M&A

Fancamp dismisses non-fans, appoints new VP

Fancamp Exploration, which is set to acquire ScoZinc Mining and has continued to dismiss criticism of the arrangement, has appointed a new VP of exploration.

Staff reporter
 Fancamp Exploration is acquiring ScoZinc Mining and its Scotia project in Nova Scotia

Fancamp Exploration is acquiring ScoZinc Mining and its Scotia project in Nova Scotia

It said Francois Auclair, who was recently the co-founder and CEO of Algold Resources, would play "a critical role" in Fancamp's redefined strategy to exploration.

The company's new growth strategy was focused on exploration properties, titanium technology and acquiring projects with potential for near-term cash flow, such as ScoZinc's mothballed Scotia mine

The all-scrip merger was proposed in February and received 99.8% voting support from ScoZinc securityholders at an extraordinary general meeting held last week.

Fancamp said last month no approval was required from its shareholders for the arm's length transaction, rebutting the suggestion of a vote and what it described as baseless statements put forward by "disgruntled director" and former president and CEO Peter Smith.

Smith, who along with joint actors hold more than 9% of Fancamp, said in March he and concerned shareholders were "extremely disheartened" by what they described as the "highly dilutive, self-serving and non-arm's length transaction" with ScoZinc.

"For this transaction to be announced prior to the long overdue 2020 AGM is outrageous and a slap in the face for all Fancamp shareholders," the Smith-led group said at the time.

They also noted Mark Billings was a director of both companies until he resigned from ScoZinc in December, with Fancamp responding Billings did not have a disclosable interest in the transaction and was entitled to vote and had not been involved in negotiations around the transaction while he was a director of ScoZinc.

Fancamp's board on April 1 terminated the consulting agreement between the company and Smith for cause, effective immediately, and requested he resign as director.

The concerned shareholders labelled the actions deplorable and said Smith would not be resigning.

Fancamp last week accused Smith of continuing to breach his fiduciary duty to the company and said it reserved all its legal rights in connection with Smith and would consider any appropriate measures to address potential misconduct.

Champion Iron Ore is Fancamp's largest shareholder.

Fancamp had more than C$10 million in cash, according to a presentation last month.

Fancamp shares (TSXV: FNC) rose to within 0.5c of a 12-month high of 14.5c intraday, before closing up 8.7% to 12.5c, capitalising it about $20.7 million (US$16.6 million).

ScoZinc (TSXV: SZM) was unchanged at 67c, valuing it at $9.7 million (US$7.7 million).

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.