Australian resource and minerals processing technology company TNG (ASX: TNG) is progressing a range of financing workstreams for its flagship 100%-owned Mount Peake vanadium-titanium-iron project in the Northern Territory.
The company is pursuing financing in parallel with final permitting and value engineering, and design and updated costings work for a new fully-integrated plant layout at the mine site ahead of a final investment decision in the new year.
It recently completed a $12.5 million share placement which was supported by a number of new domestic and international institutional investors following a virtual roadshow process co-ordinated by investment bank Canaccord Genuity as lead manager.
TNG is increasing the institutional presence on its share register to support future project financing equity raising.
Institutional investors are expected to play a significant funding role in Mount Peake’s development.
Equity strategy
TNG’s strategic equity strategy is moving forward with the assistance of KPMG Corporate Finance, and it continues to engage with Australian and international groups on strategic equity opportunities.
The company aims to secure potential development partners directly at the project level or indirectly at a corporate level.
Debt financing
Germany’s KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH has been appointed as TNG’s senior debt advisor and arranger for the development of Mount Peake for the period until December 2022.
The specialised solutions provider will structure, coordinate, lead, arrange and manage a syndicate to raise a targeted $843 million to underpin the project financing package.
KfW IPEX-Bank has a track record of facilitating complex project financings worldwide.
TNG is also is also engaging with commercial banks to obtain proposals for a commercial debt tranche, in support of a structured financing and syndication process which will commence once the project’s final capital cost has been confirmed.
The process is designed to assist in refining the debt funding mix and prioritising resources in the next stage of financing.
BOOT funding
TNG is evaluating a number of build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) funding mechanisms in addition to the upfront capital required Mount Peake’s development.
Under BOOT arrangements, specialist third party groups are contracted to finance the detailed engineering, procurement and construction of specific plant and equipment before assuming operational responsibility of the components during the project’s operational life.
They are common in large project developments over discrete items of plant and equipment, and may include accommodation camps, crushing plants, power stations, water treatment facilities and reagent production plants.
TNG said the involvement of expert third party groups also provides operational and maintenance advantages.
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