Le Lézard
Classified in: Mining industry, Business
Subject: TNM

G Mining Ventures and Reunion Gold Announce Combination to Set the Stage for a Leading Intermediate Gold Producer in the Americas


TSX: GMIN
OTCQX: GMINF

All amounts are in CAD unless stated otherwise

BROSSARD and LONGUEUIL, QC, April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - G Mining Ventures Corp. ("GMIN") (TSX: GMIN) (OTCQX: GMINF) and Reunion Gold Corporation ("RGD") (TSXV: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) are pleased to announce they have entered into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") to combine the two companies, setting the stage for the creation of a leading intermediate gold producer (the "Transaction").

Through the Transaction, GMIN will acquire RGD's flagship Oko West Project located in Guyana, within the Guiana Shield region, one of the most attractive mining jurisdictions in South America. Oko West has emerged as a globally significant gold discovery over the last few years, with excellent potential to become a top tier deposit that could support a large, long-life mine complex to accelerate GMIN's vision of building a leading intermediate gold producer. The GMIN team, including through the Gignac Family-owned G Mining Services ("GMS"), has an impressive track-record of executing world-class projects in the Guiana Shield region to generate industry leading returns for its stakeholders.

GMIN plans to move Oko West quickly through technical studies to a construction decision, leveraging the considerable amount of exploration, development, and permitting work that has already been completed by RGD, supported by the expected free cash flow from the Tocantinzinho Gold Project ("Tocantinzinho" or "TZ"), which is trending on schedule and on budget for commercial production in the second half of 2024. The Transaction sets the stage for the creation of an Americas focused leading intermediate gold producer.

Under the terms of the Agreement, GMIN and RGD shareholders will receive common shares of a newly formed company (the "New GMIN") equivalent to RGD shareholders being issued 0.285 GMIN common shares for each RGD common share. In addition, RGD shareholders will receive common shares in a newly created gold explorer ("SpinCo") that will hold all of RGD's assets other than Oko West. GMIN has agreed to fund SpinCo with $15 million.

RGD shareholders will receive estimated consideration of $0.65 per RGD common share, an estimated Transaction equity value of $875 million, based on the closing price of GMIN common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") on April 19, 2024, excluding the value of the SpinCo consideration. This represents a premium of 29% based on GMIN's and RGD's closing price and 10-day VWAP on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") as at April 19, 2024, respectively, without accounting for value of SpinCo.

Upon completion of the Transaction, existing GMIN and RGD shareholders will own approximately 57% and 43% of the combined company on a fully-diluted in-the-money basis prior to the concurrent US$50 million equity financing, and the combined company and RGD shareholders will own 19.9% and 80.1%, respectively, of the outstanding common shares of SpinCo.

Transaction Highlights

Louis-Pierre Gignac, CEO, President and Director of GMIN, stated: "Oko West has all the key attributes GMIN is looking for in its next leg of growth. We are well-positioned to accelerate value creation at Oko West leveraging our unique expertise in building and operating mines on schedule and on budget in the Guiana Shield, deep knowledge of and network in the region, and over US$480M anticipated near-term free cash flow from Tocantinzinhoi. The acquisition of Oko West is the second step towards our vision of becoming a leading intermediate gold producer, building on the team's success at Tocantinzinho. We look forward to continuing to advance our "Buy. Build. Operate." strategy to create and unlock further value for GMIN shareholders."

Rick Howes, CEO, President and Director of RGD, stated: "We are very pleased to announce this Transaction today, which we believe is a testament to the outstanding work our team has done rapidly discovering and advancing Oko West over the last few years. We believe that this Transaction not only delivers our shareholders an attractive upfront premium, but also the ability to participate with significant ongoing ownership in the combined company, having the opportunity to participate in an expected future re-rating as Oko West is advanced towards production. The Transaction significantly de-risks the advancement of Oko West given the financial strength, free cash flow, and development capabilities that GMIN brings to the table. Importantly, we believe this is a great outcome for the country of Guyana, with Oko West being taken forward by a company that will be a great steward of the asset for the benefit of the country and its communities."

Benefits to GMIN Shareholders

Benefits to RGD Shareholders

La Mancha Equity Investment

La Mancha will exercise its existing anti-dilution right in connection with the Transaction and as such has entered into a subscription agreement (the "Subscription Agreement") with GMIN pursuant to which La Mancha will subscribe for US$25 million, which may be increased to US$35 million at La Mancha's sole discretion, of common shares of GMIN immediately prior to closing of the Transaction (the "Subscription").

La Mancha also intends to purchase up to an additional US$10 million of GMIN shares in the open market. GMIN has agreed to temporarily waive La Mancha's standstill obligation, allowing La Mancha to increase its ownership beyond 25.0% until the closing of the Transaction, or termination of the Subscription Agreement. La Mancha's decision to make purchases of GMIN shares will be at its discretion and will be subject to market conditions, the price of GMIN shares and applicable securities law and stock exchange requirements. 

Following completion of the Transaction, it is expected that La Mancha's shareholding will decrease from approximately 25% in GMIN to approximately 18.7% in New GMIN (calculated on a basic shares outstanding basis).

Vincent Benoit, Managing Partner & Co-Chief Investment Officer of La Mancha Resource Capital LLP, stated: "La Mancha has a long track-record of successful investments in consolidating gold mining assets. A good example is our transformative involvement with Endeavour Mining, which evolved from a junior operator into a highly profitable senior gold producer across multiple sites in West Africa. In July 2022, we acquired a 25% stake in GMIN, guided by our strategy to back an accomplished management team in their goal to become a leading intermediate gold producer in the Americas. This decision capitalized on their exceptional expertise in financing, building, and managing mining operations. Since our investment, the GMIN stock has surged by almost 200%, affirming our investment strategy. We are excited about the potential further growth through the strategic merger of GMIN and RGD."

The closing of the Subscription is expected to occur immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction and is subject to TSX approval and certain other conditions being met, including confirmation that GMIN and RGD are ready to proceed with the closing of the Transaction. The price per GMIN common share under the Subscription is expected to be $2.28, being the 5-day volume weighted average price of GMIN's common shares on the TSX as of April 19, 2024, subject to possible TSX adjustments.

The existing investor rights agreement between GMIN and La Mancha will be terminated upon closing of the Transaction and replaced by a new investor rights agreement to be entered into between New GMIN and La Mancha on substantially the same terms. Under the new investor rights agreement, La Mancha will continue to be entitled to nominate two directors to New GMIN's Board of Directors, as long as it holds a minimum of 15% of New GMIN's outstanding common shares, and maintain customary anti-dilution, registration, and information rights with respect to New GMIN.

The Subscription is considered to be a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ? Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). GMIN is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 with respect to the Subscription, in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, as the fair market value of the Subscription is not more than the 25% of GMIN's market capitalization.

Franco-Nevada Equity Investment

Franco-Nevada will subscribe for US$25 million of common shares of GMIN immediately prior to closing of the Transaction. Following completion of the Transaction (the "Franco-Nevada Subscription"), it is expected that Franco-Nevada's shareholding will decrease from approximately 9.9% in GMIN to approximately 7.2% in New GMIN (calculated on a basic shares outstanding basis).

The closing of the Franco-Nevada Subscription is expected to occur immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction, and is subject to TSX approval and certain other conditions being met, including confirmation that GMIN and RGD are ready to proceed with the closing of the Transaction. The price per GMIN common share under the Franco-Nevada Subscription will be the same as under the La Mancha subscription.  

SpinCo

SpinCo's focus will be on acquiring and exploring gold mineral properties in Guyana outside of a 20-km area of interest surrounding Oko West, and in Suriname. GMIN has agreed to fund SpinCo with $15 million and in return the combined company will obtain a 19.9% interest in SpinCo. The combined company and SpinCo will enter into an investor rights agreement, which will provide to the combined company certain customary investor and other rights, including the right to nominate one director to SpinCo's Board.

Transaction Summary

The Transaction will be completed pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act. To effect the Transaction, New GMIN will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of GMIN and RGD. New GMIN, to be renamed G Mining Ventures Corp., will apply for listing on the TSX.

The number of common shares issued by New GMIN to GMIN and RGD shareholders will be equivalent to the combined company undergoing a 4-to-1 share consolidation upon closing of the Transaction (0.25 New GMIN common shares will be issued for each GMIN common share and 0.07125 New GMIN common shares will be issued for each RGD common share (the "Exchange Ratio")).

RGD will be entitled to nominate two members to the board of directors of New GMIN, in addition to the appointment of the common director, David Fennell, to the newly created role of Vice Chairman. New GMIN's board of directors is expected to comprise a total of 9 members (5 GMIN nominees, 3 RGD nominees and 1 La Mancha nominee), including Louis Gignac as Chairman and Louis-Pierre Gignac as director, president, and CEO.

The Transaction will be subject to approval of at least 662/3% of the votes cast by GMIN shareholders, as well as, to the extent required under applicable law, the approval of a simple majority of disinterested shareholders, voting at a special meeting of GMIN shareholders, and at least 662/3% of the votes cast by RGD shareholders, 662/3% of the votes cast by RGD shareholders and optionholders, voting together as a single class, as well as, to the extent required under applicable law, the approval of a simple majority of disinterested shareholders, voting at a special meeting of RGD securityholders. The Transaction is expected to be completed in Q3 2024, subject to the receipt of required securityholder, court and TSX approvals and other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature.

The Agreement includes reciprocal deal protections and a reciprocal $31.2 million termination fee payable under certain circumstances.

Voting Support Agreements

Directors and members of senior management of RGD, and La Mancha, as well as two subsidiaries of, and a trust controlled by, Dundee Corporation, who in the aggregate own approximately 29% of RGD's common shares outstanding, have entered into voting support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the Transaction, subject to the terms thereof.

Additionally, directors and members of senior management of GMIN, as well as GMIN's three largest shareholders, La Mancha, Eldorado Gold Corporation, and Franco-Nevada, who in aggregate own approximately 60% of GMIN's common shares outstanding, have entered into voting support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the Transaction.

Boards of Directors' Recommendations

The Agreement has been unanimously approved by the disinterested Directors of the Boards of GMIN and RGD following the unanimous recommendations of each of the Special Committees of independent directors of GMIN and RGD (each, a "Special Committee"). The disinterested Directors of the Boards of GMIN and RGD each unanimously recommend that their respective shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.

RBC Capital Markets Inc. and Cormark Securities Inc. have each provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors and the Special Committee of GMIN, stating that, as of the date of such fairness opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in such fairness opinions, the consideration to be received by the GMIN shareholders under the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to such GMIN shareholders.

BMO Capital Markets has provided an opinion to the Special Committee and the Board of Directors of RGD, stating that as of the date of such opinion, based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to RGD shareholders. SCP Resource Finance has provided an opinion to the Special Committee and the Board of Directors of RGD, stating that as of the date of such opinion, based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the consideration to be received by RGD shareholders under the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to RGD shareholders.

This press release is not intended as, and does not constitute a solicitation of proxies or votes in connection with the requisite RGD securityholder and GMIN shareholder approval of the transaction. Further information will be included in information circulars that RGD and GMIN will each prepare, file and mail in due course to their respective securityholders in connection with their respective securityholder meetings to approve the transaction.

Advisors and Counsel

RBC Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to GMIN and its Board of Directors. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as GMIN's legal advisor.

BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to RGD and its Board of Directors. Stikeman Elliott LLP is acting as RGD's legal advisor. SCP Resource Finance acted as financial advisor to RGD's Special Committee.

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP is acting as La Mancha's legal advisor.

Conference Call and Webcast

GMIN and RGD will host a joint conference call and webcast on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time for members of the investment community to discuss the Transaction. Participants may join the conference call using the following call-in details:

A live webcast of the conference call will be available at https://app.webinar.net/qGlg7yL1brD

A replay of this conference call will be available until April 29, 2024. The replay numbers are:

About G Mining Ventures Corp.

G Mining Ventures Corp. (TSX: GMIN) (OTCQX: GMINF) is a mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metal projects, to capitalize on the value uplift from successful mine development. GMIN is well-positioned to grow into the next mid-tier precious metals producer by leveraging strong access to capital and proven development expertise. GMIN is currently anchored by its flagship Tocantinzinho Gold Project in mining friendly and prospective State of Pará, Brazil.

About Reunion Gold Corporation

Reunion Gold Corporation (TSXV:RGD) (OTCQX:RGDFF) is a leading gold explorer in the Guiana Shield, South America. In 2020, RGD announced an exciting new greenfield gold discovery at its Oko West project in Guyana and announced its maiden mineral resource estimate in June 2023 after just 22 months of resource definition drilling. In February 2024, RGD announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (the "2024 MRE") containing a total of 4.3 Moz of gold in Indicated Resources grading 2.05 g/t and 1.6 Moz of gold in Inferred Resources grading 2.59 g/t. This 2024 MRE includes an underground Resource containing 1.1 Moz of gold at a grade of 3.12 g/t Au in the Inferred category. Please refer to the Technical Report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Oko West Gold Project, Cuyuni-Mazaruni Mining Districts, Guyana" dated April 11, 2024, available under RGD's profile on SEDAR+.

RGD continues to explore several additional priority targets at Oko West that lie outside of the area of the MRE, as well as leverage its considerable experience in the Guiana Shield to acquire and explore additional new projects in the region.

Additional Information

For further information on GMIN, please visit the website at www.gminingventures.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements may relate to G Mining Ventures Corp. ("GMIN"), Reunion Gold Corporation ("RGD"), the newly created gold explorer ("SpinCo"), the entity resulting from the contemplated transaction ("New GMIN") and the latter's future outlook and that of its affiliates when applicable; and to anticipated events or results, notably the transaction completion, as contemplated; and may include statements regarding the financial position, budgets, operations, financial results, plans and objectives of GMIN, RGD, SpinCo, New GMIN or of the latter's affiliates when applicable. Statements regarding future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities of SpinCo, New GMIN, or of its affiliates when applicable, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations, notably the transaction completion, as contemplated, are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to:

Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by GMIN and/or RGD as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions include, without limitation, those relating to the price of gold and currency exchange rates and those underlying the items listed on the above sections entitled "About G Mining Ventures Corp." and "About Reunion Gold Corporation".

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that, notably but without limitation, that:

as future events could differ materially from what is currently anticipated by GMIN and/or RGD management.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in GMIN's and RGD's other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in (A) the relevant sections of GMIN's (i) Annual Information Form dated March 27, 2024, for the financial year ended December 31, 2023, and (ii) Management Discussion & Analysis, and (B) the relevant sections of RGD's (i) Annual Information Form dated May 9, 2023, for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, and (ii) Management Discussion & Analysis. GMIN and RGD caution that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. GMIN and RGD disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

La Mancha ? Required Early Warning Disclosure

As of the date hereof, La Mancha owns or has control and direction over 111,879,265 common shares of GMIN, representing approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding common shares of GMIN. La Mancha will acquire US$25,000,000, which may be increased to US$35,000,000 at La Mancha's sole discretion, of common shares of GMIN pursuant to the Subscription. Following completion of the Subscription, but immediately prior to closing of the Transaction, assuming La Mancha subscribes for the maximum of US$35,000,000 of common shares of GMIN, it is expected that La Mancha will own 133,039,291 common shares of GMIN, representing approximately 27.3% of the issued and outstanding common shares of GMIN and following closing of the Transaction, it is expected that La Mancha will own 40,570,073 common shares of New GMIN, representing approximately 19.3% of the issued and outstanding common shares of New GMIN.

The Subscription is being undertaken for investment purposes and La Mancha may, from time to time, acquire additional securities of GMIN or, following closing of the Transaction, New GMIN or dispose of all or a portion of the common shares of GMIN or, following closing of the Transaction, New GMIN previously acquired or held, in open market or private transactions.

An early warning report containing additional information with respect to the foregoing matters will be filed under GMIN's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and may also be obtained by contacting: Karim Nasr, Partner, La Mancha Resource Capital LLP, [email protected], +44.203.960.2020.

GMIN's head office is located at 5025 Lapinière Blvd., 10th Floor, Suite 1050, Brossard, QC J4Z 0N5 Canada.

La Mancha's head office is located at 31-33 Avenue Pasteur, L-2311, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Franco-Nevada ? Required Early Warning Disclosure

As of the date hereof, Franco-Nevada owns or has control and direction over 44,687,500 common shares of GMIN, representing approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of GMIN and 11,500,000 Warrants of GMIN. Franco-Nevada will acquire US$25,000,000 of common shares of GMIN pursuant to the Franco-Nevada Subscription. Following completion of the Franco-Nevada Subscription, but immediately prior to closing of the Transaction, it is expected that Franco-Nevada will own 59,801,805 common shares of GMIN, representing approximately 12.4% of the issued and outstanding common shares of GMIN and following closing of the Transaction, it is expected that Franco-Nevada will own 14,950,451 common shares of New GMIN, representing approximately 7.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of New GMIN. The foregoing amounts assume that Franco-Nevada does not exercise its Warrants of GMIN.

The Franco-Nevada Subscription is being undertaken for investment purposes and Franco-Nevada may, from time to time, acquire additional securities of GMIN or, following closing of the Transaction, New GMIN or dispose of all or a portion of securities of GMIN or, following closing of the Transaction, New GMIN previously acquired or held, in open market or private transactions.

An early warning report containing additional information with respect to the foregoing matters will be filed under GMIN's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and may also be obtained by contacting: Lloyd Hong, Chief Legal Officer, Franco-Nevada Corporation, [email protected], +416.306.6317.

GMIN's head office is located at 5025 Lapinière Blvd., 10th Floor, Suite 1050, Brossard, QC J4Z 0N5 Canada.

Franco-Nevada's head office is located at 199 Bay Street, Suite 2000, P.O. Box 285, Commerce Court Postal Station, Toronto, Ontario, M5L 1G9, Canada.

_____________________________

i Total after-tax free cash flow for years 1-4 per Feasibility Study dated February 09, 2022 (filed under GMIN's profile on Sedar, entitled "Feasibility Study ? NI 43-101 Technical Report, Tocantinzinho Gold Project"), using US$1,600/oz gold price.

 

SOURCE G Mining Ventures Corp


These press releases may also interest you

at 15:46
Each member of Rockingham Mutual Group, Inc., Rockingham Insurance Company, Rockingham Casualty Company, and Rockingham Specialty, Inc., has earned and had affirmed its Financial Stability Rating® (FSR) of A? (A Prime), Unsurpassed. This FSR is...

at 15:39
Private Equity (PE) firms understand the value of a well-engineered consolidation or roll-up strategy to generate synergies and rapidly drive higher investment returns. However, increasing competition for deals and relatively high interest rates are...

at 15:35
TruBridge , a healthcare solutions company, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, on Friday, May 10, 2024, before the market opens. The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m....

at 15:29
The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, announces the humanitarian and community hero honorees for the 2024 Celebration of Service Gala. The event will bring together military heroes, business and community leaders...

at 15:25
The governments of Canada and Quebec, in collaboration with Mission Unitaînés and the City of Rimouski, have announced the construction of a 100-unit social and affordable housing building for independent seniors over the next two years. The funding...

at 15:21
Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel, known for its dignified service and unwavering commitment to New York City and its residents in their time of need, proudly commemorates its 125th anniversary. Founded in 1898, Frank E. Campbell has remained a...



News published on and distributed by: