IMC Exploration Group plc (“IMC”), the London-listed exploration company based in Ireland, is pleased to announce the following update in relation to the previously announced (15th April 2021) Framework Agreement dealing with the proposed acquisition from MVI Invests (“MVI”) of MVI Ireland s.r.o. (“MVI Ireland”), a special purpose company established to own 100% of Assat LLC (“Assat”), an Armenian-registered company that holds the mining licence for the Karaberd Mine, located in Lori Marz, northern Armenia (the “Acquisition”). This transaction, as previously announced, is classified as a reverse takeover (“RTO”) pursuant to the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom ("FCA") (the "Listing Rules") to which the Company is subject, and under the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997, Takeover Rules 2013 (the “TakeoverRules”).
Following delays attributable primarily to the Covid-19 pandemic, MVI decided early in 2021 to commence the preparation works for mining operations at the Karaberd Mine. These works included preparation of 450m of new soil road, cleaning and servicing of a further 1,300m of soil roads and 140,000m3 of stripping work.
It had become apparent that, also as a result of disruptions caused by Covid-19, the building of a production facility for extraction of metals including gold and silver with 100,000 tons’ per annum capacity, which MVI had earlier negotiated, would be severely delayed. Assat therefore negotiated interim arrangements with a local refiner to process ore from the Karaberd Mine. During the year ended 31st December 2021, a total of 46.2 kg of 0.999 purity fine gold had been extracted at that plant from Karaberd Mine crushed ore output.
At the beginning of 2022 Assat, satisfied that there were in place economically mineable quantities of gold and silver at the Karaberd Mine, decided to start stockpiling its crushed ore for processing in the new production facility discussed above, which is expected to be completed by May or June of 2023. This policy should yield a higher marginal return and will also allow for the extraction of silver from mined ore. Currently, there are over 20,000 tons of crushed ore stockpiled and the rate of ore-crushing will increase once the production facility is completed.
Although the developments described above are positive from IMC’s perspective, they have meant that the character of the Acquisition has changed from that originally conceived. IMC, rather than acquiring a company possessed of a mining licence, is now acquiring the owner of an operating gold mine.
The restrictions on international movements imposed as a result of Covid-19 meant that IMC’s first possibility to visit the Karaberd Mine site at Lori Marz arose in August of last year.
The altered character of the Acquisition, the attenuation of timetables owing to factors beyond the control of IMC and MVI and the recent emergence of new geological data from additional exploration works, both on the Company’s extant licence areas in Ireland and on Assat’s Karaberd licence in Armenia, led IMC and MVI to agree on the necessity for more recent, audited financial information and for the updating and positive revision of the Competent Persons’ Reports on their respective assets.
The FCA in December 2021 increased the market capitalisation threshold from £700,000 to £30,000,000 for companies being listed on the standard segment of the FCA's Official List. For this reason, IMC and MVI decided it would be prudent to commission in advance an independent valuation of the enlarged Company's combined assets post- RTO in order to assist in meeting this threshold. This process is now underway.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Acquisition remains on the terms of the Framework Agreement announced on 15th April 2021 with the exceptions of extensions already announced to the long-stop dates and of the share ‘clawback’ clause requiring a specified quantity of gold to have been refined after a ‘Karaberd Commencement of Mining’. This clause, already having been satisfied, has accordingly fallen away.
IMC would like to thank shareholders for their patience in supporting the Company during the protracted progress of the Acquisition. Further updates will be issued as and when required.
Eamon P. O’Brien,
Executive Chairman,
Dublin, 28th October 2022
The Directors of IMC, after due and careful enquiry, accept responsibility for the content of this announcement.
REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS.
Enquiries:
Keith, Bayley, Rogers & Co. Limited
Graham Atthill-Beck: +44 7506 43 41 07 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Brinsley Holman: +44 7776 30 22 28/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IMC Exploration Group plc
Kathryn Byrne: +353 85 233 6033
