Compass Signs Letter of Intent and Appoints Independent Committee to Considers Disposition of Malian Assets
30 July 2013 - 9:15PM
Marketwired Canada
Compass Gold Corporation (TSX VENTURE:CVB) ("Compass" or the "Company") which is
focused on gold exploration on six properties in Mali, Africa's third largest
gold producer, announces that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent
("Letter Agreement") dated July 30, 2013 with Oklo Resources Limited ("Oklo")
for Oklo to acquire 100% of the issued shares (the "Shares") of Compass'
wholly-owned subsidiary Compass Gold (BVI) Mali Corp ("Compass BVI Mali") ("the
Disposition"), which would constitute the sale of substantially all of the
assets of the Company.
Compass BVI Mali owns 100% of the Company's gold projects which are the
Yanfolila, Dandoko, Moussala, Kolondieba, Solabougouda and Sirakourou gold
exploration permits located in Mali, West Africa.
Oklo (ASX:OKU) is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX"). Oklo's
primary assets are two advanced gold projects located in the key gold producing
region of Western Mali. These projects are located near to established
infrastructure and close to the Mali-Senegal-Mauretania borders and north of the
regional gold mining centre of Kayes. The projects are located within the
important greenstone belt geology system and are in the same mineralized
corridor that hosts the Sadiola (14m oz. ), Loulo (11m oz.) and Yatela (2.5m
oz.) mines.
Mr. Henderson, the Chairman of the Company, is also Chairman of Oklo and
consequently the proposed disposition to Oklo is a non-arm's length transaction
under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV" or "the Exchange").
Consequently, the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") has formed a
special committee of independent directors (the "Special Committee") to consider
the Disposition and advise the Board whether the transaction would be in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders and to approve, if
appropriate, the terms of a definitive agreement in respect of the Disposition
("Definitive Agreement"). The Disposition would be subject to minority
shareholder approval under the policies of the Exchange as well as approval by
special resolution of all shareholders of Compass pursuant to the Business
Corporations Act (British Columbia).
Proposed Disposition
Pursuant to the Letter Agreement the key terms of the Disposition are:
1. Subject to certain conditions precedent, as outlined below, Compass
agrees to sell all of the shares held in Compass BVI Mali to Oklo, and
Oklo agrees to purchase all of such shares from Compass for an aggregate
price of A$4,000,000 ("Purchase Price") plus the provision of the
working capital facility (see below) plus the payment of transaction
costs (see below) (collectively, the "Consideration").
2. The Purchase Price will be satisfied by the issuance to the Company by
Oklo of an aggregate of 800,000,000 fully paid shares (the
"Consideration Shares") in the capital of Oklo.
3. Oklo will provide a working capital facility of up to A$250,000 to be
advanced during the period between the date of the Definitive Agreement
and Closing on normal commercial terms including security arrangements
("Working Capital Facility"). At Closing, the Working Capital Facility
will cease and the balance outstanding will form part of the
Consideration.
4. Oklo agrees to fund reasonable transaction costs incurred by Compass or
Compass BVI Mali in connection with the Disposition, up to a maximum of
A$200,000 incurred from the date of this Letter Agreement, but none of
which will be paid by Oklo until after the parties have entered into the
Definitive Agreement ("Transaction Costs").
At the conclusion of the Disposition, Compass proposes to undertake a return of
capital to Compass shareholders on the basis of approximately five (5) Oklo
shares for every one (1) Compass share held ("Return of Capital"). The exact
Return of Capital ratio will be calculated after any remaining Compass debts
have been dealt with, including any required debt settlement. On completion of
the Return of Capital, Compass shareholders are expected to own approximately
60% of Oklo.
Conditions Precedent
The parties' obligations are subject to the satisfaction of the usual conditions
precedent to a transaction such as the Disposition, including:
1. the Special Committee recommending approval of the Disposition by the
Board and the Company entering into a Definitive Agreement within 40
days of the date of the Letter Agreement;
2. the completion of due diligence investigations by Compass in respect of
Oklo, and Oklo in respect of Compass, to their sole and absolute
satisfactions, including the receipt of a 43-101 report acceptable to
the TSXV;
3. Oklo having either completing on or before the closing of the
Disposition a minimum A$600,000 private placement or secured an
unconditional underwriting for a minimum A$600,000 private placement
which must be closed within 60 days of the closing date of the
Disposition;
4. Compass having assigned full rights to the Net Smelter Royalty Option
Agreement between Compass and Africa Mining SARL dated December 3, 2009
to Compass BVI Mali;
5. all consents being obtained from all third parties that are necessary to
complete the Disposition, including without limitation, receiving all
necessary Oklo shareholder approvals, Compass shareholder approvals, and
regulatory approvals (including the TSXV) and the requirement for any
independent report or independent valuations and the ASX confirming in
writing that Listing Rule 11.1.3 will not apply to the Transaction; and
6. no material adverse changes in the financial condition, assets or
liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of either Compass, Compass BVI
Mali or Oklo.
General
The Letter Agreement is not binding on Compass, other than clauses relating to
termination and the covenants made by Compass and Compass BVI Mali, until the
Special Committee has completed its investigations and recommended approval of
the Disposition. The covenants include the specific requirement to form a
Special Committee and the non-solicitation of further proposals by Compass.
The Letter Agreement contains a number of termination clauses in the event the
Disposition is not completed by November 30, 2013, or such later date as agreed
by the parties. In particular:
1. if the Disposition is not completed as a result of the actions of
Compass shareholders or the inability of Compass to satisfy the relevant
conditions precedent, then:
a. the Working Capital Facility will become due and payable. Compass
will have a period of 120 days from the date of termination in order
to repay the loan in full with interest;
b. any Transaction Costs paid by Oklo will need to be repaid to Oklo
within 60 days of the Termination Date; and
c. Compass will be required to pay a break fee of A$150,000 within 60
days from the date of termination.
2. If the Disposition is not completed as a result of the actions of Oklo
shareholders or the inability of Oklo to satisfy the relevant conditions
precedent, then:
a. the Working Capital Facility will be converted into a non-interest
bearing loan and for a period of 6 months following the Termination
Date, after which time the loan will become due and payable, or, at
Oklo's option, may be converted into Shares in Compass; and
b. any Transaction Costs paid by Oklo will be on account of Oklo and
Oklo will have no recourse to Compass.
Completion of the Disposition is subject to a number of conditions precedent,
including but not limited to TSXV acceptance. The Disposition cannot close until
the required shareholder and Exchange approvals are obtained. There can be no
assurance that the Disposition will be completed as proposed or at all.
Further information regarding the Disposition will be disclosed in the
information circular to be prepared in connection with the Disposition.
The Board expects the work of the Special Committee to take several weeks,
however all parties are working on finalising a Definitive Agreement as soon as
practical.
About Compass Gold
Compass Gold Corporation, a Tier 2 mining issuer listed on the TSX Venture
Exchange, is focused on gold exploration in Mali, Africa's third largest
producer of gold. Compass, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Africa Mining
SARL, owns a 100% interest in six gold exploration permits (Yanfolila, Dandoko,
Moussala, Kolondieba, Solabougouda and Sirakourou), covering an aggregate of
1,138 sq kms in key gold-producing regions in southwest Mali, West Africa.
Further information is available at www.compassgoldcorp.com.
COMPASS GOLD CORPORATION
Ian Spence, President & CEO
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT
TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release may include "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking
information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, the timing of the work of the
Special Committee, the timing of entering into a Definitive Agreement and
regulatory and shareholder approvals, many of which are beyond the control of
Compass. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors or
assumptions including, but not limited to, the ability of the Special Committee
to complete its review of the Disposition on a timely basis, obtaining
regulatory and shareholder approvals on a timely basis and the parties being
able to enter into the Definitive Agreement. Forward-looking statements are
subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to: the risk that the Disposition will not be approved by the Special
Committee, the shareholders of Compass or Oklo or regulatory authorities; risks
related to the Disposition not being completed in the event that the conditions
precedent are not satisfied; unanticipated costs and expenses; regulatory
restrictions; and other risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned that
any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual
results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information represents
management's best judgment based on information currently available. No
forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary
materially. Additional risks and uncertainties about Compass' business are more
fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials, including its MD&A, filed
with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at
www.sedar.com and readers are urged to read these materials. Compass does not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as
required by applicable law.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Compass Gold Corporation
James Henderson
Chairman
+61 2 88 233 100
info@compassgoldcorp.com
www.compassgoldcorp.com
Compass Gold Corporation
Ian Spence
President & CEO
+61 2 88 233 100
info@compassgoldcorp.com
www.compassgoldcorp.com
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