Amarillo Gold Corporation (“
Amarillo” or the
“
Company”) (TSXV: AGC, OTCQB: AGCBF) has entered
into an agreement (the “
Arrangement Agreement”)
with Hochschild Mining PLC (“
Hochschild”), whereby
Hochschild will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Amarillo
by way of a plan of arrangement (the
“
Arrangement”) under the Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia). Pursuant to the Arrangement, each share of
Amarillo will be exchanged for cash consideration of C$0.40 and one
share of a new Brazil-focused exploration company, Lavras Gold
Corp. (“
Lavras SpinCo”), based in Toronto,
Ontario.
Lavras SpinCo will be capitalized with C$10 million cash and
will hold all assets and rights with respect the Lavras do Sul gold
project (the “Lavras Project”) located in southern
Brazil in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The cash consideration (not including the value of the Lavras
SpinCo shares) represents a premium of 66% over the 20-trading day
volume weighted average trading price of the Amarillo shares on the
TSX Venture Exchange of C$0.24. The total transaction value is
approximately C$164.5 million, excluding Lavras SpinCo’s asset
value and C$10 million of cash. It is anticipated that Lavras
SpinCo will complete a share consolidation immediately following
the completion of the Arrangement.
Highlights of the proposed transactions:
- Cash consideration of C$0.40 per
Amarillo share;
- Amarillo shareholders also receive one
share of Lavras SpinCo for every Amarillo share held;
- Lavras SpinCo will have C$10 million
cash and will hold a stake of the Lavras Project assets; and
- Lavras SpinCo will have a 2% net
smelter return royalty over certain of Amarillo’s exploration
properties located outside of the current Posse resource and mine
plan at Amarillo’s Mara Rosa property.
“This acquisition delivers an immediate and compelling
opportunity for our shareholders to monetize their investment in
Amarillo at an attractive valuation and significant premium to the
current and historical trading price of Amarillo’s shares,” said
Mike Mutchler, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The
transaction also provides our shareholders with additional value
through their continued participation in the future exploration and
advancement of the prospective Lavras Project through Lavras
SpinCo, where our leadership team will be focussed on unlocking the
true value of this project.”
BOARD APPROVAL AND
RECOMMENDATION
Following an extensive review and detailed analysis of the
proposed Arrangement and the recommendation of the special
committee (the “Special Committee”) of the board
of directors (the “Board”) of Amarillo, the Board
has unanimously: (i) approved the Arrangement and the entering into
of the Arrangement Agreement; (ii) determined that the Arrangement
is in the best interests of Amarillo and is fair, from a financial
point of view, to Amarillo’s shareholders, and (iii) determined to
recommend that Amarillo’s shareholders vote in favour of the
Arrangement.
Research Capital Corporation acted as advisor to the Special
Committee and has provided its verbal fairness opinion (the
“Fairness Opinion”) to the Special Committee and the Board that, as
of the date of the Fairness Opinion, and subject to the
limitations, qualifications and assumptions disclosed to the
Special Committee and the Board in connection therewith, the
consideration to be received by Amarillo’s shareholders pursuant to
the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view to
Amarillo’s shareholders. The full text of the written Fairness
Opinion, which describes the assumptions made, procedures followed,
matters considered and limitations and qualifications on the review
undertaken, will be included in Amarillo’s management information
circular.
SHAREHOLDER
APPROVAL
The Arrangement is subject to the approval of the Amarillo
shareholders. A special meeting of the Amarillo shareholders is
expected to be held in early 2022 to consider the Arrangement, with
an information circular to be mailed to Amarillo shareholders prior
to the meeting.
Directors and officers of Amarillo who collectively hold 6.51%
of the outstanding shares of Amarillo have entered into voting and
support agreements with Hochschild, supporting the Arrangement,
pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares held in
favour of the approval of the Arrangement at the meeting.
In addition, Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a
corporation which is beneficially owned by him, and Baccarat Trade
Investments Limited, which beneficially hold 68,300,000 and
76,099,500 shares (representing 17.69% and 19.71% of the
outstanding shares), respectively, have also entered into similar
voting and support agreements with Hochschild supporting the
Arrangement.
CLOSING
Subject to the satisfaction of all of the conditions to closing
set out in the Arrangement Agreement, it is anticipated that that
the Arrangement will close in the first quarter of 2022. Conditions
to closing under the Arrangement Agreement include, among other
matters, receipt of all required regulatory and stock exchange
approvals, receipt of required court approvals, receipt of approval
from the shareholders of Amarillo and Hochschild and the absence of
material adverse changes respecting Amarillo.
ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT
TERMS
The Arrangement Agreement contemplates a reciprocal expense
reimbursement/non-completion fee of C$2.5 million payable if the
required shareholder approval is not obtained or on the occurrence
of certain other circumstances. In addition, the Arrangement
Agreement provides for a termination fee of C$5 million payable by
Amarillo to Hochschild in the event that the Arrangement is not
completed or is terminated by Amarillo or Hochschild in certain
circumstances, including if Amarillo enters into an agreement with
respect to a superior proposal or if the Board, in certain
circumstances, withdraws or modifies its recommendation with
respect to the Arrangement. The Arrangement Agreement also provides
for customary non-solicitation covenants, subject to customary
“fiduciary out” provisions entitling Amarillo to consider and
accept a superior proposal and a right in favor of Hochschild to
match any superior proposal.
A copy of the Arrangement Agreement will be filed by Amarillo on
SEDAR and will be reviewable under Amarillo’s profile at
www.sedar.com.
STRATEGIC
RATIONALE
The Arrangement is a culmination of Amarillo’s exploration and
development successes in Brazil. Amarillo’s management views the
Arrangement as an opportunity for its shareholders to realize value
for a large portion of Amarillo’s assets, at an attractive premium
to the recent market performance of its shares and other metrics,
while continuing to participate directly in the upside of Lavras
SpinCo’s planned exploration at the Lavras Project in Brazil.
Lavras SpinCo is expected to be well-capitalized at inception with
significant cash, no debt, and led by Amarillo’s current management
team.
LAVRAS
SPINCO
As part of the Arrangement, Lavras SpinCo will be capitalized
with C$10 million in cash and Amarillo’s current interests in the
Lavras Project. Lavras SpinCo’s vision is to be a leading
independent exploration and production company in Brazil,
maximizing shareholder value by bringing its disciplined
exploration approach to the Lavras Project and other potential
opportunities.
ADVISORS AND
COUNSEL
Research Capital Corporation acted as advisor to the Special
Committee and Amarillo engaged Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and
Irwin Lowy LLP as its legal counsel in connection with the
Transaction. Hochschild has engaged RBC Capital Markets as its
financial advisor, sole sponsor and corporate broker, Stikeman
Elliott LLP as its Canadian legal counsel, Pinheiro Neto Advogados
as its Brazilian legal counsel, and Linklaters LLP as its UK legal
counsel in connection with the Transaction.
WEBCAST
A webcast will be held at 10:00 a.m. Toronto time on November
30, 2021 for investors and analysts.
Register at: https://my.6ix.com/paColcfT
ABOUT AMARILLO
Amarillo is advancing two gold projects located near excellent
infrastructure in mining-friendly states in Brazil. The development
stage Posse Gold Project is on the Company’s Mara Rosa Property in
Goiás State. It has a positive definitive feasibility study that
shows it can be built into a profitable operation with low costs
and a strong financial return. Mara Rosa also shows the potential
for discovering additional near-surface deposits that will extend
Posse’s mine life beyond its initial 10 years. The exploration
stage Lavras do Sul Project in Rio Grande do Sul State has more
than 23 prospects centered on historic gold workings.
Amarillo trades on the TSXV under the symbol AGC and the OTCQB
under the symbol AGCBF. Visit www.amarillogold.com to learn more,
and follow Amarillo on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
CONTACT INFORMATION |
|
Mike Mutchler |
Annemarie Brissenden |
President & CEO |
Investor Relations |
416-294-0736 |
416-844-6284 |
mike.mutchler@amarillogold.com |
annemarie.brissenden@amarillogold.com |
DISCLAIMER
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content
of this news release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND
CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE
Certain information provided in this news release constitutes
forward‐ looking statements. Specifically, this press release
contains forward‐looking statements relating to: (i) the
anticipated timing of the Amarillo shareholder meeting to approve
the Arrangement, (ii) the anticipated timing of the closing of the
Arrangement, the exploration and development prospects of Lavras
SpinCo, and (iv) planned exploration and development activities of
Lavras SpinCo.
The forward‐looking statements are based on certain key
expectations and assumptions. With respect to the anticipated
timing of the Amarillo shareholder meeting, these include
expectations and assumptions concerning the time required to
convene the meeting and complete and mail the related information
circular. With respect to the anticipated timing of the closing of
the Arrangement, these include expectations and assumptions with
respect to the timely receipt of all required court, shareholder
and regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of all other
conditions to the closing of the Arrangement. With respect to the
remaining forward-looking statements, these include expectations
and assumptions concerning the availability of capital, the success
of future drilling and development activities, Lavras SpinCo’s
contractual rights, prevailing commodity prices and economic
conditions, the availability of labour and services, the ability to
transport and market production, timing of completion of
infrastructure and transportation projects, weather and access to
drilling locations.
Although Amarillo believes that the expectations and assumptions
on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable at
the time of preparation, undue reliance should not be placed on the
forward-looking statements as Amarillo can give no assurance that
they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements
address future events and conditions, by their very nature they
involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could
differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number
of factors and risks. With respect to the timing of the completion
of the Arrangement, these include risks that the required court,
shareholder and regulatory approvals are not obtained on a timely
basis, on terms acceptable to the parties or at all and risks that
other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement are not
satisfied. There is no guarantee that the Arrangement will close at
the anticipated time or at all. With respect to the exploration and
development prospects of Lavras SpinCo, the planned exploration and
development activities of Lavras SpinCo and such factors and risks
include, but are not limited to: general economic, market and
business conditions; fluctuations in commodity prices; the test
results and performance of exploration and development drilling,
fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates; the uncertainty of
historic resource estimates and estimates of the value of
undeveloped land; changes in environmental and other regulations;
risks associated with mineral operations; and other factors, many
of which are beyond the control of Amarillo. These and other risks
are described further in Amarillo’s most recently filed management
discussion and analysis and its annual information form for the
year ended December 31, 2019, which have been filed on SEDAR and
may be reviewed under Amarillo’s profile at www.sedar.com.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release
are made as of the date hereof. Except as may be required by
applicable securities laws, Amarillo assumes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward‐looking statements made
herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities and shall not
constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or
jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful. The securities to be distributed pursuant to the
Arrangement 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 state securities laws and may not
be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S.
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The securities
to be distributed pursuant to the Arrangement will be offered and
sold in the United States pursuant to the exemption from
registration set forth in Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities
Act and similar exemptions under applicable state securities
laws.
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