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Vancouver, BC / TNW-Accesswire / October 1, 2015 / Golden Arrow Resources Corporation (TSX-V: GRG, FRA: GAC (WKN: A0B6XQ), “Golden Arrow” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a business combination agreement (the “Agreement”) with Silver Standard Resources Inc. (TSX-SSO; NASDAQ — SSRI, “Silver Standard”) which contemplates the joint development of Golden Arrow’s Chinchillas project and an agreement to combine the producing Pirquitas Mine and the Chinchillas project, located approximately 35 kilometres apart in Jujuy Province of Argentina, into a single new operation.
Subject to an 18-month period of pre-development activities (the “Preliminary Period”), Silver Standard will have the right to commence a business arrangement that will see the Pirquitas Mine and the Chinchillas project combined into a 75% (Silver Standard) 25% (Golden Arrow) jointly owned mining business, with Silver Standard assuming the role of operator.
“Combining these two neighboring assets offers compelling benefits and allows us to accelerate the development of Chinchillas while benefiting from the existing infrastructure and cash flow being generated at the producing Pirquitas Mine” stated Joseph Grosso, Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Arrow. “With this partnership we have the potential to deliver attractive returns to our shareholders while ensuring the Chinchillas project is advanced, creating immediate and lasting benefits for residents and communities in the region.”
During the Preliminary Period, Silver Standard will pay Golden Arrow up to C$2M on completion of certain milestones, and invest up to an estimated US$12.6M, with a minimum expenditure commitment of US$4M, at Chinchillas to advance the project and evaluate the feasibility of developing a combined mining business with its existing Pirquitas operation. Golden Arrow will assist in the pre-development activities and evaluation process. Furthermore, Golden Arrow will be paid an amount equal to 25% of the Pirquitas mine’s cash equivalent earnings during the Preliminary Period, less certain expenditures for exploration (including pre-development expenditures), capital investment and closure costs incurred during the Preliminary Period, based on a pre-defined formula, payable on closing of the business combination.
Silver Standard’s Pirquitas silver-zinc mine had record production in 2014 of 8.7 million ounces of silver and 30.0 million pounds of zinc, exceeding annual silver and zinc production guidance. 2015 guidance was revised upwards during the year and is anticipated between 9.5 and 10.5 million ounces of silver and between 10 and 12 million pounds of zinc1 . Golden Arrow’s Chinchillas project is an advanced exploration stage silver-zinc-lead project containing measured and indicated resources totaling 64 million ounces of silver and inferred resources totaling 140 million ounces of silver as at 31 July 2015 (25.9 Mt @ 77.2 g/t Ag indicated, 90.0 Mt @ 50.2 g/t Ag inferred); for full details refer to the Technical Report filed on SEDAR dated September 14th, 2015).
Benefits of the Transaction
Summary Transaction Terms
Under the terms of the proposed business combination, Silver Standard will have the right during the Preliminary Period to advance the technical and permitting activities required up to the time of a development decision on the Chinchillas project. During the Preliminary Period, Silver Standard has committed to fund certain pre-development expenditures up to US$12.6M, subject to a minimum expenditure commitment of US$4M.
For the first six months of the Preliminary Period, Golden Arrow will be appointed by Silver Standard, on a cost recovery basis, to undertake initial pre-development activities at the Chinchillas project, including overseeing up to 17,000 meters of drilling, and will provide operational support for Silver Standard’s exploration and technical teams.
In consideration for granting Silver Standard the rights to conduct pre-development activities at Chinchillas during the Preliminary Period, Silver Standard has agreed to pay to Golden Arrow: (i) C$0.5M on signing of the transaction agreements; (ii) C$0.5M within five business days after the shareholders of Golden Arrow approve the transaction; (iii) C$0.5M within five business days after the earlier of the 6 month anniversary of the shareholder approval for the transaction and the date of election to proceed with the joint venture; and (vi) C$0.5M within five business days after the earlier of the 12 month anniversary of the shareholder approval for the transaction and the date of election to proceed with the joint venture.
At any time during the Preliminary Period, Silver Standard has the sole right to elect to enter into a 75% (Silver Standard) 25% by a new entity to be owned by the existing shareholders of Golden Arrow) (“New Golden Arrow”) joint venture concerning the producing Pirquitas Mine and Chinchillas project.
On formation of the joint venture, Silver Standard will make an exercise payment to Golden Arrow using a formula based on public disclosures being, 25% of the value of:
Details of the Proposed Business Combination
The business combination with be effected by way of a court approved Plan of Arrangement (the “Arrangement”). The Arrangement will be subject to approval by two thirds of the votes cast at a special meeting of the Golden Arrow shareholders.
It is expected that Golden Arrow will prepare and mail a meeting circular to its shareholders within 45 days, and that the special meeting of shareholders will be held by the end of the year.
The Board of Golden Arrow has received an opinion from its financial advisor, Salman Partners Inc., that the consideration being offered under the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of Golden Arrow, other than Silver Standard.
The Board of Directors of Golden Arrow has unanimously concluded that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Golden Arrow and has recommended that its shareholders vote in favour of the transaction. The directors, officers, insiders and certain shareholders of Golden Arrow holding approximately 18.5% of the shares of Golden Arrow have entered into lock-up agreements with Silver Standard whereby such shareholders have agreed to vote in favour of the Arrangement.
The Arrangement is subject to a number of customary conditions including court and shareholder approval, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the listing of the shares of New Golden Arrow on the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no certainty that the Arrangement will complete.
Advisors
Salman Partners Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Golden Arrow and has provided a fairness opinion to the Golden Arrow Board in connection with the transaction. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as legal counsel to Golden Arrow.
About Golden Arrow:
Golden Arrow is a Vancouver based explorer focused on identifying, acquiring and advancing precious and base metal projects in Argentina with the goal of achieving a world class discovery. The main focus is on advancing the flagship Chinchillas Silver Project located in Jujuy, Argentina. Golden Arrow is a member of Grosso Group, a management company specialized in resource exploration, and working in Argentina where it is highly regarded and trusted since 1993.
