Silver Bull Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: SVBL, TSX: SVB) (“Silver Bull”
or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the timing and additional
details regarding the previously announced distribution (the
“Distribution”) to Silver Bull shareholders of shares of Arras
Minerals Corp. (“Arras”).
Pursuant to the Distribution, shareholders of
Silver Bull common stock as of September 10,
2021 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to receive one
common share of Arras for each share of Silver Bull common stock
held as of that date. The Distribution is scheduled to occur on
September 24, 2021 (the “Distribution
Date”).
Immediately following completion of the
Distribution, Silver Bull’s shareholders will be issued shares in
Arras so that, collectively, they will own approximately 84% of
Arras, on a non-diluted basis, and Silver Bull will own
approximately 4% of Arras, on a non-diluted basis. The remaining
approximately 12% of Arras will be held by those who participated
in Arras’ private placement in April 2021.
In connection with the approval of the
Distribution by the board of directors of Silver Bull, Silver Bull
and Arras entered into a separation and distribution agreement,
dated August 31, 2021, setting forth the principal actions to
be taken in connection with the Distribution and providing a
framework for the relationship between the parties after the
Distribution.
The Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) has
decided to implement “due bill” trading in connection with the
Distribution. Each “due bill” will represent an entitlement to an
Arras share to be distributed pursuant to the Distribution and will
attach to each Silver Bull share between the opening of trading on
September 9, 2021 and the closing of trading on
September 24, 2021, allowing Silver Bull shares to carry the
value of the entitlement to the Arras share until the Distribution
is made. As such, Silver Bull shareholders who sell Silver Bull
shares up to the end of trading on the Distribution Date (i.e.,
when Silver Bull shares trade with an attached “due bill”
representing an entitlement to Arras shares to be distributed
pursuant to the Distribution) will be selling their right to
receive Arras common shares in the Distribution. “Ex-distribution”
trading (i.e., where Silver Bull shares trade without an
entitlement to Arras shares to be distributed pursuant to the
Distribution) will commence at the opening of trading on September
27, 2021. The due bill redemption date (i.e., the date when holders
of due bill entitlements are expected to settle their entitlements)
will be September 28, 2021. It is expected that the OTCQB
marketplace will also implement “due bills” trading.
Most Silver Bull shareholders hold their Silver
Bull shares through a bank or brokerage firm. In such cases, the
bank or brokerage firm would be said to hold the shares in “street
name,” and ownership would be recorded on the bank’s or brokerage
firm’s books. If a Silver Bull shareholder holds Silver Bull shares
through a bank or brokerage firm, the bank or brokerage firm will
credit the shareholder’s account for the Arras common shares that
the shareholder is entitled to receive in the Distribution. If
Silver Bull shareholders have any questions concerning the
mechanics of having shares held in “street name,” they should
contact their bank or brokerage firm.
In connection with the Distribution, all
registered Silver Bull shareholders holding physical share
certificates or shares in book-entry form with the Company’s
transfer agent (Olympia Trust Company) will be issued Arras shares
in book-entry form only, which means that no physical share
certificates will be issued. For questions relating to the transfer
or mechanics of the Distribution, please contact Olympia Trust
Company by telephone at 1-833-684-1546 (toll free in North America)
or by online inquiry at cssinquiries@olympiatrust.com.
Upon the consummation of the Distribution, Arras
will not be listed on a public stock exchange but will report under
the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status.
The Arras shares distributed to Silver Bull shareholders, though
freely transferable in the United States, may be illiquid until
such time as the shares are listed or a trading market develops, if
at all. The Distribution of Arras shares by Silver Bull will
constitute a distribution of securities that is exempt from the
prospectus requirements of Canadian securities legislation. As
such, the first trade in Arras shares in Canada will be a
distribution for the purposes of Canadian securities laws and
subject to prospectus requirements unless certain conditions are
satisfied. Until such conditions are satisfied, Arras shares may
only be resold in Canada pursuant to an exemption from prospectus
requirements. Silver Bull warrants and options will also be
adjusted pursuant to the Distribution. For further details
regarding the Canadian resale restrictions on the Arras shares
distributed by Silver Bull and the adjustments being made to Silver
Bull warrants and options in connection with the Distribution,
please refer to the Registration Statement on Form 20-F of
Arras filed on September 1, 2021 with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar (the
“20-F”).
Tax Implications
The following discussion is qualified in its
entirety by the discussion of tax matters set forth in the 20-F.
Silver Bull shareholders entitled to receive the Distribution of
Arras shares should make reference to that discussion for further
details regarding the tax consequences of the Distribution.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the
receipt of Arras common shares by Silver Bull shareholders should
be treated as a distribution of property in an amount equal to the
fair market value of the common shares received. The Distribution
of Arras common shares should be treated as dividend income to the
extent considered paid out of Silver Bull’s current and accumulated
earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of Silver Bull’s
current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a
non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the holder’s basis
in its Silver Bull shares and thereafter as capital gain. Silver
Bull will not be able to determine the amount of the Distribution
that will be treated as a dividend until after the close of the
taxable year of the Distribution because its current year earnings
and profits will be calculated based on its income for the entire
taxable year in which the Distribution occurs. However, based on
current projections, it is reasonably expected that a portion of
the Distribution of Arras common shares should be treated as a
return of capital rather than a dividend.
For Canadian tax purposes, the Distribution of
Arras shares will be considered a dividend in kind on the Silver
Bull shares to shareholders resident in Canada. Such shareholders
will be required to include in computing their income for a
taxation year the amount of such dividend (equal to the fair market
value of the Arras shares received). A dividend in kind of the
Arras shares paid in respect of the Silver Bull shares to a
shareholder who is not a resident of Canada will not be subject to
Canadian withholding tax or other income tax under the Income
Tax Act (Canada).
The portion of the Distribution treated as a
dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is made to
non-U.S. holders will generally be subject to U.S. federal
gross-basis income tax at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate specified
in an applicable income tax treaty. This tax is generally collected
by way of withholding. Because the amount constituting a dividend
will not be known at the time of the Distribution, Silver Bull or
the applicable withholding agent is generally required to withhold
on entire amount of the Distribution. Silver Bull or the applicable
withholding agent may obtain the funds necessary to remit any such
withholding tax by asking the non-U.S. holder to provide the funds,
by using funds in such holder’s account with the applicable
withholding agent or by selling (on such holder’s behalf) the
portion of Arras common shares otherwise distributable to such
non-U.S. holder needed to pay that tax, together with associated
expenses.
EACH REGISTERED HOLDER OF SILVER BULL COMMON
STOCK THAT IS A NON-U.S. HOLDER WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO PROVIDE THE
FUNDS NECESSARY TO REMIT ANY APPLICABLE WITHHOLDING TAX TO THE IRS.
IF SUCH FUNDS, TOGETHER WITH ANY OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO BE
PROVIDED FROM SUCH HOLDER, ARE NOT RECEIVED BY
SEPTEMBER 17, 2021, THEN, IF APPLICABLE, A
PORTION OF THE ARRAS COMMON SHARES OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH
HOLDER WILL BE WITHHELD AND SOLD (ON SUCH HOLDER’S BEHALF) IN ORDER
TO PAY ANY APPLICABLE WITHHOLDING TAX.
As this Distribution, as described
above, is reasonably expected to result in a taxable dividend, the
Company or an applicable withholding agent generally will be
required to withhold with respect to the Distribution being made to
certain non-U.S. holders. The Company implores shareholders who
have not yet provided proof of their tax residency to do so by
filing the appropriate forms with their bank, brokerage firm or for
those who hold physical share certificates or in book entry form
with the Company’s transfer agent, Olympia Trust Company, prior to
the Record Date.
Benefits of the Transaction
The Distribution is expected to:
- provide investors with the
potential for greater value than a single company, by unlocking a
premium value for the Beskauga and Sierra Mojada projects
separately;
- create two separate companies that
have clear commodity and regional demarcation, allowing for
targeted branding and marketing;
- allow each company flexibility in
allocating resources and deploying capital in a manner consistent
with the separate business strategies;
- broaden the appeal of the potential
investor base for both companies, with Kazakhstan appealing to
European and Middle Eastern investors and Mexico potentially
appealing to North American investors; and
- facilitate the ability of the
companies to separately finance the Beskauga and Sierra Mojada
projects based on the unique characteristics of each project and
jurisdiction.
Tim Barry, President, CEO and director of Silver
Bull states, “We continue to believe greater value will be created
with two independent companies compared to the value that would be
achieved by keeping the two sets of assets in a single company.
Both the Beskauga and Sierra Mojada projects have NI 43-101
compliant resources as well as exploration upside and we believe
the split will allow each company to execute its own unique
business strategy and achieve a premium for any success in resource
development and exploration. With continued strong metal prices and
demand for commodities, we are confident that now is the right time
to separate the projects in different companies.”
Beskauga Deposit, Kazakhstan:
The Beskauga deposit is an open pittable gold-copper-silver deposit
with a NI 43-101 compliant “Indicated” Mineral Resource of 207
million tonnes grading 0.35 g/t gold, 0.23% copper and 1.09 g/t
silver for 2.33 million ounces of contained gold, 476.1 thousand
tonnes of contained copper, and 7.25 million ounces of contained
silver and an “Inferred” Mineral Resource of 147 million tonnes
grading 0.33 g/t gold, 0.15% copper and 1.02 g/t silver for 1.56
million ounces of contained gold, 220.5 thousand tonnes of
contained copper, and 4.82 million ounces of contained silver.
The constraining pit was optimised and
calculated using a NSR cut-off based on a price of: $1,500/oz for
gold, $2.80/lb for copper, $17.25/oz for silver, and with an
average recovery of 81.7% for copper and 51.8% for both gold and
silver. Mineralization remains open in all directions as well as at
depth.
Table 1. Pit-constrained Mineral Resource
estimate for the Beskauga copper-gold project
CATEGORY |
TONNAGE (MT) |
CU % |
AU G/T |
AG G/T |
AU (MOZ) |
CU (KT) |
AG (MOZ) |
Indicated |
207 |
0.23 |
0.35 |
1.09 |
2.33 |
476.1 |
7.25 |
Inferred |
147 |
0.15 |
0.33 |
1.02 |
1.56 |
220.5 |
4.82 |
For a full summary of the Beskauga resource
please refer to the Company’s press release dated January 28,
2021 and filed on the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com, or by
visiting the following link:
https://www.silverbullresources.com/news/silver-bull-announces-maiden-ni-43-101-resource-of-2.33-million-ounces-of-gold-476-thousand-tonnes-of-copper-in-the-indicated/
Sierra Mojada deposit, Mexico:
Sierra Mojada is an open pittable oxide deposit with a NI 43-101
compliant Measured and Indicated “global” Mineral Resource of 70.4
million tonnes grading 3.4% zinc and 38.6 g/t silver for 5.35
billion pounds of contained zinc and 87.4 million ounces of
contained silver. Included within the “global” Mineral Resource is
a Measured and Indicated “high grade zinc zone” of 13.5 million
tonnes with an average grade of 11.2% zinc at a 6% cutoff, for
3.336 billion pounds of contained zinc, and a Measured and
Indicated “high grade silver zone” of 15.2 million tonnes with an
average grade of 114.9 g/t silver at a 50 g/t cutoff for 56.3
million contained ounces of silver. Mineralization remains open in
the east, west, and northerly directions.
The constraining pit was optimised and
calculated using a NSR cut-off based on a silver price of US$15/oz,
and a zinc price of US$1.20/lb and assumed a recovery for silver of
75% and a recovery for zinc of 41%. Approximately 60% of the
current 3.2 kilometer mineralized body is at or near surface before
dipping at around 6 degrees to the east.
CATEGORY |
TONNES (MT) |
AG (G/T) |
CU (%) |
PB (%) |
ZN (%) |
AG (MOZS) |
CU (MLBS) |
PB (MLBS) |
ZN (MLBS) |
MEASURED |
52.0 |
39.2 |
0.04 |
% |
0.3 |
% |
4.0 |
% |
65.5 |
45.9 |
379.1 |
4,589.3 |
INDICATED |
18.4 |
37.0 |
0.03 |
% |
0.2 |
% |
1. 9 |
% |
21.9 |
10.8 |
87.0 |
764.6 |
TOTAL M&I |
70.4 |
38.6 |
0.04 |
% |
0.3 |
% |
3.4 |
% |
87.4 |
56.8 |
466.1 |
5,353.9 |
INFERRED |
0.1 |
8.8 |
0.02 |
% |
0.2 |
% |
6.4 |
% |
0.02 |
0.04 |
0.4 |
10.7 |
For a full summary of the Sierra Mojada
resource, please refer to the Company’s press release dated October
31, 2018 and filed on the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com, or by
visiting the following link:
https://www.silverbullresources.com/news/silver-bull-resources-announces-5.35-billion-pounds-zinc-87.4-million-ounces-silver-in-updated-sierra-mojada-measured-and/
Sierra Mojada is currently under an illegal
blockade from a group called Sociedad Cooperativa de Exploración
Minera Mineros Norteños, S.C.L. (“Mineros Norteños”).
In 2014, Mineros Norteños filed a lawsuit
against Silver Bull’s Mexican subsidiary “Minera Metalin”. In the
lawsuit, Mineros Norteños sought payment of a capped 2% production
royalty, including interest at a rate of 6% per annum since
August 30, 2004, even though no revenue has been produced from
the applicable mining concessions. Mineros Norteños also sought
payment of wages to the Mineros Norteños members since
August 30, 2004 under this agreement, even though a mineral
processing plant was never built and none of the individuals were
hired or performed work for Silver Bull under this agreement and
Silver Bull did not commit to hiring them.
To date, Mineros Norteños has lost three
separate rulings on its lawsuit. In an attempt to force Silver Bull
into making a settlement, Mineros Norteños has undertaken to
illegally block access to the project since September 2019. To
ensure the safety of all involved, Silver Bull has elected to halt
all operations on the project until a resolution can be found.
Post-Distribution of Arras
Shares
Following the Distribution, Silver Bull will
focus on the Sierra Mojada asset and surrounding area in Mexico and
continue to manage the joint venture option with South32. It will
continue to trade under the symbol “SVB” on the TSX, and “SVBL” on
the OTCQB. The current management and board are expected to remain
in place to continue to run the Company.
Arras will focus on the Beskauga deposit and the
exploration licenses held in the surrounding area. In addition,
current Silver Bull management and board have been appointed as
management and board of Arras, along with G. Wesley Carson as an
additional independent board member.
Both companies will remain headquartered in
Vancouver.
The technical information of this news release
has been reviewed and approved by Tim Barry, a Chartered
Professional Geologist (CPAusIMM), and a qualified person for the
purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors “Tim
Barry”
Tim Barry, CPAusIMM Chief
Executive Officer, President and Director
INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687
5800 info@silverbullresources.com
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors
concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred
Resources: This press release uses the terms “measured
resources”, “indicated resources”, and “inferred resources” which
are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. We
advise U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the
SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources
involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic
feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves.
U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and
indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The
estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty
as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of
other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to
assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are
economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or
indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws,
estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of
feasibility or other economic studies.
Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource
is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC
normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does
not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in place tonnage and
grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the
information contained in this press release may not be comparable
to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not
subject NI 43-101.
Cautionary note regarding forward
looking statements: This news release contains
forward-looking statements regarding future events and Silver
Bull’s future results that are subject to the safe harbors created
under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and
applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements
include, among others, statements regarding the expected timing,
mechanics, income tax consequences, benefits and other aspects of
the proposed Distribution, expected post-Distribution management
focus, and the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga and
Sierra Mojada projects. These statements are based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Silver
Bull’s exploration projects, the industry in which Silver Bull
operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Silver Bull’s
management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,”
“goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,”
“estimates,” “continues,” “may,” variations of such words, and
similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended
to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including such
factors as whether the Distribution is ultimately achieved, in the
manner and on the timeline currently contemplated, or at all,
whether some or all of the expected benefits of the Distribution
will be achieved, the impact of the Distribution on Silver Bull
shareholders, whether management’s focus will be as described in
this news release following the Distribution, the results of
exploration activities and whether the results continue to support
continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore
grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity
prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other
matters discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020
and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the interim periods ended
January 31, 2021, April 30, 2021, and our other periodic
and current reports filed with the SEC and available on www.sec.gov
and with the Canadian securities commissions available on
www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual
results or developments may differ materially from those expressed
or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking
statement made by us in this release is based only on information
currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which
it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be
made from time to time, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise.
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