Gold Reserve Plans to Issue Up to US $12.3 Million of New Convertible Notes and Extend Maturity Date of US $44 Million of Existing Notes
Gold Reserve Inc. (TSX.V:GRZ) (OTCQB:GDRZF) (“Gold Reserve” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce an agreement in principle with its largest noteholders representing 88% of its currently outstanding convertible notes (“Modified Notes”) to issue up to US $12.3 million of new convertible notes (“New Notes”) due December 31, 2018 and modify, amend and extend the maturity date of its US $44 million outstanding principal and accrued interest amount of previously modified notes (“Old Notes”) from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2018. The terms are binding subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and negotiation and entry into definitive documents. The Company will issue the US $12.3 million New Notes with an original issue discount of 2.5% of the principal amount and will also issue New Notes representing 2.5% of the principal and interest amount to the current holders of the Modified Notes being extended as a restructuring fee.
The New Notes and the Modified Notes (as amended from the date of closing) (collectively the “Notes”) will bear interest at a rate of 11% per year, which interest will be paid in kind quarterly and will accrue and be payable in cash at maturity. The Notes will be convertible, at the option of the holder, into 333.33 of Class A common shares per US $1,000 (equivalent to a conversion price of US $3.00 per common share, an 11% premium to the current price) at any time upon prior written notice to the Company.
The Notes will be senior obligations of the Company, secured by all assets of the Company and subject to certain other terms including restrictions regarding the pledging of assets and incurrence of certain capital expenditures or additional indebtedness without consent of noteholders; and participation rights in future equity or debt financing. The transaction is expected to be completed in September 2015.
Doug Belanger, President, stated, “We appreciate the continued support of our shareholders and noteholders during the arbitration and now the collection process. Extending the maturity of the notes and raising additional funds will allow the Company to aggressively pursue the collection process through to its full conclusion.”
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable U.S. federal securities laws and state Gold Reserve's and its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future including without limitation statements with respect to the proposed issuance of the New Notes, modification of the Old Notes, and the arbitration proceedings. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.
We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that may cause the actual outcomes, financial results, performance, or achievements of Gold Reserve to be materially different from our estimated outcomes, future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements.
Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the risk that the Company may not receive necessary regulatory approvals for the issuance of the New Notes or modification of the Old Notes, the risk that the Company and the current holders of the Modified Notes may not be able to reach agreement on definitive documentation for the issuance of the New Notes or modification of the Old Notes and that all holders of the Old Notes may not consent to the modifications or additional issuances described herein, requiring other or different terms, and the timing of the amount of collection of the award, if any.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Gold Reserve's forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Gold Reserve or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Gold Reserve disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to its disclosure obligations under applicable rules promulgated by the SEC.
In addition to being subject to a number of assumptions, forward-looking statements in this release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including those factors outlined in the "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risks Factors" contained in Gold Reserve's filings with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities and the SEC, including Gold Reserve's Annual Information Form and Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities and the SEC, respectively.
Further information regarding the Company can be located at www.goldreserveinc.com, www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.
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 release.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150903006601/en/
Contact
Gold Reserve Inc.
President
A. Douglas Belanger, 509-623-1500
Fax: 509-623-1634