First Phosphate Corp. ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering"), as further described in the Company's news release dated December 18, 2024.
As part of the Offering, originally announced for gross proceeds of a minimum of $1 million, the Company raised total gross proceeds of $2,695,459. The Company issued 7,448,455 Flow-Through Shares for gross proceeds of $2,606,960 and 252,857 Hard Dollar Units for gross proceeds of $88,500.
"We are happy to have raised funds exclusively from a select group of existing and new investors, none of which is a traditional flow-through fund," says Company CEO, John Passalaqua.
In connection with the Offering, the Company issued 230,948 Compensation Shares at a price of $0.35 per Compensation Share, and issued 230,948 Compensation Warrants, exercisable at a price of $0.50 per common share of the Company, until December 31, 2025, subject to an Accelerated Expiry Date. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four-month and one day statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering as disclosed in the Company's press release dated December 18, 2024. Capitalized terms used in this news release and not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Company's news release dated December 18, 2024.
Insider Participation
In connection with the closing of the Offering, Larry Zeifman, a director of the Company, purchased a total of 285,714 Flow-Through Shares.
Registered Share Units (RSUs) Grant
The Company also announces that it has approved the grant of 3,100,000 restricted share units of the Company ("RSUs") to eligible directors, management and staff of the Company as part of year end bonus compensation. The RSUs vest immediately and the terms of the RSUs are in accordance with the Company's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. All securities issued are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance.
Grant of Shares under Collaboration Agreement with Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation
Under the collaboration agreement signed on April 9, 2024, the Company has issued 574,389 shares to Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation for the exploration and development expenditures undertaken by the Company on the First Nation's lands in calendar 2024.
Related Party Transactions
As related parties of the Company received Flow-Through Shares and RSUs in connection with the Offering and the grant of RSUs, the transactions are considered related party transactions for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The participation of the related parties of the Company are exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under MI 61-101 in accordance with sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. The Company is relying on an exemption from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 available because the fair market value of the Flow-Through Shares and RSUs purchased by and issued to the related parties does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report related to the transactions more than 21 days before the expected closing of the transactions as required by MI 61-101 but believes that this shorter period is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as the Company wishes to improve its financial position and to close the Offering in short order for sound business reasons.