Item 8.01 Other Events
As previously disclosed, on September 25, 2022, GX Acquisition Corp. II, a
Delaware corporation ("GX"), NioCorp Developments Ltd., a company organized
under the laws of the Province of British Columbia ("NioCorp" or the "Company")
and Big Red Merger Sub Ltd, a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned
subsidiary of NioCorp ("Merger Sub"), entered into a business combination
agreement (the "Business Combination Agreement"). Pursuant to the Business
Combination Agreement, among other transactions, the following transactions will
occur: (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into GX, with GX surviving the merger
(the "First Merger"), (ii) all Class A shares in GX that are held by
shareholders who have not elected to exercise their redemption rights in
connection with the Transaction shall be converted into shares of Class A common
stock in GX (such shares, the "First Merger Class A Shares"), as the surviving
company in the First Merger, (iii) NioCorp will purchase all First Merger Class
A Shares in exchange for common shares, no par value, of NioCorp ("NioCorp
Common Shares") (the "Exchange"), (iv) NioCorp will assume the GX Warrant
Agreement and each GX Warrant that was issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the effective time of the Exchange will be converted into a warrant to
acquire NioCorp Common Shares, (v) all of the First Merger Class A Shares will
be contributed by NioCorp to 0896800 B.C. Ltd., a company organized under the
laws of the Province of British Columbia and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary
of NioCorp ("Intermediate Holdco"), in exchange for additional shares of
Intermediate Holdco, resulting in GX becoming a direct subsidiary of
Intermediate Holdco, (vi) Elk Creek Resources Corporation, a Nebraska
corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Intermediate Holdco, will
merge with and into GX, with GX surviving the merger as a direct subsidiary of
Intermediate Holdco (the "Second Merger"), and (vii) following the effective
time of the Second Merger, each of NioCorp and GX, as the surviving company of
the Second Merger, will effectuate a reverse stock split with the ratio to be
mutually agreed by the parties.
This Current Report (the "Current Report") is being filed to update and
supplement the definitive proxy statement (the "Definitive Proxy Statement")
filed by GX with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to
GX's special meeting of its stockholders (the "Special Meeting"), which will be
held on March 20, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., Eastern time, at the following address:
https://www.ctsproxy.com/gx2/ext2023. The Definitive Proxy Statement was
declared effective on February 9, 2023 and was sent to all GX stockholders on or
about February 10, 2023.
GX is providing this corrected disclosure to the Definitive Proxy Statement (the
"Supplement") solely to clarify that GX will not use the proceeds placed in the
Trust Account and the interest earned thereon to pay any excise tax imposed
under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 ("IR Act") on any redemptions or stock
buyback by GX, which appears on page 20 of the Definitive Proxy Statement.
The corrected disclosures below should be read in conjunction with the
disclosures contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement, which should be read in
its entirety. To the extent the information set forth herein differs from or
updates information contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement, the information
set forth herein shall supersede or supplement the information in the Definitive
Proxy Statement. All page and paragraph references used herein refer to the
Definitive Proxy Statement before any additions or deletions resulting from the
revised disclosures, and capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in
this Current Report or the Supplement have the meanings set forth in the
Definitive Proxy Statement. From and after the date of this Current Report, any
references to the "definitive proxy statement" in the Definitive Proxy Statement
are to the Definitive Proxy Statement as supplemented hereby.
If you have not already submitted a proxy card for use at the Special Meeting,
you are urged to do so promptly. This Current Report does not affect the
validity of any proxy card or voting instructions that GX stockholders may have
previously received or delivered. No action is required by any GX stockholder
who has previously delivered a proxy or voting instructions and who does not
wish to revoke or change that proxy or voting instructions.
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Corrected Disclosure
Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in
connection with a Redemption Event may be subject to the excise tax. Pursuant to
the rules set forth in the Notice, however, redemptions in connection with a
liquidation of the Company should not be subject to the excise tax. Whether and
to what extent GX would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a
Redemption Event would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair
market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the
Redemption Event, (ii) the structure of the business combination, (iii) the
nature and amount of any "PIPE" or other equity issuances in connection with the
business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with the Redemption
Event but issued within the same taxable year of the business combination) and
(iv) the content of regulations and other future guidance from the Treasury. In
addition, because the excise tax would be payable by GX, and not by the
redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have
not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available
on hand to complete a business combination and in GX's ability to complete a
business combination, including the Transactions. Nonetheless, we will not use
the proceeds placed in the Trust Account and the interest earned thereon to pay
any excise tax imposed under the IR Act on any redemptions or stock buybacks by
GX.
All the other information in the Definitive Proxy Statement and the proxy card
remains unchanged. We have not changed or added to the matters to be considered
by our stockholders at the Special Meeting, and this Current Report does not
change the recommendation of our board of directors with respect to the Charter
Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal described in the Definitive Proxy
Statement.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed Transaction, NioCorp has filed a registration
statement on Form S-4 (the "registration statement") with the SEC, which
includes a document that serves as a prospectus and proxy circular of NioCorp
and a proxy statement of GX, referred to as a "joint proxy
statement/prospectus." The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus has been
filed with the SEC as part of the registration statement and, in the case of
NioCorp, with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and
will be sent to all NioCorp shareholders and GX stockholders as of the
applicable record date. Each of NioCorp and GX may also file other relevant
documents regarding the proposed Transaction with the SEC and, in the case of
NioCorp, with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities. BEFORE
MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF
NIOCORP AND GX ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE DEFINITIVE
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT
WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC AND, IN THE CASE OF NIOCORP, WITH THE APPLICABLE
CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED
TRANSACTION, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS,
CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
registration statement and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and
all other relevant documents that are filed or that will be filed with the SEC
by NioCorp or GX through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents
that are filed or that will be filed with the applicable Canadian securities
regulatory authorities by NioCorp through the website maintained by the Canadian
Securities Administrators at www.sedar.com. The documents filed by NioCorp and
GX with the SEC and, in the case of NioCorp, with the applicable Canadian
securities regulatory authorities also may be obtained by contacting NioCorp at
7000 South Yosemite, Suite 115, Centennial CO 80112, or by calling (720)
639-4650; or GX at 1325 Avenue of the Americas, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10019,
or by calling (212) 616-3700.
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Participants in Solicitation
NioCorp, GX and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and
other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from NioCorp's shareholders and GX's
stockholders in connection with the proposed Transaction. Information regarding
the executive officers and directors of NioCorp is included in its management
information and proxy circular for its 2021 annual general meeting of
shareholders filed with the SEC and the applicable Canadian securities
regulatory authorities on October 22, 2021. Information regarding the executive
officers and directors of GX is included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 25, 2022.
Additional information regarding the persons who may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation, including information regarding their
interests in the proposed Transaction, are contained in the registration
statement and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus. NioCorp's
shareholders and GX's stockholders and other interested parties may obtain free
copies of these documents free of charge by directing a written request to
NioCorp or GX.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian
securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to,
statements about the parties' ability to close the proposed Transaction,
including NioCorp and GX being able to receive all required regulatory,
third-party and shareholder approvals for the proposed Transaction; the
anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction, including the potential amount
of cash that may be available to the combined company upon consummation of the
proposed Transaction and the use of the net proceeds following the redemptions
by GX public shareholders; NioCorp's expectation that its common shares will be
accepted for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market following the closing of the
proposed Transaction; the consummation of the convertible debenture transaction
and the stand-by equity purchase facility contemplated by the definitive
agreements with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors
Global, LP (together with YA II PN, Ltd., "Yorkville"); the financial and
business performance of NioCorp; NioCorp's anticipated results and developments
in the operations of NioCorp in future periods; NioCorp's planned exploration
activities; the adequacy of NioCorp's financial resources; NioCorp's ability to
secure sufficient project financing to complete construction and commence
operation of the Elk Creek Project; NioCorp's expectation and ability to produce
niobium, scandium and titanium at the Elk Creek Project; the outcome of current
recovery process improvement testing, and NioCorp's expectation that such
process improvements could lead to greater efficiencies and cost savings in the
Elk Creek Project; the Elk Creek Project's ability to produce multiple critical
metals; the Elk Creek Project's projected ore production and mining operations
over its expected mine life; the completion of the demonstration plant and
technical and economic analyses on the potential addition of magnetic rare earth
oxides to NioCorp's planned product suite; the exercise of options to purchase
additional land parcels; the execution of contracts with engineering,
procurement and construction companies; NioCorp's ongoing evaluation of the
impact of inflation, supply chain issues and geopolitical unrest on the Elk
Creek Project's economic model; the impact of health epidemics, including the
COVID-19 pandemic, on NioCorp's business and the actions NioCorp may take in
response thereto; and the creation of full time and contract construction jobs
over the construction period of the Elk Creek Project. Forward-looking
statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project,"
"continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict,"
"should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of
these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
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The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the
management of NioCorp and GX, as applicable, and are inherently subject to
uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak
only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future
developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking
statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without
limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: the future price of
metals; the stability of the financial and capital markets; NioCorp and GX being
able to receive all required regulatory, third-party and shareholder approvals
for the proposed Transaction; the amount of redemptions by GX public
shareholders; the consummation of the convertible debenture transaction and the
stand-by equity purchase facility contemplated by the definitive agreements with
Yorkville; and other current estimates and assumptions regarding the proposed
Transaction and its benefits. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently
subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such,
are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to
be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those
discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp and GX with the SEC
and, in the case of NioCorp, with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory
authorities and the following: the amount of any redemptions by existing holders
of GX Class A Shares being greater than expected, which may reduce the cash in
trust available to NioCorp upon the consummation of the Transaction; the
occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to
the termination of the Business Combination Agreement and/or payment of the
termination fees; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted
against NioCorp or GX following announcement of the Business Combination
Agreement and the Transaction; the inability to complete the proposed
Transaction due to, among other things, the failure to obtain NioCorp
shareholder approval or GX shareholder approval or the consummation of the
convertible debenture transaction and the stand-by equity purchase facility
contemplated by the definitive agreements with Yorkville; the inability to
complete the convertible debenture transaction and the stand-by equity purchase
facility contemplated by the definitive agreements with Yorkville due to, among
other things, the failure to obtain shareholder approval or regulatory approval;
the risk that the consummation of the proposed Transaction disrupts NioCorp's
current plans; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed
Transaction; unexpected costs related to the proposed Transaction; the risks
that the consummation of the proposed Transaction is substantially delayed or
does not occur, including prior to the date on which GX is required to liquidate
under the terms of its charter documents; NioCorp's ability to operate as a
going concern; NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital;
NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; cost increases
for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption
in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those
related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; current and future
offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships; NioCorp's ability to
attract qualified management; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or other
global health crises on NioCorp's business plans, financial condition and
liquidity; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and
production activities; feasibility study results; changes in demand for and
price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes or
disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic
developments; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations
and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work
may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived
potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and
labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the
possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs;
operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, or
development activities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves
and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; potential future
litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's
operations.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of
the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp and GX prove incorrect, actual
results may vary in material respects from those projected in these
forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the
proposed Transaction or other matters addressed in this Current Report on Form
8-K and attributable to NioCorp, GX or any person acting on their behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or
referred to in this Current Report on Form 8-K. Except to the extent required by
applicable law or regulation, NioCorp and GX undertake no obligation to update
these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the
date of this Current Report on Form 8-K to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
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