Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (“Sabina”) or (the “Company”) (SBB –
TSX/ SGSVF - OTCQX) is pleased to announce that the management
information circular and related materials associated with the
upcoming special meeting (the “Special Meeting”) of shareholders of
the Company (the “Shareholders”) to be held on April 12, 2023 are
being mailed today to Shareholders and have been filed under the
Company’s profile on SEDAR. The Special Meeting is being held in
connection with the proposed acquisition of all of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Company (the “Sabina Shares”) by B2Gold
Corp. (“B2Gold”) previously announced on February 13, 2023 (the
“Transaction”).
On March 8, 2023, Sabina obtained an interim
order (the “Interim Order”) from the Supreme Court of British
Columbia (the “Court”) authorizing the holding of the Special
Meeting and matters relating to the conduct of the Special Meeting.
At the Special Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider and,
if deemed acceptable, pass a special resolution (the “Arrangement
Resolution”) to approve an arrangement with B2Gold and 1400437 B.C.
Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of B2Gold (“Subco”), pursuant to a
statutory plan of arrangement under Section 288 of the Business
Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Plan of Arrangement”),
whereby B2Gold will acquire all of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Company, with Shareholders receiving 0.3867 of a
common share of B2Gold for each Sabina Share held (the
“Consideration”). The Transaction will be carried out pursuant to
the terms of an arrangement agreement dated February 12, 2023
between the Company, B2Gold and Subco (the “Arrangement Agreement”)
and the terms of the Plan of Arrangement.
Pursuant to the terms of the Interim Order,
Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 13, 2023
(the “Record Date”) will be entitled to vote at the Special
Meeting, with each such Shareholder entitled to one vote per each
Sabina Share held. Shareholders are encouraged to vote well in
advance of the proxy voting deadline of April 10, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
(Pacific Time).
The Board of Directors of the Company
(the “Board”) unanimously recommends Shareholders vote
FOR the Arrangement Resolution, in
accordance with the instructions set out in the meeting materials.
Each director and officer of the Company intends to vote all of
such director’s and officer’s Sabina Shares
FOR the Arrangement
Resolution.
In making their recommendation, the Board
considered a number of factors in deciding the Transaction was in
the best interests of the Company, including, among others:
- Premium. The
Consideration represents a premium of 45% to the 20-day VWAP of
each of B2Gold and Sabina on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”)
as of February 10, 2023, the last trading date before the
announcement of the Transaction, and an implied premium of 45% to
the closing price of Sabina on the TSX as of February 2, 2023, the
date the non-binding letter of intent was signed.
- Strengths and Strategic
Fit. Shareholders are being offered the opportunity to
benefit from:
- ownership in a major gold producer
with proven northern construction and operating capability which
significantly reduces execution risk of the Goose Project at the
Back River Gold District;
- ongoing exposure to future value
creating milestones at the Back River Gold District and to the
Fekola Mine, a cornerstone Tier 1 asset with significant free cash
flow generation;
- access to a strong, debt free
balance sheet (other than ordinary course equipment loans) and
robust cash flow generation to fund and optimize the development of
the Back River Gold District; and
- enhanced institutional investor
following, improved trading liquidity and participation in a peer
leading dividend yield.
- Business and Industry
Risks. The business, operations, assets, financial
condition, operating results and prospects of Sabina are subject to
significant uncertainty, which may include risks associated with
obtaining further required financing and human capital to fully
construct and bring into commercial production a mine at the Back
River Gold District.
- Fairness Opinions.
The fairness opinions of BMO Capital Markets and Cormark Securities
Inc. state that as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement, and
subject to and based on the considerations, assumptions and
limitations described therein, the Consideration is fair, from a
financial point of vote, to the Shareholders.
Subject to obtaining approval from the
Shareholders to the Arrangement Resolution at the Special Meeting,
Court approval and certain regulatory approvals, as well as the
satisfaction or waiver of other conditions contained in the
Arrangement Agreement, all as more particularly described in the
management information circular of the Company, it is currently
anticipated that the Transaction will be completed in late April
2023.
The meeting materials contain important
additional information regarding the Transaction, including the
rights and entitlements of Shareholders thereunder and how
Shareholders can attend and vote at the Special Meeting, and
accordingly, should be carefully reviewed. The meeting
materials will be mailed to all Shareholders of record as at the
Record Date and are also available on the Company’s website at
https://www.sabinagoldsilver.com/investors/b2gold-transaction and
under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Shareholder Questions
Shareholders who have questions or need
assistance with voting their Sabina Shares should contact Laurel
Hill Advisory Group by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 (toll-free in
North America) or 416-304-0211 (collect outside North America) or
by email at assistance@laurelhill.com.
SABINA GOLD & SILVER
CORP.
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is an emerging
gold mining company that owns 100% of the district scale, advanced,
high grade Back River Gold District in Nunavut, Canada.
Sabina filed an Updated Feasibility Study on its
first mine on the district, Goose, which presents a project that
will produce ~223,000 ounces of gold a year (first five years
average of 287,000 ounces a year with peak production of 312,000
ounces in year three) for ~15 years with a rapid payback of 2.3
years, with a post-tax IRR of ~28% and NPV5% of C$1.1 billion at a
gold price of US$1,600 per ounce. See “National Instrument (NI)
43-101 Technical Report – 2021 Updated Feasibility Study for the
Goose Project at the Back River Gold District, Nunavut, Canada”
dated March 3, 2021 filed under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
The Goose project has received all major permits
and authorizations for construction and operations.
Sabina is also very committed to its Inuit
stakeholders, with Inuit employment and opportunities a focus. The
Company has signed a 20-year renewable land use agreement with the
Kitikmeot Inuit Association and has committed to various
sustainability initiatives under the agreement.
For further information please contact:
Nicole
Hoeller, Vice-President, Communications: |
1 888
648-4218 |
|
nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com |
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation (the “forward-looking statements”), including, but not
limited to, statements related to the consummation and timing of
the Transaction; the synergies, strengths, characteristics and
potential of the post-Transaction B2Gold, assuming consummation of
the Transaction upon the terms of the Arrangement Agreement,
including the Plan of Arrangement; and the timing, receipt and
anticipated effects of applicable Shareholder, Court and regulatory
approvals. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
of this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no
assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results
anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will
occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the
forward-looking statements are based will occur.
While we have based these forward-looking
statements on our expectations about future events as at the date
that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a
guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to
risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could
cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and
assumptions include, among others, B2Gold’s and Sabina’s ability to
achieve timely satisfaction of conditions precedent to the
Transaction, including with respect to key regulatory, Court and
Shareholder approvals; B2Gold's and Sabina’s ability to carry on
current and future operations, including: the duration and effects
of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and
exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic
viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or
reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of
estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments;
B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and
forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and
market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates;
taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or
permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the
ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when
required; the current and future social, economic and political
conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated
with the mining industry.
In addition, there are known and unknown risk
factors which could cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include the inherent
risks, costs and uncertainties associated with integrating the
businesses successfully and risks of not achieving all or any of
the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction, or the risk
that the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction may not
be fully realized or take longer to realize than expected; the
occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could
give rise to the termination of the Arrangement Agreement; the risk
that the proposed Transaction will not be consummated within the
expected time period, or at all; as well as other risk factors and
uncertainties identified and described in more detail under the
heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information
Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other
filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at
www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively, as well as under the
heading “Risk Factors” in Sabina’s most recent Annual Information
Form which may be viewed at www.sedar.com. Although we have
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no
obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except
as required under applicable securities laws.
Bruce McLeod, President & CEO1800-555 Burrard
Street, Two Bentall CentreVancouver, BC V7X 1M9Tel 604
998-4175 Fax 604
998-1051http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com
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