molybdenums steady climb continues, page-15

Things coming together nicely. Need the clump at .90 to be taken out and we might see another 2-3 cents added before todays close.

Hanlong's recent investment into General Moly shows how keen they are on the Moly sector:

GENERAL MOLY ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT FROM HANLONG, POSCO COMMITS TO 20% MT. HOPE EQUITY INTEREST
INVESTMENTS ANTICIPATED TO FULLY FUND THE MT. HOPE PROJECT
LAKEWOOD, COLORADO March 5, 2010, General Moly (NYSE Amex and TSX: GMO) announced a significant investment and strategic relationship with Hanlong (USA) Mining Investment Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sichuan Hanlong Group (Hanlong), that is anticipated to provide full project funding for the Companys 80% owned Mt. Hope project.
Highlights of the transaction include:
 $665 million bank loan from a Prime Chinese Bank to be procured and guaranteed by Hanlong at an anticipated rate of Libor plus 2%-4%;
 $80 million equity investment in General Moly through the purchase of 25% of the Companys fully diluted shares, partially contingent upon completion of the $665 million bank loan;
 $20 million bridge loan to assist in Mt. Hope project restart, repayable from the proceeds of the bank loan; and
 A long-term molybdenum supply off-take agreement for Hanlong from Mt. Hope production.
Bruce D. Hansen said, I am extremely pleased to have Hanlong as a major investor and partner. This transaction with Hanlong provides superior value to our stockholders than alternative transactions we have recently evaluated. Hanlong will, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement, invest $80 million in equity and procure $665 million in senior secured debt, which we believe will fully fund the Mt. Hope project. Given the robust cash flows anticipated to be generated from the Mt. Hope project, we feel we can adequately service the $665 million loan. Assuming $15 per pound molybdenum prices, during the first full five years of production, total debt service will consume approximately 50% of our anticipated cash flow after sustaining capital. Additionally, our post-transaction levered after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of General Molys 80% share of Mt. Hope is estimated at $1.2 billion using an 8% discount rate at a $15 per pound moly price growing to over $2 billion at $20 per pound prices. Of note, these figures do not include any value for the Liberty project, which we now believe becomes increasingly viable with the Mt. Hope project financing arranged. We believe this transaction positions General Moly to reach its strategic goal of being the worlds largest publicly listed pure-play moly producer with ultimate targeted production of approximately 50 million pounds per year.
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Mr. Hansen added, We would also like to express our appreciation to POSCO, our Joint Venture partner at Mt. Hope, for its immense support as we have evaluated numerous financing alternatives and its commitment to remain a 20% partner in the Mt. Hope project.
Hui Xiao (Steven), President of Hanlong (USA) Mining Investment Inc. commented, We are extremely pleased to invest in General Moly and we feel their Mt. Hope and Liberty projects are two of the most promising moly assets worldwide. Our investments in General Moly and Moly Mines position Hanlong to be a significant participant in the future of the molybdenum industry, which we find very attractive.
The equity issuances in connection with this transaction are subject to General Moly stockholder approval, which will be sought at the General Moly Annual General Meeting.
A Mt. Hope project Sources and Uses table and a General Moly NPV table are located at the back of this release.
Hanlong Equity Investment
The $80 million equity investment will occur in two tranches. Hanlong will purchase 12.5% of the Companys fully diluted shares (the First Tranche) for $40 million. The First Tranche shares will be issued on the satisfaction of certain conditions including General Molys receipt of stockholder approval and publication of the Companys Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which is now anticipated to occur by midyear. Additionally, Hanlong is required to obtain necessary Chinese Government approvals for the transaction and to provide a Comfort letter supporting the loan terms described below. The Company anticipates the First Tranche shares will be issued in the third or fourth quarter of this year.
Hanlong will purchase the remaining shares (the Second Tranche) for an additional $40 million to then give Hanlong a 25% fully diluted interest in General Moly. The Second Tranche shares will be issuable on the satisfaction of certain conditions including receipt of the Companys Record of Decision (ROD) from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the completion of documentation and drawdown availability related to the $665 million Bank Loan described below. General Moly anticipates satisfaction of the Second Tranche conditions early next year. All conditions to the Second Tranche must be completed no later than January 31, 2012.
The total number of shares to be issued to Hanlong will be impacted ultimately by ArcelorMittals election with regard to its pre-existing anti-dilution rights. The Company anticipates issuing Hanlong between 27.8 and 28.8 million shares, depending on ArcelorMittals election with regard to its rights.
Hanlong will be represented on General Molys Board of Directors with one Director who will be appointed to the Board upon completion of the First Tranche and a second Director who will be added upon completion of the Second Tranche.
Hanlong will have anti-dilution rights, giving it the right to purchase additional shares to maintain its 25% fully diluted interest in General Moly. Hanlong and General Moly have also executed a stockholder agreement, which, through a standstill provision, limits Hanlongs ability to acquire additional shares in General Moly without Board approval and in certain circumstances governs how Hanlong will vote its shares.
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Hanlong Guaranteed Bank Loan
Hanlong will use commercial reasonable efforts to procure from a Prime Chinese Bank a minimum $665 million senior secured term loan (Bank Loan) for General Moly to assist in its funding of the Mt. Hope development costs. Hanlong will guarantee this Bank Loan. The interest rate on the Bank Loan is anticipated to be at LIBOR plus a spread of between 2% and 4%. The Bank Loan will be repaid over a minimum of 14 years from achievement of commercial production at Mt. Hope and may be pre-paid at any time at the Companys discretion. Hanlong will assist General Moly in negotiations with the Chinese bank and the Bank Loan is anticipated to have normal and customary covenants and security arrangements.
When funds can be drawn under the Bank Loan, General Moly will pay a $15 million arrangement fee to Hanlong as sole compensation for all up-front fees associated with the loan charged by the Chinese bank and costs incurred in connection with Hanlongs guarantee of the Bank Loan.
The Bank Loan is anticipated to close approximately two to three months following receipt of the Companys Record of Decision from the BLM and the satisfaction of the Second Tranche conditions.
Break Fees
A break fee is payable by either party should the transaction fail due to either party failing to meet their respective First or Second Tranche conditions. Hanlongs break fee is $10 million payable to General Moly and General Molys break fee is $5 million (subject to certain adjustments) payable to Hanlong, which could be paid in General Moly shares at the Companys option under certain circumstances. The break fee payable by General Moly may in certain circumstances be increased.
Bridge Loan
Hanlong will provide a $20 million bridge loan to General Moly (Bridge Loan) available in two tranches. The first $10 million tranche will bear an interest rate of LIBOR + 2% and will be available following approval by the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), ArcelorMittals election with regard to its anti-dilution rights and satisfaction of other customary conditions. The second $10 million tranche bears an interest rate of 10% per annum and will be available five business days following stockholder approval. All amounts outstanding under the Bridge Loan are repayable out of the proceeds from the Bank Loan. General Moly will pledge a 10% interest in the Mt. Hope project to Hanlong as security supporting the Bridge Loan. The Bridge Loan will be utilized to fund certain project restart costs including engineering and equipment procurement efforts as permitting is advanced.
Molybdenum Supply Agreement
General Moly has executed off-take agreements with ArcelorMittal, SeAH Besteel and Sojitz for an aggregate of approximately 15.5 million pounds of annual molybdenum (moly) production for the first five years of Mt. Hopes
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operations. During this period, Hanlong will be required to purchase the balance of General Molys equity share of production, or approximately 16.5 million pounds annually.
Thereafter and during the rest of the original Bank Loan term, Hanlong will purchase the greater of 16 million pounds and 70% of General Molys share of Mt. Hope production annually. After the expiration of the original Bank Loan term, Hanlong will purchase that proportion of General Molys share of Mt. Hope production equal to two and one-half (2.5) times Hanlongs fully diluted ownership in General Moly.
The price Hanlong will pay for moly is broken down into two segments. 25% of the production Hanlong purchases will have payment terms similar to the previous floor price protected off-take contracts that the Company has in place. These agreements include hard floor prices ranging from $12.50 to $13.50 per pound and incremental discounts above the floor price. For the remaining 75% of the production Hanlong purchases, it will pay the spot price less a slight discount.
Following this transaction, General Moly will have 100% of Mt. Hopes production committed for the first five years, approximately half of which contains floor price protection to help support the Companys ability to service debt in periods of low moly prices.