Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX: AOT; OTCQX: AOTVF)
(“
Ascot” or the “
Company”)
As previously disclosed, the Company’s brokered
private placement was upsized to C$42 million instead of the
originally announced range of C$25-C$35 million. As a result of the
upsize, the Company was able to reduce the size of the proposed
senior debt financing to US$7.5 million instead of the original
US$11.25 million previously disclosed.
Ascot is pleased to announce that it has entered
into a non-binding indicative term sheet with Sprott Private
Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp,
(“Sprott”), the Company‘s largest secured
creditor, to provide US$7.5 million of financing by way of an
amendment to the terms of one of its existing stream agreements
between Sprott, Ascot and certain of Ascot’s subsidiaries. In
addition, the Company and Nebari (as defined below) have made
certain amendments to the non-binding indicative term sheet that
was described in the Prior Announcements (as defined below).
The Company previously announced a funding
package comprised of a brokered private placement and amendments to
existing agreements with its secured creditors to provide funding
to advance the development of the Premier Northern Lights mine
(“PNL”), restart the mill and restart the Big
Missouri mine (“BM”) from the current state of
temporary care & maintenance. Please refer to the press release
titled “Ascot Provides an Update on Funding for Future Mine
Development & Restart of Operations” dated October 21, 2024 and
the press release titled “Ascot Announces Upsize Of Previously
Announced Equity Financing” dated October 22, 2024 (together, the
“Prior Announcements”). Capitalized terms used in
this press release but not otherwise defined have the meaning set
out in the Prior Announcements.
During negotiations with the Secured Creditors
in respect of the Debt Financing described in the Prior
Announcements, the Company determined that certain conditions would
be costly and difficult to achieve. The Company has proposed
amendments to the terms of the Debt Financing (the “Amended
Debt Financing”) in order to increase Ascot’s likelihood
of satisfying certain conditions precedent. As previously disclosed
in the Prior Announcements, as part of the Amended Debt Financing,
the Secured Creditors would extend their existing waiver and
forbearance conditions until May 31, 2025.
The Amended Debt Financing remains subject to
receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and exemptions, which may
not be received. The Company has not yet received any funding from
the Amended Debt Financing and the Amended Debt Financing remains
subject to several conditions which may not be satisfied or waived.
There is no certainty that Ascot will be able to complete the
Amended Debt Financing and accomplish the objectives described in
the Prior Announcements.
The Amended Debt Financing is conditional on
certain conditions precedent required by the Secured Creditors,
including the completion of the Equity Financing for a minimum
amount of approximately C$30 million, successful negotiation and
execution of definitive agreements and the receipt of the necessary
TSX approvals and exemptions.
The execution of definitive agreements in
respect of the Amended Debt Financing and the closing of the Equity
Financing are still expected to occur on or about November 18,
2024.
The Amended Debt Financing is expected to have
the following terms and conditions, among others, with the final
terms and conditions to be contained in the definitive agreements
for the Amended Debt Financing:
In respect of Sprott:
- The existing
stream agreement between Sprott and the Company referred to as
“Purchase and Sale Agreement #1” for an initial deposit amount of
US$110 million, will be amended to, among other things: (i) provide
an additional US$7.5 million to advance to Ascot (the
“Additional Stream Amount”); and (ii) grant an
additional gold and silver stream percentage to Sprott of 0.50% of
all payable gold and 6.80% of all payable silver (or silver
equivalent) until the Premier (as defined below) and Red Mountain
Projects has delivered 8,600 ounces of gold to Sprott, at which
time such additional stream percentages shall each be reduced by
50%.
- On or before
December 31, 2026, Ascot has the right to repurchase (and
eliminate) the Additional Stream Amount for US$9.7 million on or
before December 31, 2026.
- If Ascot does
not exercise its repurchase right, Sprott has a right to require
Ascot to repurchase (and eliminate) the Additional Stream Amount
for a 12 month period commencing on January 1, 2027.
- The Amended Debt
Financing shall be pari passu with the current stream
security.
- The proceeds
from the Amended Debt Financing will be deposited into an escrow
account and released in stages following the satisfaction of
certain key performance indicators and receipt of any regulatory
approvals or non-appealable court orders, to the extent required,
to establish the seniority of stream.
- Subject to TSX
approval, an alignment fee equal to US$112,500 to be paid in Common
Shares upon draw down of funds from escrow with an issue price
equal to the market price.
In respect of Nebari Gold Fund 1, LP, Nebari
Natural Resources Credit Fund II, LP and Nebari Collateral Agent
LLC (collectively, “Nebari”), in consideration for
the waiver and forbearance by Nebari of the COF and the CD:
- The terms of the
COF will be amended as follows:
- Interest shall
be increased from 10.0% to 10.5% above SOFR.
- All interest and
amortisation payments due under the COF from September 2024 until
May 31, 2025 shall be deferred and capitalized as part of the
outstanding principal of (the “Deferred
Payments”).
- Commencing on
May 31, 2025, the Deferred Payments shall be payable in 10 monthly
instalments ending in Feb 2026, which payments shall be in addition
to any regular interest payments being met.
- Subject to TSX
approval, an alignment fee equal to US$1 million to be paid in
Common Shares on execution of definitive agreements at the Offer
Price.
- Subject to TSX approval, the
exercise price of the existing warrants held by Nebari will be
amended to C$0.192 per Common Share (representing a 20% premium to
the Offer Price).
- The terms of the
CD be amended as follows:
- All interest
payments payable during the period from September 2024 to May 2025
to be deferred and capitalized as part of the outstanding
principal, consistent with the terms of the COF.
- All capitalised
interest from the period September 2024 until May 31, 2025 to be
payable quarterly over the following 4 quarters, from May 2025 to
February 2026 (in addition to regular interest payments owing)
- Subject to TSX
approval, the conversion price to be amended to C$0.192 per Common
Share (representing a 20% premium to the Offer Price), and the
forced conversion option for Ascot to be removed.
- The CD continues
to be promoted into the senior position upon repayment of the
COF.
Equity Financing
Except for the amendments described above as
they relate to the Amended Debt Financing, the terms and conditions
of the Equity Financing have not been amended and the Equity
Financing remains conditional on (i) the execution of all necessary
definitive agreements in respect of the Amended Debt Financing,
(ii) the deposit of the proceeds of the Amended Debt Financing into
an escrow account and (iii) receipt of all necessary TSX approvals
and exemptions (which for clarity have not yet been received). The
Equity Financing is also conditional upon the Company not being
required to obtain any shareholder approvals in respect of the
Equity Financing (whether by way of exemption by the TSX or
otherwise).
Use of Funding
The net proceeds from the Amended Debt Financing
and the Equity Financing are expected to be used for the
development of PNL, the mill and BM.
Qualified Person
John Kiernan, P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer of
the Company is the Company’s Qualified Person (QP) as defined by
National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the
technical contents of this news release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Ascot Resources Ltd.
“Derek C. White”
President & CEO, Director
For further information
contact:
Kristina Howe
VP, Communications khowe@ascotgold.com
778-725-1060 ext. 1019
About Ascot
Ascot is a Canadian mining company headquartered
in Vancouver, British Columbia and its shares trade on the TSX
under the ticker AOT and on the OTCQX under the ticker AOTVF. Ascot
is the 100% owner of the Premier Gold Mine
(“Premier”), which poured first gold in April 2024
and is located on Nisga’a Nation Treaty Lands, in the prolific
Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia.
For more information about the Company, please
refer to the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or
visit the Company’s web site at www.ascotgold.com.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
All statements and other information contained
in this press release about anticipated future events may
constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities
laws ("forward-looking statements").
Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by
the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan",
"estimate", "expect", "targeted", "outlook", "on track" and
"intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will",
"should", "could", “would” or "might" occur or be achieved and
other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements,
including statements in respect of the terms and conditions of the
Amended Debt Financing or the Equity Financing, the ability to
raise additional funds, the completion of the Amended Debt
Financing or the Equity Financing, the future performance, defaults
and obligations of Ascot under agreements with the Secured
Creditors; the anticipated use of proceeds from the funding package
and the ability of the Company to accomplish its business
objectives and the intentions described herein; and future plans,
development and operations of the Company. These statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause actual results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including risks
related to whether the Equity Financing and/or Amended Debt
Financing will be completed on the terms described or at all; the
need for future waivers or forbearance agreements from the Secured
Creditors; business and economic conditions in the mining industry
generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange
rates; uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to
development, production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and
environmental risks; uncertainties relating to interpretation of
drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral
deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and
indigenous groups in the exploration and development of Ascot’s
properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain
additional financing to finance operations and uncertainty as to
the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of
delay in future plans and uncertainty of meeting anticipated
program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of
permits and other governmental approvals; the need for TSX
approval, including pursuant to financial hardship exemptions, and
other regulatory approvals and other risk factors as detailed from
time to time in Ascot's filings with Canadian securities
regulators, available on Ascot's profile on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca including the Annual Information Form of the
Company dated March 25, 2024 in the section entitled "Risk
Factors". Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made
with regard to: the estimated costs associated with the care and
maintenance plans; the ability to maintain throughput and
production levels at BM and PNL; the tax rate applicable to the
Company; future commodity prices; the grade of mineral resources
and mineral reserves; the ability of the Company to convert
inferred mineral resources to other categories; the ability of the
Company to reduce mining dilution; the ability to reduce capital
costs; the ability of the Company to raise additional financing;
compliance with the covenants in Ascot’s credit agreements; and
exploration plans. Forward-looking statements are based on
estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are
made. Although Ascot believes that the expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable,
undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements
since Ascot can give no assurance that such expectations will prove
to be correct. Ascot does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable
laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news
release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
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