Abcourt Mines Inc. (“Abcourt” or the “Corporation”) (TSX-V:
ABI) and Pershimex Resources Corporation (TSX-V:
PRO) (“
Pershimex”) are pleased to
announce that they have entered into a definitive Amalgamation
agreement on November 18, 2022 (the “
Merger
Agreement”), pursuant to which Abcourt has agreed
to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of
Pershimex (the “
Pershimex Shares”) to create one
of the largest property portfolios amongst gold explorers across
major gold districts in Québec and massive diversified emerging
gold producer and explorer in Québec (the
“
Transaction”). The Transaction is being carried
out by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (the
“
Amalgamation”) under the Canada Business
Corporations Act.
As part of the Transaction, Abcourt intends to
complete a share consolidation on the basis of seven for one
(7:1) common shares of Abcourt (“Abcourt
Shares”) (the “Consolidation”). The
proposed Consolidation will reduce the number of outstanding
Abcourt Shares from 348,814,130 to 49,830,590. In addition, Abcourt
intends to change its name to “Infinitas Gold inc. / Infinitas Or
inc.” and its trading symbol to “IN” (the “Name
Change”).
The Consolidation and Name Change are subject to
the TSX Venture Exchange’s (“TSX-V”) approval and
Abcourt shareholders’ approval. Abcourt shareholders will be asked
to vote on resolutions approving the Consolidation and Name Change
at the upcoming annual and special shareholders meeting to be held
on December 20, 2022.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement,
Pershimex shareholders will receive 0.0816 of an Abcourt Share
(post-Consolidation) for each Pershimex Share (the
“Exchange Ratio”). The Exchange Ratio implies a
consideration of C$0.0289 per Pershimex Share, based on the 60-day
volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the
Abcourt Shares on the TSX-V on October 3, 2022. The Exchange Ratio
represents a premium of 9.1% based on the 60-day VWAP of the
Pershimex Shares ending on October 3, 2022. Outstanding Pershimex
warrants and options will be exercisable in accordance with their
terms into Abcourt Shares, subject to the Exchange Ratio and
Consolidation, until their expiry date, the whole resulting in the
issuance of up to approximately 11,327,777 Abcourt Shares
(post-Consolidation).
Pascal Hamelin, Chairman and CEO of Abcourt,
also serves as a director of Pershimex.
Pascal Hamelin, President and CEO of Abcourt
stated: “We are very pleased to see the Board of Pershimex support
the Transaction. We have an opportunity to become a large land
holder of gold properties, many gold exploration projects and an
advanced development gold project with the Sleeping Giant Mine and
Mill. These are the right ingredients to become a significant gold
company in the Abitibi camp.”
Robert Gagnon, President and CEO of Pershimex
stated: “With this major Transaction to come, our company will move
to another level, from a modest explorer we will soon become a gold
producer established in Abitibi with two gold mines, an ore
processing plant and one of the largest claim portfolios in
Abitibi. The work done by our team to carry out such an undertaking
is noteworthy, and we can be proud of it.”
Transaction Highlights
The Transaction is designed to create value for
shareholders of both companies and our vision to create a larger
and more diversified emerging gold producer and explorer in Québec.
The Transaction provides a compelling investment proposition that
we believe will result in significant share price appreciation for
the shareholders of the combined Abcourt-Pershimex
(“Infinitas”).
- Infinitas will
hold ~510 km2 of strategic landholdings in major gold districts in
central Québec (3rd largest landholdings amongst gold
explorers/developers in the regions surrounding Rouyn-Noranda,
Amos, Val-d’Or and Label-sur-Quevillon in Québec).
- A diversified
project portfolio in Québec that will best position Infinitas in
what we expect to be a strong gold price environment over the
medium-term:
- 2 underground
gold mines that are currently on care-and-maintenance and awaiting
restart following a revised mine plan (Sleeping Giant and Elder
mines);
- an operating 750
tpd mill at the Sleeping Giant mine site;
- 14
early-to-advanced stage gold exploration projects hosting many
known deposits; and
- a feasibility
stage zinc-silver project (Abcourt-Barvue) and a nearby satellite
deposit (Vendome).
- Potential for
substantial synergies from (i) mining and processing the
5,000-tonne bulk sample at the historical Pershing-Manitou mine;
(ii) consolidating and optimizing exploration and development
activities in the region; and (iii) corporate overhead costs.
- With a larger
capital markets profile and increased marketing, Infinitas is
expected to be better positioned to attract institutional and high
net worth investors to raise the required capital to accelerate the
exploration and development of its key projects.
The Transaction will provide significant
benefits to Pershimex shareholders:
- One of the
largest property portfolios across major gold districts in
Québec.
- Transition from
a microcap Québec gold explorer to a high-growth, emerging gold
producer.
- Near-term upside
from an improved mine plan following exploration at Abcourt’s Elder
and Sleeping Giant mines, which are expected to materially improve
historical production and operating costs.
- Larger capital
markets profile that will better position the combined company to
attract new investments.
- Highly accretive
on a resource basis, as Abcourt’s properties contain attributable
current and historical NI 43-101 compliant resources totaling 1.37M
oz of gold, 23.8M oz of silver, 834M lbs of zinc and 13M lbs of
copper.
- Synergies from
combining talented technical teams and exploration activities in
the region.
- Near-term upside
from the potential monetization of Abcourt’s non-core assets.
- Abcourt is the
better positioned company to maximize the value of the
Pershing-Manitou Project.
Terms of the Merger
Agreement
The Transaction is a transaction being carried
out by way of a three-cornered amalgamation under the Canada
Business Corporations Act pursuant to which Pershimex will
amalgamate with a newly incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary of
Abcourt to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abcourt. The
Transaction will require approval by at least two-thirds of the
votes cast by all Pershimex shareholders at a special meeting of
Pershimex shareholders to be held on December 20, 2022.
Some large Pershimex shareholders, together
representing approximately 21.52% of the Pershimex Shares, are
supportive of the Transaction and have entered into voting support
agreements with Abcourt to vote their Pershimex Shares in favour of
the Transaction.
In addition to the Pershimex shareholders
approval, the Transaction is subject to applicable regulatory
approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions
customary of this nature, including the approval of the TSX-V.
Pursuant to the Transaction, Abcourt will issue
approximately 11,327,777 new Abcourt Shares (post-Consolidation)
and up to approximately 2,210,194 additional Abcourt Shares
(post-Consolidation) assuming the exercise of all Pershimex options
and warrants. The Transaction represents approximately 18.52%
dilution to Abcourt shareholders (or approximately 21.36% assuming
the exercise of all Pershimex options and warrants).
Other closing conditions of the Transaction
include the nomination of Loïc Bureau, a current director of
Pershimex, to the board of directors of Abcourt, the approval of
the Consolidation and Name Change by the Abcourt shareholders.
The Merger Agreement includes customary deal
protection provisions, including mutual non-solicitation
provisions. which are subject to Pershimex’s right to consider and
accept a superior proposal subject to a matching right in favour of
Abcourt. A reciprocal termination fee in the amount of C$250,000
will be paid, should the Transaction not be completed in certain
circumstances.
Board of Directors
Recommendation
The board of directors of Pershimex (the
“Pershimex Board”) has formed a special committee
(the “Special Committee”) to consider and
evaluate the Transaction. The Special Committee, following a review
of the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and
consideration of a number of factors, unanimously recommended that
the Pershimex Board approve the Transaction (see Pershimex
Information Circular for more details). After receiving the
recommendation of the Special Committee and advice, including a
fairness opinion, from its independent financial advisors, the
Pershimex Board has unanimously determined that the Transaction is
in the best interests of Pershimex and the Pershimex Board will
recommend that Pershimex shareholders vote in favour of the
Transaction. Prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement,
Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. provided a fairness opinion that,
based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and
qualifications in such opinion, the consideration to be received by
the Pershimex shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view
to Pershimex shareholders. A summary of the fairness opinion will
also be included in the Pershimex information circular.
Pershimex Delisting and
SEDAR
If the Transaction is completed, the Pershimex
Shares will be delisted from the TSX-V.
A copy of the Merger Agreement will be available
through Pershimex and Abcourt’ filings with the applicable
securities regulatory authorities in Canada on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Technical Information
The technical and scientific information in this
press release is detailed and discussed in the following technical
reports :
- “NI 43-101
Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the
Pershing-Manitou Project, Abitibi, Québec” prepared by Kenneth
Williamson, P.Geo, M.Sc. and Matthew DeGasperis, P.Geo, B.Sc.,
filed on SEDAR on January 24, 2022 with an effective date of
September 7, 2021;
- “Étude de
faisabilité du projet Géant Dormant” prepared by Paul Bonneville,
ing. from PRB Mining Services Inc. filed on SEDAR on August 7, 2019
with an effective date of July 31, 2019;
- “Update to the
Technical Feasibility Report on the Abcourt-Barvue Deposit”,
prepared by Paul Bonneville, ing. from PRB Mining Services Inc. and
Florent Baril, P.Eng. from Bumigeme Inc., filed on SEDAR on May 1,
2019 with an effective date of January 15, 2019;
- “Mise à jour
des ressources minérales de la mine Elder et du secteur Tagami”,
prepared by Jean-Pierre Bérubé, lng. and Renaud Hinse, Ing., filed
on SEDAR on November 1, 2018 with an effective date of October 11,
2018;
- “Technical
Report on the Scoping Study and Mineral Resource Estimate for the
Discovery Project”, prepared by Carl Pelletier, B.Sc., P.Geo.
InnovExplo Inc., filed on SEDAR on November 19, 2008 with an
effective date of August 1, 2008;
- “43-101
Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Flordin Property”,
prepared by Pierre-Luc Richard, B.Sc., P.Geo. and Carl Pelletier,
B.Sc., P.Geo. from InnovExplo Inc. filed on SEDAR on August 26,
2011 with an effective date of August 24, 2011.
Such information has been reviewed and approved
by Pascal Hamelin, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI
43-101. Mr. Hamelin is the president and CEO of Abcourt and a
director of Pershimex.
About Abcourt Mines Inc.
Abcourt Mines Inc. is a gold producer and a
Canadian exploration corporation with strategically located
properties in northwestern Québec, Canada. Abcourt owns the
Sleeping Giant mill and mine where it concentrates its
activities.
About Pershimex Resources
Corporation
Pershimex Resources Corporation is a mining
exploration and development corporation with projects located
primarily in the Abitibi region of Québec, Canada, focusing on the
discovery and development of high-grade gold deposits.
For more information:
Pascal HamelinPresident and CEO of
AbcourtT: (819) 768-2857E: phamelin@abcourt.com |
Dany Cenac Robert, Investor
RelationsReseau ProMarket Inc.T: (514)
722-2276, post 456E: dany.cenac-robert@reseaupromarket.com |
|
|
Robert GagnonPresident and CEO of
PershimexT.: (819) 825-2301 E :
rgagnon@explolab.ca |
|
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This press release contains forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information (collectively,
"forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, without
limitation, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the
Transaction for the parties thereto and their shareholders, timing
of the completion of the Transaction, expected regulatory
approvals, future results of operations, performance and
achievements of the parties to the Transaction and mineral resource
estimates. Although each party believes that such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such
expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements
are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect,
anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or
are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Each
party cautions investors that any forward-looking statements
contained herein are not guarantees of future results or
performance, and that actual results may differ materially from
those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors
and risks, including, uncertainties with respect to obtaining all
regulatory and/or shareholder approvals to complete the
Transaction, risks with respect to Pershimex being integrated
successfully in Abcourt’s business or such integration proving more
difficult, time consuming or costly than expected, risks of not
realizing on the potential benefits of the proposed Transaction,
uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainties of
the global economy, market fluctuations, any exercise of
termination by counterparties under the Merger Agreement, the
inability of a party to obtain any necessary permits, consents or
authorizations required for its activities, to produce minerals
from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its
projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully
able to implement its business strategies, uncertainties inherent
to mineral resource estimates and economic studies and other risks
identified it’s the disclosure documents filed by each party to the
Transaction at www.sedar.com. This press release is not and is not
to be construed in any way as, an offer or recommendation to buy or
sell securities in Canada or in the United States.
Although the parties to the Transaction each
believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are
not guarantees of future performance and actual events, results
and/or developments may differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance
on the ’forward-looking statements contained herein. No party to
the Transaction undertakes to update any forward-looking statement
that may be made from time to time by the said party or on its
behalf, except in accordance with and as required by applicable
securities laws.
Pershimex shareholders and other interested
parties are advised to read the materials relating to the proposed
transaction that will be filed by Pershimex with securities
regulatory authorities in Canada when they become
available because they will contain important information. Anyone
may obtain copies of these documents when available free of charge
at the Canadian Securities Administrators' website
at www.sedar.com. This announcement is for informational
purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase, a
solicitation of an offer to sell the shares or a solicitation of a
proxy.
NEITHER THE TSX-V NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES
PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE
CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
Pershimex Resources (TSXV:PRO)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Dez 2024 bis Jan 2025
Pershimex Resources (TSXV:PRO)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jan 2024 bis Jan 2025