Eldorado Gold Corporation (“Eldorado” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Hellas Gold Single Member S.A. (“Hellas”) has entered into a €680
million project financing facility (the “Term Facility”) for the
development of the Skouries Project in Northern Greece (“Skouries”
or the “Project”) with National Bank of Greece S.A. (“National Bank
of Greece”) and Piraeus Bank S.A. (“Piraeus Bank”) as lead
arrangers. Consistent with the Company’s previous disclosure, the
Term Facility will provide 80% of the expected future funding
required to complete the Project, which is approximately
half-built. The Term Facility is non-recourse to Eldorado and the
collateral securing the Term Facility covers the Skouries Project
and the Hellas operating assets. The remaining 20% of Project
funding is expected to be fully covered by Eldorado’s existing cash
and future cash flow from operations. Until such further equity is
fully invested, Eldorado’s investment undertaking for the Project
will be fully backstopped by a letter of credit from the Company’s
Revolving Credit Facility. Drawdown on the Term Facility is subject
to customary closing conditions. The Company expects such
conditions to be satisfied and the initial drawdown to occur in the
first quarter of 2023.
The Company is also pleased to announce that its
Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved, conditional upon the
initial drawdown of the Term Facility, the investment decision and
full re-start of construction at Skouries. The Company will host a
conference call on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 11:30 am ET
(8:30 am PT). The call details are at the end of this news
release.
“Skouries represents the next phase of growth at
Eldorado, generating significant value for all of our stakeholders
with robust project economics and providing many benefits to the
local communities and economy in Greece,” said Steve Reid, Chair of
the Board. “Having had the opportunity to tour Skouries recently,
Eldorado’s board and the leadership team are excited to be resuming
construction and bringing this world-class asset into production.
On behalf of the Board, I want to congratulate the team on this
important milestone.”
“We are proud to be announcing the signing of
this financing and the restart of construction at Skouries,” said
George Burns, President and CEO of Eldorado Gold. “The
participation of Greek lenders in the Project provides aligned
strategic partners as we advance Skouries towards commercial
production. The Term Facility covers 80% of the expected remaining
future funding required to complete the Project. The Company is
able to fund the remaining 20% from its current balance sheet,
future cash flow from existing operations and will receive a credit
for its actual expenditures during the pre-construction phase in
2022, all of which fully addresses the Project funding
requirement.”
“Our focus now shifts to project execution, with
first production expected in the second half of 2025, followed by a
ramp-up as we optimize facilities,” continued Burns. “Once in
production, Skouries will have a significant impact on Eldorado’s
total gold production and cash cost profile and will diversify our
business through revenue from copper. On behalf of the Eldorado and
Hellas teams, I want to thank our local partners and workforce, the
Aristotle Municipality, the Greek government, and National Bank of
Greece and Piraeus Bank, for their support of the Project. We look
forward to working with them and developing a world-class mine in
the region adhering to best-in-class sustainability standards.”
Highlights of the Term
Facility:
- Borrower: Hellas
Gold Single Member S.A., a 100%-owned subsidiary of Eldorado.
- Mandated Lead
Arrangers: National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank
(the “Lenders”)
- Term Facility
Amount: €680 million, consisting of:
- €480 million commercial loan;
- €100 million of initial funding
from the Greek Recovery and Resilience Facility (“RRF”);
- €100 million commercial bridge loan
that is expected to be replaced by an additional RRF loan in
2023.
- Interest Rate:
- Commercial loans: Variable interest
rate of 5.4% (comprised of six-months EURIBOR plus a fixed margin)
until Project completion, and then 5.2% (comprised of six-months
EURIBOR plus a fixed margin) following Project completion, with 70%
of the variable rate exposure to be hedged via an interest rate
swap for the term of the facility.
- Initial RRF loan: Fixed interest
rate of 3.04% for the term of the facility.
- Additional RRF loan: Fixed interest
rate to be set at issuance on replacement of bridge facility.
- Term: 3 years
availability, 7 years repayment.
- Cost Overrun
Facility: Although not expected to be necessary, the
project financing includes, in addition to the Term Facility, a
Contingent Overrun Facility for an additional 10% of capital costs,
funded by the Lenders and Hellas in the same proportion as the Term
Facility.
- Hedging: Hellas
will hedge limited volumes of gold and copper production to manage
downside commodity price exposure and support minimum debt service
coverage ratios. It is expected that hedging will be limited to not
more than 50% of the first year of commercial production and this
will be reviewed at least annually. In addition, Hellas will hedge
a portion of its foreign exchange exposure (Euro/US dollar). Terms
of the hedging program will be confirmed at initial drawdown.
- Repayment:
Semi-annual instalments over seven years, commencing on June 30,
2026, with a weighted average life to maturity of approximately
eight years.
Focused on Execution
Eldorado remains confident in the capital cost
estimate of $845 million(1) to bring the Skouries project into
commercial production, which is derived from the “Technical Report,
Skouries Project, Greece” prepared for Eldorado with an effective
date of January 22, 2022 (the “Feasibility Study” or “FS”), and
believes it is well-positioned to execute. The Project is
approximately half built, with most major processing equipment
already purchased and installed or in storage.
(1) All
financial figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
In 2022, Project activity was focused on steel
erection and enclosure of the processing facilities, which is now
largely complete, as well as execution readiness and critical path
activities. In 2023, Project activities will focus on
finalizing detailed engineering, which is 42% complete and
forecasted to be 70-75% complete for full construction mobilization
in the second half of 2023, release of remaining procurement
packages, and community engagement. Additionally, Eldorado has
built a highly capable owners’ team that is based at Skouries, and
the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management contractor
has been progressively mobilizing.
The Company has confidence in the level of
expertise and availability of the construction workforce in the
Halkidiki region and Greece. Since the Project was placed on care
& maintenance in November 2017, the Company has continued to
engage with local communities and key stakeholders and is committed
to continuing this open dialogue for the life of the mine.
Project Capital Cost and
Schedule
Eldorado remains confident in the project
schedule and capital cost estimate, based on several factors:
- The filter press, a long-lead item
for tailings dewatering, was ordered in the second quarter of 2022,
with cost and delivery schedules in line with the FS assumptions;
and the labour productivity for the steel erection and enclosure of
the processing facility has been consistent with the FS
assumptions.
- Labour accounts for approximately
half of the capital cost estimate. A readily available Greek
workforce and stable labour rates remain consistent with the FS
capital cost assumptions.
- In 2022, construction activities at
the nearby Olympias dry-stack tailings management facility, which
is of a similar design in similar topography, support the FS
assumptions made for the Skouries dry-stack tailings facility
construction.
- Overall, commodity price
assumptions, including copper, steel, and cement, remain in line
with the FS.
- Approximately 80% of the capital
cost estimate is in Euros, which has weakened since the FS
assumptions.
- The Project will benefit from
early-works activities completed throughout 2022, and is on track
to deliver in line with the three-year construction and
commissioning schedule.
Project
Economics(1)
The Skouries Project has robust economics, with
a 19% after-tax Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) and $1.3
billion after-tax Net Present Value
(“NPV5%”) (5%), based on
long-term prices of $1,500 per ounce (“oz”) gold and $3.85 per
pound copper. The Project is expected to produce 2.9
million ounces of gold over the 20-year life of mine, with average
annual production of 140,000 oz of gold and 67 million pounds of
copper (approximately 312,000 oz gold equivalent), with exploration
potentially extending mine life. The Project is expected to
generate, on average, $215 million of free cash
flow(2) per year
for the first five years. Overall, the Skouries Project has the
potential to increase Eldorado’s production profile and lower
Eldorado’s cash cost per ounce.
(1) Project
economics are based on the “Technical Report, Skouries Project,
Greece” prepared for Eldorado with an effective date of January 22,
2022.(2) These financial measures or ratios are non-IFRS
financial measures or ratios. See the section “Non-IFRS Measures”
below.
Project Sensitivities
(1)
|
Base Case Assumptions(2) |
Spot Price(as of December 13,
2022) |
Gold Price ($/oz) |
1,500 |
1,800 |
Copper Price ($/lb) |
3.85 |
3.80 |
After-Tax IRR |
19.0% |
21.9% |
Payback (years) |
3.7 |
3.5 |
NPV5% |
$1.3 billion |
$1.6 billion |
Cash Operating Costs ($/oz)(3) |
(365) |
(341) |
All-in Sustaining Costs ($/oz)(3) |
(6) |
65 |
(1) Economics are
shown on an unlevered basis and do not include the impact of the
Term Facility.(2) Base case development assumptions are based on
the “Technical Report, Skouries Project, Greece” prepared for
Eldorado with an effective date of January 22, 2022.(3) These
financial measures or ratios are non-IFRS financial measures or
ratios. See the section “Non-IFRS Measures” below.
Social Benefit
The development of the Project, part of the
Kassandra Mines Complex in the Halkidiki region will provide
long-term value for both the national and local economies.
Where possible, Hellas prioritizes hiring local
employees and working with local suppliers. During peak
construction, the Project is expected to employ an additional 800
people and, once in production, Skouries will create over 25 years
of steady and well-paid employment with 1,400 long-term jobs
expected to be filled by members of the local community.
Over the life of the Kassandra Mines, it is
estimated that 5,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created and
more than $2 billion in revenue will be contributed to the Greek
State from income taxes, social contributions and royalties over
the life of mine. Eldorado expects to provide employees with
enhanced skills through the development of an innovative Technical
Training Center. In addition, $80 million will be committed to
Corporate Social Responsibility programs, including community,
cultural, social, and environmental investments.
About Skouries
Skouries is located within the Halkidiki
Peninsula of Northern Greece. It is a gold-copper porphyry deposit
to be mined using a combination of conventional open pit and
underground mining techniques. Based on the Feasibility Study,
Skouries is expected to produce, on average, 140,000 ounces of gold
and 67 million pounds of copper annually over its initial 20-year
mine life. For more information about the Project, and details of
the Feasibility Study, please refer to the news release dated
December 15, 2021 or the Technical Report dated January 22, 2022,
both of which are available on the Eldorado Gold website or under
the Company’s name on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Conference Call Details
Eldorado will host a conference call to discuss
the Skouries project financing and re-start of construction on
Thursday, December 15 at 11:30 am ET (8:30 am PT). A video will be
played during the webcast therefore we encourage participants to
join via the webcast. The video and a replay of the webcast will be
available on Eldorado’s website following the event.
The call will be webcast and can be accessed at
Eldorado’s website: www.eldoradogold.com, or via:
https://services.choruscall.ca/links/eldoradogold202212.html
Conference Call Details |
Replay (available until January 19, 2023) |
Date: December 15, 2022 |
Vancouver:
+1 604 638 9010 |
Time: 11:30 am ET (8:30 am
PT) |
Toll Free:
1 800 319 6413 |
Dial in: +1 604 638 5340 |
Access code:
9684 |
Toll free:1 800 319 4610 |
|
|
|
About Eldorado Gold
Eldorado is a gold and base metals producer with
mining, development and exploration operations in Turkiye, Canada
and Greece. The Company has a highly skilled and dedicated
workforce, safe and responsible operations, a portfolio of
high-quality assets, and long-term partnerships with local
communities. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:
EGO).
Qualified Person
Except as otherwise noted, Simon Hille, FAusIMM,
Senior Vice President, Technical Services, is the Qualified Person
under NI 43-101 responsible for preparing and supervising the
preparation of the scientific or technical information contained in
this press release and verifying the technical data disclosed in
this document relating to our operating mines and development
projects.
Non-IFRS Measures
Certain non-IFRS measures, including cash costs
and all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") are included in this press
release. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to
conventional measures prepared in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), provide investors an
improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the
Company. Please see the September 30, 2022 MD&A for
explanations and discussion of these non-IFRS measures. The
non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information
and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These
measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under
IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.
Cash Costs
Cash operating costs and cash operating costs
per ounce sold are non-IFRS financial measures and ratios. In the
gold mining industry, these metrics are common performance measures
but do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. We follow the
recommendations of the Gold Institute Production Cost Standard. The
Gold Institute, which ceased operations in 2002, was a
non-regulatory body and represented a global group of producers of
gold and gold products. The production cost standard developed by
the Gold Institute remains the generally accepted standard of
reporting cash operating costs of production by gold mining
companies. Cash operating costs include mine site operating costs
such as mining, processing and administration, but exclude royalty
expenses, depreciation and depletion, share based payment expenses
and reclamation costs. Revenue from sales of by-products including
silver, lead and zinc reduce cash operating costs. Cash operating
costs per ounce sold is based on ounces sold and is calculated by
dividing cash operating costs by volume of gold ounces sold. We
disclose cash operating costs and cash operating costs per ounce
sold as we believe the measures provide valuable assistance to
investors and analysts in evaluating the Company's operational
performance and ability to generate cash flow. The most directly
comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is production
costs. Cash operating costs and cash operating costs per ounce of
gold sold should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute
for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.
AISC
AISC and AISC per ounce sold are non-IFRS
financial measures and ratios. These financial measures and ratios
are intended to assist readers in evaluating the total costs of
producing gold from current operations. While there is no
standardized meaning across the industry for this measure, our
definition conforms to the definition of AISC set out by the World
Gold Council and the updated guidance note dated November 14, 2018.
We define AISC as the sum of total cash costs (as defined and
calculated above), sustaining capital expenditure relating to
current operations (including capitalized stripping and underground
mine development), sustaining leases (cash basis), sustaining
exploration and evaluation cost related to current operations
(including sustaining capitalized evaluation costs), reclamation
cost accretion and amortization related to current gold operations
and corporate and allocated general and administrative expenses.
Corporate and allocated general and administrative expenses include
general and administrative expenses, share-based payments and
defined benefit pension plan expense. Corporate and allocated
general and administrative expenses do not include non-cash
depreciation. As this measure seeks to reflect the full cost of
gold production from current operations, growth capital and
reclamation cost accretion not related to operating gold mines are
excluded. Certain other cash expenditures, including tax payments,
financing charges (including capitalized interest), except for
financing charges related to leasing arrangements, and costs
related to business combinations, asset acquisitions and asset
disposals are also excluded. AISC per ounce sold is based on ounces
sold and is calculated by dividing AISC by volume of gold ounces
sold.
Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow is a non-IFRS financial measure.
Free cash flow is a useful indicator of our ability to operate
without reliance on additional borrowing or usage of existing cash.
Defined as net cash generated from (used in) operating activities
of continuing operations, less net cash used in investing
activities of continuing operations before increases or decreases
in cash from the following items that are not considered
representative of our ability to generate cash: term deposits,
restricted cash, cash used for acquisitions or disposals of mineral
properties, marketable securities and non-recurring asset
sales.
Contacts
Investor Relations
Lisa Wilkinson, VP, Investor Relations604 757
2237 or 1 888 353 8166 lisa.wilkinson@eldoradogold.com
Media
Louise McMahon, Director Communications &
Public Affairs604 757 5573 or 1 888 353 8166
louise.mcmahon@eldoradogold.com
Forward-looking Statements and Information
Certain of the statements made and information
provided in this press release are forward-looking statements or
information within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian
securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words
such as “believes”, “budgets”, “commitment”, “confident”,
“estimates”, “expects”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “plans”,
“potential”, “prospective”, or “schedule” or the negatives thereof
or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results “can”, “could”, “likely”, “may”,
“might”, “will” or “would” be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements or information
contained in this press release include, but are not limited to,
statements or information with respect to: the total funding
requirements for the Skouries Project; the Company’s ability to
participate in the RRF and the extent and timing of proceeds
received therefrom; the drawdown of the proceeds of the Term
Facility, including the timing thereof; the impact of the Term
Facility and funding of Skouries on the Company’s operations,
infrastructure, opportunities, financial condition, access to
capital and overall strategy; the Company’s ability to fund the
remaining 20% funding commitment; the Company’s ability to
successfully advance Skouries and achieve the results provided for
in the Feasibility Study; the results of the Feasibility Study,
including the forecasts for the economics, life of mine, required
capital, costs, and cash flow at Skouries; expectations regarding
advancement and development of Skouries, including the ability to
meet expectations and the timing thereof; expectations regarding
full mobilization; expectations regarding finalization of detailed
engineering; expectations on mining operations and water
management; the social and economic impacts and benefits of the
Skouries Project on the Company’s stakeholders, including in
respect of local employment and procurement and in local
communities; the development of a technical training center; the
timing of production; the use and benefits of dry stack tailings;
undertested exploration targets surrounding Skouries and
prospective satellite ore bodies; the Company’s conference call to
be held on December 15, 2022; non-IFRS financial measures and
ratios; risk factors affecting our business; our expectation as to
our future financial and operating performance, including future
cash flow, estimated cash costs, expected metallurgical recoveries
and gold price outlook; and our strategy, plans and goals,
including our proposed exploration, development, construction,
permitting and operating plans and priorities, related timelines
and schedules. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking
information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements or information.
We have made certain assumptions about the
forward-looking statements and information, including assumptions
about: the total funding required to complete the Skouries Project;
our ability to satisfy the conditions precedent to advances under
the Term Facility (including eligibility for, and the allocation of
funding from, the RRF); our ability to meet our timing objectives
for first drawdown of funds; our ability to execute our plans
relating to Skouries as set out in the Feasibility Study, including
the timing thereof; our ability to obtain all required approvals
and permits; the assumptions provided for in the Feasibility Study
will be accurate, including cost estimates; no changes in input
costs, exchange rates, development and gold; the geopolitical,
economic, permitting and legal climate that we operate in,
including at Skouries; how the world-wide economic and social
impact of COVID-19 is managed and the duration and extent of the
COVID-19 pandemic; timing, cost and results of our construction and
exploration; the geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal
climate that we operate in; the future price of gold and other
commodities; the global concentrate market; exchange rates;
anticipated values, costs, expenses and working capital
requirements; production and metallurgical recoveries; mineral
reserves and resources; and the impact of acquisitions,
dispositions, suspensions or delays on our business and the ability
to achieve our goals. In addition, except where otherwise stated,
we have assumed a continuation of existing business operations on
substantially the same basis as exists at the time of this press
release.
Even though our management believes that the
assumptions made and the expectations represented by such
statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance
that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be
accurate. Many assumptions may be difficult to predict and are
beyond our control.
Furthermore, should one or more of the risks,
uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may
vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements
or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors
include, among others, the following: increases in financing costs
or adverse changes to the Term Facility; ability to satisfy the
conditions precedent to advances under the Term Facility (including
eligibility for, and the allocation of funding from, the RRF);
failure or delays to receive necessary approvals or otherwise
satisfy the conditions to the drawdown of the Term Facility; the
proceeds of the Term Facility not being available to the Company or
Hellas Gold S.A.; ability to execute on plans relating to Skouries,
including the timing thereof, ability to achieve the social impacts
and benefits contemplated; inability to meet production guidance;
risks relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any future
pandemic, epidemic, endemic or similar public health threats; risks
relating to our operations being located in foreign jurisdictions;
community relations and social license; climate change; liquidity
and financing risks; development risks; indebtedness, including
current and future operating restrictions, implications of a change
of control, ability to meet debt service obligations, the
implications of defaulting on obligations and change in credit
ratings; environmental matters; waste disposal; the global economic
environment; government regulation; reliance on a limited number of
smelters and off-takers; commodity price risk; mineral tenure;
permits; risks relating to environmental sustainability and
governance practices and performance; non-governmental
organizations; corruption, bribery and sanctions; litigation and
contracts; information technology systems; estimation of mineral
reserves and mineral resources; production and processing
estimates; credit risk; actions of activist shareholders; price
volatility, volume fluctuations and dilution risk in respect of our
shares; reliance on infrastructure, commodities and consumables;
currency risk; inflation risk; interest rate risk; tax matters;
dividends; financial reporting, including relating to the carrying
value of our assets and changes in reporting standards; labour,
including relating to employee/union relations, employee
misconduct, key personnel, skilled workforce, expatriates and
contractors; reclamation and long-term obligations; regulated
substances; necessary equipment; co-ownership of our properties;
acquisitions, including integration risks, and dispositions; the
unavailability of insurance; conflicts of interest; compliance with
privacy legislation; reputational issues; competition, as well as
those risk factors discussed in the sections titled
“Forward-looking information and risks” and “Risk factors in our
business” in our most recent Annual Information Form & Form
40-F. The reader is directed to carefully review the detailed risk
discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form & Form
40-F filed on SEDAR and EDGAR under our Company name, which
discussion is incorporated by reference in this release, for a
fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect our
business and operations.
The inclusion of forward-looking statements and
information is designed to help you understand management’s current
views of our near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be
appropriate for other purposes.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking
statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information
contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to
update forward-looking statements and information continually as
conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of
the Company’s business contained in the Company’s reports filed
with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United
States.
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