Funding And Corporate Update
First Class Metals raises £500,000 via convertible loan note with warrants option to fund North Hemlo drilling.
- Convertible Loan Note £500,000
- Warrant option amount £250,000
- Warrant exercise price 3.18 pence per share
- Warrants to be issued 7,861,635
- Target gold anomaly at North Hemlo 19 g/t gold
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First Class Metals PLC ("First Class Metals", "FCM" or the "Company"), the UK-listed exploration company advancing high-grade, district-scale gold opportunities in Ontario, Canada, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an interest-free Convertible Loan Note agreement for £500,000 ("CLN" or "Convertible Loan Note") with an international institutional investor (the "Investor").
Funding Overview
Under the agreed terms, the Investor will provide up to £500,000 by way of an interest-free Convertible Loan Note, with a twelve-month maturity. The conversion price will be 80% of the lowest five-day VWAP prior to any conversion notice.
Conversion of the Convertible Loan Note is mandatory at maturity, though the Company retains the option to redeem any outstanding balance of the CLN at 125% of nominal value. A 2% commitment fee will be offset against the drawdown at the time of funding.
As part of the funding arrangement, the Investor will also have the option to purchase £250,000 in warrants in First Class Metals PLC ("Warrants"). The Warrants will be exercisable at a price equal to 120% of the Company's closing market price on 11 November 2025, being 3.18 pence per share based on a closing price of 2.65 pence. A total of 7,861,635 Warrants will be issued. The Warrants will remain valid for a period of three years from the date of issuance.
This financing will enable FCM to commence its planned drilling campaign on the Dead Otter trend at the North Hemlo Property, targeting the 19 g/t gold ("Au") anomaly and other identified prospective zones along the trend. The drilling programme aims to capitalise on the remaining seasonal window before ground conditions deteriorate with the onset of winter.
Corporate Update
The Company is pleased to report that negotiations regarding the potential asset sale are advancing, with due diligence complete and commercial terms agreed. The funding secured through this Convertible Loan Note is intended to bridge the timing gap between ongoing operations and the anticipated closing of this transaction.
Next Steps
Funds from the Convertible Loan Note are expected to be received shortly, allowing mobilisation of drill crew. The Company will update shareholders on operational progress and on developments regarding the asset sale in due course.
James Knowles, Executive Chairman commented:
"This agreement with the Investor provides FCM with the immediate flexibility to advance exploration at North Hemlo, where the planned drilling campaign represents a pivotal and exciting phase for the Company. The support of an institutional investor at this critical juncture underscores confidence in our portfolio and in our strategy to unlock shareholder value through both the continued development and monetisation of our assets."
We have prepared a short video summary of this announcement that you can view directly here: https://firstclassmetalsplc.com/link/P4xZQP
FCM acquired the Zigzag Project near Armstrong, Ontario in March 2023. The property features Li-Ta-bearing pegmatites in the same belt as Green Technology Metals' Seymour Lake Project, which contains a Mineral Resource estimate of 9.9 Mt @ 1.04% Li2O. Zigzag was successfully drilled prior to Christmas 2023 and results have now been released.
The Kerrs Gold property, acquired under option by First Class Metals in April 2024, is located in northeastern Ontario within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world's most prolific gold-producing regions. The project holds a historical inferred resource of approximately 386,000 ounces of gold, underscoring its potential as a meaningful addition to FCM's expanding gold portfolio. Kerrs Gold complements the Company's exploration strategy and provides exposure to a well-established mining district. FCM is currently reviewing plans to advance the project and further unlock its value.
Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.