Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
You
should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial
condition or future results.
The
information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including without limitation, the risk factors presented below, updates
and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors and information disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.
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Failure
to consummate the Transaction could negatively impact the price of our Common Shares and have a material adverse effect on our
results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
The
consummation of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions contained in
the Business Combination Agreement, including, among other things, (i) obtaining required approvals of the Transaction and related
matters by the respective shareholders of NioCorp and GXII, (ii) the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4,
(iii) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq of the NioCorp Common Shares to be issued in connection with the Transaction,
(iv) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq of the NioCorp Assumed Warrants, (v) receipt of approval from the TSX with respect
to the issuance and listing of the NioCorp Common Shares issuable in connection with the Transactions, (vi) that NioCorp and its
subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor by merger to ECRC) will have at least $5.000001 million of net tangible assets upon
the consummation of the Transactions, after giving effect to any redemptions by GX Public Stockholders and after payment of underwriters’
fees or commissions, (vii) that, at closing, NioCorp and its subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor by merger to ECRC) will
have received cash in an amount equal to or greater than $15.0 million, subject to certain adjustments, and (viii) the absence
of any injunctions enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Business Combination Agreement.
Many
of the conditions to completion of the Transaction pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement are not within NioCorp’s
or GXII’s control, and we cannot predict with any certainty when these conditions will be satisfied, if at all. Although
NioCorp and GXII are working to complete the Transaction, satisfying the conditions to and completion of the Transaction may take
longer, and could cost more, than we expect. For example, the requirements for obtaining the required stock exchange clearances
and approvals could delay the completion of the Transaction for a period of time or prevent it from occurring. Any delay in completing
the Transaction within the expected timeframe may adversely affect the benefits that we expect to achieve from the Transaction.
If any of these conditions are not satisfied or waived, it is possible that the Business Combination Agreement may be terminated
and the Transaction may not be completed.
If
the Transaction is not completed for any reason, including as a result of NioCorp’s shareholders or GXII’s stockholders
failing to approve the applicable proposals or the Business Combination Agreement is otherwise terminated, our ongoing business
may be materially adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Transaction, we would
be subject to a number of risks, including the following:
●
we may experience
negative reactions from the financial markets, including negative impacts on the price of our Common Shares;
●
we will still be
required to pay certain significant costs relating to the Transaction, such as legal, accounting, financial advisor and printing
fees;
●
we may be required
to pay a termination fee and reimburse GXII for certain of its expenses under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement;
●
the Business Combination
Agreement places certain restrictions on the conduct of the our business until the earlier of the termination of the Business
Combination Agreement and the closing date of the Transaction, which restrictions may have delayed or prevented the us from
undertaking business opportunities that, absent the Business Combination Agreement, may have been pursued;
●
matters relating
to the Transaction require substantial commitments of time and resources by management, which could have resulted in the distraction
of management from ongoing business operations and pursuing other opportunities that could have been beneficial to us; and
●
litigation related
to any failure to complete the Transaction or related to any enforcement proceeding commenced against us to perform our obligations
under the Business Combination Agreement.
If
the Transactions are not completed, any of the risks described above may materialize and they may have a material adverse effect
on our results of operations, cash flows, financial position and the price of our Common Shares.
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If
the Transaction is consummated, the combined company may not realize all or any of the anticipated benefits expected as a result
of the Transaction.
The
success of the Transaction, if consummated, will depend, in part, on the combined company’s ability to realize the anticipated
benefits expected from the Transaction. In particular, a significant number of GXII shareholders may exercise their redemption
rights in connection with the closing of the Transaction. In addition, the Business Combination Agreement does not make the consummation
of the Transaction conditional on the entry into definitive documentation and consummation of the financing transactions contemplated
by the LOIs with Yorkville, and there is no assurance that such financing transactions will be consummated. As a result, even
if the minimum cash and net tangible asset conditions to closing set forth in the Business Combination Agreement are satisfied
and the Transaction is consummated, after giving effect to (i) payments made to GXII stockholders who properly exercise their
redemption rights and (ii) payments for potential taxes and certain expenses incurred by NioCorp and GXII in connection with the
Transaction, to the extent not otherwise paid prior to the closing, the combined company may have less net cash proceeds available
for general corporate purposes than anticipated. In addition, the listing of NioCorp’s Common Shares on Nasdaq may not provide
the anticipated benefits of broader access to capital and financing alternatives or otherwise enhance NioCorp’s public profile.
If the Combined Company is not successful in realizing these anticipated benefits, including the anticipated benefits of listing
NioCorp’s Common Shares on the Nasdaq and the anticipated acceleration of financing efforts to advance, complete construction
and commence operation of the Elk Creek Project, such consequences may adversely affect the combined company’s results of
operations, cash flows, financial position and the price of our Common Shares.
We
may not be able to negotiate definitive documentation related to the Yorkville financings and may not otherwise be able to consummate
the financing transactions contemplated thereby, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
We
may not be able to negotiate definitive agreements relating to the convertible debenture transaction and the standby equity purchase
facility contemplated by the LOIs with Yorkville, which could cause NioCorp and GXII to encounter difficulties in completing the
Transaction with financing terms as favorable as anticipated or at all. In addition, if the Yorkville financings are not completed,
there can be no assurance that we will be able to find an investor of equal interest as Yorkville or a party that would be willing
to consummate a transaction on terms as favorable as those contemplated by the LOIs. Failure by NioCorp to have access to financing
on the terms and conditions as favorable as those contemplated by the LOIs may be materially adverse to NioCorp.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.