Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay”) (TSX,
NYSE: HBM) and Rockcliff Metals Corp. (“Rockcliff”) (CSE:
RCLF, OTCQB: RKCLF) are pleased to
announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement (the
“Arrangement Agreement”) pursuant to which Hudbay will acquire 100%
of the issued and outstanding common shares of Rockcliff that it
does not already own (the “Arrangement”).
Under the Arrangement Rockcliff shareholders
will receive 0.006776 of a Hudbay common share for each Rockcliff
common share held, representing an attractive premium to
Rockcliff’s recent trading price. The enterprise value to Hudbay,
net of Rockcliff’s cash, is approximately US$13 million.
Ken Lapierre, Interim President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director of Rockcliff, comments, “We are delighted that
Hudbay views Rockcliff as an important and strategic acquisition
for their operations in the Snow Lake camp. As a junior explorer,
it is a fitting result to be able to complete a transaction with a
producer such as Hudbay. It is also a testament to the work
completed and prospectivity of our assets that one day these
deposits may become mines in the camp. We can now move forward as
Hudbay shareholders and benefit from their abilities as an explorer
and producer in the precious and base metal space and from their
growing inventory of world class assets in the Americas.”
Peter Kukielski, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Hudbay, comments, “This is a logical transaction that
has the potential to further extend mine life at our Snow Lake
operations by consolidating our ownership in the Talbot copper-gold
deposit and more than tripling our prospective land package in the
Snow Lake region. The Talbot deposit and the additional Rockcliff
satellite deposits provide further optionality and potential future
feed sources for our Stall and New Britannia mills.”
Rockcliff is the 49% joint venture partner on
Hudbay’s Talbot project and also owns 100% of six additional
deposits in the Snow Lake region. Rockcliff is one of the largest
landholders in the Snow Lake area with approximately 1,800 km2
across all its properties. Rockcliff has measured and indicated
mineral resources of 7.9 million tonnes grading 3.60%i copper
equivalent and inferred mineral resources of 5.1 million tonnes
grading 3.19%i copper equivalent. For additional disclosure of
Rockcliff’s mineral resource estimates, please refer to the Tower,
Rail, Talbot, and Bur technical reports available under Rockcliff’s
profile at www.sedar.com and on Rockcliff’s website at
www.rockcliffmetals.com.
Summary of the Arrangement
The Arrangement will be implemented by way of a
court-approved plan of arrangement pursuant to the Business
Corporations Act (Ontario) and will require the approval of the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) and the
approval of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Rockcliff
shareholders at a special meeting of Rockcliff shareholders which
is expected to be held in the third quarter of 2023.
In addition to the aforementioned approvals,
completion of the Arrangement is subject to other customary
conditions and stock exchange approvals. The Arrangement is
expected to close in the third quarter of 2023.
In connection with the Arrangement, all of the
directors and senior officers of Rockcliff as well as Greenstone
Resources II L.P. and Olive Resource Capital Inc. have entered into
customary voting support agreements with Hudbay, pursuant to which
they have agreed to vote their Rockcliff shares, representing
approximately 65% of the issued and outstanding Rockcliff shares,
in favour of the Arrangement.
The Arrangement Agreement provides for customary
deal protection provisions, including non-solicitation covenants on
the part of Rockcliff and a right in favour of Hudbay to match any
unsolicited superior proposal. In the event that the Arrangement
Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances, Rockcliff has
agreed to pay Hudbay a termination fee of C$700,000.
Board of Directors
Recommendation
Rockcliff appointed a special committee of
independent directors (the “Special Committee”) to consider and
make a recommendation to the Board of Directors of Rockcliff (the
“Board”) with respect to the Arrangement. The Special Committee,
after consultation with its financial advisors, unanimously
recommended that the Board approve the Arrangement and recommend
that Rockcliff shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement.
Based on the unanimous recommendation of the
Special Committee, and after consultation with its financial and
legal advisors, the Board has unanimously approved the Arrangement
and recommends that Rockcliff shareholders vote in favour of the
Arrangement.
Each of Haywood Securities Inc. and INFOR
Financial Inc. have provided the Special Committee and Board,
respectively, with a fairness opinion, stating that, in its
opinion, based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations,
and qualifications set forth therein, the consideration to be
received by Rockcliff shareholders under the Arrangement is fair,
from a financial point of view, to the Rockcliff shareholders.
Advisors and Counsel
INFOR Financial is acting as financial advisor
to Rockcliff and Peterson McVicar LLP is acting as legal counsel to
Rockcliff.
National Bank Financial is acting as financial
advisor to Hudbay and Goodmans LLP is acting as legal counsel to
Hudbay.
About Rockcliff
Rockcliff is a Canadian exploration and resource
development company with several advanced-stage, high-grade VMS
copper-zinc dominant deposits in the Snow Lake area of central
Manitoba. The company is a major landholder in the Flin Flon-Snow
Lake Greenstone Belt which is the largest Paleoproterozoic VMS
district in the world, hosting high-grade mines and deposits
containing copper, zinc, gold and silver. The company’s extensive
portfolio of properties totals approximately 1,800 km² and includes
six 100% owned high grade, undeveloped VMS deposits. Rockcliff’s
(49% ownership) seventh high grade VMS deposit, the Talbot copper
deposit, is a joint venture with Hudbay (51% ownership).
Ken Lapierre P.Geo., Interim President, and CEO
of Rockcliff, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian
regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and
approved the scientific and technical information contained in this
press release.
About Hudbay
Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a copper-focused
mining company with three long-life operations and a world-class
pipeline of copper growth projects in tier-one mining-friendly
jurisdictions of Canada, Peru and the United States.
Hudbay’s operating portfolio includes the
Constancia mine in Cusco (Peru), the Snow Lake operations in
Manitoba (Canada) and, upon completion of the arrangement with
Copper Mountain Mining Corp., the Copper Mountain mine in British
Columbia (Canada). Copper is the primary metal produced by the
company, which is complemented by meaningful gold production.
Hudbay’s growth pipeline includes the Copper World project in
Arizona, the Mason project in Nevada (United States), the Llaguen
project in La Libertad (Peru) and several expansion and exploration
opportunities near its existing operations.
The value Hudbay creates and the impact it has
is embodied in its purpose statement: “We care about our people,
our communities and our planet. Hudbay provides the metals the
world needs. We work sustainably, transform lives and create better
futures for communities.” Hudbay’s mission is to create sustainable
value and strong returns by leveraging its core strengths in
community relations, focused exploration, mine development and
efficient operations. Further information about Hudbay can be found
on www.hudbay.com.
Forward-Looking Information
This release contains certain “forward looking
statements” and certain “forward-looking information” as “defined
under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking
statements and information can generally be identified by the use
of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”,
“expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”,
“continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. The forward-looking
information contained herein is provided for the purpose of
assisting readers in understanding management’s current
expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are
cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other
purposes.
Forward-looking statements relate to future
events or future performance and reflect Hudbay’s and Rockcliff’s
expectations or beliefs regarding future events. Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to statements with respect
to the consummation and timing of the Arrangement; approval by
Rockcliff’s shareholders; the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent to the Arrangement; the strengths, characteristics and
potential of the Arrangement; growth potential and expectations
regarding the timing, receipt and anticipated effects of court
approval and other consents and approvals; the impact of the
Arrangement on Rockcliff, Hudbay and their respective shareholders
and other stakeholders; and other anticipated benefits of the
Arrangement. By their very nature, forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. Such factors include, amongst others, risks related to
failure to receive approval by Rockcliff shareholders, the required
court and other consents and approvals required to effect the
Arrangement, the potential of a third party making a superior
proposal and the possibility that the Arrangement Agreement could
be terminated under certain circumstances.
Forward-looking information are based on
management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates,
expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such
management's experience and perception of trends, current
conditions and expected developments, and other factors that
management believes are relevant and reasonable in the
circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors,
among other things, include: business integration risks;
fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in
securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of
copper or certain other commodities; change in national and local
governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and
political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated
with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining
(including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or
unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding);
discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical
recoveries; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks
and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose
restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and
claims by local communities and indigenous populations;
availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and
labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses,
permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to
properties.
Hudbay and Rockcliff undertake no obligation to
update forward-looking information except as required by applicable
law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best
judgment based on the information currently available. No
forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future
results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or
information.
For further information, please
contact:
RockcliffKen LapierreInterim
President & CEO (647) 678-3879ken@rockcliffmetals.com
HudbayCandace BrûléVice
President, Investor Relations (416) 814-4387
candace.brule@hudbay.com
________________________i Copper equivalent
calculations conducted assuming metal prices of U$3.52/lb copper,
US$1,817/oz gold, US$1.18/lb zinc and US$23.75/oz Ag.
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