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First Quantum buys Kiwara Plc By NANCY MWAPE FIRST Quantum
By NANCY MWAPE
FIRST Quantum Minerals Ltd has agreed to buy Kiwara Plc in a cash and share deal worth US$260 million to expand its copper mining operations in Zambia.
According to information obtained from Kiwara website, First Quantum Minerals Limited and Kiwara Plc have entered into an implementation agreement in which First Quantum will acquire the entire issued share capital of Kiwara.
First Quantum chairman and chief executive officer Philip Pascall said the transaction is consistent with First Quantum’s strategy of acquiring projects to which it can add value by applying considerable technical expertise.
Kiwara is a mineral exploration and development company, focusing on base metals on the periphery of the Kabombo Dome in North-Western Province and has so far found substantial copper and uranium occurrences and is considering a feasibility study.
First Quantum is a growing mining and metals company engaged in mineral exploration, development and mining. In Zambia, the company has 80 percent shares in Kansanshi open pit copper-gold mine, 100 percent in Fishtie copper project in Mkushi and owns Bwana Mkubwa mine facility and sulphuric acid plants.
“We believe our many years of successful operations in Zambia and on the Copperbelt particular will be beneficial in the development and eventual operation of the new assets”, Mr Pascal said.
And Kiwara board of directors considers the offer fair and reasonable, and unanimously recommends that Kiwara shareholders vote in favour of the offer.
The board of directors of Kiwara has retained Johannesburg-based Moore Stephens Corporate Finance, as an independent expert to advise it on the fairness of the offer as it relates to Kiwara shareholders.
The opinion of the independent expert will be disclosed to Kiwara shareholders in due course.
Commenting on the transaction, Kiwara chairman Colin Bird said Kiwara has recognised that the Kalumbila project and the licence area in general have potential in excess of current resource capability.
“In the evolution of a major mining project, management is constantly faced with matching progress with overall resource capacity,” he said.
He said the transaction with First Quantum puts the project into a management team with a proven track record to implement major projects on time and to specification.
He said the board has no hesitation in recommending the transaction consisting of cash and shares with the knowledge that best industry practice will be applied throughout.
Mr Bird said the directors and management of Kiwara wish First Quantum all the success in their ongoing development of what has the potential to become a very significant mine.