Northgate friendly bid for Perseverance at 20c a share 10:04, Monday, 29 October 2007
Sydney - Monday - October 29: (RWE Australian Business News) - Perseverance Corporation Ltd (ASX:PSV) and Northgate Minerals Corporation (listed on TSX and AMEX) have signed a merger implementation agreement pursuant to which Northgate will acquire all outstanding securities and debt of Perseverance for cash consideration. Northgate's offer capitalises Perseverance at an enterprise value of $282m. The transaction will be implemented via schemes of arrangement between Perseverance and its shareholders and optionholders, respectively, and a resolution of holders of convertible subordinated notes to approve the early redemption of the notes. Under Northgate's offer, Perseverance securityholders will get: * 20c cash per ordinary share; * 8c cash for each of the Perseverance options issued as part of the recent $26.5m placement; and * $100,000 (face value) plus any accrued interest per convertible subordinated note. The Northgate offer of 20c a share represents: * a 37.9pc premium to the Perseverance closing share price on Friday October 26 of 14.5c; * a 37.1pc premium to the one-month volume weighted average price of 14.6c; and * a 51.4pc premium to the volume weighted average price of 13.2c since July 12, the day Perseverance was reinstated to official quotation on the ASX, following completion of the $26.5m placement. Northgate has agreed to acquire all of Perseverance's existing bank debt (amounting to $33.5m) and provide a new bridging facility of up to $25.0m. Northgate will also acquire the bank's exposure of about $48m to Perseverance's gold hedges and subsequent to the close of the Transaction, Northgate will close out this hedge position. Perseverance directors have unanimously determined that the transaction is in the best interests of securityholders, and recommend Perseverance shareholders and optionholders vote in favour of the schemes and that convertible subordinated noteholders approve the early redemption of the notes in the absence of a superior proposal. The directors intend to vote all Perseverance securities held or controlled by them at the time of the scheme meetings in favour of the schemes, in the absence of a superior proposal.
PSV Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Not Held
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