Mason Graphite Inc. ("Mason Graphite", the
“Company") (TSX.V: LLG; OTCQX: MGPHF) has conducted discussions
with several of its large institutional investors over the past
weeks about its path forward and is encouraged by the growing
support it is receiving. Shareholders believe it is not the time to
allow the dissident, Fahad Al-Tamimi (“
Al-Tamimi”)
to stall the Company’s progress.
In addition, Mason Graphite is compelled to
highlight several conclusions of the recent Institutional
Shareholder Services’ (ISS) report. First, the dissident Al-Tamimi
has not made the case for him to have outright control of the Board
as he proposes; second, he has failed to provide a business plan
for shareholders to consider; and third, he continues to put
forward a Board nominee and CEO who has been rejected outright by
proxy advisory firms.
SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT INCLUDES
LARGE INVESTORS WHO SEE THE VALUE IN MASON GRAPHITE’S STRATEGIC
PLAN AND PROPOSED SLATE OF NOMINEES
Through Mason Graphite’s discussions with
shareholders, the Company is pleased with the positive feedback it
is receiving. These shareholders see the obvious problems with
Al-Tamimi’s lack of plan and underqualified nominees and view
Management’s slate to be the best choice to continue to steward
Mason Graphite in the right direction. In contrast to Al-Tamimi,
Management has demonstrated vision and prescient timing by defining
a strategic plan that, beyond building a mine and plant, includes
developing value-added products (“VAP”) (such as the coated
spherical graphite used for Li-ion batteries) that benefit
from growing market demand and superior economics. In recent press
releases, the Company announced progress on the VAP front. A new
and highly qualified CEO with an in-depth knowledge of the
industrial minerals market will bring that plan to fruition.
SECOND INDEPENDENT PROXY ADVISOR, ISS,
STATES THAT AL-TAMIMI FAILS TO MAKE A CASE FOR OUTRIGHT BOARD
CONTROL AND AGREES WITH THE MAJORITY OF MANAGEMENT’S PROPOSED
DIRECTORS
Al-Tamimi should not be given control of
the full board given his less than 10% equity position
ISS states: “When the dissidents are seeking
board control, ISS looks for a well-reasoned and detailed business
plan… the dissident has failed to provide a detailed business plan.
The dissident has therefore failed to make the case for outright
board control.”
Shareholders will recall that Mason Graphite has
stated all along that Al-Tamimi NEVER presented
the Board with a formal plan, supported by a clear business
strategy, market analysis, budgets or quantified data. The Company
welcomes ISS’ analysis (along with the analysis provided by Glass
Lewis previously) as additional evidence that Al-Tamimi and his
nominees are not up to the task of competently leading Mason
Graphite despite what they falsely purport to shareholders.
Shareholders should see through Al-Tamimi’s
intention which is to surreptitiously gain control of the Board and
of the Company without paying a substantial premium to
shareholders.
AL-TAMIMI ALSO HAS HIS EYES ON MASON
GRAPHITE’S STRONG CASH POSITION
In its report, ISS also acknowledges the
Company’s judicious management of cash and financial resources that
has allowed for Mason Graphite to have no debt on its books. This
gives the Company the ability to move ahead with its “Value-Added
Product” plan and to hold a dominant position as it considers
strategic alliances and partnerships to support the Company’s
well-formulated strategic plan.
ISS wrote: “Given that the company has no
revenues, its cash position is of particular relevance. A strong
cash position could enable the company to advance its projects
without the need to raise further capital… which could
significantly dilute current shareholders.”
Mason Graphite’s strong cash position makes it a
highly attractive target for “corporate raiders” such as Al-Tamimi
who are not transparent about their intentions. Shareholders are
voting blind if they vote for Al-Tamimi without knowledge of his
business plan.
AL-TAMIMI’S HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE BOARD
NOMINEE AND CHOICE FOR CEO OF MASON GRAPHITE AGAIN
REJECTED
Two Independent proxy advisory firms, ISS and
Glass Lewis, have asserted that Simon Marcotte is not suitable to
serve on the Board of Mason Graphite.
Furthermore, Al-Tamimi is intent on appointing
Simon Marcotte as the Company’s next CEO and has shown no desire to
follow Mason Graphite’s more diligent approach which is to conduct
a proper search for the most compelling senior executive for this
critical position.
With respect to Simon Marcotte, Mason Graphite
reminds shareholders of their December 16, 2020 press release which
confirmed it had forwarded a whistle-blower complaint pertaining to
Marcotte to the Québec market regulatory authorities.
MASON GRAPHITE’S BOARD MUST REPRESENT ALL
SHAREHOLDERS
ISS recognizes the value of Mason Graphite’s
proposed board of directors, including the new Chair appointed in
September 2020, and recommends all but one of its nominees.
Mr. Guy Chamard, the Mason Graphite nominee not
recommended by ISS, represents Investissement Québec. As the
Company’s largest institutional shareholder with 12.5% of the
issued and outstanding shares, Investissement Québec has a
contractual right to a Board seat.
It is also important to note that, the Company
has included Al-Tamimi and his representative Peter Damouni as
Management nominees. The Company believes their input can
contribute to value creation for all shareholders.
MASON GRAPHITE HAS A SOUND BUSINESS PLAN AND IS WELL
POSITIONED TO GROW
Mason Graphite is currently searching for a
highly qualified CEO. It has hired a strategic advisor to guide it
in analysing alliances and partnerships that will provide future
growth opportunities around the emerging market of value-added
graphite-based products. The Company’s well-formulated strategic
plan is built around innovative leadership in industrial minerals
and building shareholder value.
The Company is also committed to engaging
further with shareholders to keep them well informed of its
performance and operational progress.
VOTE TO SUPPORT THE CURRENT
BOARD
Al-Tamimi has failed to make his case and should
not be given the opportunity to take control of Mason Graphite
without paying shareholders a premium.
It is in the interest of ALL shareholders, that
Management’s nominees be supported.
Shareholders are encouraged to vote using
Management’s proxy in advance of the deadline on December 23, 2020
at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).
SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONS AND VOTING
ASSISTANCE
Please contact the Company’s shareholder
communications advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill
Advisory Group at:
Toll-Free: 1-877-452-7184
Email:
assistance@laurelhill.com
About Mason Graphite
Mason Graphite is a Canadian corporation
dedicated to the production and transformation of natural graphite.
Its strategy includes the development of value-added products,
notably for green technologies like transport electrification. The
Company also owns 100% of the rights to the Lac Guéret graphite
deposit, one of the richest in the world. The Company is managed by
an experienced team cumulating many decades of experience in
graphite, covering production, sales, as well as research and
development.
For more information, please
visit www.masongraphite.com
Mason Graphite Inc. Ana Rodrigues
at info@masongraphite.com or 1 514 289-3580Head Office:
3030, boulevard Le Carrefour, suite 600, Laval, Quebec, Canada, H7T
2P5
Cautionary Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation.
All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in
nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not
expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or
"believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might"
or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking
information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of
activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i)
volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic
conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments;
(iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and
operations of mineral deposits; (v) the risk associated with
establishing title to mineral properties and assets; (vi) the risks
associated with entering into joint ventures; (vii) fluctuations in
commodity prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable
risks arising during the course of exploration, development and
production; (ix) competition faced by the resulting issuer in
securing experienced personnel and financing; (x) access to
adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development
and exploration activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes
in the mining regulatory regime governing the resulting issuer;
(xii) the risks associated with the various environmental
regulations the resulting issuer is subject to; (xiii) risks
related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv) risks related to
potential conflicts of interest; (xv) the reliance on key
personnel; (xvi) liquidity risks; (xvii) the risk of potential
dilution through the issue of common shares; (xviii) the Company
does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near term; (xix) the
risk of litigation; and (xx) risk management.
Forward-looking information is based on
assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such
statements are made, including but not limited to, continued
exploration activities, no material adverse change in metal prices,
exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with
plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes,
receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other
assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to
be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for
the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's
business, operations and exploration plans and may not be
appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press
release, and the Company does not undertake to update such
forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
Neither 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 release.
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