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Overview

Bank of China provides $347.3 million loan to Shandong Gold Mining (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd for acquisition of 50% stake in Argentina Gold (Bermuda) II Ltd. and Minera Argentina Gold S.R.L.

Commitments (Constant USD, 2023)$369,571,092
Commitment Year•2017Country of Activity•ArgentinaDirect Recipient Country of Incorporation•China (People's Republic of)Sector•Industry, Mining, ConstructionFlow Type•Loan

Status

Project lifecycle

Completion

Pipeline: PledgePipeline: CommitmentImplementationCompletion

Timeline

Key dates

Commitment date
Jun 20, 2017
Start (actual)
Jun 30, 2017
End (actual)
Jun 30, 2017

Geospatial footprint

Map overview

Visualizes the AidData-provided feature geometry for this project.

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The Veladero mine is located in San Juan province. More detailed locational information can be found at https://www.google.com/maps/place/Veladero/@-29.4090142,-69.8974599,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x969af73acba17705:0xf0361ad393723bc!8m2!3d-29.4090142!4d-69.8952712 and https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/582644157

Stakeholders

Organizations involved in projects and activities supported by financial and in-kind transfers from Chinese government and state-owned entities

Ultimate beneficial owners

At least 25% Chinese ownership

Funding agencies

State-owned Commercial Banks

  • Bank of China (BOC)

Cofinancing agencies

State-owned Commercial Banks

  • China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.

Receiving agencies

State-owned companies

  • Shandong Gold Group Corporation

Implementing agencies

State-owned companies

  • Shandong Gold Group Corporation

Guarantors

State-owned companies

  • Shandong Gold Group Corporation

Loan desecription

BOC, China Merchants Bank Co., and CDB contributions to USD 960 million syndicated loan for acquisition of 50% stake in Argentina Gold (Bermuda) II Ltd. and Minera Argentina Gold S.R.L in 2017

Interest rate (t₀)•2.68961%Interest type•Variable Interest Rate

Narrative

Full Description

Project narrative

On June 20, 2017, Shandong Gold Mining (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. (SDG Hong Kong) and several financial institutions entered into a $960 million term loan facilities agreement. The loan proceeds were to be used by the borrower purchase of a 50% equity interest in Argentina Gold (Bermuda) II Ltd., as well as equity interest in Minera Argentina Gold S.R.L. to support SDG Hong Kong's acquisition of Veladero Mine, which is located in the San Juan province of Argentina. China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. New York Branch (private bank) acted as the facility agent, and Bank of China Limited, Shandong Branch; China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Jinan Branch; Bank of China Limited, Seoul Branch; Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited; China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Branch; and China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Offshore Banking Center also contributed. As of December 31, 2018, SDG Hong Kong had deposited guarantees into the banks from which they received the syndicated loan. This amount of guarantee was used to calculate the transaction value, as usually when a loan guarantee is issued, the guaranteed amount is equivalent to the face value of the loan/loan principal. Shandong Gold Mining (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd deposited $329 million into China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd ($129 million to the New York Branch, $100 million to the Hong Kong Branch, and $100 million to the Offshore Banking Center). Loans from the China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. branches are captured via the following AidData Record IDs: New York Branch (#62560), Hong Kong Branch (#109940), Offshore Banking Center (#109941). Shandong Gold also deposited RMB 1,126.9 million (as captured via Record ID #69239) and $347.3 million (as captured via Record ID #69238) into the Bank of China Limited Shandong Branch. SDG Hong Kong was incorporated in Hong Kong on February 27, 2017 with limited liability as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SDG Group. To provide additional funds for the Veladero Acquisition, SDG Hong Kong also obtained a term loan of $300 million from the China Development Bank Hong Kong Branch (see Record ID #62557).

Staff comments

1. AidData only captures the Bank of China Ltd. aspect of the loan syndicate as projects, as China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. is a non-state-owned bank. 2. Even though Shandong Gold Mining (Hong Kong) Co., Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SDG Group (of Financier Country origin), it provided a guarantee supporting this loan facility. 3. The all-in interest rate for this syndicated loan was estimated as average 6-month LIBOR in June 2017 (1.432%) plus 1.25% (2.682%).