The Board of Directors of SolGold (LSE & TSX: SOLG) wishes to provide an update on the Company’s strategy and near-term priorities following the appointment of Mr. Scott Caldwell as Interim Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) on 10 November 2022.
Mr. Caldwell has over 40 years of extensive experience in the global mining industry, having held several senior executive and operational roles with notable mining companies including at Freeport-McMoRan’s Indonesian properties and block cave mines, Kinross and the large Collahuasi mine in Chile, operating globally and in South America. Mr. Caldwell is familiar with SolGold and its assets and aligned with shareholder interests as a result of being:
- a significant investor in a personal capacity;
- the former CEO of a corporate entity that previously held more than 5% of the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company; and
- a former director of SolGold.
Mr. Caldwell, Interim CEO of SolGold, commented:
“Our top priority is to allocate our human and capital resources efficiently to unlock shareholder value. We are curtailing spend that is not aligned with our value maximisation objectives including advancing nonessential studies in this market environment that do not materially increase value. We are taking a very disciplined approach to capital allocation. To be clear, we will continue to progress critical work streams that are required to advance and de-risk the Tier 1 Cascabel project that has the opportunity to bring significant benefits to all Ecuadorians and support Ecuador to become the next copper frontier. We will also focus on advancing our highest priority exploration targets within our large exploration portfolio in Ecuador using our proven methodology. This new approach is a clear shift in direction and is in alignment with feedback received from a number of shareholders, and we look forward to continued engagement with all stakeholders. I will ensure the SolGold team works tirelessly to ensure all shareholders are rewarded for funding this world class discovery in Cascabel and I would like to personally thank our shareholders for their patience and support.”
Osisko Royalty
The previously announced US$50 million royalty investment from Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (“Osisko”) adds a fresh strategic endorsement of SolGold and is a testament to the world class nature of the Cascabel project. The Osisko investment represents a very attractive and accretive financing solution for the Company and is expected to close imminently.
Cornerstone Transaction
The Transaction is anticipated to close following customary regulatory approvals and a special meeting of Cornerstone shareholders to approve the Transaction. The Transaction provides SolGold with the opportunity to sell the 157.1 million SolGold shares held by Cornerstone to strategic investors before the closing of the Transaction.
Strategic Review
The Board is focused on maximising value for all shareholders. A Strategy Sub-Committee led by Non-Executive Director, Dan Vujcic, will continue to advance the previously announced Strategic Review as a top priority.
As previously disclosed, the Strategic Review includes, among other things, evaluating and pursuing value enhancing opportunities for the Company such as:
- evaluating financing alternatives for the Company that endorse project value;
- a spin-out of assets, other than the Cascabel project, to all shareholders;
- the direct or indirect sale of an interest in the Cascabel project at prices that endorse project value howsoever effected; or
- any other transaction or series of related transactions.
SolGold is focused on advancing Cascabel in a cost effective and value maximising manner.
The Cascabel Project Team is rigorously reviewing all opportunities to de-risk the project, reduce costs and further improve project economics. The Project Team is investigating an expanded list of optimisation opportunities and upside options including:
- Alpala underground mine design optimisation;
- improvements to mine and mill production rate;
- inclusion of open pit resources including at Tandayama-America;
- process plant design optimisation;
- opportunities for improved metallurgical recovery;
- improving gold recoveries;
- capital and operating cost reduction opportunities;
- hydropower project development; and
- project execution strategy.
Given exploration success has been a key driver of unlocking shareholder value, SolGold will take a disciplined approach to continue to advance the highest priority exploration targets at Cascabel and across the broader portfolio applying the Company’s blueprint and proven exploration methodology. SolGold discovered and defined the resources at Cascabel for less than ~US$0.01/lb of copper equivalent or less than ~US$3/oz of gold equivalent.
Environmental baseline studies and permitting for the Cascabel project continues. The Company continues to maintain excellent community relations in the project area in addition to continued high level of support from the government.
This announcement was approved for release by Rufus Gandhi - Company Secretary.Our mailing address is:
[email protected]