Key points
- Spirit Resources SARL, controlled by Jean-Raymond Boulle who owns about 27 per cent of DFI’s shares, provided the loan.
- The facility consolidates DFI’s prior debt to Spirit into a total principal of $3,981,634.12 (U.S.).
- Principal accrues interest at 10 per cent per year starting Feb. 20, 2007, with a maturity date of Feb. 20, 2009.
- Spirit advanced $930,000 (U.S.) to DFI effective Feb. 22, 2007, leaving $570,000 (U.S.) available for future advances.
Diamond Fields International Ltd. (DFI) has entered into a
credit facility agreement with Spirit
Resources SARL, providing for a loan by Spirit of $1.5-million (U.S.) to
assist the company with its existing and anticipated future working capital
requirements. Spirit is controlled by Jean-Raymond Boulle, who beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, a total of 38,174,305 common shares of DFI,
representing approximately 27 per cent of DFI’s issued and outstanding shares.
As detailed in DFI’s continuous disclosure filings with Canadian
securities regulators (including the company’s rights offering circular dated
Dec. 14, 2006), the company is indebted to Spirit pursuant to a promissory
note issued by the company dated June 9, 2004, as amended.
As of Feb. 15, 2007, a total of $2,298,689.26 (U.S.) in outstanding
principal, and accrued and unpaid interest was due to Spirit under the 2004
note. Pursuant to the terms of the 2004 note (and as
approved by the shareholders of DFI at its annual general meeting held on
Nov. 16, 2005), the 2004 note amount is convertible, in whole or in part,
at the election of Spirit, into common shares of DFI at the price of 25
Canadian cents per share.
As previously stated in a letter agreement dated June 2, 2005, Spirit
agreed to postpone repayment of the amount owing under the 2004 note, and DFI
agreed to secure such amount by all of DFI and its subsidiaries’ property
and assets.
The credit facility agreement, in addition to providing a loan in the
amount of $1.5-million (U.S.) to DFI for its working capital purposes, consolidates
all of DFI’s prior debt to Spirit (consisting of the 2004 note amount and
other debt in the total amount of $182,944.86 (U.S.) as reported in the
company’s financial statements) for a total principal amount of
$3,981,634.12 (U.S.) owing under the credit facility agreement.
Effective Feb. 20, 2007, such principal will accrue interest under the
credit facility agreement at the rate of 10 per cent per year, payable monthly, with
the first payment to commence on the last business day of February, 2007. DFI
will be entitled to prepay any part of the principal prior to the maturity
date of Feb. 20, 2009.
The credit facility agreement further provides that all amounts owing
thereunder will be secured by all of DFI and its subsidiaries’ property and
assets, including a first ship mortgage over DFI’s mining vessel, DF
Discoverer. The credit facility agreement contains other customary
representations, warranties and covenants. A copy of the credit facility
agreement, including the schedules thereto which comprise the security
instruments, will be filed on SEDAR under the
company’s profile as a material contract.
As Spirit is an insider of the company, the transaction contemplated by
the credit facility agreement constitutes a related-party transaction under
Rule 61-501 of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). However, as
a loan or credit facility transaction, the transaction is exempted from the
formal valuation requirements of the OSC. The company is also exempted
from the shareholder approval requirements of the OSC rule provided by the
exemption contained in Section 5.7(1)7 (loan to issuer, no equity or voting
component) of the OSC rule. In reaching these conclusions, the directors of
the company (each of whom are independent of Mr. Boulle and Spirit)
unanimously determined that the credit facility agreement is on commercially
reasonable terms that are not less advantageous to the company than if a
similar credit facility were obtained from a person or company dealing at
arm’s length with the company. The directors have also determined that the credit facility agreement, and the
transactions and agreements contemplated thereby are fair and reasonable to
the company, and are in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.
The credit facility agreement has been accepted by the Toronto Stock Exchange.
A material change report was not filed prior to 21 days before the
execution of the credit facility agreement and the advance of funds
thereunder, as the company wished to negotiate and complete the transaction on
an expedited basis in view of its working capital requirements and for other
sound business reasons.
The credit facility agreement also provides that the principal, and all
outstanding accrued and unpaid interest may become convertible, in whole or in
part, at the election of Spirit, into common shares of DFI, subject to receipt
of necessary approvals of the TSX, as well as the minority shareholders of the company as
required under the OSC rule, and the rules and policies of the TSX. The company
has agreed to hold a special meeting of its shareholders to seek the necessary
shareholder approval of such conversion feature priced at the lowest
conversion rate currently available under the rules of the TSX and will
provide further details in due course. Until such approvals are obtained, no
amount owing under the credit facility agreement will be convertible into
common shares of the company, except in respect of the 2004 note amount, which
remains convertible pursuant to the terms of the 2004 note, as previously
approved by shareholders.
Pursuant to the credit facility agreement, effective Feb. 22, 2007,
Spirit advanced $930,000 (U.S.) to the company, leaving an additional $570,000
(U.S.) available for future advances under the credit facility agreement as may be
required by DFI.