Ascendant Resources Inc. (TSX: ASND, OTCQB: ASDRF)
(“
Ascendant” or the “
Company”) is
very pleased to announce it has entered into a US$15 million metals
stream agreement (the “
Stream Agreement”) with
Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp.
(“
Sprott Streaming”) for its Lagoa Salgada VMS
project located close to Lisbon, Portugal (the
“
Project”).
Proceeds will be used to i) complete the ongoing
43-101 compliant feasibility study for the Project; ii) advance
permitting activities; iii) to fund the last instalment related to
the earn-in for an 80% interest in the Project; and iii) general
corporate and working capital purposes.
The Stream Agreement provides for the sale and
delivery to Sprott Streaming of 1.75% of all metals produced from
the Project at a rate of 15% of the market price until the delivery
of 45,000 gold equivalent ounces, at which point the rate will be
increased to 75% of the market price. Ascendant also has the
ability to buy down up to 50% of the stream on or before 2 years
following the date of commencement of commercial production at the
Project (as further set out in the Stream Agreement) for up to
US$10.5 million.
Mark Brennan, Executive Chairman of Ascendant
commented, “We are thrilled to be partnering with the very
experienced and talented team at Sprott Streaming to fully finance
our feasibility study at Lagoa Salgada in a non-dilutive and timely
manner allowing us to continue development of the project to a
construction decision. We look forward to a constructive and
growing relationship with the team at Sprott Streaming.” He
continued, “Ascendant has made tremendous progress on its technical
studies for the Feasibility Study at Lagoa Salgada, which leads us
to expect a very robust outcome.”
Mike Harrison, Managing Partner of Sprott
Streaming commented, “Sprott Streaming is pleased to make this
initial investment in Ascendant to advance the project to a
construction and financing decision. We recognize the potential of
the deposit as defined to date, and the exploration potential that
would extend the mine life substantially. Portugal has a long
mining history, and Lagoa Salgada benefits from the expertise of
the experienced in-country team and consultants. We are pleased to
be working with Ascendant to advance this significant project.”
To facilitate funding in advance of commercial
production, an affiliate of Sprott Streaming issued a US$15 million
secured note (the “Note”) that bears interest at a
rate of 10% per annum, calculated and payable quarterly and will
mature on the earlier of: i) the achievement of commercial
production at the Project together with certain other conditions;
and ii) November 25, 2031.
Subject to the final approval of the TSX
Exchange (the “TSX”), the Company may elect to
satisfy the payment of any accrued and unpaid interest on the Note
by the issuance of common shares of the Company (the
“Common Shares”) at a price per Common Share equal
to 95% of the volume weighted average price (the
“VWAP”) of the Common Shares for the 5 trading
days immediately prior to the date payment of interest is due or
any combination of cash and Common Shares in the Company’s sole
discretion up to a maximum of 32,617,109 Common Shares (subject to
customary adjustment). Pledges of shares and intercompany
indebtedness were provided by the Company, its wholly owned
subsidiary, Ascendant Resources Portugal, Unipessoal LDA, and
Redcorp (as defined below) as security for the Note. The Note
security is intended to subordinate to future project financing for
the Project.
The Company has provided Sprott Streaming a
first right of approval to participate in any future stream or
royalty type financing until certain delivery thresholds are met.
Sprott has previously expressed interest in potential additional
financing of approximately US$60 million.
The Company also announces that it has amended
the terms of the unanimous shareholders agreement with Mineral
& Financial Investments AG (“M&FI”) to
provide, among other things, a right in favour of M&FI such
that M&FI may put all, but not less than, of its shares of
Redcorp (defined below) to Ascendant in consideration of an amount,
payable in cash, equal to 5% of the post-tax net present value of
the Project provided in the feasibility study completed prior to
the date of exercise using a 10.5% discount rate.
About Ascendant Resources
Inc.
Ascendant is a Toronto-based mining company
focused on the exploration and development of the highly
prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific
Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. Through focused exploration and
aggressive development plans, the Company aims to unlock the
inherent potential of the project, maximizing value creation for
shareholders.
The Venda Nova deposit at Lagoa Salgada contains
over 10.33 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Resources @
9.06% ZnEq and 2.50 million tonnes of Inferred Resources @ 5.93%
ZnEq in the North Zone; and 4.42 million tonnes of Indicated
Resources @ 1.50% CuEq and 10.83 million tonnes of Inferred
resources @ 1.35% CuEq in the South Zone. The deposit demonstrates
typical mineralization characteristics of Iberian Pyrite Belt VMS
deposits containing zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver and gold.
Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and
at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209ha property
concession. The project also demonstrates compelling economics with
scalability for future resource growth in the results of the
Preliminary Economic Assessment. Located just 80km from Lisbon,
Lagoa Salgada is easily accessible by road and surrounded by
exceptional infrastructure. Ascendant holds a 50% interest in the
Lagoa Salgada project through its position in Redcorp -
Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda, ("Redcorp") and has
an earn-in opportunity to increase its interest in the Project to
80%. The Company's interest in the Lagoa Salgada project offers a
low-cost entry to a potentially significant exploration and
development opportunity, already demonstrating its mineable
scale.
The Company's common shares are principally
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ASND". For
more information on Ascendant, please visit our website
at www.ascendantresources.com.
Additional information relating to the Company,
including the Preliminary Economic Assessment referenced in this
news release, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
For further information, contact:
Mark BrennanExecutive Chairman, FounderTel:
+1-647-796-0023mbrennan@ascendantresources.com |
David BallVice President, Corporate DevelopmentTel:
+1-647-796-0068dball@ascendantresources.com |
Forward Looking
Information
This press release contains statements that
constitute “forward-looking information” (collectively,
“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable
Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and
are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date
of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions,
expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions,
future events or performance (often but not always using phrases
such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”,
“anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”,
“scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or
variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain
actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or
“will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of
historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements contained in this
press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the
use of proceeds. In making the forward- looking statements
contained in this press release, Ascendant has made certain
assumptions, including with respect to the operations of the
Company required to achieve commercial production at the Project.
Although Ascendant believes that the expectations reflected in
forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance
that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove
to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
factors which may cause the actual results and future events to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not
limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and
social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on the forward-looking statements and information
contained in this press release. Except as required by law,
Ascendant disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual
results, whether as a result of new information, future events,
changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such
forward-looking statements or otherwise.
Forward-looking information is subject to a
variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events
or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking
information, including, without limitation, the risks described
under the heading "Risks Factors" in the Company's Annual
Information Form dated March 24, 2022 and under the heading "Risks
and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management’s Discussion and
Analysis for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and other
risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities
regulators, which filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The risk factors referred to above are not an exhaustive list of
the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking
information. The Company's statements containing forward-looking
information are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of
management on the date the statements are made, and the Company
does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking
information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations
or opinions should change, other than as required by applicable
law. For the reasons set forth above, one should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information
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