Hillcrest Announces Closing of First Tranche of Non-Brokered Private Placement and Provides Additional Updates

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC, February 9, 2024 – Hillcrest Energy Technologies (CSE: HEAT) (OTCQB: HLRTF) (FRA: 7HI) (“Hillcrest” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated January 31, 2024, the Company has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement in the amount of 2,530,000 units of the Company (the “Units”) at a price of $0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of $632,000 (the “First Tranche”). The total placement size, cumulative of all tranches, is anticipated to be a maximum of 8,000,000 Units for maximum gross proceeds of $2,000,000 (the “Private Placement”). The Company intends to close the second tranche of the Private Placement in the near future.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a “Common Share”) and one Common Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance. However, the Warrants will be subject to an accelerated expiry upon 30 business days’ notice from the Company in the event the Common Shares trade for ten (10) consecutive trading days any time after four (4) months from the date of issuance at a volume-weighted average price of at least $0.50 on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement, including the First Tranche, for technology and product development, commercialization, and general working capital. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a four month and one day hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The subscribers in the Private Placement included a director and officer of the Company (the “Insider”) who subscribed for an aggregate of 440,000 Units. The issuance of Units to the Insider constitutes a “related party transaction” as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company is relying on the exemption from valuation requirement and minority approval pursuant to subsection 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, for the insider participation in the Private Placement, as the Units do not represent more than 25% of the Company’s market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

The securities of the Company referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Hillcrest also announces an amendment to the terms of the Equity Facility announced on January 17, 2024. The Company and the third-party investor have mutually agreed to increase the commitment fee to 4.9% of the total capital of the Company committed, payable in cash or Common Shares at a deemed price at the greater of the discounted market price permitted under the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) and 90% of the 10-day average closing bid price of the common shares on the CSE.

In addition, the Company has entered into a six-month marketing agreement with Stockhouse Publishing Ltd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Market Limited, an Australian publicly listed entity.

Stockhouse Publishing Ltd, through its media content department, The Market Online, will assist and raise greater awareness for the Company, focusing on the Australian market through platforms such as HotCopper.com.au.

HotCopper.com.au is the leading stock market forum and home to large communities of active investors and market makers in Australia.

Pursuant to the contract with Stockhouse Publishing Ltd, which is located at 1130 – 1055 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 2E9, will be paid Cdn$50,000 for its services and the Company will choose from a menu of standard and custom advertising and marketing campaigns to reach targeted investor audiences. 

About Hillcrest Energy Technologies Hillcrest Energy Technologies is a clean technology company developing high value, high performance power conversion technologies and digital control systems for next-generation powertrains and grid-connected renewable energy systems. From concept to commercialization, Hillcrest is investing in the development of energy solutions that will power a more sustainable and electrified future. Hillcrest is publicly traded on the CSE under the symbol “HEAT,” on the OTCQB Venture Market as “HLRTF” and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as “7HI.” For more information, please visit: https://hillcrestenergy.tech/.