This announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of Regulation 11 of the Market Abuse
(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310. With the publication of
this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside
information is now considered to be in the public
domain.
13 December 2024
Kazera
Global plc
("Kazera" or "the Company")
Heavy Minerals Sands Offtake
Agreement
Kazera Global plc (AIM: KZG), the
AIM-quoted investment company, is delighted to announce that its
subsidiary, Whale Head Minerals (Pty) Ltd ("WHM"), has signed a
sales and offtake agreement (the "Agreement") for its heavy mineral
sands ("HMS") production with Fujax South Africa (Pty) Ltd
("Fujax"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujax Group
Limited.
HIGHLIGHTS
·
Agreement for WHM to sell an initial 100,000 dry
tonnes of HMS in monthly lots of circa 6,000 tonnes, with first
sales expected to commence by March 2025.
·
WHM will be paid 80% of the anticipated final
sales price (less costs) within 5 days of the HMS being delivered
to the mine gate.
·
The balance of the sales price, less costs
(including a marketing fee payable to Fujax) shall be paid to WHM
within 5 days of the final sale of the product.
·
Fujax will be responsible for, and shall carry all
the costs of, transporting, processing assaying and selling the
HMS, together with paying all taxes, levies, duties, custom
clearance, loading and other charges.
·
Fujax will prepay WHM US$600,000 in two equal
tranches in December 2024 and January 2025.
Dennis Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer of Kazera Global plc
commented: "This is a very pleasing
announcement to make. I am delighted that we have managed to secure
this offtake which validates the progress we have made at WHM.
Fujax is a well-established global commodities company and its
willingness to provide Kazera with a significant prepayment and
fair pricing structure speaks volumes about its quality as an
offtake partner. Fujax's contacts and financial backing makes them
perfect partners both in the short term and for the planned
expansion of our operations into the Perdevlei HMS project, which
has a land area approximately 34 times larger than WHM's current
Walviskop project. Our focus is now on fine tuning the WHM plant to
meet Fujax's requirements with a view to ramping up production
early in the new year.
"While this 100,000 tonne offtake is substantial, it
represents just the beginning. Walviskop boasts a JORC-indicated
resource of approximately 1.5 million tonnes of heavy mineral sands
which is continually being replenished by natural wave action. Add
to that the resource which is represented by Perdevlei, and the
Company becomes a serious player in the market. This agreement
therefore represents a springboard for further growth and future
opportunities for the Company.
"As 2024 draws to a close, I would like to thank our
shareholders for their trust and support this year. I would also
like to express my appreciation for all the work done by Johan
Truter and our team in South Africa. They have done a great job in,
often, extremely trying circumstances. I wish everyone the very
best for the festive season and for 2025, a year which I am
confident will be transformational for the
Company."
Chris Dyason of Fujax commented: "We are delighted to secure
this partnership and offtake agreement with WHM. The quality of the
HMS at Walviskop is excellent and, with Kazera planning to
significantly expand the project, we feel it is an hugely opportune
time to be partnering with the Group."
DETAILS
Kazera remains committed to
advancing its high-grade HMS project in South Africa. Production
has recently commenced at a pilot plant for the WHM project, which
the Company intends to scale up as it pursues mining rights for the
nearby Perdevlei HMS concession. This concession, which has a land
area circa 34 times larger than WHM's current Walviskop project,
has similar project dynamics and significant potential.
Following the commencement of
production at WHM, the Company is pleased to announce the signing
of a sales and offtake agreement with Fujax for its HMS output. The
agreement covers an initial 100,000 dry tonnes of HMS, delivered in
monthly batches of approximately 6,000 tonnes, with first sales
expected by March 2025.
Under the terms of the Agreement,
WHM will sell its HMS to Fujax at a "factory gate" price, at 80% of
the anticipated price achieved by Fujax after deduction of costs.
Fujax will be responsible for transportation and the separation of
the HMS into its component minerals, will carry all costs
after the mine gate and will negotiate the final sale of the
products. WHM will receive the balance of the sales price less
costs (including a marketing fee) within 5 days of Fujax finalising
the sale of the products.
As part of the agreement, Fujax will
prepay US$600,000 to the Company in two equal instalments,
scheduled for December 2024 and January 2025. This prepayment bears
an interest cost of 5.5% plus three month CME Term SOFR. The
prepayments will be repaid in monthly instalments from March 2025
or set-off against future monthly sales. The prepayment amounts
shall rank ahead of any existing shareholder loans.
The prepayment amounts will be
applied to advancing the WHM project in readiness for production
and supply to Fujax and is a strong indication of Fujax's
support for the project and desire to purchase the Group's
HMS product.
Fujax South Africa (Pty) Ltd, is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Fujax Group Limited, a well-established
global mineral and energy trading company specialising in sourcing,
mining, financing, trading, marketing, managing, and transporting
metals and minerals across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Headquartered
in the United Kingdom, Fujax UK Ltd also operates offices in South
Africa, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Zambia, serving a
diverse global customer base with responsibly sourced commodities
throughout the supply chain.
**ENDS**
For
further information, please visit the Company's website
at www.kazeraglobal.com
or
contact:
Kazera Global
plc
Dennis Edmonds, CEO
|
kazera@stbridespartners.co.uk
|
Strand Hanson
Limited (Nominated & Financial Adviser and
Broker)
Christopher Raggett / Ritchie Balmer
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 409 3494
|
St Brides
Partners (Financial PR)
Paul Dulieu / Isabel de
Salis
|
kazera@stbridespartners.co.uk
|
About Kazera Global plc
Kazera is a global investment
company focused on leveraging the skills and expertise of its Board
of Directors to develop early-stage mineral exploration and
development assets towards meaningful cashflow and production. Its
three principal investments are as follows:
Alluvial diamond mining through Deep
Blue Minerals (Pty) Ltd, Alexander Bay, South Africa
Kazera currently has a 100% direct
interest in Deep Blue Minerals, of which 74% is held beneficially
by Kazera and 26% is held on behalf of Black Economic Empowerment
partners.
Heavy Mineral Sands mining
(including ilmenite, monazite, rutile, and zircon) through
Whale Head Minerals (Pty) Ltd, Alexander Bay, South
Africa.
Kazera currently has a 70% direct
beneficial interest in Whale Head Minerals together with the
benefit of a loan facility entitling it to receive approximately
£38m out of dividends from the other shareholders.
Tantalite mining in South-East
Namibia (divestment in progress)
As announced on 20 December 2022,
Kazera has agreed to dispose of African Tantalum (Pty) Ltd
("Aftan") for a cash
consideration of US$13 million plus a debenture payment of 2.5% of
the gross sales of produced lithium and tantalum for life-of-mine.
Completion of the sale is subject to receipt of full consideration
proceeds. Aftan has been deconsolidated from the Company's
financial statements with effect from 4 January 2023 because in
accordance with the terms of the sale agreement, it has
relinquished control of the Aftan in favour of the purchaser, Hebei
Xinjian Construction Close Corp ("Hebei Xinjian") with effect from that
date. Kazera retains the right to cancel the transaction and retain
all amounts paid to date in the event of default by Hebei Xinjian.
The Company is now instituting legal proceedings against Hebei for
payment of the balance due to it.
The Company will consider additional
investment opportunities as appropriate, having regard to the
Group's future cash flow requirements.