Astur Gold Mandates RMB Resources to Arrange $10 Million Loan Facility
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/25/13 -- Astur Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AST)(FRANKFURT: CDC) ("Astur Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the execution of an agreement mandating RMB Resources Inc., as arranger, of a CAD $10 million loan facility ("Facility") to be provided by RMB Australia Holdings Limited ("RMB"), the lender. RMB Resources is the resource merchant banking division of the FirstRand Group of South Africa. The proceeds will be allocated to the continued evaluation and development of the Company's flagship Salave Gold Project in Asturias, Spain and for general corporate purposes.
"RMB Resources' endorsement in arranging this debt facility is representative of their confidence in Salave. With construction in front us, this facility reduces financing risk and adds a strong partner with a wealth of mining knowledge and experience," stated Astur Gold President and CEO Cary Pinkowski.
Facility Terms:
-- Debt term of 3 years at LIBOR plus 6.0% per annum;
-- Financier warrants, to be issued on the closing date, which will entitle
RMB to purchase common shares of Astur Gold for 36 months at an exercise
price equal to a 30% premium to the lesser of the 20-day volume weighted
average share price on the TSX Venture Exchange as of the date of the
accepted mandate or the closing date of the Facility. The maximum number
of warrants to be issued will be determined by dividing 50% of the
amount of the Facility by the exercise price;
-- Security interests granted to the lender include a first ranking charge
over the Salave Gold Project and a pledge of the securities and assets
of Astur Gold's Spanish subsidiary Exploraciones Minera del Cantabrico
SA;
-- Pre-payment at any time without penalty subject to 30 day notice, any
broken period costs and minimum prepayment amounts of $500,000;
-- The Facility is subject to an arrangement fee of 4.5% of the Facility
amount, less any work fees paid to the arranger in cash, payable upon
execution of the Facility;
-- In the event the Facility agreement is not executed within 30 days of
the acceptance by the Company of the offer of finance by RMB, the
Company will be required to pay a break fee of $250,000. The break fee
is not payable if the arrangement fee is paid and the financier warrants
are issued.
The proposed Facility is expected to close by the end of April and is subject to customary requirements for senior debt facilities including approval by RMB's Investment Committee. The issue of the warrants in connection with the Facility is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals.
Corporate Milestones and Use of Proceeds:
-- The Company received approval for an underground mine from the
Commission for Environmental Affairs of the Principality of Asturias in
November 2012;
-- The Company has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Isolux Corsan to
construct a 2,200 meter long development decline for the planned
underground mine at the Salave Gold Project in January 2013;
-- The Company is working with SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd. and the University
of Oviedo to complete additional water studies requested by the
Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation relevant to the surrounding lakes
and tailings areas and intends to file an amendment on the submitted
Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") to receive approval for
remaining items including water, plant, and tailings permits;
-- The Company applied for a permit to complete infill drilling in the
Northwest portion of the deposit, metallurgical drilling, and expansion
drilling in the deeper high grade zones which remain open at depth;
-- The Company intends to complete a Feasibility Study incorporating the
planned drilling, metallurgical test-work from fresh ore samples,
updated mine plan, and revised processing circuit;
-- The Company plans to excavate and collar the portal and then commence
construction of the 2,200m decline once all approvals have been
received.
Private Placement:
Concurrently, Astur Gold is announcing a non-brokered private placement of up to 1,428,571 units (each a "Unit") priced at $0.70 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and a half (1/2) share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.90 per share for a period of two years.
The private placement is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. A finder's fee may be paid in relation to this financing in accordance with regulatory policies. The foregoing is subject to regulatory approval.
The shares issued pursuant to the private placement will be subject to a hold period of four months from the closing date in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The proceeds of the private placement will be used to fund exploration and development work on the Company's Salave gold project, and for general working capital purposes.
Option Cancellation:
Astur Gold has cancelled 300,000 options at a strike price of $1.75 expiring on May 11, 2014 belonging to a Director of the Company.
ABOUT ASTUR GOLD
Astur Gold is developing its 100% owned Salave Gold Project in Asturias, northern Spain, which is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Western Europe. The Company recently received approval for an underground mine from the Commission for Environmental Affairs of the Principality of Asturias in November 2012 and is completing additional requirements for the processing plant and tailings licenses with expected completion in H1 2013. The Company is working to build a partnership with the people of Asturias to generate sustainable economic benefits for the region while balancing the needs of environmental protection and social community development.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Cary Pinkowski, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This document contains certain forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays and uncertainties not under the Company's control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or expectation implied by these forward-looking statements.
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.
Contacts:
Astur Gold Corp.
Vadim Dubchak
(604) 694-1600
info@asturgold.com
www.asturgold.com