Penrice signs Soda Ash supply contract with SASS Victoria

In January 2013, Penrice signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SASS Victoria Australia Pty Ltd (SASS) to form a Joint Venture (JV) to import and market soda ash in Australia. The commencement of the JV was subject to satisfaction of conditions including final due diligence and signing definitive transaction documents.

JV commences with launch of “Pro Asia Pacific”

Penrice announces that the parties have signed definitive transaction documents and the JV, to be known as “Pro Asia Pacific”, is now formed with sales to commence from May 2013.

Penrice Managing Director and CEO, Mr Guy Roberts said, “Penrice is responding to the continuing losses in its soda ash business by closing soda ash production in Adelaide and switching to importing soda ash via an import and distribution joint venture with SASS.

"With Pro Asia Pacific, Penrice is delighted to be joint venturing with the world’s largest soda ash distributor with product sourced from American Natural Soda Ash Corporation (“ANSAC”), the export arm of three of the world’s leading soda ash producers.”

He said, “While it is unfortunate that the soda ash plant closure will cause staff redundancies, customers will benefit as the JV will maintain service standards and reliable supply to our Australian customers with a quality product. Importantly for Penrice, the restructure is expected to enable Penrice’s soda ash business to generate a profit from FY2014.”

Penrice’s Osborne chemical plant will continue to manufacture its range of premium sodium bicarbonate products and lime, which will be marketed for sale for the first time.

Key features of the Pro Asia Pacific JV include:
-The JV will be owned by SASS as to 67% and Penrice as to 33%
-The term of the JV will be a minimum of 6 years
-SASS will loan Penrice $8 million to fund the cost of decommissioning the soda ash plant, including redundancies and the cost of converting the sodium bicarbonate plant to accept imported soda ash. The loan is repayable over the term of the JV
-Penrice will provide inbound logistics, warehousing, packaging and transport services for the JV at commercial rates

Sodium bicarbonate production continues as usual

Penrice has conducted trials with imported ANSAC soda ash and has produced sodium bicarbonate of the equivalent quality to current specification. Penrice has entered into a long term supply agreement with Pro Asia Pacific for the supply of ANSAC soda ash. Customers can be assured that quality and reliability of supply will be maintained.