(via Thenewswire.ca)
Vancouver, British Columbia / TNW-ACCESSWIRE /June 12, 2014 / Goldrush Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: GOD) ("Goldrush" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that following extensive discussions to enable the advancement of the development of the Ronguen gold project (the "Ronguen Project"), it has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement dated June 11, 2014 with Nord Prognoz Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Nord Gold N.V. (LSE: NORD) ("Nordgold") to sell Nordgold all of the shares of Goldrush's 100% owned Burkina Faso subsidiary, Goldrush Burkina S.A.R.L. ("Goldrush Burkina"). Goldrush Burkina holds the Tikare and Kongoussi 1 mineral permits that comprise the Ronguen Project, which is located 10 kilometres northwest of Nordgold's Bissa gold mine and 100 kilometres north of Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso.
Prior to the closing of the Transaction (defined below), all assets and liabilities of Goldrush Burkina, other than the Tikare and Kongoussi 1 permits (which host the Ronguen Project and which will continue to be held by Goldrush Burkina) will be transferred from Goldrush Burkina to Goldrush West Africa S.A.R.L. ("Goldrush West Africa"), a new wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Accordingly, on closing Goldrush, through Goldrush West Africa, will indirectly hold six mineral permits and one mineral permit application in Burkina Faso.
The consideration (the "Purchase Price") for the sale of Goldrush Burkina (the "Transaction") is:
- US$4,250,000, of which US$3,250,00 will be paid to Goldrush on Closing and the remainder will be held in escrow, to be released in two tranches on July 15, 2015 and December 31, 2017, subject to deductions for any liabilities of Goldrush Burkina that occurred prior to Closing;
- a 1% Net Smelter Returns Royalty on any production from the Ronguen Project at a gold price over US$1,700 per ounce. The royalty may be repurchased at anytime for a cash consideration of US$1,000,000; and
- an extinguishment of any back-in rights held by Nordgold (or its predecessor, High River Gold Mines Ltd.) on Goldrush's Salbo or Ouavousse permits.
Goldrush currently intends to use the proceeds from the sale of Goldrush Burkina to continue its precious metals exploration by advancing its land position in West Africa through the exploration of the mineral permits that it will hold on closing of the Transaction, for the acquisition of complimentary, geologically promising permits, and for corporate and general working capital purposes.
The Transaction will constitute the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company. The Transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval and approval by the shareholders of the Company. The Goldrush Board of Directors has approved the Transaction and unanimously recommended that Goldrush shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction. The Transaction, including the Purchase Price, was negotiated on an arm's length basis. There is no Finder's Fee payable in relation to the Transaction.
The Company intends to prepare a management information circular (the "Circular") for an Annual and Special meeting of Goldrush shareholders currently anticipated to be held on August 6, 2014 (the "Meeting"), to approve the Transaction. Closing of the Transaction is anticipated to occur shortly after the Meeting.
The Company has retained Ross Glanville & Associates Ltd. and Bruce McKnight Minerals Advisor Services to provide an opinion as to the fairness from a financial point of view of the consideration to be received pursuant to the sale of Goldrush Burkina. A copy of the fairness opinion will be attached to the Circular to be sent to shareholders of the Company.
Commented Len Brownlie, President and CEO of Goldrush: "After an exhaustive search that continued over two years for either funding or a partner to assist in the development of the Ronguen Project, we are pleased that we were able to increase Goldrush's treasury without dilution to our existing shareholders, while retaining some upside potential should the Ronguen deposit be mined in the future. With the funds to be received from the sale of the Ronguen deposit, we intend to carefully consider all options to increase shareholder value while maintaining a rigorous approach to cash management."
About Goldrush:
Goldrush is a Canadian mineral exploration company, focused on gold exploration in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
About Nordgold:
Nord Gold N.V. (LSE: NORD) is an international pure-play emerging-markets gold producer established in 2007 and publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. Nordgold has expanded rapidly through acquisitions and organic investment, achieving a rate of growth unmatched in the industry during that period. In 2013, Nordgold's gold production increased to 924,000 ounces from 717,000 ounces in 2012.
Nordgold operates nine mines in Russia, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Nordgold has two development projects, four advanced exploration projects and a diverse portfolio of early exploration projects and licenses in CIS, West Africa and French Guiana. Nordgold currently employs over 10,000 workers.
For further information on Goldrush Resources Ltd., shareholders and other interested parties are invited to visit the Company's website at www.goldrushresources.ca.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
GOLDRUSH RESOURCES LTD.
"Len Brownlie"
Len Brownlie - President and Chief Executive Officer
Contact Information:
For Goldrush:
Len Brownlie, President and CEO: info@goldrushresources.ca
1-604-602-9973
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the share purchase agreement with Nordgold, how it intends to use the proceeds from the sale of Goldrush Burkina, the Company's plans with respect to future acquisitions, exploration and development, future financings and the sale or joint venture of some of the Company's exploration permits. Forward-looking statements in this release including statements regarding the Transaction and the share purchase agreement with Nordgold are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include uncertainties relating to risks that could cause delay or termination of the Transaction, including lack of shareholder or regulatory approval, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
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