Sons of Gwalia

Sons of Gwalia
Type Public
Industry Resources
Fate Administration
Founder(s) Peter & Chris Lalor
Headquarters Perth, Australia
Key people John Leevers - MD/CEO
Peter Lalor - Chairman
Chris Lalor - Executive director
Products Gold, Tantalum
Production output Tantalum: 2,290,000 lb (1,040,000 kg)
Gold: 521,081 ozt (16,207.4 kg)

Sons of Gwalia was a Western Australian mining company which mined gold, tantalum, spodumene, lithium and tin.

Sons of Gwalia was Australia's third-largest gold producer and also controlled more than half the world's production of tantalum,[1] before entering administration in August 2004 [2] following a financial collapse.

Contents

History

First incarnation

The original "Sons of Gwalia" was a gold mine established in the late 19th century, and which gave its name to the nearby town of Gwalia. The original mine is notable in that it was founded and managed by Herbert Hoover (later to become the President of the United States). That mine closed down in 1963.

Second incarnation

The current Sons of Gwalia began operations in 1981.[3]

In 1998, the company closed its Laverton Gold Mine, which it sold to Focus Technologies Limited for A$2.68 million in July 2002.[4]

The company appointed Mark Cutifani, well regarded in the mining industry,[5] as managing director on 13 March 2000.[6]

On 4 September 2000, a flight to the Gwalia mine with seven SGW employees failed to land, instead continuing on to Burketown, where it eventually crashed, having run out of fuel. The pilot and the plane's seven passengers were killed.[7]

In February 2001, the company announced it had consolidated its Southern Cross operations, acquiring the remaining 30% of the Yilgarn Star Gold Mine it didn't own and merging the operation with Marvel Loch, closing the Yilgarn Star mill. It also acquired other interests in the region in this transaction.[8]

On 23 August 2001, SGW made a takeover offer for Pacmin Mining, owner of the Carosue Dam Gold Mine and the Tarmoola Gold Mine, valued at A$159 million.[9] At the close of offer on 16 October 2001, SGW held 98.9% of all Pacmin shares and proceeded to compulsory acquisition.[10] In retrospect, the purchase of Pacmin and Tarmoola was seen as very expensive, especially in the light of gold reserve write downs and operational difficulties at the Tarmoola mine.[11][12]

In early 2003, the company started to show signs of being troubled. It had to deny reports by UBS Warburg on 13 February 2003, that one of its investment bankers had withdrawn support.[13] The following day, managing director Mark Cutifani, in a surprise move,[5] resigned from his position.[14] In July 2003, the company announced the results of a restructering, aimed at improving the performance of SGW.[15] In October that year, the company successfully raised A$63 million by issuing new shares.[16]

Almost a year after the resignation of Mark Cutifani, John Leevers was appointed as managing director of the company from 27 January 2004. In April 2004, the company's chairman, Peter Lalor and his brother Chris, an executive director, having founded the company 22 years earlier, resigned from their positions on the board. John Leevers was instead appointed as managing director and CEO.[17]

Administration

The company entered administration in August 2004 [2] following a financial collapse,[3] with debts exceeding $800 million after suffering from falling gold reserves and hedging losses.[18] Sons of Gwalia was Australia's third-largest gold producer and also controlled more than half the world's production of tantalum.[1]

In March 2005, the company sold its gold mining operations, consisting of the Marvel Loch Gold Mine, the Gwalia Gold Mine, the Carosue Dam Gold Mine and the Tarmoola Gold Mine, to St Barbara Mining Limited for A$38 Million.[19][20] Talison Minerals paid $205 million to buy the Wodgina and Greenbushes tantalum business of Sons of Gwalia but has since temporarily closed Wodgina because of falling tantalum prices.[18]

In a landmark decision, the shareholders of Sons of Gwalia were awarded the same status as non-shareholding creditors on 27 February 2006 because the company breached continuous disclosure obligations or misled them about its financial status.[21] On 29 August 2006, Sons of Gwalia (SGW) was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange.[22]

On 4 September 2009, the former auditors of Sons of Gwalia, Ernst & Young, agreed to a $125 million settlement over their role in the gold miner’s collapse. Ferrier Hodgson, the company's administrator, had claimed Ernst & Young was negligent over the accounting of gold and dollar hedging contracts. It is hoped the $178 million of assets will assist in bringing the long-running administration to a close in December 2009.[18]

In addition to the $125 million from E & Y, SoG's former directors, the Lalor brothers, agreed to a $53 million settlement over their role in the company's collapse.[18]

Production

Annual production figures of the company:

Gold

Year Production Grade Cost
1997-98 [23] 517,978 ozt (16,110.9 kg)
1998-99
1999-2000 [24] 413,184 ozt (12,851.5 kg) A$337/ozt (A$10.8/g)
2000-01 [25] 438,166 ozt (13,628.5 kg)
2001-02 [26] 541,224 ozt (16,833.9 kg)
2002-03[27] 577,702 ozt (17,968.5 kg) A$454/ozt (A$14.6/g)
2003-04 [28] 521,081 ozt (16,207.4 kg) A$438/ozt (A$14.1/g)
2004-05

Tantalum

Year Production
1997-98 [23] 877,281 lb (397,928 kg)
1998-99
1999-2000 [29] 1,111,967 lb (504,380 kg)
2000-01 [30] 1,625,364 lb (737,253 kg)
2001-02 [26] 2,138,841 lb (970,162 kg)
2002-03[27] 2,193,792 lb (995,087 kg)
2003-04 [28] 2,290,000 lb (1,040,000 kg)
2004-05

Timeline

References

  1. ^ a b Sons of Gwalia's gold hedging had big holes The Sydney Morning Herald, published: 4 September 2004, accessed: 4 September 2009
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k SONS OF GWALIA LIMITED (SGW) delisted.com.au, accessed: 5 February 2010
  3. ^ a b How sons of Lalor built, then sank, Sons of Gwalia The Sydney Morning Herald, published: 22 August 2005, accessed: 5 February 2010
  4. ^ Acquisition Agreement North Laverton Western Australia Focus ASX announcement, published: 16 August 2002, accessed: 28 January 2010
  5. ^ a b Geologist brings 'new eyes' to Sons of Gwalia The Sydney Morning Herald, published: 20 January 2004, accessed: 8 February 2010
  6. ^ a b Managing Director Appointment SGW ASX announcement, published: 13 March 2000, accessed: 8 February 2010
  7. ^ a b Media Release re: Aircraft Accident SGW ASX announcement, published: 5 September 2000, accessed: 8 February 2010
  8. ^ a b Rationalisation of Southern Cross Region of WA SGW ASX announcement, published: 23 August 2001, accessed: 8 February 2010
  9. ^ Intention to Make Takeover Bid for PacMin Mining Corporation SGW ASX announcement, published: 7 February 2001, accessed: 8 February 2010
  10. ^ a b Close of offer for PML/proceeding to compulsory acquisition SGW ASX announcement, published: 16 October 2001, accessed: 8 February 2010
  11. ^ ASX to probe Sons of Gwalia collapse ABC Australia, published: 5 September 2004, accessed: 8 February 2010
  12. ^ Gwalia sweats on review metalsplace.com, published: 8 August 2004, accessed: 8 February 2010
  13. ^ Response to UBS Warburg Statement SGW ASX announcement, published: 13 February 2003, accessed: 8 February 2010
  14. ^ a b Director Resignation SGW ASX announcement, published: 14 February 2003, accessed: 8 February 2010
  15. ^ Results of Restructuring SGW ASX announcement, published: 1 July 2003, accessed: 8 February 2010
  16. ^ a b Capital Raising SGW ASX announcement, published: 15 October 2003, accessed: 8 February 2010
  17. ^ a b Appt of MD/Non Exec Chairman&Changes to Board of Directors SGW ASX announcement, published: 19 January 2004, accessed: 8 February 2010
  18. ^ a b c d Ernst &Young agrees to $125m Sons of Gwalia settlement The West Australian, published: 4 September 2009, accessed: 4 September 2009
  19. ^ St Barbara Mines Limited - Lodgment of Open Briefing published: 28 June 2005, accessed: 3 September 2009
  20. ^ The West Australian, published 16 March 2005, accessed: 3 September 2009
  21. ^ IMF's ann: Sons of Gwalia Full Court Decision ASX announcement, published: 27 February 2006, accessed: 12 January 2010
  22. ^ Removal from Official List ASX announcement, published: 29 August 2006, accessed: 12 January 2010
  23. ^ a b Media Release: Highlights from Quarterly Report 30-6-98 SGW ASX announcement, published: 17 July 1998, accessed: 8 February 2010
  24. ^ Fourth Quarter Activities Report SGW ASX announcement, published: 20 July 2000, accessed: 8 February 2010
  25. ^ Fourth Quarter Activities Report/Media Release SGW ASX announcement, published: 19 July 2001, accessed: 8 February 2010
  26. ^ a b Fourth Quarter Activities Report SGW ASX announcement, published: 18 July 2002, accessed: 8 February 2010
  27. ^ a b Sons of Gwalia annual report 2003 accessed: 12 January 2010
  28. ^ a b Sons of Gwalia fourth quarter report 2004 accessed: 12 January 2010
  29. ^ Fourth Quarter Activities Report SGW ASX announcement, published: 20 July 2000, accessed: 8 February 2010
  30. ^ Fourth Quarter Activities Report/Media Release SGW ASX announcement, published: 19 July 2001, accessed: 8 February 2010
  31. ^ PACMIN MINING CORPORATION LIMITED (PML) delisted.com.au, accessed: 8 February 2010
  32. ^ Chairman's Summary Half Year Ended 31 December 2003 SGW ASX announcement, published: 18 February 2004, accessed: 8 February 2010

External links