Golden Energy unit to buy BHP's metallurgical coal assets for US$1.2b

GOLDEN Energy and Resources (GEAR) AUE on Monday (Nov 8) announced plans to buy BHP Group's 80 per cent stake in a joint venture with Mitsui & Co for US$1.2 billion, through its 75.33 per cent-owned subsidiary, Stanmore Resources.

The joint venture company, BMC, owns two coal mines in Queensland, Australia with a combined metallurgical coal production of about 10 million tonnes per year, as well as the undeveloped Wards Well coal project. It is 20 per cent-owned by Mitsui & Co.

Based on a revenue-sharing mechanism, Stanmore will also pay up to US$150 million for BMC if the average sale price is above a certain threshold after more than two years from completion of the acquisition, which is expected to take place around mid-2022.

GEAR in its bourse filing said it is "fully supportive" of Stanmore's acquisition of BMC.

The group will also act as Stanmore's guarantor for the acquisition purchase price as well as up to US$600 million in breakup fees should the deal fall through.

In a Nov 8 press statement, Stanmore said it sees the proposed acquisition as "transformational".

It estimates about 11 million tonnes of saleable coal from BMC's assets for the financial year ended June 2021.

Due to the close proximity of BMC's assets to Stanmore's, the company also believes there is potential to benefit from shared infrastructure, corporate functions and coal blending opportunities.

"This transaction will see the company become one of the leading metallurgical coal producers globally and provide Stanmore with a portfolio of tier 1 assets, with a significantly increased reserves and resources base and assets with an expected mine life exceeding 25 years production, positioning the company for substantial cashflow generation and future growth opportunities," said Marcelo Matos, chief executive of Stanmore.

Shares of GEAR ended flat at S$0.335 on Nov 5.

READ MORE:

• Golden Energy and Resources' profit climbs 76.3% in H1
• Golden Energy focuses on acquisitions, cost optimisation amid low coal prices
• Golden Energy unit makes takeover bid for Stanmore Coal