ZCI Strategic Review-Replcmnt
Anglo American PLC
24 January 2002
News Release
24 January 2002
The issuer advises that this announcement 'Zambia Copper Investments Limited
('ZCI') concludes strategic review of its investment in the Konkola Copper Mine
('KCM') operations in Zambia' issued on the RNS system under the RNS number
4654Q on 24 January 2002 was released at 2.30pm UK time. The date at the
beginning of the announcement should have read 24 January 2002 instead of 24
January 2001. All other details remain unchanged and the full amended text
appears below.
Zambia Copper Investments Limited ('ZCI') concludes strategic review of its
investment in the Konkola Copper Mine ('KCM') operations in Zambia
In March 2000, ZCI announced that it had acquired an interest in KCM and that
KCM had executed a number of agreements with the Government of the Republic of
Zambia and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited ('ZCCM') which provided for
the investment in and development of the assets acquired by KCM.
KCM is owned 65% by ZCI (which is 50.9% owned by Anglo American); 7.5% by the
International Finance Corporation ('IFC'); 7.5% by the CDC Group plc ('CDC');
and 20% by ZCCM Investments Holdings ('ZCCMIH'), which is 87.6% owned by the
Zambian Government.
At the time of acquiring the interest in the KCM operations, ZCI stated that the
development of the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP) was the main rationale for
the acquisition.
ZCI announced the deferral of KDMP in October 2001, following the completion of
a feasibility study in mid 2001. The deferral decision was based on the
difficult market conditions for copper and cobalt and the non availability of
the required project financing.
Under the Development Agreement between KCM and the Zambian Government, there
were a number of conditions precedent to proceeding with KDMP including:
• that substantial third party limited recourse project finance had to be
available on reasonable commercial terms. (Cash flow from existing
operations was forecast by ZCI to contribute in excess of 50% of the peak
funding requirements of KCM during the construction period of KDMP); and
• that the price of copper had to have exceeded an average of US$1700/t in
real terms (77c/lb, equivalent to 79.8c/lb in 2001 money terms) over the 12
month period prior to any decision to proceed with KDMP.
Since late 2000, copper and cobalt prices have been significantly weaker than
had been originally forecast. As a result, and notwithstanding the significant
US$174 million refurbishment capital that has already been invested and the
commendable performance of KCM's employees in improving productivity, lowering
unit operating costs and improving safety health and environment performance,
KCM has continued to incur substantial losses. The accumulated losses since
March 2000, based on the current unaudited estimate of KCM's results for the
year to 31 December 2001, amount to US$108 million. In the last 12 months the
price of copper has averaged 71c/lb and in addition, current estimates of world
economic growth suggest that near term copper prices will continue to be
materially weaker than originally envisaged.
Primarily as a result of weaker actual and projected copper prices and
notwithstanding the fact that such prices are projected to recover from their
current cyclical lows, the external financing requirement for KCM (to fund
existing operations and construct KDMP) has increased materially from US$300
million to approximately US$1 billion.
KCM has been advised, and ZCI believes, that there is no reasonable prospect of
being able to raise the required project finance for KDMP on normal commercial
terms.
As a result of the level of ongoing losses and the fact that the aforementioned
conditions precedent to proceeding with KDMP had not been satisfied, KCM was
requested to produce a strategic review of the options open to the company. All
of the investment models run by the company indicated that, whether or not KDMP
went ahead, significant incremental shareholder funding would be required over
and above the US$370 million in commitments that have already been given by
shareholders. It is ZCI's assessment that none of the funding shareholders will
be prepared to carry on investing in KCM over and above the amounts committed at
the time of the initial acquisition of the KCM assets in March 2000.
Without the prospect of being able to develop KDMP, Anglo American and ZCI have
concluded that further investment in the existing KCM operations, which are high
cost and have a relatively short life, is not justified and would not be value
enhancing for their shareholders.
The shareholders of KCM are currently considering all available options,
including sale, transfer of the assets on a going concern basis, or closure in a
socially and environmentally responsible manner.
ZCI is committed to working with the other shareholders of KCM, the Government
of Zambia, the donor community, civil society and other private sector parties
to seek to minimise the impact of the decision not to invest further in KCM over
and above existing commitments. In the absence of substantial additional
financing becoming available to KCM or the sale or transfer of the assets on a
going concern basis, it is anticipated that operations will cease in
approximately 12 months.
Anglo American has informed ZCI that it will honour its existing funding
commitments to provide ZCI with up to US$310 million in funding for on-lending
to KCM. Of that amount Anglo American had, at 31 December 2001, lent ZCI US$190
million (US$214 million including accrued interest) which the latter has on-lent
to KCM. (The undrawn amount will be used by ZCI and KCM to meet their respective
obligations as they fall due including, in the case of KCM, repayment of
existing debt). Anglo American has, however, also advised ZCI that, as ZCI sees
no reasonable prospect of the project financing condition precedent with regard
to KDMP being satisfied, it is not prepared to provide additional financial
support to ZCI over and above existing commitments.
It is Anglo American's intention to take an exceptional charge of some US$350
million against its 2001 income as a provision in respect of the carrying value
of Anglo American's investment in and its loans to ZCI together with a current
estimate of any additional liabilities related thereto.
Tony Trahar, chief executive of Anglo American plc commented that 'this has been
a difficult and deeply regrettable decision for all involved. Anglo American
will play its part energetically in working with all parties including the
Zambian Government to find a way forward. It is important to recognise the major
strides made in rehabilitating the KCM assets and the efforts and commitment of
the KCM employees. However, against the background of losses of over US$100
million, low real copper prices and the non availability of the required project
finance it is not realistic to proceed with the development of the Konkola Deep
Mining Project.'
For further information:
Anglo American - London
Investor Relations Media Relations
Nick von Schirnding Kate Aindow
Tel: +44 20 7698 8540 Tel: +44 20 7698 8619
External Affairs
Edward Bickham
Tel: +44 20 7698 8547
Anglo American - Johannesburg
Investor Relations Media Relations
Anne Dunn Marion Dixon
Tel: +27 11 638 4730 Tel: +27 11 638 3001
Mobile: +27 82 448 2684 Mobile: +27 82 775 5520
External Affairs
Mike Spicer
Tel: +27 11 638 3870
Mobile: +27 83 227 1319
Notes to Editors:
Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining and natural resource
groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global
leader in gold, platinum group metals and diamonds, with significant interests
in coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and forest products. The
group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, South and
North America and Australia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk)
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