South Star Battery Metals Announces Closing of Non-Brokered Private Placement

Rhea-AI Summary

South Star Battery Metals Corp. (TSXV: STS) has completed a non-brokered private placement, raising C$1,906,990 through the issuance of 3,467,254 units at C$0.55 each. Proceeds will fund advanced materials preparation, project finance, and working capital. Each unit includes a common share and a warrant, exercisable at C$1.25 for five years. Related parties subscribed for 1,071,817 units, relying on exemptions from formal valuation. The company aims for Phase 1 production at its Santa Cruz Graphite Project in Brazil by Q2 2023, while also advancing a project in Alabama.

Positive

• Raised C$1,906,990 through a private placement, strengthening financial resources.
• Participation from institutional investors indicates confidence in the company's prospects.
• Warrants allow for potential future capital at a higher share price.
• Plans for Phase 1 production at Santa Cruz Graphite Project projected for Q2 2023.

Negative

• Related party transactions may raise governance concerns among investors.
• No assurance that exploration and development will be profitable due to inherent risks.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- South Star Battery Metals Corp. (“South Star” or the “Company”) (TSXV: STS) (OTCQB: STSBF), is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement of units (the “Private Placement” or the “Offering”) for total proceeds of C$1,906,990. The majority of participation in the Private Placement was with key institutional investors and insiders. Net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for advanced materials sample preparation, commercial agreements, project finance and general working capital requirements for the Company.

The Private Placement consists of 3,467,254 units priced at post-consolidation price of C$0.55 per unit (the “Units”). Each Unit consists of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant (the “Warrants”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$1.25 per common share for a period of five years from the date of issue. The securities are subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing and approval by the TSXV, expiring October 24, 2022.The Company issued an aggregate of 1,636 finders’ warrants in connection with the Private Placement (equal to 6% of the number of Units sold to subscribers introduced to the Company by the finders) and $54,300 in cash finders’ fees were paid to certain finders (equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the offering sold to subscribers introduced to the Company by the finders).

Acceleration Clause

If during a period of ten consecutive trading days between the date that is four (4) months following the closing of the Private Placement and the expiry of the Warrants the daily volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of the Company on the TSXV (or such other stock exchange where the majority of the trading volume occurs) exceeds C$2.50 on a post-Consolidation basis for each of those ten consecutive days, the Company may, within 30 days of such an occurrence, give written notice to the holders of the Warrants that the Warrants will expire at 4:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the 30th day following the giving of notice unless exercised by the holders prior to such date. Upon receipt of such notice, the holders of the Warrants will have 30 days to exercise their Warrants. Any Warrants which remain unexercised at 4:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the 30th day following the giving of such notice will expire at that time.

Two directors, including a member of management, and one officer of the Company subscribed in the private placement for an aggregate of 1,071,817 units for gross proceeds of $589,500. Each transaction with the directors and officer constitutes a “related party transaction” as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company is relying on the exemptions under section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(b) from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves related parties, does not exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). The Company did not file a material change report at least 21 days before the closing of the private placement as the details of the private placement and the participation therein by related parties of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing and the Company wished to close on a expedited basis for sound business reasons.

ABOUT SOUTH STAR BATTERY METALS CORP

South Star Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian battery metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development of near-term production projects in the Americas. South Star’s Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern Bahia, Brazil is the first of a series of industrial and battery metals projects that will be put into production. Brazil is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining. Santa Cruz has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful large-scale pilot-plant testing (>30t) has been completed. The results of the testing show that approximately 65% of Cg concentrate is +80 mesh with good recoveries and 95%-99% Cg. With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star is carrying its development plan towards Phase 1 production projected in Q2 2023.

South Star’s next project in the development pipeline is a project in Alabama located in the middle of a developing electric vehicle, aerospace and defence hub in the southeastern United States. The Project is a historic mine active during World Wars I & II. Trenching, sampling, analysis and preliminary metallurgic testing has been completed. The testing indicated a traditional crush/grind/flotation concentration circuit achieved grades of approximately 96-97% with approximately 86% recoveries. South Star is executing on its plan to create a multi-asset, diversified battery metals company with near-term operations in strategic jurisdictions. South Star trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol STSBF.

South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the highest standards of ESG principles based on transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce, P.E., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of South Star Battery Metals Corp.

On behalf of the Board,

Mr. Richard Pearce
Chief Executive Officer

For additional information, please contact:

South Star Investor Relations (Canada IR)

Email: invest@southstarbatterymetals.com

RBMG – RB Milestone Group LLC (IR US)
Trevor Brucato, Managing Director
Email: southstar@rbmilestone.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/southstarbm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southstarbatterymetals 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southstarbatterymetals/
YouTube: South Star Battery Metals - YouTube

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

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 press release.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: moving Santa Cruz into production and scaling operations as well as advancing the Alabama project; and the Company’s plans and expectations.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

FAQ

What was the amount raised in South Star Battery Metals Corp's private placement (STSBF)?

South Star Battery Metals Corp. raised a total of C$1,906,990 through the private placement.

What is the exercise price of the warrants issued in the private placement of STSBF?

The warrants issued in the private placement have an exercise price of C$1.25 per common share.

What are the plans for the proceeds from the private placement by South Star Battery Metals (STSBF)?

The proceeds will be used for advanced materials preparation, project finance, and general working capital.

When is South Star Battery Metals expected to begin production at the Santa Cruz project (STSBF)?

Phase 1 production at the Santa Cruz Graphite Project is projected to commence in Q2 2023.