BCLs P600 million liquidation conundrum
Business
A daunting legal process waits while dust is settling in the explosive fracas between government led by Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Eric Molale and the outgoing BCL liquidator Nijel Dixon-Warren-the two parties are in a process of solving their differences amicably but the burden of liquidation remains a monkey on the state’s back, now even more heavily.
This week Molale revealed that already the process to get rid of Dixon-Warren, who he believes he has been incompetent with handling BCL liquidation, is ongoing and a “task team” has been installed specifically to handle the liquidation. When presenting his ministry’s Committee of Supply Speech on Tuesday before Parliament, Molale sounded like a man who would not wait to get rid of Dixon-Warren as he suggested his task team is working around the clock in addressing all the aspects of liquidation process, “including shortening of time.”
“Further, my ministry is engaging the Attorney General and Master of High Court to explore options of removing the liquidator. In parallel there are ongoing discussions between the liquidator and the task team towards removing the core mining assets out of liquidation to allow for government to take control of the disposal of the assets or closure if no investor is identified. Cabinet will be briefed in the shortest possible time,” said Molale this week.
The relationship between Molale and Dixon-Warren hit the rocks last year after the two men disagreed on whether there should be more money injected in the liquidation. Government led by Molale also complained that the BCL liquidator was incompetent and asked when Dixon-Warren would wind up BCL assets. Responding to government’s lack of funding on the liquidation, Dixon-Warren trimmed the staff which was hired to do care and maintenance at the mine from 520 to 390 much to the annoyance of Molale who went to Parliament and revealed that he is going to fire the liquidator.
Since last year, Molale has been working on a process to get rid of the liquidator and sources close to the process have revealed that the two men had to reach an amicable solution. According to information received by this publication, the liquidator was already frustrated by government’s lack of funding after finding that Dixon-Warren had P80 million in the liquidation account. According to information Care and Maintenance at the mine is P15 million and totally the liquidation is P20 million per month.
In an interview with this publication Dixon-Warren said he does not understand where the relationship between him and government went sour. The departing liquidator said he just found out that he is being removed and is not fighting it and prefers the amicable exit.
Dixon-Warren revealed that the last time government funded the liquidation was last year August and he was left with raising money from debtors. Around P200 million was collected and has been able to sustain the liquidation since the last quarter of 2018, according to Dixon-Warren.
According to Molale BCL should be placed under judicial management after Dixon-Warren leaves. The liquidator said government will have to negotiate with him for an amicable pay out as it will be inheriting his assets, all the mine owned by the mining company, BCL mining plants and the infrastructure.. He said he will also have to deal with other creditors and negotiate compensation or any amicable deal.Dixon-Warren said there is going to be a “smooth” transition and an “amicable handover” as operations will continue to make sure nothing is disrupted in winding off of the BCL mine.
BCL stands to gobble a lot from the government budget
Dixon Warren has revealed that P600 million has already been spent on liquidation since the process bega in 2016. According to Molale Government will spend more on BCL rehabilitation this year. The total recurrent budget estimates for the financial year 2019/2020 is P733 061 670 and this represent an increase of P327 127 210 or 81 percent from this year’s allocation of P405 934 460, according to Molale. This significant increase is mainly due to BCL funding for rehabilitation meaning the mine will gobble a lot from government fiscal budget in this coming financial year.
According to Dixon-Warren there is a need for Government to fund drilling and exploration projects which will show what or how the mine is worth. For Phase 1 of the project, Dixon Warren said, around P50 million and P100 million is needed, meaning more money from the Government until winding off.
Investor scare
So far two “serious” investors have shown interest in buying the BCL mine. When speaking to this publication it was not clear to Dixon-Warren whether BCL will find a white night investor or will close down. A new investor is expected to come with at least an injection of between P1.5 billion to P3 billion.
However, according to Dixon-Warren, interest investors are scared of the lack of information on resources and viability of the mine. According to the outgoing BCL liquidator, BCL is an old mine and there should be ongoing exploration operations which should inform potential investors on the viability of the mine. Some would want to know the cost of closing the mine and resources which can be mined underground.
Despite the recent survey or study mining and exploration companies by the respected Fraser Institute showing that Botswana is top when it comes to be an ideal mining jurisdiction for mining and exploration companies, some observers believes otherwise. According to the study, Botswana has encouraging investment in exploration and its jurisdiction is seen to provide attractive mining policies. However observers believe some investors apparently would not touch BCL because Botswana is currently being seen as a risky destination for investment due to the ongoing tension between the incumbent president and his predecessor.
Also, investors who met with Dixon-Warren have qualms with the P2.8 billion which should be set aside for Environmental Rehabilitation Liability even in the event of a closing plan when the mine goes for closure. The sum of P2.8 billion was seen as an environmental rehabilitation and reclamation obligation by a report carried out by Dixon-Warren in 2015 and this amount remains an obligation few buyers would be willing to accept given the present value on site at BCL.
BCL tremors
When his exist was being planned, Dixon-Warren was still investigating the recent tremors which sent the town of Selibe Phikwe into panic. Dixon-Warren revealed that he sought for expertise of a South African consultant who would cost them P120 000. Before seeking the help of the SA consultant, the liquidator revealed that locally the tremors would not be investigated because of lack of resources and capacity, hence the roping in of foreign consultants. The SA consultant however found out that the tremor was minor.
“I had procured a consultant from South Africa. Last week a South African consultant came and investigated the tremors and he said the earth shaking was not serious and very small to cause a disastrous impact on the Phikwe community,” said Dixon-Warren. Dixon-Warren said the noise heard in Phikwe will further need an acoustic specialist to investigate. He said the specialist who is coming in few weeks time will detect the reason for the noise that came out during the tremor.
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Business
Grit divests from Letlole La Rona
Grit Services Limited, a member of the pan African real estate group, London Stock Exchange listed Grit Real Estate Income Group is divesting from Letlole La Rona Limited (LLR), a local real estate company established by government investment arm Botswana Development Corporation over a decade ago.
The Board of Directors of Letlole La Rona Limited this week announced in a statement to Unitholders that Grit Services Limited (‘Grit’) has informed them of its intention to exit its investment in the company.
Grit has been a material shareholder in LLR since 2019. On 07 March 2023, Grit sold 6 421 000 linked units, representing 2.29% of the Company’s total securities in issue, at a market value of BWP 22 537 710.
This trade follows previous sales of 6.79% in December 2022, as communicated to Unitholders on 10 January 2023, as well as a further sale of 4.78% (representing 13 347 068 linked units) on 24 February 2023 to various shareholders.
In aggregate, Grit has sold 13.9% shareholding in the Letlole La Rona between December 2022 and March 2023, resulting in current shareholding of 11.25% in the Company.
Letlole La Rona said in the statement that the exit process will take place in an orderly manner so as to maintain stability of the Company’s share price.
The statement explained that Grit’s sale of its entire shareholding in LLR is in line with its decision to exit investments where it does not have majority control, or where it has significant exposure to currencies other than US dollar, Euro or hard-currency-pegged revenue streams.
“Grit has announced similar decisions pertaining to certain of its hospitality assets in Mauritius recently. The Company would like to advise Unitholders that it remains focused on long-term value delivery to all stakeholders” LLR said
In July last year as part of their Go-to-Africa strategy Letlole La Rona acquired an initial 30% equity stake in Orbit Africa Logistics, with an option to increase this investment to 50%. OAL is a special purpose vehicle incorporated in Mauritius, owning an industrial asset in a prime industrial node in Nairobi, Kenya.
The co-investment was done alongside a wholly owned subsidiary of London listed Grit. The Orbit facility is situated on a prime industrial site on Mombasa Road, the principal route south of Nairobi center, serving the main industrial node, the port of Mombasa and the industrial town of Athi River and is strategically located 11 kilometers south of the international airport and 9.6 kilometers from the Inland Container Depot.
Grit shareholding in Letlole La Rona was seen as strategic for LLR, for the company to leverage on Grit’s already existing continental presence and expand its wings beyond Botswana borders as already delivered by Kenya transaction.
Media reports have however suggested that LLR and Grit have since late last year had fundamental disagreements on how to go about the Go-to-Africa strategy amongst other things, fuelled by alleged Botswana government interference on the affairs of LLR.
Government through LLR founding shareholder – Botswana Development Corporation has a controlling stake of around 40 percent in the company. Government is the sole shareholder of Botswana Development Corporation.
Letlole La Rona recently released their financial results for the six months ended December 2022, revenue increased by 4% to P50.2 million from P48.4 million in the prior comparative six months, whilst operating profit was up 8% to P36.5 million. Profit before tax of P49.7 million was reported, an increase of 8% on the prior comparative six months.
“We are encouraged by the strong results, notwithstanding a challenging economic environment. Our performance was mainly underpinned by annual lease escalations, our quality tenant base and below average market vacancy levels, especially in our warehouse portfolio,” Kamogelo Mowaneng, Letlole La Rona Chief Executive Officer commented.
LLR reported a weighted average lease expiry period of 3.3 years and escalation rates averaging 6.8% per annum for the period ended 31 December 2022.Its investment portfolio value increased by 14% year-on-year to close the period at P1.4 billion, mainly driven by the acquisition of a 30% stake in OAL in July 2022.
The Company also recorded a significant increase in other income, predominantly due to foreign exchange gains on the OAL shareholder loan. “We continue to explore pipeline opportunities locally, and regionally in line with our Go-to-Africa strategy and our interest remains on value-accretive investments,” Mowaneng said.
An interim distribution of 9.11 thebe per linked unit was declared on the 6th of February 2023 for the half-year period to 31 December 2022, comprising of a dividend of 0.05 thebe and debenture interest of 9.06 thebe per linked unit which will be paid to linked unit holders registered in the books of the Company at the close of business on 24 February 2023.
Business
Stargems Group establishes Training Center in BW
Internationally-acclaimed diamond manufacturing company StarGems Group has established the Stargems Diamond Training Center which will be providing specialized training in diamond manufacturing and evaluation.
The Stargems Diamond Training Institute is located at the Stargems Group Botswana Unit in Gaborone.
“In accordance with the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS) which holds the principle that through education and skills development as well as the strategic alignment between national ambitions and individual capabilities, Botswana will become a prosperous, productive and innovative nation due to the quality and efficacy of its citizenry. The Training Centre will provide a range of modules in theory and in practice; from rough diamond evaluation to diamond grading and polishing for Batswana, at no cost for eight weeks. The internationally- recognized certificate offered in partnership with Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School presents invaluable opportunities for Batswana to access in the diamond industry locally and internationally. The initiative is an extension of our Corporate Social Investment to the community in which we operate,” said Vishal Shah, Stargems Group Managing Director, during the launch of the Stargems Diamond Training Center.
In order to participate in this rare opportunity, interested candidates are invited to submit a police clearance certificate and a BGCSE certificate only to the Stargems offices. Students who excel in these programs will have the chance to be onboarded by the Stargems Group. This serves as motivation for them to go through this training with a high level of seriousness.
“Community empowerment is one of our CSR principles. We believe that businesses can only thrive when their communities are well taken of. We are hoping that our presence will be impactful to various communities and economies. In the six countries that we are operating in, we have contributed through dedicating 10% of our revenues during COVID-19 to facilitate education, donating to hospitals and also to NGOs committed to supporting women and children living with HIV. One key issue that we are targeting in Botswana is the rate of unemployment amongst the youth. We are looking forward to working closely with the government and other relevant authorities to curb unemployment,” said Shah.
Currently, Stargems Group has employed 117 Batswana and they are looking forward to growing the numbers to 500 as the company grows. Majority of the employees will be graduates from the Stargems Diamond Training Center. This initiation has been received with open arms by the general public and stakeholders. During the launch, the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Honorable Lefoko Moagi, stated that the ministry fully endorses Stargems Diamond Training and will work closely with the Group to support and grow the initiative.
“As a ministry, we see this as an game changer that is aligned with one of the United Nations’ Six Priority Sustainable Development Goals, which is to Advance Opportunity and Impact for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). What Stargems Group is launching today will have a huge impact on the creation of employment in Botswana. An economy’s productivity rises as the number of educated workers increases as its skilled workmanship increases. It is not a secret that low skills perpetuate poverty and widen the inequality gap, therefore the development of skills has the potential to contribute significantly to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and helping the country become more competitive. We are grateful to see the emergence of industry players such as Stargems Group who have strived to create such opportunities that mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on the economy,” said the Minister of Minerals and Energy.