Pasofino Gold Announces Co-Operation and Support Agreement with Hummingbird PLC and Nioko Resources, Changes to its Board of Directors and Actions to be Taken to Terminate its Shareholder Rights Plan
Pasofino Gold (EFRGF) has entered into a binding Co-operation Agreement with its 50.8% shareholder Hummingbird Resources PLC (HUM) and Nioko Resources. The agreement includes a Board reconstitution with three HUM nominees and three Board nominees, and plans to terminate the company's shareholder rights plan.
The company will seek to raise approximately US$10 million in 2025 and US$15 million in 2026 to update the Dugbe Gold Project Feasibility Study and commence pre-construction activities. HUM has agreed to participate pro-rata as the lead order in these financings.
Key terms include terminating the current strategic review process, completing a revised Feasibility Study within 12 months, and a standstill period until October 31, 2026. The Dugbe Gold Project currently showcases 2.76Moz in reserves with a 3.5-year capex payback period and 14-year mine life.
Pasofino Gold (EFRGF) ha stipulato un accordo di cooperazione vincolante con il suo azionista al 50,8% Hummingbird Resources PLC (HUM) e Nioko Resources. L'accordo prevede una ricostituzione del Consiglio con tre nominati da HUM e tre nominati dal Consiglio, e prevede di terminare il piano di diritti degli azionisti dell'azienda.
L'azienda cercherà di raccogliere circa 10 milioni di dollari USA nel 2025 e 15 milioni di dollari USA nel 2026 per aggiornare lo Studio di Fattibilità del Progetto Oro Dugbe e avviare le attività di pre-costruzione. HUM ha accettato di partecipare pro-rata come ordine principale in questi finanziamenti.
I termini chiave includono la cessazione dell'attuale processo di revisione strategica, il completamento di uno Studio di Fattibilità rivisto entro 12 mesi e un periodo di standstill fino al 31 ottobre 2026. Il Progetto Oro Dugbe attualmente presenta 2,76 Moz in riserve con un periodo di recupero del capex di 3,5 anni e una vita mineraria di 14 anni.
Pasofino Gold (EFRGF) ha firmado un acuerdo de cooperación vinculante con su accionista del 50,8% Hummingbird Resources PLC (HUM) y Nioko Resources. El acuerdo incluye una reestructuración de la Junta con tres nominados de HUM y tres nominados de la Junta, y planes para terminar el plan de derechos de los accionistas de la empresa.
La empresa buscará recaudar aproximadamente 10 millones de dólares estadounidenses en 2025 y 15 millones de dólares estadounidenses en 2026 para actualizar el Estudio de Viabilidad del Proyecto de Oro Dugbe y comenzar actividades de pre-construcción. HUM ha acordado participar pro-rata como la orden principal en estas financiaciones.
Los términos clave incluyen la terminación del actual proceso de revisión estratégica, la finalización de un Estudio de Viabilidad revisado en 12 meses y un período de standstill hasta el 31 de octubre de 2026. El Proyecto de Oro Dugbe actualmente muestra 2,76 Moz en reservas con un período de recuperación de capex de 3,5 años y una vida útil de la mina de 14 años.
Pasofino Gold (EFRGF)는 50.8% 주주인 Hummingbird Resources PLC (HUM) 및 Nioko Resources와 구속력 있는 협력 계약을 체결했습니다. 이 계약에는 HUM의 추천인 3명과 이사회 추천인 3명을 포함한 이사회 재구성이 포함되며, 회사의 주주 권리 계획을 종료할 계획이 포함되어 있습니다.
회사는 2025년에 약 1천만 달러와 2026년에 1천5백만 달러를 모금하여 Dugbe Gold Project의 타당성 조사를 업데이트하고 사전 건설 활동을 시작할 것입니다. HUM은 이러한 자금 조달에서 주도적인 주문으로 비례 참여하기로 동의했습니다.
주요 조건에는 현재의 전략적 검토 프로세스 종료, 12개월 이내에 수정된 타당성 조사 완료, 2026년 10월 31일까지의 정지 기간이 포함됩니다. Dugbe Gold Project는 현재 2.76Moz의 매장량을 보유하고 있으며, 3.5년의 자본 회수 기간과 14년의 광산 수명을 가지고 있습니다.
Pasofino Gold (EFRGF) a conclu un accord de coopération contraignant avec son actionnaire à 50,8 %, Hummingbird Resources PLC (HUM), et Nioko Resources. L'accord comprend une reconstitution du Conseil avec trois candidats de HUM et trois candidats du Conseil, et prévoit de mettre fin au plan de droits des actionnaires de l'entreprise.
L'entreprise cherchera à lever environ 10 millions de dollars américains en 2025 et 15 millions de dollars américains en 2026 pour mettre à jour l'étude de faisabilité du projet d'or Dugbe et commencer les activités de pré-construction. HUM a accepté de participer pro-rata en tant que commande principale dans ces financements.
Les conditions clés incluent la cessation du processus de révision stratégique actuel, l'achèvement d'une étude de faisabilité révisée dans les 12 mois et une période de gel jusqu'au 31 octobre 2026. Le projet d'or Dugbe présente actuellement 2,76 Moz de réserves avec une période de retour sur investissement de 3,5 ans et une durée de vie de mine de 14 ans.
Pasofino Gold (EFRGF) hat eine verbindliche Kooperationsvereinbarung mit seinem 50,8%igen Aktionär Hummingbird Resources PLC (HUM) und Nioko Resources getroffen. Die Vereinbarung umfasst eine Neukonstitution des Vorstands mit drei HUM-Nominierten und drei Vorstandsnominierten und plant die Beendigung des Aktionärsrechteplans des Unternehmens.
Das Unternehmen wird versuchen, etwa 10 Millionen US-Dollar im Jahr 2025 und 15 Millionen US-Dollar im Jahr 2026 zu beschaffen, um die Machbarkeitsstudie des Dugbe-Goldprojekts zu aktualisieren und mit den Vorbereitungen für den Bau zu beginnen. HUM hat sich bereit erklärt, pro-rata als Hauptauftraggeber an diesen Finanzierungen teilzunehmen.
Wesentliche Bedingungen umfassen die Beendigung des aktuellen strategischen Überprüfungsprozesses, den Abschluss einer überarbeiteten Machbarkeitsstudie innerhalb von 12 Monaten und eine Standstill-Periode bis zum 31. Oktober 2026. Das Dugbe-Goldprojekt weist derzeit 2,76 Moz in Reserven auf, mit einer Amortisationszeit für Investitionen von 3,5 Jahren und einer Lebensdauer der Mine von 14 Jahren.
- Secured commitment for significant funding with HUM as lead investor
- Clear development timeline with feasibility study update within 12 months
- Strong reserves of 2.76Moz with favorable 3.5-year payback period
- Stabilized corporate governance through balanced board structure
- HUM/Nioko agreement to cover potential US$15M royalty termination fee
- Additional dilution likely from upcoming funding rounds
- Project remains in pre-construction phase requiring substantial capital
- Strategic review process terminated, limiting immediate strategic alternatives
- Majority shareholder control (50.8%) by HUM may limit independent decision-making
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2025) - Further to the press release issued by Pasofino Gold Limited (TSXV: VEIN) (OTCQB: EFRGF) (FSE: N07A) ("Pasofino" or the "Company") on March 7, 2025, Pasofino hereby advises that it has entered into a binding term sheet for co-operation and support (the "Co-operation Agreement") with its
Pursuant to the Co-operation Agreement, the Board of Pasofino has been reconstituted such that the Board will consist of three (3) nominees of HUM, being Oumar Toguyeni, Geoff Eyre and a person to be named later (collectively, the "HUM Nominees") and Brett Richards, the Chief Executive Officer, Krisztian Toth and Emre Kayışoğlu, each of whom are nominees of the members of the Board prior to the reconstitution (collectively, the "Board Nominees"). No director has a casting vote in the event of deadlock.
Pasofino has agreed with HUM and Nioko to take all steps necessary and reasonably available to ensure that no Rights (as defined in the shareholder rights plan adopted by the Company on November 1, 2024 (the "Rights Plan")) are exercised under the Rights Plan and no common shares of Pasofino ("Shares") are issued, purchased or distributed under the Rights Plan. In the event any Shares are issued under the Rights Plan, Pasofino has agreed to use its reasonable efforts to issue Shares to HUM on the same terms to ensure HUM maintains its current shareholding interest in Pasofino. If Shares are issued under the Rights Plan and Pasofino is unable to issue Shares to HUM in order for it to maintain its current shareholding interest, HUM and Nioko may terminate the Co-operation Agreement. The issuance of any Shares is subject to the receipt of all required securityholder and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. In connection with the foregoing, Pasofino will cancel the special meeting of Rights holders which was scheduled to be held on April 30, 2025.
Pursuant to the Co-operation Agreement, HUM and Pasofino agreed that for the remainder of calendar year 2025, Pasofino will seek to raise funds to update the Dugbe Gold Project Feasibility Study in Liberia, and to commence certain pre-construction activities such as infrastructure development and initial site preparation. The Board will make determinations on ultimate amounts, but it is envisioned that, approximately US
HUM, Nioko and Pasofino have agreed that (i) Pasofino will terminate the current strategic review process, (ii) upon completion of a revised Feasibility Study (which is anticipated to be completed within 12 months) the Board will consider options in the best interests of the Company and all shareholders, including recommencing the strategic review process or commencing to plan financing the Dugbe Gold Project into production; (iii) until October 31, 2026 (the "Standstill Period") HUM will vote its Shares in favour of management nominees at each annual general meeting of the Company.
HUM also agreed to a standstill covenant in favour of Pasofino, in customary form, for the duration of the Standstill Period, which covenant includes restrictions on (i) the acquisition of beneficial ownership of any securities of Pasofino, (ii) the making of any take-over bid for Pasofino and (iii) the transfer or other disposition of its Shares, subject, in each case, to customary exceptions.
HUM, Nioko and Pasofino have also agreed on a proposal relating to the Amended and Restated Net Smelter Returns Royalty Deed of AUS NO 5 PTY LTD (the "Royalty Holder"). To the extent that the Royalty Holder has a right to terminate as a result of Nioko's acquisition of HUM and chooses to exercise the Right (the "Termination Right"), this would require Pasofino's subsidiary to pay a US
With the conclusion of the Co-operation Agreement, Stephen Dattels has decided to resign from the Board of Pasofino to dedicate his full-time effort to the Bermuda based Primary Commodity Fund he co-founded and launched in January 2025 under a co-operation agreement with Traxys, a leading Metals Trading House. At the request of Stephen and the Board Nominees, Krisztian Toth, a senior partner at Fasken has replaced Stephen on the Board.
In stepping back from his directorship to pursue his other major interest, Stephen said: "The Liberian Dugbe Gold Project is clearly a significantly undervalued gold asset in a favourable mining jurisdiction which is not experiencing the political and local difficulties other gold mining companies are facing in West Africa. There has been interest expressed by various parties who recognized the quality and upside of the deposit, but given the historical financial circumstances faced by HUM (Pasofino's
With the Co-operation Agreement in place and under the leadership of Pasofino's CEO, Brett Richards, together with the support of Nioko (HUM's controlling shareholder), Pasofino can now move forward for the benefit of all shareholders and emerge from what has been a static number of years development wise. This should represent a turning point in the company's future for the benefit of all shareholders."
Mr. Robert Metcalfe also agreed to resign in connection with the execution of the Co-operation Agreement.
Certain terms of the Investor Rights Agreement dated December 8, 2023 between HUM and Pasofino (the "IRA"), may be superseded as necessary to reflect the provisions of the Co-operation Agreement for the Standstill Period.
Pasofino's Chief Executive Officer, Brett Richards commented: "This Co-operation Agreement represents a re-birth of the Dugbe Gold Project, now having a strong partnership, committed funding and a strategic direction to create transformational value for all shareholders. In this current and forecasted gold environment, and given the 2022 dated Feasibility Study, we are going to quickly engage the necessary resources to update all aspects of the study with respect to cost(s) and gold price assumptions, as well as optimizing all processes to maximize recoveries and project economics. It is our intention to get the project to a construction decision within eighteen (18) months from the signing of the Agreement."
HUM CEO, Geoff Eyre, commented: "The Co-operation Agreement establishes solid foundations at the corporate level of Pasofino from which the Dugbe Gold Project can be advanced efficiently in a disciplined and focused manner. Our joint funding commitments will help ensure further derisking of the project as we seek to realise the project's full potential for the benefit of all shareholders."
ABOUT PASOFINO GOLD LTD.
Pasofino Gold Limited is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the (TSXV: VEIN). Pasofino, through its wholly owned subsidiary, owns
ABOUT HUMMINGBIRD AND NIOKO
Hummingbird Resources PLC is a multi-asset, multi-jurisdictional gold producing company, member of the World Gold Council and founding member of Single Mine Origin (www.singlemineorigin.com). HUM currently has two core gold projects, the operational Yanfolila Gold Mine in Mali, and the operational Kouroussa Gold Mine in Guinea, which is now in commercial production. Further, Hummingbird owns
Nioko Resources Corporation is a company incorporated in Burkina Faso. Nioko is the controlling shareholder of HUM.
For further information, please visit www.pasofinogold.com or contact:
Brett A. Richards, Chief Executive Officer and Director
T: +1 905 449 1500
E: brett@brettrichards.org
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "indicate", "may", "will", "should" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "could" or "might" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding any potential transaction involving the Company or the Dugbe Gold Project, the timing and quantum of any financing, the availability of financing and the terms of such financing, whether the Royalty Holder will exercise the Termination Right, the development of the Dugbe Gold Project and future production, gold prices, the results of the updated feasibility study and its timing and the timeline for a production decision in respect of the Dugbe Gold Project. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the ability to execute its strategic initiatives; the ability to advance the Dugbe Gold Project; the ability to apply the proceeds as intended; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals, including from the TSX Venture Exchange and relevant authorities; the results of exploration and business activities; fluctuations in commodity prices; geopolitical risks; the availability and timing of external financing on acceptable terms; operational and logistical challenges; and the risks outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR+. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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