Name of the Project
Bloom Lake iron-ore project.

Location
Bloom Lake is located near Fermont, in north-eastern Quebec, Canada.

Client
Quebec Iron Ore (QIO), a subsidiary of Champion Iron.

Project Description
Bloom Lake has total proven and probable reserves of 411.71-million tonnes grading 30.01% iron; and measured and indicated resources of 911.6-million tonnes grading 25.6% iron.

A feasibility study completed on the project has shown that restarting iron-ore mining operations at Bloom Lake is financially viable and would be competitive in global iron-ore markets, with the potential to be one of the region’s leading long-life iron-ore mines.

Restarting operations is based on different operating assumptions, which include an upgrade to the concentrator plant and a mineral reserve and mining scenario updated for the current iron-ore market.

The operation comprises a conventional surface mining method using an owner mining approach, using electric hydraulic shovels and mine trucks. All major mine equipment required for the restart of the mine is on site, as this equipment is among the assets bought by the company’s subsidiary, QIO.

Jobs to Be Created
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of C$1.68-billion and an internal rate of return of 43.9%, with a payback of 2.5 years.

Value
Initial capital expenditure, including the mine upgrade capital cost of $157.2-million, has been estimated at C$326.8-million.

Duration
Not state.

Latest Developments
Champion Iron has secured $180-million in debt financing to support the restart of operations at its Bloom Lake iron-ore mine.

The financing, secured from Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and Sprott Resource Lending, will be undertaken in two tranches, the first of which is an $80-million five-year senior secured loan provided by Sprott.

The loan will have a carrying interest of 7.5% plus the greater of US$ three-month LIBIR and 1% a year.

Champion will provide Sprott with three-million common share purchase warrants, at an exercise price to be determined by the company at a later date.

The second tranche of the financing consists of a $100-million, seven-year subordinated loan provided by Caisse at an interest rate of 12% for the first year, and thereafter at an interest rate linked to the price of iron-ore.

Caisse will also be issued with 21-million common share purchase warrants.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Champion Iron VP corporate secretary (Canada) Jorge Estepa, tel +1 416 866 2200 or email jestepa@championiron.com.