News
Lundin Mining Makes a Public Offer for North Atlantic Natural Resources
January 21, 2005
|
NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthews
FOR: LUNDIN MINING CORPORATION
TSX SYMBOL: LUN
JANUARY 21, 2005 - 09:00 ET
Lundin Mining Makes a Public Offer for North Atlantic
Natural Resources
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 21, 2005) - Lundin
Mining Corporation (TSX:LUN) (Stockholmsborsen:LUMI)
Not for release, publication or distribution in or into Australia, Japan
or the United States. The Offer is not aimed at persons whose
participation requires further prospectuses, registration measures or
similar measures other than those that follow Swedish law and therefore
is not being made to persons in any such jurisdictions including
Australia, Canada, Japan or the United States.
Lundin Mining Corporation ("Lundin Mining" or the "Company") is pleased
to announce a public offer for all outstanding shares in North Atlantic
Natural Resources AB (publ) ("NAN").
- On December 30, 2004, Lundin Mining acquired 11,537,000 shares in NAN
from Boliden Mineral AB ("Boliden"), corresponding to 36.9 percent of
the shares and votes. The consideration amounted to 2,176,800 newly
issued shares in Lundin Mining.
- Following the acquisition of Boliden's shares, Lundin Mining holds a
total of 23,117,000 shares in NAN, corresponding to 74.0 percent of
shares and votes.
- To acquire all outstanding shares in NAN, one newly issued Lundin
Mining share is offered for each 5,3 shares of NAN (the "Share
alternative"), on similar terms as for the acquisition of NAN shares
from Boliden.
- In accordance with the Swedish Industry and Commerce Stock Exchange
Committee's (Naringslivets Borskommitte (NBK)) rules on mandatory
offers, a cash compensation alternative of SEK 10.75 per share of NAN is
also offered (the "Cash alternative").
A brief description of NAN's key assets
The main asset of NAN is the Storliden copper/zinc mine in the Skellefte
mining district in Vasterbotten. The Storliden mine was discovered in
1998 and put in production in 2002. During 2003, more than 333,000
tonnes of ore from Storliden was treated at the mill in the town of
Boliden some 90 kilometres from the mine. On average, the ore from
Storliden is grading 9.8 percent zinc and 3.5 percent copper as well as
0.3 grams per tonne gold and 25.4 grams per tonne silver. As of January
1, 2004, the Proved and Probable Ore Reserves at the Storliden mine were
1,108,000 tonnes.
The Storliden deposit has been developed pursuant to a joint venture
agreement between NAN and Boliden whereby Boliden, among other things,
is acting as main contractor and operator. Pursuant to the acquisition
agreement, under which Lundin Mining acquired Boliden's shares in NAN,
Boliden has guaranteed the availability of the Boliden
mill/concentrator, throughout the life of the Storliden mine. In
addition, Boliden's right of first refusal to acquire any base metal
deposit found by NAN was terminated.
In addition to Storliden, NAN holds exploration permits covering several
areas in and around the Skellefte mining district. During the fall of
2004, NAN initiated an exploration programme focusing on several
prospective targets. Drilling in the immediate area surrounding the
Storliden mine is aimed at extending the life of the mine. Immediately
south of the Skellefte mining district is the Lappvattnet copper-nickel
prospect within a prolific mineralized area known as the "Nickel Belt".
A further area being explored during the coming months is Copperstone, a
copper project in the northern part of the Skellefte district.
Background and reasons
On December 30, 2004, Lundin Mining acquired 11,537,000 shares in NAN
from Boliden, bringing Lundin Mining's total holding of NAN shares to
23,117,000, corresponding to 74.0 percent of shares and votes. The
acquisition resulted in Lundin Mining becoming subject to the rules for
mandatory offers.
The acquisition of Boliden's shares, in combination with this public
offer for all outstanding shares of NAN (the Share alternative and the
Cash alternative together referred to as the "Offer") reflect the view
of the board of directors of Lundin Mining that the two companies joined
together would form a leading mid-tier base metals producer in Europe,
with a strong and well balanced portfolio of high-quality, low cost
mining operations and exploration assets in highly prospective areas.
The incorporation of NAN into Lundin Mining, will result in a company
with strong cash flow from operations (the Zinkgruvan mine and the
Storliden mine) facilitating continued aggressive exploration in and
around the Skellefte district, the Bergslagen district and the
Norrbotten mining district of northern Sweden, as well as in other
potential areas of interest.
Lundin Mining has a very strong cash position, partly as a result of the
agreement with Silver Wheaton which closed on December 8, 2004. The
agreement calls for Silver Wheaton to buy 40 million ounces of silver
from Zinkgruvan over a period of 25 years for a total consideration of
USD 80 million + USD 3.90/oz silver.
Through the Offer the present shareholders of NAN will be given the
opportunity for continued exposure to NAN's exploration assets, while
benefiting from Lundin Mining's world class mining asset (the Zinkgruvan
mine), several additional exploration assets and strong cash flow from
operations. With a strong cash position and having no long term debt,
Lundin Mining is in the process of evaluating further major acquisitions.
The acquisition of NAN will bring a proven exploration team and a team
of experienced mining employees together in Lundin Mining. The combined
team will be able to continue the previously successful exploration and
development efforts of both NAN and Lundin Mining in the financially
strong and growth-oriented Lundin Mining.
It is the opinion of the Board of Directors of Lundin Mining that the
combination of the two companies will further strengthen the shareholder
base of Lundin Mining, thus offering the shareholders of NAN to become
shareholders in a larger entity with better stock market liquidity.
The Offer
The Board of Directors of Lundin Mining decided to make a public offer
today to the shareholders of NAN to acquire all outstanding shares in
NAN. Lundin Mining currently holds 23,117,000 shares, corresponding to
74.0 percent of the shares and votes.
For all outstanding shares in NAN, Lundin Mining offers either one (1)
newly issued share in Lundin Mining for every 5.3 shares in NAN, or SEK
10.75 per NAN share. The Cash alternative is based on the last price
paid for Lundin Mining's Swedish Depository Receipts ("SDR") of SEK
57.00 prior to the trading halt on December 30, 2004.
Consideration in shares will be delivered in the form of SDRs, listed on
the O-list at Stockholmsborsen. Each SDR represents one share in Lundin
Mining.
Fractions of shares in Lundin Mining will not be issued. To the extent
shareholders in NAN are entitled to fractions of shares, these fractions
will be combined and in the form of SDRs in Lundin Mining sold on a best
effort basis on Stockholmsborsen on behalf of NAN shareholders and the
proceeds will be distributed to the NAN shareholders so entitled.
Further information will be included in the forthcoming prospectus.
Commission will not be charged for NAN shares submitted in response to
the Offer.
The Swedish Industry and Commerce Stock Exchange Committee's
(Naringslivets Borskommitte (NBK)) rules governing public offers
regarding share acquisitions and the Securities Council's
(Aktiemarknadsnamnden) information regarding interpretation and
application of the rules apply to the Offer.
Conditions to the Offer
The Offer is subject to requisite regulatory approvals in Canada and
Sweden.
Offer premium
Based on the last price paid on the O-list at Stockholmsborsen for
Lundin Mining's SDRs and NAN's shares prior to the trading halt on
December 30, 2004, of SEK 57.00 and SEK 12.30, respectively, the Offer
corresponds to a negative premium of 12.6 percent.
Based on the average price paid on the O-list at Stockholmsborsen for
Lundin Mining's SDRs and NAN's shares during the most recent 30 trading
days up to the day prior to the acquisition from Boliden, December 29,
2004, of SEK 57.07 and SEK 12.03, respectively, the Share alternative
corresponds to a negative premium of 10.5 percent and the Cash
alternative to a negative premium of 10.6 percent.
Offer value
At full acceptance of the Offer through the Share alternative,
approximately 1,532,775 new shares, in the form of SDRs, in Lundin
Mining will be issued, which means that shareholders in NAN in total
receive 4.4 percent of shares and votes in Lundin Mining and at full
acceptance through the Cash alternative a total cash compensation of SEK
87.3 million will be paid to NAN's shareholders.
Financing
Financing of the Offer will be made through the issuance of Lundin
Mining shares in exchange for NAN shares and through the Company's cash
holdings. The issuance of shares is authorised by the Board of Directors
of Lundin Mining.
Identity of and other information
The Offer is made through Lundin Mining Corporation, a Canadian company
with corporate registration number 306723-8. The Company's registered
office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Lundin
Mining shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol:
"LUN") and in the form of SDRs on the O-list at Stockholmsborsen
(trading symbol: "LUMI).
Lundin Mining's President, Edward F. Posey, serves as President of NAN
and the Company's Executive VP Operations, Karl-Axel Waplan, serves as
deputy board member of NAN. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Lundin Mining, Lukas H. Lundin, serves as a board member of NAN.
Time schedule
It is estimated that an offer prospectus will be distributed to the
shareholders of NAN on or about February 11, 2005. The acceptance period
for the Offer is expected to extend from February 14 through March 4,
2005. It is estimated that the accounting for payment to those
shareholders that have accepted the Offer will commence on or about
March 14, 2005. Lundin Mining reserves the right to extend the
acceptance period.
Advisor
E. Ohman J:or Fondkommission AB is Lundin Mining's financial advisor in
connection with the Offer.
Financial information
The pro forma financial information presented below is indicative and
may be subject to changes. The pro forma financial information does not
take into account, among other things, potential synergies,
restructuring costs or transaction costs.
Comments to the pro forma financial information for the twelve months
ended December 31, 2003
a) Pro forma financial statements as at December 31, 2003, are prepared
in respect of a holding of 74 percent of the shares in NAN as at January
1, 2003 in the income statement and as at December 31, 2003 in the
balance sheet, and are recalculated from SEK to CAD using a conversion
rate of 0.1734 in the income statement and 0.1796 in the balance sheet..
b) The financials for Lundin Mining are based on pro forma as if the
acquisition of North Mining Svenska AB ("NMS") was made as at January 1,
2003 in the income statement and as at December 31, 2003 in the balance
sheet,
c) The financials for NAN are actual.
/T/
Lundin Mining Pro forma
Pro forma NAN NAN consolidated
Twelve Twelve Twelve Twelve
months months months months
ended ended ended ended
Dec 31, Dec 31, Dec 31, Dec 31,
2003 2003 2003 2003
CAD SEK CAD Adjustment CAD
Million(b) Million(c) Million Pro forma Million(a)
-----------------------------------------------------
Sales 63.4 276.8 48.0 111.4
Cost of sales -60.4 -198.2 -34.4 -5.6 -100.4
-----------------------------------------------------
Gross margin 3.0 78.6 13.6 -5.6 11.0
-----------------------------------------------------
Expenses
Administrative
expenses -6.3 -8.5 -1.5 -7.8
General
exploration
and project
investigation -1.4 -11.0 -1.9 -3.3
Other income
(expenses) -0.2 1.6 0.3 0.1
-----------------------------------------------------
-7.9 -17.9 -3.1 -11.0
-----------------------------------------------------
Income before
undernoted -4.9 60.7 10.5 -5.6 0.0
Equity in income
of significantly
influenced
investee 2.9 - - -2.9 0.0
-----------------------------------------------------
Income before
income taxes -2.0 60.7 10.5 -8.5 0.0
Future income
tax expense -0.1 -17.0 -2.9 1.6 -1.5
Minority interest - - - -2.0 -2.0
-----------------------------------------------------
Net income for
the period -2.1 43.7 7.6 -8.9 -3.4
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Balance sheet
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash 13.1 1.0 0.2 13.3
Accounts
receivable 7.7 1.0 0.2 7.9
Inventories 6.9 5.2 0.9 7.8
Loan receivable
from NAN 0.9 - - 0.9 -
Prepaid expenses 0.2 23.6 4.2 4.4
Other short term
receivables 1.3 0.3 0.1 - 1.4
-----------------------------------------------------
30.1 31.1 5.6 -0.9 34.8
Long-term
receivables 0.7 - - 0.7
Shares in NAN 22.0 - - -22.0 -
Investment in NAN 8.5 - - -8.5 -
Properties, plant
and equipment
Mining properties 177.5 110.5 19.8 17.4 214.7
Machinery and
other technical
equipment 21.9 0.3 0.1 22.0
Future income
tax assets 3.9 22.1 4.0 7.9
-----------------------------------------------------
234.5 132.9 23.9 -13.2 245.2
-----------------------------------------------------
264.6 164.0 29.5 -14.1 280.0
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
and other accrued
liabilities 3.5 2.0 0.4 3.9
Accrued expenses 4.4 8.9 1.6 6.0
Due to related
parties 1.0 26.7 4.8 -2.6 3.2
Other current
liabilities 1.3 2.1 0.4 1.7
-----------------------------------------------------
10.2 39.7 7.1 14.7
Long term
liabilities
Provisions
for pensions 16.3 - - 16.3
Other provisions 13.1 1.0 0.2 13.3
Future income tax
liabilities 41.9 - - 4.9 46.8
-----------------------------------------------------
71.3 1.0 0.2 4.9 76.3
-----------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY 183.1 123.3 22.1 -22.1 183.1
Minority interest - - - 5.8 5.8
-----------------------------------------------------
183.1 123.3 22.1 -16.3 188.9
-----------------------------------------------------
264.6 164.0 29.5 -11.5 280.0
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Lundin
Mining
Twelve
months
ended Pro forma
Key financial Dec 31, consolidated
data 2003 Dec 31, 2003
-----------------------------------------------------
Number of shares
at end of
period fully
diluted 31,260,257 33,437,057
Weighted average
number of
shares at end
of period fully
diluted 28,204,807 30,381,607
Shareholders's
equity per share
fully diluted,
CAD 5.86 5.48
Income per share
fully diluted,
CAD -0.07 -0.11
Equity ratio 69% 65%
/T/
Comments to the pro forma financial information for the nine months
ended September 30, 2004
a) Interim pro forma financial statements as per September 30, 2004 are
prepared in respect of a holding of 74 percent of the shares in NAN as
of January 1, 2004 in the income statement and as at September 30, 2004
in the balance sheet, and are recalculated from SEK to CAD using an
average conversion rate of 0.1777 in the income statement and 0.1727 in
the balance sheet.
b) The financials for Lundin Mining are based on pro forma as the
acquisition of NMS was made as per January 1, 2004 in the income
statement and per September 30, 2004 in the balance sheet.
c) The financials for NAN are actual.
/T/
Lundin Mining Pro forma
Pro forma NAN NAN consolidated
Nine Nine Nine Nine
months months months months
ended ended ended ended
Sep 30, Sep 30, Sep 30, Sep 30,
2004 2004 2004 2004
CAD SEK CAD Adjustment CAD
Million(b) Million(c) Million Pro forma Million(a)
-----------------------------------------------------
Sales 62.8 183.8 32.7 95.5
Cost of sales -47.4 -130.0 -23.1 -4.3 -74.8
-----------------------------------------------------
Gross margin 15.4 53.8 9.6 -4.3 20.7
-----------------------------------------------------
Expenses
Administrative
expenses -5.6 -19.7 -3.5 -9.1
General
exploration
and project
investigation -3.8 -9.6 -1.7 -5.5
Other income
(expenses) 1.8 3.8 0.7 2.5
-----------------------------------------------------
-7.6 -25.5 -4.5 -12.1
-----------------------------------------------------
Income before
undernoted 7.8 28.3 5.0 -4.3 8.5
Gain on sale of
investment in NAN 0.9 - 0.9
Equity in income
of significantly
influenced
investee 1.4 - -1.4 -
-----------------------------------------------------
Income before
income taxes 10.1 28.3 5.0 -5.7 9.4
Future income
tax expense -3.0 -7.9 -1.4 1.2 -3.2
Minority interest -0.9 -0.9
-----------------------------------------------------
Net income for
the period 7.1 20.4 3.6 -5.4 5.3
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Balance sheet
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash 32.4 18.9 3.3 35.7
Accounts
receivable 7.8 1.3 0.2 8.0
Inventories 5.6 3.2 0.6 6.2
Prepaid expenses 0.3 25.7 4.4 4.7
Other short term
receivables - 3.2 0.6 0.6
-----------------------------------------------------
46.1 52.3 9.0 55.1
Long-term
receivables 0.7 - - 0.7
Shares in NAN 21.2 - - -21.2 -
Investment in NAN 9.3 - - -9.3 -
Properties, plant
and equipment
Mining properties 175.7 92.5 16.0 16.7 208.4
Machinery and
other technical
equipment 19.6 0.8 0.1 19.7
Future income
tax assets 3.7 14.1 2.4 6.1
-----------------------------------------------------
230.2 107.4 18.5 -13.8 235.0
-----------------------------------------------------
276.3 159.7 27.6 -13.8 290.1
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
and other accrued
liabilities 4.9 7.5 1.3 6.2
Accrued expenses 4.5 3.6 0.6 5.1
Due to related
parties 0.1 - - -0.1 0.0
Other current
liabilities 4.0 3.1 0.5 4.5
-----------------------------------------------------
13.5 14.2 2.5 -0.1 15.8
Long term
liabilities
Capital lease
obligations 0.7 - - 0.7
Provisions for
pensions 15.0 - - 15.0
Other provisions 12.9 1.8 0.3 13.2
Future income
tax liabilities 38.5 - - 4.7 43.2
-----------------------------------------------------
67.1 1.8 0.3 4.7 72.1
-----------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY 195.7 143.7 24.8 -24.8 195.7
Minority interest - - - 6.5 6.5
-----------------------------------------------------
195.7 143.7 24.8 -18.4 202.2
-----------------------------------------------------
276.3 159.7 27.6 -13.8 290.1
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Lundin
Mining
Nine months
ended Pro forma
Key financial Sep 30, consolidated
data 2004 Sep 30, 2004
-----------------------------------------------------
Number of shares
at end of
period fully
diluted 31,547,471 33,724,271
Weighted average
number of
shares at end
of period fully
diluted 31,478,714 33,655,514
Shareholders's
equity per share
fully diluted,
CAD 6.20 5.80
Income per share
fully diluted,
CAD 0.23 0.16
Equity ratio 71% 67%
/T/
Conference call
A conference call with respect to the Offer has been scheduled for
Monday, January 24, 2005 at 16:00 CET (10:00 a.m. Toronto time). Please
call in 5 minutes before the conference starts and stay on the line (an
operator will be available to assist you).
Call-in number for the conference call: +46 (0)8 505 201 14
A replay of the telephone conference will be available approximately one
hour after the completion of the conference and until January 31, 2005.
Replay number is: +46 (0)8 505 20 333. To access the recording, please
enter access code 642021.
A recording of the conference will also be available for download at
www.lundinmining.com approximately one hour after the conference has
ended.
Lundin Mining is a Canadian mining and exploration company with a
primary focus in Scandinavia. The main asset of the company is the
Zinkgruvan mine, located about 200 kilometers southwest of Stockholm,
Sweden. The mine has been producing zinc, lead and silver on a
continuous basis since 1857. Zinkgruvan has consistently ranked in the
lowest cost quartile among zinc mines in the world. Lundin Mining holds
74 percent of the shares of NAN, a mining and exploration company listed
on the Stockholm Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NAN. NAN's
primary asset is the Storliden copper and zinc mine in the Skellefte
District of northern Sweden, which has been in production since 2002.
Lundin Mining also holds a large copper/gold exploration project in the
prolific Norrbotten Mining District in northern Sweden.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
LUKAS H. LUNDIN, Chairman
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Lundin Mining Corporation Lukas H. Lundin Chairman (604) 689 7842 or Lundin Mining Corporation Karl-Axel Waplan Executive Vice President Operations +46 (0) 8 545 074 73 Website: www.lundinmining.com |
