Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX: AOT; OTCQX: AOTVF)
(“
Ascot” or the “
Company”) is
pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a
syndicate of agents, co-led by Desjardins Capital Markets and BMO
Capital Markets, for a best-efforts private placement offering of
units of the Company (the “
Units”) at a price of
C$0.115 per Unit, to raise a minimum of C$60 million and up to a
maximum of C$65 million (the
“Offering”).
Each Unit will be comprised of one common share
of the Company (each, a “Common Share”) and one
common share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a
“Warrant”) with each Warrant entitling the holder
to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.155 per Common Share
(the “Warrant Strike Price”) for 24 months from
the closing date of the Offering, subject to adjustments.
The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to
advance the Premier Gold Project and for general corporate
purposes.
Estimated sources of funds assuming the minimum Offering
size (C$ million): |
|
|
|
Estimated cash on hand on February 28, 2025: |
6 |
|
Minimum proceeds from the Offering: |
60 |
|
Fees and expenses of the Offering: |
(4) |
|
Second stream deposit released from escrow: |
11 |
Total sources of funds: |
73 |
Estimated uses of funds assuming the minimum Offering size
(C$ million): |
|
|
|
Mine and infrastructure development: |
35 |
|
Processing and site operation: |
24 |
|
Environmental and regulatory compliance: |
4 |
|
Finance & corporate costs: |
3 |
|
General working capital: |
7 |
Total uses of funds: |
73 |
If the maximum Offering size is assumed, general
working capital would increase by approximately C$5 million. While
the Company anticipates that the proceeds of the Offering and the
release of the second stream deposit from escrow will enable
management to execute their development plans, there is no
certainty that sufficient capital will be raised.
The Company has been in discussions with its
secured creditors, Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty
(B) Corp. (“Sprott”), Nebari Gold Fund 1, LP,
Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund II, LP and Nebari Collateral
Agent LLC, and their affiliates (collectively
“Nebari”) who have agreed to extend their existing
waiver and forbearance conditions until September 30, 2025. Nebari
has indicated its commitment to extend forbearance, subject to the
satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including, but not
limited to:
- Completion of the Offering
- An amendment of the conversion
price of their existing convertible facility to the Warrant Strike
Price
- An amendment of exercise price of
their existing Warrants to the Warrant Strike Price
There is no certainty that the conditions
precedent can be satisfied to extend the forbearance by Nebari.
Additionally, Sprott has committed to release
the US$7.5 million second stream deposit from escrow upon achieving
agreed development and funding targets, consistent with the amended
and restated Purchase and Sale Agreement #1 dated November 15,
2024.
Certain major shareholders, including Ccori Apu
S.A.C. and Equinox Partners LLP, have expressed strong support and
have signalled their intention to subscribe for a significant
portion of the Offering. Together, the combination of the equity
capital and the released escrow funds is expected to provide the
necessary resources for management to execute its development
plans.
Closing of the Offering is conditional on: (i)
receipt of forbearance from Nebari and Sprott, (ii) receipt of the
necessary TSX approvals and exemptions, and (iii) the Company not
being required to obtain any shareholder approvals in respect of
the Offering (whether by way of a TSX Exemption (as defined below)
or otherwise).
The Units will be offered on a "best efforts"
fully marketed agency basis to: (i) "accredited investors" resident
in the Provinces and Territories of Canada by way of private
placement in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 -
Prospectus Exemptions; (ii) investors resident in the United States
by way of private placement pursuant to the exemptions from the
registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended; and (iii) investors outside of Canada and the
United States by way of private placement or on an equivalent basis
in accordance with applicable laws, provided that such laws permit
offers and sales of the Units without any obligation on the part of
the Company to prepare or file any registration statement,
prospectus or other disclosure document and without triggering any
disclosure obligations or submission to the jurisdiction on the
part of the Company.
The securities issued pursuant to the Offering
will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with
Canadian securities law. 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. This press release shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy
securities in the United States, nor will there be any sale of
these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
As announced on November 11, 2024, the Company
previously relied on the financial hardship under Section 604(e) of
the TSX Company Manual (the “Exemption”). The TSX
placed the Common Shares under delisting review, which is customary
practice when a listed issuer relies on the Exemption. No assurance
can be provided as to the outcome of such review and the continued
qualification for listing of the Common Shares on the TSX. The
Company may delist from the TSX and pursue an alternative listing
on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Qualified Person
James A. (Jim) Currie, P.Eng., Chief Executive
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.
Rick Zimmer
Chairman of the Board of Directors
For further information
contact:
KIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. Email:
AOT@kincommunications.com Phone: 604-684-6730
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 ability of the Company to
accomplish its business objectives, the sources and uses and other
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 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 the Exemption, 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 and timelines associated with
the development plans; the ability to maintain throughput and
production levels at the Big Missouri mine and the Premier Northern
Lights mine; 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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