DENVER, March 25, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apex Silver Mines Limited (Pink Sheets:APXSQ) (the "Company") reported today that the Joint Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan") filed by the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Apex Silver Mines Corporation ("ASMC") became effective on March 24, 2009 and that the Company and ASMC have emerged from Chapter 11 proceedings. Under the Plan, Golden Minerals Company ("Golden Minerals"), a newly-formed Delaware corporation, is the successor to the Company's assets. The Company's pending provisional liquidation proceedings under Cayman Islands law will be converted to a compulsory liquidation.
As previously reported, the Company and ASMC filed a voluntary joint petition with the Bankruptcy Court on January 12, 2009, for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. On March 4, 2009, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York entered an order confirming the Plan.
Pursuant to the Plan, Sumitomo Corporation ("Sumitomo") acquired the Company's direct and indirect interests in the San Cristobal mine, including its 65% interest in Minera San Cristobal, for a cash purchase price of $27.5 million, plus $2.5 million in expense reimbursements and the assumption of certain liabilities. The Company has been released and discharged from liabilities associated with the San Cristobal mine, including its guarantee of San Cristobal's indebtedness.
ASMC, which has been renamed Golden Service Corporation, has entered into a Management Services Agreement with Sumitomo (the "Management Agreement") under which it will provide certain management services with respect to the San Cristobal mine and receive an annual fee of approximately $6.0 million, and a potential annual incentive fee of $1.5 million. The Management Agreement will have an initial term of twelve months and thereafter may be terminated by Golden Minerals with twelve months' prior notice or by Sumitomo with six months' prior notice. If terminated by Sumitomo, Golden Minerals will be entitled to a $1.0 million termination fee.
In addition to managing the San Cristobal mine as described above, Golden Minerals will focus on the advancement of exploration activities on certain properties within a broad portfolio of 45 exploration properties in South America and Mexico. Two of these properties are in intermediate to advanced stages of exploration: the El Quevar silver project in Argentina and the Zacatecas silver and base metals project in Mexico. Golden Minerals will also seek to leverage the experience and skills of the management team by performing mine services, including feasibility studies and project development strategies; engineering, construction and procurement management; environmental permitting and corporate social responsibility support; technical support; and operations management. In addition, Golden Minerals will actively pursue growth through strategic opportunities, including acquisitions, joint ventures and asset consolidations that can bring synergy to existing assets and leverage the strengths of the management team.
The common stock of Golden Minerals is expected to commence trading over-the-counter (OTC) on or about March 25, 2009. Golden Minerals expects to pursue a listing on a U.S. national securities exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Golden Minerals will be the successor to the Company for purposes of reporting under the U.S. securities laws.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including statements regarding the continued management of the San Cristobal mine by Golden Minerals Company, the potential initial trading markets for the common stock of Golden Minerals Company and its plan to pursue listing of its common stock on a U.S. national securities exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange; and the expected components of Golden Mineral Company's business strategy. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the ability of Golden Minerals Company to meet the listing standards for any securities exchange on which it seeks listing, financial market conditions and the ability of Golden Minerals Company to raise capital during 2009 on acceptable terms or at all. Neither the Company, nor Golden Minerals Company assumes any obligation to update this information. Additional risks relating to Golden Minerals Company may be found in the periodic and current reports filed with the Commission by the Company and Golden Minerals Company, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Apex Silver Mines Limited for the year ended December 31, 2008.