History
Red Metal bought a Chilean copper project, tried and failed to option or sell its assets, then turned to insiders and a Canadian listing push to keep funding exploration.
2007-2010: Buying into Chile
Red Metal Resources set out to build a copper-gold business in Chile's Atacama region. In October 2007 its wholly owned Chilean subsidiary, Minera Polymet, agreed to take over an option on the 66-hectare Farellón Alto Uno al Ocho holding for US$250,000, with a further US$300,000 due to the owner by May 2008. This was a new project, separate from the company's earlier Ontario claims.
In May 2008 the company raised $1,000,000 by selling 4,000,000 units at $0.25 to four non-US investors. Each unit was one share plus a warrant at $0.35 until April 2010. On April 25, 2008 it paid the US$250,000 and US$300,000 and completed the option, acquiring title. In June 2009 it deregistered its securities, ending its obligation to file reports with the SEC. The record for 2009 to 2010 is otherwise quiet.
2011-2015: Raising money, then optioning out
In April 2011 the company sold about 6,723,333 units at $0.30, raising $2,017,000 gross (about $1,862,462 net). Each unit carried a two-year warrant at $0.50. The money was for the next drilling phase at Farellon, first exploration at the Mateo project and working capital. Shares on issue rose from 17.1 million at the end of 2011 to about 18.0 million in 2012, then to 32,956,969 in 2013.
The company then tried to have others carry the costs. In February 2013 it agreed a memorandum of understanding with Geoactiva SpA over its Perth concessions, and the option was signed on April 30, 2013. Geoactiva would pay US$1,000,000 and spend US$3,500,000 on exploration over 48 months, with US$37,500 paid at signing and a 1.5% royalty kept by the company.
In 2014 the company took options on neighbouring ground, including the 252-hectare Quina claim, signed in December 2014, for US$150,000 in cash and shares over four years. A second concession, Exeter, was delayed. The same month, Geoactiva said it would not continue with Perth after completing 30 drill holes totalling 3,956 metres, ending what had been the company's cash-flow hope.
2016-2019: Offers to sell
In September 2016 the company signed a non-binding letter of intent with TomaGold Corporation to be bought for CAD$3,250,000, mostly in TomaGold shares, with up to CAD$500,000 in cash towards debts. The letter would lapse in November 2016 unless extended, and the record does not show it being completed. In February 2017 it signed another letter of intent, with Power Americas Minerals Corp, to sell Farellon, Perth and Mateo through three options for 25 million Power Americas shares plus US$250,000. Its outcome is not stated in the record. Shares on issue stayed between about 34 million and 37.5 million over these years. From July 2018 management worked without pay.
2020-2021: Insiders, a new home and a Canadian listing
In January 2020 US$167,103.91 owed to Caitlin Jeffs was converted into 3,713,420 shares at $0.045. In July 2020 net smelter royalties (shares of future mining revenue) on the Carrizal-area concessions were sold to Richard Jeffs, Caitlin Jeffs and Joao da Costa for a combined $5,000. The company said that since July 2018 it had cancelled $1,979,844 owed to insiders and $351,952 owed to contractors and employees. It filed an updated technical report in November 2020, and COVID-19 limited fieldwork in Chile.
Shareholders approved moving the company from Nevada to British Columbia on February 9, 2021, with 99.9% of votes cast, effective February 10; the same vote ratified the royalties. In May 2021 it closed 3,849,668 units at CAD$0.15 (CAD$577,450.20). On June 15, 2021 it closed 6,460,872 subscription receipts at CAD$0.15 (CAD$969,131), held in escrow. In total it raised CAD$1,546,581.2.
As of June 23, 2021, the escrowed money would be released only if the shares listed on a recognized Canadian exchange by September 30, 2021 (or a later agreed date). Otherwise it would be returned.
Written from the 16 story beats below (2007 to 23 June 2021), which come from the company's own announcements and filings.