World’s biggest zinc producer exploring total exit from mining

Note* - All images used are for editorial and illustrative purposes only and may not originate from the original news provider or associated company.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from any location or device.

Media Packs

Expand Your Reach With Our Customized Solutions Empowering Your Campaigns To Maximize Your Reach & Drive Real Results!

– Access the Media Pack Now

– Book a Conference Call

Leave Message for Us to Get Back

Related stories

Apple Invests $500mn in MP Materials to expand U.S. supply

In a recent move, technology giant Apple Invests $500mn...

Egypt and Saudi Arabia Exploring Mining Cooperation Options

The Egyptian minister of petroleum and mineral resources, Karem...

Steel Tariffs To Protect Domestic Steel Industry In Canada

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada on July 16,...

New Mining Law in Egypt to Shift EMRA Into Economic Entity

A new amendment to the mineral resources law in...

Europe’s biggest zinc producer exploring total exit from mining

The company has already suspended operations at its Mexico’s Campo Morado (pictured) and Canada’s Myra Falls mines.

Debt-laden European zinc producer Nyrstar (EBR:NYR) said Monday it plans to raise up to $296 million (€275m) through a share offering to pay down debt and has appointed bankers to explore a total exit from mining.

The Belgian company, which is the world’s No.1 zinc producer, laid out a package of measures it is putting in place to try repaying a $447 million bond that matures in 2016 and also address ongoing problems with it mining division.

Nyrstar also announced a number of commercial supply agreements with Trafigura, the world’s second-largest metals trader and its main shareholder.

The commodity trader has agreed to buy as much as $135 million (€125m) of shares in a first-quarter rights offer totalling $270m to $296m. As part of the deal, Trafigura won’t raise its stake to more than 49% from over 20%, according to Nyrstar. Should the rights offer boost Trafigura’s holding above 30%, it won’t be obliged to make an offer for the rest of the stock, the company added.

Nyrstar shares jumped up as much as 9.4% in Brussels on the news and were trading 5.5% higher at €1.62 mid-afternoon.

They took a huge dip on Oct. 22, falling 27% in a matter of hours, after new chief executive Bill Scotting said the company was considering selling stock to meet its debt obligations.

On Monday, Scotting noted Trafigura’s involvement in the refinancing was not a “takeover by stealth”.

Nyrstar has been hit quite hard by the rout in commodities, with zinc down 24% this year on declining demand from top consumer China. The company said it’s mulling reducing zinc production from its mines by as much as 400,000 metric tons if prices stay depressed. That would almost match the 500,000 tonnes that Glencore, another leading zinc producer, recently cut.

The company has already suspended operations at its Mexico’s Campo Morado and Canada’s Myra Falls mines.

Latest stories

Related stories

Apple Invests $500mn in MP Materials to expand U.S. supply

In a recent move, technology giant Apple Invests $500mn...

Egypt and Saudi Arabia Exploring Mining Cooperation Options

The Egyptian minister of petroleum and mineral resources, Karem...

Steel Tariffs To Protect Domestic Steel Industry In Canada

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada on July 16,...

New Mining Law in Egypt to Shift EMRA Into Economic Entity

A new amendment to the mineral resources law in...

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from any location or device.

Media Packs

Expand Your Reach With Our Customized Solutions Empowering Your Campaigns To Maximize Your Reach & Drive Real Results!

– Access the Media Pack Now

– Book a Conference Call

– Leave Message for Us to Get Back