Champion Iron Mines Closes $3.0 Million Strategic Investment With Hong Kong Mining Investor
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug 1, 2013) - CHAMPION IRON MINES LIMITED (CHM.TO)(CPMNF)(P02.F) ("Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a private placement financing with Baotou Chen Hua Investments Limited ("Baotou" or the "Purchaser"), a corporation, based in Hong Kong, for the acquisition by Baotou of 15,000,000 Units (the "Units") at a subscription price of $0.20 per Unit for aggregate proceeds of $3,000,000 (the "Transaction"). Baotou is a Hong Kong investment company the principal of which is a mining entrepreneur with substantial interests in Chinese iron ore and rare earth deposits.
Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (the "Warrant"), with each whole Warrant exercisable for one common share at a price of $0.25 per share for a period of 24 months from closing. All securities acquired pursuant to this Transaction will be subject to a four (4) month hold period. Champion has agreed to pay an 8% cash commission, in the aggregate, to an arm's length finder. With the closing of the Transaction Champion's cash position is approximately C$16 million.
Baotou became interested in Champion as it has advanced its Consolidated Fire Lake North Project into a large iron resource and recognized the Company's success and excellent pre-feasibility study results. From various discussions held with Baotou's representatives, management of Champion is confident that Baotou and its principals and affiliates have the potential to provide Champion with access to multiple end-users of iron ore in China and to Chinese companies that have a strong interest in participating in financing Champion's short-term endeavours as well as providing strategic relationships which will assist Champion in its long-term objectives. Baotou's industrial and financial contacts within China are substantial and, with Baotou's initial investment in Champion now completed, Baotou's interest is aligned with that of management. Champion will be the beneficiary of Baotou providing as much assistance to Champion as possible with the introduction of its business network to the Company.
Tom Larsen, President and CEO of Champion said, "We are very pleased and encouraged with this strategic investment from Baotou, whose experience and network in China will be instrumental in Champion's search for a project partner for our 100%-owned Consolidated Fire Lake North Project. Baotou's investment in Champion reaffirms the value of Consolidated Fire Lake North and the marketability of its concentrate product and is the first step in growing Champion's presence with Chinese investors. It also sets the stage for our expanded discussions with Asian steel producers that are seeking lower risk and direct sources of iron ore."
Private Placement Highlights
Baotou has subscribed for 15,000,000 Units of Champion at a price of $0.20 per Unit which resulted in Baotou holding approximately 11% of the common shares of Champion post-closing on a non-diluted basis.
So long as Baotou holds at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Champion, Baotou will have a pre-emptive right to participate in any financing (a "Financing") to maintain its percentage interest in the outstanding common shares of Champion on a non-diluted basis. Baotou will also have a participation right which shall terminate 18 months from the closing date, which grants Baotou the right to participate as the initial subscriber in any Financing completed by Champion in an amount up to $4,000,000.
So long as Baotou holds more than 10% of the outstanding shares of Champion, Baotou will be entitled to nominate one person to Champion's Board of Directors. In the event that Baotou holds more than 20% of the outstanding shares of Champion, Baotou will be entitled to nominate an additional person to Champion's Board of Directors.
For a period of two years, Baotou will not vote its Champion shares against the election of any nominees to the Board of Directors proposed by Champion, against any resolutions supported by the Board of Directors of Champion or in favour of any resolutions not supported by the Board of Directors of Champion, subject to certain exceptions.
Baotou will be restricted from transferring securities of Champion for a period of one year following the closing, subject to certain exceptions and procedures. For an additional year, there will be certain conditions and restrictions on Baotou's ability to sell or transfer the Champion securities.
Baotou has undertaken to use commercial best efforts to introduce a strategic investor for Champion to invest in its properties and Champion has agreed to co-operate with Baotou on a non-exclusive basis and to compensate Baotou if it is successful within 18 months after closing.
The proceeds of the transaction will be used to continue the feasibility study and technical work in connection with the development of the Consolidated Fire Lake North Project in the Fermont Iron Ore District, Quebec.
About Champion Iron Mines Limited
Champion is an iron exploration and development company with offices in Montreal and Toronto, and is focused on developing its significant iron resources in the provinces of Québec and Newfoundland & Labrador. Champion holds a 100% interest in the Fermont Iron Holdings located in Quebec and a 44% interest in the Attikamagen Iron Project located in both Québec and Labrador. The Attikamagen Project is under option to Labec Century Iron Ore Inc. ("Labec"), a subsidiary of Century Iron Mines Corporation, under which Labec can earn up to a 60% interest. Labec has requested a transfer of a further 4% to increase Labec's holding to 60% under its option agreement with Champion and to further increase Labec's interest and dilute Champion's interest pursuant to ongoing exploration programs. Champion is undertaking its due diligence investigations with respect to the requests.
Champion's Fermont Iron Holdings, including its flagship Consolidated Fire Lake North Project, are located in Canada's major iron ore producing district, in close proximity to five producing iron mines, existing transportation and power infrastructure. Consolidated Fire Lake North is located immediately north of Arcelor Mittal's operating Fire Lake Mine and 60 km south of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Bloom Lake Mine in northeastern Québec. Champion's management and advisory board includes mining and exploration professionals with the mine development and operations experience to build, commission, and operate the future Consolidated Fire Lake North mine.
For additional information on Champion Iron Mines Limited, please visit our website at www.championironmines.com.
This news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about planned operations at the Company's projects, including its joint venture projects. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks identified in Champion's annual information forms, management discussion and analysis and other securities regulatory filings by Champion on SEDAR (including under the heading "Risk Factors" therein). There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All of Champion's forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of Champion's management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Champion disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
This press release has been prepared by Champion Iron Mines Limited and no regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
