NioCorp Announces Closing of Underwritten Public Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ:NB) announced the closing of its underwritten public offering, raising approximately $2.5 million before expenses. The offering included 1,592,356 common shares, each sold with one Series A Warrant and half of one Series B Warrant at $1.57 per combined unit. Series A Warrants have a $1.75 exercise price with 2-year expiration, while Series B Warrants have a $2.07 exercise price with 5-year expiration. The company plans a concurrent private placement to raise additional funds, targeting approximately $6.0 million total. Proceeds will support working capital, advance the Elk Creek Project construction, and repay the Smith Credit Facility.

Positive

• Secured $2.5 million in immediate funding through public offering
• Additional funding expected through concurrent private placement
• Maintains access to $2.0 million Smith Credit Facility after offering

Negative

• Potential shareholder dilution through common share issuance
• Additional dilution possible through warrant exercises
• Funds partially used to repay existing debt rather than growth

Insights

Financial Analyst

The $6.0 million capital raise through combined offerings signals a critical funding milestone for NioCorp, though the dilutive impact is significant at the current market cap. The structure includes common shares and two series of warrants with exercise prices of $1.75 and $2.07, creating potential future dilution if exercised. The immediate use of proceeds to repay the $2.0 million Smith Credit Facility while maintaining access to this facility provides financial flexibility.

The $1.57 offering price represents a notable discount to recent trading levels, reflecting current market conditions and investor risk perception. The warrant structure, particularly the longer-term Series B warrants, provides potential upside participation for investors while giving NioCorp additional future funding pathways if the stock price appreciates above the strike prices.

Mining Industry Analyst

The capital raise, while modest, provides essential working capital for advancing the Elk Creek Project, a strategic rare earth and critical minerals development. The project's focus on niobium, scandium and rare earth elements positions it as a potential domestic source of materials important for EV manufacturing and other high-tech applications. However, the relatively small size of this raise compared to the substantial capital requirements typically needed for mine development suggests this is primarily for maintaining operations rather than major project advancement.

The continued support from CEO Mark Smith through the credit facility demonstrates management's commitment but also highlights the ongoing funding challenges faced by development-stage mining companies in the current market environment.

CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 5, 2024 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB) today announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering in the United States (the "Registered Offering"), the first of two concurrent offerings expected to raise a total of approximately $6.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Company expects to close its previously announced concurrent private placement (the "Private Offering") on or about Monday, November 11, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Registered Offering consisted of 1,592,356 common shares, 1,592,356 Series A warrants to purchase up to an additional 1,592,356 common shares (the "Public Series A Warrants") and 796,178 Series B warrants to purchase up to an additional 796,178 common shares (the "Public Series B Warrants"). Each common share was sold together with one Public Series A Warrant and one-half of one Public Series B Warrant at a combined public offering price of $1.57, for gross proceeds of approximately $2.5 million before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Public Series A Warrants have an exercise price of $1.75 per underlying common share, are exercisable immediately and will expire two years following the date of issuance. The Public Series B Warrants have an exercise price of $2.07 per underlying common share, are exercisable beginning six months and one day from the date of issuance and will expire five years following the date of issuance. In addition, the Company granted the underwriter a 45-day over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 15 percent of the number of initial common shares and/or up to an additional 15 percent of the number of initial Public Series A Warrants and Public Series B Warrants offered in the Registered Offering, of which Maxim has partially exercised its option to purchase 79,734 additional Public Series A Warrants and 39,867 additional Public Series B Warrants.

Maxim Group LLC acted as sole book-running manager and underwriter for the Registered Offering.

NioCorp currently intends to use the net proceeds from the Registered Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, including to (i) advance its efforts to launch construction of a critical minerals project in Southeast Nebraska (the "Elk Creek Project") and move it to commercial operation and (ii) repay the amount outstanding under the Company's $2.0 million non-revolving multiple draw credit facility (the "Smith Credit Facility") available pursuant to the Loan Agreement, dated September 11, 2024, by and between the Company and its Chief Executive Officer, President and Executive Chairman, Mark Smith. The Smith Credit Facility will continue to be available to the Company following the close of the Registered Offering.

The Registered Offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-280176), previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on June 13, 2024 and subsequently declared effective by the SEC on June 27, 2024. NioCorp may offer and sell securities in both the United States and other jurisdictions outside of Canada. No securities were offered or sold to Canadian purchasers under the Registered Offering.

A prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Registered Offering and describing the terms thereof has been filed with the SEC and forms a part of the effective registration statement and is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained by contacting Maxim Group LLC, at 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Syndicate Department, or by telephone at (212) 895-3745 or by email at syndicate@maximgrp.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jim Sims, Corporate Communications Officer, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720) 334-7066, jim.sims@niocorp.com

@NioCorp $NB #Niobium #Scandium #rareearth #neodymium #dysprosium #terbium #ElkCreek #EV #electricvehicle

ABOUT NIOCORP

NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intended use of the net proceeds of the Registered Offering; the expected closing date of the Private Offering; NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial production. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms or at all; our ability to service our existing debt and meet the payment obligations thereunder; the future price of metals; the stability of the financial and capital markets; and current estimates and assumptions regarding the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II (the "Business Combination") and the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement" and, together with the Business Combination, the "Transactions") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP, and their benefits. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following:NioCorp's ability to consummate the Registered Offering; NioCorp's ability to use the net proceeds of the Registered Offering in a manner that will increase the value of shareholders' investment; NioCorp's ability to operate as a going concern; NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States on an acceptable timeline, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions, including NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of Nasdaq; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness or the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the Transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining industry; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, or development activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE: NioCorp Developments Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is the size of NioCorp's (NB) November 2024 public offering?

NioCorp's public offering raised $2.5 million before expenses, consisting of 1,592,356 common shares with associated Series A and B warrants at $1.57 per combined unit.

What are the terms of NioCorp's (NB) warrants in the November 2024 offering?

Series A Warrants have a $1.75 exercise price expiring in 2 years, while Series B Warrants have a $2.07 exercise price expiring in 5 years.

How will NioCorp (NB) use the proceeds from its November 2024 offering?

The proceeds will be used for working capital, advancing the Elk Creek Project construction, and repaying the Smith Credit Facility.