(all amounts expressed in U.S. dollars)
MEDELLIN, Colombia, Sept. 22,
2023 /CNW/ - Mineros S.A. (TSX: MSA) (CB:
MINEROS) ("Mineros" or the "Company") announces that on
September 21, 2023, it closed the
previously announced sale of its non-core Gualcamayo Property to
Eris LLC (the "Purchaser").
The transaction was structured as the sale to the Purchaser by
certain subsidiaries of Mineros (the "Sellers") of all of the
outstanding shares of Minas Argentinas S.A. ("MASA") pursuant to a
share purchase and sale agreement dated September 7, 2023 (the "Agreement"). Under the
terms of the Agreement: (i) the Purchaser assumed all obligations
of MASA existing as at the closing date of the transaction, and
Mineros paid $6.5 million to the
Purchaser to cover a portion of those obligations; and (ii) the
Purchaser assumed all of the obligations of Mineros and its
subsidiaries with respect to a $30
million contingent payment that would become payable to
Nomad Royalty Company Ltd. (a subsidiary of Sandstorm Gold Ltd.)
should the Deep Carbonates Project, an exploration project located
on the Gualcamayo Property, ever be put into production.
As a result of the transaction, the Company expects to incur
one-time non-cash costs of between $38
million – $41 million in the
third quarter of 2023.
UPDATED GUIDANCE
Based on the sale of the Gualcamayo
Property, Mineros is revising its 2023 consolidated
production and cost guidance, as provided in the Company's
management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three
months and year ended December 31,
2022, dated February 17, 2022.
Guidance for total gold production on a consolidated basis is
revised from 264,000 – 292,000 oz to 239,000 – 262,000 oz, Cash
Cost per ounce of gold sold on a consolidated basis is revised from
$1,160 – $1,250 to $1,170 –
$1,270, and All-In Sustaining Cost
("AISC") per ounce of gold sold on a consolidated basis is
revised from $1,400 – $1,490 to $1,440 –
$1,540.
Mineros is not revising its 2023 guidance for the Hemco Property
or the Nechi Alluvial Property, its continuing operations. On a
consolidated basis, guidance for 2023 for the Hemco Property and
the Nechi Alluvial Property, is as follows: total gold production
is 209,000 – 229,000 oz, Cash Cost per ounce of gold sold is
$1,060 – $1,150, and AISC per ounce of gold sold is
$1,310 – $1,410.
These estimates are forward-looking statements and information
that are subject to the cautionary note associated with
forward-looking statements at the end of this news release.
Cash Cost and AISC are non-IFRS financial measures, and Cash
Cost per ounce of gold sold and AISC per ounce of gold sold are
non-IFRS ratios, with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and
therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures presented
by other issuers. For further information and detailed
reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly
comparable IFRS measures, see "Non-IFRS and Other Financial
Measures" in the Company's MD&A for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2023, which is
incorporated by reference in this news release and available on
SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.
ABOUT MINEROS S.A.
Mineros is a Latin American gold mining company headquartered
in Medellin, Colombia. The
Company has a diversified asset base, with mines in Colombia
and Nicaragua, and a pipeline of
development and exploration projects throughout the region. The
Board of Directors and management of Mineros have extensive
experience in mining, corporate development, finance, and
sustainability. Mineros has a long track record of maximizing
shareholder value and delivering solid annual dividends. For almost
50 years, Mineros has operated with a focus on safety and
sustainability at all its operations.
Mineros' common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
under the symbol "MSA", and on the Colombia Stock Exchange under
the symbol "MINEROS".
The Company has been granted an exemption from the individual
voting and majority voting requirements applicable to listed
issuers under Toronto Stock Exchange policies, on grounds that
compliance with such requirements would constitute a breach of
Colombian laws and regulations which require the directors to be
elected on the basis of a slate of nominees proposed for election
pursuant to an electoral quotient system. For further information,
please see the Company's most recent annual information form filed
on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This news release contains "forward looking information" within
the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking
information includes statements that use forward looking
terminology such as "may", "could", "would", "will", "should",
"intend", "target", "plan", "expect", "budget", "estimate",
"forecast", "schedule", "anticipate", "believe", "continue",
"potential", "view" or the negative or grammatical variation
thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such
forward looking information includes, without limitation,
statements regarding capital allocation decisions, the effect of
the sale of the Gualcamayo Property on the Company's financial
position, and future financial or operational performance,
including estimated production of gold, Cash Cost per ounce of gold
sold, and AISC per ounce of gold sold in 2022.
Forward looking information is based upon estimates and
assumptions of management in light of management's experience and
perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments,
as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant
and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news
release, including, without limitation, assumptions about
favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability to raise
any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the
production, development and exploration of the Company's properties
and assets; future prices of gold and other metal prices; the
timing and results of exploration and drilling programs, and
technical and economic studies; the accuracy of any mineral reserve
and mineral resource estimates; the geology of the Company's
material properties being as described in the applicable technical
reports; production costs; the accuracy of budgeted exploration and
development costs and expenditures; the price of other
commodities such as fuel; future currency exchange rates and
interest rates; operating conditions being favourable such that the
Company is able to operate in a safe, efficient and effective
manner; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of
governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, licenses and
permits on favourable terms; obtaining required renewals for
existing approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms;
requirements under applicable laws; sustained labour stability;
stability in financial and capital goods markets; inflation rates;
availability of labour and equipment; positive relations with local
groups, including artisanal mining cooperatives in Nicaragua,
and the Company's ability to meet its obligations under its
agreements with such groups; and satisfying the terms and
conditions of the Company's current loan arrangements. While the
Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, the
assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, social,
economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and
uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that could cause
actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from those projected in the
forward looking information. Many assumptions are based on factors
and events that are not within the control of the Company and there
is no assurance they will prove to be correct.
For further information of these and other risk factors, please
see the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual information
form dated March 31, 2022 (as it may be updated or
replaced from time to time), available on SEDAR+
at www.sedarplus.ca.
The Company cautions that the foregoing lists of important
assumptions and factors that may affect future results are not
exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual
results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and
expressed in, or implied by, the forward looking information
contained herein. There can be no assurance that forward looking
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance
on forward looking information.
Forward looking information contained herein is made as of the
date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation
to update or revise any forward looking information, whether as a
result of new information, future events or results or otherwise,
except as and to the extent required by applicable securities
laws.
SOURCE Mineros S.A.