2013 has been a difficult year for many mining companies. Softening commodity prices, falling share prices and significantly reduced financing opportunities have combined to create a crisis where survival is the key goal for many in the industry. The most vulnerable are the companies with mining projects in the exploration and development stages without cash flow and which require capital to advance. There are some practical steps, however, that mining companies can take to weather the current financial storm and prepare for the possibility of a challenging next six to twelve months.

Reducing the Burn Rate

The obvious first step is to reduce your burn rate in order to conserve your existing resources for as long as possible. A few areas to focus on are:

  • Terminate any non-essential exploration work
  • If possible, slow down or shelve any mine or plant expansion plans unless they are key to your company strategy
  • Postpone major hires
  • Consider ways of maximizing mine, plant and other business efficiencies

Financing Options

Equity

Unless you are close to production, it may be difficult to access the traditional equity markets at this time. Even if they are available to you, you and your board may not be interested in selling equity at the current dilutive market prices. If equity is an option however, it is essential that you avoid a marketed offering which would leave your share price open to considerable downward market pressure. Instead, you can push hard for a bought deal or perhaps even an overnight marketed deal, whether on a prospectus or private placement basis. You don't want to compound any current troubles by having a marketed deal further suppress your share price. A flow-through financing could be a viable short-term funding solution given that it would likely be priced at a small premium to market price.

Other Alternatives

If an equity financing is not realistic, a variety of other options may be worth considering, including:

  • A commodity-linked note or preferred share offering
  • A commodity streaming or royalty transaction
  • A convertible share offering
  • High-yield note offering
  • Traditional debt-like offerings
  • Partnering with equipment suppliers and/or engineering, procurement, and construction management companies

There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of these types of alternative financing transactions during the last twelve months. While each of these structures offers risks and negatives, they could be the source of the funds that allow your company to survive the current mining crisis.

Re-evaluating Your Guidance

As commodity prices fall, capital expenditure and operating costs increase and construction plans slow, many companies are coming to the realization that their 2013 market guidance is no longer accurate. It is critical that companies manage this type of situation efficiently in order to avoid potential class action litigation or serious damage to their share price. Practical approaches include:

  • Assess the current guidance quickly but take the time to do it properly
  • Be realistic
  • Retain third-party consultants if necessary
  • Update the market with your new guidance as quickly as possible but ensure that you get the numbers correct now to avoid a further update later in 2013
  • If your new guidance is contingent on a variety of unknowns, be clear to the market that your updated guidance is preliminary and subject to certain listed factors that could cause deviations as the year progresses
  • Do not try to hide bad news. The current market would prefer realistic forecasts to unexpected surprises at the end of 2013

Shareholder Activism

Mining companies should always be prepared for the possibility of shareholder activism, especially in a down market. Proxy challenges are becoming a new reality in the mining world as shareholders and specialty groups see them as a cheaper alternative to M&A for taking control of a struggling company. Key points companies should consider are:

  • Maintain frequent dialogue with key shareholders so they feel plugged into management and have an outlet for their concerns
  • Constantly track your shareholder list and any significant block trades
  • Build a loyal but strong and independent board of directors
  • Ensure all legal and corporate governance arrangements are in place to permit the board to react quickly and appropriately in the event a shareholder challenge arises (e.g. advance notice and enhanced quorum by-laws)
  • If faced with a potential proxy challenge, seek legal advice as soon as possible

Summary

The challenges many mining companies are experiencing in 2013 are serious and for some, a matter of survival. But by taking practical steps to conserve resources, identify alternative types of financing and manage shareholder relationships, companies can adapt to today's environment and weather the storm.

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world's pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 3800 lawyers based in over 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.

Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Australia, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa (incorporated as Deneys Reitz Inc) and Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, each of which is a separate legal entity, are members ('the Norton Rose Fulbright members') of Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss Verein. Norton Rose Fulbright Verein helps coordinate the activities of the Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.