Marathon Gold Corporation (“Marathon” or the “Company”; TSX: MOZ)
today announces its financial results for the third quarter ending
September 30, 2023, and provides an update on the Company’s
activities at the Valentine Gold Project (the “Project”) in the
central region of Newfoundland and Labrador (“NL”).
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless
otherwise noted.
Third Quarter Financial
Results
- Cash and
cash equivalents at September 30, 2023 of $71.0 million
and restricted cash of $244.8 million.
- Capital
Expenditures of $76.0 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2023, including $73.7 million related to construction
of the Project.
Third Quarter Project KPIs
- The Project
exceeded 800,000 hours of site work completed without a lost time
incident.
- At the end of
the third quarter, overall completion at the Project stood at
50%.
- During the
quarter, important de-risking of the Project was achieved with the
completion of earthworks at the process plant and significant
advancement of earthworks at the Tailings Management Facility
(“TMF”). Rock placement for the tailings dam footprint is now
96% complete.
- 634 Marathon
employees and contractors are employed or providing services to the
Project, 85% of whom are residents of Newfoundland and
Labrador.
- The Project’s
cost-to-complete, including contingency, was estimated at $463
million at October 31, 2022 and C$318 million at September 30,
2023.
- The
Project remains on schedule for first gold
production in the first quarter of 2025.
Highlights
- Subsequent to
the end of the quarter, the Company and Calibre Mining Corp.
(“Calibre”) announced that they entered into a definitive
arrangement agreement pursuant to which Calibre will acquire all of
the issued and outstanding common shares of Marathon it does not
already own pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement (the
“Transaction”). In connection with the Transaction, Calibre has
agreed to purchase on a non-brokered private placement basis
66,666,667 common shares of Marathon at C$0.60 per share for gross
proceeds of C$40 million.
- Subsequent to the end of the
quarter, the Company announced that the Minister of Environment and
Climate Change, had released the proposed addition of the Berry
Deposit to the Project from the provincial environmental assessment
process.
- On July 10,
2023, the Company closed a C$6.9 million non-brokered charity
flow-through offering at a price of C$1.0488.
- On August 7,
2023, the Company held a formal signing ceremony for the
Socio-Economic Agreement with the Miawpukek First Nation that was
concluded on May 8, 2023.
- In the quarter,
the Company announced management changes, appointing Mr. Gil Lawson
in the role of Chief Operating Officer, effective October 1, 2023,
replacing Tim Williams.
Financial Performance
The results of operations for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2023 are summarized below (all figures
are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted):
(Stated in thousands of
Canadian dollars) |
|
Three Months EndedSeptember
30, |
|
Nine Months EndedSeptember
30, |
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative
expense |
|
$ |
6,643 |
|
|
$ |
1,999 |
|
|
$ |
12,854 |
|
|
$ |
5,181 |
|
Finance expense, net |
|
|
6,076 |
|
|
|
1,678 |
|
|
|
2,108 |
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
Other
income, net |
|
|
(76 |
) |
|
|
(40 |
) |
|
|
(237 |
) |
|
|
(122 |
) |
Loss before tax |
|
$ |
12,643 |
|
|
$ |
3,637 |
|
|
$ |
14,725 |
|
|
$ |
6,459 |
|
Deferred income tax expense |
|
|
852 |
|
|
|
716 |
|
|
|
1,371 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
Net Loss |
|
$ |
13,495 |
|
|
$ |
4,353 |
|
|
$ |
16,096 |
|
|
$ |
6,526 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures¹ |
|
$ |
75,587 |
|
|
$ |
33,466 |
|
|
$ |
167,198 |
|
|
$ |
56,060 |
|
-
Capital expenditures are presented on a cash basis.
General and administrative expenses increased
from the comparable period in 2023, due to an increase in salaries
and wages, $2 million in public road repairs in the third quarter
of 2023, and $1.0 million in fees related to the sale of the
additional NSR to Franco-Nevada in the second quarter of 2023.
Finance expense, in the third quarter of 2023
included an unrealized foreign exchange loss of $5.2 million
related to the remeasurement of financial liabilities at period
end.
Capital expenditures were $42.1 million and
$111.1 million higher in the three and nine months ended September
30, 2023, respectively, than the comparable period in the prior
year primarily as a result of an increase in project construction
capital spending and the repurchase of 0.5% of the NSR on the
Project from Franco-Nevada. Major construction mobilization at the
Project commenced in January 2023, with major civils work related
to the process plant and principal facilities now complete,
including all foundations at quarter-end. Mining of the Leprechaun
pit for waste rock in support of construction of pads and haul
roads and mining of the Marathon pit for the TMF is ongoing. As of
the end of the third quarter, the permanent camp modules and
construction of the Project’s 66 kV powerline connection to the
Star Lake Generating Station have also been completed.
Qualified Persons
Disclosure of a scientific or technical nature
in this news release has been approved by Mr. Gil Lawson, P. Eng.
(Ont.), Chief Operating Officer for Marathon, Mr. Paolo Toscano,
P.Eng. (Ont.), Senior Vice President, Projects, Engineering and
Construction for Marathon, Mr. James Powell, P.Eng. (NL), Vice
President, Regulatory and Government Affairs for Marathon and Mr.
David Ross, P.Geo (NL), Vice President, Geology & Exploration
for Marathon. Mr. Lawson, Mr. Toscano, Mr. Powell and Mr. Ross are
qualified persons under National Instrument (“NI”) 43-101. Mr. Roy
Eccles, P.Geo. (NL), of APEX Geoscience Ltd. is a Qualified Person
for purposes of NI 43-101, is independent of Marathon and the
Valentine Gold Project, and has reviewed and takes responsibility
for the updated 2022 MRE prepared by John T. Boyd Company.
About Marathon
Marathon (TSX:MOZ) is a Toronto based gold
company advancing its 100%-owned Valentine Gold Project located in
the central region of Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the top
mining jurisdictions in the world. The Project comprises a
series of five mineralized deposits along a 32-kilometre system. A
December 2022 Updated Feasibility Study outlined an open pit mining
and conventional milling operation producing 195,000 ounces of gold
a year for 12 years within a 14.3-year mine life. The Project was
released from federal and provincial environmental assessment in
2022 and construction commenced in October 2022. The Project has
estimated Proven Mineral Reserves of 1.43 Moz (23.36 Mt at 1.89
g/t) and Probable Mineral Reserves of 1.27 Moz (28.22 Mt at 1.40
g/t). Total Measured Mineral Resources (inclusive of the Mineral
Reserves) comprise 2.06 Moz (29.23 Mt at 2.19 g/t) with Indicated
Mineral Resources (inclusive of the Mineral Reserves) of 1.90 Moz
(35.40 Mt at 1.67 g/t). Additional Inferred Mineral Resources are
1.10 Moz (20.75 Mt at 1.65 g/t Au). Please see the NI 43-101
Technical Report “Valentine Gold Project, NI 43-101 Technical
Report and Feasibility Study” effective November 30, 2022,
Marathon’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31,
2022 and other filings made with Canadian securities regulatory
authorities available at www.sedar.com for further details and
assumptions relating to the Valentine Gold Project.
For more information, please
contact:
Amanda MalloughManager, Investor RelationsTel: 416
855-8202amallough@marathon-gold.com |
Matt MansonPresident & CEOmmanson@marathon-gold.com |
Julie RobertsonCFOjrobertson@marathon-gold.com |
|
|
|
To find out more information on Marathon Gold
Corporation and the Valentine Gold Project, please visit
www.marathon-gold.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
Certain information contained in this news
release, constitutes forward-looking information within the meaning
of Canadian securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). All
statements in this news release, other than statements of
historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or
developments that Marathon expects to occur are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that are
predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or
conditions, or include words such as “expects”, “anticipates”,
“plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “considers”, “intends”,
“targets”, or negative versions thereof and other similar
expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “may”, “will”,
“should”, “would” and “could”. We provide forward-looking
statements for the purpose of conveying information about our
current expectations and plans relating to the future, and readers
are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other
purposes. More particularly and without restriction, this news
release contains forward-looking statements and information about
the Updated Feasibility Study and the results therefrom (including
IRR, NPV5%, Capex, FCF, AISC and other financial metrics and
economic analysis), the realization of mineral reserve and mineral
resource estimates, the future financial or operating performance
of the Company and the Project, capital and operating costs, the
ability of the Company to obtain all government approvals, permits
and third-party consents in connection with the Company’s
exploration, development and operating activities, the potential
impact of COVID-19 on the Company, the Company’s ability to
successfully advance the Project and anticipated benefits thereof,
economic analyses for the Valentine Gold Project, processing and
recovery estimates and strategies, future exploration and mine
plans, objectives and expectations and corporate planning of
Marathon, future environmental impact statements and the timetable
for completion and content thereof and statements as to
management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the
matters and activities contemplated in this news release.
Forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly,
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned
not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. In
respect of the forward-looking statements concerning the
interpretation of exploration results and the impact on the
Project’s mineral resource estimate, the Company has provided such
statements in reliance on certain assumptions it believes are
reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the continuity
of mineralization between drill holes. A mineral resource that is
classified as “inferred” or “indicated” has a great amount of
uncertainty as to its existence and economic and legal feasibility.
It cannot be assumed that any or part of an “inferred mineral
resource” or an “indicated mineral resource” will ever be upgraded
to a higher category of mineral resource. Investors are cautioned
not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these
categories will ever be converted into proven and probable mineral
reserves.
By its nature, this information is subject to
inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific
and which give rise to the possibility that expectations,
forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove
to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that
objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved.
Factors that could cause future results or events to differ
materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating
to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and
continuity of mineral deposits and conclusions of economic
evaluations; uncertainty as to estimation of mineral resources;
inaccurate geological and metallurgical assumptions (including with
respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral
resources); the potential for delays or changes in plans in
exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, or the
completion of feasibility studies due to changes in logistical,
technical or other factors; the possibility that future
exploration, development, construction or mining results will not
be consistent with the Company’s expectations; risks related to the
ability of the current exploration program to identify and expand
mineral resources; risks relating to possible variations in grade,
planned mining dilution and ore loss, or recovery rates and changes
in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; operational
mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents,
equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and
strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions
in exploration and development; risks related to the inherent
uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for
unexpected costs and expenses; risks related to commodity and power
prices, foreign exchange rate fluctuations and changes in interest
rates; the uncertainty of profitability based upon the cyclical
nature of the mining industry; risks related to failure to obtain
adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or
delays in obtaining governmental or other stakeholder approvals or
in the completion of development or construction activities; risks
related to environmental regulation and liability, government
regulation and permitting; risks relating to the Company’s ability
to attract and retain skilled staff; risks relating to the timing
of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for
continued operations and future development projects; political and
regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks
relating to the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
Company and the mining industry; changes in general economic
conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risks
described in Marathon’s documents filed with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities, including the Annual Information Form for
the year ended December 31, 2022.
You can find further information with respect to
these and other risks in Marathon’s Annual Information Form for the
year ended December 31, 2022 and other filings made with Canadian
securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. Other
than as specifically required by law, Marathon undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect
events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is
made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether
as a result of new information, future events or results
otherwise.
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