Legend International Holdings Inc Announces Positive and Robust Results from the Expanded Feasibility Study for Legend’s Paradise Phosphate Project

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Legend International Holdings, Inc (OTCBB:LGDI) is pleased to announce positive and robust results from the expanded feasibility study (1.2 million tonnes per annum of mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)) for Legend’s Paradise Phosphate Project conducted by Wengfu Group Ltd of China (“Wengfu”). The results of the feasibility study have confirmed that an expanded development scenario of the project is technically and economically viable and reports a stronger internal rate of return and significantly higher net present value than the base case (600,000 MAP/DAP tonnes per annum as reported in July 2010). The financial model is robust across a number of market scenarios.

Legend has also updated the base case financial model with the ten year MAP/DAP, Aluminum Fluoride (AlF3), Sulphur and Ammonia forecasts as estimated by CRU Group in April 2011, an independent commodity analyst based in London, U.K. The DAP/MAP price forecasts are significantly higher than those used in the July 2010 base case feasibility study. In July 2010 the ten year (2010 – 2019) forecast average was within 2% of US$445 per tonne FOB Tampa, Florida; the April 2011 ten year forecast average has been updated to within 2% of US$512 per tonne DAP FOB Tampa. These forecasts have also been incorporated in the expanded case financial model.

DAP is currently trading at approximately US$620 per tonne FOB Tampa.

Highlights of the expanded study and updated base case study include:

• Significantly higher forecast DAP prices out to 2019.
• Based on the above forecasts the base case pre-tax NPV% 8.0 has increased from US$1.5 billion (July 2010) to US$2.2 billion.
• The expanded case feasibility study financial results are:
  • A pre tax NPV%8.0 of US$4.8 billion.
  • A pre tax IRR of 27.9%
  • Average annual EBITDA of US$475 million.
  • Average annual free cash flow after tax of US$329 million.
  • Capital payback period of 5.3 years.

These positive financial results and the quality of Legend’s phosphate reserves are generating high levels of interest from international fertilizer buyers and producers. Positive discussions are still progressing with interested industry corporations for a potential strategic transaction relating to the development and financing of the phosphate assets. The process, being conducted by Nomura, has progressed to a stage whereby a shortlist of the key interested parties are conducting due diligence and site visits. Legend expects successful completion of this process, resulting in the partnering with a major fertilizer industry corporation, in the coming months. A number of global aluminium producers have also expressed interest in securing the off-take of Legend’s future aluminium fluoride production and discussions between these groups have commenced.

The feasibility study, as summarized in Table 1 below, outlines the financial results of the updated base case for the project and the expanded case. The financial summary below is based on a 100% project basis (ungeared).

Expanded Production Study

The Expanded Case project will consist of a:

• 2Mtpa Rock Concentrate Beneficiation Plant at Paradise South
• 140km Slurry Pipeline from Paradise South to Mount Isa
• 1600 ktpa Sulfuric Acid Plant
• 600 ktpa Phosphoric Acid Plant
• 240 ktpa Ammonia Plant
• 1200 ktpa DAP/MAP Plant
• 30ktpa Aluminium Fluoride (AlF3) Plant

The Expanded Case benefits from increased capacity and differs from the base case in that a captive ammonia plant and a phosphate rock slurry pipeline are proposed and included in the capital cost estimate. The ammonia plant would utilise gas from the Carpentaria Gas Pipeline which currently passes through the proposed plant site. A slurry pipeline will be utilized to replace road transportation of phosphate rock between the Paradise South deposit and Mount Isa. Both investments are justified at a project of this scale and significantly reduce the operating costs.

Pricing Assumptions

All price assumptions for MAP, DAP, AlF3, Ammonia and Sulphur reported below are within 2% of the CRU 10-Year Outlook forecasts. All freight prices have been provided by Braemar Seascope Services. All prices stated in the tables below are the forecast average between 2013 and 2019. The financial modelling in the feasibility study is based on these forecasts.

DAP prices are based on a price parity mechanism assuming India as the exclusive export market. The following formula has been applied:

MAP prices are based on an import price parity assuming the Australian market takes the entire demand. The following formula has been applied:

Aluminium Fluoride prices are based on an import price parity assuming the Australian market takes the entire demand. The average forecast price between 2013 to 2019 is US$1475 per tonne FOB Townsville.

Sulphur prices have been based on equivalent China CFR sulphur forecast prices with an average price of US$64/tonne.

Ammonia prices have been based on equivalent Far East CFR ammonia forecast prices with an average price of US$483/tonne. For the expanded case all ammonia will be produced on site. Based on forecast gas costs delivered to Mount Isa the average onsite ammonia forecast price is US$283/tonne.