Japan Gold Announces Strategic Financing with Goldcorp Inc. and RCF Opportunities Fund L.P.
TSX-V: JG
Japan Gold Corp.
Suite 650 – 669 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B4 Canada
Phone: +1 778-725-1491
www.japangold.com
NEWS RELEASE
Japan Gold Announces Strategic Financing with Goldcorp Inc. and RCF
Opportunities Fund L.P.
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES
NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
December 12, 2018 – VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Japan Gold Corp. (TSX-V:JG)(OTCQB:JGLDF) (“Japan Gold”
or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it intends to raise approximately $6.65 million (the “Offering”)
through the issuance of 44,333,334 common shares (each a “ Share”) at a price of $0.15 per Share (the “ Issue
Price”) by way of a private placement to certain strategic investors, including Goldcorp Inc. (TSX:G, NYSE:GG)
(“Goldcorp”) and RCF Oppo rtunities Fund L.P. (“ RCF Opps”). As part of the Offering, Goldcorp has agreed to
subscribe for 22,602,634 Shares of the Company and RCF Opps has agreed to subscribe for 10,000,000 Shares of
the Company, representing 19.9% and 8.8% of the issued and outsta nding common shares of Japan Gold,
respectively, upon completion of the Offering.
Southern Arc Minerals Inc. (“ Southern Arc”) has additionally agreed to purchase 10,000,000 Shares under the
Offering. Concurrently with closing of the Offering, Southern Arc intends to effect a private sale (the “Trade”) of
10,000,000 Shares that it currently owns to funds managed by a global investment manager. Southern Arc has
concurrently filed a Notice of Intention to Distribute Securities under Section 2.8 of National Instrument 45-102
– Resale of Securities (“NI 45-102”) in order to permit it to effect the Trade upon expiry of the requisite seven -
day notice period under NI 45 -102. Following the Trade, if consummated, there will be no change in the total
number of Shares of the Company held by Southern Arc, which will then represent a 31.9% ownership position
in Japan Gold, and the funds acquiring such Shares will acquire freely-tradable shares.
Certain insiders of the Company have also agreed to participate in the Offering on the terms described above.
The Offering is expected to close on or about December 20, 2018.
John Proust, Chairman & CEO of Japan Gold, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome Goldcorp, among
the world’s largest gold producers, and RCF Opportunities Fund L.P., managed by a pre-eminent mining-focused
private equity fund manager, as flagship significant shareholders of the Company as we continue to unlock the
mineral potential of Japan. This financing allows us to advance exploration of our prospecting rights, which are
centered on historic and prospective areas of gold mineralization. Goldcorp will also participate with Japan Gold
on a joint technical committee, and we look forward to the contribution of their experienced technical team.
Separately, Japan Gold and First Quantum Minerals Ltd. are continuing to advance their joint exploration
activities on four copper-gold lithocap projects in Japan.”
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Russ Cranswick, Partner and Head of RCF Opps, further stated: “As an organization, we continuously look for
unique opportunities within the mining industry. As such, we are excited to be supporting Japan Gold as a first
mover into a new phase of Japanese mineral exploration.”
The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to explore and develop the Company’s gold-focused assets in Japan,
complete regional reconnaissance work to identify new prospective targets in-country, and for general corporate
and working capital purposes.
Subject to the terms of an investor rights agreement with Goldcorp and the subscri ption agreement with RCF
Opps, each of Goldcorp and RCF Opps will be granted certain anti-dilution rights allowing them to maintain their
equity ownership interest in Japan Gold.
The private placement with Southern Arc is a “related party transaction” with in the meaning of Multilateral
Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“ MI 61-101”) by virtue of
Southern Arc being a “control person” of Japan Gold. The Offering will be exempt from the formal valuation and
minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of any Shares issues
to, nor the consideration paid by, Southern Arc will exceed 25% of Japan Gold’s market capitalization.
The Shares issued in the Offering will be subject to a statutory four-month and a day hold period from the date
of closing in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company has applied to list the Shares on the
TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSX-V”). Listing will be subject to the Company fulfilling all of the listing requirements
of the TSX-V. The Shares are not being offered in the United States.
Haywood Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor and Morton Law LLP is acting as legal counsel to the
Company. Beacon Securities Limited will receive a finder’s fee in connection with the Offering.
Early Warning Disclosure
Japan Gold has been advised that, on closing, Goldcorp will acquire ownership of 22,602,634 Shares at the Issue
Price for a total purchase price of $3,390,395.10 representing approximately 19.9% of the issued and outstanding
Shares. Goldcorp does not currently own any securities of Japan Gold. Goldcorp will acquire the Shares for
investment purposes. Goldcorp will evaluate its investment in Japan Gold from time to time and may, based on
such evaluation, market conditions and other circumstances, increase or decrease shareholdings as
circumstances require. The exemption relied on for the acquisition of the Shares is Section 2.3 of National
Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus and Registration Exemptions. A copy of the Early Warning report filed by
Goldcorp in connection with the acquisition will be available on Japan Gold’s SEDAR profile. Goldcorp’s head
office is located at Suite 3400 – 666 Burrard St. Vancouver, BC, V6C 2X8.
On behalf of the Board of Japan Gold Corp.
“John Proust”
Chairman & CEO
About Japan Gold Corp.
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Japan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused solely on gold and copper-gold exploration
in Japan. The Company has applied for 216 prospecting rights licenses in Japan for a combined area of 71,529
hectares over seventeen separate projects. Sixty -eight of these applications have been granted as Prospecting
Rights. The applications cover areas with known gold occurrences and a history of mining, and are prospective
for both high-grade epithermal gold mineralization and gold-bearing lithocaps, which could indicate the presence
of porphyry mineralization. Japan Gold's leadership team has decades of resource industry and business
experience, and the Company has recruited geologists and technical advisors with experience exploring and
operating in Japan. More information is available at www.japangold.com or by email at [email protected].
About Goldcorp
Goldcorp is a senior gold producer focused on responsible mining practices with safe, low-cost production from
a high-quality portfolio of mines. Further information about Goldcorp can be found at www.goldcorp.com.
About RCF
Resource Capital Funds is a group of commonly managed private equity funds, established in 1998 with a mining
sector specific investment mandate spanning all hard mineral commodities and geographic regions. Since
inception, RCF has supported 179 mining companies, with projects located in 51 countries and across 30
commodities. Further information about RCF can be found on its website at www.resourcecapitalfunds.com.
Japan Gold Contacts
John Proust
Chairman & CEO
Phone: 778-725-1491
Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX -V) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains forward- looking statements relating to the Offering of Japan Gold. The closing of the Offering is subject to
certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, regulatory approval, new legislation,
uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties regarding the Company’s ability to execute and implement
future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result
of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.