Initial US$4 Million Option Payment; Further strengthening balance sheet
Remaining consideration of US$10 Million payable on exercise within 3 years
Company well-positioned to drive future growth via its operating Minera Don Nicolas gold mine in Argentina and its Mont Sorcier High Grade Iron Ore development project in Quebec
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2024 / Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSX.V:CERT)(OTCQX:CRDOF)(FRA:BAI0) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") announces that it and its wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Don Nicolas S.A. ("MDN"), have entered into an option agreement ("Option Agreement") with Cerro Vanguardia S.A. ("CVSA") a wholly-owned subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti Holdings Plc, whereby MDN has granted to CVSA the option ("Option") to purchase a 100% interest (the "Transaction") in certain properties (the "Michelle Properties") located in the south region of MDN's Minera Don Nicolas Project in Santa Cruz, Argentina, for total consideration of the Argentina peso equivalent of US$14 million (approximately C$19 million) (the "Purchase Price"), subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions. The Option Agreement was ratified December 23, 2024, with effect December 18, 2024.
The Purchase Price is payable in the following stages:
US$4 million equivalent in Argentina pesos at the CCL Buyers rate upon grant of the Option); and
US$10 million equivalent in Argentina pesos at the CCL Buyers rate upon exercise of the Option within 3 years.
During the Option Period CVSA will take operational control of the Michelle Properties.
Mark Brennan, CEO and Chairman commented: "The option of these non-core properties to CVSA, the logical owner of these properties, is highly accretive to Cerrado and its shareholders. The Transaction will immediately improve the balance sheet and short-term capital position at MDN, allowing us to focus on our core properties. With current strong operating cashflows at MDN and capital proceeds from asset sales, we are very well positioned to pursue strong growth programs at MDN and at our Mont Sorcier high grade iron project, as well as look at additional opportunities to grow the Company in the near term."
Transaction Summary and Details
The Michelle Properties are a collection of 14exploration concessions, totaling approximately 14,000 hectares located approximately 100 km to the South-East of the MDN plant and 10 km to the North-West of CVSA's Cerro Vanguardia Mine. The Michelle Properties are highlighted in the following map:
MDN will receive from CVSA the Argentina CCL peso equivalent of US$4 million to MDN on or about December 27, 2024.
CVSA may exercise the Option at its sole discretion at any time within three (3) years unless earlier terminated (the "Option Period") by providing an exercise notice to MDN and paying the exercise price of the Argentina pesos equivalent of US$10 million. The Option may be exercised at CVSA's sole discretion at any time during the Option Period, provided that the required payment has been paid by CVSA. Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, CVSA is intended to assume operational control of the Michelle Properties from the date of the Option Agreement until the expiry of the Option Period.
Royalty and Stream Holders
Concurrent with the Transaction, MDN obtained prior written consents to the Transaction and exercise of the Option from all holders of royalties and metals streams applicable to the Michelle Properties (the "Consents"), including RG Royalties, LLC ("Royal Gold"), a subsidiary of Royal Gold Inc., Sandstorm Gold Limited ("Sandstorm"), a subsidiary of Sandstorm Gold Royalties, and Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp. ("Sprott"). Receipt of the Consents reduces risks and expedites closing if CVSA elects to exercise the Option.
Prior to executing the Option Agreement, Royal Gold was paid all accrued royalty amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2024, and Sandstorm was paid a lump sum. Both Royal Gold and Sandstorm agreed to waive all accrued interest and penalties on royalty amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2024, provided that in the case of Sandstorm, all royalty amounts are paid when due in instalments over the next two quarters. The waiver of accrued interest and penalties, taken together with the repayment of outstanding royalties, results in substantial reductions of Company accounts payable. In connection with the Consents and the waiver of interest and penalties, the Company provided corporate guarantees to Royal Gold and Sandstorm relating to their royalty agreements with MDN, and MDN and has conditionally agreed to pay Sandstorm up to US$500,000 in connection with a cap on royalty payments on the Michelle Properties subject to the existing maximum royalty amount of approximately $1,300,000 that may be payable to Sandstorm under the applicable Sandstorm royalty agreement.
Review of Technical Information
The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Sergio Gelcich, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Cerrado Gold Inc., who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
About Cerrado
Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company focused on gold projects in South America. The Company is the 100% owner of both the producing Minera Don Nicolás and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier Iron Ore and Vanadium project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec.
In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas operation through continued operational optimization and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias Heap Leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff.
In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the high grade, high purity Mont Sorcier Iron Ore and Vanadium project, which has the potential to produce a premium iron ore concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and with low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, contributing to the decarbonization of the industry and the achievement of SDG goals.
For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com.
Mark Brennan
CEO and Chairman
Mike McAllister
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1-647-805-5662
Email: info@cerradogold.com
Disclaimer
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado, that CVSA will exercise the Option, receipt by Cerrado of the whole Purchase Price including the $10 million upon exercise the Option, the value of Argentina pesos at the CCL Buyers rate, that MDN will satisfy conditions relating to the waiver of interest and penalties. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado has made certain assumptions, including, but not limited to the satisfactory completion of due diligence by Amarillo and the exercise of the Option by Amarillo, the satisfaction of all conditions to closing of the Proposed Transaction, including the receipt of all required approvals (including regulatory and shareholder approval), cash flow generated from MDN and changes in economic and monetary policies and regulations in jurisdictions in which Cerrado and its subsidiaries operate. Although Cerrado believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.
SOURCE: Cerrado Gold Inc.
View the original press release on accesswire.com
