Lucara Announces Extension of Working Capital Facility to
November 15, 2023
NEWS RELEASE
LUCARA ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF WORKING CAPITAL FACILITY TO DECEMBER 15, 2023 AND
$15 MILLION DRAW FROM SHAREHOLDER LIQUIDITY GUARANTEE
VANCOUVER, November 15, 2023 /CNW/ (LUC – TSX, LUC – BSE, LUC – Nasdaq Stockholm)
Lucara Diamond Corp. (“Lucara” or the “Company”) announces a further short-term extension of the maturity of its
$50 million senior secured working capital facility (the “WCF”) and a deferral of the requirement to place $52.9
million in a cost overrun reserve account (the “CORA") to the earlier of the conclusion of discussions with its Lenders
or December 15, 2023 (the “Longstop Date”). An earlier extension granted by the Lenders on October 31, 2023, was
due to expire on November 15, 2023. The Company also announces that it has fully drawn the $15 million liquidity
support guarantee provided by its largest shareholder, Nemesia S.a.r.l. (“Nemesia”) and issued 450,000 common
shares as consideration for this funding.
The Company’s debt package consists of two facilities (the “Facilities”), a project finance facility of $170 million to
fund the development of an underground expansion at the Karowe Mine (the “Project Loan”), and the WCF which
is used to support ongoing operations. Presently, $90 million is drawn from the Project Loan and $35 million is drawn
from the WCF. The terms of the WCF extension do not permit further draws from either the Project Loan or the
WCF. The CORA balance is currently $18.4 million. All currency figures are in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated.
In connection with the further extension of the WCF maturity and deferral of the CORA requirement to the Longstop
Date, the Company’s largest shareholder, Nemesia, has also agreed to extend its liquidity support guarantee in
favour of the Lenders to align with the new deadline. In August 2023 as part of the first WCF extension, Nemesia
agreed to provide the Company with liquidity support of up to $15.0 million in aggregate (“Liquidity Guarantee”)
while discussions with the Lenders continued. The Company is required to maintain a minimum cash balance of
$10.0 million. The terms of the extension of the Liquidity Guarantee to the Longstop Date remain the same, and no
further consideration is payable to Nemesia for the extension. The TSX has approved the Liquidity Guarantee.
In August 2023, the Company issued a debenture (the "Debenture") to Nemesia and issued 450,000 common shares
to Nemesia as a fee upon execution of the Debenture . On November 14, 2023, t he Company drew $15.0 million
from the Debenture and issued a further 450,000 common shares to Nemesia as consideration for the liquidity
support provided. For each $500,000 drawn down under the Liquidity Guarantee, the Company will be required to
issue, subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, 7,500 common shares per month to Nemesia until
the amounts borrowed are repaid.
Liquidity Guarantee from Nemesia
Nemesia is an insider of the Company and, as a result of their provision of the Liquidity Guarantee and receipt of the
Debenture and common shares in connection with the execution and draw down thereof, the transaction
contemplated by the Liquidity Guarantee was considered a “related party transaction” under Multilateral
Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company
relied on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61 -101 from the valuation and minority
shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in respect of Nemesia’s provision of the Liquidity Guarantee as the
aggregate fair market value of the common shares issued to Nemesia upon signing of the Liquidity Guarantee was
less than 25% of the Company’s market capitalization. A material change report in respect of the Liquidity Guarantee
and the Debenture was filed on September 1, 2023.
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On behalf of the Board,
William Lamb
President and Chief Executive Officer
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For further information, please contact:
Hannah Reynish Investor Relations & Communications
+1 604 674 0272| [email protected]
Sweden Robert Eriksson, Investor Relations & Public Relations
+46 701 112615 | [email protected]
UK Public Relations Charles Vivian / Jos Simson, Tavistock
+44 778 855 4035 | [email protected]
ABOUT LUCARA
Lucara is a leading independent producer of large exceptional quality Type IIa diamonds from its 100% owned
Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. The Karowe Mine has been in production since 2012 and is the focus of the
Company’s operations and development activities. Clara Diamond Solutions Limited Partnership (“Clara”), a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Lucara, has developed a secure, digital sales platform that uses proprietary analytics together
with cloud and blockchain technologies to modernize the existing dia mond supply chain, driving efficiencies,
unlocking value and ensuring diamond provenance from mine to finger. Lucara has an experienced board and
management team with extensive diamond development and operations expertise. Lucara and its subsidiaries
operate transparently and in accordance with international best practices in the areas of sustainability, health and
safety, environment, and community relations. Lucara has adopted the IFC Performance Standards and the World
Bank Group’s Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines for Mining (2007). Accordingly, the development of the
Karowe underground expansion project (“UGP”) adheres to the Equator Principles. Lucara is committed to upholding
high standards while striving to deliver long-term economic benefits to Botswana and the communities in which the
Company operates.
The information is information that Lucara is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation
and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. This information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the
contact person set out above, on November 15, 2023 at 2pm Pacific Time.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the statements made and contained herein and elsewhere constitute forward -looking statements as
defined in applicable securities laws. Generally, these forward -looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such a s "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential",
"possible" and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could" or "should"
occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made, and they are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, perfo rmance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward -looking statements. The Company
believes that expectations reflected in this forward -looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be
given that these expectations will prove to be accurate and such forward-looking information included herein should
not be unduly relied upon. The value of the Company's shares, its financial results and its mining activities are
significantly affected by the price and marketability of the diamonds recovered. The sales price of a diamond is
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determined by its characteristics. While the Karowe Diamond Mine has produced several large, high-value diamonds
in excess of 100 carats, there is no assurance that the diamonds recovered which are 100 carats or larger will have
the characteristics required to achieve a high sales price. Statements with respect to the length by which the Karowe
underground expansion project will extend the life of mine are based on key underlying assumptions including, but
not limited to: future diamond prices, future diamond recoveries, expected operating and capital costs, the timing
to achieve key construction milestones, the availability of sufficient financing, people, equipment and materials
when needed for construction and operation of the underground mine, the economic potential of a mineralized
area, the size and tonnage of a mineralized area, the estimation of mineral resources.
There can be no assurance that such forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward -looking information as a result of
those factors discussed i n or referred to in Note 1 of the condensed interim consolidated financial statements for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and in the related interim MD&A under the heading s
“Liquidity and Capital Resources”, “COVID-19 Global Pandemic , E conomic and Geopolitical Risks ” and under the
heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form, both available at
http://www.sedarplus.com, as well as changes in general business and economic conditions, the ability to continue
as a going concern, changes in interest and foreign currency rates, changes in inflation, the supply and demand for,
deliveries of and the level and volatility of prices of rough diamonds, costs of power and diesel, impacts of potential
disruptions to supply chains, acts of foreign governments and the outcome of legal proceedings, inaccurate
geological and recoverability assumptions (including with respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral
reserves and resources), and unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or
processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalations, unavailability of materials
and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or
other job actions, adverse weather conditions, and unanticipated events relating to health safety and environmental
matters).
Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward -looking statements which speak
only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not assume any obligations to update or
revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.