South32 Limited and Arizona Mining Inc. recently announced that they have entered into an agreement for South32 to acquire the remaining 83 per cent of issued and outstanding shares of Arizona Mining via a plan of arrangement, representing a fully funded, all cash offer of US$1.3 billion1 (C$1.8 billion).
The offer price of C$6.20 per share represents a 50 per cent premium to the closing price on 15June and implies a total equity value for Arizona Mining of US$1.6 billion1 (C$2.1 billion). Directors and officers of Arizona Mining, who own 34 per cent of the common shares on issue, have entered into voting support agreements and the directors of Arizona Mining entitled to vote, have unanimously recommended to their shareholders that they vote in favour of the transaction.
Arizona Mining is the owner of the Hermosa Project, containing the high grade base metals Taylor deposit, the Central zinc, manganese and silver oxide resource and an extensive, highly prospective land package with potential for discovery of polymetallic and copper mineralisation.
The Taylor deposit is a greenfield development project that has a reported resource of 101 million short tons2,3 (Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources) at 10.4% zinc equivalent grade and isopen at depth and laterally. The project is located close to key infrastructure in an attractive mining jurisdiction. A Preliminary Economic Assessment completed by Arizona Mining in January 2018 indicated that this low cost, long life project has the potential to deliver a very high Internal Rate ofReturn on investment2.
South32 Chief Executive Officer, Graham Kerr said: “Our all cash offer for Arizona Mining will allow us to optimise the design and development of one of the most exciting base metal projects in theindustry. We have been a major shareholder in Arizona Mining since May 2017 and an active participant in the Hermosa Project with representation on the operations committee and a nominee on the board of directors. Our deep understanding of this high grade resource and surrounding tenement package, and extensive experience at Cannington, makes us the natural owner of this project and ensures we are well positioned to bring it to development, delivering significant value to our shareholders.”