(Just filed. Developing story.) May 31, 2021 – Kumtor Gold Company CSJC and one affiliated Debtor (“KGC” or the “Debtors”) filed for Chapter 11 protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York, lead case number 21-11051 (Judge TBD). The Debtors, an affiliate of Canadian gold mining company Centerra Gold Inc ("Centerra," NYSE" GCAU) and the operators of the Kumtor Mine in the Kyrgyz Republic, are represented by James L Bromley of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. The Kumtor Mine is the largest private sector employer and taxpayer in the Kyrgyz Republic and the largest foreign investment in that country.
The Debtors’ lead petition notes between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors; estimated assets between $1.0bn and $10.0bn and estimated liabilities between $100.0mn and $500.0mn. Documents filed with the Court list the Debtors’ three largest unsecured creditors as (i) Machinery Intertrade Limited ($undetermined trade debt claim), (ii) Central Treasury of the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrygz Republic ($undetermined tax debt claim) and (iii) IP Consult (International) Ltd ($undetermined trade debt claim). The Debtors have not provided amounts for any of the claims on their top 30 unsecured creditors list.
In a press release announcing the filings, the Debtors advised that: “The actions are designed to preserve the value of Centerra’s wholly owned subsidiaries that own and operate the Kumtor Mine, Kumtor Gold Company (‘KGC’) and Kumtor Operating Company (‘KOC’), and prevent any further efforts by the Kyrgyz Government to strip KGC of its assets or otherwise improperly dispose of the Kumtor Mine in violation of its investment agreements with the Company….The court-supervised process provides, among other things, for a worldwide automatic stay of all claims against KGC and KOC. Centerra hopes that this internationally recognized, orderly restructuring process will facilitate potential negotiations with the Kyrgyz Government.
The Company also announced that it is conducting a strategic review related to its ownership of KGC and KOC that will consider alternatives available to enhance value to Centerra’s stakeholders in light of recent events involving the Kumtor Mine.
Scott Perry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centerra, noted: “We have repeatedly asked the Kyrgyz Government to discuss its concerns with us, yet it has refused to engage with us in any way. While we remain willing and available to hold a constructive dialogue with the Kyrgyz authorities, we will continue to use all available legal and financial means to protect the interests of Centerra and its stakeholders from the Government’s concerted and premeditated effort to take control of the Kumtor Mine. In particular, we will continue to pursue arbitration proceedings to enforce the longstanding agreements with the Kyrgyz Republic that give Centerra, KGC and KOC the right to own and operate the Kumtor Mine. Those agreements are governed by New York law, and we expect the U.S. court proceedings will serve to further protect Centerra’s interests under their terms pending a restructuring or other resolution of the dispute.”
Strategic Review
The press release continues: "Centerra has retained external advisors to assist with its strategic review, which is proceeding under the direction of a Special Committee of independent directors of the Board. As part of this review, Centerra is evaluating all possible alternatives to preserve and enhance value for its stakeholders while ensuring that the Kyrgyz Government does not directly or indirectly profit from its unlawful expropriation of the Kumtor Mine. There can be no assurance that the strategic review, or the U.S. restructuring proceeding, will lead to the successful implementation of any particular transaction or other outcome. The Company therefore continues to pursue all alternative avenues of recourse, including arbitration and Canadian legal proceedings.
Mine Seizure and "Spurious" Environmental & Tax Claims
The Debtors provide: "the Kyrgyz Republic seized the Kumtor Mine and the Government installed a temporary 'external manager' on May 17, 2021 in violation of its obligations to Centerra, KGC and KOC. Public statements by Government officials and actions taken by the 'external manager of the mine indicate that the Government and others, including the state-owned entity Kyrgyzaltyn JSC, intend to use spurious environmental and tax claims being asserted against KGC to place KGC into some form of insolvency proceeding in the Kyrgyz Republic and potentially strip KGC of its assets. Due to the 'external manager' taking control of the Kumtor Mine and KGC’s operations in the Republic, KGC is no longer able to defend effectively against these claims in the Kyrgyz Republic courts.
Centerra CEO Perry added: “KGC’s operations and activities have always carefully adhered to agreements with the Kyrgyz Government and applicable laws, including with regard to the environment, safety and taxation. We strongly believe that the Government’s claims are entirely without merit and a pretext for a cloaked form of nationalization of the Kumtor Mine without compensation. While these claims have not been asserted against Centerra itself, the actions of the Kyrgyz Government and others have compelled us to take steps to preserve the value of KGC and KOC for all our stakeholders and shine a light on the true intentions of the Kyrgyz Government and those acting in concert with it.”
The Debtors had earlier summarized steps taken by the Kyrgyz Government as follows:
"The wrongful and illegal actions of the Kyrgyz Republic include:
- The passage by the Kyrgyz Republic Parliament in a single day on May 6 of a new law which enables the Government to impose an 'external manager' to take control of the Kumtor Mine if the Government deems that KGC’s activities pose a risk to human safety and the environment;
- A Government-supported and hastily issued decision of a Kyrgyz Republic court on May 7 to impose a $3 billion fine against KGC on the basis of private civil environmental claims;
- The intimidation of KGC’s personnel by the Kyrgyz Republic State Commission and other Kyrgyz Republic state and law enforcement authorities, including police visits to the homes of several senior KGC managers and a raid of KGC’s office in Bishkek on May 15; and
- Numerous tax claims brought by the Government in the Kyrgyz courts regarding matters that were resolved fully and finally in previous project agreements and Kyrgyz court rulings, and expressly precluded by the Government’s agreements with KGC and Centerra."
SEC Filings
Centerra has issued a series of press releases and 6-Ks that detail the actions of the Kyrgyz Government and Centerra' responses since Centerra first became aware that the Kyrgyz Government was taking steps that might jeapordize its ability to opearte the Kumtor mine.
- On May 7th, Centerra noted that "it has become aware of a number of legal and political developments in the Kyrgyz Republic which may affect Centerra’s ownership of the Kumtor Mine and its rights under the 2009 restated project agreements which govern the Kumtor Mine.
- On May 16th, Centerra noted that "it has initiated binding arbitration against the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to enforce its rights under longstanding investment agreements with the Government. Centerra seeks to enjoin the Government from taking further steps to implement recently adopted legislation or to pursue recently procured fines and tax claims against the Kumtor Gold Company ('KGC'), all of which violate the Government’s investment agreements with respect to the Kumtor Mine.
- On May 17th, Centerra noted that: "Today’s action by the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic is a clear violation of Centerra’s and KGC’s rights in the Kumtor Mine as well as the Government’s obligations to Centerra and KGC under longstanding investment agreements. This and other recent actions have no justification whatsoever under those agreements or applicable law. The Kyrgyz Government effectively seized control of the Kumtor Mine over the weekend of May 15 and 16, 2021 by sending Government authorities to the mine, KGC’s office in Bishkek and the homes of several KGC employees. Consequently, Centerra is no longer in control of the Kumtor Mine and can no longer ensure the safety of the mine’s employees or operations.
- On May 20th, Centerra further commented: "that it had initiated proceedings in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against Tengiz Bolturuk, a former member of its Board of Directors, in response to flagrant breaches of his fiduciary duties to the Company related to the recent seizure of the Kumtor Mine by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. Centerra seeks to enjoin Mr. Bolturuk, who was nominated to the Board by the Kyrgyz state-owned entity and Centerra shareholder Kyrgyzaltyn JSC, from direct or indirect involvement in the management of the Kumtor Mine as well as engaging in further breaches of fiduciary and confidentiality duties owed to the Company. Mr. Bolturuk, a dual Canadian and Kyrgyz citizen, joined the Centerra Board in December 2020 and resigned on May 17, 2021. Two days after his resignation, the Kyrgyz authorities announced that the Kyrgyz Government had appointed Mr. Bolturuk as the “external manager” of Centerra’s wholly owned subsidiary, Kumtor Gold Company ('KGC'), which operated the Kumtor Mine until its unjustified seizure.
In addition, Centerra has learned that on May 12, 2021, prior to the seizure of the mine, Kyrgyzaltyn JSC attempted to divert approximately US$29 million to an unauthorized bank account using a forged payment instruction sent to a third party. The account was purportedly opened in the name of KGC. This attempted fraud was identified by the third party and was not successful."
About the Debtors
The Kumtor Mine is the largest private sector employer and taxpayer in the Kyrgyz Republic and the largest foreign investment in the country. Mine operations at Kumtor contributed 12.5% of Kyrgyz Gross Domestic Product in 2020, and some 99% of KGC’s 2,750 employees are Kyrgyz citizens. Earlier this year, Centerra announced a new life of mine plan that would extend the life of the Kumtor Mine by five years to 2031 and add more than three million ounces (85 tonnes) of contained gold at an estimated capital investment of US$2.0bn.
About Centerra
According to Centerra: "Centerra Gold Inc. is a Canadian-based gold mining company focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring gold properties in North America, Asia and other markets worldwide and is one of the largest Western-based gold producers in Central Asia. Centerra owns three mines, the Kumtor Mine in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada and the Öksüt Mine in Turkey. Centerra’s shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol CG and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol CGAU. The Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada."
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