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Sibanye CEO states might close metals streaming deal in third quarter

Sibanye Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman said on Tuesday it might close a metals streaming, or prepayment, deal to raise the cash it needs to increase its balance sheet in the 3rd quarter.

The Johannesburg-based platinum-group metals manufacturer is seeking to raise more than $500 million to support its balance after profits plunged due to a thrashing in metal costs.

Possible investors are presently carrying out due diligence at Sibanye, Froneman told on the sidelines of a mining conference in London.

We've got a number of celebrations on site doing due diligence so I'm positive within the 3rd quarter we'll definitely be able to complete that process, Froneman stated in an interview.

It could be several parties but more than likely one.

The metals manufacturer's earnings toppled $2 billion in 2015 due to reduce prices and after it reported $2.6 billion of disabilities at its U.S. palladium mines, a nickel operation in France and at a gold operation in South Africa.

Sibanye and its South African rivals including Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum are cutting thousands of jobs and halting costs on brand-new projects to make it through among the worst cost thrashings in more than 30 years.

Previously this month, Sibanye stated all of its lending institutions have agreed to raise the debt limit on all centers, in a move that might help it enhance its balance sheet.

The CEO said Sibanye isn't short of money, adding it has about six months of working capital.

Sibanye's earnings are being squeezed by low metal rates and spending on its Keliber lithium task in Finland, which Froneman said, would continue to advance regardless of falling costs of the battery metal.

RBC Capital Markets is assisting Sibanye on the deal, he stated.

We've run a process and a variety of streamers have actually revealed an interest and have actually made indicative proposals which we have thought about and they are on website doing due diligence, he added.

(source: Reuters)