Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (“Sabina”) or (the “Company”) (SBB –
TSX) reports the financial results for the year ended December 31,
2022.
“2022 was a year of continued de-risking at Back
River,” said Bruce McLeod, the Company’s President
& CEO. “With the completion of our project financing
package and related equity financings, we were able to advance the
Goose Mine to a formal construction decision. All work since then
has been focused on executing and delivering a successful build for
first gold in Q1, 2025. Subsequent to the year end, Sabina received
a proposal from B2Gold Corp. to purchase all the issued and
outstanding shares in the Company in an all-share transaction.
After careful consideration, the Board and management of the
Company determined that this transaction was in the best interests
of the Company. We believe there is significant value to be
generated for existing Sabina shareholders through this
transaction, both in B2Gold’s ability to continue to unlock the
highly prospective Back River Gold District as well as its existing
assets and its considerable dividend. At yesterday’s close, the
transaction had an implied value of $2.09 per share and a premium
of ~57% from the unaffected date.”
2022 Highlights:
- The Company ended the year with
cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $65.8
million.
- On September 7, 2022, the Board of
Directors of the Company made a formal construction decision for
the Goose Mine.
- On February 8, 2022, the Company
announced the completion of a construction financing package
totaling approximately US$530 million in aggregate. The Financing
was comprised of:
- US$225 million senior secured debt facility with Orion Mine
Finance (“Orion”);
- US$75 million gold prepay facility with Orion;
- Gold metal offtake agreement with Orion;
- US$125 million gold stream arrangement with Wheaton Precious
Metals Corp.; and
- US$95 million private placement of Sabina common shares with
both Orion and Wheaton subscribed over three tranches which was
completed in May 2022; and
- US$10 million private placement of Sabina common shares with
Zhaojin International Mining Co., Ltd. (“Zhaojin”) subscribed over
two tranches which was completed in May 2022.
- Subsequent to the completion of the
project financing package, the Company completed additional equity
financings for total gross proceeds of $143.9 million.
- During the year, the Company also:
- Repaid the US$20 million Sprott
bridge loan in May 2022
- Received the first two draws of the
Wheaton gold stream arrangement of US$62.3 million by December 31,
2022.
- The Company also engaged in the
following activities in 2022:
- On-site construction work,
including completion of plant site preparation, construction of
water management structures, and pre-stripping of the Echo
pit.
- Advanced various initiatives
related to project execution, including internal quality checks
related to the various engineering design packages, and activities
related to the finalization of the performance guarantee with
FLSmidth regarding key equipment for the Goose Mine processing
flowsheet. All pre-development activities are now completed for
full construction to commence in 2023.
- Received multiple sealifts from
Sabina’s eastern and western shipping corridors at the Port
Facility, with all cargo offloaded safely to the laydown area.
Additionally, Sabina successfully offloaded 9.2 million liters of
diesel fuel into its bulk storage tank at the Port Facility. All
major equipment and materials required for initial construction
have been procured and delivered to the Company’s Port Facility in
Bathurst Inlet.
- Commenced winter ice road
preparations in December for the delivery of critical supplies and
equipment from the Port Facility to the Goose Mine site.
(Construction subsequently completed with haulage commenced).
- Advanced underground development of
the exploration ramp to approximately 1600 meters
- Completed a spring and winter drill
program at Goose.
- Completed a summer exploration
field program at George.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the
Company reported a net loss of $14.4 million or $0.03 per share.
The reported net loss includes $1.6 million (after-tax) of
unrealized losses on the change in fair value of the construction
financing obligations.
For the Year End 2022 financial statements and
Management’s Discussion and Analysis, please see the Company
website at www.sabinagoldsilver.com or on SEDAR.
SABINA GOLD & SILVER
CORP
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is an emerging
gold mining that 100% owns the district scale, advanced, high grade
Back River Gold District in Nunavut, Canada.
Sabina filed an Updated Feasibility Study (the
“UFS”) on its first mine on the district, the
Goose Mine, which presents a project that will produce ~223,000
ounces of gold a year (first five years average of 287,000 ounces a
year with peak production of 312,000 ounces in year three) for ~15
years with a rapid payback of 2.3 years, with a post-tax IRR of
~28% and NPV5% of C$1.1B. See “National Instrument (NI) 43-101
Technical Report – 2021 Updated Feasibility Study for the Goose
Project at the Back River Gold District, Nunavut, Canada” dated
March 3, 2021.
Since the UFS, completion of detailed
geotechnical test work on the tailings samples and the
inclusion of a high-capacity tailings thickener, the tailings
storage capacity of the Echo open pit has increased sufficiently to
enable the decision to construct the mill at a 4,000 tpd capacity
at the outset. This, in addition to optimized equipment selection
and detailed engineering has reduced the cost of the expansion from
C$17m to C$10m when compared to the UFS.
The Project received its final major
authorization on June 25, 2020 and is now in receipt of all major
permits and authorizations for construction and operations.
The Company is also very committed to its Inuit
stakeholders, with Inuit employment and opportunities a focus. The
Company has signed a 20-year renewable land use agreement with the
Kitikmeot Inuit Association and has committed to various
sustainability initiatives under the agreement.
In February 2022, the Company announced it had
completed a comprehensive project financing package for US$530
million comprised of:
- A US$225 million senior secured
debt facility with Orion Mine Finance;
- A US$75 million gold prepay
facility with Orion Mine Finance;
- A US$125 million gold stream
arrangement with Wheaton Precious Metals; and
- A US$95 million private placement
of Sabina Common shares subscribed to by both Orion and Wheaton
Precious Metals.
- A US$10 million private placement of Sabina common shares with
Zhaojin.
In addition to Back River, Sabina also owns a
significant silver royalty on Glencore’s Hackett River Project. The
silver royalty on Hackett River’s silver production is comprised of
22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all
silver produced thereafter.
For further information please contact: |
|
|
Nicole Hoeller, Vice-President, Communications: |
1 888 648-4218 |
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nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com |
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation (the “forward-looking statements”), including, but not
limited to, statements related to the consummation and timing of
the Transaction; the synergies, strengths, characteristics and
potential of the post-Transaction B2Gold, assuming consummation of
the Transaction upon the terms of the Arrangement Agreement,
including the Plan of Arrangement; and the timing, receipt and
anticipated effects of applicable Shareholder, Court and regulatory
approvals. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
of this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no
assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results
anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will
occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the
forward-looking statements are based will occur.
While we have based these forward-looking
statements on our expectations about future events as at the date
that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a
guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to
risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could
cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and
assumptions include, among others, B2Gold’s and Sabina’s ability to
achieve timely satisfaction of conditions precedent to the
Transaction, including with respect to key regulatory, Court and
Shareholder approvals; B2Gold's and Sabina’s ability to carry on
current and future operations, including: the duration and effects
of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and
exploration activities; 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.
In addition, there are known and unknown risk
factors which could cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include the inherent
risks, costs and uncertainties associated with integrating the
businesses successfully and risks of not achieving all or any of
the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction, or the risk
that the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction may not
be fully realized or take longer to realize than expected; the
occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could
give rise to the termination of the Arrangement Agreement; the risk
that the proposed Transaction will not be consummated within the
expected time period, or at all; as well as other risk factors and
uncertainties identified and 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, as well as under the
heading “Risk Factors” in Sabina’s most recent Annual Information
Form which may be viewed at www.sedar.com. Although we have
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no
obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except
as required under applicable securities laws.
Bruce McLeod, President & CEO1800-555 Burrard
Street, Two Bentall CentreVancouver, BC V7X 1M9Tel 604
998-4175 Fax 604
998-1051http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com
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