Orosur Mining, Inc. (TSX: OMI) operates within the exploration, development, and extraction of gold resource projects across South America. Shares of the Canadian gold mining company are skyrocketing 217%, through early trading on Monday, September 10, 2018. Over the past three months, Orosur Mining, Inc. has seen average daily volume of 163,332 shares. However, volume of 4.86 million shares or dollar volume of C$388,800, has already exchanged hands during early Monday trading.
Shares or Orosur Mining, Inc. are soaring on Monday after the company announced that it has completed a US$2 million private placement offering with Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) and signed a strategic exploration agreement with Newmont Colombia S.A.D., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation. The strategic exploration agreement will focus on the Anza Property in Colombia. Here is the full press release detailing of the specifics of the private placement and strategic exploration agreement:
Orosur Mining, Inc. Press Release:
MEDELLIN, Colombia, Orosur Mining Inc. (“Orosur” or the “Company”) (TSX: OMI) (AIM: OMI) today announces that it has completed a non-brokered private placement of US$2,000,000 (the “Private Placement”) with Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) and an exploration agreement with venture option (the “Exploration and Option Agreement”) with Newmont Colombia S.A.S., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newmont (together with Newmont Mining Corporation, “Newmont”), for the Anzá exploration property (“Anzá Project”) in Colombia.
ANZÁ PROJECT
The Anzá Project is located in Antioquia, Colombia, and comprises total land holdings of 207.5 km² in exploitation and exploration concessions and concession applications, covering more than a 20 km segment of the prospective Tonusco Fault.
EXPLORATION AND OPTION AGREEMENT
The Exploration and Option Agreement includes a three-phase earn-in structure allowing Newmont to earn up to a 75% ownership interest in the Anzá Project by spending a minimum of US$30.0 million in qualifying expenditures over twelve years, completing an NI 43-101 compliant feasibility study and making cash payments to Orosur equaling a total of US$4.0 million over Phases 1 and 2.
In Phase 1, Newmont may earn a 51% ownership interest by spending US$10.0 million in qualifying expenditures over four years and making cash payments to Orosur equaling a total of US$2.0 million during the first two years of the Phase 1 earn-in period. Upon Newmont’s completion of Phase 1, it may elect, in its sole discretion, to exercise its option to form a joint venture with Orosur.
In Phase 2, Newmont may elect to earn an additional 14% ownership interest in the Anzá Project by sole-funding US$20.0 million in qualifying expenditures within four years, completing an NI 43-101 compliant pre-feasibility study and making cash payments to Orosur equaling a total of US$2.0 million.
In Phase 3, Newmont may elect to earn an additional 10% ownership interest in the Anzá Project by completing an NI 43-101 compliant feasibility study within four years.
Joint Funding and Financing Option
Upon Newmont completing the Phase 3 earn-in, Orosur may elect for Newmont to solely fund all expenditures until the commencement of commercial production at the Anzá Project. If the Company elects for Newmont to do so:
- Newmont’s ownership interest shall increase by 5% to 80% in the Anzá Project;
- Upon the commencement of commercial production, Orosur shall commence contributing funds for adopted programs and budgets in proportion to its ownership interest or suffer dilution of its ownership interest; and
- Newmont shall receive 90% of Orosur’s distribution of earnings or dividends until such time as the amounts received equal the aggregate amount of expenditures incurred by Newmont on behalf of Orosur, plus nominal interest.
PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Newmont purchased 29,213,186 common shares at a price of C$0.091 (GBP 0.054) per share for aggregate proceeds of US$2.0 million which includes the initial advance of US$0.25 million previously announced on July 10, 2018. The figures are based on CAD exchange rates of CAD$1.00:0.5922GBP and CAD$1.3292:US$1.00.
Application has been made for the new common shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will become effective at 8.00 am (GMT) on or around September 11, 2018. If Admission is delayed, any variations to this timetable will be announced via a Regulatory Information Service.
As a result of the Private Placement, the number of common shares issued and outstanding is 146,800,091. The total number of options and warrants outstanding shall remain unchanged at 17,207,677. The common shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day following the closing date in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.
After giving effect to the Private Placement, Newmont Mining Corporation owns approximately 19.9% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares on an undiluted basis. As part of the Private Placement, Newmont was granted a right to participate in future equity offerings of Orosur to maintain its equity ownership level at 19.9%
Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for testing and advancing the Anzá Project and/or for general working capital.
Ignacio Salazar, CEO of Orosur, commented:
“After a lengthy process of evaluating potential partnerships with a number of companies, we are very pleased to have entered into this significant transaction with an industry leader like Newmont, known for its exploration track record, proprietary technology, financial strength, and its focus on leading in safety, social and environmental responsibility.
Completing the Private Placement and entering into the Exploration and Option Agreement accomplishes a number of key strategic elements for Orosur. These include strengthening the Company’s cash position and providing a well-structured deal to advance the Anzá Project.
We look forward to re-commencing exploration efforts at Anzá shortly and are excited to add the breadth of Newmont’s exploration pedigree and backing to our efforts.”
Advisors
Maxit Capital LP is acting as financial adviser to Orosur with respect to the transaction and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as legal counsel.
About Orosur Mining Inc.
Orosur Mining Inc. (TSX: OMI; AIM: OMI) is a fully integrated gold producer, developer and explorer focused on identifying and advancing gold projects in South America.
About Newmont Mining Corporation
Newmont is a leading gold and copper producer with operations primarily in the United States, Australia, Ghana, Peru and Suriname. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and was named the mining industry leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Newmont is an industry leader in value creation, supported by its leading technical, environmental, social and safety performance. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.
Forward Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to the “safe harbour” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, the exercise by Newmont of Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Exploration and Option Agreement, the completion of a pre-feasibility and feasibility study with respect to the Anzá Project, receipt by Orosur of cash payments by Newmont, the formation of a joint venture and other terms and conditions of the Exploration and Option Agreement and the expected use of proceeds. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including the results of future exploration at the Anzá Project, the decision of Newmont to continue to make qualifying expenditures and cash payments to Orosur, the right of Newmont to termination the Exploration and Option Agreement, the successful approval of pending concession applications and other risks and uncertainties set out in the Company’s most recent annual information form filed on SEDAR. The Company’s continuance as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain adequate financing and to reach profitable levels of operations. These material uncertainties may cast significant doubt upon the Company’s ability to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business and accordingly the appropriateness of the use of accounting principles applicable to a going concern. Although the Company has been successful in the past in obtaining financing there is no assurance that it will be able to obtain adequate financing in future or that such financing will be on terms advantageous to the Company. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (“MAR”). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. If you have any queries on this, then please contact Ryan Cohen, VP Corporate Development of the Company (responsible for arranging release of this announcement on behalf of the Company) on: +1 (778) 373-0100.
