Nevada Copper agrees to terms on new financing

Image courtesy of Nevada Copper Corp.

Nevada Copper (TSX: NCU) is making progress to secure additional financing for its ramps-up operations heading into 2021. The company has agreed to non-binding terms with its senior lender, KfW IPEX-Bank, for a new $15 million senior loan, with a three-year tenor, at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.9%.

This new KfW loan is expected to have a 12-month repayment holiday period. In addition, amortization and debt service account payments under the company’s existing senior project loan facility with KfW are expected to be deferred until 2023.

Nevada Copper is also in the process of finalizing specific terms of an additional complementary financing, which would bring the entire financing package including the KfW loan to at least $30 million.

Earlier this month, Nevada Copper’s largest shareholder Pala Investments confirmed that it will continue to provide financial support to the company until the end of the year, by which time the new financing package is expected.

As such, Pala has provided Nevada Copper with access to additional liquidity of up to $15 million in the form of a promissory note. The company made an initial draw of $2 million under the promissory note, with subsequent draws available at its option subject to agreed use of proceeds.

The promissory note has a maturity date of January 31, 2021, bears interest at 8% per annum on amounts drawn, and is expected to be repaid through the funds received from the new $30 million financing package.

Nevada Copper is currently focused on continued production ramp-up at its Pumpkin Hollow mine in Nevada, which was the first US copper mine to come on line in the last decade. The underground mine is capable of producing over 50 million lb of copper during a 13.5-year mine life.

Shares of Nevada Copper surged 22.2% by noon EST Wednesday, bringing the company’s market capitalization to C$163.7 million.

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