Further to its news release of Dec. 18, 2017, GoviEx Uranium Inc. has signed a termination agreement and mutual release with Toshiba Corp. The Agreement sets out the terms under which GoviEx and Toshiba (collectively, the “Parties”) have agreed to settle the Tranche B Bond dated April 18, 2012, as amended (the “B Bond”), terminate the Sale and Purchase of Uranium Concentrates Agreement dated April 18, 2012, as amended (the “Offtake Agreement”), and provide their mutual release to each other in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
“We believe this transaction is positive for GoviEx Shareholders,” said Govind Friedland, Executive Chairman of GoviEx. “On behalf of the GoviEx board of directors, we welcome the opportunity to settle the uranium B Bond with Toshiba early and at an attractive price. We remain grateful for Toshiba’s financial support, which helped GoviEx advance the Madaouela Project through preliminary feasibility and the environmental and mine permitting process, and wish to thank Toshiba for their important contributions over the last six years.
“We are pleased that we have reached a mutually-acceptable agreement to settle the B Bond. This agreement allows GoviEx to settle this uranium-price-linked liability at a low point in the uranium market cycle, discharges the security granted to Toshiba in connection with the B Bond, and removes the associated risks to our shareholders.
“We are equally pleased with the strong signal of support and strength from our other strategic shareholders, as demonstrated by the expression of interest from Denison Mines to assist in funding the B Bond settlement. Upon closing, GoviEx will be essentially debt free,” added Mr. Friedland.
B Bond
Pursuant to a Bond Purchase Agreement dated April 18, 2012, as amended (the “Bond Purchase Agreement”) with Toshiba, the Company borrowed 200,000 pounds of uranium concentrate U3O8 at an interest rate of 12% compounded annually, for which GoviEx granted the B Bond to Toshiba. As of December 31, 2017, a total of 382,193 pounds of U3O8, including interest accrued, was due to Toshiba under the B Bond. The Ux Consulting broker average spot uranium price on February 27, 2018 was US$21.44/lb U3O8, which results in a face value for the B Bond of US$8.2 million. The B Bond and the Bond Purchase Agreement are secured by a floating charge on all Nigerien assets of the Company (the “Security”). GoviEx has agreed to pay Toshiba US$4.5 million by March 31, 2018 to settle the B Bond in full, and for Toshiba to provide a release of all associated Security.
Offtake Agreement
In April 2012, GoviEx signed the Offtake Agreement with Toshiba and Advanced Uranium Asset Management (“AUAM”). Pursuant to the Offtake Agreement, AUAM would have the ability to purchase up to 600,000 lb U3O8 per annum for 14 years, based on spot and term pricing. The Offtake Agreement will be terminated as part of the Agreement, concurrently with the settlement of the B Bond.
Denison Warrant Exercise
Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, Denison Mines has expressed an interest in exercising up to a total of 22,420,180 warrants it holds in the Company (the “Warrants”), which could result in a cash inflow to GoviEx of up to US$3.36 million. The proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants are expected to be used towards funding the settlement of the B Bond with Toshiba.
Toshiba Shareholding in GoviEx
Due to a wider strategic change in focus, and as part of a wider transaction in conjunction with GoviEx, Toshiba has entered in to a share purchase agreement (“SPA”) with a mutually-agreed third party investor (the “Investor”) to sell its entire shareholding in GoviEx to such Investor. The SPA and the Agreement are expected to close concurrently.
The Agreement is conditional on Toshiba and the Investor completing the SPA by March 31, 2018. Upon completion of the Agreement, GoviEx and its affiliates shall thereafter have no debt or interest or other amount owing to Toshiba under the B Bond or the Bond Purchase Agreement, the Offtake Agreement will be terminated without any further acts of the Parties and without liability of any sort to the Parties, and Toshiba shall have undertaken to discharge the Security.
About GoviEx Uranium
GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx’s principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger, its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia, and its other uranium properties in Africa.
