Mr. Wesley Hanson reports
BAOSTEEL RESOURCES TO ACQUIRE 9.9% INTEREST IN NORONT
Noront Resources Ltd. has agreed on definitive terms in
connection with a proposed offering with Baosteel
Resources International Co. Ltd., part of the Baosteel
Group, one of China's largest steel producers, for a strategic
investment by Baosteel in Noront by way of a non-brokered private
placement of units.
Under the terms of the offering, Noront will issue such number of shares
as is equal to 9.9 per cent of the total issued and outstanding common shares
of Noront at the time of closing at a price of 86 cents per unit. Each
unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share
purchase warrant. Each warrant shall
be exercisable to acquire one common share of Noront at an exercise
price equal to $1.16 for a period of 24 months following the closing
date. Net proceeds of the common share portion are anticipated to be
approximately $17.4-million. Exercise of the warrants would increase
Baosteel's equity ownership interest in Noront to 14.15 per cent, with
total proceeds to Noront of approximately $11.7-million.
Noront's president and chief executive officer, Wes Hanson, notes: "Baosteel's intended investment represents the initial step in a
potential long-term partnership that provides Noront access to one of
China's largest steel producers and China's rapidly expanding stainless
steel industry. Baosteel performed detailed due diligence on our
property, its potential and the completed technical studies. Baosteel
recognizes the potential of our Eagle's Nest discovery and further
recognizes the potential of our Blackbird chromite deposits. Baosteel's
investment will allow us to proceed with the necessary engineering work
to define the value of our discoveries to date in the Ring of Fire
while we continue exploring this exciting district with a view towards
identifying additional mineral resources."
Proceeds from the offering will be used to:
-
Finance completion of the Eagle's Nest feasibility study;
- Finance completion of a feasibility study on the Blackbird chromite deposit
including exploration drilling to increase the current resource;
- Finance further exploration work on the company's Ring of Fire properties and
corporate expenses.
The offering provides Baosteel with the right to nominate one individual
to the Noront board of directors, a right to increase its ownership
in Noront to 19.9 per cent for a one-year period commencing on April 18, 2012,
and a standstill provision which expires on April 18, 2013.
The offering is subject to final approval by Baosteel's board of
directors, and all securities and the regulatory authorities in both
countries including the TSX Venture Exchange. Noront anticipates
closing of the offering to occur on or about June 2, 2011.
About Baosteel Resources International
Baosteel Resources International, headquartered in Hong Kong,
is the overseas headquarters of Baosteel Resources Co. Ltd., a
subsidiary of Baosteel Group Corp., one of the largest and most
profitable steel enterprises in the world with an annual production
capacity of 50 million tons per year. Baosteel Group ranked
276 in the Global Fortune 500 companies in 2010 with 2009 revenues of
$28.6-billion.
Baosteel Resources International's core business is investment,
trading and logistic services in relation to iron ore, coal,
non-ferrous metals, stainless steel, raw materials and scrap.
We seek Safe Harbor.
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