King & Wood Mallesons Perth project finance team has acted for BNP Paribas and National Australia Bank on the AUD 50 million financing of Millennium Minerals’ Nullagine Gold project, marking the sixth significant gold project financing deal for the team in three years.
Lead King & Wood Mallesons Partner Nicholas Creed previously acted for Macquarie Bank Limited on the AUD 73 million Duketon Gold Project financing for Regis Resources Limited, Catalpa Resources’ AUD 92 million Edna May open-pit gold operations and Integra Mining’s AUD 64 million Randalls Gold Project.
The team also acted on the USD 85 million financing of Perseus Mining Limited's Central Ashanti gold mine in Ghana last year, reflecting the increasingly cross-border and international nature of Perth-based financings in the energy, resources and projects sector, particularly involving China and Africa.
“Our work on these gold deals showcases the adaptability of our project financing team, which has acted for both the lenders and borrowers on these financings across many jurisdictions,” Mr Creed said.
“It’s also evidence of not only Australia's booming mining, energy and resources sectors but financiers' growing confidence in the sector post-GFC uncertainty,” he added.
The financing for the Nullagine Gold project includes a senior construction facility of AUD 40 million, a cost overrun facility of AUD 5 million and a rehabilitation bond facility of AUD 5 million. It also included a substantial gold price hedging facility.
King & Wood Mallesons’ role involved drafting security and facility documents and conducting lender legal due diligence, including extensive environmental due diligence.
Nicholas Creed was assisted by King & Wood Mallesons’ Senior Associate Nicole Ho and solicitor Andrew Lane.