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Minera Andes Inc. (TSX: MAI and US OTC: MNEAF) has accepted an offer letter from Macquarie Bank Limited ("Macquarie Bank", Australian Stock Exchange, ASX: MBL) to provide a loan facility of up to US$7.5 million. The main purpose of the facility will be to provide additional funding to Minera Andes for its 49% portion of the costs of the exploration, development and expansion of the San Jose silver/gold project under construction for planned 2nd quarter 2007 production.
The US$7.5 million debt facility to be provided by Macquarie Bank is subject to completion of documentation and certain regulatory approvals, including Toronto Stock Exchange approval. The debt financing is for part of Minera Andes' share of the costs of mine construction, expansion of the exploration program which will include drilling new targets, expanding the reserves and resources, and for general working capital. In addition, since this facility is an extension of a previously used debt facility with Macquarie Bank, we realize a significant savings in cost to document and complete the loan.
The debt facility with Macquarie Bank is supplemental to the main US$55 million project finance loan facility (see November 20, 2006 news release) we have with Mauricio Hochschild & Cia. Ltda, our joint venture partner, at the San Jose project. The project finance facility with Hochschild has several benefits including no hedging for gold and silver production. Currently a total of US$49 million has been advanced to the project by way of bridge loans while the final documentation is being completed on the main loan facility.
Allen Ambrose, president of Minera Andes, said: "As the San Jose project is continuing to grow in size and scope, we are planning for expansion now while construction is in progress. Making adjustments in the mine plan now during construction allows us to make significant cost savings for expansion of the operations down the road. The Macquarie Bank bridge facility provides us with additional funds to complete our objectives."
The commercial terms of the loan include a facility fee of 1.5% of the principal amount of the initial tranche and interest of Libor plus 2% p.a., currently totaling approximately 7.36% p.a. In addition, Minera Andes is to provide share purchase warrants to acquire 4,227,669 Common Shares of Minera Andes at an exercise price of C$2.06 per share. The warrant exercise price was calculated at a 25 percent premium to the volume weighted average of Minera Andes' common stock determined from the twenty business days prior to February 21, 2007. Each warrant is to be exercisable for two years. The warrants and the underlying common shares will have a four month hold period. A success fee of US$75,000, being one percent of the principal amount of the facility, is payable to Xystus Limited for assisting with the structuring and negotiation of the loan facility.
Macquarie Bank Limited is a diversified international provider of specialist investment banking, trading and financial services with over 9,600 employees in 24 countries. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Macquarie Bank listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1996 and is ranked as one of Australia's top 15 companies by market capitalization.
Drawdown of this finance facility is subject to completion of documentation, receipt of regulatory approval and completion of documentation with Mauricio Hochschild & Cia. Ltda.
Minera Andes is a gold, silver and copper exploration company working in Argentina. Minera Andes holds about 440,000 acres of exploration land in Argentina, including the co-owned San Jose silver/gold project now under construction and development for planned mine production. The Company is acquiring other exploration targets in southern Argentina. The Corporation presently has 157,229,415 issued and outstanding shares.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," including, but not limited to, the statements regarding the Company's strategic plans, evolution of mineral resources and reserves, work programs, development plans and exploration budgets at the Company's San Jose Project.
The forward-looking statements express, as at the date of this press release, the Company's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, risks associated with foreign operations, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves and other risks. Minera Andes' joint venture partner, Mauricio Hochschild & Cia. Ltda., does not accept responsibility for the use of project data or the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CONTACT: Art Johnson at the Spokane office, or Krister A. Kottmeier, investor relations - Canada at the Vancouver office; Visit our web site: http://www.minandes.com; Spokane Office: 111 East Magnesium Road Ste. A, Spokane, WA, 99208, USA, Phone: (509) 921-7322, E-mail: info@minandes.com; Vancouver Office: 911-470 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 1V5, Phone: (604) 689-7017, 877-689-7018, E-mail: ircanada@minandes.com
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