Paladin Energy Ltd: Completion Tests Satisfied at Langer Heinrich & Kayelekera Mines
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/11/13 -- Paladin Energy Ltd ("Paladin" or "the Company") (TSX: PDN)(ASX: PDN) is pleased to announce the satisfaction of the Completion Tests (CT) under both the Langer Heinrich Mine ("LHM") project finance facility and the Kayelekera Mine ("KM") project finance facility. The KM CT approval is conditional upon a minor amendment to an existing agreement and financial model which Paladin has accepted, with formal documentation anticipated by no later than 28 February 2013.
The CT for both project finance agreements requires a set of production tests to be satisfied over a 90 CT Period. Both mines have now completed these test periods with the Lenders' Independent Technical Consultants verifying the results.
As a result of passing the CT and in accordance with the facility agreements, a range of reporting requirements will fall away together with a number of financial undertakings which previously applied to Paladin, providing greater commercial flexibility at a corporate level. There is also now greater flexibility with regards to voluntary prepayments and distributions under both facility agreements. The margin over Libor for the Commercial Bank Facility portion of the KM facility will reduce by 0.50% (3.00% to 2.50%) whilst the margin over Libor for the LHM facility will reduce by 0.50% (3.75% to 3.25%).
The Lenders' satisfaction of the production test parameters at each site, based on the Independent Technical Consultant's verification, further supports the consistent operating performance at both mines. Langer Heinrich has been operating at or above nameplate production and Kayelekera has been operating at or near nameplate for over three quarters. Paladin is pleased with the Lenders' independent verification of the operating achievements at both sites.
ACN 061 681 098
Contacts:
Paladin Energy Ltd
John Borshoff
Managing Director/CEO
+61-8-9381-4366 or Mobile: +61-419-912-571
john.borshoff@paladinenergy.com.au
Investor Relations Contact
Paladin Energy Ltd
Greg Taylor
+1 905-337-7673 or Mobile: +1 416-605-5120 (Toronto)
greg.taylor@paladinenergy.com.au
www.paladinenergy.com.au