Kincora Copper, a junior resource company listed on the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange, announced on September 22 that it had secured 1.1 million USD in capital through a private placement by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

EBRD will receive a 6.16 percent stake in the company in exchange for 1.1 million USD in capital. The purpose of the private placement for Kincora was to further its funding for exploration.

EBRD noted that such funding is not in the usual portfolio and the private placement was a move away from the bank’s reluctance to finance exploration rather than operational projects because it is seen as more high-risk. Eric Rasmussen, the director of natural resources at the EBRD, said the bank could make an exception because of “an exploration gap” following the commodity price crash of 2015-2016.

Kincora, which has the mining license for more than 1,500 square kilometers has begun its drilling program for copper in Mongolia. Analysts predict that the demand for copper will only increase, especially in China, due to infrastructure projects such as the one promised by US President Donald Trump and the rise of electric vehicles. This promises to be very beneficial for Kincora Copper and Oyu Tolgoi, which explains EBRD’s interest and willingness to buy a stake in Kincora.

EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes the development of the private sector and entrepreneurial initiative in 37 economies across three continents. The bank is owned by 66 countries as well as the EU and the EIB.

Since entering Mongolia in 2006, EBRD has committed a total of 1.7 billion USD to the Mongolian private sector through 86 projects.

EBRD announced that its first vice president Phil Bennett will visit Mongolia next week to meet the interim government and the business community. He will also visit Rio’s Oyu Tolgoi mining project, a statement on Thursday said.

The securing of the 1.1 million USD in private placement marks the second time this year that Kincora has received capital through a tranche. The first tranche raised around 4.8 million USD on August 22.

Similar to the first tranche, each unit will be comprised of one common share of Kincora and one-half of a share purchase warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder to acquire a further share at 0.36 USD for a period of two years.

The agreement also provides EBRD with certain pre-emptive rights to acquire further shares of Kincora in future private placements and requires that EBRD consent to a disposition of any interest in the company’s Mongolian subsidiaries.

“We are very pleased to welcome EBRD as a shareholder. The bank has unique knowledge of, and relationships in Mongolia and has provided finance to assist the development of the two existing economic copper projects in the Devonian belt. In the last two months, Kincora has attracted two new significant investors who are well known in the industry and have undertaken extensive due diligence,” said Sam Spring, president and CEO of Kincora.

“The second tranche from EBRD will support and accelerates the first modern systematic Tier 1 drill testing and district scale reconnaissance exploration program in the world-class, under-explored Southern Gobi Devonian copper gold belt with drilling activities commenced at our East TS target in the last month and shortly also to commence at the Bayan Tal target,” Spring added.

Published Date:2017-09-27