TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amarillo Gold Corporation (“Amarillo” or the “Company”) (TSXV: AGC, OTCQB: AGCBF) has entered into an agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with Hochschild Mining PLC (“Hochschild”), whereby Hochschild will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Amarillo by way of a plan of arrangement (the “Arrangement”) under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Pursuant to the Arrangement, each share of Amarillo will be exchanged for cash consideration of C$0.40 and one share of a new Brazil-focused exploration company, Lavras Gold Corp. (“Lavras SpinCo”), based in Toronto, Ontario.
Lavras SpinCo will be capitalized with C$10 million cash and will hold all assets and rights with respect the Lavras do Sul gold project (the “Lavras Project”) located in southern Brazil in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The cash consideration (not including the value of the Lavras SpinCo shares) represents a premium of 66% over the 20-trading day volume weighted average trading price of the Amarillo shares on the TSX Venture Exchange of C$0.24. The total transaction value is approximately C$164.5 million, excluding Lavras SpinCo’s asset value and C$10 million of cash. It is anticipated that Lavras SpinCo will complete a share consolidation immediately following the completion of the Arrangement.
Highlights of the proposed transactions:
- Cash consideration of C$0.40 per Amarillo share;
- Amarillo shareholders also receive one share of Lavras SpinCo for every Amarillo share held;
- Lavras SpinCo will have C$10 million cash and will hold a stake of the Lavras Project assets; and
- Lavras SpinCo will have a 2% net smelter return royalty over certain of Amarillo’s exploration properties located outside of the current Posse resource and mine plan at Amarillo’s Mara Rosa property.
“This acquisition delivers an immediate and compelling opportunity for our shareholders to monetize their investment in Amarillo at an attractive valuation and significant premium to the current and historical trading price of Amarillo’s shares,” said Mike Mutchler, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The transaction also provides our shareholders with additional value through their continued participation in the future exploration and advancement of the prospective Lavras Project through Lavras SpinCo, where our leadership team will be focussed on unlocking the true value of this project.”
BOARD APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION
Following an extensive review and detailed analysis of the proposed Arrangement and the recommendation of the special committee (the “Special Committee”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Amarillo, the Board has unanimously: (i) approved the Arrangement and the entering into of the Arrangement Agreement; (ii) determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Amarillo and is fair, from a financial point of view, to Amarillo’s shareholders, and (iii) determined to recommend that Amarillo’s shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement.
Research Capital Corporation acted as advisor to the Special Committee and has provided its verbal fairness opinion (the “Fairness Opinion”) to the Special Committee and the Board that, as of the date of the Fairness Opinion, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions disclosed to the Special Committee and the Board in connection therewith, the consideration to be received by Amarillo’s shareholders pursuant to the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view to Amarillo’s shareholders. The full text of the written Fairness Opinion, which describes the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations and qualifications on the review undertaken, will be included in Amarillo’s management information circular.
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL
The Arrangement is subject to the approval of the Amarillo shareholders. A special meeting of the Amarillo shareholders is expected to be held in early 2022 to consider the Arrangement, with an information circular to be mailed to Amarillo shareholders prior to the meeting.
Directors and officers of Amarillo who collectively hold 6.51% of the outstanding shares of Amarillo have entered into voting and support agreements with Hochschild, supporting the Arrangement, pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares held in favour of the approval of the Arrangement at the meeting.
In addition, Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation which is beneficially owned by him, and Baccarat Trade Investments Limited, which beneficially hold 68,300,000 and 76,099,500 shares (representing 17.69% and 19.71% of the outstanding shares), respectively, have also entered into similar voting and support agreements with Hochschild supporting the Arrangement.
CLOSING
Subject to the satisfaction of all of the conditions to closing set out in the Arrangement Agreement, it is anticipated that that the Arrangement will close in the first quarter of 2022. Conditions to closing under the Arrangement Agreement include, among other matters, receipt of all required regulatory and stock exchange approvals, receipt of required court approvals, receipt of approval from the shareholders of Amarillo and Hochschild and the absence of material adverse changes respecting Amarillo.
ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT TERMS
The Arrangement Agreement contemplates a reciprocal expense reimbursement/non-completion fee of C$2.5 million payable if the required shareholder approval is not obtained or on the occurrence of certain other circumstances. In addition, the Arrangement Agreement provides for a termination fee of C$5 million payable by Amarillo to Hochschild in the event that the Arrangement is not completed or is terminated by Amarillo or Hochschild in certain circumstances, including if Amarillo enters into an agreement with respect to a superior proposal or if the Board, in certain circumstances, withdraws or modifies its recommendation with respect to the Arrangement. The Arrangement Agreement also provides for customary non-solicitation covenants, subject to customary “fiduciary out” provisions entitling Amarillo to consider and accept a superior proposal and a right in favor of Hochschild to match any superior proposal.
A copy of the Arrangement Agreement will be filed by Amarillo on SEDAR and will be reviewable under Amarillo’s profile at www.sedar.com.
STRATEGIC RATIONALE
The Arrangement is a culmination of Amarillo’s exploration and development successes in Brazil. Amarillo’s management views the Arrangement as an opportunity for its shareholders to realize value for a large portion of Amarillo’s assets, at an attractive premium to the recent market performance of its shares and other metrics, while continuing to participate directly in the upside of Lavras SpinCo’s planned exploration at the Lavras Project in Brazil. Lavras SpinCo is expected to be well-capitalized at inception with significant cash, no debt, and led by Amarillo’s current management team.
LAVRAS SPINCO
As part of the Arrangement, Lavras SpinCo will be capitalized with C$10 million in cash and Amarillo’s current interests in the Lavras Project. Lavras SpinCo’s vision is to be a leading independent exploration and production company in Brazil, maximizing shareholder value by bringing its disciplined exploration approach to the Lavras Project and other potential opportunities.
ADVISORS AND COUNSEL
Research Capital Corporation acted as advisor to the Special Committee and Amarillo engaged Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and Irwin Lowy LLP as its legal counsel in connection with the Transaction. Hochschild has engaged RBC Capital Markets as its financial advisor, sole sponsor and corporate broker, Stikeman Elliott LLP as its Canadian legal counsel, Pinheiro Neto Advogados as its Brazilian legal counsel, and Linklaters LLP as its UK legal counsel in connection with the Transaction.
WEBCAST
A webcast will be held at 10:00 a.m. Toronto time on November 30, 2021 for investors and analysts.
Register at: https://my.6ix.com/paColcfT
ABOUT AMARILLO
Amarillo is advancing two gold projects located near excellent infrastructure in mining-friendly states in Brazil. The development stage Posse Gold Project is on the Company’s Mara Rosa Property in Gois State. It has a positive definitive feasibility study that shows it can be built into a profitable operation with low costs and a strong financial return. Mara Rosa also shows the potential for discovering additional near-surface deposits that will extend Posse’s mine life beyond its initial 10 years. The exploration stage Lavras do Sul Project in Rio Grande do Sul State has more than 23 prospects centered on historic gold workings.
Amarillo trades on the TSXV under the symbol AGC and the OTCQB under the symbol AGCBF. Visit www.amarillogold.com to learn more, and follow Amarillo on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/11/30/2342596/0/en/Amarillo-to-be-acquired-by-Hochschild.html