B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) (“B2Gold” or
the “Company”) is pleased to announce that is has entered into a
purchase agreement with AngloGold Ashanti Limited (“AngloGold”) to
acquire AngloGold’s 50% stake in the Gramalote project (the
“Transaction”), located in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia
(the “Gramalote Project”). Upon completion of the Transaction,
B2Gold will own 100% of the Gramalote Project.
Transaction Highlights
- Consolidates the Gramalote
Project under one owner, providing additional optionality to
analyze lower capital intensity, higher-return development
opportunities for the Project: Historically, the Gramalote
Project has been advanced under a joint venture between B2Gold and
AngloGold, which has led to analyzing the project on a larger scale
basis to provide meaningful production growth to both companies.
Under a single owner, different development opportunities will be
assessed with the goal of delineating a project that maximizes the
return for B2Gold as sole owner of the Gramalote Project.
- Accretive to B2Gold
shareholders on a total gold resource per share basis:
With the Transaction, B2Gold will add 2.11 million gold ounces of
Indicated Mineral Resources and 0.74 million gold ounces of
Inferred Mineral Resources to the Company’s consolidated Mineral
Resource base.
- B2Gold’s in-house projects
team to commence work on various smaller scale project development
plans, with the goal of identifying a higher-return project than
the previously contemplated joint venture development
plan: Based on the results of the 2022 Gramalote
feasibility study, the contemplated larger scale project did not
meet the combined investment return thresholds for development by
both B2Gold and AngloGold. B2Gold plans to commence a detailed
review of the Gramalote Project, including the facility size and
location, power supply, mining and processing options, tailings
design, resettlement, potential construction sequencing and camp
design to identify potential cost savings to develop a smaller
scale project. The results of the review will allow the Company to
determine the optimal parameters and assumptions for a formal
study, to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023, with the goal of
completing an initial assessment by the end of the second quarter
of 2024.
Transaction Terms and
Conditions
Under the terms of the Transaction, the purchase
price will be paid in cash and consist of the following payments to
AngloGold based on, and contingent upon, certain milestones:
- US$20 million upon closing of the
Transaction;
- US$10 million upon B2Gold
announcing a construction decision at the Gramalote Project;
- US$10 million upon commercial
production at the Gramalote Project, contingent on commercial
production beginning within five years of closing of the
Transaction;
- If commercial production does not
commence within five years of closing of the Transaction, no
payment will be made;
- US$10 million on the first
anniversary of commercial production at the Gramalote Project;
and
- US$10 million on the second
anniversary of commercial production at the Gramalote Project.
Upon completon of the Transaction, the structure
of the Transaction immediately adds to B2Gold’s consolidated
Mineral Resource base and significantly increases the Company’s
exposure to the upside from the potential development of the
Gramalote Project, while still providing ongoing exposure to
AngloGold through the contingent payments, which make up the
majority of the purchase price. The Transaction is in line with
B2Gold’s strategy of executing on accretive opportunities,
increasing Mineral Reserves and Resources and continuing to advance
development projects.
The B2Gold Board of Directors has unanimously
approved the Transaction. The Transaction is subject to South
African Reserve Bank approval and the satisfaction of customary
closing conditions. Subject to the satisfaction of these
conditions, B2Gold expects that the Transaction will be completed
in the fourth quarter of 2023.
About B2Gold
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold
producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007,
today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines, a mine under construction in northern Canada and
numerous development and exploration projects in various countries
including Mali, Colombia and Finland. B2Gold forecasts total
consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000 and 1,080,000
ounces in 2023.
Qualified Persons
Brian Scott, P. Geo., Vice President, Geology
& Technical Services, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has
approved the scientific and technical information related to
exploration and mineral resource matters contained in this news
release.
ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.
“Clive T.
Johnson” President
and Chief Executive
Officer
For more information on B2Gold please visit the
Company website at www.b2gold.com or
contact: Michael
McDonaldVP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development+1
604-681-8371
investor@b2gold.com
Cherry DeGeerDirector, Corporate
Communications+1 604-681-8371
investor@b2gold.com
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC
neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this
news release.
Production guidance presented in this news
release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a
100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated
March 16, 2023 for a discussion of our ownership interest in the
mines B2Gold operates.
This news release includes certain
“forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements”
(collectively “forward-looking statement”) within the meaning of
applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation,
including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates;
statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational
performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows,
and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating
costs, and including, without limitation: total consolidated gold
production of between 1,000,000 and 1,080,000 ounces in 2023; the
Transaction being completed in the fourth quarter of 2023; and the
receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of conditions of
the Transaction. All statements in this news release that address
events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts and are generally,
although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule",
"forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar
expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or
conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might"
occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond
B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to:
the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes
in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and
mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource
estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates;
actual production, development plans and costs differing materially
from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the
ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or
authorizations required for mining activities; environmental
regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations
associated with mining activities; climate change and climate
change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and
identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of
companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate
new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability
of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential
restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and
the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign
laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia,
the Philippines and Colombia and including risks related to changes
in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local
ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally,
including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote operations
and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in
price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for
mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary
equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country
risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the
effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and
joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority
related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate
Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on
key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled
personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse
climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with
other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations,
including risks related to strikes and the halting of such
operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners;
failures of information systems or information security threats;
the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial
reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and
sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's
reputation; risks affecting Calibre having an impact on the value
of the Company's investment in Calibre, and potential dilution of
our equity interest in Calibre; as well as other factors identified
and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in
B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form
40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian
securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and
www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not
exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking
statements
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on
the applicable assumptions and factors management considers
reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information
available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors
include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to
B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations,
including: the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of
such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves
identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates,
projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability
to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the
availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs,
including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely
receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet
current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely
financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future
social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions
and factors generally associated with the mining industry.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on
the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current
expectations regarding future events and operating performance and
speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any
obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or
management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other
than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold
will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
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