
Integra Resources Corp. (TSX-V: ITR) (NYSE American: ITRG) and Millennial Precious Metals Corp. (TSX-V: MPM) (OTCQB: MLPMF) are pleased to announce that they have entered into an arm’s length definitive agreement dated February 26, 2023 for an at-market merger pursuant to which Integra and Millennial have agreed to combine their respective companies by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement.
Under the terms of the Transaction, Millennial shareholders will receive 0.23 of a common share of Integra for each Millennial common share held. Existing shareholders of Integra and Millennial will own approximately 65% and 35%, respectively, of the outstanding Integra Shares on the closing of the Transaction (but prior to the completion of the equity financing contemplated below). The Exchange Ratio implies consideration of C$0.18 per Millennial Share based on the closing market price of the Integra Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on February 24, 2023. The consideration represents a no premium Transaction.
In connection with the Transaction, the Companies are pleased to announce concurrent equity financings for aggregate gross proceeds of C$35 million, comprised of the Brokered Offering and Non-Brokered Offering (each, as defined below), the net proceeds of which are expected to be used by Integra, following completion of the Transaction, to fund an updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Mine Plan of Operations at the DeLamar Project, the preparation of a Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment on Millennial’s Wildcat and Mountain View Projects, as well as on-going baseline work for additional permitting and exploration at the Companies’ respective projects, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Companies are pleased to welcome Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (TSX | NYSE | LSE: WPM) as a new cornerstone investor, with Wheaton agreeing to invest an amount equal to up to 9.9% of the issued and outstanding Integra Shares (following the completion of the proposed Transaction and the conversion of the Subscription Receipts (as defined below) issuable to Wheaton and pursuant to the Brokered Offering (as defined below)). The equity participation of Wheaton in connection with the Transaction provides significant project and transaction validation while also creating a partnership for future project financing. The equity financing also includes participation by Beedie Investments Ltd. an existing lender and shareholder of Integra.
The combination of Integra and Millennial will create one of the largest precious metals development and exploration companies in the Great Basin, with the goal of becoming a mid-tier heap leach gold-silver producer and generating significant value for shareholders. The combined company will feature a diversified portfolio of assets including Integra’s past producing gold-silver DeLamar Project in southwest Idaho and Millennial’s oxide-focused Wildcat and Mountain View Projects in western Nevada. The combined company will boast one of the largest gold-silver endowments in the Great Basin not controlled by a major mining company. In addition to the development pipeline, meaningful exploration potential exists in the BlackSheep, War Eagle and non-oxide targets at DeLamar and the Dune, Eden, Marr, Ocelot, Cerro Colorado([1]) and Red Canyon(1) Projects from Millennial.
Strategic Rationale for Transaction
George Salamis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Integra, stated, “The merger with Millennial is an exciting combination that provides balanced benefits to both sets of shareholders and streamlines the permitting and development of three high-quality, oxide, heap leach projects. The industry is in need of consolidation, and the support amongst the investment community and from Wheaton for this merger and concurrent financing has been resoundingly positive.”
Jason Kosec, President and Chief Executive Officer of Millennial, stated, “The result of this transaction will be a combined company with a greatly strengthened balance sheet, an enhanced leadership team, and a high-quality asset portfolio with three flagship heap leach projects in the Great Basin. This represents a significant step toward our long-term vision of building an industry leading USA-focused mid-tier gold producer.”
Randy Smallwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheaton Precious Metals, commented, “We are pleased to support this transaction between Integra and Millennial and the much-needed consolidation in the industry. We look forward to becoming a meaningful shareholder of the combined entity, which provides Wheaton the opportunity of gaining exposure to high-quality exploration and development assets in one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world.”
Benefits to Integra and Millennial Shareholders
Management Team and Board of Directors
The combined company’s board of directors will be led by George Salamis as Executive Chairman and will be comprised of six board members nominated by Integra and three board members nominated Millennial. Apart from his duties as Executive Chairman, Mr. Salamis will be focusing his efforts executing on permitting and advanced feasibility studies on the combined company’s flagship DeLamar gold-silver deposit in Idaho.
Reporting to the Executive Chairman, the combined company will be managed by Jason Kosec, as President and Chief Executive Officer; Timothy Arnold, as Chief Operating Officer; Andree St-Germain, as Chief Financial Officer; and Josh Serfass, as Vice President. Mr. Kosec brings extensive industry and capital markets experience to the leadership team and he, alongside the broader team, will be focused on advancing the oxide projects in Nevada. Millennial’s Vice President of Corporate Development, Jason Banducci, and its Vice President of Exploration, Raphael Dutaut, will also be joining the combined management team.
Millennial Special Committee and Fairness Opinion
The special committee of Millennial has received a fairness opinion from Stifel GMP, stating that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in such opinion, the consideration to be received by Millennial shareholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to Millennial shareholders.
The Millennial Special Committee has unanimously approved the Arrangement Agreement and recommended that the board of directors of Millennial approve the Arrangement Agreement and that the Millennial shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.
Board of Directors’ Recommendation and Voting Support
The Arrangement Agreement and the Transaction have been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of Integra and Millennial, and the board of directors of Millennial has recommended that Millennial shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.
Transaction Summary
Under the terms of the Transaction, Millennial shareholders will receive 0.23 of an Integra Share for each Millennial Share held, implying consideration of C$0.18 per Millennial Share.
The Transaction will be effected by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and will require approval by: (a) 66⅔% of the votes cast by Millennial shareholders; and (b) a simple majority of the votes cast by Millennial shareholders, excluding certain related parties as prescribed by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, in each case, voting in person or represented by proxy at a special meeting of the Millennial shareholders to consider the Transaction. The special meeting of Millennial shareholders is expected to be held in April 2023.
Each of the directors and senior officers of Millennial, representing, in aggregate, approximately 9.2% of the issued and outstanding Millennial Shares, have entered into voting support agreements with Integra and have agreed to vote in favour of the Transaction at the special meeting of shareholders of Millennial to be held to consider the Transaction. Further information regarding the Transaction will be contained in an information circular that Millennial will prepare, file and mail in due course to its shareholders in connection with the Millennial special meeting.
Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, Integra has also agreed to provide Millennial with bridge financing during the interim period, with the expected amount of such financing to be C$500,000, subject to the completion of definitive loan documentation and TSXV approval.
The Arrangement Agreement includes customary representations and warranties for a transaction of this nature as well as customary interim period covenants regarding the operation of the Companies’ respective businesses. The Arrangement Agreement also provides for customary deal-protection measures. In addition to shareholder and court approvals, closing of the Transaction is subject to applicable regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, TSXV approval and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature including the receipt of aggregate proceeds of C$35 million pursuant to the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering. Subject to the satisfaction of these conditions, Integra and Millennial expect that the Transaction will be completed in the second quarter of 2023. Details regarding these and other terms of the Transaction are set out in the Arrangement Agreement, which will be available under the SEDAR profiles of Integra and Millennial at www.sedar.com.
Following completion of the Transaction, the Integra Shares will continue trading on the TSXV and the Millennial Shares will be de-listed from the TSXV. Approximately 180.4 million Millennial Shares are currently outstanding on a non-diluted basis and approximately 79.8 million Integra Shares are currently outstanding on a non-diluted basis. Upon completion of the Transaction (assuming no additional issuances of Integra Shares or Millennial Shares, and excluding issuances in connection with the concurrent equity financing described below and prior to the completion of the Consolidation (as defined below)), there will be approximately 121.8 million Integra Shares outstanding on a non-diluted basis and approximately 135.2 million Integra Shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis.
None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 , as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any securities laws of any state of the United States, and any securities issued pursuant to the Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and similar exemptions under applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Brokered Offering
Integra has entered into an agreement with Raymond James Ltd., BMO Capital Markets and Cormark Securities Inc., as joint bookrunners, in connection with a bought deal private placement offering of 35,000,000 subscription receipts of Integra at a price of C$0.70 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds to Integra of C$24.5 million. Integra has also granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable, in whole or in part, for a period of 30 days following the closing of the Brokered Offering, to sell up to an additional 15% of the Subscription Receipts sold under the Brokered Offering at the Issue Price. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the total gross proceeds of the Brokered Offering will be C$28.2 million.
Each Subscription Receipt shall represent the right of a holder to receive, upon satisfaction or waiver of certain release conditions (including the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the completion of the Transaction other than the issuance of the consideration shares to shareholders of Millennial) without payment of additional consideration, one Integra Share, subject to adjustments and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a subscription receipt agreement to be entered into upon closing of the Brokered Offering.
The gross proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts will be deposited and held in escrow pending the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions by TSX Trust Company, as subscription receipt and escrow agent under the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Integra will pay the Underwriters a cash commission and the expenses of the Underwriters incurred in connection with the Brokered Offering.
If a Termination Event (as defined below) occurs, the escrowed proceeds of the Brokered Offering will be returned on a pro rata basis to the holders of Subscription Receipts, together with the interest earned thereon, and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled and have no further force and effect, all in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. For the purposes of the Brokered Offering, a “Termination Event” includes: (a) an event where the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied or waived prior to June 9, 2023 (subject to extensions in limited circumstances); (b) the termination of the Arrangement Agreement in accordance with its terms, or (c) the termination of the binding letter agreement between Integra and Wheaton with respect to the Non-Brokered Offering (as defined below).
The Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering are currently expected to close on or about March 16, 2023 and are subject to TSXV and other necessary regulatory approvals. Following completion of the Transaction, the net proceeds from the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering are expected to be used to fund an updated resource estimate and Mine Plan of Operations for DeLamar, updated resource estimates and PEAs for Wildcat and Mountain View, permit advancement, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
The Subscription Receipts will be offered by way of: (a) private placement in each of the provinces of Canada pursuant to applicable prospectus exemptions under applicable Canadian securities laws; (b) in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, by way of private placement pursuant to the exemptions from registration provided for under Rule 506(b) and/or Section 4(a)(2) of the U.S. Securities Act; and (c) in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States as are agreed to by Integra and the Underwriters on a private placement or equivalent basis.
The securities being offered pursuant to the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. “United States” and “U.S. person” are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.
Non-Brokered Offering
Pursuant to a binding letter agreement, Wheaton has agreed to purchase the lesser of: (a) C$15 million of Subscription Receipts at the Issue Price; (b) such number of Subscription Receipts that will result in Wheaton owning 9.9% of the issued and outstanding Integra Shares (following the completion of the proposed Transaction and the conversion of the Subscription Receipts issuable to Wheaton and pursuant to the Brokered Offering); and (c) 30% of the combined Subscription Receipts to be issued to Wheaton and investors in the Brokered Offering. The Non-Brokered Offering is expected to close concurrently with the Brokered Offering and is subject to TSXV and other necessary regulatory approvals, and execution of definitive agreements. No fee or commission shall be payable on the sale of Subscription Receipts to Wheaton pursuant to the Non-Brokered Offering.
Pursuant to the terms of the Non-Brokered Offering, and upon completion of the Transaction, Wheaton will receive a corporate wide right of first refusal on precious metals royalties, streams or pre-pays pertaining to any properties that Integra or its affiliates: (a) currently hold; (b) acquire in connection with the Transaction; and (c) acquire in the future within a five kilometer radius of the outer perimeter of the foregoing properties or is otherwise acquired in connection with or for the use of the projects currently held by Integra and Millennial. Integra will also grant to Wheaton the right to participate in future equity offerings so that it can maintain at least its pro rata ownership at the time of any such offering, up to a maximum of 9.9% of the Integra Shares (provided Wheaton holds at least 5.0% of the outstanding equity at the time of such offering).
Beedie Capital Credit Facility
In connection with the closing of the Transaction, the convertible loan agreement with Beedie Capital dated July 28, 2022 will be amended to accommodate the assets of Millennial and its subsidiaries, each of which, following the closing of the Transaction, will be loan parties and provide guarantees and security for the obligations under the Loan Agreement. In addition, conditional on the closing of the Transaction, the Loan Agreement will be amended to, among other things, modify the conversion price on the initial advance of US$10 million under the Loan Agreement to reflect a 35% premium to the Issue Price and to increase the effective interest rate from 8.75% to 9.25% per annum on the loan outstanding, which interest continues to be accrued for the first twenty-four (24) months from the date of the Loan Agreement, payable quarterly either in shares or in cash, at Integra’s election. As of the date hereof, the principal amount of the loan outstanding under the Loan Agreement is US$20 million, of which US$10 million is currently drawn.
Beedie Capital has provided their consent for the Transaction, subject to, among other things, the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions precedent by Integra, including the completion of the Brokered Offering and the Transaction in accordance with their respective terms, approval of the TSXV and the New York Stock Exchange for the revised Initial Advance Conversion Price and there being no other default or event of default under the Loan Agreement.
Consolidation
Subject to the completion of the Transaction and receipt of approval from the TSXV, Integra intends to consolidate the Integra Shares on the basis of one post-consolidation Integra Share for every 2.5 pre-consolidation Integra Shares. It is expected that the Consolidation will take effect shortly following the completion of the Transaction.
Assuming the maximum number of Subscription Receipts are sold pursuant to the Brokered Offering (including pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option) and the Non-Brokered Offering, Integra expects to have approximately 177.1 million Integra Shares issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the Transaction on a non-diluted basis and approximately 190.4 million Integra Shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis. Following the implementation of the Consolidation, Integra will have approximately 70.8 million Integra Shares issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis and approximately 76.2 million Integra Shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis. No fractional Integra Shares will be issued, and any fractional interest in Integra Shares resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded down to the nearest whole Integra Share.
A letter of transmittal will be mailed to registered shareholders once the Consolidation has taken effect, which will contain instructions on how registered shareholders can exchange their share certificates or direct registration system advices, evidencing their pre-Consolidation Integra Shares for new share certificates or DRS Advices representing the number of post-Consolidation Integra Shares to which they are entitled.
Advisors and Counsel
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is acting as legal counsel to Integra and Cormark Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Integra in connection with the Transaction.
Bennett Jones LLP is acting as legal counsel to Millennial and Stifel GMP is acting as financial advisor to the Millennial Special Committee in connection with the Transaction.
Technical Disclosure and Qualified Persons
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release with respect to Integra has been reviewed and approved by E. Max Baker Ph.D. (F.AusIMM), Integra’s Vice President Exploration of Post Falls, Idaho, a “Qualified Person” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release with respect to Millennial has been reviewed and approved by Raphael Dutaut, Ph.D., P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Millennial, a QP as defined by NI 43-101.
About Integra Resources
Integra is a development-stage mining company focused on the exploration and de-risking of the past producing DeLamar gold-silver project in Idaho, USA. Integra is led by the management team from Integra Gold Corp. which successfully grew, developed and sold the Lamaque Project, in Quebec, for C$600 million in 2017. Since acquiring the DeLamar Project, which includes the adjacent DeLamar and Florida Mountain gold and silver deposits, in late 2017, Integra has demonstrated significant resource growth and conversion while providing robust economic studies in its maiden preliminary economic assessment and now Pre-Feasibility Study. An independent technical report for the PFS on the DeLamar Project has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 and is available under Integra’s profile at www.sedar.com and on Integra’s website at www.integraresources.com.
About Millennial Precious Metals
Millennial is an exploration and development company focused on unlocking quality ounces through the responsible expansion of its eight gold and silver projects located in Nevada and Arizona, USA. Millennial plans to accelerate the development of its two flagship projects located in Nevada: Wildcat and Mountain View. The Wildcat Inferred Mineral Resource estimate contains 776,000 ounces of oxide Au (60.8 million tonnes at 0.40 g/t Au; effective date of November 18, 2020) and the Mountain View Inferred Mineral Resource estimate contains 427,000 ounces of oxide Au (23.2 million tonnes at 0.57 g/t Au; effective date of November 15, 2020). Technical reports titled “NI 43-101 Technical Report Resource Estimate for the Wildcat Project, Pershing County, Nevada, United States”, dated November 20, 2020 with an effective date of November 18, 2020 prepared by William J. Lewis, B.Sc., P.Geo., Rodrigo Calles-Montijo, MSc., CPG, and Leonardo de Souza, MAusIMM (CP) and “NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Mountain View Project, Washoe County, Nevada, USA”, dated November 25, 2020 with an effective date of November 15, 2020, prepared by William J. Lewis, B.Sc., P.Geo., Rodrigo Calles-Montijo, MSc., CPG, and Leonardo de Souza, MAusIMM (CP) are available on Millennial’s issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Millennial is led by an experienced management team and board of directors with a proven track record of success in financing and developing high-quality mining projects. Millennial is well positioned to create value for all stakeholders by applying a systematic strategy to advance and de-risk all eight projects over the next few years.
([1]) Millennial holds an option to acquire Red Canyon and Cerro Colorado.
([2]) See NI 43-101 technical report titled: “Technical Report and Preliminary Feasibility Study for the DeLamar and Florida Mountain Gold – Silver project, Owyhee County, Idaho, USA”, dated March 22, 2022 with an effective date of January 24, 2022 available under Integra Resources’ SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and EDGAR profile at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search-and-access.
([3]) See NI 43-101 technical report titled: “NI 43-101 Technical Report, Resource Estimate for the Wildcat Project, Pershing County, Nevada, United States”, dated November 20, 2020, with an effective date of November 18, 2020 available under Millennial’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
([4]) See NI 43-101 technical report titled: “NI 43-101 Technical Report, For the Mountain View Project, Washoe County, Nevada, USA”, dated November 25, 2020 with an effective date of November 15, 2020 available under Millennial’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
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