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Message: Klondex Closes U.S. $20 Million Secured Facility to Advance Underground Developm

Klondex Closes U.S. $20 Million Secured Facility to Advance Underground Development of High-Grade Nevada Gold Project

  • BusinessWire · Apr. 6, 2011 | Last Updated: Apr. 6, 2011 9:04 AM ET

Klondex Mines Ltd. (TSX: KDX) announces it has secured a U.S. $20 million gold-backed debt facility (the “Facility”) for its wholly-owned subsidiary, Klondex Gold & Silver Mining Company (“KGS”) to fund a transformational underground development and bulk sampling program at Fire Creek, its high-grade [10.11 gr./tonne] gold project in North Central Nevada. The Facility is being funded by Waterton Global Value, L.P. (the “Lender”)

Blane Wilson, President & COO, comments: “We spent many months seeking a financial structure to fund our underground program that would also meet our goal of limiting shareholder dilution. This U.S. dollar facility meets those goals and gives KDX the flexibility to fully execute on its Fire Creek underground program. That program includes the construction of a 4,000-foot decline, in-fill drilling from underground stations and initial high-grade gold production via bulk sampling, which is expected to commence by year-end.

Klondex Chairman & CEO, Bill Solloway, observes, “With funding, permits, plans and contractors in place, the start of Klondex’s underground development is imminent. We believe this progression from pure exploration to a hybrid model of exploration and production via bulk sampling represents a transformation delivering substantial value for our shareholders as it unfolds.”

The gold-backed facility bears interest at 9% per annum and consists of three drawdowns commencing with $10,000,000 at closing and two subsequent drawdowns of $5,000,000 each conditioned on the achievement of certain development milestones.

Borrowings under the Facility are to be repaid in equal monthly installments – from March 2012 through February 2014 - of physical gold bullion from KGS’s anticipated gold recovery at Fire Creek. Monthly gold repayments will be determined by a formula based on the principal owed, the number of installments, and a 20% discount to the spot price of gold. At any time the Lender may request monthly payments be made in cash, without penalty and KGS may prepay the Facility in whole or in part in physical gold ounces or cash (as the Lender may select). KGS’s obligations are secured by a lien and a first priority security interest in all its properties and assets, including Fire Creek. KDX has issued a guarantee backed by a share pledge over its shares in KGS.

The Lender has been granted an exclusive right to purchase all gold produced by Fire Creek for a three-year period beginning one year prior to Facility’s maturity date. Generally, pricing will be based on a 30-day average gold price at a 1% discount to such average price.

At closing, KGS pays a structuring fee of 1% of the aggregate amount of the Facility and also pays a structuring fee of 1% of each drawdown. The Lender also receives four-year “First Tranche” warrants to purchase 1.4 million of KDX’s shares priced at $3.99 per share. First Tranche warrants, if exercised within 18 months of issuance, will also earn an equal number of new warrants exercisable until April 5, 2016 at the higher of 115% of the 5-day volume weighted average price at the time of the issuance, or $5.00, whichever is greater. Upon the second and third drawdown, the Lender will receive an additional 300,000 four-year warrants to purchase KDX’s common shares at a strike price 115% above the market price at the time of issuance. All warrants are non-transferable.

About Waterton Global Value, L.P.

Waterton Global Value, L.P. is an affiliate of Waterton Global Resource Management, a Toronto-based resource-focused investment fund launched in 2010. Waterton Global invests in junior resource companies with strong management teams, effective capital structures, and high-quality assets in the mining, precious and base metals, oil, and natural gas sectors. Waterton Global seeks to build long-term partnerships with companies who have proven world-class potential and enduring growth prospects by providing customised capital solutions with a relationship focus. Waterton Global’s Fund Family team brings a diverse portfolio and 12-year track record as leading investors in private and public companies in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

About Klondex Mines (www.klondexmines.com):

Klondex Mines Ltd. is focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned high-grade Fire Creek gold deposit in North Central Nevada. Fire Creek is a compelling, low-Capex mining prospect that is well located near power, transportation, mining infrastructure and several milling facilities. Klondex plans to initiate an underground exploration and bulk sampling program in Q2 2011, with initial bulk sampling production targeted to begin by year-end 2011. Klondex has identified the following NI 43-101 compliant resource at Fire Creek:

Fire Creek

NI 43-101 Compliant Mineral Resource as of March 30, 2009*

Classification Metric Tonnes Grams Gold Equivalent

Per Metric Tonne

Total Ounces

Gold Equivalent

Indicated 5,043,033 10.11 1,639,822
Inferred 1,833,423 8.63 508,799
*The resource is approx. 98.3% gold and 1.7% silver and reflects a cutoff grade of 5 grams per tonne. 60 units of silver are equivalent to one unit of gold.

Klondex had 36,544,089 shares issued and outstanding and 41,319,089 shares on a fully diluted basis as of December 31, 2010.

ON BEHALF OF KLONDEX MINES LTD.

William J. Solloway Blane Wilson
Chairman and CEO President and COO

Contacts

Klondex Mines Ltd.
Bryson Goodwin, (604) 341-1531
[email protected]
or
Jaffoni & Collins
David Collins, (212) 835-8500
[email protected]

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