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Subsequent Events
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
Subsequent Events

20. Subsequent Events 

 

Guadalupe de los Reyes Letter of Intent

 

During January 2014, we announced that we signed a non-binding letter of intent (the “LOI”) to option our interest in the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project in Sinaloa, Mexico (the “Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project”) to Cangold Limited (“Cangold”). 

 

The LOI provides that a non-refundable $50 payment be made during January 2014 to Vista for which Cangold will have a 90 day period of exclusivity (the “Exclusivity Period”) to complete due diligence and negotiate and enter into a definitive option agreement with Vista (the “Option Agreement”).

 

The LOI contemplates that the Option Agreement (if entered into) will provide that Cangold may earn a 70% interest in the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project by:

·

making payments totaling $5,000 in five payments over a three-year period, with payments totaling $1,000 in the first year, $1,500 in the second year and $2,500 in the third year;

·

maintaining the concessions comprising the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project in good standing; and

·

fulfilling all of the obligations of Vista’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Minera Gold Stake, S.A. de C.V. (“MGS”) to the Ejido La Tasajera (the ”Ejido”) as set out in the temporary occupation contract between MGS and the Ejido. 

 

The Option Agreement is expected to further provide that all cash payments are non-refundable and optional to Cangold, and in the event Cangold fails to pay any of the required amounts on the scheduled dates or fails to comply with its other obligations, the Option Agreement will terminate and Cangold will have no interest in the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project.  Provided it is not in breach of the Option Agreement, Cangold may at its discretion make the payments pursuant to the above payment schedule in advance.

 

Subject to Cangold earning a 70% interest in the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project,  Vista expects the Option Agreement to provide that Cangold will be granted an additional option to earn the remaining 30% interest in the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project, by notifying Vista of a production decision and by making a cash payment to Vista of $3,000 plus an additional cash payment based on a formula that includes the growth, if any, in estimated NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resources of the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project, and the then prevailing spot gold price (“Escalator Payment”).

 

Should Cangold determine not to put the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project into production, Vista expects the Option Agreement to provide that Vista will have the right to buy back Cangold’s 70% interest in the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project for a cash payment of $5,000 plus an additional cash payment based on the same formula as the Escalator Payment described above.  If Vista does not exercise its buyback option, Vista will still retain a right of first refusal should Cangold elect to sell its 70% interest in the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project to a third party.

 

The Option Agreement is also expected to contain terms to provide that Cangold will be the operator of the Guadalupe de los Reyes gold/silver project and set forth the responsibilities and obligations of Cangold in this respect.

 

Los Cardones Payment Extension

 

During January 2014, we announced our agreement to extend the due date for the second (and final) $6,000 payment for the Los Cardones sale by six months to July 31, 2014 as a result of permitting delays.  As consideration for this extension, the Purchasers have agreed to increase the payment from $6,000 to $6,250.  The Purchasers will continue to retain the option to elect, in their discretion, not to make the $6,250 payment. In that event, we will retain the $7,000 already received and 100% of the Los Cardones gold project will be returned to us.    

 

Sale of Midas Gold shares

 

During February 2014, we announced that the Company had executed an agency agreement (the “Agency Agreement”) among certain agents (the “Agents”) and Vista and Vista US under which we sold 16,000,000 Midas Gold shares at a price of C$0.80 per Midas Gold share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$12,800  ($11,640).  The Agents and a finder received a cash fee equal to 6% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Midas Gold shares as consideration for the services provided.

 

As a result, Vista currently holds, directly and indirectly through Vista US, an aggregate of 15,802,615 Midas Gold shares, representing approximately 12.4% of the outstanding commons shares of Midas Gold.  We have agreed not to sell any of the remaining shares we hold for a period of 12 months. 

 

Under the terms of the 2013 Facility, the lender agreed to release 16,000,000 Midas Gold shares held as security for the 2013 Facility on the condition that approximately C$5,516  ($5,000) of the proceeds would be applied towards the 2013 Facility principal outstanding reducing the principal outstanding to approximately C$1,443  ($1,300).