Anglo Platinum announces R12.5bn rights offer

Johannesburg, Feb 8 (I-Net Bridge) - South African platinum producer Anglo Platinum (AMS) announced on Monday that it is to launch a 12.5 billion rand rights offer to restructure the balance sheet and secure future growth and operational flexibility.

Anglo American plc (AGL) said Monday it has undertaken to subscribe in full to its entitlement to the rights offer by its subsidiary company, Anglo Platinum.

“Following the rights offer, Anglo Platinum will have a more balanced capital structure, enabling it to focus on extracting value from its existing operations through further cost and productivity improvements and optimising its premium portfolio of assets and growth projects through disciplined investment.  Anglo Platinum’s dividend payments will be resumed when market conditions and the operating environment permit,” Anglo said in a statement.

Anglo Platinum expects to raise gross proceeds of approximately 12.5 billion rand - around $1.6 billion - through the rights offer and Anglo American will take up its rights in full associated with its 79.72% shareholding in Anglo Platinum, equivalent to approximately 10 billion rand, or approximately $1.3 billion.

Anglo American has also agreed to underwrite the minority portion of the rights offer. This underwriting and Anglo American’s undertaking to subscribe in full for its rights are subject to customary underwriting conditions.

The proceeds from the rights offer will be used by Anglo Platinum to repay debt, including intercompany debt between Anglo American and Anglo Platinum.  Following the rights offer, Anglo Platinum’s pro forma net debt, as at 31 December 2009, will be 6.8 billion rand, or approximately $900 million.

The take-up of rights by Anglo American and repayment of intercompany debt by Anglo Platinum will be, in effect, an exchange of debt for equity.

As Anglo Platinum is fully consolidated within the financial results of Anglo American, the expected 2.5 billion rand of subscription proceeds from Anglo Platinum’s minority shareholders will reduce Anglo American’s group net debt.

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