Griffin Mining Limited ("Griffin" or "the Company") is
delighted to announce that it has entered into an agreement
to purchase the majority of the Zhangjiakou Caijiaying Lead
Zinc Mining Company Limited's (the "ZJK Mining
Company") interest in Hebei Hua Ao Mining Industry
Company Limited ("Hua Ao"), the owner of the
Caijiaying Zinc-Gold Mine and surrounding tenements, for
Rmb 700 million (approx $110 million) in cash. When the
transaction is completed, Griffin's interest in Hua Ao will
increase from 60% to 88.8% and the joint venture will
operate under an extended 25 year term through to 2037. The
ZJK Mining Company will retain an 11.2% interest in Hua Ao.
The purchase is conditional upon the approval of and
registration by the relevant Chinese authorities. It is
estimated that the approvals will take up to two months to
complete. The purchase will be financed from undistributed
retained dividends in Hua Ao, committed banking facilities
in China and Griffin's existing cash resources.
Chairman's Statement
Griffin's Chairman, Mladen Ninkov, commented: "The
acquisition of an overwhelming majority interest in the
Caijiaying Mine and the extension of the joint venture to
2037 with full management control, has been the dream which
management and shareholders have held since production
first began at Caijiaying in 2005. It is a credit to the
directors and management of the company and a testament to
the harmonious relations Griffin has maintained with all
levels of government, community, employees and citizens in
China that this transaction has been able to be achieved.
We look forward to the ensuing decades and the continuing
expansion of resources and production at Caijiaying. I
could not be more delighted for our shareholders."