Toronto-based Sprott Inc. (TSX: SII) Friday announced it will seed and launch a new alternative investment fund, the objective of which is to provide superior risk-adjusted returns to investors by drawing on the combined expertise and resources of the firm.

Sprott also announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with an institutional investor to issue, on a private placement basis, 7,575,758 common shares at a price of $3.30 per share, for total gross proceeds of $25 million.

The transaction is expected to close on or about March 13, and is subject to regulatory approval.