Discovery Silver Corp. (TSX: DSV, OTCQX: DSVSF)
(“
Discovery” or the “
Company”) is
pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement
(the “
Agreement”) to acquire from a wholly owned
subsidiary of Newmont Corporation (“
Newmont”) 100%
of Newmont’s interest in its Porcupine Operations (the
“
Porcupine Complex” or
“
Porcupine”) based in and near Timmins, Ontario,
Canada (the “
Timmins Camp”) for total
consideration of $425 million (the "
Transaction").
All dollar amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise specified.
The consideration to Newmont for the Transaction
consists of $200 million in cash (the “Closing Cash
Consideration”) and $75 million payable in common shares
of Discovery (the “Closing Equity
Consideration”), both of which are payable upon closing of
the Transaction (the “Closing Date”), and $150
million of deferred consideration (the “Deferred
Consideration”) to be paid in four annual cash payments of
$37.5 million commencing on December 31, 2027.
To fund the Transaction and provide liquidity in
support of operating and growing the Porcupine Complex, Discovery
has entered into binding commitments for approximately $555 million
of financing (the “Financing Package”), including
$400 million related to royalty and debt agreements with
Franco-Nevada Corporation (“Franco-Nevada”) and
approximately $155 million from a bought deal public offering of
subscription receipts (the “Public Offering” or
“Offering”). Details of the Financing Package are
provided in the section entitled, “FINANCING,”
later in this press release.
Tony Makuch, Discovery’s CEO, commented: “The
acquisition of the Porcupine Complex is an important step forward
as we work to build a highly profitable precious metals producer.
Through this acquisition, we are combining growing gold production
at Porcupine with tremendous upside, in one of the world’s great
gold camps, with our Cordero project, one of the industry’s leading
silver development projects based on reserves and expected
production.
“A key feature of the Transaction is the unique
opportunity it provides to combine high-quality gold production
with a leadership team that has extensive experience in the Timmins
Camp. On a personal level, I am from Timmins and have worked
extensively in the area, including serving as General Manager at
Hoyle Pond and other sites, and acting as CEO of Lake Shore Gold,
which built and operated the first new major mining operation in
Timmins in over two decades (Timmins West Mine). Other members of
our team are also from the area and have similar experience working
in various operational and management roles in Timmins. We know
these assets well and have an extensive understanding of where the
value creation opportunities exist. We have a deep connection to
the community, including local First Nations groups, and will bring
to Timmins the same commitment to responsible mining that has
resulted in Discovery receiving numerous recognitions in Mexico,
including the Mexican Government’s Quality Environmental
Certification.1 In Timmins, the Company is planning significant
investments in site restoration and progressive rehabilitation in
order to ensure that all sites are properly remediated and are
available for future use by the community.
“For shareholders, the Transaction is attractive
and will establish a new North American precious metals producer
with excellent value creation upside through future operating
performance, multiple development projects and extensive
exploration potential. We are also diversifying our portfolio,
which will reduce risk and provide shareholders with significant
leverage to both gold and silver prices. Through our $555 million
Financing Package, we will both fund the Transaction and
significantly enhance our balance sheet strength. We will also move
forward with Newmont and Franco-Nevada as new major shareholders,
which will provide these companies with an attractive opportunity
to participate in the substantial value we intend to create.”
________________________1 The Quality
Environmental Certification was received in both 2023 and 2024 from
Mexico’s Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental
Protection.
TRANSACTION HIGHLIGHTS AND
RATIONALE
-
Establishes Discovery as a new Canadian gold
producer with multiple operations in one of the world’s
most prolific gold camps, accounting for approximately 70 million
ounces of total historical production,2 with a large base of
Mineral Resources remaining and substantial exploration
upside.
- Adds
growing gold production with anticipated average annual
production of over 285,000 ounces during the next 10 years and a
total expected mine life of 22 years with substantial upside
potential.
- Provides
opportunity to unlock value with numerous opportunities
identified to increase production and reduce costs at the Hoyle
Pond, Borden and Pamour mines, the potential to upgrade the nearly
11.0 million ounce Inferred Mineral Resource3 at Dome Mine
(currently closed) and a commitment to invest in drilling to
realize the significant exploration upside that exists in the
Timmins Camp.
- Allows
Discovery’s management team to apply its extensive experience
working in the Timmins Camp to maximize the value of the
Porcupine Complex, with over a century of collective experience in
exploration, discovery, development and operations of deposits and
mines in the area.
-
Attractive acquisition with Porcupine Complex
expected to generate significant after-tax free cash flow and an
attractive net present value (“NPV”) at 5%
discount rate.
- Free cash flow
of $1.3 billion in first 10 years with NPV of $1.2 billion at base
case analyst consensus gold prices4
- Project NPV of
$2.3 billion at a +23% sensitivity case using LT gold price of
$2,650 per ounce.5
-
Positions Discovery to build substantial financial
strength through attractive $555 million financing package
and future production from the Porcupine Complex.
-
Establishes a diversified portfolio with the
strength of the Porcupine Complex to support the financing, and
ultimate development and operation, of the Company’s Cordero silver
project (“Cordero”) in Mexico.
- Creates
potential for value creation through multiple expansion
and enhanced capital markets profile with Discovery trading at a
substantial discount to mid-tier gold producers.
________________________2 Refers to total aggregate
production from the Timmins Camp (approximately 65 million ounces
of total aggregate production from assets included in the Porcupine
Complex (see Porcupine Technical Report page
6-7)).3 Inferred Mineral Resources at Dome were not
included in the PEA economic analysis. 4 Project
economics in the PEA were generated with a base case using CIBC
World Markets Inc.’s December 2024 analyst consensus gold prices,
including 2025: $2,576/ounce; 2026: $2,484 per ounce; 2027: $2,437
per ounce; and a LT gold price of $2,150 per ounce beginning in
2028.5 Sensitivity case involves gold prices +23% to the
base case, including a LT gold price of $2,650 per ounce.
PORCUPINE OVERVIEW
- The Porcupine
Complex consists of the Hoyle Pond and Pamour mine properties and
the Dome mine property and milling facility (collectively
“Dome”) in Timmins, Ontario, as well as the Borden
underground mining operation near Chapleau, Ontario.
- Based on the
results of a new technical report (see the section,
“PORCUPINE COMPLEX –TECHNICAL REPORT”, which
follows), annual production at the Porcupine Complex is expected to
average more than 285,000 ounces during the next 10 years. Current
gold production comes primarily from Borden, a relatively new mine,
with commercial production commencing in 2019, that is located on a
large land position with extensive upside potential, as well as
from Hoyle Pond, a high-grade underground mine, which commenced
operations in 1987 and has established a solid track record for
replacing reserves.
- Significant
opportunities exist to grow production, reduce costs and/or extend
mine life at the Porcupine Complex. Below is a summary of key
opportunities identified to date.
- Hoyle
Pond: Improve ventilation, material handling and backfill
systems, increase automation, including expanding the use of
tele-remote delivery systems, and evaluate known zones of
mineralization that currently do not have Mineral Resource
estimates and were not included the PEA LOM plan (e.g. TVZ).
-
Borden: Upgrade the haulage fleet, including
increasing the use of electric vehicles, improve ground support and
backfill systems and increase ventilation levels.
-
Pamour: Complete development of the Pamour
open-pit project. Production is expected to average approximately
150,000 ounces per year over a 21-year mine life (with an
additional year of stockpile processing). Opportunities to enhance
the value of the project include reducing or eliminating waste-rock
rehandling and investigating the use of alternative delivery
systems to replace truck haulage from the open pit to the Dome
Mill.
-
Dome: Evaluate the opportunity to upgrade the
nearly 11.0 million ounce Inferred Mineral Resource6 and assess the
potential for resuming mine production at Dome, where production
ceased in 2017 after over a century of operations.
- Discovery plans
to commit significant resources to exploration drilling at the
140,000-hectare total land position comprising the Porcupine
Complex given the considerable potential that exists to identify
new mineralization at or near existing mine infrastructure, as well
as the opportunity for new discoveries at the many regional targets
included in the land package.
- The Company plans to make
significant investments in mine closure, site reclamation and
rehabilitation to ensure the successful remediation of all current
and past operating sites to allow for their safe and effective use
by the community for generations to come. These investments are
included in the economic analysis included in the PEA.
________________________6 Inferred Mineral Resources
at Dome were not included in PEA economic analysis.
PORCUPINE COMPLEX – TECHNICAL
REPORT
As part of the Company’s evaluation of the
Porcupine Complex, Discovery has completed a technical report
prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”)
entitled, “Porcupine Complex, Ontario, Canada, Technical
Report on Preliminary Economic Assessment.” The Porcupine
Technical Report has an effective date of January 13, 2025.
The Porcupine Technical Report includes the
results of a preliminary economic assessment which is preliminary
in nature. The PEA includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are
considered too speculative geologically to have the economic
considerations applied to them that would enable them to be
categorized as Mineral Reserves and there is no certainty that the
preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
Following the Closing Date, the Company expects
to complete additional studies to more fully evaluate the growth
and optimization opportunities related to the Porcupine
Complex.
Porcupine Technical Report
Highlights
-
Base case NPV of $1.2 billion using CIBC World
Markets Inc.’s December 2024 analyst consensus gold prices,
including a LT gold price of $2,150 per ounce (the “Base
Case”), and $2.3 billion assuming a +23% sensitivity case
using a LT gold price of $2,650 per ounce.
-
After-tax free cash flow7 totaling $1.3
billion over the first 10 years and $1.8 billion over the
LOM at the Base Case gold prices.
-
Large base of Mineral Resources including Measured
& Indicated Mineral Resources of 3.9 million ounces (69.7
million tonnes (“Mt”) at an average grade of 1.76 grams per tonne
(“g/t”) gold) and Inferred Mineral Resources of 12.5 million ounces
(254.5 Mt at 1.53 g/t gold).8
-
Growing gold production averaging over 285,000
ounces per year over the next 10 years and approximately 4.9
million ounces over the 22-year mine life with upside potential,
including opportunities to improve throughput and lower costs at
Hoyle Pond, Borden and Pamour and resume mining operations at the
Dome mine.
-
Attractive exploration upside with significant
drilling planned across the 140,000-hectare land position in
Timmins and at Borden. Potential exists to both extend existing
zones and identify new areas of mineralization at current and past
operations and to drill for new discoveries at numerous regional
targets across the Timmins Camp.
-
AISC averaging $1,504 per ounce over the LOM
and $1,278 per ounce from 2030 to 2035.
- Capital
expenditures (excluding reclamation costs) totaling $854
million from 2025 to 2030, with sustaining capital expenditures
averaging $110 million per year over the same period, total
development capital expenditures of $122 million, almost all
related to investments to complete the Pamour open-pit project in
2025 and 2026, and total planned exploration capital from 2025 to
2030 totaling $69 million, reflecting the significant exploration
potential existing at the Porcupine Complex.
________________________7 Example of non-GAAP
financial measure – See cautionary note: NON-GAAP FINANCIAL
MEASURES.8 See the section, "PORCUPINE COMPLEX –
TECHNICAL REPORT MINERAL RESOURCES" for a breakout of Mineral
Resource estimates.
BENEFITS OF TRANSACTION FOR DISCOVERY
SHAREHOLDERS
- Transforms
Discovery into a Canadian gold producer in a Tier 1 jurisdiction
with significant upside potential.
- Provides growing
gold production and significant leverage to the gold price during a
period of record gold prices.
- Establishes a
solid pipeline for growth through existing development projects as
well as by providing substantial exploration upside with a large
land position in one of the world’s most prolific gold
regions.
- Contributes to
increased financial strength and supports the financing of future
growth initiatives, including the development of the Cordero silver
project.
- Establishes a
multi-asset portfolio that improves diversification and provides
exposure to both gold and silver prices.
- Supports value
creation by applying the Discovery management team’s extensive
experience operating in the Timmins Camp to the Porcupine
Complex.
- Creates re-rate
opportunity by transforming Discovery from a developer to a North
American precious metals producer.
BENEFITS OF TRANSACTION FOR PORCUPINE
COMPLEX STAKEHOLDERS
- Positions the
Porcupine Complex as core assets in a portfolio operated by a
management team committed to growing and optimizing the assets to
maximize stakeholder value and mine life.
- Discovery
recognizes that the skill and expertise of the Porcupine team
represents a key strength and is committed to supporting the
existing managers, employees, contractors and suppliers in
continuing to drive the Porcupine Complex forward.
- The Discovery
leadership team has deep roots in the Timmins community and will
bring a strong commitment to supporting Timmins and the surrounding
area through investment, donations and other initiatives.
- The Discovery
leadership team already has long-standing and positive
relationships with local First Nations groups around Timmins and
will ensure that all existing commitments, obligations and
agreements are honoured and will work cooperatively to identify new
opportunities to further strengthen these relationships.
- Discovery fully understands that
mining is a privilege, and it will bring the same commitment to
responsible mining to Timmins that has resulted in the Company
receiving numerous awards and distinctions in Mexico. In
particular, the Company has included in its financial plan for the
Porcupine Complex significant investment for mine closure and site
reclamation and rehabilitation to ensure that both current
operations and legacy sites are successfully remediated and
available for future use by the community.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY AND
TIMING
Under the Agreement, Discovery will acquire from
a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont (the
“Subsidiary”) all the issued and outstanding
common shares of a newly created entity (the “Porcupine
Entity”) formed to hold 100% of Newmont's interest in the
Porcupine Complex (the “Reorganization”).
Total consideration for the Transaction is $425
million (the “Total Consideration”). The Total
Consideration includes $275 million of consideration payable on the
Closing Date, comprising $200 million of Closing Cash Consideration
and $75 million of Closing Equity Consideration, and $150 million
of deferred consideration to be paid in four annual cash payments
of $37.5 million commencing on December 31, 2027. The Closing
Equity Consideration will be paid through the issuance of an
aggregate of approximately 120 million Discovery common shares,
which will be subject to a one-year lock-up arrangement. Discovery
will also assume the environmental liabilities and reclamation
obligations related to the Porcupine Complex.
Discovery anticipates that the Closing Date will
occur in the first half of 2025. The Transaction’s closing is
subject to certain conditions, including, among other things, the
transfer of the Porcupine Complex by the Subsidiary to the
Porcupine Entity (with the Reorganization being subject to certain
approvals, including the consent of Ontario's Ministry of Mines),
receipt of all required regulatory approvals (including the
approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and
approval, or expiry of the waiting period, under the Competition
Act (Canada)), and other customary closing conditions for a
transaction of this nature.
As the total number of shares to be issued to
Newmont as part of the Closing Equity Consideration exceeds 25% of
Discovery’s current shares outstanding, shareholder approval (50.1%
of shares voting at the meeting) will be required to issue excess
shares beyond such threshold (the “Additional
Shares”). Discovery's two largest shareholders and
directors and officers of Discovery, representing in the aggregate
approximately 35% of the issued and outstanding Discovery shares,
have entered into voting support agreements pursuant to which they
have agreed to, among other things, vote their shares in favour of
the issuance of the Additional Shares. If shareholder approval is
not obtained, the value of the Additional Shares, calculated at the
Issue Price (defined below) will be added to the first deferred
payment which is due on December 31, 2027. Accordingly, shareholder
approval is not a condition precedent to the closing of the
Transaction.
FINANCING
To fund the Closing Cash Consideration and
expected capital expenditures and working capital requirements at
Porcupine following the Transaction, and for general corporate and
working capital purposes, Discovery has entered into agreements for
a Financing Package totaling $555 million. Of the total Financing
Package, $400 million will be provided through royalty and debt
agreements with Franco-Nevada (the “Franco-Nevada
Financing”), with the remainder to be provided through a
C$225 million (approximately $155 million Public Offering) as
described below. Franco-Nevada will participate as an approximately
$50 million (approximately C$70 million) cornerstone investor in
the Public Offering.
Franco-Nevada Financing:
The $400 million of royalty and debt financing
from Franco-Nevada includes:
- $200 million
related to a 2.25% LOM net smelter return royalty that will apply
to all minerals produced from the Porcupine Complex;
- $100 million
related to a 2.00% net smelter return royalty (the
“Repayable Royalty”) that will apply to all
minerals produced from the Porcupine Complex, which will be
extinguished upon the earlier of Franco-Nevada receiving payments
from production attributable to the Repayable Royalty equal to
72,000 gold ounces or receipt by Franco-Nevada of a one-time early
cash payment from Discovery, at Discovery’s sole option, equal to a
12% pre-tax annual internal rate of return; and
- $100 million
from a senior debt facility (the “Debt Facility”)
to fund capital expenditures and support working capital, with key
terms including:
- Funds are available to the Company
for two years after the Closing Date, subject to certain customary
conditions
- Interest will be charged at a rate
of three-month SOFR plus 450 basis points per annum
- No principal repayments are
required for the first five years after the Closing Date, followed
by eight quarterly payments equal to 5.0% of the balance
outstanding and a bullet payment equal to 60.0% on maturity
- The maturity date is seven years
and one day from the Closing Date
- Discovery shall pay an upfront fee
equal to 2% on any principal drawn and will pay a standby fee of
100 basis points per annum on undrawn funds
- Discovery will issue to
Franco-Nevada approximately 3.9 million warrants (the
“Franco Warrants”) with an exercise price equal to
C$0.95 per Franco Warrant and a three-year term
- The Debt
Facility will be secured, including by a first ranking security
interest on the Porcupine Complex.
Public Offering
As part of the Financing Package, the Company
has also entered into an agreement with BMO Capital Markets as sole
bookrunner and SCP Resource Finance LP (“SCP”) as
co-lead underwriter on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (the
“Underwriters”) in connection with a bought deal
public offering of 250,000,000 subscription receipts (the
“Subscription Receipts”) at an issue price of
C$0.90 (approximately $0.63) per Subscription Receipt (the
“Issue Price”) for total gross proceeds of
approximately C$225 million (approximately $155 million). Each
Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder to receive, without
payment of additional consideration and without further action, one
common share of Discovery upon the satisfaction or waiver of
certain release conditions, including the satisfaction or waiver of
all material conditions precedent to the Transaction, other than
the payment of the purchase price (the "Release
Conditions"). Discovery has also granted the Underwriters
an over-allotment option (the “Over-Allotment
Option”) to purchase up to an additional 25,000,000
Subscription Receipts (the “Over-Allotment Subscription
Receipts”), representing up to 10% of the base Offering
size, at the Issue Price and on the same terms and conditions as
the Offering, exercisable in whole or in part, at any time and from
time to time, for 30 days following the closing of the Offering.
The Offering is expected to close on or about February 3, 2025.
Franco-Nevada has agreed to participate in the
Offering to a level of approximately $50 million (approximately
C$70 million), and to accept a two-year lock-up arrangement in
relation to Discovery common shares received through the
Offering.
Directors and officers of Discovery, including
Tony Makuch, have agreed to participate in the Public Offering to
purchase approximately C$9 million (approximately $6 million) of
Subscription Receipts.
The Offering is being made in each of the
provinces and territories of Canada other than Québec and Nunavut.
The Subscription Receipts have not been, and will not be,
registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“U.S. Securities Act”), and may not be offered or
sold in the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the
U.S. Securities Act) except pursuant to exemptions from the
registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, and similar
exemptions under applicable state securities laws. The Subscription
Receipts will be offered through those Underwriters or their
affiliates who are registered to offer the Subscription Receipts
for sale in such jurisdictions and such other registered dealers as
may be designated by the Underwriters. Subject to applicable law,
the Underwriters may offer the Subscription Receipts outside of
Canada and the United States. This news release does not constitute
an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the
securities offered hereby within the United States or to persons in
the United States.
The Subscription Receipts are being offered by
way of the Prospectus Supplement to the short form base shelf
prospectus dated March 23, 2023 (the “Base
Shelf”), with the Prospectus Supplement providing the full
terms related to the Subscription Receipts. Discovery expects to
file the Prospectus Supplement with the securities commissions or
other similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and
territories of Canada other than Québec and Nunavut, on January 29,
2025. The issuance of Subscription Receipts (and the Discovery
common shares underlying the Subscription Receipts) pursuant to the
Offering is subject to the approval of the TSX. The Company has
applied to list the Subscription Receipts, the Over-Allotment
Subscription Receipts and the common shares issuable to the holders
of the Subscription Receipts on the TSX. Listing of such securities
will be subject to Discovery fulfilling all of the listing
requirements of the TSX.
The gross proceeds from the sale of the
Subscription Receipts, less 50% of the Underwriters’ fee that is
payable on closing of the Offering, will be deposited and held in
escrow by TSX Trust Company, as subscription receipt agent, pending
the satisfaction or waiver of the Release Conditions. If the
Closing Date does not occur on or before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
on June 30, 2025, the Agreement is terminated, or Discovery has
announced to the public that it does not intend to proceed with the
Transaction, then an amount per Subscription Receipt equal to the
Issue Price plus a pro rata share of any earned interest,
calculated from the closing of the Offering to the termination
time, net of any applicable withholding, will be returned to the
holders of the Subscription Receipts.
Discovery has filed the Base Shelf with each of
the securities commissions or other similar regulatory authorities
in all the provinces and territories in Canada. Before investing in
the Public Offering, investors are advised to read the Base Shelf,
the Prospectus Supplement and the documents incorporated by
reference therein and other documents the Company has filed with
Canadian securities regulators for more complete information about
the Company and the Offering. Access to the Base Shelf, the
Prospectus Supplement and any amendments to such documents is
provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to
procedures for providing access to a base shelf prospectus, a shelf
prospectus supplement and any amendments to such documents. The
Base Shelf is, and the Prospectus Supplement will be (within two
business days from the date hereof) accessible on Discovery's
issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. An electronic or
paper copy of the Base Shelf, the Prospectus Supplement and any
amendments to the documents may be obtained, without charge, via
mail at BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Brampton Distribution Centre C/O
The Data Group of Companies, 9195 Torbram Road, Brampton, Ontario,
L6S 6H2, by telephone at 905-791-3151 Ext 4312, or by email at
torbramwarehouse@datagroup.ca and by providing a contact with an
email address or address, as applicable.
Certain directors, officers and other insiders
of the Company (collectively, the "Participating
Insiders") are expected to participate in the Public
Offering. Each issuance by the Company of Subscription Receipts to
a Participating Insider under the Public Offering is considered a
"related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral
Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in
Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is
exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval
requirements under MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set out
in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101 as the
fair market value of such transactions, insofar as they involve
related parties, is not more than 25% of the Company's market
capitalization. The Company was not in a position to file a
material change report 21 days prior to expected closing of the
Public Offering because the terms of the Public Offering and
insider participation were not yet established by that time, and
Discovery is electing to expedite closing of the Public Offering
for sound business reasons.
Discovery Capital Structure
At the completion of the Transaction, and
following the execution of all financing agreements, Discovery is
expected to have approximately 771 million common shares
outstanding, with existing shareholders prior to the Transaction
owning approximately 51.9% of the pro forma shares outstanding,
excluding any new common shares acquired by existing shareholders
via the Offering and assuming no exercise of the over-allotment
option.
At the Closing Date, and following the receipt
of all cash from the Financing Package, Discovery expects to add
approximately C$220 million ($150 million) of cash to the Company’s
balance sheet, with the $100 million Debt Facility remaining
undrawn and assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option.
ADVISORS AND COUNSELSCP and
Fort Capital Partners are acting as financial advisors to
Discovery, with Bennett Jones LLP acting as legal advisor to the
Company in relation to the Transaction and the Public Offering.
CIBC World Markets Inc. (“CIBC”) is acting as
financial advisor to the Special Committee (as defined below) of
Discovery. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is acting as legal
advisors to the Company in relation to the Franco-Nevada
Financing.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVALThe
Transaction has been unanimously approved by Discovery’s Board of
Directors (the “Board”) following the unanimous
recommendation of a special committee of independent directors of
the Board (the "Special Committee") on January 26,
2025.
CIBC has provided a fairness opinion (the
"Fairness Opinion") to the Special Committee
stating that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and
subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated
in such opinion, the consideration to be paid by Discovery pursuant
to the Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the
Company.
After considering the Fairness Opinion, the
recommendation of the Special Committee, and the advice of its
financial and legal advisors, the Board has unanimously determined
that the Transaction is in the best interest of Discovery.
ABOUT DISCOVERYDiscovery is a
precious metals company engaged in the acquisition, development and
operation of high-quality assets. The Company’s first asset is its
100%-owned Cordero project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped
silver deposits, which is located close to infrastructure in a
prolific mining belt in Chihuahua State, Mexico. The Feasibility
Study completed in February 2024 demonstrates that Cordero has the
potential to be developed into a large-scale, long-life project
that generates attractive economic returns and delivers substantial
socio-economic benefits for local stakeholders. In developing and
operating the Project, an important priority will be maximizing the
use of green energy sources, such as electric vehicles and solar
power, with the Company’s objective being to establish Cordero as
one of the lowest carbon footprint open-pit mines globally.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,Tony Makuch,
P.EngPresident, CEO & Director
For further information contact:
Mark
Utting, CFAVP Investor RelationsPhone: 416-806-6298Email:
mark.utting@discoverysilver.comWebsite: www.discoverysilver.com
PORCUPINE COMPLEX – TECHNICAL REPORT MINERAL
RESOURCES
The Mineral Resource estimates included in the
Technical Report and shown in this press release have an effective
date of January 13, 2025. The Mineral Resources listed below are
not Mineral Reserves and, as such, do not have demonstrated
economic viability.
Mineral Resources
Mineral ResourcesNote 1 - 8 |
Tonnes |
Gold Grade |
Contained Ounces |
|
(Kt) |
(g/t Au) |
(Koz Au) |
Hoyle Pond |
- |
- |
- |
Borden |
1,471 |
6.17 |
292 |
Pamour |
- |
- |
- |
Dome |
- |
- |
- |
Total Measured Resources |
1,471 |
6.17 |
292.0 |
Hoyle Pond |
1,167 |
12.90 |
484 |
Borden |
2,274 |
6.15 |
449 |
Pamour |
64,755 |
1.30 |
2,704 |
Dome |
- |
- |
- |
Total Indicated Resources |
68,196 |
1.66 |
3,640.0 |
Hoyle Pond |
1,167 |
12.90 |
484 |
Borden |
3,745 |
6.16 |
741 |
Pamour |
64,755 |
1.30 |
2,704 |
Dome |
- |
- |
- |
Total Measured & Indicated Resources |
69,667 |
1.76 |
3,931.9 |
Hoyle Pond |
578 |
15.24 |
283 |
Borden |
1,372 |
5.22 |
230 |
Pamour |
23,264 |
1.34 |
1,002 |
Dome |
229,284 |
1.49 |
10,978 |
Total Inferred Resources |
254,499 |
1.53 |
12,493.5 |
Notes:
- Mineral
Resources are reported in situ, using the 2014 CIM Definition
Standards. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not
have demonstrated economic viability.
- Mineral
Resources have an effective date of 3 December, 2024. The Qualified
Person for the Borden, Hoyle Pond and Pamour estimates is Mr. Eric
Kallio, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person. The Qualified
Person for the Dome estimate is Dr. Ryan Barnett, P.Geo., an
employee of Resource Modelling Solutions.
- Mineral
Resources that are considered amenable to underground mining
methods at Borden are constrained within conceptual mineable shapes
that use the following input parameters: gold price of US$2,000/oz
Au, mining costs of US$120.08/t mined, process costs of US$18.30/t
processed, general and administrative costs of US$31.58/t
processed, variable metallurgical recoveries by mining zone ranging
from 81.08–93.64%, refining costs of US$0.98/oz Au, dilution
percentages that vary by mining zone, ranging from 18–25%, and a
4.6% royalty. Mineral Resources are reported at varying cut-off
grades by mining zone, ranging from 3.3–4.2 g/t Au.
- Mineral
Resources that are considered amenable to open pit mining methods
at Dome are constrained within a pit shell that uses the following
input parameters: gold price of US$2,000/oz Au, mining costs of
US$3.85/t mined, process costs of US$18.75/t processed, general and
administrative costs of US$3.86/t processed, average 91%
metallurgical recovery, refining costs of US$0.94/oz Au, and pit
slope angles of 45º. Mineral Resources are reported above a 0.40
g/t Au cut-off.
- Mineral
Resources that are considered amenable to underground mining
methods at Hoyle Pond are constrained within conceptual stope
designs that use the following input parameters: gold price of
US$2,000/oz Au, mining costs of US$371.55/t mined assuming
longitudinal long-hole retreat methods and US$277.33/t mined
assuming underhand cut-and-fill methods, process costs of
US$45.01/t processed, general and administrative costs of
US$47.05/t processed, average 94.3% metallurgical recovery,
refining costs of US$0.98/oz Au, dilution percentages that vary by
zone and mining method, ranging from 12–194%, and a royalty of
8.0%. The Mineral Resource estimate is reported at a cut-off grade
of 12.3 g/t Au in the stopes assumed to be mined using longitudinal
long-hole retreat methods and 6.05 g/t Au in the stopes assumed to
be mined using underhand cut-and-fill.
- Mineral
Resources that are considered amenable to open pit mining methods
at Pamour are constrained within a pit shell that uses the
following input parameters: gold price of US$2,000/oz Au, mining
costs of US$5.50/t mined, process costs of US$23.70/t processed,
general and administrative costs of US$10.47/t processed, average
91% metallurgical recovery, refining costs of US$0.94/oz Au, and
pit slope angles of 25º in overburden and 45º in rock. Mineral
Resources are reported above a 0.53 g/t Au cut-off.
- Estimates have
been rounded. Grades and contained metal content are presented as
weighted averages.
- The preliminary
assessment is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral
Resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic
considerations applied to them that would enable them to be
categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the
preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
QUALIFIED PERSONSThe scientific
and technical information included in this press release is derived
from the Porcupine Technical Report, which was prepared by Mr. Eric
Kallio, P.Geo., an independent consultant to the Company, Mr.
Pierre Rocque, P.Eng. of Rocque Engineering Inc., and Dr. Ryan
Barnett, P.Geo. of Resource Modelling Solutions Inc. Messrs.
Kallio, Rocque and Barnett are independent "Qualified Persons" as
such term is defined in NI 43-101 ("QPs"). The QP
responsible for the Mineral Resource estimates for Hoyle Pond,
Borden and Pamour, as provided in the Porcupine Technical Report is
Mr. Kallio. The QP responsible for Mineral Resource estimates for
Dome as provided in the Porcupine Technical Report is Mr. Barnett.
Mr. Rocque acted as QP for the subset of Mineral Resource estimates
used in the 2024 LOM plan provided by the Newmont technical
services team in the Porcupine Technical Report. Messrs. Kallio,
Rocque and Barnett have reviewed and approved the scientific and
technical information included in this press release.
Scientific and technical information in this
press release relating to the Cordero project has been reviewed and
validated by Gernot Wober, P.Geo, VP Exploration, Discovery Silver
Corp., and Mr. Rocque, each of whom is a QP.
NON-GAAP MEASURESThe Company
has included certain non-GAAP performance measures as detailed
below. In the mining industry, these are common performance
measures but may not be comparable to similar measures presented by
other issuers and the non-GAAP measures do not have any
standardized meaning. Accordingly, it is intended to provide
additional information and should not be considered in isolation or
as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance
with International Financial Reporting Standards. See the section
entitled "Financial Information and non-GAAP Measures" in the
Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2024 and the Company's Management
Discussion and Analysis for the years ended December 31, 2023 and
2022, in which these non-GAAP measures are further described.
CASH COSTS PER OUNCE
The Company calculated total cash costs per
ounce by dividing the sum of operating costs, royalty costs,
production taxes, refining and shipping costs, by payable
silver-equivalent ounces. While there is no standardized meaning of
the measure across the industry, the Company believes that this
measure is useful to external users in assessing operating
performance.
ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTS
("AISC")
The Company has provided an AISC performance
measure that reflects all the expenditures that are required to
produce an ounce of payable metal. While there is no standardized
meaning of the measure across the industry, the Company’s
definition conforms to the all-in sustaining cost definition as set
out by the World Gold Council in its guidance dated June 27, 2013.
Subsequent amendments to the guidance have not materially affected
the figures presented.
FREE CASH FLOW
Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP performance measure
that is calculated as cash flows from operations net of cash flows
invested in mineral property, plant and equipment and exploration
and evaluation assets. The Company believes that this measure is
useful to the external users in assessing the Company’s ability to
generate cash flows from its mineral projects.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis press release contains
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities legislation. All information, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this press release that
address activities, events or developments that the Company expects
or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such
things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals,
expansion and growth of the Company's businesses, operations, plans
and other such matters are forward-looking information.
When used in this press release, the words
"estimate", "plan", "continue", "anticipate", "might", "expect",
"project", "intend", "may", "will", "shall", "should", "could",
"would", "predict", "predict", "forecast", "pursue", "potential",
"believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking information. This information involves 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
information.
Examples of such forward-looking information
include information pertaining to, without limitation, statements
with respect to: the anticipated timing and closing of the
Transaction (as defined herein); the anticipated benefits of the
Transaction, including the impact of the Transaction on the
Company's operations, financial condition, cash flows and overall
strategy; the Porcupine Complex, including the assumptions and
qualifications contained in the Porcupine Technical Report (as
defined herein); the completion of the Public Offering (as defined
herein); the expected closing dates of the transactions described
herein; the exercise of the over-allotment option for the Public
Offering; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals to
effect the Public Offering; the expected use of net proceeds from
the Public Offering, which ultimately remains subject to the
Company's discretion, as well as the impact of general business,
economic and political conditions; the anticipated timing and
closing of the Franco-Nevada Financing as well as the anticipated
use of proceeds therefrom and the impact thereof on the Company's
financial condition; receipt of shareholder approval for the
issuance of the Additional Shares; the future price of gold and
other metals; currency exchange rates and interest rates;
favourable operating conditions; political stability; timely
receipt of governmental approvals, licenses, and permits (and
renewals thereof); access to necessary financing; stability of
labour markets and in market conditions in general; availability of
equipment; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and of any
metallurgical testing completed to date; estimates of costs and
expenditures to complete our programs and goals; the speculative
nature of mineral exploration and development and mining operations
in general; there being no significant disruptions affecting the
development and operation of the Company's properties; exchange
rate assumptions being approximately consistent with assumptions;
the availability of certain consumables and services and the prices
for power and other key supplies being approximately consistent
with assumptions; labour and materials costs being approximately
consistent with assumptions; assumptions made in mineral resource
estimates, including, but not limited to, geological
interpretation, grades, metal price assumptions, metallurgical and
mining recovery rates, geotechnical and hydrogeological
assumptions, capital and operating cost estimates, and general
marketing factors; other statements relating to the financial and
business prospects of the Company; information as to the Company's
strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance; and
other events or conditions that may occur in the future.
Factors that could cause actual results to vary
materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking
statements include, among others: the satisfaction of all
conditions to closing the Transaction, the Public Offering, and the
Franco-Nevada Financing and, in each case, on the timeframes
contemplated; the purchase price of the Transaction, subject to
post-closing adjustments and the payment of the deferred cash
consideration; the successful completion of the Transaction and the
Company's ability to obtain the anticipated benefits therefrom; the
accuracy of historical and forward-looking operational and
financial information and estimates provided by Newmont (as defined
herein); the Company's ability to integrate Porcupine into the
Company's operations; the accuracy of financial and operational
projections of the Company following completion of the Transaction;
statements regarding the Porcupine Complex, including the results
of technical studies and the anticipated capital and operations
costs, sustaining costs, internal rate of return, concession or
claim renewal, permitting, economic and scoping-level parameters,
mineral resource and/or reserve estimates, the cost of development,
mine plans and mining methods, dilution and mining recoveries,
processing method and rates and production rates, projected
metallurgical recovery rates, infrastructure requirements, capital,
operating and sustaining cost estimates, the projected life of mine
and other expected attributes of the properties, the net present
value, the timing of any environmental assessment processes,
changes to configuration that may be requested as a result of
stakeholder or government input to the environmental assessment
processes, government regulations and permitting timelines, and
reclamation obligations; the anticipated use of proceeds of the
Public Offering; the timing for completion, settlement and closing
of the Public Offering; the satisfaction of the conditions to
closing of the Public Offering, including receipt in a timely
manner of regulatory and other required approvals and clearances,
including the approval of the TSX; the plan of distribution for the
Public Offering; the ability to repay the debt financing components
of the Franco-Nevada financing package; the anticipated effect of
the Transaction on the consolidated capitalization of the Company
following the completion of the Public Offering; the receipt of
shareholder approval for the issuance of the Additional Shares;
statements or information concerning the future financial or
operating performance of the Company and its business, operations,
properties and condition, resource potential, including the
potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, or the potential size
of a mineralized zone; potential expansion of mineralization; the
timing and results of future resource and/or reserve estimates; the
timing of other exploration and development plans at the Company's
mineral project interests and at Porcupine; the proposed timing and
amount of estimated future production and the illustrative costs
thereof; requirements for additional capital; environmental risks;
general business and economic conditions; delays in obtaining, or
the inability to obtain, third-party contracts, equipment, supplies
and governmental or other approvals; changes in law, including the
enactment of mining law reforms in Mexico; accidents; labour
disputes; unavailability of appropriate land use permits; changes
to land usage agreements and other risks of the mining industry
generally; the inability to obtain financing required for the
completion of exploration and development activities; changes in
business and economic conditions; international conflicts; other
factors beyond the Company's control; and those factors included
herein and elsewhere in the Company's public disclosure.
Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be
as anticipated, estimated, or intended. See the section entitled
"Risk Factors" in the prospectus supplement and the accompanying
base shelf prospectus, and in the section entitled "Risk Factors"
in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 28, 2024
for the financial year ended December 31, 2023, for additional risk
factors that could cause results to differ materially from
forward-looking statements.
There can be no assurance that such information
will prove to be accurate as actual developments or events could
cause results to differ materially from those anticipated. These
include, among others, the factors described or referred to
elsewhere herein, and include unanticipated and/or unusual events.
Many of such factors are beyond the Company's ability to predict or
control.
The forward-looking information included in this
press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary
statements. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking information due to its inherent
uncertainty. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to
update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or results or otherwise, unless required
under applicable laws. This forward-looking information should not
be relied upon as representing management's views as of any date
subsequent to the date of this press release.
Statements concerning mineral resource estimates
may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the
extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be
encountered if the property is developed and are based on the
results of a preliminary economic assessment which is preliminary
in nature. Please refer to the Cautionary Language provided
below.
Discovery Silver (TSX:DSV)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 2월(2) 2025 으로 3월(3) 2025
Discovery Silver (TSX:DSV)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 3월(3) 2024 으로 3월(3) 2025