Aureus Mining Inc. - Increase to previously announced equity financing
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TSX : AUE
AIM : AUE
TORONTO, Dec. 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Aureus Mining Inc. (TSX: AUE / AIM: AUE) ("Aureus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that that GMP Securities Europe LLP and Numis Securities Limited (together, the "Agents "), appointed in connection with the previously announced private placement of 153,000,000 new common shares of the Company ("Shares") at a price of 5p per share to raise gross proceeds of £7.65 million (approximately US$ 11.5 million) (the "Offering"), have exercised in full the option granted by the Company, to the Agents, to increase the Offering by up to 10% and that accordingly the Offering will now be in respect of 168,300,000 Shares to raise gross proceeds of approximately £8.4 million (approximately US$ 12.7 million).
As previously announced the closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or around 9 December 2015, or such other date as the Company and the Agents may agree, being no later than 23 December 2015.
This announcement should be read in conjunction with the announcement made by the Company in respect of the Offering on 30 November 2015. The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions described in the 30 November 2015 announcement.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this Announcement constitutes forward looking information. This information may relate to future events or the Company's future performance. All information other than information of historical fact is forward looking information. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "predict" and "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking information. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking information. No assurance can be given that this information will prove to be correct and such forward looking information included in this Announcement should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this Announcement. Such forward looking information includes, among other things, statements or information relating to: the application of proposed financing proceeds to strengthening the Company's balance sheet and reduction of accounts payable, the Company's ability to meet future debt repayment obligations and to obtain waivers and amendments in respect thereof, the Company's New Liberty gold project in Liberia (the "New Liberty Gold Project"), the commencement of commercial production at the New Liberty Gold Project and the proposed plans relating thereto regarding operations, the provision of additional mining equipment and explosives and their impact on the mining rate, estimates relating to tonnage, grades, waste ratios, recovery rates and future gold production, life-of-mine estimates, expectations regarding throughput gold production, mill treatment and plant feed, estimates of capital and operating costs and start-up costs, anticipated sources of funding, including the additional debt finance described herein, expectations regarding the engagement of external contractors, estimates of revenues and pay-back periods, expectations regarding operating parameters, as well as the other forecasts, estimates and expectations relating to the New Liberty Gold Project included in this Announcement; the future market price of commodities; production targets; timetables; the continued listing of the common shares of the Company on the TSX and AIM.
With respect to forward looking information contained in this Announcement, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: general business, economic and mining industry conditions; interest rates and foreign exchange rates; the impact of proposed provision of additional equipment and explosives on the mining rate; the parameters and assumptions employed in the New Liberty Technical Report, (including but not limited to, those relating to future mining and operating costs, processing and recovery rates, net present values and internal rates of return, timing for the commencement of production, tax and royalty rates, future gold prices, metallurgical rates, operations and management, grades ); the supply and demand for commodities and precious and base metals and the level and volatility of the prices of gold; the ability of the Company to raise sufficient funds from capital markets and/or debt to meet its future obligations and planned activities; the obtaining of waivers and amendments from the Company's creditors in respect of its debt repayment obligations; the business of the Company including the political environments and legal and regulatory frameworks in Liberia with respect to, among other things, the ability of the Company to obtain, maintain, renew and/or extend required permits, licences, authorizations and/or approvals from the appropriate regulatory authorities and the ability of the Company to continue to obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner to meet its demand.
Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking information contained in this news release as a result of the risk factors, including: risks normally incidental to exploration and development of mineral properties; the inability of the Company to obtain required financing, including the additional debt financing described herein, when needed and/or on acceptable terms or at all; the inability to obtain required waivers and amendments from the Company's creditors in respect of its debt repayment obligations and consequential risks of default thereon; risks related to operating in West Africa; health risks associated with the mining workforce in West Africa; risks related to the Company's title to its mineral properties; adverse changes in commodity prices; risks related to current global financial conditions; risks that the Company's exploration for and development of mineral deposits may not be successful; the inability of the Company to obtain, maintain, renew and/or extend required licences, permits, authorizations and/or approvals from the appropriate regulatory authorities and other risks relating to the legal and regulatory frameworks in Liberia, including adverse changes in applicable laws; competitive conditions in the mineral exploration and mining industry; risks related to obtaining insurance or adequate levels of insurance for the Company's operations; uncertainty of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the inability of the Company to delineate additional mineral resources; risks related to environmental regulations; uncertainties in the interpretation of results from drilling; uncertainties in the estimates and assumptions used, and risks in the methodologies employed, in the New Liberty Technical Report and that the completion of additional work at the New Liberty Gold Project could result in changes to the forecasts, estimates and expectations contained in the New Liberty Technical Report; risks related to the legal systems in Liberia; risks related to the tax residency of the Company; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with expectations; delays in construction; inflation; changes in exchange and interest rates; risks related to the activities of artisanal miners; actions of third parties that the Company is reliant upon; lack of availability at a reasonable cost or at all, of plants, equipment or labour, including required equipment, explosives and other necessary material not being delivered in the expected time frame, or at all; the inability to attract and retain key management and personnel; political risks; the inability to enforce judgments against the Company's directors and officers; and future unforeseen liabilities and other factors.
The forward looking information included in this Announcement is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date of this Announcement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking information except as required by applicable securities laws.
Notes:
This Announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
GMP Securities Europe LLP ("GMP"), which is a member company of GMP Securities L.P, is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct authority and acting as joint broker to Aureus Mining Inc. in respect of the proposed Offering.
Numis Securities Limited ("Numis") is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and acting as Nominated Adviser and joint broker to Aureus Mining Inc. in respect of the proposed Offering.
Each of the Agents is acting for Aureus Mining Inc. and for no-one else in connection with the proposed private placement, and will not be responsible to anyone other than Aureus Mining Inc. for providing the protections afforded to the customers of the respective Agent nor for providing advice in connection with the proposed Offering or any other matters referred to herein.
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by either of the Agents or by any of their respective affiliates or agents or brokers as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
The distribution of this Announcement and the Offering in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by Aureus Mining Inc. or the Agents that would permit the Offering or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Offering in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement becomes available are required by Aureus Mining Inc. and the Agents to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions.
The price of the Shares and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested on disposal of the Shares.
The Offering is only being made, and may only be, made to and is directed at (1) with respect to the United Kingdom, persons in the United Kingdom who are either (1) both (a) a "Qualified Investor" within the meaning of Section 86(7) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") and (b) within the categories of persons referred to in Article 19(5) (Investment professionals) or Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (High net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005, or persons in the United Kingdom to whom the Offering may otherwise be made or to whom the Offering may otherwise be directed in the United Kingdom without an approved prospectus having been made available to the public in the United Kingdom before the Offering is made, and without making an unlawful financial promotion; and (2) with respect to the United States, persons inside the United States who are "qualified institutional buyers" ("QIBs", as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act")), all such persons in (1) and (2) above together being referred to as "Relevant Persons". The securities being offered are only available to, and any invitation, offering or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, persons in the United Kingdom or the United States who are Relevant Persons. Any person who is in the United Kingdom or the United States but who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this Announcement or any of its contents. This Announcement does not contain an offer or constitute any part of an offer to the public within the meaning of Sections 85 and 102B of FSMA or otherwise. This Announcement is not an "approved prospectus" within the meaning of Section 85(7) of FSMA and a copy of it has not been, and will not be, delivered to the FCA in accordance with the Prospectus Rules or delivered to any other authority which could be a competent authority for the purpose of the Prospectus Directive. Its contents have not been examined or approved by the London Stock Exchange plc, nor has it been approved by an "authorised person" for the purposes of Section 21 of FSMA.
The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States except in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Agents have agreed that, except as permitted by the Agency Agreement and as expressly permitted by applicable laws of the United States, they will not offer or sell the Shares within the United States. The Agency Agreement permits the Agents, through certain of their U.S. broker-dealer affiliates, to (i) offer and sell the Shares in the United States to QIBs pursuant to an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act in a transaction not involving any public offering, and otherwise in accordance with any applicable state securities laws. This Announcement does not constitute an offering to sell, or a solicitation of an offering to buy, any Shares in the United States and there will be no public offering of Shares in the United States. Moreover, the Agency Agreement provides that the Agents will offer and sell the Shares outside the United States only in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. Until 40 days after the commencement of the Offering, an offer or sale of the Shares within the United States by a dealer (whether or not participating in the Offering) may violate the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act unless such offering or sale is made pursuant to an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act.
Persons not subject to the laws of Canada (including individuals, funds or otherwise) by whom or on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Shares under the Offering has been given will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety.
This Announcement is not for distribution directly or indirectly in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia) or any jurisdiction into which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of securities of Aureus Mining Inc. will be made in connection with the Offering in the United Kingdom, the United States or elsewhere.
The Shares issued pursuant to the Offering may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Hong Kong or Singapore or any other jurisdiction.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.
The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Offering will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.
SOURCE Aureus Mining Inc.
Aureus Mining Inc., David Reading / Paul Thomson, Tel: +44(0) 20 7010 7690; Buchanan, Bobby Morse / Anna Michniewicz, Tel: +44(0) 20 7466 5000; Numis Securities Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker), John Prior / James Black / Paul Gillam, Tel: +44(0) 20 7260 1000; GMP Securities Europe LLP (Joint Broker), Richard Greenfield, Tel: +44(0) 20 7647 2800
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