The information contained within
this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as
stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse
Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law
by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The
information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's
obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of
this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be
in the public domain.
FIRST CLASS METALS
PLC
13 June
2024
Asset Sales &
Funding
First Class Metals PLC ("First Class Metals" "FCM" or the
"Company") the UK listed metals
exploration company seeking economic metal discoveries across its
extensive Canadian, focused in northern Ontario land
holdings, is pleased to announce that it
has completed the formal sale process of the McKellar & Enable
properties to the Seventy Ninth Group Limited ("79th Group") for a combined
figure of £270,000. Coinciding with the sale process, FCM has
entered into a twelve month loan of £230,000 with the 79th
Group.
Highlights
·
McKellar &
Enable properties sold for a combined total of £270,000 cash
payment.
·
Seventy Ninth
Resources continue to progress further due diligence over other of
FCM assets as previously announced in the news release dated 9
April 2024.
·
£230,000 drawdown
facility entered into with the Seventy Ninth Group Limited over a
12-month period.
·
Funds will be
used for general working capital and to advance exploration
activities on the remaining FCM properties.
Terms Of
Funding
·
£230,000 loan facility has been drawn in one
single tranche.
·
Loan is for a 12-month period on an interest only
basis with repayment on 25 May 2025.
·
The loan attracts a coupon of 15% and is secured
by a Debenture over the assets of First Class Metals
PLC.
·
No conversion rights into equity.
James Knowles Executive Chairman Commented:
"We are pleased to announce the successful sale of McKellar
& Enable properties for a total of £270,000. The sale along
with further debt funding from the Seventy Ninth Group whilst they
continue to conduct due diligence over other FCM properties is also
most welcome. As previously mentioned in the 9 April 2024 news
release, our aim is to foster a collaborative working relationship
with the 79th Group, benefiting both
parties.
The transaction is validation of our early stage 'incubator'
strategy advancing assets up the value curve resulting in cash
without dilution coming onto the balance sheet.
With gold prices consolidating near all-time high levels, the
portfolio of assets held by First Class Metals is highly attractive
for further development. The favourable market conditions for
precious metals, combined with the region's rich mining history and
abundant mineral resources, represent significant upside potential
for our assets. Our commitment to advancing these projects,
unlocking their value, and ensuring the long-term success of First
Class Metals remains resolute.
Natalie Bellis CEO, Seventy Ninth Resources
commented:
"The concession acquisitions of McKellar and Enable are
significant milestones and an exciting step towards building a
pipeline of quality, data-verified exploration projects in Canada,
particularly as we prepare to list on the TSXV.
"Another exciting aspect is that one of the concessions
includes base metals such as zinc and copper, which comes at a time
when we are starting to explore opportunities around other metals
alongside gold, including manganese and lithium.
"This latest acquisition aligns with our long-term strategy to
expand our mining exploration footprint across a number of
territories across the globe. We look forward to building on our
successful partnership with First Class Metals PLC.
"
Seventy Ninth Resources Limited
Seventy Ninth Resources, a division
of the Seventy Ninth Group, is an award-winning asset management
company founded by entrepreneur Dave Webster and his two sons, Jake
and Curtis Webster. Seventy Ninth Resources holds a unique and
advantageous position in the natural resource sector, specialising
in the acquisition, management, and development of desirable
assets.
Seventy Ninth Resources has been
unlocking the potential of the natural resources sector within the
Republic of Guinea since 2011. With 15 employees in the operational
in-country team, the company's extensive presence in the Republic
of Guinea has allowed them to cultivate trusted relationships with
local communities. Through these relationships, they gain unique
access to acquire land in areas with significant potential for gold
and diamond mining. The company's hands-on approach has enabled
Seventy Ninth Resources to pair local knowledge with industry
expertise.
The developed board and in-country
team for Seventy Ninth Resources includes world-class experienced
geologists, field consultants, and ESG specialists, working
alongside our industry leading partners, SRK Exploration Services
and The MSA Group, in executing specific and focused exploration on
assets.
https://79thresources.com/
Ends
For further information, please
contact:
Novum Securities Limited
(Financial Adviser)
David Coffman/ George
Duxberry
|
www.novumsecurities.com
|
(0)20 7399 9400
|
NOTES TO EDITORS
First Class Metals PLC - Background
First Class Metals listed on the LSE
in July 2022 and is focused on metals exploration in Ontario,
Canada which has a robust and thriving junior mineral exploration
sector. In particular, the Hemlo 'camp' near Marathon, Ontario is a
proven world class address for gold exploration, featuring the
Hemlo gold deposit operated by Barrick Gold (>23M oz gold
produced), with the past producing Geco and Winston Lake base metal
deposits also situated in the region.
FCM, post the sale of McKellar &
Enable currently holds 100% ownership of five claim blocks covering
over 180km² along a 150km strike of the
Hemlo-Schreiber-Dayohessarah greenstone belt, exploring for gold,
base metals, and rare earth element mineralization. In addition,
FCM is carrying out a joint venture with Palladium One on the West
Pickle Lake Property in the region, a drill-proven ultra-high-grade
Ni-Cu project.
The flagship property North Hemlo
had a high-definition low level magnetic Heli-borne survey flown in
April 2022, this was followed with ground prospecting which
ultimately defined the 'Dead Otter Trend' which is a discontinuous
4.5km gold anomalous trend with a 19.6g/t Au peak grab sample. This
sampling being the highest known assay ever recorded on the North
Limb of Hemlo.
In October 2022 FCM completed the
option to purchase the historical high-grade past-producing Sunbeam
gold mine near Atikokan, Ontario, ~15 km southeast of Agnico
Eagle's Hammond Reef gold deposit (3.3 Moz of open pit probable
gold reserves).
FCM acquired the Zigzag Project near
Armstrong, Ontario in March 2023. The property features
Li-Ta-bearing pegmatites in the same belt as Green Technology
Metals' Seymour Lake Project, which contains a Mineral Resource
estimate of 9.9 Mt @ 1.04% Li2O. Zigzag was drilled prior to
Christmas 2023 and results have now been released.
The significant potential of the
properties for precious, base and battery metals relates to
'nearology', since all properties lie in the same districts as
known deposits (Hemlo, Hammond Reef, Seymour Lake), and either
contain known showings, geochemical or geophysical anomalies, or
favourable structures along strike from known showings (e.g. the
Esa project, with an inferred Hemlo-style shear along strike from
known gold occurrences).
Forward Looking
Statements
Certain statements in this announcement may contain
forward-looking statements which are based on the Company's
expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future
performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that
are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical
or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words
such as 'aim', 'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate',
'intend', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', or other words of similar
meaning. These statements are not guarantees of future performance
and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Given these risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
such statements and, except as required by applicable law, the
Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.