Pretium Resources Inc. (TSX/NYSE: PVG) (“Pretivm” or the “Company”)
today announced that it has entered into a binding agreement (the
“Arrangement Agreement”) with Newcrest Mining Limited
(ASX/TSX/PNGX: NCM) (“Newcrest”) under which Newcrest has agreed to
acquire all of the outstanding shares of Pretivm that it does not
already own (the “Transaction”). Pursuant to the transaction,
Pretivm shareholders will have the option to elect to receive
C$18.50 per Pretivm share in cash or 0.8084 Newcrest shares per
Pretivm share, representing share consideration of C$18.50 based on
the Canadian dollar equivalent of the 5 day
volume-weighted-average-price (VWAP) of Newcrest shares on the
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ending on November 8, 2021,
subject to proration to ensure aggregate cash and Newcrest share
consideration each represent 50% of total transaction consideration
(the “Transaction Price”). Pretivm shareholders who do not elect
cash or Newcrest shares (subject to proration) will receive default
consideration of C$9.25 per Pretivm share in cash and 0.4042
Newcrest shares per Pretivm share.
The Transaction Price represents a premium of
23% and 29% to the closing price and the 20-day VWAP, respectively,
of Pretivm’s shares on the TSX as at November 8, 2021. The total
equity value pursuant to the Transaction is approximately C$3.5
billion on a fully diluted basis. Newcrest currently owns
approximately 4.8% of Pretivm’s shares. If consummated, the
Transaction would result in Pretivm shareholders owning
approximately 8% of Newcrest, on a fully diluted basis.
“The acquisition of Pretivm by Newcrest is an
outstanding opportunity for the Company and its shareholders,
employees, First Nations partners and the local communities in
northwest British Columbia,” said Jacques Perron, President &
CEO of Pretivm. “The Transaction delivers an immediate and
compelling premium for Pretivm shareholders that reflects the
excellent work of our employees and contractors in developing and
operating the Brucejack gold mine, while also offering an
opportunity to benefit from potential upside as Newcrest
shareholders.”
“With this acquisition, Brucejack will join
Newcrest’s portfolio of tier one assets, mitigating the inherent
risks associated with ownership of a single-asset mining company.
Moreover, Newcrest has the financial means and the intention of
maximizing the long-term potential of the Brucejack Mine and the
district scale opportunities in the surrounding Brucejack property.
Newcrest and Pretivm have complementary corporate cultures and
values, with a focus on safety, employee development and ESG. We
believe our employees, First Nations partners and community
partners will be very well-positioned to succeed and develop under
Newcrest’s world-class stewardship.”
Details of the Transaction
The Transaction, which is not subject to a
financing condition, will be implemented by way of a court-approved
plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British
Columbia) and will require the approval of 66 2/3% of the votes
cast by (i) the holders of Pretivm’s common shares and (ii) holders
of options to acquire shares of Pretivm, voting together as a
single class, at a special meeting of Pretivm securityholders to be
held to consider the Transaction (the “Special Meeting”). In
addition to approval by Pretivm shareholders and optionholders, the
Transaction is also subject to the receipt of court approval,
regulatory approvals including approval under the Investment
Canada Act and competition clearances in Canada, and other
customary closing conditions for transactions of this nature. The
Transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of
2022.
The Arrangement Agreement provides for customary
deal-protection provisions, including a non-solicitation covenant
on the part of Pretivm and a right for Newcrest to match any
Superior Proposal (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). The
Arrangement Agreement includes a termination fee of C$125 million,
payable by Pretivm, under certain circumstances (including if the
Arrangement Agreement is terminated in connection with Pretivm
pursuing a Superior Proposal). The directors and senior officers of
Pretivm, owning in aggregate approximately 0.2% of Pretivm’s voting
securities have agreed to vote all the shares and options they own
or control in favour of the Transaction.
Pretivm Board of Directors and Special
Committee Recommendations
A special committee comprised entirely of
independent directors of Pretivm (the “Special
Committee”) unanimously recommended the Transaction to the
board of directors of Pretivm (the “Pretivm
Board”). The Pretivm Board has evaluated the Arrangement
Agreement with the Company’s management and legal and financial
advisors and, following the receipt and review of a unanimous
recommendation from the Special Committee, the Pretivm Board has
unanimously determined that the Arrangement Agreement is in the
best interest of the Company, and the Pretivm Board has resolved to
recommend that the Company Shareholders vote in favour of the
Transaction, all subject to the terms and conditions contained in
the Arrangement Agreement.
BMO Capital Markets has provided an opinion to
the Pretivm Board and Citi has provided an opinion to the Pretivm
Special Committee and Board, based upon and subject to various
assumptions, limitations and qualifications, as to the fairness,
from a financial point of view and as of the dates of such
opinions, to holders of Pretivm common shares (other than Newcrest
and its affiliates) of the consideration to be received by such
holders in the Transaction.
Further details regarding the terms of the
Transaction are set out in the Arrangement Agreement, which will be
publicly filed by Pretivm under its profile at www.sedar.com.
Additional information regarding the terms of the Arrangement
Agreement, the background to the Transaction, the rationale for the
recommendations made by the Special Committee and the Pretivm Board
and how Pretivm shareholders can participate in and vote at the
Special Meeting to be held to consider the Transaction will be
provided in the management information circular for the Special
Meeting which will also be filed at www.sedar.com. Shareholders are
urged to read these and other relevant materials when they become
available.
Advisors and Counsel
BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial
advisor to Pretivm, and Blakes, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting
as Pretivm’s Canadian legal counsel and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind,
Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as Pretivm’s US legal counsel.
Citi is acting as financial advisor to the Special Committee, and
Stikeman Elliott LLP is acting as the Special Committee’s legal
counsel. Longview Communications and Public Affairs is acting as
communications advisor to Pretivm.
RBC Capital Markets and Lazard Australia are
acting as financial advisors to Newcrest, and McCarthy Tétrault LLP
is acting as Newcrest’s legal counsel.
Webcast and Conference Call
Pretivm and Newcrest will host an investor
conference call and webcast to discuss the Transaction at 3:30 pm
Pacific Time (6:30 pm Eastern Time) today.
Webcast details:
Monday, November 8, 2021 at 3:30 pm PT (6:30 pm
ET)
Webcast |
https://www.newcrest.com/investor-centre/results-reports?document_type=4 |
In light of the Transaction, Pretivm has
cancelled its previously scheduled third quarter investor
conference call on November 12, 2021. The third quarter disclosure
will proceed as scheduled on November 11, 2021.
About Pretivm
Pretivm is an intermediate gold producer with
the 100%-owned, high-grade gold underground Brucejack Mine located
in northwestern BC. We strive for operating excellence and our
first priority is the health and safety of our employees,
contractors and neighbouring communities. We are committed to the
principles of sustainable development and conducting our activities
in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
Pretivm ContactPretium
Resources Inc.Troy Shultz, Director, Investor Relations &
Corporate Communications(604) 558-1784invest@pretivm.com
Media ContactAlan Bayless,
Longview Communications and Public
Affairs604-417-9645abayless@longviewcomms.ca
Pretium Resources Inc.Suite
2300, Four Bentall Centre, 1055 Dunsmuir StreetPO Box 49334
Vancouver, BC V7X 1L4 (SEDAR filings: Pretium Resources Inc.)
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking
information” and “forward looking statements” within the meaning of
applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation
(collectively herein referred to as “forward-looking information”),
including the “safe harbour” provisions of Canadian provincial
securities legislation and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
Wherever possible, words such as “plans”,
“expects”, “guidance”, “projects”, “assumes”, “budget”, “strategy”,
“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipates”, “believes”,
“intends”, “modeled”, “targets” and similar expressions or
statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”,
“would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the
negative forms of any of these terms and similar expressions, have
been used to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking
information contained herein includes, but is not limited to: the
consummation and timing of the Transaction; the satisfaction of the
conditions precedent to the Transaction; the strengths,
characteristics and potential of Newcrest post-Transaction; the
strategic vision of Newcrest and expectations regarding the
synergies between the Brucejack mine and Newcrest’s nearby Red
Chris mine; timing, receipt and anticipated effects of court and
regulatory approvals; the impact of the Transaction on employees
and local stakeholders; and discussion of future plans, projects,
objectives, estimates and forecasts and the timing related
thereto.
Forward-looking information is subject to a
variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual results, actions, events, conditions,
performance or achievements to materially differ from those
expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including,
without limitation, failure to receive the required court and
regulatory approvals to effect the Transaction; changes in laws,
regulations and government practices; the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic and outbreak, including on our operations and workforce
and the operations and workforce of Newcrest; future price of gold
and silver and other metal prices; market competition, the
geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate that we
operate in; the potential of a third party making a superior
proposal to the Transaction and such other risks as are identified
in Pretivm’s public disclosure documents filed on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com and in the United States through EDGAR at the
Security and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov
(collectively, the “Pretivm Disclosure Documents”). This list is
not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our
forward-looking information. Although we have attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results, actions, events,
conditions, performance or achievements to differ materially from
those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other
factors that cause results, actions, events, conditions,
performance or achievements to differ from those anticipated,
estimated or intended.
Our forward-looking information is based on the
assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on
the date the statements are made, many of which may be difficult to
predict and beyond our control. In connection with the
forward-looking information contained in this news release, we have
made certain assumptions about, among other things: our business
and operations and that no significant event will occur outside of
our normal course of business and operations (other than as
expressly set out herein); the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and
outbreak, including on our operations and workforce; our ability to
obtain the required court and regulatory approvals in a timely
matter, if at all; our ability to satisfy the terms and conditions
precedent of the Arrangement Agreement in order to consummate the
Transaction; Newcrest’s ability to obtain all necessary permits,
licenses and regulatory approvals for operations in a timely
manner, if at all; the adequacy of our and Newcrest’s financial
resources; sustained labour stability and availability of
equipment; the maintenance of positive relations with local groups;
favourable equity and debt capital markets; and stability in
financial capital markets. Although we believe that the assumptions
inherent in forward-looking information are reasonable as of the
date of this news release, these assumptions are subject to
significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory,
competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and
other factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions,
results, performance or achievements to be materially different
from those projected in the forward-looking information. The
Company cautions that the foregoing list of assumptions is not
exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual
results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and
expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information
contained in this news release.
Additional information about the risks and
uncertainties concerning forward-looking information and material
factors or assumptions on which such forward-looking information is
based is provided in the Pretivm Disclosure Documents.
Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future
performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
information. Forward-looking information involves statements about
the future and is inherently uncertain, and our actual achievements
or other future events or conditions may differ materially from
those reflected in the forward-looking information due to a variety
of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without
limitation, those referred to in this news release and the Pretivm
Disclosure Documents. For the reasons set forth above, readers and
prospective investors should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking information.
We do not assume any obligation to update
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by
applicable law. Neither the TSX nor the NYSE has approved or
disapproved of the information contained herein.
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