Rio2 Limited (“
Rio2”) (TSX-V:RIO) and Atacama
Pacific Gold Corporation (“
Atacama Pacific”)
(TSX-V:ATM) are pleased to announce that the business combination
of Rio2 and Atacama has now been completed by way of a court
approved plan of arrangement through which the companies
amalgamated as a single entity (the
“
Arrangement”). The combined company that resulted
from the Arrangement (“
Rio2 Limited”) will
continue to operate under the name
“Rio2 Limited”
and will be managed by Rio2’s existing executive team led by Alex
Black as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Alex Black, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Rio2 Limited, stated, “Our management team is now
focused on undertaking the next phase of development of the Cerro
Maricunga Gold Project (“Cerro Maricunga”) which
is located in Chile, a well established mining jurisdiction. With
over 5.25 million ounces of measured and indicated resources and
3.74 million ounces of proven and probable reserves, Cerro
Maricunga is one of the largest undeveloped gold oxide projects in
the Americas. Since completing due diligence and announcing the
Arrangement, the Rio2 team has been analyzing the 2014
Prefeasibility Study of Cerro Maricunga with a view towards
optimizing key project components and reducing capex. We see a
number of similarities between Cerro Maricunga and the La Arena
gold mine located in Peru, that the Rio2 management team was
responsible for building and operating between 2009 to 2015. As was
the case with La Arena, we believe we can build a starter project
at Cerro Maricunga focused on higher-grade, near surface
mineralization that will help minimize startup capex and expand
production using cashflow. In the comining weeks, we will publicly
announce our development plan for the next 12 months which will
include a definitive feasibility study for the project in H2
2019.”
The Arrangement was completed under the Business
Corporations Act (Ontario) (“OBCA”). Prior to the
effective time of the Arrangement, Atacama Pacific continued from
the Canada Business Corporations Act to the OBCA. Pursuant to the
terms of the Arrangement, each Atacama Pacific shareholder received
0.6601 common shares of Rio2 Limited for each Atacama Pacific
common share held and each Rio2 shareholder received 0.6667 common
shares of Rio2 Limited for each Rio2 common share held.
In connection with closing of the Arrangement,
the proceeds of Rio2’s previously completed $10 million private
placement of subscription receipts (the “Rio2
Financing”) were released from escrow and the underlying
common shares of Rio2 were issued.
As of today, following completion of the
Arrangement and the conversion of the subscription receipts issued
in connection with the Rio2 Financing, Rio2 Limited has 102,840,572
common shares issued and outstanding.
The common shares of Rio2 Limited will commence
trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”)
on Friday, July 27, 2018 under the symbol “RIO” following the
delisting of the Rio2 shares and Atacama Pacific shares from the
TSXV.
Full details of the Arrangement and certain
other matters are set out in the joint management information
circular of Rio2 and Atacama Pacific dated June 14, 2018. Copies of
the circular can be found under Rio2’s and Atacama Pacific’s
respective profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
“This is a transformational transaction for Rio2
as it provides a solid foundation to execute our corporate
strategy. While we develop the Cerro Maricunga Project, we will
continue to pursue strategic opportunities to diversify and
complement our portfolio with assets at different development
stages as we build a multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction precious
metals company focused on the Americas," said Jose Luis Martinez,
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer.
INFORMATION FOR FORMER RIO2
SHAREHOLDERS
Pursuant to the Arrangement, former Rio2
shareholders are entitled to receive 0.6667 common shares of Rio2
Limited for each Rio2 common share held.
In order to receive common shares of Rio2
Limited in exchange for former Rio2 common shares, registered
shareholders of Rio2 must complete, sign, date and return the
letter of transmittal that was mailed to each registered Rio2
shareholder prior to closing (the “Rio2 Letter of
Transmittal”). The Rio2 Letter of Transmittal is also
available under Rio2’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. For those
shareholders of Rio2 whose shares are registered in the name of a
broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, trust or other
intermediary or nominee, it is expected that the share exchange
will take place through the procedures in place between CDS &
Co. and such nominee. Non-registered shareholders of Rio2 should
contact their nominee if they have any questions about this
process.
INFORMATION FOR FORMER ATACAMA PACIFIC
SHAREHOLDERS
Pursuant to the Arrangement, former Atacama
Pacific shareholders are entitled to receive 0.6601 common shares
of Rio2 Limited for each Atacama Pacific common share held.
In order to receive common shares of Rio2
Limited in exchange for former Atacama Pacific common shares,
registered shareholders of Atacama Pacific must complete, sign,
date and return the letter of transmittal that was mailed to each
registered Atacama Pacific shareholder prior to closing (the
“Atacama Pacific Letter of Transmittal”). The
Atacama Pacific Letter of Transmittal is also available under
Atacama Pacific’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. For those
shareholders of Atacama Pacific whose shares are registered in the
name of a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, trust or
other intermediary or nominee, it is expected that the share
exchange will take place through the procedures in place between
CDS & Co. and such nominee. Non-registered shareholders of
Atacama should contact their nominee if they have any questions
about this process.
ADVISORS AND COUNSEL
Rio2’s financial advisor is Raymond James Ltd.
and its legal advisors are DLA Piper (Canada) LLP in Canada and
Guerrero Olivos in Chile.
Atacama Pacific’s financial advisor is BMO
Capital Markets, and its legal advisors are Stikeman Elliott LLP in
Canada and Baker & McKenzie SpA in Chile.
ABOUT RIO2 LIMITED
Rio2 Limited is building a multi-asset,
multi-jurisdiction, precious metals company focused in the
Americas. With Cerro Maricunga in development in Chile and
exploration platforms in Peru and Central America, Rio2 Limited
will continue pursuing additional strategic acquisitions to compile
an attractive portfolio of precious metals assets where it can
deploy its operational excellence and responsible mining practices
to create value for its shareholders. Rio2 Limited has assembled a
highly experienced executive team to generate significant
shareholder value, with proven technical skills in the development
and operations of mines and capital markets experience. Through its
strategy of acquiring precious metals assets at exploration,
development, and operating stages, the executive team will grow
Rio2 Limited and create long-term shareholder value through the
development of high-margin, strong free-cash-flowing mining
operations.
For more information about Rio2 Limited, please
contact:
Alex Black President and Chief Executive Officer
alexb@rio2mining.comPhone: 416.570.3155
NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101
DISCLOSURE
The scientific and technical content of this new
release has been reviewed and approved by Ian Dreyer, Senior Vice
President - Geology, Rio2 Limited, a Qualified Person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101. For additional information regarding
Cerro Maricunga, including key parameters, assumptions and risks
associated with its mineral resource and reserve estimates, see
Atacama Pacific Gold Corporation’s independent technical report
entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Cerro Maricunga Project
Pre-Feasibility Study Atacama Region, Chile” dated October 6, 2014
with an effective date of August 19, 2014, a copy of which document
is available on SEDAR under Atacama Pacific Gold Corporation’s
SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
Certain information set forth in this news
release contains "forward-looking statements", and "forward-looking
information under applicable securities laws. Except for statements
of historical fact, certain information contained herein
constitutes forward-looking statements, which include expectations
about the use of the proceeds from the Rio2 Financing, plans
related to the future development of Cerro Maricunga and the timing
for the commencement of trading of the common shares of Rio2
Limited on the TSXV, and are based on current internal
expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs,
which may prove to be incorrect. Some of the forward-looking
statements may be identified by the use of conditional or future
tenses or by the use of such words such as "will”, “expects",
“may”, “should”, “estimates”, "anticipates", "believes",
"projects", "plans", and similar expressions, including variations
thereof and negative forms. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them.
Such forward‐looking statements necessarily involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the actual
performance and financial results of Rio2 Limited in future periods
to differ materially from any projections of future performance or
results expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
risks and uncertainties relating to the completion of the
Arrangement, and management’s ability to anticipate and manage the
foregoing factors and risks. There can be no assurance that
forward‐looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Rio2 Limited undertakes no
obligation to update forward‐looking statements if circumstances or
management’s estimates or opinions should change except as required
by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward‐looking statements. Rio2 Limited disclaim
any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward‐looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except to the extent required by securities
legislation.
The securities referenced herein have not been
and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any
state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United
States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such
registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute
an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities of Rio2 Limited in the United States or in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be
unlawful.
Investors are cautioned that, except as
disclosed in the joint management information circular prepared in
connection with the Arrangement, any information released or
received with respect to the Arrangement may not be accurate or
complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities
of Rio2 Limited should be considered highly speculative.
Neither the 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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