Red Back Mining

Red Back Mining Inc.

Type	private
Industry	Mining
Founded	1988
Founder	Lukas H Lundin
Headquarters	Vancouver, Canada
Key people	Lukas H Lundin Chair Richard Clark Pres & CEO,Dir Simon Jackson VP
Products	Gold, Nickel, Niobium, Tantalum
Revenue	$318.39 million (2009)
Net income	$109.16 million (2009)
Total assets	$961.13 million[1]
Total equity	$847.37 million (2009)[2]
Number of employees	785 (2009)[3]
Parent	Kinross Gold
Divisions	Red Back Mining NL
Website	www.redbackmining.com

Red Back Mining Inc. is an unhedged^[4] Vancouver based mineral resource company. Its focus is West Africa where it operates the Chirano Gold Project in Ghana and the Tasiast Gold Mine in Mauritania.^[1] It has one division, Red Back Mining NL, based in Perth, Australia. While independent it was considered one of Canada's Largest gold companies with a market capitalization of $ 5.8 billion or 3/4 as much as the 10th largest gold mining company in the world^[5] however at the time its key mines hadn't yet reached full potential or critical mass.^[1][6][7]

In May 2010, there was an announcement of a private placement in which one of the world's largest gold mining companies Kinross Gold will purchase 9.4% of Red Back's outstanding shares. When the deal is completed Kinross will be the company's largest shareholder next to Fidelity Management which currently owns 6%.^[6][8]

On August 3, 2010 an announcement was made by Kinross offering to merge Red Back into Kinross with Kinross paying $7.1 billion for all outstanding shares of Red Back. Current Red Back shareholders would own 37 percent of Kinross if the offer is accepted. The price offered was 15% above the current price of Red Back stock. According to Tye W. Burt, Kinross’s President, Red Back has reserves Kinross has the ability to develop.^[9]

On September 15, 2010 two thirds of Kinross Gold's shareholders voted in favour of the USD 7.2 billion deal to acquire Red Back Mining (99% of Red Back's shareholders approved the deal). Despite opposition from an advisor to Kinross's Investors (and others who estimate the company is overpaying for Red Back based on reserves estimates), KGC plans to close the deal within days of the approval.^[10][11] The acquisition price voted on gives Red Back's shareholders 1.778 KGC commons shares.

History

• In 2003 it was formed after a merger between Red Back Mining NL of Australia and Champion Resources Inc of Canada.^[12]
• Its flagship mine, Chirano began producing gold in 4th quarter of 2005 through its subsidiary Chirano Gold Mines Limited (CGML).
• In August 2007 acquired the Tasiast gold mine from Lundin Mining Corporation for 225 million USD which opened on July 18, 2007.^[13]
• The Chirano mine produced 30,427 ounces of gold its first year and was scheduled to produce 123,000 ounces in each of the next 8.5 years.^[14]
• 2007 saw a 76% increase in gold production on a rising gold price; acquisitions; and higher probable reserve estimates for its key mines.^[15][16]
• In 2009 it failed in its attempt to acquire Moto Goldmines whose key asset was a 70% stake in one of Africa's largest undeveloped gold deposits.^[17]

Production in 2010 and 2009

The company produced 342,085 ounces in 2009, a 31% increase over 2008 production,^[18] and has set a target of 800,000 oz for 2012. Red Back's 90% share of Chirano and 100% share of Tasiast produced 402,000 ounces of gold equivalent in 2010.^[19][20]

• Tasiast Mine
  • 158,660 oz in 2009, 185,000 in 2010 (2010 was previously forecast to be 245-265,000 ounces)
• Chirano Mine
  • 185,425 oz in 2009, 240-260,000 oz projected for 2010.^[21]
    • 4.4 million ounces of gold.^[22]

Cash operating costs per ounce in 2009 rose to $391 compared to $325–$350 for the previous year.^[21][23]

Main areas of exploration

• Mauritania - Tasiast
• Ghana - Chirano, Bolgatanga (in cooperation with Etruscan Resources Inc.), Ahafo North, Bibiani North, Akyem, Enchi, and Bole.

See also

• Mining industry of Ghana
• Mineral industry of Africa

References

1. "Red Back Mining Company Snapshot". www.FPinformart.ca. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
2. "red back mining google finance balance sheet". Retrieved 2010-07-01.
3. "Company Profile". Retrieved 2010-04-18.
4. "european mining". 2009-07-20.
5. Willis, Andrew (2010-04-04). "Red Back Mining has a suitor". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
6. "600 million dollar private placement to kinross". 2010-05-04.
7. "kinross shares fall following red back deal". Reuters. 2010-05-05.
8. "Red Back Mining shares could rise on Kinross stake". 2010-05-05.
9. "In Canada, a Merger for Miners of Gold" Associated Press article reprinted by The New York Times August 2, 2010, accessed August 2, 2010
10. "Kinross Gold Shareholders Approve $7.2 Billion Takeover of Red Back Mining". 2010-09-15.
11. "Shareholders Approve Kinross Gold's Red Back Transaction". 2010-09-15.
12. "Mergers". Retrieved 2010-04-18.
13. "Red Back closes purchase of tasiast gold mine". 2007-08-02.
14. "2005 minerals yearbook" (PDF). August 2007.
15. "#4 Red Back Mining". 2007-10-30.
16. "#4 strongest B.C. company". 2009-10-11.
17. "Red Back Mining drops bid". CBC News. 2009-05-08.
18. "Red Back Mining sees 2010 gold production above 2009". Reuters. 2010-01-15.
19. "Kinross Gold 2010 Annual Report" (PDF). 2011.
20. "Red Back Production to grow to 500,000 oz in 2010". 2010-01-15.
21. "Alto is a buy". 2010-01-18.
22. "xtragold". Retrieved 2010-05-04.
23. "Red Back Production to grow to 500,000 oz in 2010". 2010-02-26.