Sale of Biranup Nickel and Gold Project
1 July 2020
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
Sale of Biranup Nickel and Gold Project
to New Energy Metals Ltd IPO
Highlights:
•
•
VRX Silica to receive 6,250,000 ordinary fully paid shares in
New Energy Metals Ltd, a planned nickel focused base
metals IPO
VRX Silica to receive cash payments upon achievement of
agreed milestones
•
VRX Silica shareholders to be offered priority for IPO
applications
•
VRX Silica continues its focus to become a Global High
Quality Silica Sand Producer
VRX Silica Limited (VRX or Company) (ASX: VRX) is pleased to
announce that it has entered into a conditional agreement with New
Energy Metals Limited (NRG) for the sale of its wholly-owned
subsidiary and holder of the Biranup nickel and gold project
(Biranup Project), Ventnor Gold Pty Ltd (VGPL).
NRG is an unlisted public company planning an Initial Public
Offering (IPO) and ASX listing later this year. It is a nickel sulphide
focused exploration company with exposure to the Albany Fraser
Oregen and South West Yilgarn, while retaining a proprietary nickel
sulphide prospectivity database to generate further projects. NRG
has indicated that it will prioritise applications in the IPO from VRX
Silica shareholders.
The Biranup Project is situated in the highly prospective Albany Fraser Orogen in Western Australia, an area which hosts IGO’s
Nova nickel mine, the world class ~10Moz Tropicana Gold Deposit
and is currently the subject of a much anticipated drilling program
currently being conducted by Legend Mining.
VRX Silica’s Managing Director Bruce Maluish said, “We are
delighted to have reached agreement with NRG on the terms for the
sale of the Biranup Project which will enable VRX Silica to share in
any future exploration success. The Biranup Project tenements
have an extensive and comprehensive exploration data base that
we have assembled and this will be a great starting point for NRG.”
“This is an ideal outcome for VRX Silica and its shareholders as it
will allow us to focus on the Company’s stated aim of becoming a
global supplier of high-quality silica sand.”
ASX: VRX
Capital Structure
Shares on Issue:
445.1 million
Listed Options:
23.9 million
Unlisted Options:
69.5 million
Corporate Directory
Paul Boyatzis
Non-Executive Chairman
Bruce Maluish
Managing Director
Peter Pawlowitsch
Non-Executive Director
John Geary
Company Secretary
Silica Sand Projects
Arrowsmith Silica Sand
Project, 270km north of
Perth, WA.
Muchea Silica Sand Project,
50km north of Perth, WA.
Boyatup Silica Sand Project,
100km east of Esperance,
WA.
The Company is actively
assessing other silica sand
projects in Australia.
Fig 1. Tenement Map – Biranup Project
Sale Terms
NRG will acquire the Biranup Project through the purchase of 100% of the issued share capital
of VGPL.
The consideration for the sale will be as follows:
•
6,250,000 fully paid ordinary shares in NRG at a deemed issue price of 20c, to be issued
at completion; and
•
cash milestone payments of:
-
$200,000 upon delineation of a JORC compliant inferred resource of no less than
7.5mt at a grade of 2% nickel and 0.5% copper on the land comprising the tenements;
-
$200,000 at the completion of a feasibility study with respect to the Biranup Project
demonstrating an ability to operate it as a commercially viable enterprise, and
-
$500,000 at the first commercial extraction of any minerals, mineral products, ore or
concentrates, in whatever form, from the Biranup Project.
Completion is subject to and conditional upon the following:
•
completion of due diligence investigations by NRG into VGPL and the Biranup Project to
its satisfaction;
•
NRG conducting the IPO, including raising necessary capital and receiving ASX
conditional approval for listing of its securities on ASX; and
•
the parties obtaining all necessary board, shareholder, third party and regulatory
approvals and consents required to complete the sale.
The agreement is otherwise on terms customary for a transaction of this nature, including as
to pre-completion undertakings, warranties and representations, liability limitation and
confidentiality.
About the Biranup Project
The Biranup Project comprises a total project area of 393 km2 with six granted tenements that
have no pastoral lease or Native Title claims. The project covers a region which hosts many
varying mineralisation styles.
VRX Silica has identified the potential for base metal mineralisation and successfully drilled
and intersected copper and nickel sulphides on a structurally controlled geophysical target at
the Fire Dragon Prospect. Studies have shown the right geology is present for Nova Type
mafic intrusive Ni-Cu Deposit.
The Company has compiled a regional dataset of all geological and geophysical that is
available to commence a rigorous targeting exercise over the existing and newly acquired
tenements, and to guide any further tenement acquisition.
Fig 2. Location Map – Biranup Project
This announcement has been authorised for release to ASX by Bruce Maluish, VRX Silica
Limited Managing Director.
Further information:
Bruce Maluish
Managing Director
brucem@vrxsilica.com.au
0418 940 417
Peter Klinger
Cannings Purple
pklinger@canningspurple.com.au
0411 251 540
About VRX Silica
VRX Silica Ltd (VRX Silica) (ASX: VRX) has significant silica sand projects in Western Australia.
The Arrowsmith North and Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Projects, located 270km north of Perth, comprise five
granted exploration licences and two mining lease applications pending. Bankable feasibility studies for both projects
have been released, each demonstrating exceptional financial metrics.
The Muchea Silica Sand Project, located 50km north of Perth, comprises one granted exploration licence, with one
mining lease application pending. Muchea is a world-class project with high purity silica sand in situ. A bankable
feasibility study for the project has been released demonstrating outstanding financial metrics.
The Boyatup Silica Sand Project, located 100km east of Esperance, comprises two adjacent granted exploration
licences. Initial indications are that this project will complement the Arrowsmith and Muchea projects while adding to
the range of silica products capable of production.
Proven Management
The VRX Silica Board and management team have extensive experience in mineral exploration and mine
development into production and in the management of publicly listed mining and exploration companies.
Project Locations
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