Tonogold Resources, Inc. (OTC:TNGL) wishes to provide the market
with an update with regard to the agreement that was reached with
Mil-ler Resources and Energy SA ("
Mil-ler"), a
private Mexican company and owner of the Nevmex Iron Ore project in
Mexico, details of which were announced late last year. The
principal terms of the agreement provided Tonogold with the
exclusive right to subscribe for 51,515 new shares in Mil-ler
(increasing Mil-ler's issued capital to 151,515 shares)
representing a 34% equity interest in Mil-ler by investing $10
million in two tranches of $5 million each.
Subsequently, Tonogold announced a proposed Private Placement
Offering of 120 million new shares in Tonogold at 5-cents per share
to raise $6 million (before costs), in order to fund the initial
investment in Mil-ler.
Tonogold believes that having the ability to take a controlling
interest (+50%) in Mil-ler will substantially enhance the investor
appeal of Tonogold.
New Agreements
Tonogold, Mil-ler and Mil-ler's current shareholders initiated
discussions in this regard, and as a result Tonogold is pleased to
advise the following:
1. Mil-ler has formally agreed to extend the term of the
original option such that:
a. Tonogold's ability to elect to invest the initial $5 million
(to secure a 17% interest in Mil-ler) has been extended to March
28th 2014 (requiring the payment of $50,000 before February 28th
2014).
b. Tonogold's right to invest a further $5 million to bring it's
interest in Mil-ler to 34% will expire 6 months from the date that
the initial option is exercised (the "Second
Option").
2. The current shareholders in Mil-ler have today executed an
agreement with Tonogold that provides Tonogold with an exclusive
right (not obligation) to acquire from them, 25,758 existing
Mil-ler shares ("Existing
Shares"), representing 17% of Mil-ler's enlarged
issued capital, which if acquired, would result in Tonogold owning
77,273 Mil-ler shares (i.e. 51% equity interest). The principal
terms of this agreement provide for the following:
a. Tonogold's right to acquire the Existing Shares shall expire
on the same day that the Second Option expires as described in
paragraph 1b above (just over 7 months from now).
b. In the event that Tonogold elects to acquire the
Existing Shares, the consideration payable shall be $6.0 million
cash plus 59 million Tonogold shares. The number of Tonogold shares
to be issued is subject to an adjustment formula in the event that
Tonogold's share price is above 10-cents per share at the time of
the election. Further details are provided in Schedule 1 below.
Investment opportunity
Three strong and significant magnetic anomalies (shown as the
darker areas in the diagram) have recently been identified on
tenements held by Mil-ler. At least one of these anomalies is
coincidental with major iron ore outcropping. Each anomaly is over
5 kms (3.1 miles) long and up to 2 km (1.2 miles) - each having the
potential to transform this project into a world-class iron ore
producer.
A diagram accompanying this release is available at
http://media.globenewswire.com/cache/11159/file/24752.pdf
The initial $5 million investment contemplated by Tonogold will
be used to fund a 4 month, major drill program to test one of these
anomalies.
The diagram shows the three strong and significant magnetic
signature over tenements held by Mil-Ler (covering some 350 square
kilometers - 135 square miles) as well as the more subtle anomalies
over the two open pits that represent the current mining activities
(Ponderosa and Fito). Note the darker shading highlights high
magnetic signatures.
Ponderosa and Fito, were drilled in 2011 on a 25 by 25 meter
pattern over an area of approximately 130,000 square meters, and is
the basis of a mine plan that will provide 550,000 tonnes of ore
per year, which after beneficiation will yield ~360,000 tonnes pa
of final Iron Ore product which is shipped and sold to China.
A ground geophysical program will be undertaken followed by a
drill program to test one of the three major anomalies immediately
following Tonogold's initial $5 million investment in Mil-ler.
Drilling will be mainly core (diamond), employing 3-4 rigs for
approximately 43,000 meters (~450 holes) down to a depth of around
100 meters on an initial grid pattern of 100 meters by 100 meters
covering an area 5.0 kilometers by 0.9 kilometers. The area covered
by this forthcoming drill program, (4,500,000 square meters), is
some 33 times larger than that which hosts the deposits currently
being mined, providing an order-of-magnitude of the potential for a
quantum increase in iron ore production in the future.
Comments
Tonogold's CEO Mr. Ashley said, "Tonogold's decision to increase
its investment in Mil-Ler from 17% to 51% will be made with the
benefit of the results from the major drill program which is
expected to confirm the magnitude of one of the three major
magnetic anomalies and the ability to transform this project, and
in turn, Tonogold, into a substantial profitable iron ore
producer." He added that he remains totally committed and
extremely excited with the potential that this opportunity
provides, and offered his appreciation for the commitment and
flexibility of the management and shareholders of Mil-Ler in aiding
Tonogold's participation.
Mr. Travis Miller, the CEO and 50% shareholder in Mil-Ler
stated, "I am confident that the strength, experience and
commitment of Tonogold's management team will provide the necessary
complimentary skills and disciplines required to optimize and
unlock the significant value that we have already identified this
project undoubtedly holds and to ensure a smooth transition to
becoming a major iron ore producer."
Tonogold expects that the re-structured arrangement will enable
the successful completion of the capital raising expeditiously.
Further information on Mil-ler
- Production from the Ponderosa and Fito open pits commenced
early 2013 and ramped up to a rate of 180,000 tonnes pa of final
iron ore product grading around 57% Iron (Fe) by mid 2013.
- Mil-ler owns its own mining fleet and process facility, which
was originally funded from shareholder equity and more recently
from funds generated from operation. Toward the end of 2013,
Mil-ler acquired additional mining equipment that will enable
production to double to 360,000 tpa of final iron ore product in
early 2014.
- Mining fleet owned by Mil-ler includes: -- 5 x Caterpillar
Excavators -- 2 x Caterpillar front-end loaders -- 5 x 40 tonne
trucks (2 Caterpillar and 2 Volvo) -- 2 x Caterpillar Bulldozers --
Grader, water truck, light towers
- Mil-ler's un-audited balance sheet at December 31st 2013
highlights: -- Current assets of $0.6 million -- Net book value of
Mining fleet and Process facilities - $3.4 million -- Net book
value (other assets) - $0.3 million -- Current Liabilities - $0.2
million -- Long Term Assets and Long term liabilities – Zero --
Equity - $4.1 million -- Note. Exploration and capital development
costs are written off in the year that they are incurred.
- Mil-ler is debt free
- Additional mining fleet was delivered at the end of 2013 and
early 2014. Mining activities have been focused on advanced
pre-strip in preparation for both open pits to be able to sustain a
mining rate supporting the planned 360,000 tonnes per annum of
final iron ore product.
- In-situ iron grade of ~45% is upgraded to ~57% in the final
product via a simple beneficiation process that involves 2-stage
crushing followed by dry magnetic separation. Recovery of iron is
estimated at 84% with 65% of tonnage recovered.
- Mil-ler made three shipments to China during 2013, totaling
80,000 WMT of Iron Ore at an average grade of 57% Fe, and received
about $100 per tonne (gross). Costs of around $61/t include mining,
processing, road transport to the Port of Guaymas, port fees and
cost of shipping to China.
Schedule 1
Consideration for the Existing Shares
1. If the 30-day volume weighted average share price
for Tonogold shares ("30-day VWAP") at the time of
Tonogold's election to acquire the Existing Shares is 10-cents or
less, the number of Tonogold shares to be issued to satisfy the
share component of the consideration will be 59 million.
2. If the 30-day VWAP of Tonogold's shares is above
10-cents per share at the time of Tonogold's election to acquire
the Existing Shares, the number of Tonogold shares to be issued to
satisfy the share component of the consideration will be the
adjusted share component valuation (as described in 3 below)
divided by the 30-day VWAP of Tonogold's shares.
3. The value of the share component of the
consideration payable in respect of the Existing Shares will
increase by $0.77 million (from a base of $5.9 million) for each
1-cent increase above 10-cents per share calculated by using the
30-day volume weighted average share price for Tonogold at the time
of Tonogold's election to acquire the Existing Shares. This formula
is designed to provide the current owners of the Existing Shares a
share of the implied increase value of Mil-ler as reflected in
Tonogold's share price.
The table below provides an illustration of the consideration
payable (Cash and Tonogold shares) over various 30-day VWAP of
Tonogold's shares in the event that Tonogold elects to exercise the
Share Option.
|
30-day |
Consideration of
the Existing Shares |
No. of |
VWAP |
Total |
Cash |
Shares |
TNGL |
TNGL ($/sh) |
$M's |
$M's |
$M's |
shares |
$0.05 |
$8.95 |
$6.00 |
$2.95 |
59,000,000 |
$0.06 |
$9.54 |
$6.00 |
$3.54 |
59,000,000 |
$0.07 |
$10.13 |
$6.00 |
$4.13 |
59,000,000 |
$0.08 |
$10.72 |
$6.00 |
$4.72 |
59,000,000 |
$0.09 |
$11.31 |
$6.00 |
$5.31 |
59,000,000 |
$0.10 |
$11.90 |
$6.00 |
$5.90 |
59,000,000 |
$0.11 |
$12.67 |
$6.00 |
$6.67 |
60,636,364 |
$0.12 |
$13.44 |
$6.00 |
$7.44 |
62,000,000 |
$0.13 |
$14.21 |
$6.00 |
$8.21 |
63,153,846 |
$0.14 |
$14.98 |
$6.00 |
$8.98 |
64,142,857 |
$0.15 |
$15.75 |
$6.00 |
$9.75 |
65,000,000 |
Tonogold Resources, Inc. is a minerals exploration company based
in La Jolla, California. For more information on the company visit
their website www.tonogold.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking information
about Tonogold Resources, Inc. ("Tonogold") which is intended to be
covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements"
provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not
historical facts. Words such as "expect(s)," "feel(s),"
"believe(s)," "will," "may," "anticipate(s)," and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These statements include, but are not limited to,
financial projections and estimates and their underlying
assumptions; statements regarding plans, objectives and
expectations with respect to future operations, products and
services; and statements regarding future performance. Such
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of
which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of
Tonogold Resources, Inc. that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the
forward-looking information and statements. These risks and
uncertainties include: our lack of operating revenue and
earnings history, our need for additional capital to pursue our
business strategy, some of our managers lack formal training in the
mining business, the grade and quantity of minerals in our projects
may not be economic, we do not have fee title to our properties,
but derive our rights through leases and the Mining Law, changes to
the Mining Law may increase the cost of doing business, we are a
non-reporting company and as such do not make periodic filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, we trade on the Pink Sheets
and there can be no assurances that a liquid market will develop in
our securities, mining is subject to extensive environmental
regulations and can create substantial environmental liabilities,
gold, silver and other metals are commodities which have
substantial price fluctuations, a drop in prices could adversely
affect future profitability and capital raising efforts, and mining
can be dangerous and present operational hazards for employees and
contractors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements. Tonogold does not
undertake any obligation to republish revised forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
CONTACT: For further information please contact:
Mark Ashley, mjashley3@gmail.com
Phone: (858) 456-1273
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