VERSES Announces Upsizing of LIFE & Private Placement Offering and Closing of Special Warrant Private Placement
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
VANCOUVER, B.C., November 8, 2024 – VERSES AI Inc. (CBOE: VERS) (OTCQB:VRSSF) (“VERSES” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of 3,600,000 special warrants of the Company (the “Special Warrants”) at a price of $0.50 (the “Offering Price”) per Special Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.8 million (the “Special Warrant Offering”). The Company’s decision to increase the size of the Special Warrant Offering from $1.6 million to $1.8 million was accepted by Cboe Canada (the “Exchange”) prior to closing.
Each Special Warrant is exercisable, at no additional costs, for one unit of the Company (each, an “Equity Unit”). Each Equity Unit consists of one Class A Subordinate Voting share of the Company (a “Share”) and one-half of one Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Share at an exercise price of $0.70 per Share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, for a period of 36 months from November 8, 2024.
The Special Warrant Offering has been conducted in all the provinces of Canada, except Québec, pursuant to available exemptions from prospectus requirements in National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), other than the Exemption (defined below), for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,800,000. The Special Warrant Offering was also conducted in the United States pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements under Regulation D of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, and in those other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States provided it is understood that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation arises in such other jurisdiction. The Equity Units will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.
In connection with the Offering, the Company: (i) paid to certain finders and advisors an aggregate cash commission of C$91,325; and (ii) issued to certain finders and advisors an aggregate of 182,650 compensation warrants (the “Compensation Warrants”). Each Compensation Warrant will be exercisable into one Equity Unit at the Offering Price for a period of 36 months following November 8, 2024.
The net proceeds of the Special Warrant Offering will be used for general working capital purposes, to fund ongoing operations, and to fund research and development, including the development of Genius, as more particularly described in the Offering Document (defined below).
Upsizing of LIFE Offering
The Company is also pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units. The Company intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of a minimum of 6,800,000 units and up to a maximum of 8,374,198 units of the Company (the "LIFE Units") at a price of $0.50 per LIFE Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $4,187,099 (the "LIFE Offering").
Each LIFE Unit will consist of one Share and one-half of one Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Share at an exercise price of $0.70 per Share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, for a period of 36 months from the closing date.
The LIFE Offering has been structured to take advantage of the listed issuer financing exemption from prospectus requirements (the "Exemption") in Part 5A of NI 45-106, whereby shares issued pursuant to the Exemption are freely tradeable listed equity securities not subject to any hold period (see below). The LIFE Offering will be conducted in all the provinces of Canada, except Québec, under the Exemption, for aggregate gross proceeds up to C$4,187,099. The LIFE Offering may be conducted in the United States pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements under Regulation D of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, and in those other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States provided it is understood that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation arises in such other jurisdiction. The LIFE Units will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.
In connection with the LIFE Offering, the Company may (i) pay to certain finders and/or advisors a cash commission equal to 6.5% of the gross proceeds raised from the sale of the Units; and (ii) issue to certain finders and/or advisors that number of Compensation Warrants as is equal to 6.5% of the Units sold under the Offering. Each Compensation Warrant will be exercisable into one Unit at the Offering Price for a period of 36 months following the closing date.
The Company has filed an amended offering document relating to the LIFE Offering (the "Offering Document") that can be accessed under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company’s website at VERSES.ai. Prospective investors should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision.
The net proceeds of the LIFE Offering will be used for general working capital purposes, to fund ongoing operations, and to fund research and development, including the development of Genius, all as more particularly described in the Offering Document.
The first tranche of the LIFE Offering is anticipated to close on or about November 8, 2024, and completion of the LIFE Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the acceptance of the Exchange.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the 1933 Act or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, and applicable U.S. state securities laws.
About VERSES
VERSES is a cognitive computing company building next-generation intelligent software systems modeled after the wisdom and genius of Nature. Designed around first principles found in science, physics and biology, our flagship product, Genius™, is a toolkit for developers to generate intelligent software agents that enhance existing applications with the ability to reason, plan, and learn. Imagine a Smarter World that elevates human potential through technology inspired by Nature. Learn more at VERSES, LinkedIn and X.
On Behalf of the Company
Gabriel René VERSES AI Inc.
Co-Founder & CEO
Media and Investor Relations Inquiries
Leo Karabelas
Focus Communications President
info@fcir.ca
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although VERSES believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, among others, the Company's ability to complete the LIFE Offering on the terms announced or at all and the use of proceeds of the Special Warrant Offering and LIFE Offering. Such statements and information reflect the current view of VERSES. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause VERSES actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: the ability of the Company to complete the LIFE Offering on the terms announced or at all and the ability of the Company to use the proceeds of the Special Warrant Offering and LIFE Offering as announced or at all; the ability of the Company to obtain all necessary approvals, including approval of the Exchange; currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable).
VERSES cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on VERSES' forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. VERSES has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of VERSES as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. VERSES does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.