Mining Sector Investment Fund
SIDEX and the SDBJ Mining Fund Join Forces again
A financing initiative for drilling on Québec’s James Bay territory for junior mining companies
Montréal, December 18, 2020 – SIDEX and Mining Investment Fund SDBJ (SDBJ) have joined forces to launch “DRILLING JAMES BAY 2021”, an initiative designed to encourage junior mining companies to test new drilling targets on Québec’s James Bay territory during winter 2021.
The $1.5 million initiative is available for a limited time and is open to all companies with a drilling project on Québec’s James Bay territory, provided it is consistent with the missions of SIDEX and SDBJ.
Designed to finance drilling programs, “DRILLING JAMES BAY 2021” offers financing of $300,000 per company in equity based on market conditions. To qualify the company will need to conduct a drilling program of a minimum of $450,000.
Paul Carmel, President and CEO of SIDEX, commented: “We are pleased to pursue this initiative with SDBJ to accelerate the emergence of new mineral discoveries on the James Bay territory of Québec”.
SDBJ President and CEO Alain Coulombe added: “Once again this year, the Drilling James Bay program will help meet the needs of mining companies in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory and promote the renewal of the region’s mineral resources.”
Eligibility conditions
In order to qualify for financing, companies must meet certain criteria, among others:
- Be listed on the TSX or TSX-V;
- Have respected the applicable Securities Law for at least three years;
- Have no working capital deficiency at the time of application;
- Have a sustainable development policy in place visible on the company’s website;
- Have an independent board of directors (as per Regulation 52-110 of the Securities Act);
- Have administrative expenses that are in line with the company’s size;
- Work will need to be performed by a member in good standing with the Ordre des géologues du Québec or the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.
Eligible companies are invited to submit an application containing the required information. Complete files will be processed in order of date of receipt and accepted until March 30, 2021 or until the $1.5 million budget is exhausted. SIDEX and SDBJ will base their decision on the technical quality of the projects and the strategy of the management team. Testing of new targets will be favored. A due diligence and approval process has been put in place to speed up the investments.
The proposed exploration program must be completed before the end of spring 2021 and a summary of the work performed and a statement of expenses sent to SIDEX by June 30 2021.
Applicants will be charged a 4 % application fee, which includes preparation of the legal documentation by SIDEX and SDBJ.
INFORMATION SHEET
HOW TO OBTAIN FINANCING “ DRILLING JAMES BAY ”
The following documents must be submitted along with the application.
Pre-investment
Company-related:
- A copy of the company’s sustainable development policy;
- Documents on the company’s current financial situation:
- Last quarter;
- Confirmation of positive working capital on the date of application and description of any type of obligation in respect of exploration expenses and payments to maintain an interest in the company’s properties in 2021;
- Evaluation of the board of director’s independence in the information circular.
Project-related:
- Summary report on the project, including:
- Brief background;
- Property rights;
- Exploration drilling program (excluding definition drilling) and objectives;
- Budget.
Post-investment, due by June 30, 2021
The work contemplated by the financing must be completed by the end of spring 2021 and a summary report submitted by June 30, 2021 containing:
- A description of the work performed;
- A statement of expenses (at least $450,000 for a drilling campaign).
About SIDEX
SIDEX is an initiative of the Québec government and the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) whose mission is to invest in companies engaged in mineral exploration in Québec in order to diversify the province’s mineral base, promote innovation and support new entrepreneurs.
About SDBJ
SDBJ was created under the James Bay Region Development Act adopted by the Québec National Assembly in 1971. Its mission is to promote, from a sustainable development perspective, the economic development, improvement and exploitation of natural resources other than hydroelectric resources falling within Hydro-Québec’s mandate in the Baie-James territory. SDBJ can also foster, support and participate in the implementation of projects having these objectives.
Sources:
Paul Carmel
President and CEO
SIDEX S.E.C.
Email: pcarmel@sidex.ca
Simon T.Hébert, géo
Mining Investment Fund Manager
Société de développement de la Baie-James
Tel.: 418 748-7777, ext. 5222
Email: shebert@sdbj.gouv.qc.ca
Mining Sector Investment Fund
The SDBJ mining investment fund: financing mining projects
Mission
To contribute to the renewal of mineral resources and the sustainability of the mining industry in the James Bay territory.
Objectives
In putting forward a distinct framework for the mining sector, the fund aims to:
- promote the mining potential of the James Bay territory to increase the number of junior mining exploration companies active in the territory;
- increase the total investment in mining exploration in the James Bay territory.
The SDBJ’s mining investment fund meets the financing needs of junior mining exploration companies in order to stimulate the mining industry in the James Bay territory, including the mineral potential that remains largely unexplored.
Eligibility criteria
Interventions target mining companies with capital stock.
General
- Concise business plan for the coming year
Technical
- Mining exploration project at least at the stage of verifying anomalies and mineral indexes
- Geological survey report describing the work to be financed and including a working budget
Finances
- Company’s financial situation
- Company’s yield potential
- Number of outstanding shares
- Volume of shares traded
- Share price
Management
- Experience and abilities of company directors
- Expertise of the team responsible for geological exploration work
Other
- Presentation of a letter of commitment to work and on the economic benefits for communities throughout the James Bay territory
Means of intervention
- A maximum of $7 million will be spent on financing the mineral exploration
- Amount of investment required: $100,000 to $500,000
- Participation of less than 10% of share capital
Financial vehicles
- Private investment in share capital
- Private investment in débentures
