Abcourt signs an Indicative Term Sheet aimed at Acquiring the Processing Plant and the Beacon Mine
Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada / TheNewswire / March 25, 2015 - Mr. Renaud Hinse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Abcourt Mines Inc. (TSX-V: ABI, Berlin: AML-BE and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: AML-FF) ("Abcourt"") is pleased to announce the signing of an indicative Term Sheet outlining the general terms and conditions for the acquisition of the processing plant and the Beacon mine (together the "Property") located close to the town of Val d'Or, Quebec (the "Transaction"). The Property will be acquired from 9265-9911 Quebec Inc (the "Vendor"). The purchase price of the Property is three and a half million dollars ($3,5M) subject to an upfront cash payment of half a million dollars ($0,5M) followed by six payments of five hundred thousand dollars ($0,5M) starting on the 30th month after closing of the Transaction. The Transaction will be subject to a Vendor's interest holiday over the first 24 months. Thereafter, the deferred payments will be subject to an annual 10% interest rate payable every six months starting on the 30th month after closing of the Transaction. The purchase of the Beacon mill represents a major step in the development of Abcourt.
A Roche Ltd. Consulting Group study performed in 2014, evaluates the closing and rehabilitation cost of the Beacon site at two million four hundred thousand dollars ($2,4M). The Vendor agrees to disburse the first payment of one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,2M) to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Quebec (MENRQ) in Abcourt' name within 90 days of the payment being due. This amount is also granted an interest holiday of 24 months after which the residual amount owed to the Vendor will bear an annual interest of 10% and will be reimbursed by Abcourt to the Vendor through six equal installments of two hundred thousand dollars ($0,2M) each starting on the 30th month after closing of the Transaction. The Transaction closing date is on April 30th, 2015, at the latest. The Transaction is subject to the approval of the TSX.
The assets to be acquired by Abcourt are located close to the city of Val d'Or. They comprise a processing plant with a capacity of 565 tonnes per day (tpd), a full facility to manage the tailings from the processing plant, as well as underground infrastructures made up of a mine portal and related haulage ways, a 1 640-foot deep shaft (500 m) opening to seven levels and a 125-foot high head frame (38 m), a mechanical shop, an office, a dry room, maintenance equipment, and all the titles attached to the Property (one Mining Concession, one Mining Lease and ten claims). The plant is currently insured for its replacement cost at $25M.
Key features of the Transaction
Attractive purchase cost. The acquisition cost of the Property, inclusive of the processing plant is only three and a half million dollars (CAD 3,5M) made up of one cash upfront payment of half a million dollars ($0,5M). The balance of the sale, three million dollars ($3,0M), is financed by the Vendor at a ten percent (10%) interest rate which applies only as of the beginning of the third year until the end of the fifth year. In this manner, the balance of sale on the Property and on the closure and rehabilitation deposit paid by the Vendor will be reimbursable only from the beginning of the third year until the end of the fifth year by means of six equal payments of seven hundred thousand dollars ($0,7M).
Substantial asset value. The purchase price represents an important discount in relation to the replacement value of the processing plant and the tailings installations which aggregated replacement is valued at 25 million dollars ($25M), exclusive of any gold mineralization that may still be present on the Property.
No dilution and acceptable debt burden. The existing capacity of the mill will enable Abcourt to treat all the extracted mineralization at the Elder mine during the mine development program and when full production of 12,500 tonnes per month will be reached. There will be an available additional capacity of about 5,000 tonnes per month which may be used following an increase of production at the Elder mine, or if another gold project were acquired. The interest holiday granted and the payments deferred for two (2) years will enable us to use the cash flow generated by Eder to accelerate its mine development and increase its production without any financial restrictions.
Mill in relatively good condition. This mill has not been in operation over the past five (5) years, but the Seller has kept it in relatively good condition by having a watchman on the site and by heating the building in winter. It was not vandalized. Following an independent evaluation by RWJ Consultants Inc, we estimate the cost of restarting the mill between one and two million dollars ($1.0M to $2.0M). The time needed is approximately three (3) months. Abcourt is currently in discussion with some financiers to raise the needed funds.
Tailings infrastructures. The tailings infrastructures have almost nine (9) years of capacity for the Elder mine production and additional capacity may be obtained by raising the dams. This is an important advantage.
Mineral resources complementary to mill acquisition and excellent exploration site. In 1987 and 1988, the Beacon mine produced 6,820 ounces of gold from 132,000 tonnes extracted with a grade of 2.41 grams per tonne. A different approach to production might give better results. Besides, a historic reserve calculation by Bezzy and Charlton, in 1987, gave almost 500,000 tonnes with a grade of 7.2 grams per tonne (including 15 % dilution with a cut-off grade of 3.4 grams of gold per tonne). The Beacon mine is located on the contact of the Bourlamaque batholith where several mines have been found including Sigma, Lamaque, Belmoral, Dumont and Beaufor. This indicates that the Beacon property is an excellent site for exploration.
Positive impact on local communities. The purchase of this mill will enable Abcourt to consolidate the employment at the Elder mine where 85 employees and contractors are now working. A total of approximately 45 employees will be necessary to reach full capacity at Elder, for the transport and milling of the ore.
Conditions. The transaction is conditional upon a satisfactory due diligence, including all titles and assets purchased and all reports and correspondence with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Quebec concerning the closure and restoration plan for the site, on the Vendor conducting appropriate due diligence on Abcourt, the Vendor and Abcourt obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals, the Vendor posting the initial reclamation bond for an amount of one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1.2M) and the approvals by the Boards of Abcourt and the Vendor.
About Abcourt Mines Inc.
Abcourt Mines Inc. is an exploration and development company with strategically located properties in northwestern Quebec, Canada. The Elder Mine with gold resources, the Abcourt-Barvue Project with silver-zinc ore reserves and resources and the Aldermac property with historical copper-zinc resources are all former producers. Abcourt is now focused on bringing the Elder and Abcourt-Barvue projects back into production with Elder as the first priority. At the same time, the Company is working on other projects (Aldermac, Vezza, Jonpol and Vendome) to increase its mineral resources inventory. A resource calculation was completed in July, 2012, for the Elder Mine. A positive PEA report was prepared on Elder mine in the Fall of 2012 by Roche Limited, Consulting Group. A positive feasibility study was completed by GENIVAR in 2007 on the Abcourt-Barvue Project. In addition, mill equipment was purchased. To know more about Abcourt, please visit our web site at www.abcourt.com and SEDAR.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain of the information contained in this news release may contain "forward-looking information". Forward-looking information and statements may include, among others, statements regarding the future plans, costs, objectives or performance of Abcourt Mines Inc. (the "Company"), or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's amended and restated annual information form dated May 11, 2012 and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does the Company undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws.
This press release was prepared by Mr. Renaud Hinse, a qualified person, President of Abcourt Mines Inc.
For more information, please contact:
Renaud Hinse, President and CEO
T: 819 768-2857 450 446-5511
F: 819 768-5475 450 446-3550
Email : rhinse@abcourt.com
Neither 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.
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