NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSX-V: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") announces that the terms for its previously announced marketed offering of units of the Company (“Units”) have been amended. The Company now intends to raise aggregate gross proceeds of approximately US$30 million (approximately C$38 million) pursuant to the Offering of Units at a price of C$3.50 per Unit (the “Offering”). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of Rock Tech (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance of such Warrant, at an exercise price of C$4.50, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the warrant indenture to be entered into between the Company and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, including acceleration and adjustment in certain circumstances.
Rock Tech currently intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to finance the development of the Company's proposed high grade lithium hydroxide converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany (the "Guben Converter") and to fund the continued exploration and development of the Company's Georgia Lake lithium project in Ontario, Canada (the "Georgia Lake Project"). The net proceeds from the Offering are expected to provide the Company with sufficient capital to advance its projects, including the Guben Converter and Georgia Lake Project, in line with its proposed business timeline. Additionally, over the last week further strategic, less dilutive financing possibilities have arisen, which could help to strongly accelerate the company's growth.
It is anticipated that a portion of the Offering will be conducted through a syndicate of underwriters (the "Underwriters") led by TD Securities Inc. and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation acting as joint book-runners and including Berenberg Capital Markets, LLC as joint lead manager (the “Underwritten Offering”). The Company expects to grant the Underwriters an option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to purchase up to an additional 15% of the Underwritten Offering. It is anticipated that such Over-Allotment Option will be exercisable, in whole or in part at the discretion of the Underwriters, at any time up to and including 30 days following the closing date of the Offering. The Underwriters can elect to exercise the Over-Allotment Option for Units only, Common Shares only, Warrants only or any combination thereof, to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes.
The remaining portion of the Offering, will be conducted via a non-brokered private placement pursuant to subscription agreements to be entered into directly between Rock Tech and purchasers (“Subscription Agreements”), all of whom are expected to be existing shareholders of Rock Tech (the “Concurrent Placement”).
The final terms of the Offering will be determined at the time the Company enters into a definitive underwriting agreement with the Underwriters and Subscription Agreements with purchasers under the Concurrent Placement. Closing of the each of the Underwritten Offering and the Concurrent Placement will be subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"). There can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering will be completed, or as to the final size or terms of the Offering.
The Underwritten Offering will be made to the public in each of the provinces of Canada, excluding Québec, pursuant to a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's existing Canadian base shelf prospectus dated July 13, 2022 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus") and in the United States on a private placement basis to "qualified institutional buyers" pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). In addition, the Underwriters (directly or through affiliates or selling group members) may offer Units pursuant to the Underwritten Offering in such jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States as agreed between the Company and the Underwriters on a basis which does not require the filing of a prospectus, registration statement or similar document in such jurisdiction.
The Prospectus Supplement and the Base Shelf Prospectus contain important information about the Company and the Underwritten Offering. Prospective investors in the Underwritten Offering should read the Prospectus Supplement and the Base Shelf Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, before making an investment decision. Copies of the Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and all documents incorporated by reference therein will be available electronically on Rock Tech's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
The Units, Common Shares and Warrants referred to in this press release have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company.
ABOUT ROCK TECH LITHIUM INC.
Rock Tech is a cleantech company on a mission to produce lithium chemicals for EV batteries. The Company aims to serve automotive customers with high-quality lithium hydroxide. Rock Tech plans to build high-tech lithium converters at the door-step of the European and North American automotive industries, to provide customers with supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict ESG standards and is developing a proprietary refining process to further increase efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its own mineral project in Canada as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw materials from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. www.rocktechlithium.com
Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The following cautionary statements are in addition to all other cautionary statements and disclaimers contained elsewhere in, or referenced by, this press release.
Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which information is based on Rock Tech's current expectations, estimates, and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking information. Often, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and all other indications of future tense. All forward-looking information set forth in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements referred to in this section.
In particular, forward-looking information contained in this press release includes: statements regarding the Offering, including the pricing and size of the Offering, the size of the Underwritten Offering, the size of the Concurrent Placement and completion and timing thereof; the entering into of a definitive underwriting agreement; the granting of the Over-Allotment Option to the Underwriters; the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; the entering into of the Subscription Agreements; the ability of the relevant parties to satisfy the conditions to closing the Offering, including the approval of the TSX-V; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; expectations with respect to future financing options; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.
Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and, in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. This forward-looking information was derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the satisfaction of the conditions to closing of the Offering in a timely manner, including receipt of all necessary approvals; that the Offering will be completed on terms consistent with management's current expectations; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; expected growth, performance and business operations; the availability of financing on acceptable terms; future commodity prices and exchange rates; Rock Tech's prospects and development projects (including the Guben Converter and the Georgia Lake Project), as well as other opportunities available to the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; Rock Tech's ability to procure supplies and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results.
In addition, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Rock Tech's control, that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to be materially different from that which is expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially include: an inability to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering on a timely basis, or at all; uncertainty regarding whether market conditions and marketing efforts will result in terms of the Offering acceptable to the Company; the Company's ability to access additional funding, including through the Offering, required to invest in available opportunities and projects (including the Guben Converter and the Georgia Lake Project) and on satisfactory terms; the current and potential adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including future outbreaks or mutations and any associated policies or restrictions on business; the risk that Rock Tech will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due; changes in commodity and other prices; Rock Tech's ability to retain and attract skilled staff and to secure feedstock from third party suppliers; unanticipated events and other difficulties related to the construction, development and operation of the Guben Converter or the Georgia Lake Project; the cost of compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations; title defects; competition from existing and new competitors; changes in currency exchange rates and market prices of Rock Tech's securities; Rock Tech's history of losses; impacts of climate change; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Rock Tech's public disclosure documents available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Rock Tech's most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, respectively. Such risks and uncertainties do not represent an exhaustive list of all risk factors that could cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially from the forward-looking information.
The forward-looking information contained in this press release reflects Rock Tech management's views as at the date such information was created. Other than as may be required by law, Rock Tech undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaims any responsibility, obligation or undertaking to update or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, to reflect any change in Rock Tech's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such information is based. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purposes of assisting readers in understanding Rock Tech's plans, objectives and goals and is not appropriate for any other purposes. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking information set forth in this press release.
For further information: please contact André Mandel, VP Marketing & Communications, Rock Tech Lithium Inc.; 777 Hornby Street, Suite 600, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 1S4; Telephone: +49 (0) 151 2825 4014; Facsimile: (604) 670-0033; Email: amandel@rocktechlithium.com.
