At last, rejigged Paladin back on the boards

Investor sentiment around the beaten-down uranium market will be tested today when a restructured Paladin Energy rejoins the boards of the Australian Securities Exchange.

Paladin has been recapitalised under a deed of company arrangement, which gave control of the uranium miner to its bondholders and creditors under debt-for-equity swap.

The deal wiped its $US740 million debt but cost ordinary shareholders in the former company 98 per cent of their investment.

Under the restructure, Paladin struck a new $US115 million bond issue and will begin its new life with about $US70 million in cash as well as all its previous assets.

The restructured company is expected to change hands well above its last traded price of 4.7¢, when it collapsed in the middle of last year.

London-based Tembo Capital and China’s HOPU paid 15-16 US¢ for their respective 13 per cent and 7 per cent stakes in the new entity, buying shares from bondholders and creditors in the lead-up to its re-float.

Deutsche Bank will emerge as Paladin’s biggest shareholder with a 16 per cent stake after buying debt in the former entity from French creditor EDF.

Rick Crabb will remain chairman, joined by new directors, Daniel Harris, John Hodder and David Riekie. Alex Molyneux will resign within three months.

Mr Crabb said the company’s future rested with the low uranium price, noting the bondholders’ decision to take equity in the company reflected their bullishness around the future price.

Mr Molyneux said some were predicting a “pinch point” for the uranium market in 2019-2020, considering it to be “the last shoe to drop” in the commodities market.