cash equivalents | 1,406 | 2,270 | 1,182 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Other debtors | 163 | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2,756 | 2,811 | 2,559 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Total assets | 13,763 | 10,600 | 12,783 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Equity and liabilities | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Equity attributable to equity | | | | | holders of the Company | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Share capital | 850 | 850 | 850 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Share premium | 9,120 | 9,120 | 9,120 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Accumulated losses | (1,369) | (1,118) | (970) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Exchange reserves | 1,747 | 423 | 1,180 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Total equity | 10,348 | 9,275 | 10,180 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Non-current liabilities | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Provisions | 383 | 399 | 353 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Loans and borrowings | 2,320 | 734 | 1,724 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2,703 | 1,133 | 2,077 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Current liabilities | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Trade and other payables | 712 | 192 | 526 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 712 | 192 | 526 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Total equity and liabilities | 13,763 | 10,600 | 12,783 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Chromex Mining plc | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Group income statement | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | for the year ended 30 September 2009 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2009 | 2008 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | £'000 | £'000 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Revenue | 2,016 | 440 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Cost of sales | (1,204) | (204) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Gross Profit | 812 | 236 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Administrative expenses | (993) | (956) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Cost of bankable feasibility study | (8) | (46) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Share Based Payments | - | (790) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Operating loss before finance costs | (189) | (1,556) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Finance income | 38 | 151 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Finance expense | - | (1) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Loss before tax | (151) | (1,406) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Taxation | 346 | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Profit/(loss) for the year | 195 | (1,406) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Profit/ (loss) per share | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Basic and diluted | 0.23p | (1.94)p | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Chromex Mining plc | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Group and Company balance sheet | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | as at 30 September 2009 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Group | Company | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Assets | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Non-current assets | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Property, plant and | 9,699 | 5,480 | 540 | 23 | | equipment | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deferred tax | 525 | 106 | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Intangible assets | - | 886 | - | 519 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Investments | - | - | 1,872 | 1,872 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 10,224 | 6,472 | 2,412 | 2,414 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Current assets | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Inventories | 766 | 123 | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Loans to subsidiary | - | - | 6,113 | 4,845 | | companies | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Trade and other | 611 | 590 | 101 | 88 | | receivables | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Cash and cash | 1,182 | 2,566 | 898 | 2,271 | | equivalents | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2,559 | 3,279 | 7,112 | 7,204 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Total assets | 12,783 | 9,751 | 9,524 | 9,618 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Equity and liabilities | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Equity attributable to | | | | | | equity holders of the | | | | | | Company | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Share capital | 850 | 847 | 850 | 847 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Share premium | 9,120 | 9,071 | 9,120 | 9,071 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Accumulated losses | (970) | (1,165) | (493) | (361) | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Exchange reserves | 1,180 | 29 | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Total equity | 10,180 | 8,782 | 9,477 | 9,557 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Non-current liabilities | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Provisions | 353 | 286 | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Loans | 1,724 | 1 | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2,077 | 287 | - | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Current liabilities | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Trade and other | 526 | 682 | 47 | 61 | | payables | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 526 | 682 | 47 | 61 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Total equity and | 12,783 | 9,751 | 9,524 | 9,618 | | liabilities | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commenting on the offer, Alwyn Smit, Chief Executive Officer of Ruukki, said: “The acquisition of Chromex is a logical transaction as it achieves all three of our strategic objectives; it completes the vertical integration of our South Africa business, it increases our production capacity and it expands our market share. By acquiring an accessible and sizeable resource base, we are consolidating our presence in one of the world's premier chrome mining regions, adding immediate value to our existing operations and optimizing the value in exploring our own alternative power generation sources. Looking ahead to the medium term, Chromex provides a critical building block for our processing growth plans, particularly the construction of two 70MW DC furnaces, which will have a planned combined annual capacity of up to 280,000 tonnes, and we will be examining the opportunity for building these DC furnaces at Stellite.” The arrangements between Ruukki and Kermas relating to the establishment and financing of Synergy Africa and the acquisition and holding of Chromex shares require the approval of Ruukki shareholders (other than Kermas) at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Ruukki. This is a requirement of the United Kingdom Listing Rules due to Ruukki's premium listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. A notice to the extraordinary general meeting will be published separately. The offer will be subject to certain conditions, principally the receipt of acceptances in respect of not less than 90 per cent. of the issued Chromex shares, the approval of Ruukki shareholders as outcome above and South African competition clearance and written confirmation from the South African Department of Mineral Resources that the acquisition resulting from the implementation of the offer will not require the approval of the Minister of Mineral Resources under section 11 of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources development Act, No.28 of 2002 (the “MPRD Act”). Synergy Africa will be able to proceed with the offer in the event that acceptances do not reach 90 per cent, providing they reach more than 50 per cent. More complete information on the offer may be found from the attached Rule 2.5 announcement. RUUKKI GROUP PLC Alwyn Smit CEO Ruukki Group is an industrial group focusing on minerals and wood processing businesses. Ruukki Group Plc's shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki and the London Stock Exchange. For additional information, please contact: Ruukki Group Plc / Synergy Africa Limited Alwyn Smit, CEO: +44 (0)20 7368 6763 Alex Buck, IR: +44 (0) 7932 740 452 www.ruukkigroup.fi Investec Bank Plc David Currie: +44(0)20 7597 5970 Patrick Robb Daniel Adams Stephen Cooper Pelham Bell Pottinger Charles Vivian: +44 (0)20 7861 3126 James MacFarlane: +44 (0)20 7861 3864 Chromex Mining Plc Russell Lamming: +44 (0) 7810 870587 Brian Moritz: +44 (0) 7976 994300 Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited Dominic Morley: +44 (0) 20 7459 3600 Callum Stewart Grishma Patel St Brides Media & Finance Hugo de Salis: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 Felicity Edwards A conference call for investors, analysts and media will be held at 10:00 a.m. London time (12:00 Helsinki time) today, 30 September 2010 and presentation is available on the Ruukki website at www.ruukkigroup.fi. To access the call, please dial-in at least 10 minutes beforehand and quote the reference: 720046# UK Toll-Free: 0800 376 4751 Finland Toll-Free: 0800 115 351 South Africa Toll-Free: 0800 983 092 International Toll: +44 (0)20 7075 6551 A replay facility will be available for one week after the call, using the reference: 275785#, please dial: UK Toll-Free: 0808 238 9699 International Toll: +44 (0)20 3364 5943
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