Namib Minerals, which would become a public company upon
consummation of the proposed business combination, Greenstone, an
affiliate of Namib Minerals and an established African gold
producer with an attractive portfolio of mining assets in Zimbabwe,
and HCVI, a Nasdaq listed special purpose acquisition company,
today announced the filing of the Registration Statement with the
SEC on Friday, December 6, 2024. This filing represents a key
milestone in connection with their previously announced proposed
business combination, which is expected to result in Namib Minerals
listing its ordinary shares and warrants on Nasdaq under the ticker
symbols “NAMM” and “NAMMW,” respectively, subject to approval of
its listing application. While the Registration Statement has not
yet become effective and the information contained therein is
subject to change, it provides important information about Namib
Minerals, Greenstone, HCVI, and the proposed business combination.
Upon completion of the transaction, Namib
Minerals will own Greenstone’s mining and exploration assets and
plans to accelerate its growth strategy and build out its portfolio
of mining assets. Located strategically in the Bulawayo Greenstone
Belt of Southern Zimbabwe, Greenstone’s cash flow generating How
mine has produced over 1.8Moz of gold between 1941 and 2023.
Restart efforts at the Mazowe and Redwing mines, historically
producing gold mines currently on care and maintenance, aim to
diversify Namib Minerals’ production scale upon the mines’
recommencement. The Mazowe and Redwing mines have total measured
and indicated resource estimates of 291koz at 7.77 g/t Au and
1,188koz at 3.83 g/t Au, respectively, and inferred resource
estimates of 915koz at 8.65 g/t Au and 1,328koz at 2.61 g/t Au,
respectively, based on technical report summaries for each mine
prepared in compliance with Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K
promulgated by the SEC ("S-K 1300"). Greenstone also currently
holds interests in 13 battery metals exploration permits in the
DRC, including six initial diamond drilling holes that show
potential for copper and cobalt. Located in the resource-rich Haut
Katanga and Lualaba Provinces, these assets position Namib Minerals
to capitalize on the rising global demand for battery metals.
Greenstone Snapshot:
- Established, well-known
African gold producer – Produced ~589koz from 2012 to
2023(2)
- Operating in Zimbabwe since
2002 – Greenstone brings a proven management team with
operational and developmental success
- Producing positive cash
flow – 1H 2024 Revenue: $42M(3) / 2023 Revenue: $65M(4);
1H 2024 Profit: $9.2M(3) / 2023 Profit: $3.6M(4); 1H 2024 Adj.
EBITDA: $17M(5) / 2023 Adj. EBITDA: $20M(5)
- One production stage asset,
two exploration stage assets – As of December 31, 2023,
total measured and indicated mineral resources: 1.6Moz at 3.92 g/t
Au(6); total inferred mineral resources: 2.4Moz(6)
- Well-positioned to unlock
shareholder value as a multi-asset producer in Africa –
Preparation works and feasibility studies underway at the Mazowe
and Redwing mines
- Certified to ISO
Standards(7) – 0.86 lost
time injury frequency rate in 2023(8)
“As Namib Minerals takes this significant step
toward becoming a publicly traded company, we remain dedicated to
our mission of creating safe, sustainable, and profitable mining
operations,” said Ibrahima Tall, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of Namib Minerals. “This transaction positions us to
advance our strategy, from restarting the Mazowe and Redwing gold
mines to expanding our focus on copper and cobalt potential in the
DRC. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership
creates to deliver long-term value to our stakeholders while
contributing responsibly to the communities where we operate.”
“Filing the Registration Statement marks an
important milestone in the proposed Namib-Hennessy Capital business
combination,” said Daniel Hennessy, Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of Hennessy Capital. “We are proud to support Namib
Minerals as it continues to build a leading Pan-African platform
for precious and critical metals production. Namib Minerals stood
out as a compelling partner due to its history of mining
in precious metals, opportunities for future expansion and
its mission to create safe, sustainable and profitable
operations in the communities it serves. With its strong portfolio
of assets and clear growth strategy, Namib Minerals is
well-positioned to capitalize on increasing global demand for these
essential resources.”
Proposed Transaction
Highlights
The proposed business combination implies a pro
forma combined enterprise value of Namib Minerals at approximately
$602 million, excluding additional earnout consideration, assuming
no further redemptions of HCVI’s public shares and $60 million in
targeted PIPE funding to be obtained prior to the closing of the
transaction. The boards of directors of HCVI, Greenstone, and Namib
Minerals have approved the proposed transaction, which is expected
to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, subject to, among
other things, the approvals by stockholders of HCVI and Greenstone
and satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in the
business combination agreement, dated June 17, 2024 (as amended on
December 6, 2024, the “Business Combination Agreement”). At closing
of the proposed business combination, Greenstone’s existing
shareholders will exchange their equity in Greenstone for
approximately 74% of the equity of Namib Minerals.
Net proceeds from the transaction are expected
to enable Namib Minerals to invest further into the How mine, while
also contributing to the restart of production at the Mazowe and
Redwing mines, each in Zimbabwe, and to help fund the expansion of
operations into the DRC.
Additional information about the proposed
business combination, including a copy of the Business Combination
Agreement, is available on the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
June 17, 2024, filed by HCVI with the SEC on June 18, 2024 and
available at www.sec.gov.
References:
(1) |
|
Pre-money equity value of $500 million excludes additional 30
million of contingent ordinary shares ($300M value) to be issued by
Namib Minerals to current Greenstone shareholders upon the
completion of operational milestones. |
(2) |
|
Internal historical production
numbers aligning with the How Mine S-K 1300 Technical Report
Summary, December 2024; Mazowe Mine S-K 1300 Technical Report
Summary, December 2024; Redwing Mine S-K 1300 Technical Report
Summary, December 2024. |
(3) |
|
Unaudited interim financial
statements and notes of Greenstone as of and for the six months
ended June 30, 2024. |
(4) |
|
Audited financial statements and
notes of Greenstone as of and for the year ended December 31,
2023. |
(5) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA is a
non-International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) measure,
which should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
IFRS measures. See “Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures” below for
more information. |
(6) |
|
How Mine S-K 1300 Technical
Report Summary, December 2024, exclusive of Mineral Reserves;
Mazowe Mine S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary, December 2024;
Redwing Mine S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary, December 2024. |
(7) |
|
Unaudited Greenstone 2023 Annual
Report, Recertification achieved on all three international
standards-based management systems; ISO 14001 of 2015:
Environmental Management Systems (EMS), ISO 9001 of 2015: Quality
Management Systems (QMS) and ISO 45001 of 2018: Occupational Safety
and Health Management Systems (OHSMS). |
(8) |
|
How Mine internal management
safety reporting. |
|
|
|
Advisors
Cohen & Company Capital Markets is serving
as exclusive financial advisor and lead capital markets advisor to
Greenstone and Namib Minerals, while Jett Capital Advisors LLC is
serving as financial advisor to HCVI. Greenberg Traurig, LLP is
serving as U.S. legal counsel to Greenstone and Namib Minerals,
Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal counsel to HCVI, and Appleby
(Cayman) Ltd. is serving as Cayman Islands legal counsel to
Greenstone and Namib. BDO South Africa Inc. is serving as auditor
to Greenstone and Namib Minerals, and Alliance Advisors Investor
Relations is serving as investor relations advisor for the
transaction.
About Greenstone Corporation and Namib
Minerals
Greenstone is a gold producer, developer and
explorer with operations focused in Zimbabwe. Greenstone is a
significant player in Zimbabwe’s mining industry, driving
sustainable growth and innovation across the sector. Currently
Greenstone operates an underground mine in Zimbabwe, with
additional exploration assets in Zimbabwe and the DRC. Greenstone
operates using conventional mining as well as modern processes and
is seeking alternative areas of growth. Upon the closing of the
proposed business transaction, Namib Minerals will hold all of
Greenstone’s assets.
For additional information, please visit
namibminerals.com
About Hennessy Capital Investment Corp.
VI
Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VI is a
special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) listed on the Nasdaq
Global Market (NASDAQ: HCVI). HCVI was formed by Daniel J. Hennessy
for the purpose of acquiring, and introducing to the public
markets, a strong and competitive company operating in the
industrial sector.
For additional information, please visit
hennessycapitalgroup.com
Forward Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of
historical facts contained in this press release, including
statements regarding HCVI’s, Greenstone’s, or Namib Minerals’
future financial position, results of operations, business
strategy, and plans and objectives of their respective management
teams for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Any
statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other
characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any
underlying assumptions, are also forward-looking statements. In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words
such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,”
“expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “strategy,” “future,”
“opportunity,” “may,” “target,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will
be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “preliminary,” or
similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or
trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the
absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not
forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include, without
limitation, HCVI’s, Greenstone’s, or their respective management
teams’ expectations concerning the outlook for their or Namib
Minerals’ business, productivity, plans, and goals for future
operational improvements and capital investments, operational
performance, future market conditions, or economic performance and
developments in the capital and credit markets and expected future
financial performance, including the restart of the Mazowe mine and
the Redwing mine and related expansion plans, capital expenditure
plans and timeline, the development and goals of the prospective
exploration licenses in the DRC, mineral reserve and resource
estimates, production and other operating results, productivity
improvements, expected net proceeds, expected additional funding,
the percentage of redemptions of HCVI’s public stockholders, growth
prospects and outlook of Namib Minerals’ operations, individually
or in the aggregate, including the achievement of project
milestones, commencement and completion of commercial operations of
certain of Namib Minerals’ exploration and production projects, as
well as any information concerning possible or assumed future
results of operations of Namib Minerals. Forward-looking statements
also include statements regarding the expected benefits of the
proposed business combination. The forward-looking statements are
based on the current expectations of the respective management
teams of Greenstone and HCVI, as applicable, and are inherently
subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstance and their
potential effects. There can be no assurance that future
developments will be those that have been anticipated. These
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties
or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance
to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to, (i) the risk that the proposed business
combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all,
which may adversely affect the price of HCVI’s securities; (ii) the
risk that the proposed business combination may not be completed by
HCVI’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to
obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought
by HCVI; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the
consummation of the proposed business combination, including the
adoption of the Business Combination Agreement by the stockholders
of HCVI and Greenstone, the satisfaction of the $25 million minimum
cash amount following redemptions by HCVI’s public stockholders and
the receipt of certain regulatory approvals; (iv) market risks,
including the price of gold; (v) the occurrence of any event,
change or other circumstance that could give rise to the
termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (vi) the effect
of the announcement or pendency of the proposed business
combination on Greenstone’s business relationships, performance,
and business generally; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings
that may be instituted against Greenstone or HCVI related to the
Business Combination Agreement or the proposed business
combination; (viii) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of
the proposed business combination; (ix) the inability to maintain
the listing of HCVI’s securities or to meet listing requirements
and maintain the listing of Namib Minerals’ securities on the
Nasdaq; (x) the inability to remediate the identified material
weaknesses in Greenstone’s internal control over financial
reporting, which, if not corrected, could adversely affect the
reliability of Greenstone’s and Namib Minerals’ financial
reporting; (xi) the risk that the price of Namib Minerals’
securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including
changes in the highly competitive industries in which Greenstone
plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors,
changes in laws, regulations, technologies, natural disasters or
health epidemics/pandemics, national security tensions, and
macro-economic and social environments affecting its business, and
changes in the combined capital structure; (xii) the inability to
implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after
the completion of the proposed business combination, identify and
realize additional opportunities, and manage its growth and
expanding operations; (xiii) the risk that Greenstone may not be
able to successfully develop its assets, including expanding the
How mine, restarting and expanding its other mines in Zimbabwe or
developing its exploration permits in the DRC; (xiv) the risk that
Greenstone will be unable to raise additional capital to execute
its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms
or at all; (xv) political and social risks of operating in Zimbabwe
and the DRC; (xvi) the operational hazards and risks that Namib
Minerals faces; and (xvii) the risk that additional financing in
connection with the proposed business combination may not be raised
on favorable terms, in a sufficient amount to satisfy the $25
million (post-redemptions) minimum cash amount condition to the
Business Combination Agreement, or at all. The foregoing list is
not exhaustive, and there may be additional risks that neither HCVI
nor Greenstone presently know or that HCVI and Greenstone currently
believe are immaterial. You should carefully consider the foregoing
factors, any other factors discussed in this press release and the
other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors”
section of HCVI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December, 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024,
the risks described in the Registration Statement, which includes a
preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and those discussed and
identified in filings made with the SEC by HCVI and Namib Minerals
from time to time. Greenstone and HCVI caution you against placing
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current
beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the
date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking
statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the
date of this press release. None of Greenstone, HCVI, or Namib
Minerals undertakes any obligation to revise forward-looking
statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or
changes in beliefs. In the event that any forward-looking statement
is updated, no inference should be made that Greenstone, HCVI, or
Namib Minerals will make additional updates with respect to that
statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking
statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important
assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from forward-looking statements, including discussions
of significant risk factors, may appear, up to the consummation of
the proposed business combination, in HCVI’s or Namib Minerals’
public filings with the SEC, which are or will be (as appropriate)
accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to review
carefully.
Important Information for Investors and
Stockholders
In connection with the proposed business combination, Namib
Minerals and Greenstone, as co-registrant, have filed with the SEC
the Registration Statement, which includes a prospectus with
respect to Namib Minerals’ securities to be issued in connection
with the proposed business combination and a proxy statement to be
distributed to holders of HCVI’s common stock in connection with
HCVI’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by HCVI’s stockholders
with respect to the proposed business combination and other matters
to be described in the Registration Statement (the “Proxy
Statement”). After the SEC declares the Registration Statement
effective, HCVI plans to file the definitive Proxy Statement with
the SEC and to mail copies to stockholders of HCVI as of a record
date to be established for voting on the proposed business
combination. This press release does not contain all the
information that should be considered concerning the proposed
business combination and is not a substitute for the Registration
Statement, Proxy Statement or for any other document that Namib
Minerals or HCVI may file with the SEC. Before making any
investment or voting decision, investors and security holders of
HCVI and Namib Minerals are urged to read the Registration
Statement and the Proxy Statement, and any amendments or
supplements thereto, as well as all other relevant materials filed
or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed
business combination as they become available because they will
contain important information about Greenstone, HCVI, Namib
Minerals and the proposed business combination. Investors and
security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement and all other relevant
documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Namib
Minerals and HCVI through the website maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by Namib Minerals and
HCVI may be obtained free of charge from HCVI’s website at
hennessycapllc.com or by directing a request to Nicholas Geeza,
Chief Financial Officer, PO Box 1036, 195 US Hwy 50, Suite 309,
Zephyr Cove, Nevada 89448; Tel: (775) 339-1671. The information
contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites
referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference
into, and is not a part of, this press release.
Participants in the
Solicitation
Greenstone, HCVI, Namib Minerals and their respective directors,
executive officers and other members of management and employees
may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be participants in
the solicitations of proxies from HCVI’s stockholders in connection
with the proposed business combination. For more information about
the names, affiliations and interests of HCVI’s directors and
executive officers, please refer to HCVI’s annual report on Form
10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024 and the Registration
Statement, Proxy Statement and other relevant materials filed with
the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination from
time to time. Additional information regarding the participants in
the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and
indirect interests, which may, in some cases, be different than
those of HCVI’s stockholders generally, are included in the
Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement. Stockholders,
potential investors and other interested persons should read the
Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement carefully before
making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free
copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.
Use of Non-IFRS Financial
Measures
Greenstone utilizes non-IFRS financial measures,
including Adjusted EBITDA, to complement its IFRS reporting and
provide stakeholders with a deeper understanding of its operational
performance and financial health. These measures offer insights
into trends and factors that IFRS metrics may not fully capture,
and Greenstone believes they are essential for formulating
strategic decisions and business plans. Non-IFRS financial measures
should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for,
financial information presented in compliance with IFRS, and
non-IFRS financial measures as used by Greenstone may not be
comparable to similarly titled amounts used by other companies.
While not a substitute for IFRS results, they exclude items not
indicative of Greenstone’s core operations, enhancing comparability
across periods. Greenstone defines Adjusted EBITDA as profit for
the period before finance cost, loss on sale, related party credit
loss, taxes, depreciation, impairment of long lived assets,
interest income, financial guarantee remeasurement, and share-based
payments. The table below presents Greenstone’s Adjusted EBITDA for
the year ended December 31, 2023 and the six-month period ended
June 30, 2024, reconciled to Greenstone’s Profit for the year ended
December 31, 2023 and the six-month period ended June 30, 2024,
respectively, which is the most comparable IFRS measure:
(In thousands) |
|
|
31-Dec-23 |
|
|
30-Jun-24 |
|
Profit for the period ended |
|
|
$ |
3,627 |
|
|
9,175 |
|
Finance cost |
|
|
2,415 |
|
|
1,057 |
|
Loss on sale |
|
|
|
41 |
|
|
— |
|
Related party credit loss |
|
|
|
6,818 |
|
|
552 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
|
5,254 |
|
|
4,433 |
|
Depreciation |
|
|
|
2,705 |
|
|
1,666 |
|
Impairment |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Interest income |
|
|
|
(114 |
) |
|
— |
|
Financial guarantee remeasurement |
|
|
|
(486 |
) |
|
(2,746 |
) |
Share-based payments |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
2,834 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
$ |
20,260 |
|
|
16,971 |
|
|
Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Resources and Mineral
ReservesEstimates of "measured", "indicated," and
"inferred" mineral resources as well as “mineral reserves” shown in
this press release are defined in S-K 1300. The estimation of
measured resources and indicated resources involves greater
uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the
estimation of proven and probable mineral 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. Investors are cautioned not to assume that
any or all of the mineral resources are economically or legally
mineable or that these mineral resources will ever be converted
into mineral reserves. You are cautioned that mineral resources do
not have demonstrated economic viability.
No Offer or Solicitation This
press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or exchange,
the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation to
purchase, any securities, or a solicitation of any vote, consent or
approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of
securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale may be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. No
offering of securities in the proposed business combination shall
be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption
therefrom.
Contacts
Greenstone Corporation/Namib Minerals:info@namibminerals.com
Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VI:Nicholas
Geezangeeza@hennessycapitalgroup.com
Investor Relations:Caroline
SawamotoNamibIR@allianceadvisors.com
Hennessy Capital Investm... (NASDAQ:HCVI)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Dez 2024 bis Jan 2025
Hennessy Capital Investm... (NASDAQ:HCVI)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jan 2024 bis Jan 2025