Trading Update and Loan Facility.


    21 May 2025 23:11:52
  • Source: Sharecast
RNS Number : 6617J
Kropz PLC
21 May 2025
 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

21 May 2025

Kropz Plc

("Kropz" or the "Company")

 

Trading Update, Loan Facility,

Related Party Transaction & Legal Claim Update

 

Kropz Plc (AIM: KRPZ), an emerging African phosphate producer and developer, announces a trading update for the period to 31 March 2025 and that Kropz Elandsfontein (Pty) Ltd ("Elandsfontein") and ARC Fund ("ARC") (together the "Parties") have agreed to a ZAR 130 million (approximately US$ 6.7 million) loan facility (the "Loan"), which constitutes a related party transaction. The Company also announces agreement of a legal stay on the claim which Kropz and its subsidiary company, Cominco Resources Limited ("Cominco"), are defendants (the "Claim").

 

 

Trading Update

 

Elandsfontein produced 77,318 tonnes of phosphate concentrate during Q1 2025 and had sales of 88,554 tonnes of phosphate concentrate over the same period. This included a record production month of 33,000 tonnes of phosphate concentrate in January 2025.

 

However, the mine is still in its trial production phase and the Company has encountered some challenges during its progression to full production. Elandsfontein produced 28,000 tonnes of phosphate concentrate during April 2025 with no sales in the month due to one sale being delayed due to the receiving vessel arriving at the port in early May 2025. As noted in the Company's announcement on 26 February 2025, the Company is undergoing a number of projects to address these challenges, which has resulted in an increase in capital expenditure requirements at Elandsfontein. This has resulted in a further funding requirement of ZAR 130 million (approximately US$ 6.7 million).

 

The Loan

 

Elandsfontein and ARC have agreed pending formal execution terms for a loan facility of ZAR 130 million (approximately US$ 6.7 million) where interest is payable on the Loan at the South African prime overdraft interest rate plus 6%, nominal per annum and compounded monthly. The Loan is repayable on the earlier of a date as agreed between the Parties or on demand from ARC, on no less than 15 business days' notice. There is no fixed term.

 

Associated with the Loan, a Guarantee, Security Cession and Pledge by Kropz SA (Pty) Ltd was issued in favour of ARC and pending formal execution a Limited Indemnity, Security Cession and Pledge by Kropz Plc will be issued in favour of ARC for all current and future loan facilities made to Elandsfontein.

 

The Loan will be used by Elandsfontein to fund its cashflow and operational expenditure needs.

 

Of the Loan facility, ZAR 50 million was drawn down on 25 April 2025 ("Tranche 1") and ZAR 30 million was drawn down on 9 May 2025 ("Tranche 2").

 

Related Party Transaction

 

The Loan, Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 (the "Transactions") are related party transactions pursuant to Rule 13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. Gerrit Duminy, a director of the Company, is the representative of ARC and has not been involved in the approval of the Transactions by the Company's board. The directors of the Company, who are considered independent for the purposes of the Transactions, having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, consider the terms of the Transactions at the time they were entered to be fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.

 

Legal Claim Update

 

On 26 February 2025, Kropz announced that Teh Hong Eng Investments Holding Limited ("THE") and Meridian Investment Group PTE. Limited ("Meridian") had served Particulars of Claim in litigation in the English High Court to which Kropz and its subsidiary company, Cominco, are defendants. The litigation relates to an alleged breach of THE's right of first refusal to acquire Cominco shares at the time of Kropz's offer to Cominco's shareholders in November 2018 which resulted in the acquisition by Kropz of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Cominco, including the acceptance of the offer by THE and Meridian as shareholders of Cominco.

 

Kropz has agreed a legal stay with THE and Meridian in respect of the litigation. The legal stay expires in July 2025.

 

Further updates will be made if necessary in due course.

 

 

For further information visit www.kropz.com or contact:

Kropz Plc

Via Tavistock

Louis Loubser (CEO)

+44 (0) 207 920 3150

 

 

Grant Thornton UK LLP

Nominated Adviser

Samantha Harrison

Harrison Clarke

Ciara Donnelly

 

+44 (0) 20 7383 5100

 


Hannam & Partners

Broker

Andrew Chubb

+44 (0) 20 7907 8500

 

 

Tavistock

Financial PR & IR (UK)

Nick Elwes

Jos Simson

 

+44 (0) 207 920 3150

kropz@tavistock.co.uk

 

 

R&A Strategic Communications

PR (South Africa)

Charmane Russell

Marion Brower

+27 (0) 11 880 3924

charmane@rasc.co.za 

marion@rasc.co.za

 

 

About Kropz Plc

Kropz is an emerging African phosphate producer and developer with projects in South Africa and in the Republic of Congo. The vision of the Group is to become a leading independent phosphate rock producer and to develop into an integrated, mine-to-market plant nutrient company focusing on sub-Saharan Africa.

-ENDS-

 

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