The global mining deal value, suffering from an unexpected shock from the COVID-19 pandemic, fell by over US$18 billion when compared to the first half of 2019 to US$46.6 billion in the first half of 2020, GlobalData has found. The company notes that an expected slump in the global economy, steered by a series of challenges, has kept investors away from long-term financial instruments, resulting in a 12.7 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) fall in the capital raised by mining companies.
GlobalData’s research indicates that mining mergers and acquisitions (M&As), despite a decent first quarter owing to deals involving gold, fell by 51.6 per cent during the first half of 2020. Overall, the majority of the impact was evident on the completion rate, as there was a 41.7 per cent y-o-y fall in the completed deal value.
Seven of the top ten asset transactions deals involved gold. Topping the list was Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (MUDS), which acquired an equity interest and assets from Hycroft Mining Corporation for a consideration of US$537 million to form Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation. The remaining three involved cobalt, coal and copper.
Vinneth Bajaj, Senior Mining Analyst at GlobalData, said the largest of the completed deals was the acquisition of Detour Gold by Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd for US$3.79 billion. By including the Detour Lake mine to its production assets, the company aims to produce up to 1.5 million ounces (moz) of gold in 2020.
“With this acquisition, Kirkland also added US$173.9 million in cash and repaid Detour’s debt of around US$98.6 million. Furthermore, with strong liquidity, the company is well-positioned to cope with COVID-19 challenges. Kirkland also raised US$1 million in a private placement of shares primarily to complete phase 2 permitting of its Hasbrouck project in the US.”
Alongside that, PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium’s raised US$2.5 billion by offering three sets of bonds at 4.75 per cent (due in 2025), 5.45 per cent (due in 2030) and 5.8 per cent (due in 2050). Of the total, 60 per cent will be used to pay debts and to acquire 20 per cent of PT Vale Indonesia, while the remaining 40 per cent will be used to refinance the company’s older bonds. Moreover, Freeport-McMoRan raised a collective US$1.3 billion, which will be used to fund its purchase of certain outstanding senior notes due in 2021 and 2022.
Bajaj added: “The total volume of deals increased from 1,811 in H1 2019 to 2,271 in H1 2020 owing to a 79.7 per cent increase in the total number of announced capital raising deals in that period. This was accompanied by a 28.4 per cent increase in the volume of completed M&A deals. Canada, US, Australia, China and India accounted for nearly 87 per cent of the total deal volume and over 72 per cent of the total deal value.”