Gatos Silver, Inc. (NYSE/TSX: GATO) (“Gatos Silver” or the
“Company”) today announced that it has entered into amended and
restated agreements (the “Amended Agreements”) with Dowa Metals
& Mining Co., Ltd. (“Dowa”) regarding the Los Gatos Joint
Venture (the “LGJV”). The Amended Agreements, which are effective
on January 1, 2025, expand Gatos Silver’s management rights within
the LGJV which will result in the Company being able to fully
consolidate the financial statements of the LGJV rather than
accounting for its investment in the LGJV under the equity method
of accounting as is currently required. The ownership interests of
the Company and Dowa in the LGJV are unchanged, at 70% and 30%,
respectively.
The Amended Agreements strengthen Dowa’s zinc
concentrate offtake rights, including amending pre-defined
commercial terms, which continue to be based on world benchmarks,
and commitments regarding concentrate production and product
quality. The Amended Agreements also update the terms for
management services provided by Gatos Silver in its oversight of
the LGJV, reduce supermajority voting requirements and provide the
Company with a new sole-funding right for significant mine or plant
modifications or expansions, among other things.
“The Los Gatos Joint Venture has been very
successful since its establishment 10 years ago, founded on the
strength of its assets, our team, and our relationship with Dowa as
a valued partner,” said Dale Andres, CEO. “The amended joint
venture agreements build upon this foundation, and importantly,
allow full financial consolidation within Gatos Silver which will
streamline financial reporting and provide investors with a focused
picture of the Company’s financial performance, including following
the merger with First Majestic which we anticipate will close in
January 2025.”
Important Information for Investors and
Stockholders about the Transaction and Where to Find
It
This news release is not intended to and does
not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an
offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or
subscribe for any securities of First Majestic Silver Corp. (“First
Majestic”) or Gatos Silver or the solicitation of any vote or
approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance
or transfer of securities of First Majestic or Gatos Silver in any
jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. This news release
may be deemed to be soliciting material relating to First
Majestic’s proposed acquisition of all of the issued and
outstanding shares of common stock of Gatos Silver (the
“Transaction”).
In connection with the Transaction between First
Majestic and Gatos Silver pursuant to the previously announced
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), First
Majestic filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form F-4 that includes a
Proxy Statement of Gatos Silver that also constitutes a Prospectus
of First Majestic (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) and other
documents. Each of First Majestic and Gatos Silver may also file
other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the Transaction.
The registration statement on Form F-4 was declared effective by
the SEC on December 2, 2024. Gatos Silver filed a Proxy
Statement/Prospectus with the SEC on December 3, 2024 which it
commenced mailing on December 6, 2024 to its stockholders in
connection with the Transaction. First Majestic filed the
Information Circular in connection with the proposed Transaction
with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on
December 10, 2024 and commenced mailing the meeting materials to
its shareholders on December 10, 2024. This news release is not a
substitute for any registration statement, proxy statement,
prospectus or other document First Majestic or Gatos Silver has
filed or may file with the SEC or Canadian securities regulatory
authorities in connection with the pending Transaction. INVESTORS
AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF GATOS SILVER AND FIRST MAJESTIC ARE URGED
TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND MANAGEMENT PROXY
CIRCULAR, RESPECTIVELY, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR
TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC OR CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY
AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO
CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE
BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE
TRANSACTION BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT FIRST MAJESTIC, GATOS SILVER, THE TRANSACTION AND
RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders are able to obtain
free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the filings with the
SEC that are and will be incorporated by reference into the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by
First Majestic and Gatos Silver containing important information
about First Majestic or Gatos Silver and the Transaction through
the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors are
also able to obtain free copies of the management proxy circular
and other documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory
authorities by First Majestic, through the website maintained by
the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedarplus.com. In
addition, investors and security holders are able to obtain free
copies of the documents filed by First Majestic with the SEC and
Canadian securities regulatory authorities on First Majestic’s
website at www.firstmajestic.com or by contacting First Majestic’s
investor relations team. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC
by Gatos Silver are available free of charge on Gatos Silver’s
website or by contacting Gatos Silver’s investor relations
team.
Participants in the Merger
Solicitation
First Majestic, Gatos Silver and certain of
their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be
considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in
connection with the proposed Transaction. Information regarding the
persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants
in the solicitation of the shareholders of First Majestic and the
stockholders of Gatos Silver in connection with the Transaction,
including a description of their respective direct or indirect
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus described above and other relevant
documents filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory
authorities in connection with the Transaction. Additional
information regarding First Majestic’s directors and executive
officers is also included in First Majestic’s Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and 2024 Proxy Statement, which was filed
with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on
April 15, 2024, and information regarding Gatos Silver’s directors
and executive officers is also included in Gatos Silver’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with
the SEC on February 20, 2024, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to such
annual report filed with the SEC on May 6, 2024 and Gatos Silver’s
2024 Proxy Statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
which was filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024. These documents are
available free of charge as described above.
About Gatos Silver
Gatos Silver is a silver dominant exploration,
development and production company that discovered a new silver and
zinc-rich mineral district in southern Chihuahua State, Mexico. As
a 70% owner of the LGJV, the Company is primarily focused on
operating the Cerro Los Gatos mine and on growth and development of
the Los Gatos district. The LGJV includes approximately 103,000
hectares of mineral rights, representing a highly prospective and
under-explored district with numerous silver-zinc-lead epithermal
mineralized zones identified as priority targets.
On September 5, 2024, Gatos Silver and First
Majestic Silver Corp. (“First Majestic”) announced that they
entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which First
Majestic will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common
shares of Gatos Silver (the “Merger”). The proposed Merger would
consolidate three world-class, producing silver mining districts in
Mexico to create a leading intermediate primary silver producer.
Information relating to the proposed Merger can be found at the
Company’s website at www.gatossilver.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe
harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws and
“forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian securities
laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). These statements
relate to future events of First Majestic and/or Gatos Silver that
are based on assumptions of management of First Majestic and/or
Gatos Silver made in good faith in light of management’s experience
and perception of future developments. Forward-looking statements
in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements
with respect to: the timing of the effectiveness of the Amended
Agreements and their impact on Gatos Silver’s financial statements,
and the timing of closing of the Transaction. Assumptions may prove
to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those
anticipated. Consequently, guidance cannot be guaranteed. As such,
investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon guidance
and forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that
the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed
will occur.
Actual results may vary from forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to
those factors discussed in (a) the section entitled “Description of
the Business - Risk Factors” in First Majestic’s most recently
filed Annual Information Form, available under its profile on
SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com, and as an exhibit to its most recently
filed Form 40-F available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar or on First
Majestic’s website and (b) the Gatos Silver’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, available on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov/edgar or on Gatos Silver’s website. First Majestic is
not affirming or adopting any statements or reports attributed to
Gatos Silver in this news release or made by Gatos Silver outside
of this news release. Gatos Silver is not affirming or adopting any
statements or reports attributed to First Majestic in this news
release or made by First Majestic outside of this news release.
Although First Majestic and Gatos Silver have attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking statements,
there may be other factors that cause results not to be as
anticipated, estimated or intended.
First Majestic and Gatos Silver believe that the
expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are
reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations
will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements
included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements
speak only as of the date hereof. First Majestic and Gatos Silver
do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these
forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except
as required by applicable laws.
Investors and Media Contact
André van NiekerkChief Financial
Officerinvestors@gatossilver.com(604) 424 0984
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