Aclara Announces the Closing of the Transaction with Cap and the Receipt of Initial Payment of US$9.7M as Part of the US$29.1M Strategic Investment
ACLARA ANNOUNCES THE CLOSING OF THE TRANSACTION WITH CAP AND THE
RECEIPT OF INITIAL PAYMENT OF US$9.7M AS PART OF THE US$29.1M
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
TORONTO, ON, April 17, 2024 – Aclara Resources Inc. (“Aclara” or the “Company”) (TSX: ARA) is pleased
to announce the closing of the acquisition by CAP S.A. (“CAP”) of its 20% equity ownership interest in REE
Uno SpA (“REE U no”), the Company’s Chilean subsidiary that owns the Penco Module project , and receipt
by the Company of the initial payment of approximately US$9.7 million in connection with such acquisition.
The acquisition is made pursuant to the terms of the previously announced investment agreement entered
into between CAP and Aclara on March 13, 2024 (the “Investment Agreement”). Under the terms of the
Investment Agreement, payments are to be made in three tranches, of which the remaining two tranches in
the amounts of US$12.5 million and US$6.9 million are to be made in January of 2025 and 2026,
respectively.
Transaction Summary
• A US$29. 1 million capital contribution by CAP into REE Uno, Aclara´s Chilean subsidiary wh ich
owns the Penco Module and all of Aclara´s mining concessions in Chile, in exchange for a 20%
equity participation in REE Uno . Following payment of the initial tranche of US $9.7 million, the
remaining tranches in the amounts of US$12.5 million and US$6.9 million are to be paid in January
of 2025 and 2026, respectively. This initial investment by CAP represents a pre-money valuation of
REE Uno of US$116.5 million.
• An option to invest an additional US$50 million in REE Uno for an additional 20% equity interest in
REE Uno once the requisite environmental permit is secured for the Penco Module. Upon
completion, this additional investment would allow CAP to attain a 40% equity interest in REE Uno.
This second investment represents a pre-money valuation of REE Uno of US$150 million.
• A three-year option to invest up to 19.9% in Aclara by participating in any private placement or
public offering of shares that Aclara may make during the next 36 months, including a residual top-
up right to maintain pro rata voting rights . Any subscription to such private placement or public
offering will be made on the same terms offered by Aclara to other investors . CAP will have the
right to nominate one board member upon attaining and for so long as its equity interest in Aclara
amount to at least 15% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Aclara. In addition, CAP
holds a one -time demand subscription right to invest up to an aggregate of 19.9% in Aclara,
exercisable upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and continuing for a maximum period of 18
months counted from the end of the initial 3-year option.
• The formation of a 50/50 joint venture to develop metals and alloys for the rare earths permanent
magnet industry. CAP will invest US$3.0 million in exchange for its 50% of the shares of the newly
established joint venture company. Aclara will own the other 50% of the shares.
Aclara Corporate Structure after the Completion of the Transaction with CAP
Transaction Benefits to Aclara
Funding
The US$29.1 million initial capital injection from CAP into REE Uno will support the ongoing development
of the Penco Module throughout its permitting , community relations , and feasibility study phases. This
allocation will allow Aclara Resources to reallocate its current cash reserves towards advancing its Carina
Module project in Brazil.
The option for an additional US$50 million investment post-receipt of the environmental permit is intended
to cover a significant part of the equity portion associated with the construction of the Penco Module. This
provision mitigates financing risks linked to the module's construction for Aclara.
Permitting
Drawing upon CAP's extensive experience in environmental permitting from multiple mining projects in
Chile, Aclara anticipates strengthened support for the forthcoming Environmental Impact Assessment
permit application in respect of the Penco Module . CAP's involvement includes a thorough review and
constructive contributions to the application preparation, as well as accompanying Aclara throughout the
review and approval process by Chilean environmental agencies.
Vertical Integration
Furthermore, the establishment of a metals and alloys company represents a crucial step of Aclara's
strategic vision to vertically integrate its rare earths concentrate production towards the manufacturing of
permanent magnets. The newly formed joint venture company will harness CAP's substantial expertise in
metal refining and ferro-alloyed special steels, synergizing with Aclara's thorough understanding of the rare
earths and permanent magnet industry . The joint venture with CAP is intended to supplement the
Company’s efforts in developing independent rare earth separation capabilities in the United States through
its U.S. subsidiary, Aclara Technologies Inc., as previously announced on April 10, 2024 , and to further
position Aclara as a source of geopolitically independent alternative supply of permanent magnets to the
global market.
Valuation
The transactions contemplated under the Investment Agreement (the “Transaction”) reflects the valuation
of Aclara at the time of the Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”) and is indicative of the belief both
parties have in establishing Aclara as a leading producer of clean rare earths.
Upon closing, REE Uno has been valued at US$116.5 million on a pre-money valuation. In addition, Aclara
will own 50% of the newly established joint venture company, which has a valuation of US$3.0 million. In
total, the Transaction represents an aggregate valuation reflecting the Company’s pre -money valuation at
the IPO of US$119.5 million.
It's noteworthy that Aclara's Brazilian subsidiary, Aclara Mineracao, which oversees the Carina Module and
all mining concessions in Brazil, is not part of the Transaction nor included in the valuation mentioned
above. This aspect adds further value to Aclara Resources and its shareholders.
About CAP
CAPS.A., a company with more than 77 years of history and listed in the Chilean Stock Exchange since
1987, is the parent company of the CAP Group, a Chilean conglomerate operating in various industries
including iron ore mining (CMP), with mines and industrial operations in the north of the country, as well as
in Concepcion, in proximity to the Penco Module. CAP is one of the leading high-grade iron ore producers
in the world with four operating mines in Chile. In addition, CAP has several steel product manufacturing
plants in Chile, Peru and Argentina. It operates five ports, a seawater desalination plant and has vast
industrial infrastructure in the Biobio region. CAP has a strong connection with the people of the Biobío
region, where it has been a major employer for several decades, contributing directly to the development of
the south of Chile.
About Aclara
Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) is a development -stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth
mineral resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. The Company currently has two projects under
development: the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile, and the Carina Project in the State of Goiás,
Brazil.
Aclara's rare earth extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. It does not involve
blasting, crushing, or milling, and therefore does not generate tailings, thus eliminating the need for a
tailings storage facility. The extraction process developed by Aclara minimizes water consumption through
high levels of water recirculation made possible by the inclusion of a water treatment facility within its
patented process design. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a common fertilizer,
ammonium sulfate. Further, harmful levels of radionuclides, typical of hard rock rare earth deposits, are not
concentrated within the Aclara flowsheet.
Simultaneously, alongside the development of the Carina and Penco projects, the Company intends to
identify and evaluate further opportunities to increase future production of heavy rare earths. This will
involve greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional projects within the Company's
concessions in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities
legislation, which reflects the Company’s current expectations regarding future events, including statements
with regard to: the Company’s strategic investments and partnerships, the current and future valuation of the
Company and its subsidiary, the economic effect of the Investment Agreement, the closing of the strategic
investment and other transactions contemplated thereby, and the Company’s expectations as to the
partnership and future financings by investors and the achievement of certain environmental and permitting
milestones, and other transactions contemplated thereby. Forward-looking information is based on a number
of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s
control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but a re not limited to risks related to operating in a foreign
jurisdiction, including political and economic problems in Chile and Brazil; risks related to changes to mining
laws and regulations and the termination or non -renewal of mining rights by government al authorities; risks
related to failure to comply with the law or obtain necessary permits and licenses or renew them; compliance
with environmental regulations can be costly; actual production, capital and operating costs may be different
than those anticipated; the Company may be not able to successfully complete the development, construction
and start-up of mines and new development projects; risks related to mining operations; and dependence on
the Penco Module and/or the Carina Module. Aclara cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not
exhaustive. For a detailed discussion of the foregoing factors, among others, please refer to the risk factors
discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form dated as of March 28, 2023, filed on
the Company’s SEDAR+ profile. Actual results and timing could differ materially from those projected herein.
Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this
press release is provided as of the date of this press release and the Company does not undertake any
obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.
For further information, please contact:
Ramon Barua
Chief Executive Officer