Newmont takes equity holding in Barramundi Gold
Here is copy of news article on Newmont financing
Barramundi Gold Yukon drilling program via equity
purchase.
Barramundi has largest jnr holdings in Yukon Tintina
Hold belt. Longline drilling so far has had excellent
result, hence Newmont funding.
barramundi.com
>>>>> News <<<<<<<<<<
TORONTO, ONTARIO--Mr. Ewan Stoddart reports that Barramundi Gold Ltd. ("Barramundi") has executed a Heads of Agreement with Newmont Exploration of Canada Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE:NEM) ("Newmont") for a private placement in Barramundi and joint venture rights over the Longline Property. The Agreement is subject to approval of Barramundi shareholders at a meeting to be held on October 29, 1999, and to shareholders representing a majority of the shares in Barramundi committing to the transaction in advance.
The Longline Project is located in the Yukon's Tintina Gold Belt, approximately 300 km south east of the Pogo Deposit in Alaska. The project area has a significant placer gold production history in addition to exhibiting similar geological setting to many of the large-scale intrusive related discoveries in the Tintina Gold Belts.
Barramundi has carried out exploration programs at the property comprising airborne geophysics, soil geochemistry, trenching, and mapping. A major component of the exploration effort to date has been to identify the limits of a large-scale coincident geochemical and geophysical anomaly on the property. Detailed 'grid-based' exploration geochemistry and IP (induced polarisation) techniques have been used to help target a first phase of diamond drilling of up to 3,000 metres on this anomaly. This drill program is planned to commence in early September. This program will utilise drill rigs and other supplies already on site.
The Longline project is of special industry interest because of its location, intrusive related nature, gold production and the potential to be the next significant discovery in the belt. Barramundi's work has resulted in drill targets which can be immediately tested. "Barramundi is very pleased to have such a well-respected company as Newmont as our financing partner, and we all look forward to seeing the next phase of exploration begin at Longline", Mr. Ewan Stoddart reports.
The terms of the placement are:
Newmont will subscribe for 1,666,667 Units in Barramundi at an issue price of 30 cents per Unit for proceeds of C$500,000 to Barramundi.
Each Unit will consist of one (1) flow-through share and three-quarters (3/4) of a flow-through warrant. Each whole flow-through warrant will be exercisable into a flow-through share in Barramundi, at an exercise price of 40 cents until March 31, 2000.
The funds from the placement will be primarily allocated (90% of the funds) by Barramundi to a drilling program on the Longline Property which will commence in early September, 1999, with Newmont to act as operator using Newmont and Barramundi staff.
Newmont will have a right of first refusal to fund future capital raisings by Barramundi, or may participate in fundings to maintain it's percentage interest in Barramundi.
The principal terms of the joint venture rights held by Newmont per the Letter of Agreement are:
Newmont will only have the right to elect to enter into a joint venture if it exercises all of the flow- through warrants for proceeds of a further C$500,000 to Barramundi.
If Newmont exercises the warrants and elects to participate in a joint venture, then it will be required to expend C$4 million by December 31, 2004, with a minimum expenditure of C$500,000 within the first year after Barramundi completes it's exploration program, to earn a 51% interest in the project. Newmont will earn no interest in the project until it has expended C$4 million. Newmont will be the operator of the Joint Venture so long as it maintains a 50% or greater interest therein.
Newmont may then elect to earn an 80% interest in the project by spending a further C$15 million or completing a bankable feasibility study by 2010.
If Newmont spends less than C$15 million, it will earn a 2% interest for each C$1 million expended. Newmont's expenditures will include a payment of C$10,000 per month to Barramundi for two years to fund Barramundi's office and administrative costs.
Once Newmont has reached an 80% interest, Barramundi may elect to have Newmont fund it's expenditures to the production stage by a non-recourse loan secured over the project. If Barramundi does not so elect, each party will be responsible for their expenditures in proportion to their interest, or will be diluted pro-rata based on actual and deemed expenditure on the project. Barramundi is deemed to have incurred expenditure of C$10 million for the purposes of the dilution calculation. If either party is diluted to a 10% interest or less, then it's interest will convert to a 1% net smelter royalty interest.
If Barramundi elects to have Newmont fund it's expenditures to production, then Barramundi's interest will be reduced from 20% to 17.5%. After the commencement of production, 6% of project net profits will be available directly to Barramundi. The expenditures funded by Newmont plus interest at LIBOR (London interbank offer rate) plus 2%, will be repaid from the remaining 11.5% of Barramundi's share of project net profit. Once the Newmont expenditures and interest have been repaid, Barramundi will be entitled to 17.5% of project net profits.
Newmont will receive management fees of 10% of exploration expenditures, 5% of development expenditures and US$7 per ounce of gold produced.
Newmont may elect to terminate the joint venture on 30 days notice.
THE ALBERTA STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
>>>>>>>>>>>> End <<<<<<<<<<< |
