10 February 2012
Prosperity Minerals Holdings Limited
("Prosperity" or "the Company")
Proposed investment in Malaysian iron ore mines
Iron ore off-take agreement
Prosperity Minerals Holdings Limited ("PMHL.L") is an iron ore operator serving the People's Republic of China ("PRC") and a real estate owner and developer in the same market. It is also an investor in two PRC cement manufacturers.
We are pleased to announce that on 10 February 2012, Pro-Rise Limited ("Pro-Rise (Xetra: 915677 - news) "), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement to acquire a 5% interest in All Wealthy Capital Limited ("All Wealthy") an iron ore resource development company.
On 13 January 2012, Prosperity signed an option agreement ("Option Agreement") with Prosperity International Holdings (H.K.) Limited ("PIHL") and paid US$6m as a refundable deposit (the "Option Deposit"). Under the Option Agreement, the Company has an option to participate in the acquisition of further interests in All Wealthy alongside PIHL.
Highlights
· Pro-Rise has entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with Elite Force (Asia) Limited ("Elite Force") to acquire a 5% interest in All Wealthy for a total cash consideration of US$25 million (approximately £15.7 million) (the "Acquisition"); Elite Force, which owns an 80% interest in All Wealthy, is 100% owned by Mr David Wong, the Chairman and CEO of the Company. After the completion of the transaction the Company will hold an effective 3.5% interest in a Malaysian iron ore operation.
· All Wealthy owns a 70% interest in exclusive mining rights in two Malaysian iron ore mines. It also owns a processing plant in Malaysia adjacent to the mines, which are currently under trial production with a future target production capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum.
· Prosperity will pay US$7 million (approximately £4.4 million) of the consideration by way of a refundable deposit ("Deposit") by 15 February 2012 with the balance of US$18 million (approximately £11.3 million) due upon completion.
· If All Wealthy is not listed, directly or indirectly, on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (or other stock exchange agreed by the parties) within 2 years of completion of the Acquisition, Prosperity has an option to require Elite Force to buy back its All Wealthy shares at the original investment price plus interest on such amount at 8% per annum.
· Upon completion of the Acquisition, Prosperity will secure the right, but not the obligation, to buy 9.5 million tonnes of iron ore over a 10 year period, at a discount to the prevailing market price ("Off-take Agreement").
· Completion of the Acquisition is expected to take place by the end of March 2012, subject to all regulatory approvals and consents being obtained, including the approval of the Acquisition by the independent shareholders of PIHL, the Company's majority shareholder. If Completion does not occur by 30 March 2012, Elite Force will refund the Deposit.
· Under the Option Agreement signed with PIHL on 13 January 2012, Prosperity has an option to participate in the acquisition of further interests in All Wealthy alongside PIHL.
· The proposed investment in All Wealthy and the Off-take Agreement is in line with the Company's strategy to continue to increase its investment in iron ore resources and to expand its access to reliable sources of iron ore at competitive prices for sale to end users in China.
Information on All Wealthy
Elite Force, which owns an 80% interest in All Wealthy, is 100% owned by Mr David Wong, the Chairman and CEO of the Company.
All Wealthy, whose board comprises Mr David Wong as sole Director, is an investment holding company and through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the exploration, mining and processing of iron ore in Malaysia. All Wealthy indirectly owns a 70% interest in exclusive mining rights in two iron ore mines situated in Sri Jaya, Pahang Province, Malaysia. The acquisition of a 5% interest in All Wealthy will give Prosperity an effective 3.5% interest in the iron ore mines. All Wealthy also owns a processing plant with 10 processing lines in Sri Jaya which is adjacent to the mines. The plant is under trial operation and has a future target production capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum.
Reasons for the Proposed Transaction
The proposed investment in All Wealthy and the Off-take Agreement is in line with the Company's strategy to continue to increase its investment in iron ore resources and to expand its access to reliable sources of iron ore at competitive prices for sale to end users in China.
The Company intends to fund the Acquisition from its own cash resources.
Acquisition Agreement
On 10 February 2012, Pro-Rise entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with Elite Force ("Acquisition Agreement") to acquire a 5% equity interest in All Wealthy for a total cash consideration of US$25 million (approximately £15.7 million) (the "Consideration").
Pro-Rise will pay the refundable Deposit of US$7 million (approximately £4.4 million) by 15 February 2012, with the balance of US$18 million (approximately £11.3 million) of the Consideration due on completion of the Acquisition Agreement ("Completion").
Elite Force agrees to procure, within 2 years of Completion ("Liquidity Event Date"), the listing of All Wealthy, directly or indirectly, on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (or other stock exchange agreed by the parties) ("Liquidity Event"). If the Liquidity Event does not occur by the Liquidity Event Date, Pro-Rise has the right, within 30 days of the Liquidity Event Date, to require Elite Force to buy all its All Wealthy shares (the "Put Option"). The price payable by Elite Force per All Wealthy share is equal to the original Consideration of US$25,000,000 divided by 350 All Wealthy shares (being the number of All Wealthy shares acquired by Pro-Rise) that is, US$71,428.57 (approximately £44,979.00) per All Wealthy share plus interest on such amount at a rate of 8% per annum (the 'Option Price"). The total Option Price for the total number of All Wealthy shares acquired by Elite Force is payable by Elite Force within 3 months of the exercise of the Put Option.
The Acquisition Agreement contains certain adjustment provisions applicable to a Liquidity Event and the number of All Wealthy shares held by Pro-Rise:
i.
the Pre-agreed Value per All Wealthy share to be held by Pro-Rise is equal to 70% of the price per All Wealthy share in relation to the Liquidity Event;
ii.
if this is less than the original investment amount of US$71,428.57 per All Wealthy share, Elite Force will transfer additional All Wealthy shares to Pro-Rise and/or pay such a cash amount to Pro-Rise (to be agreed by the parties), so that the original investment amount and the Pre-agreed Value are the same.
Prior to a Liquidity Event, Pro-Rise may only sell its All Wealthy shares to another person subject to Elite Force having the right of first refusal to repurchase such shares. This restriction does not apply to transfers of All Wealthy shares within the Prosperity group or to transfers of All Wealthy shares following a Liquidity Event
Completion of the Acquisition Agreement is expected to take place by the end of March 2012, subject to the satisfaction of all conditions, including all necessary approvals and consents being obtained by the Company and its majority shareholder, PIHL, as further explained below. In the event the conditions are not satisfied or waived by 30 March 2012 or such other date agreed by the parties, Elite Force will refund the Deposit to Prosperity within 30 business days of such date and the Acquisition Agreement will terminate.
Off-take Agreement
At Completion, Prosperity will enter into an off-take agreement (the "Off-take Agreement") with Grace Wise Pte. Limited ("Grace Wise"), a 70%- owned subsidiary of All Wealthy. Under the Off-take Agreement, Prosperity has the right to purchase from Grace Wise up to 9.5 million tonnes of iron ore over a ten year period, at intervals to be agreed between the parties. The base price per dry metric tonne of iron ore shall be calculated as: (i) 95% of the Base Fe Price; and (ii) less US$3 per dry metric tonne. The Base Fe Price is calculated by reference to the average iron ore price for the five trading days prior to the bill of lading date as determined by reference to the published price of iron ore (CFR basis) by Singapore Platts with Fe content closest to the iron ore to be shipped.
The base price shall be converted to an FOB ST (short tons) price per dry metric tonne (in the case of shipments made on a FOB ST basis) by adjustment for the shipping freight costs as agreed between the parties from time to time by reference to market rates.
Deliveries of iron ore are expected to commence in Prosperity's fiscal year 2012-13. The Off-take Agreement will provide Prosperity with access, at its discretion, to reliable supplies of iron ore at competitive prices. The Company will have no obligation to purchase this iron ore if it is able to source iron ore at more competitive prices elsewhere.
Option Agreement
In 2010, the Company's majority shareholder, PIHL, entered into a memorandum of understanding with the vendors of All Wealthy for the exclusive right to negotiate with the vendors with the view to acquiring All Wealthy. On 13 January 2012, Prosperity entered into the Option Agreement with PIHL. Under the Option Agreement, Prosperity paid PIHL the Option Deposit of US$6 million (approximately £3.78 million) for the right to negotiate and enter into the Acquisition Agreement and, in the event PIHL acquires a controlling interest in All Wealthy (the "All Wealthy Interest"), the right to acquire from PIHL all or part of the All Wealthy Interest at the same price per All Wealthy share as paid by PIHL to the vendors of All Wealthy (the "Option (Euronext: OPTI.NX - news) ").
Prosperity funded the Option Deposit from its own cash resources. If Prosperity decides to exercise its Option to acquire part of the All Wealthy Interest from PIHL, the Option Deposit will be converted into part of the consideration. Prosperity has no obligation to acquire any portion of the All Wealthy Interest from PIHL or the vendors of All Wealthy. PIHL is required to refund the Option Deposit, within 90 days, if Prosperity notifies PIHL of its intention not to acquire further shares in All Wealthy. PIHL must also refund the Option Deposit immediately in the event PIHL has not entered into definitive agreements to acquire the All Wealthy Interest by 12 January 2013.
Financial Information on All Wealthy
Based on the unaudited consolidated financial statements of All Wealthy for the year ended 31March 2011 prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and its interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, All Wealthy incurred a profit of approximately US$1,766,000 for the period from 11 March 2010 (being the date of incorporation of All Wealthy) to 31 March 2011. Similarly, the net asset value of All Wealthy as at 31 March 2011 is approximately US$3,019,000.
AIM Rules Implications
Acquisition Agreement and Option Agreement
The Option Agreement is with PIHL, a substantial shareholder and therefore a related party of the Company under the AIM Rules. The Option Agreement individually does not constitute a related party transaction under AIM Rule 13 as it does not exceed 5% of any of the class tests under the AIM Rules.
The transactions under the Acquisition Agreement and the Option Agreement are with same persons who are related parties of the Company as Mr David Wong holds a 100% interest in Elite Force and, with his associates, holds a combined indirect 64.11% interest in PIHL. The transactions are also of a similar nature. This means that the Company is required to aggregate these transactions under Rule 16 of the AIM Rules for the purposes of determining whether the Acquisition Agreement is a related party transaction under AIM Rule 13 and a substantial transaction under AIM Rule 12. The Acquisition Agreement, individually and when aggregated with the Option Agreement, represents a related party transaction under Rule 13 of the AIM Rules, as it exceeds 5% of certain of the class tests under the AIM Rules.
The Acquisition Agreement, individually and when aggregated with the Option Agreement, also represents a substantial transaction for the Company under Rule 12 of the AIM Rules.
Independent Directors of Prosperity's approval
Under AIM Rule 13, the Off-take Agreement (see below) and the Acquisition Agreement are therefore conditional upon the approval of the transactions under these agreements by the Directors of the Company (other than Mr Wong) (the "Independent Directors"). The Independent Directors can only grant this approval after they have consulted the Company's nominated adviser, Daniel Stewart ∓ Company plc ("Daniel Stewart"), as to whether the terms of the Acquisition Agreement and the Off-take Agreement are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders as a whole are concerned. If the transactions are judged to be fair and reasonable, then the Acquisition Agreement is expected to complete by the end of March 2012, once PIHL's shareholders have voted at a special general meeting of PIHL ("SGM") (see below).
Prosperity's Independent Directors will consult with the Nominated Advisor; Daniel Stewart whether the transaction is fair and reasonable so far as all shareholders are concerned. A separate announcement will be released accordingly.
Off-take Agreements
On the 11 May 2011, the Company announced that Prosperity Materials Macao Commercial Offshore Limited ("PMMC") entered into an off-take agreement (the "Nanjing Agreement") with Nanjing Iron and Steel Group International Trade Co. Limited ("Nanjing") and Grace Wise. Under the Nanjing Agreement, PMMC acts as exclusive introducing agent for Grace Wise in respect of supplies of iron ore to Nanjing. On 15 November (Stuttgart: A0Z24E - news) 2011, the Company announced that PMMC entered into an iron ore agency agreement (the "Jiangsu Agreement") with Jiangsu Prosperity Steel Limited ("Jiangsu Steel"). Under the Jiangsu Agreement, PMMC acts as Jiangsu Steel's agent in procuring the supply of iron ore to Jiangsu Steel. Jiangsu Steel is indirectly owned 47.5% by Mr David Wong and Grace Wise is indirectly 58% owned by Mr David Wong and therefore both companies are related parties of the Company under the AIM Rules.
The transactions under the Off-take Agreement, the Nanjing Agreement and the Jiangsu Agreement are with the same persons and are of a similar nature. This means that the Company is required to aggregate these transactions under Rule 16 of the AIM Rules for the purposes of determining whether the Off-take Agreement is a related party transaction under AIM Rule 13. The Off-take Agreement, individually and when aggregated with the agency income of US$2 per tonne of the Nanjing Agreement and the agency income of up to US$4 per tonne (a commission of US$2 per dry metric tonne of iron ore plus a handling charge of US$2 per dry metric tonne of iron ore if the letter of credit in relation to shipment includes payment terms of 90 days) of the Jiangsu Agreement, represents a related party transaction under Rule 13 of the AIM Rules as it exceeds 5% of certain of the class tests under the AIM Rules.
Implications under HK Listing Rules
The Company's controlling shareholder, PIHL, is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Under the Hong Kong Listing Rules, the Acquisition Agreement and the Off-take Agreement constitute connected transactions and are subject to the approval of the independent shareholders of PIHL at an SGM. PIHL is required to constitute an Independent Board Committee of PIHL to advise its independent shareholders on how to vote in respect of the resolution to be tabled to consider the agreements at the SGM. PIHL is also required to appoint an independent financial adviser to advise the Independent Board Committee and independent shareholders of PIHL on the transactions.
Next (Xetra: 779551 - news) steps
We understand that the Independent Board Committee of PIHL is required to review the transaction to give its opinion of the fairness and reasonableness to PIHL's independent shareholders for their approval
PIHL expects to despatch further information to its shareholders regarding the transaction. As and when PIHL provides such information to its shareholders, the Company will update its shareholders at the same time.
Further enquiries:
Prosperity Minerals Holdings Limited +852 3187 2618
Patrick Li
Neelke Kruger-Logan
www.pmhl.co.uk
Citigate Dewe Rogerson +44 (0) 20 7638 9571
Martin Jackson
Kate Lehane
Daniel Stewart ∓ Company plc +44 (0) 20 7776 6550
Nominated Advisor and Broker
Corporate Finance: Paul Shackleton, Noelle Greenaway
Corporate Broking: Martin Lampshire
Notes to Editors:
Prosperity (AIM: PMHL) is:
- an iron ore operator serving the PRC;
- a specialised real estate owner and developer in the same market; and
- an investor in two cement plants, also in the PRC.
Prosperity's iron ore business has been operating since 1992 and sources iron ore, for shipment and use in the PRC, from major international iron ore producers in South Africa, Brazil and Australia, as well as from South East Asia, Thailand and Malaysia in particular. The majority of the Company's iron ore is sold to large steel manufacturers in the PRC. In the fiscal years ended 31 March 2010 and 2011, Prosperity shipped 7.9 million tonnes and 6.3 million tonnes of iron ore respectively. In December 2010, Prosperity acquired a 35% effective interest in a Brazilian mining operation which owns approximately 602 square kilometres of exploration rights and 3.01 square kilometres of mining concession in the State of Ceara. During the first half year ended 30 September 2011, 159,000 tonnes of iron ore was shipped.
Prosperity has operated a real estate investment and development division since February 2010 which is focused on creating a portfolio of PRC property and development assets with good upside potential and manageable risk. The Company has entered into a number of agreements with its partners to develop recreational, commercial and residential projects in Guangzhou City and Changzhou City in the southern PRC and Hangzhou City in the east. Prosperity also acquired interests in an existing commercial building in Guangzhou which is the largest city in the southern PRC and the third largest in the Country (after Beijing and Shanghai). It has a population in excess of 12 million people and is located in the Pearl River Delta, the foremost economic zone in the southern PRC.
In April 2010, Prosperity disposed of its cement business in the PRC but retained its 33.06% interest in Anhui Chaodong Cement Company Limited (ACC (BSE: ACCSL.BO - news) ). ACC is located in Anhui Province in the eastern PRC and is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (600318:CH). The designed sellable output capacity of ACC is 5.1 million tonnes of cement and clinker per annum. On 1 September 2010, Prosperity acquired a 25% equity interest in Liaoning Changqing in Liaoning Province, in the northern PRC. Liaoning Changqing completed construction of a new 2 million tonnes per annum cement and clinker production line in April 2010 and normal production commenced on 2 July 2010. Following the completion of a share issuance in August 2011, Prosperity's interest in Liaoning Changqing was diluted to 16.11%.
The PRC is the World's second largest economy (behind the US) and the biggest buyer of iron ore; it is also the largest producer and consumer of cement.


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