General Moly Signs $125 Million Subordinated Debt Facility
General
Moly, Inc. (the 'Company') (NYSE MKT: GMO) (TSX: GMO), a U.S.-based
molybdenum mineral development, exploration and mining company,
announced that the Company has signed a binding agreement with Hanlong
(USA) Mining ('Hanlong?) to provide a $125 million subordinated debt
facility supplementing a previously announced $665 million Chinese
sourced term loan that is being negotiated with China Development Bank
('CDB?). The Company had previously announced a letter of intent related
to this facility with Hanlong on August 1, 2012.
Bruce D. Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of General Moly, said, 'The
Company continues to receive tremendous support from Hanlong in funding
the Mt. Hope Project, and we look forward to continuing our work with
Hanlong in completing the senior term loan with China Development Bank.
We are pleased to have completed this very important component of our
Mt. Hope Project finance plan.?
The terms of the subordinated debt facility with Hanlong include the
initial availability of $75 million (Tranche A) during the Mt. Hope
Project′s construction period. An additional $50 million (Tranche B)
becomes available for the 6 month period post commercial production. The
$125 million facility can be reduced to the extent equipment is leased.
Consideration to Hanlong will include a fee of $6.25 million, payable
upon closing of the CDB term loan or other financing of at least $8
million, plus warrants with a 2.5 year maturity to purchase ten million
shares of our common stock. The warrants have been priced at a 15%
premium to the past 10 day volume weighted average price (VWAP), which
results in a warrant strike price of $4.23 per share. Both Tranche A &
B, if drawn, will mature in 5 years from the Mt. Hope Project′s
achievement of commercial production and will have mandatory prepayments
of 50% of the Company′s free cash flow, after the senior CDB term loan′s
debt service. Advances under the subordinated debt facility are subject
to a number of conditions precedent, including signing and funding of
the CDB terms loan.
The Hanlong facility will be subordinated to the CDB term loan, with
similar covenants to the CDB facility, and will have an interest rate of
LIBOR +4%.
As announced on February 16, 2012, CDB has confirmed the basic terms
underlying a proposed $665 million term loan to finance the Mt. Hope
Project, including a CDB intention to lend $399 million and arrange a
consortium of Chinese and international banks to fund the remaining
balance. The term loan is anticipated to carry a maturity of 12 years
including a 30 month grace period to allow for the construction of the
Mt. Hope Project. The interest rate remains subject to market conditions
and Chinese government policy until loan documentation is completed. The
Company and Hanlong are continuing to work with CDB with a target of
having the term loan completed, approved and available to the Company
within 3 months of receiving the final Mt. Hope Project operating
permits.
General Moly is a U.S.-based molybdenum mineral development, exploration
and mining company listed on the NYSE MKT (formerly the NYSE AMEX) and
the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol GMO. Our primary asset, our
interest in the Mt.
Hope ?project located in central Nevada, is considered one of
the world's largest and highest grade molybdenum
deposits. Combined with our second molybdenum property, the Liberty
project that is also located in central Nevada, our goal is to become
the largest primary molybdenum producer in the world. For more
information on the Company, please visit our website at http://www.generalmoly.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements herein that are not historical facts are 'forward-looking
statements? within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, as
amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by
such sections. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected, anticipated, expected, or implied by the Company.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metals
price and production volatility, global economic conditions, currency
fluctuations, increased production costs and variances in ore grade or
recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans, exploration risks and
results, political, operational and project development risks, including
the Company′s ability to obtain required permits to commence production
and its ability to raise required financing, adverse governmental
regulation and judicial outcomes. The closing of the Hanlong transaction
and obtaining bank financing are subject to a number of conditions
precedent that may not be fulfilled. The bank financing and subordinated
loans are subject to final negotiation and satisfaction of conditions
precedent. For a detailed discussion of risks and other factors that may
impact these forward looking statements, please refer to the Risk
Factors and other discussion contained in the Company′s quarterly and
annual periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, on file with the SEC.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements.
General Moly
Investors:
Scott Kozak, ?303-928-8591
skozak@generalmoly.com
or
Media:
Zach
Spencer, 775-748-6059
zspencer@generalmoly.com
or
info@generalmoly.com
http://www.generalmoly.com