Novo Agrees to Sell Stake in New Found Gold for C$125.9 Million
12 Abril 2022 - 7:00AM
Novo Resources Corp. (
“Novo” or
the
“Company”) (TSX: NVO, NVO.WT & NVO.WT.A)
(OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to sell
its 15 million New Found shares to a corporation controlled by Eric
Sprott for gross proceeds of approximately C$125.9 million pursuant
to arm’s length negotiations and at a significant premium of 9.3%
to New Found’s closing price of C$7.68 as of April 11, 2022.
“Novo has always considered its sizeable
investment portfolio as a means to fund growth expenditure”
commented Mr. Mike Spreadborough, Executive Co-Chairman of
Novo. “The sale of our New Found holding at a premium of 9.3%
to the closing price of C$7.68 is an excellent result and allows
Novo to deleverage our balance sheet, continue to focus on
optimizing operations at Beatons Creek and aggressively accelerate
growth and expansion plans across Western Australia and Victoria.
We would also like to thank Sprott Lending for their support since
our transition to operations in late 2020.”
The first tranche of the Transaction totals 8.25
million New Found shares at C$8.35 per share for gross proceeds of
C$68.9 million and is scheduled to complete on April 27, 2022
(“Tranche 1”). Tranche 1 is not subject to any
regulatory approvals. The price per share payable under Tranche 1
represents an 8.7% premium to New Found’s most recent closing price
and a 10.1% premium to New Found’s 10-day volume-weighted average
price (“VWAP”).
The second tranche of the Transaction totals
6.75 million New Found shares at C$8.45 per share for gross
proceeds of C$57.0 million and is scheduled to settle on August 5,
2022 (“Tranche 2”). The New Found shares
representing Tranche 2 are subject to escrow provisions and the
consent of the TSX Venture Exchange, on which New Found’s common
shares trade, to the transfer of the Tranche 2 shares is required.
The price per share payable under Tranche 2 represents a 10.0%
premium to New Found’s most recent closing price and an 11.5%
premium to New Found’s 10-day VWAP.
Pursuant to a general security agreement and
terms of the US$40 million (approximately C$50.5 million) senior
secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”)2
with Sprott Private Resource Lending II (Collector), LP
(“Sprott Lending”), Sprott Lending has consented
to the Transaction and has advised Novo that it will not require
repayment of the Credit Facility in full until settlement of
Tranche 2. This will result in Novo being debt-free upon completion
of the Transaction. Concurrently, the minimum unrestricted cash
balance covenant in the Credit Facility has been increased to
US$25.0 million.
Assuming completion of the Transaction and
repayment of the Credit Facility, Novo’s pro-forma cash position is
approximately C$97.1 million1. This funding will provide Novo with
the flexibility to aggressively advance exploration efforts across
the Pilbara and Victoria, while expediting a Feasibility Study on
the Fresh component of the Company’s Beatons Creek project in
Nullagine, Western Australia3.
Subsequent to completion of the Transaction, the
Company’s strategic investment portfolio will still include a 6.9%
stake in ASX-listed joint venture partner Kalamazoo Resources
Limited, a 2.2% stake in ASX-listed joint venture partner GBM
Resources Ltd., and a 12.4% stake in unlisted Elementum 3D, Inc.
(“E3D”). This portfolio is currently worth
approximately C$21.0 million4.
QP STATEMENT
Dr. Quinton Hennigh (P.Geo.) is the qualified
person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having
reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this
news release. Dr. Hennigh is the Non-Executive Co-Chairman and a
director of Novo.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
The decision by the Company to produce at
Beatons Creek was not based on a feasibility study of mineral
reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and, as a
result, there is an increased uncertainty of achieving any
particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such
recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a
commercially mineable deposit. Production has not achieved forecast
to date. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of
economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that
anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to achieve
the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse
impact on the Company’s cash flow and future profitability.
The Company cautions that its declaration of
commercial production effective October 1, 20215 only indicates
that Beatons Creek was operating at anticipated and sustainable
levels and it does not indicate that economic results will be
realized.
ABOUT NOVO
Novo operates its flagship Beatons Creek project
while exploring and developing its prospective land package
covering approximately 12,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara
region of Western Australia. In addition to the Company’s primary
focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to
deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders. For more
information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or
e-mail leo@novoresources.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Novo Resources Corp.
“Michael Spreadborough”
Michael Spreadborough
Executive Co-Chairman
Forward-looking information
Some statements in this news release contain
forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian
securities legislation) including, without limitation, that Tranche
1 will settle on April 27, 2022, that Tranche 2 will settle on
August 5, 2022, that repayment of the Credit Facility will not be
required until settlement of Tranche 2 and Novo being debt free
upon completion of the Transaction, that Novo’s pro-forma cash
position is approximately C$97.1 million assuming completion of the
Transaction and settlement of the Credit Facility, and that net
funding generated from the Transaction will provide Novo with the
flexibility to aggressively advance exploration efforts across the
Pilbara and Victoria while expediting a feasibility study on the
Fresh component of the Company’s Beatons Creek project in
Nullagine, Western Australia. These statements address future
events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by the statements. Such factors include, without
limitation, customary risks of the resource industry, that TSX
Venture Exchange consent to the transfer of the Tranche 2 shares
will be obtained, and the risk factors identified in Novo’s
management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December
31, 2021, which is available under Novo’s profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date
those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law,
Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the
results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or
incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future
events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other
factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates
any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that
the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or
other forward-looking statements.
_____________________
1 This balance represents Novo’s current cash
balance of approximately C$21.7 million plus gross proceeds of the
Transaction of approximately C$125.9 million less repayment of the
Credit Facility of approximately C$50.5 million at the current
US$-C$ foreign exchange rate of 1.2621:1 per the Bank of Canada’s
exchange rate lookup. Figures may differ immaterially from final
results due to foreign exchange and rounding
differences.2 Refer to note 14 of the Company’s
audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2021, which are available under Novo’s profile on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com.3 Refer to the Company’s
news release dated April 7, 2022. 4 This
value excludes the fair value of warrants held in GBM Resources
Ltd. Please refer to the Company’s management discussion and
analysis for the financial year ended December 31, 2021, which is
available under Novo’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The value
of Novo’s holdings in E3D is based on E3D’s most recent financing
price of US$8.00 per unit. Except for its investment in E3D, the
fair value of Novo’s investments is based on closing prices of its
investments and relevant foreign exchanges rate as at April 11,
2022. 5 Refer to the Company’s news release
dated October 12, 2021.
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