African Metals provides Status Update
AFRICAN METALS CORPORATION
African Metals provides Status Update
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TORONTO, March 13, 2017 (FSCwire) -- African Metals
Corporation (the “Company”) (TSXV: AFR.H [formerly AFR]; Frankfurt: OWW) announces
that the Company has not maintained the requirements for a TSX Venture Tier 2 company.
Therefore, on Friday, March 10, 2017, the Company's listing was transferred to NEX, the
Company's Tier classification was changed from Tier 2 to NEX, and the Company is subject to
restrictions on share issuances and certain types of payments as set out in the NEX policies. The
trading symbol for the Company changed from AFR to AFR.H. There is no change in the
Company's name, no change in its CUSIP number and no consolidation of capital. The symbol
extension differentiates NEX symbols from Tier 1 or Tier 2 symbols within the TSX Venture
market. Further to the TSX Venture bulletin dated December 1, 2016, trading in the shares of the
Company will remain suspended. Members are prohibited from trading in the securities of the
Company during the period of the suspension or until further notice.
On July 18, 2016, the Company provided an update on its status and activities wherein it advised
that it had received the resignations of all but one of the directors and officers of the Company
and its subsidiaries, leaving Simeon Tshisangama as the sole remaining director of the Company.
This left the Company without the minimum number of directors required to carry on business
and no officers or management. The TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”) halted the
Company’s shares from trading because the Company had less than three directors as required by
Exchange Policy. Pursuant to the provisions of the British Columbia Business Corporations Act,
Mr. Tshisangama appointed John F. O’Donnell and David V. Mason to act as directors to fill the
vacancies. The new Board of Directors appointed Mr. Tshisangama to act as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and Daniel J. Gregory to act as Chief Financial Officer. The Exchange
had set a deadline of that day for the Company to comply with requirement to have three
directors; otherwise the Exchange would have proceeded to suspend the Company, without
further notice. Section 134 of the British Columbia Business Corporations Act provides that, if,
as a result of one or more vacancies that occur among the directors, the number of directors in
office falls below the number required for a quorum, the remaining directors may appoint as
directors the number of individuals that, when added to the number of remaining directors, will
constitute a quorum but must not take any other action until a quorum is obtained. Messrs.
O’Donnell and Mason had agreed to become directors on the understanding that the Company be
adequately financed to carry on with its business model which was to continue with the
development of its copper/cobalt mining project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since a
financing could not be completed without the Company having the minimum number of
directors to authorize the actions, Messrs. O’Donnell and Mason had agreed to become directors
to enable the Company to accomplish these objectives on the basis that, if a satisfactory interim
financing was not completed within 90 days, they may resign as directors as noted in the
Company’s press release dated July 18, 2016. The Company indicated that it intended initially to
complete a rights offering of common shares to its shareholders pursuant to National Instrument
45-106, to raise approximately $600,000 at a price of $0.05 per share. When Messrs. O’Donnell
and Mason become directors, they were aware that the Company had financial difficulties but
were surprised subsequently to learn the extent of those difficulties. As it turned out, the
Company was in fact totally insolvent, making it impossible to proceed with the planned rights
offering. Instead of resigning, Messrs. O’Donnell and Mason agreed to stay on temporarily as
directors to attempt to resolve the financial crisis of the Company. The initial hurdle was to keep
the Company compliant with its financial reporting requirements, but since the Company had no
funds to pay the auditors, this could not be completed. A Cease Trade Order (the “CTO”) was
issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission on December 1, 2016 against the
Company for failing to file its audited financial statements and related documents within the
required time periods. The CTO prohibits all trading in and all acquisitions of the securities of
the Company, except in accordance with the conditions that are contained in the CTO for so long
as the CTO remains in effect.
The Company’s new CFO has compiled the liabilities of the Company as best as he could from
the information he has been able to obtain from prior management. The Company’s major
secured creditor has demanded payment of its outstanding debt, said to be the sum of USD
3,096,043 plus accrued and unpaid interest of USD 1,589,343 as at December 1, 2016.
Additionally, it would appear that the Company has outstanding liabilities claims of
approximately CDN 800,000 on a corporate level and USD 271,720 owing to contractors and
labourers in the DRC. A former director has commenced a legal action against the Company for
fees allegedly accruing to him prior to his resignation and while the Company was insolvent. The
Company is defending the action. The Company has been in ongoing discussions with its major
secured creditor in an attempt to resolve the Company’s difficulties. No resolution is viable
without an agreement with the major creditor.
The Company and its auditors are continuing the audit process of its Annual Financial
statements. The Company has assembled the financial information to enable the auditors to
complete the required audit but is awaiting a resolution with the major creditor to enable it to
proceed. The Company has been advised that a decision is expected shortly.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this press release.
This press release may include certain forward-looking statements concerning the future
performance of the Company’s business and operations as well as management’s objectives,
strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions
and expectations of management, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different
from those currently anticipated by such statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only
of the date on which it is made, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the
Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Company Contact:
Daniel Gregory, Chief Financial Officer
Office: (416) 709 9266
E-mail: [email protected]