REG - Baker Steel Res.Tst. - Futura Financing and Potential Transaction

Baker Steel Resources TrustAnnouncement

09/05/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 9521H  Baker Steel Resources Trust Ltd  09 May 2025

BAKER STEEL RESOURCES TRUST LIMITED

(Incorporated in Guernsey with registered number 51576 under the provisions of
The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 as amended)

 

9 May 2025

 

Strategic Investor Financing and Potential Transaction in Futura Resources
("Futura")

 

On 9 May 2025, Futura and International Resources Holdings RSC LTD ("IRH")
completed an agreement for a US$15m loan to Futura. IRH is a mine-to-market
company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that invests in
diverse metals and minerals and operates across the entire mining value chain.
During April 2025, the Company provided a A$1.4 million bridging loan to
Futura enabling completion of the IRH financing.

 

Separately, the Company and other Futura shareholders, representing in excess
of 50.1% of the fully diluted share capital of Futura, have signed option
agreements giving IRH the right to acquire their respective shares at A$3.15
per Futura share within 9 months, which would value Futura at an Enterprise
Value (EV) of some A$250 million. The A$3.15 price per share compares with the
Company's current carrying value of A$2.21 per share and its acquisition price
of A$1 per share. This transaction does not affect the Company's 1.5% Gross
Revenue Royalty over production from Futura's mines.

 

Following a A$30 million financing package in September 2023, Futura
successfully commissioned its Wilton open pit mine in Queensland, Australia
with first coal delivered to the Gregory Crinum wash plant in February 2024.
Run of Mine production ("ROM") was ramped up to full planned rates of 80,000
tonnes per month by Q3 2024.

 

In July 2024, Futura secured US$24m (A$36.4m) in an offtake financing
arrangement with a major trading company, which has since funded the
development of Futura's second mine, the Fairhill mine, located immediately to
the North of Wilton. Futura moved on to the Fairhill property in December
2024, and first coal was mined in April 2025, and the first shipment to the
Gregory Crinum wash plant made in May 2025. The Run of Mine production is
planned to be ramped up to a rate of around 145,000 tonnes per month during
the third quarter of 2025. ROM production from the combined mines is expected
to be around 2.1Mt in 2025, building to 4Mtpa by 2030 based on the current
mine plan. Saleable product coal in CY 2025, is expected to be 0.9 Mt
increasing to 1.9Mtpa by 2030.

 

The coking coal market remains subdued due primarily to on-going economic
weakness in China which is the world's largest steel producer. Coking coal
prices declined during 2024, from around US$320 per tonne at the end of 2023,
to around US$200 per tonne at December 2024, slightly below long-term
consensus prices of US$200-225 per tonne. Since then, coking coal prices have
deteriorated further to lows of around US$170/tonne. This has put considerable
financial strain on the entire metallurgical coal industry to which Futura is
not immune, particularly during its ramp up stage. Futura has, therefore,
sought additional working capital whilst Fairhill moves towards full
production.

 

Despite heightened uncertainty in commodity markets resulting from the trade
tariff war, the Futura management team views the current weakness in the
coking coal market as a short-term setback. They do not believe it will alter
the longer-term positive outlook, with medium-term supply constraints balanced
by expected strong demand increases anticipated for seaborne imports, most
notably from India.

 

At this stage the Company has not revalued its shareholding in Futura pending
IRH making a binding offer for all of Futura. In the absence of a firm offer
in the meantime, we will review the valuation at 30 June 2025 taking into
account the status of the potential offer from IRH as well as the market
valuations of comparable coking coal companies, consistent with our approach
to our unlisted holdings.

 

Trevor Steel, Chief Investment Officer of the Investment Manager, Baker Steel
Capital Managers LLP commented:

 

"Whilst it is uncertain at this stage as to whether IRH will exercise their
option to acquire the Company's shares in Futura, we are pleased to note the
high level of interest in consolidation of the coking coal sector in
Australia, in which Futura can potentially participate. This underlines the
potential for your Company to realise attractive returns from this asset."

 

Further details of the Company and its investments are available on the Baker
Steel Capital Managers website www.bakersteelcap.com
(https://url.avanan.click/v2/___http:/www.bakersteelcap.com___.YXAxZTpzaG9yZWNhcDphOm86MjdlZGQ1NzE1MDA2OWIwMWI0NzUxYWYwYjc5OWUzNTk6NjpiYzEwOjkzMDBjNGMzNDY1MGVhOGQwZjg2Yjk0OWEzY2U2ODYwZDI0MDYxY2Y3MmU3MDM0OWJkOTAyZWZhZWViMDM0NTI6cDpUOk4)

 

Enquiries:

Baker Steel Resources Trust Limited             +44 20 7389 8237

Francis Johnstone

Trevor Steel

 

Shore Capital
                        +44 20 7408 4050

Henry Willcocks (Corporate Broking)

Gillian Martin, Daphne Zhang (Corporate)

Adam Gill (Sales)

 

 

The Net Asset Value ("NAV") figure stated is based on unaudited estimated
valuations of the underlying investments and not necessarily based on
observable inputs. Such estimates are not subject to any independent
verification or other due diligence and may not comply with generally accepted
accounting practices or other generally accepted valuation principles. In
addition, some estimated valuations are based on the latest available
information which may relate to some time before the date set out above.

 

Accordingly, no reliance should be placed on such estimated valuations and
they should only be taken as an indicative guide. Other risk factors which may
be relevant to the NAV figure are set out in the Company's Prospectus dated 26
January 2015.

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