West Sells South
(not verified)
In a strategy to focus its efforts on its larger long-life Murchison gold assets, the Board of Westgold Resources Limited has agreed to sell its South Kalgoorlie Operations to Northern Star Resources Limited.
South Kalgoorlie Operations operates Jubilee Processing Plant as its mining hub. In recent years the HBJ Underground Mine has operated as the core feed with additional smaller open pit and low-grade stockpile sources providing approximately 60% of plant capacity. The remainder of plant capacity has been filled by toll processing third party ores from the region.
Westgold has agreed to sell its wholly-owned subsidiaries that collectively make up the South Kalgoorlie Operations; Dioro Exploration Pty Ltd, HBJ Minerals Pty Ltd and Hampton Gold Mining Areas Ltd. The consideration for the sale is $80 million (with working capital adjustments). The purchase consideration is made up of $20 million in cash and $60 million in unrestricted fully paid ordinary shares in Northern Star calculated at a backwards-looking 10-day VWAP.
Westgold will retain its lithium royalties over the Mt Marion Lithium Mine and the rights to lithium exploration and mining over Location 53 and 59.
Westgold Managing Director Peter Cook said:“This is a nice deal for both parties. It provides Northern Star with additional and instant plant capacity in the Kalgoorlie region for its expanding gold operations. For Westgold, it divests our shortest life asset, provides a cash boost and upgrades the overall quality of our gold portfolio. As at June 30, 2017, South Kalgoorlie Operations had Ore Reserves containing 252,000 ounces which was 7.45% of the groups total Ore Reserves. SKO has produced 24,000 ounces in the first half of this financial year”.