Mercator Board Approves Shareholder Rights Plan
VANCOUVER, Feb. 9 /CNW/ --
Plan is Not in Response to any Proposals and is Not Intended to Deter
Equitable Transactions
VANCOUVER, Feb. 9 /CNW/ - Mercator Minerals Ltd. ('Mercator' or the 'Company') (ML: TSX) reports that, although it is
not aware of any pending or threatened take-over initiatives directed
at the Company, Mercator's Board of Directors today approved the
adoption of a Shareholder Rights Plan ('Rights Plan'). The Rights Plan
is effective today, but is subject to the acceptance of the Toronto
Stock Exchange and will terminate if it is not approved by a majority
of the Company's shareholders at a meeting held within six months from
today.
The purpose of the Rights Plan is to provide shareholders and the
Mercator Board of Directors with adequate time to consider and evaluate
any unsolicited bid made for Mercator, to provide the Board with
adequate time to identify, develop and negotiate value-enhancing
alternatives (if considered appropriate) to any such unsolicited bid,
to encourage the fair treatment of shareholders in connection with any
takeover bid for Mercator and to ensure that any proposed transaction
is in the best interests of Mercator's shareholders.
'The Rights Plan is designed to ensure that all shareholders receive
equitable treatment in the event of a transaction that could lead to
the change of control of the Company and is not intended to deter
take-over proposals,' said Michael Surratt, Mercator's President and
Chief Executive Officer.
Effective February 9, 2011, rights were issued and attached to all
Mercator common shares. A separate rights certificate (a 'Right') will
not be issued until such time as the rights become exercisable (which
is referred to as the 'separation time'). The Rights will become
exercisable only if a person, together with its affiliates, associates
and joint actors, acquires or announces its intention to acquire
beneficial ownership of Mercator shares, which when aggregated with its
current holdings total 20% or more of the outstanding Mercator common
shares (determined in the manner set out in the Rights Plan), other
than by a Permitted Bid (as defined in the Rights Plan). Following the
acquisition of more than 20% of the Mercator outstanding common shares
by any person (and its affiliates, associates and joint actors), except
for a Permitted Bid, each right held by a person other than the
acquiring person (and its affiliates, associates and joint actors)
would, upon exercise, entitle the holder to purchase Mercator's common
shares at a substantial discount to their then prevailing market price.
A 'Permitted Bid' is defined under the Rights Plan as a bid which
includes the following conditions, among others: it is outstanding for
a minimum of 60 days, it is made to all of the shareholders of the
Company for all of their common shares and, subject to other specified
conditions, it is accepted by a majority of independent shareholders
(as detailed in the Rights Plan).
A copy of the Rights Plan is available by contacting the Company by
telephone (604) 981-9331, by facsimile (604 960-9661), or by mail to
Mercator Minerals Ltd., 1971 Sandown Place, North Vancouver, British
Columbia, V7P 3C3, Attention: Marc S. LeBlanc. A copy will be available
on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
About Mercator Minerals Ltd.
Mercator Minerals Ltd. is a TSX listed mining company with an
experienced management team that has brought the mill expansion at the
Mineral Park Mine, one of the largest and most modern copper-moly
mining-milling operations in North America, to production in less than
2 years. Mercator management is dedicated to maximizing profits at the
Mineral Park Mine and the development of the El Pilar copper project in
Mexico.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
MERCATOR MINERALS LTD.
Per: 'Michael L. Surratt'
Michael L. Surratt
President
The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Forward Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, which
include estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's
expectations with respect to, among other things, the size and quality
of the Company's mineral reserves and mineral resources, future
production, capital and mine production costs, demand and market
outlook for commodities, and the financial results of the Company and
discussions of future plans, projections and objectives. In addition,
estimates of mineral reserves and resources may constitute forward
looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the
mineralization that will be encountered if a property is developed.
These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, risks
and uncertainties and actual results may vary. Factors that may cause
actual results to vary include, but are not limited to, certain
transactions, certain approvals, changes in commodity and power prices,
changes in interest and currency exchange rates, inaccurate geological
and metallurgical assumptions (including with respect to the size,
grade and recoverability of mineral reserves and resources),
unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant,
equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications,
cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, delays in
the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other
job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and
environmental matters), political risk, social unrest, and changes in
general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets.
These risks are described in more detail in the Annual Information Form
of the Company. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or
update these forward-looking statements after the date of this press
release or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future
unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable
securities laws. For a more complete discussion, please refer to the
Company's audited financial statements and MD&A for the year ended
December 31, 2009 on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
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Marc LeBlanc, VP Corporate Development and Corporate Secretary, Tel: (604) 981-9661; Fax: (604) 960-9661; Email: mleblanc@mercatorminerals.com