Paragon Diamonds Ltd Corporate and Mothae acquisition update
October 07 2015 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMPRG
Paragon Diamonds Limited / Index: AIM / Epic: PRG / Sector: Resources
7 October 2015
Paragon Diamonds Limited ('Paragon' or the 'Company')
Corporate and Mothae acquisition update
Paragon Diamonds Limited, the AIM quoted diamond development company, announces
an update and progress regarding the proposed acquisition from Lucara Diamond
Corporation ('Lucara') of the Mothae Kimberlite Resource ('Mothae'), which is
only 5 km from the world class Letseng le Terai Diamond Mine in Lesotho, and
the Company's nearby Lemphane Kimberlite Pipe Project ('Lemphane').
Lucara has agreed to extend exclusivity based upon an appropriate timetable for
Paragon to complete their US$15 million funding package with Acrux Resources
Proprietary Limited ('Acrux'), announced on 2 October 2015, and Lucara reserves
its rights to terminate exclusivity based upon any deviation from this
schedule. Upon completion of the financing Paragon will pay Lucara an initial
US$2 million of the US$6.5 million due.
In addition the Company has agreed an extension to the short term GBP500,000 loan
facility to 18 November 2015 in order for the proposed Acrux funding package to
be executed. If Paragon repays the loan after the 14 October 2015 then it will
issue the provider a further 3,571,428 detachable call warrants with a strike
price of 7 pence per share.
These extensions place the Company in a good position to execute its strategy
and complete the acquisition of Mothae on the terms previously announced. The
Company will make further announcements regarding the Acrux funding package and
the acquisition of Mothae as soon as practicable.
Paragon Diamonds Finance Director Simon Retter said: "Both Acrux and Paragon
are committed to concluding the funding arrangements which we announced on 2
October 2015, subject to the conditions of the Term Sheet, as soon as
practicable. The Company is progressing activity at both Lemphane and Mothae
and there should be no delays in bringing plant and other equipment, including
the use of two technologically advanced XRT machines to site. We currently have
no plans to procure additional funding in order to commence production nor to
cover existing overheads.
"With the reduction in the purchase price for Mothae, revised terms of payment
with Lucara, and other working capital and capital expenditure efficiencies
identified, we are well placed to deliver on our strategy. Our mining plan at
Mothae has been independently reviewed by MSA and indeed improved on our
original estimation of the economics of the project.
"We have also secured a letter of commitment for funding for the majority of
stage two financing for both projects as announced on 30 September 2015. So,
the Board believes that Paragon is now in an exceptionally strong position,
looking forward to production in 2016 at both assets. I believe we have made a
large amount of progress over the last 12 months and that significant value has
been added to the Company over this time."
**ENDS**
For further information please visit www.paragondiamonds.com or contact:
Philip Falzon Sant Paragon Diamonds +44 (0) 20 7182 1920
Manduca Limited
Simon Retter Paragon Diamonds +44 (0) 20 7182 1920
Limited
David Hignell Northland Capital +44 (0) 20 7382 1100
Gerry Beaney Partners Limited
(Nominated Adviser)
John Howes Northland Capital +44 (0) 20 7382 1100
Mark Treharne Partners Limited
(Sales and broking)
Felicity Winkles St Brides Partners +44 (0) 20 7236 1177
Limited
Frank Buhagiar St Brides Partners +44 (0) 20 7236 1177
Limited
Notes
Paragon Diamonds has an 80% interest in the Lemphane Kimberlite Pipe project in
Lesotho, located close to the world class Letseng mine, Lesotho's largest
diamond mine. Lemphane is the last known kimberlite to be developed in
Lesotho. The first of a two stage production programme is expected to commence
in 2015 which will further define the resource at Lemphane. As increased
tonnages of kimberlite are processed the proportion of larger diamonds
recovered will improve, increasing the average value of diamonds recovered at
the project, as was the case at Letseng. In addition to Lemphane, Paragon
Diamonds has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lucara Diamond
Corporation, a TSX quoted mining company, to acquire a 75% interest in and
operate the defined Mothae Kimberlite Resource, which is located only 5 km from
the world class Let?eng le Terai diamond mine in Lesotho.
END
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