Ascot Resources Ltd. (
TSX: AOT; OTCQX:
AOTVF) (“
Ascot” or the
“
Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company
has closed the previously announced senior secured debt financing
and amendments (the “
Debt Financing”), including
approximately US$7.5 million from Sprott Private Resource Streaming
and Royalty (B) Corp, (“
Sprott Streaming”). In
addition, the Company’s secured creditors, including Sprott
Streaming and Nebari Gold Fund 1, LP, Nebari Natural Resources
Credit Fund II, LP and Nebari Collateral Agent LLC (together
“
Nebari”), have extended the waiver and
forbearance agreements previously granted until May 31, 2025.
Further information is available in the Company’s news releases
dated October 30, 2024 and November 11, 2024.
Concurrently, the Company closed its previously
announced “best-efforts” private placement offering (the
“Equity Financing”, and together with the Debt
Financing, the “Financings”) of common shares of
the Company (the “Common Shares”). The Equity
Financing was conducted by a syndicate of agents co-led by
Desjardins Capital Markets and BMO Capital Markets and included
Raymond James Ltd. and Velocity Trade Capital Ltd. Under the Equity
Financing, the Company issued a total of 262,500,000 Common Shares
at a price of C$0.16 per Common Share, for gross proceeds of
approximately C$42 million. Ccori Apu S.A.C acquired 86,500,000
Common Shares pursuant to the Equity Financing, an additional
250,000 Common Shares from the amount disclosed in the news release
dated November 11, 2024.
In connection with the Debt Financing, the
Company issued 824,901 Common Shares to Sprott Streaming and
8,766,875 Common Shares to Nebari.
The net proceeds of the Financings will be used
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
care and maintenance.
Derek White, President and CEO, commented: "We
commend our financing partners Sprott Streaming and Nebari for
their cooperation and timely closing for this financing and
forbearance. We express our gratitude to our existing shareholders
who participated in the equity financing, including our largest
shareholder Ccori Apu S.A.C., and Equinox Partners LLP and other
long-term shareholders whose support is very much appreciated. The
Company is focused on completing the development of our second
mine, Premier Northern Lights, and has agreed to a focused
development program with its mining contractor, Procon Mining &
Tunneling Ltd, so that mill operations can restart in Q2 of 2025.
With both the Premier Northern Lights and Big Missouri mines
feeding the mill, Ascot anticipates it can sustainably deliver
enough ore feed to profitably run the operation.”
Early Warning
In connection with the foregoing, Nebari agreed
to an amended and restated convertible credit facility (the
“Convertible Facility”) and an amended and
restated cost overrun agreement (the “COF”) each
dated November 18, 2024, resulting in Nebari Partners, LLC, as
investment Manager, together with Nebari Gold Fund 1, LP, Nebari
Natural Resources Credit Fund II, LP and Nebari Natural Resources
AIV II, LP (collectively, the “Acquiror”),
acquiring ownership of the following securities: (i) the
Convertible Facility; (ii) 25,767,777 amended and restated Common
Share purchase warrants of Ascot issued pursuant to the Convertible
Facility (the “Prepayment Warrants”); (iii)
10,164,528 amended and restated Common Share purchase warrants of
Ascot issued pursuant to the COF (the “COF
Warrants”); and (iv) 8,766,875 Common Shares of Ascot
issued as a result of the COF (the “Alignment
Shares”).
Prior to the transactions specified in this
press release, the Acquiror owned and controlled no Common Shares
of Ascot but did own convertible securities that if exercised would
result in the Acquiror owning less than 10% of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares of the Company. Following completion of
the transactions, the Acquiror now owns and controls the
Convertible Facility, Prepayment Warrants, COF Warrants and
Alignment Shares, representing 8,766,875 Common Shares (or 0.89% of
the issued and outstanding Common Shares) on a non-diluted basis or
121,211,611 Common Shares (or 11.08% of the issued and outstanding
Common Shares) on a converted/exercised partially diluted basis
(this does not factor in the conversion of interest to Common
Shares). This is based on the exchange rate of US to Canadian
dollars on November 14, 2024. As well, this does not account for
the Prepayment Warrants as they are only exercisable if the
Convertible Facility is redeemed in certain circumstances via a
cash payment.
The securities indicated in this press release
were not acquired though the facilities of any market for
securities of the Company as they were issued directly by Ascot.
This transaction was completed by the Acquiror for investment
purposes and the Acquiror may increase or decrease its investments
in the Company at any time, or continue to maintain its current
investment position, depending on market conditions or any other
relevant factor.
No new consideration was paid for the amendments
to the Credit Facility and the COF, and the Acquiror relied on
Section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions
on the basis that the Acquiror is an “accredited investor” as
defined therein.
This portion of the press release is included
pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 – Take-Over Bids and Special
Transactions, which also requires an early warning report to be
filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com) containing additional
information with respect to the foregoing matters. A copy of the
related early warning report may be obtained on Ascot’s SEDAR+
profile.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Ascot Resources Ltd.
“Derek C. White”President & CEO
For further information
contact:
Derek White/Carol
Liinfo@ascotgold.com778-725-1060 ext 1010
This press release shall not constitute an offer
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be
any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful. The securities offered have not been, and will not be,
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any U.S.
state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United
States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States
persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable
U.S. state securities laws.
About Ascot
Ascot is a Canadian mining company headquartered
in Vancouver, British Columbia, and its shares trade on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the ticker AOT and on
the OTCQX under the ticker AOTVF. Ascot is the 100% owner of the
Premier Gold mine, 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 anticipated use of proceeds
of the Financings; the advancement and development of PNL; the
anticipated restart of mill operations and the timing related
thereto; the anticipated restart of BM; the ability of the Company
to accomplish its business objectives and the intentions described
herein and the timing of future plans, development and operations
of the Company, and the ability of such plans, development and
operations to sustain the Company’s operations. 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 the need for future waivers or forbearance
agreements from the secured creditors of the Company; 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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