Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE | GSE:ASG | FRANKFURT:1A9 |
U.S.OTC:ASGOF) (“Asante” or the “Company”) announces that its
subsidiary Asante Gold Bibiani Ltd. (“Asante Bibiani”), which owns
the Bibiani mine, has entered into an agreement with Fujairah
Holdings LLC (“Fujairah”) for the forward sale of US$500 million in
gold which will provide US$100 million of financing to the Company
on a revolving basis over a period of approximately two years (the
“Gold Forward Agreement”) on terms described below.
Dave Anthony, President and CEO stated, “We are
pleased to announce this Gold Forward Agreement with Fujairah, a
strategic and foundational partner for Asante. This Agreement will
enable us to immediately accelerate the ramp-up of mining
activities and completion of the sulphide treatment plant. We plan
to increase gold production beyond 15,000 ounces per month at
Bibiani by mid-year, while we work to complete our other funding
initiatives.”
As an advance deposit (the “Initial Deposit”)
toward future gold deliveries, Fujairah has paid US$100 million to
Asante Bibiani. Under the Gold Forward Agreement, there is a
three month grace period in respect of the Initial Deposit,
following which the Company will deliver US$100 million of refined
gold to Fujairah commencing March 28, 2025 through June 28, 2025,
with such deliveries to be credited against the Initial
Deposit.
Following the Initial Deposit, a series of four
additional advance deposits and gold deliveries will be made in an
aggregate amount of US$400 million over a period of 22 months.
There will be a two month grace period in respect of each such
US$100 million additional advance deposit, following which the
Company will deliver US$100 million of refined gold to Fujairah
over four months. All gold deliveries will be priced at a seven
percent discount to the market price of gold at the time of
delivery.
The proceeds of the Initial Deposit will
primarily be used to advance growth initiatives at the Company’s
operations, including accelerated ramp-up of mining activities and
completion of a sulphide treatment plant at the Bibiani mine.
Asante Bibiani’s obligations under the Gold
Forward Agreement will be secured by a parent guarantee from Asante
and by a debenture in respect of Asante Bibiani’s assets. Fujairah
has agreed to a subordinated position to senior lenders and bond
holders following the effectiveness of an intercreditor agreement
that is expected to be entered into in connection with the
Company’s proposed financing package announced on October 30,
2024.
With regard to the previously announced US$100
million non-brokered private placement, the Company confirms that
closing of the US$40 million third tranche has not as yet occurred.
The Company is determining modification or cancellation of the
third tranche of the private placement, and will provide an update
when determination has been made.
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by
David Anthony, P.Eng., Mining and Mineral Processing, President and
CEO of Asante, who is a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.
About Asante Gold
Corporation
Asante is a gold exploration, development and
operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and
mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and
Chirano Gold Mines and continues with detailed technical studies at
its Kubi Gold Project. All mines and exploration projects are
located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has
an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and
operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is
listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock
Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Asante is also exploring
its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries,
all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre
of Ghana’s Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on
the Company’s website at www.asantegold.com.
About the Bibiani Gold Mine
Bibiani is an operating open pit gold mine
situated in the Western North Region of Ghana, with previous gold
production of more than 4.5 million ounces. It is fully permitted
with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site
consisting of a refurbished 3 million tonne per annum process plant
and existing mining infrastructure. Asante commenced mining at
Bibiani in late February 2022 with the first gold pour announced on
July 7, 2022. Commercial production was announced November 10,
2022.
For additional information relating to the
mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Bibiani Gold
Mine, please refer to the 2024 Bibiani Technical Report filed on
the Company’s SEDAR+ profile (www.sedarplus.ca).
About the Chirano Gold Mine
Chirano is an operating open pit and underground
mine located in the Western Region of Ghana, immediately south of
the Company’s Bibiani Gold Mine. Chirano was first explored and
developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005. The mine
comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti
Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open
pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines.
For additional information relating to the
mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Chirano Gold
Mine, please refer to the 2024 Chirano Technical Report filed on
the Company’s SEDAR+ profile (www.sedarplus.ca).
For further information please
contact:
Dave Anthony, President & CEOFrederick
Attakumah, Executive Vice President and Country
Directorinfo@asantegold.com+1 604 661 9400 or +233 303 972 147
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain statements in this news release
constitute forward-looking statements, including but not limited
to, timing of the completion of the balance of the Gold Forward
Agreement, statements relating to funding initiatives and the
Company’s proposed financing package announced on October 30, 2024,
projections of gold production, progression of the sulphide
treatment plant at the Company’s Bibiani mine, and the intended use
of proceeds of the Gold Forward Agreement. Forward-looking
statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and
opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, the inability to satisfy any
condition required to complete the balance of the Gold Forward
Agreement, the inability to complete required funding initiatives,
variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral
deposits that may be located, the Company’s inability to obtain any
necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its
planned activities, the Company’s inability to raise the necessary
capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies,
and the price of gold. The reader is referred to the Company’s
public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR+
(www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company believes that the
assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on
these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news
release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur
in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by
securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on
which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC
nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
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