The Board of Directors of SilverCrest
unanimously recommends that Securityholders vote FOR the
Arrangement Resolution.
Securityholders are encouraged to vote in
advance of the proxy cutoff of 10:00
a.m. (Vancouver time) on
February 4, 2025.
TSX: SIL | NYSE American: SILV
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 13,
2025 /PRNewswire/ - SilverCrest Metals Inc.
("SilverCrest" or the "Company") announced today that it has filed
its notice of meeting, management information circular (the
"Circular") and related documents (collectively, the "Meeting
Materials") with securities regulators in connection with the
special meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders (the "Shareholders")
of common shares of the Company (the "SilverCrest Shares") and the
holders of stock options of the Company (the "Optionholders", and
collectively with the Shareholders, the "Securityholders"). The
Meeting Materials have also been mailed to Securityholders and can
also be accessed at the Company's website at
https://silvercrestmetals.com/transaction/.
The Meeting is to be held on February 6,
2025 at 10:00 a.m.
(Vancouver time) at the offices of
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP at
Suite 2200, RBC Place, 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. The Meeting can
also be accessed via live webcast at meetnow.global/MHZWLAD. Only
holders of SilverCrest Shares and stock options of record as of the
close of business on December 19,
2024, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to
receive notice of, attend and vote at, the Meeting. Any
Securityholder attending the live webcast will not be able to vote
during the Meeting. Only Securityholders who are present in person
and entitled to vote at the Meeting are able to vote during the
Meeting.
At the Meeting, Securityholders will be asked to pass a special
resolution (the "Arrangement Resolution") approving an arrangement
(the "Arrangement") with Coeur Mining, Inc. ("Coeur"), whereby
SilverCrest shareholders will receive 1.6022 shares of Coeur common
stock for each SilverCrest Share held (the "Exchange Ratio")
pursuant to the terms of an arrangement agreement entered into
between SilverCrest and Coeur on October 3,
2024 (the "Arrangement Agreement"). The Exchange Ratio
represents an implied value of US$11.34 per SilverCrest common share, based on
the closing price of Coeur on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE")
on October 3, 2024. This represents
an 18% premium based on 20-day volume-weighted average prices of
Coeur and SilverCrest each as at October 3,
2024 on the NYSE and NYSE American, respectively, and a 22%
premium to the October 3, 2024
closing price of SilverCrest on the NYSE American. The Exchange
Ratio implies a total equity value of approximately US$1.7 billion based on SilverCrest Shares
outstanding. Upon completion of the Arrangement, existing Coeur
stockholders and SilverCrest shareholders will own approximately
63% and 37% of the outstanding common stock of the combined
company, respectively, based on the outstanding securities of both
companies as at October 3, 2024.
Benefits to SilverCrest Securityholders
- Immediate and significant premium of approximately 18% based on
the 20-day volume-weighted average prices of Coeur and SilverCrest
respectively (as at October 3, 2024
on the NYSE and NYSE American, respectively), and 22% based on the
October 3, 2024 closing prices of
both companies
- Substantial equity participation in Coeur's high quality and
diversified portfolio consisting of four robust operating mines in
U.S. and Mexico and an exploration
property in Canada, while
maintaining meaningful exposure to the Company's high-grade,
low-cost and high-margin Las Chispas operation
- Potential for the combined company to generate significant 2025
silver production with the addition of Las Chispas to Coeur's
growing silver production from its recently expanded Rochester mine in Nevada and its Palmarejo underground mine in
northern Mexico
- Approximately US$700
million1 of EBITDA2 and US$350 million1 of free cash
flow2 are expected to be generated by the combined
company in 2025 at lower overall costs and higher overall margins
for Coeur, with more robust cash flow as a result of multiple
producing mines in a diversified portfolio and augmented by
SilverCrest's strong balance sheet and no debt
- The combination of SilverCrest's strong balance sheet and its
strong cash flow profile are expected to accelerate Coeur's debt
reduction initiative and result in an immediate 40% expected
reduction in Coeur's leverage ratio upon closing of the
Arrangement
- The Arrangement with Coeur is the culmination of a
comprehensive strategic review process overseen by the Company's
board of directors (the "Board") initially, and subsequently, the
special committee of independent directors (the "Special
Committee"), as further described in the Circular
- The combined company will be better positioned to pursue a
growth and value maximizing strategy as compared with SilverCrest
on a standalone basis, as a result of the combined company's larger
market capitalization, asset and geographical diversification,
elimination of singe asset risk, technical expertise, greater
trading liquidity, enhanced access to capital over the long term
and the likelihood of increased investor interest and access to
business development opportunities due to the combined company's
larger market presence
Board Recommendation
The Board, based on its considerations, investigations and
deliberations, including a thorough review of the Arrangement
Agreement, the fairness opinions of Cormark Securities Inc. and
Raymond James Ltd. and other relevant matters, and taking into
account the best interests of the Company, and after consultation
with management and its financial and legal advisors and having
received the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee,
which takes into account, among other things, the fairness opinion
that the Special Committee received from Scotiabank, has
unanimously determined, that the Arrangement and the entering into
of the Arrangement Agreement are in the best interests of the
Company, has unanimously approved the Arrangement and
recommends that the Securityholders vote FOR the
Arrangement Resolution. The determination of the Special Committee
and the Board is based on various factors set forth above and
described more fully in the Circular.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. CAST YOUR VOTE WELL IN
ADVANCE OF THE PROXY VOTING DEADLINE.
Securityholders are encouraged to read the Circular in its
entirety and vote their SilverCrest Shares and stock options as
soon as possible, in accordance with the instructions accompanying
the form of proxy or voting instruction form mailed to
Securityholders together with the Circular.
The deadline for voting SilverCrest Shares and stock options by
proxy is 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on February 4, 2025.
How to Vote
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___________________________________________________________
|
|
1 Based on
analyst consensus for 2025.
|
|
2 This is a
non-GAAP performance measure. See "Non-GAAP and Non-IFRS Financial
Measures" at the end of this press release, and "Non-GAAP Financial
Performance Measures" on page 54 of Coeur's 2023 Annual
Report.
|
Questions & Voting Assistance
Securityholders who have questions about the Meeting or require
assistance in voting may contact the Company's proxy solicitation
agent:
Laurel Hill Advisory Group
North American Toll Free | 1-877-452-7184
Outside North America |
1-416-304-0211
By Email | assistance@laurelhill.com
ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.
SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals producer headquartered
in Vancouver, British Columbia.
SilverCrest's principal focus is its Las Chispas Operation in
Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest has an
ongoing initiative to increase its asset base by expanding current
resources and reserves, acquiring, discovering, and developing high
value precious metals projects and ultimately operating multiple
silver-gold mines in the Americas. SilverCrest is led by a proven
management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector,
including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and
on budget construction, and production.
Non-GAAP and Non-IFRS Financial Measures
This press release contains certain non-GAAP and non-IFRS
financial measures, which management believes may enable investors
to better evaluate Coeur's and SilverCrest's performance, liquidity
and ability to generate cash flow. These measures do not have any
standardized definition under U.S. GAAP or IFRS, and should not be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS, as
applicable. Other companies may calculate these measures
differently.
Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow subtracts sustaining capital expenditures from
net cash provided by operating activities, serving as an indicator
of the capacity to generate cash from operations post-sustaining
capital investments.
EBITDA
EBITDA represents net earnings or loss for the period before
income tax expense or recovery, depreciation and amortization, and
finance costs.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and
"forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking
statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and
United States securities
legislation. The words "potential", "expected" and similar
expressions or other words of similar meaning, and the negatives
thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
include, without limitation, statements with respect to: statements
regarding SilverCrest and the combined company's plans and
expectations with respect to the proposed Arrangement and the
anticipated impact of the proposed Arrangement on the combined
company's results of operations, financial position, growth
opportunities and competitive position.
These forward-looking statements involve significant risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to,
the possibility that securityholders of SilverCrest may not approve
the Arrangement or stockholders of Coeur may not approve the stock
issuance or the charter amendment; the risk that any other
condition to closing of the Arrangement may not be satisfied; the
risk that the closing of the Arrangement might be delayed or not
occur at all; the risk that the either Coeur or SilverCrest may
terminate the Arrangement Agreement and either Coeur or SilverCrest
is required to pay a termination fee to the other party; potential
adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships
of Coeur or SilverCrest, including those resulting from the
announcement or completion of the Arrangement; the diversion of
management time on transaction-related issues; the ultimate timing,
outcome and results of integrating the operations of Coeur and
SilverCrest; the effects of the business combination of Coeur and
SilverCrest, including the combined company's future financial
condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; the ability
of the combined company to realize anticipated synergies in the
timeframe expected or at all; changes in capital markets and the
ability of the combined company to finance operations in the manner
expected; the risk that Coeur or SilverCrest may not receive the
required stock exchange and regulatory approvals of the
Arrangement; the expected listing of shares on the NYSE; the risk
of any litigation relating to the proposed Arrangement; the risk of
changes in governmental regulations or enforcement practices; the
effects of commodity prices, life of mine estimates; the timing and
amount of estimated future production; the risks of mining
activities; and the fact that operating costs and business
disruption may be greater than expected following the public
announcement or consummation of the Arrangement. Expectations
regarding business outlook, including changes in revenue, pricing,
capital expenditures, cash flow generation, strategies for the
combined company's operations, gold and silver market conditions,
legal, economic and regulatory conditions, and environmental
matters are only forecasts regarding these matters.
Additional factors that could cause results to differ
materially from those described above can be found in SilverCrest's
annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is on file with the SEC
and on SEDAR+ and available from SilverCrest's website at
www.silvercrestmetals.com under the "Investors" tab, and in other
documents SilverCrest files with the SEC or on SEDAR+. All
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made
and are based on information available at that time. SilverCrest
does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements
to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the
forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence
of unanticipated events except as required by applicable securities
laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and
uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue
reliance on such statements.
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SOURCE SilverCrest Metals Inc.