19 Dec 2007business combination● Neutral
New Hope confirms it holds no relevant interest in any Resource Pacific shares and that compulsory acquisition will not proceed. This is the final administrative closure of the failed bid.
Announcements, explained
Each one in plain English, with the numbers worked through for a shareholder.
18 Dec 2007business combination● Neutral
New Hope obtained ASIC consent to withdraw its unaccepted offer for Resource Pacific. The offer closed at 7pm on 18 December 2007, well before the planned 1 February 2008 close, formally ending the bid.
10 Dec 2007business combination● NeutralMajor
New Hope will not raise its 0.94-share offer to beat Xstrata's higher bid for Resource Pacific, citing Newpac production problems, long-wall difficulties and lack of synergies. It will seek ASIC consent to withdraw, and will push on with New Saraji and renewable energy.
6 Dec 2007business combination● Neutral
Resource Pacific's formal target's statement tells its holders to reject New Hope's 0.94-share offer as inadequate and opportunistic, citing Newpac's growth plan to 8 Mtpa by 2010 and loss of control to Soul Pattinson. The directors' recommendation is unanimous.
6 Dec 2007business combination● Neutral
Resource Pacific's media release repeats its recommendation to reject New Hope's bid. It says Xstrata made an unsolicited bid for RSP the day before (5 Dec), which RSP presents as evidence of its value. This introduces a rival bidder for New Hope's target.
4 Dec 2007business combination● Neutral
Resource Pacific's managing director wrote to shareholders to take no action, saying the bid undervalues Newpac, which has a 28-year mine life. Asian buyers have committed to 100% of 2008 saleable output. A formal recommendation will follow.
4 Dec 2007business combination● NeutralMajor
The replacement bidder's statement was sent to Resource Pacific shareholders. The 0.94-share offer opens 3 December 2007 and closes 1 February 2008, unless varied.
26 Nov 2007business combination● Neutral
New Hope amended its Resource Pacific offer documents after matters raised by RSP. The offer values RSP at $2.262 a share on pre-bid prices, but at recent 5-day averages about $2.116, an 8.5% discount to RSP's price.
26 Nov 2007business combination● Neutral
New Hope lodged a replacement bidder's statement dated 26 November for its 0.94-share offer for Resource Pacific, incorporating changes requested by RSP. Offer dates were still blank. The truncated text gives no new terms beyond the supplementary statement.
26 Nov 2007business combination● Neutral
Marked-up version of the 26 November replacement bidder's statement, showing changes from the 13 November original. Administrative re-release; the offer remains 0.94 New Hope shares per Resource Pacific share.
15 Nov 2007other● Neutral
Chairman's AGM address repeats FY2007 profit of $69.3 million, 7.6 cents of dividends, and Acland and QBH growth plans. It expects about 4.1 million tonnes of production in 2008 and a possible third Acland lease in 2010. Nothing new.
15 Nov 2007contract award▲ GoodMajor
New Hope secured a 28-year contract from 2010 for Toowoomba City Council recycled water for New Acland, via a 47 km pipeline it will build and own. Work has also started to expand Queensland Bulk Handling from about 4 to 6-7 million tonnes a year from 2010.
13 Nov 2007business combination● Neutral
New Hope's chairman urged Resource Pacific holders to accept the full-scrip offer, claiming three-year shareholder returns of 120% against 70% for RSP. The bidder's statement was lodged with ASIC and goes to RSP shareholders in about two weeks. Largely a promotional restatement of the bid.
13 Nov 2007business combination● Neutral
New Hope lodged its bidder's statement with ASIC for the revised full-scrip offer of 0.94 New Hope share per Resource Pacific share. Offer open and close dates were still blank. The text was truncated, so no further terms are confirmed here.
13 Nov 2007business combination● Neutral
Resource Pacific again advised shareholders to take no action after New Hope lodged its bidder's statement, saying first sight changed nothing about its view the bid is unattractive. It notes Newpac has over 252 million tonnes and capacity of at least 4 Mtpa.
7 Nov 2007business combination● NeutralMajor
New Hope withdrew its original Resource Pacific bid and replaced it with 0.94 New Hope shares per RSP share (was 1.04), after RSP's $165m offer at $1.60 passed. It values RSP at about $2.25 a share, roughly $754 million. Bidder's statement due around 12 November.
7 Nov 2007business combination● Neutral
Resource Pacific told shareholders to take no action on New Hope's revised bid, calling it initially 'unattractive'. It says the Newpac mine is well placed and plans to lift run-of-mine output to 8 million tonnes a year. A formal recommendation will follow the bidder's statement.
31 Oct 2007regulatory community update● Neutral
The Takeovers Panel declined to act on New Hope's 19 October application after Resource Pacific gave shareholders extra detail on its $165 million entitlement offer. Panel said issuing the shares would trigger a defeating condition in New Hope's bid. Resolves the pending Panel application.
19 Oct 2007regulatory community update● Neutral
New Hope applied to the Takeovers Panel over Resource Pacific's $165 million entitlement offer, saying its shareholders lack time and information to weigh it against the bid. It seeks disclosure and a delay of the 31 October meeting. The Panel has not yet decided.
28 Sept 2007resource reserve update● Neutral
Re-lodges the reserves and resources statement as at 31 May 2007, confirming it matches the 6 June release: 1,687 million tonnes of resources. A clarification only; no new numbers.
27 Sept 2007capital raising announcement● Neutral
Target Resource Pacific announced a $165 million entitlement offer, with $120 million to repay project debt, in response to New Hope's takeover plan. New Hope's bid is to be conditional on no share issue, so the offer is a defensive complication; shareholders will vote.
27 Sept 2007investor presentation● Neutral
Analyst briefing repeats the full-year results and notes Tarong did not exercise its option. It outlines Acland growth options, a possible rise to 4.4 Mtpa, and a third mining lease possibly granted in 2010. Arrow stake worth $319.2 million.
26 Sept 2007business combination● NeutralMajor
Resource Pacific, the target of New Hope's announced unsolicited scrip takeover bid, advises its shareholders to take no action and calls the bid opportunistic. This is New Hope's first move into a Newpac-mine takeover; the Resource Pacific text does not give terms.
25 Sept 2007annual report▲ Good
Year to July 2007 profit rose 0.9% to $69.3 million, with revenue $248.8 million. Final dividend 2.5 cents plus special 3.0 cents (special down from 4.5 cents). The Arrow stake carries a $231.6 million unrealised pre-tax gain.
25 Sept 2007annual report● Neutral
Media release repeats the full-year result: profit $69.3 million, total dividends 7.6 cents. Notes QBH now fully owned, coal-to-diesel concept testing shows the technology feasible, and $23.7 million spent buying land at Acland.
10 Sept 2007material agreement termination▼ BadMajor
Tarong Energy will not exercise its option to buy 5.7 million tonnes a year from New Acland from 2011, despite New Hope meeting all conditions. New Hope says that coal can go to exports, citing doubled world prices, and is pursuing rail, port expansion and coal-to-liquids.
2 Aug 2007asset acquisition disposition▲ GoodMajor
New Hope completed buying the other 50% of Queensland Bulk Handling, the Port of Brisbane coal terminal that exported 4.2 million tonnes last year, taking it to 100%. It also hired a Chief Operations Officer and a Saraji Project Executive for the proposed New Saraji underground mine.
6 June 2007resource reserve update▲ GoodMajor
Marketable coal reserves rose 280% to 245 million tonnes and total resources 25% to 1,687 million tonnes. Saraji East inferred coking coal rose 226 million tonnes to 678 million. Acland Stage 3 was granted Project of State Significance status in May 2007.
29 Mar 2007investor presentation● Neutral
Analyst briefing repeats the half-year result, the completed Acland Stage 2 ($59 million), the Tarong option (due 30 June 2007) and Arrow stake worth $160.6 million at 16 March against $64.8 million cost. No new facts evident in the text shown.
21 Mar 2007half year report● Neutral
Half-year profit to January 2007 was $40.1 million, steady on $40.3 million, with revenue down 9.1% to $123.1 million on lower export volumes and higher costs. A $6.6 million land-sale profit helped. Interim dividend 2.1 cents. Acland Stage 2 finished at $59 million.