via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Bullfrog Gold Corp. (BFGC:OTCQB; BFG:CSE;
11B:FSE) (“Bullfrog”, “BFGC” or the “Company”) announces
it hasenteredinto a binding term sheet to acquire rights
to 1,500 acres adjoining the Company’s Bullfrog Gold Deposit (the
“
Acquisition Transaction”) from Barrick Gold Corporation
(“
Barrick”) and a C$22 million financing to be completed by
Augusta Investments Inc. (“
Augusta”). Concurrently, Maryse
Bélanger will be appointed President, CEO and Director of the
Company along with the appointment of Donald Taylor, Daniel Earle,
and a Barrick nominee to the Company’s Board of Directors.
Highlights of the Transaction
- Barrick and Augusta Become New Cornerstone Shareholders
- Barrick will own 15.9% and Augusta will own 31.9% of
Bullfrog’s shares outstanding after closing of the Transaction
calculated on an undiluted basis.
- Strengthened Board and Leadership
Team- Augusta will assume management, including the
appointment of Maryse Bélanger as CEO, and Board of the Company
will be reconstituted.
- Increased Financial Strength- The Company
will be well funded with over C$22 million in cash enabling it
to advance exploration and expedite development of the Bullfrog
project.
- Barrick Land Acquisition - The Company will acquire
all of Barrick’s mining claims, historical resources, permits and
water rights in the Bullfrog mine area (the “Barrick Lands”)
adding approximately 1,500 acres to its current position of 5,250
acres, allowing for the backfilling of nearly all mine waste
in the south part of the Bullfrog pit upon receipt of required
regulatory approval, thereby substantially reducing environmental
impacts and mining costs.
- Large, Open Resource: Current resources on the
Company’s lands are summarized below:
|
Pre-Transaction
Resource Estimates |
|
|
|
Tonnes |
|
Gold |
Gold Oz |
Silver |
Silver Oz |
|
Classification |
Millions |
|
g/t |
000's |
g/t |
000's |
|
Measured |
2.46 |
|
0.91 |
71.7 |
2.66 |
210 |
|
Indicated |
13.61 |
|
1.04 |
453.7 |
2.58 |
1,130 |
|
Total M & I |
16.07 |
|
1.02 |
525.4 |
2.61 |
1,340 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inferred |
2.85 |
|
1.20 |
110.7 |
2.63 |
248 |
|
Independently
estimated in 2017 Technical Report by Tetra Tech Inc., filed on
Sedar in Canada |
|
and based on a
$1200 gold price, 0.36 g gold/t cutoff and 72% gold recovery |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mineral remains open and the Company believes it
extends under the additional Barrick lands being
acquired.
David Beling commented, “Bullfrog is pleased to
have Augusta and Barrick as significant shareholdersand strong
supporters of the land and resource positions the Company has built
in one of the most prolific gold exploration areas of
Nevada. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company
will be well funded to timely complete several exploration programs
and expedite development of the Bullfrog project in the best
interest of all stakeholders, while pursuing other acquisitions and
opportunities in the precious metal sector.”
Richard Warke commented, “We are very excited to
join forces with Barrick in this historic mining
camp. With the substantial resource that management at
Bullfrog has identified to-date along with our injection of capital
and expertise that our CEO Maryse Bélanger brings to the Company,
we see a very exciting time ahead for Bullfrog and its
shareholders.”
Barrick President and CEO, Mark Bristow, said,
“This is potentially another value-creating transaction which, once
completed will consolidate assets to create an exciting new mining
project, led by a skilled team and with strong financial
backing. It is also in line with Barrick’s strategy of
bringing non-core assets to account.”
Terms of the Transaction
- Bullfrog will acquire the Barrick Lands located in the Bullfrog
mine area 125 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
- Bullfrog will issue an expected 54.6 million units (the
“Units”) at a deemed price of C$0.20 per Unit to Barrick, each Unit
consisting of one share of common stock of Bullfrog (a “Share”) and
one warrant exercisable for four years for one additional Share at
a price of C$0.30. As a result, Barrick will own 15.9% of the
Company on an undiluted basis, or 19.9% on a fully-diluted
basis.
- Augusta will purchase 110.0 million Units at price of C$0.20
per Unit, for proceeds of C$22 million (the “Financing
Transaction”). Each Unit having the same terms as the Units to be
issued to Barrick in the Acquisition Transaction. As a result,
Augusta will own 31.9% of the Company on an undiluted basis or
40.2% on a fully diluted basis.
- The Mineral Lease and Option to Purchase agreement between
Bullfrog and Barrick dated March 23, 2015 will be terminated and
superseded, eliminating Barrick’s back-in right.
- Bullfrog will grant a 2% NSR royalty on all minerals produced
from the Barrick Lands to Barrick, subject to a maximum aggregate
NSR royalty of 5.5% on any individual mining claim and a minimum
0.5% NSR royalty granted to Barrick on any individual mining
claim.
- Bullfrog will grant certain investor rights to each of Barrick
and Augusta, including antidilution rights, so long as it continues
to own at least 10% of Bullfrog’s Shares, calculated on a partially
diluted basis.
- Barrick will have the right to appoint a director to the Board,
so long as it continues to own at least 10% of Bullfrog’s Shares,
calculated on a partially diluted basis.
- Augusta will have the right to appoint three directors to the
Board.
New Board of Directors and Management
Team
In connection with the Transaction, the Company
will appoint Maryse Bélanger as President, CEO and Director along
with Daniel Earle, Donald Taylor and a nominee of Barrick to
the Company’s Board. David Beling will resign as the Company’s
President and CEO but will remain a Director to provide continuity
with Ms. Bélanger.
Maryse Bélanger brings over 30 years of experience
with senior gold companies globally with proven strengths in
operational excellence and efficiency, technical studies and
services. She has provided oversight and project management support
through some of the mining industry's key strategic acquisitions.
Most recently, Ms. Bélanger was President, COO and Director of
Atlantic Gold, where she successfully guided the company in taking
its Touquoy Mine in Nova Scotia from construction to commissioning,
ramp up and full production, through its eventual acquisition by
St. Barbara for C$722 million. She previously served as CEO and
Managing Director of Mirabela Nickel Ltd. where she is credited
with the successful turnaround of the Santa Rita mine in Brazil
during a period of extremely low metal prices. From 2011 to 2014,
Ms. Bélanger was a senior executive with Goldcorp where she was
ultimately appointed Senior Vice President, Technical Services.
Prior to Goldcorp, Ms. Bélanger was Director, Technical Services
for Kinross Gold Corporation for Brazil and Chile. Ms. Bélanger is
an active Board Member of Sherritt, Pure Gold and Plateau Energy
Metals and has served on the boards of Mirabela, True Gold,
Newmarket Gold and Atlantic Gold.
Daniel Earle has over 17 years of experience in
mining capital markets and global mining operations and is the
President & CEO, Director of Solaris Resources Inc. Prior to
Solaris, Mr. Earle was the Vice President and Director at TD
Securities Inc. where he covered companies in the precious and base
metals sectors as an equity research analyst for over 12 years.
During that time, he established himself as one of the leading
authorities on exploration and development stage mining projects.
Prior to joining TD Securities in 2007, Mr. Earle was a senior
executive with a number of Canadian and U.S. public mineral
exploration and mining companies.
Donald Taylor has over 30 years of domestic and
international mineral exploration experience taking projects from
exploration to mining. He is the recipient of the 2019 Society of
Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration’s Robert M. Deyer Award and the
2018 recipient of the Prospectors and Developers Association of
Canada's Thayer Lindsley Award for the 2014 discovery of the Taylor
lead-zinc-silver deposit. Mr. Taylor has worked extensively for
large and small cap companies, including Arizona Mining, BHP
Minerals, Bear Creek Mining, American Copper and Nickel, Doe Run
Resources, Westmont Mining Company, Solaris Resources Inc. and
Titan Mining Corp.
Following the Transaction, Bullfrog’s executive
team will consist of members of the Augusta Group management
team. Tyler Minnick will resign as Director of Administration
& Finance. Alan Lindsay and Kjeld Thygesen will resign from the
Board. Bullfrog wishes to thank Mr. Lindsay, Mr. Thygesen and
Mr. Minnick for their many contributions to the Company.
The binding term sheet is subject to completion of
definitive agreements within 30 days. The Acquisition Transaction
and the Financing Transaction are inter-conditional. Closing of the
Transaction is expected to follow in the fourth quarter of 2020,
subject to customary conditions for a transaction of this
nature.
Fort Capital Partners is acting as financial
advisor, and Dumoulin Black LLP and Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP are
acting as legal counsel to the Company in connection with the
Transaction.
About Bullfrog Gold Corp.
Bullfrog Gold Corp. is a Delaware corporation that
currently controls the commanding land and resource positions in
the Bullfrog Mine area where Barrick produced 2.3 million ounces of
gold by mining and conventional milling beginning in 1989 and
ending in 1999 when ore reserves were depleted. Measured and
indicated 43-101 compliant resources were estimated in mid-2017 by
Tetra Tech Inc. at 525,000 ounces of gold, averaging 1.02 gold
g/t in base case plans of the MS and Bullfrog pits. Most of these
resources are in the north extension to the Bullfrog pit. Inferred
resources were estimated at 110,000 ounces of gold averaging 1.2
g/t, of which most were in the Mystery Hill area adjacent to the
Bullfrog pit and where 17 additional holes were recently
drilled.
It is noted that the 3-year trailing average gold
price is now $200 higher than the $1,200 average price used in
2017. The resource estimates were also based on a heap leach gold
recovery of 72% compared to the average 85% leach test recoveries
recently achieved on four bulk samples. Much additional technical
and corporate information may be sourced
at www.bullfroggold.com.
About the Augusta Group
The Augusta Group is a mining sector focused
management group based in Canada and the United States led by
Richard Warke. Augusta has an industry leading track record of
value creation totaling over C$ 4.5 billion in exit transactions
since 2011, and has strategic partnerships with the leading
entrepreneurs in the mining sector. Additional information on the
Augusta Group can be found at www.augustacorp.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking
StatementsThis press release contains certain "Forward-Looking
Statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, andSection 21E of the United
States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, included hereinwith
respect to the objectives, plans and strategies of the Company and
those preceded by or that include the words "believes," "expects,"
"given," "targets," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "projects,"
"forecasts" or similar expressions, are forward-looking
statements that involve various risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking information in this press release includes but is
not limited to statements regarding the Transaction and changes to
the management and board of the Company.
Such forward-looking information and statements
are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, the
Company's ability to successfully maintain its listings, the
stability of industry and market costs and trends and the Company's
ability to obtain all regulatory approvals required for its planned
objectives. Furthermore, by their very nature, forward-looking
information involves a variety of known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans,
intentions, events, results, performance or achievements of the
Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and
other factors include, without limitation, those related to: (a)
the Company’s inability to come to agreement on final terms with
Barrick and Augusta for the Transaction (b) adverse regulatory or
legislative changes (c) market conditions, volatility and
global economic conditions (d) industry-wide risks (e) the
Company's inability to maintain or improve its competitive position
and (f) the ability to obtain financing needed to fund the
continued development of the Company's business.
Qualified PersonDavid Beling, P.E. has 56
years of project and corporate experience in the mining industry
and is a qualified person as defined by Canadian National
Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure or Mineral Projects.
Mr. Beling has prepared, supervised the preparation of, or approved
the technical information that forms the basis of the Company’s
disclosures, but is not independent of Bullfrog Gold Corp, as he is
the CEO & President and holds common shares and incentive stock
options of the Company.
For further information, please contact David
Beling, CEO & President, at (970) 628-1670.
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