Ascot Resources Ltd. (
TSX: AOT; OTCQX:
AOTVF) (“
Ascot” or the
“
Company”) is pleased to announce the Company’s
unaudited financial results for the three and six months ended June
30, 2024 (“
Q2 2024”), located on Nisga’a Nation
Treaty Lands in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern
British Columbia. For details of the unaudited condensed interim
consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and
Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, please
see the Company’s filings on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
All amounts herein are reported in $000s of
Canadian dollars (“C$”) unless otherwise
specified.
Q2 2024 AND RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
- On July 25,
2024, the Company closed the previously announced bought deal
financing, including the full exercise of the over-allotment
option, for gross proceeds of approximately $34,000 (the
“Offering”). The Offering consisted of 30,242,000 flow-through
units (the “Flow-Through Units”) at a price of C$0.496 per
Flow-Through Unit and 44,188,000 hard dollar units (the “HD Units”)
of the Company (together, the “Offered Securities”) of C$0.43 per
HD Unit. Each Offered Security consisted of one common share of the
company and one common share purchase warrant of the Company. Each
warrant entitled the holder to acquire one share (each, a “Warrant
Share”) at a price of C$0.52 per Warrant Share for a period of 24
months following closing.
- In Q2 2024, the
Big Missouri deposit delivered 47,158 wet tonnes of material. Total
mine development in Q2 achieved 1,764 meters of which 1,381 metres
related to Big Missouri and 383 metres relate to Premier Northern
Light (“PNL”). Significant progress in the second half of the
quarter has been made at PNL where the development rates have
increased to over 6 metres per day.
- The second
egress and exhaust vert raise at the Big Missouri deposit was
completed on June 18, 2024. The operation is moving from mining
lower-grade commissioning ore from the development headings to
mining of planned higher-grade stoping areas.
- During Q2 2024,
the plant processed 85,436 dry tonnes of mostly development ore in
the commissioning of the mill, containing an estimated total of
5,713 ounces of gold; poured 839 ounces of gold and 1,288 ounces of
silver, and an estimated 3,178 ounces of gold-in-process remained
as at June 30, 2024.
- In Q2, 2024, the
Company sold 735 ounces of gold to the offtaker and delivered 42
ounces of gold and 562 ounces of sliver pursuant to stream and
royalty arrangements.
- On May 7, 2024,
the Company announced a $5,000 non-brokered flow-through private
placement (the “Offering”), the proceeds of which will be used to
fund the 2024 exploration program at PGP. The Offering consisted of
6,024,096 common shares of the Company, which qualify as
"flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act
(Canada) (the “FT Shares”), at a price of C$0.83 per FT Share. The
first tranche of $1,000 was closed on May 29 and the second tranche
of $4,000 was closed on June 20, 2024.
- Rock was
introduced into the grinding circuit of the mill on March 31, 2024,
and first gold-bearing ore was introduced to the mills on April 5,
2024. On April 20, 2024, first gold was poured as a part of the
commissioning process. Commissioning of the processing plant at PGP
is ongoing, with commercial production anticipated in second half
of 2024.
- In July 2024,
the plant has shown an ability to operate for several days at its
design capacity in terms of tonnages put through the crushing and
grinding circuit; however there remains a number of challenges to
pour more gold. July’s gold production improved dramatically over
the prior months, but the operation is still struggling to
continuously run the gravity circuit and achieve regular stripping
schedule and gold pours.
- In July 2024,
the plant processed 40,304 dry tonnes of materials from a
combination of Big Missouri development ore and stoping ore and
surface stockpile material. A total of 1,670 ounces of gold and
3,157 ounces of silver were poured.
Overall, the commission process has gone slower
that expected due to a combination of challenges with process plant
and lower grades from the development ore from the Big Missouri
mine. The key challenge for the Company is to access higher grade
stopes from Big Missouri and mine enough material to feed the mills
until the PNL is brought into production which is anticipated in Q4
of 2024. In addition, the reliability of the plant in the gravity
circuit, the elution circuit and the tailing thickener need to
improve so the that the plant can operate continuously. The Company
continues to focus on addressing these challenges.
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE THREE SIX
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024
The Company reported a net income of $2,950 for
Q2 2024 compared to a net loss of $3,073 for Q2 2023. The decrease
in net loss of $6,023 for the current period is primarily
attributable to a combination of factors, including:
- First gold sale with revenue, net of transportation and
refinery costs, recognized of $2,419;
- A $2,262 decrease in the loss on extinguishment of debt;
and
- A $3,583 increase in fair value of derivatives mainly driven by
higher gold and silver prices, which is a non-cash item.
These positive factors were partially offset by
an increase in cost of sales of $2,362.
The Company reported a net loss of $3,258 for
the first half of 2024 compared to $10,662 for the first half of
2023. The decrease in net loss of $7,404 is primarily attributable
to a combination of factors including:
- First gold sale with revenue, net of transportation and
refinery costs, recognized of $2,419;
- A $1,128 decrease in financing costs;
- A $4,432 decrease in the loss of extinguishment of debt;
and
- An $4,152 increase in fair value of derivatives mainly driven
by higher gold and silver prices, which is a non-cash item.
These positive factors were partially offset by
an increase in cost of sales of $2,362 and foreign exchange loss of
$1,292.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES
As at June 30, 2024, the Company had cash &
cash equivalents of $12,710 and working capital deficiency (current
assets minus current liabilities) of $75,713. The working capital
deficiency is caused by an estimated $16,844 as the current portion
of the deferred revenue only to be settled with future production
from the Project, an estimated $7,167 as the current portion of
future extraction services and the $30,944 value of the Convertible
facility, which is classified as current due to the lender’s right
to exercise the conversion option at any time at a variable
exercise price. Excluding these non-cash current liabilities, the
working capital deficiency was $20,758. In H1 2024, the Company
issued 75,803,225 common shares, 10,164,528 warrants, and granted
210,000 stock options, 28,667 Deferred Share Units. Also, 3,965,015
stock options expired or were forfeited, 151,674 RSUs were
forfeited, 13,710,500 warrants expired and 371,369 stock options,
137,533 DSUs and 303,092 RSUs were exercised in H1 2024.
The Company has negative working capital at the
end of June and was in technical non-compliance with certain
covenants. The Company obtained waivers for this non-compliance
through the end of July. After the bought deal financing closed on
July 25, 2025, the Company was back in compliance with the
covenants. If production ramp up is further delayed, the Company
may be in non-compliance with such covenants. Additional waivers or
fundings may be required.
MANAGEMENT’S OUTLOOK FOR
2024
In 2024, the Company intends to transition from
the construction of the mine and related infrastructure to the
operation of the entire site and becoming a gold producer.
The key activities and priorities for the
remainder of 2024 include:
- In order to operate the processing
plant at 2,400 tpd (100 tph) the company needs to complete the mine
development of PNL, ensuring that it, in conjunction with Big
Missouri production, supplies sufficient mill feed to the
processing plant. Management is addressing this mine development by
developing over 6 m per day at PNL continuously with anticipation
of breakthrough to the Prew ore zone in early September, but the
key challenge will be to manage the operating costs effectively
until this development is completed.
- Implementing production mining in
the A6 and A5 zones across various areas in Big Missouri which is
expected to enhance the feed grades in Q3. To allow the mine to
develop into PNL and establish production horizons, the plant will
be operated on a bi-weekly basis until such time that PNL is
contributing to the mill feed.
- In conjunction with the above, and
to continue to optimize and improve the plant and ensure it
operates continuously, management is working on a two-week
maintenance period to address the capacity of the gravity circuit
by improving the screen openings to allow more flow, optimizing CIL
management and the reliability of elution circuit, and improving
the flocculant system for the thickener to ensure clean water is
effectively circulated through the processing plant
- Completing the exploration and
infill drilling program
- Finalizing the commission of the
Moving Bed Bio-Reactor (“MBBR”) portion of the water treatment
plant
Corporate Changes
- On July 26, 2024, Ascot relocated
to the 430 – 1095 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6
(previously suite 1050);
- On July 31, 2024, David Stewart,
Ascot’s VP Corporate Development and Shareholder Communications,
resigned from the Company for personal reasons.
Qualified Person
John Kiernan, P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer of
the Company is the Company’s Qualified Person (QP) as defined by
National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the
technical contents of this news release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Ascot Resources Ltd.“Derek C. White”President &
CEO
For further information
contact:
Derek WhitePresident & CEOinfo@ascotgold.com778-725-1060
ext. 1010
About Ascot Resources Ltd.
Ascot is a Canadian mining company focused on
commissioning its 100%-owned Premier Gold Mine, which poured first
gold in April 2024 and is located on Nisga’a Nation Treaty Lands,
in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia.
Concurrent with commissioning Premier towards commercial
production, the Company continues to explore its properties for
additional high-grade gold mineralization. Ascot’s corporate office
is in Vancouver, and its shares trade on the TSX under the ticker
AOT and on the OTCQX under the ticker AOTVF. Ascot is committed to
the safe and responsible operation of the Premier Gold Mine in
collaboration with Nisga’a Nation and the local communities of
Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska.
For more information about the Company, please
refer to the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or
visit the Company’s web site at www.ascotgold.com.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
All statements and other information contained
in this press release about anticipated future events may
constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities
laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are
often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as
"seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect",
"targeted", "outlook", "on track" and "intend" and statements that
an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", “would” or
"might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, included
herein are forward-looking statements, including statements in
respect of advancement and development of the PGP and the timing
related thereto, the completion of the PGP mine, the production of
gold, the use of proceeds from our financings, our ability to
secure additional financing, our financing needs, the resolution of
commissioning challenges, the anticipated grade of mineral
production, the operation of the mill and management’s outlook for
the remainder of 2024 and beyond. These statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including risks
associated with uncertainties relating to the grade of mineral
deposits; the inability to resolve commissioning challenges; lack
of liquidity; being in default under our credit facilities; the
need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and
uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing;
the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and
uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; risks
related to exploration and potential development of Ascot's
projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry
generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange
rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results
and the geology and continuity of mineral deposits; the need for
cooperation of government agencies and indigenous groups in the
exploration and development of Ascot’s properties and the issuance
of required permits; uncertainty as to timely availability of
permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as
detailed from time to time in Ascot's filings with Canadian
securities regulators, available on Ascot's profile on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca including the Annual Information Form of the
Company dated March 25, 2024 in the section entitled "Risk
Factors". Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made
with regard to: the grade of mineral production; the capacity and
operation of the mill; production results and aggregate gold sales;
the estimated costs associated with construction of the Project;
the ability to maintain throughput and production levels at the PGP
mill; the tax rate applicable to the Company; future commodity
prices; the grade of mineral resources and mineral reserves; the
ability of the Company to convert inferred mineral resources to
other categories; the ability of the Company to reduce mining
dilution; the ability to reduce capital costs; and exploration
plans. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and
opinions of management at the date the statements are made.
Although Ascot believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since
Ascot can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be
correct. Ascot does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable
laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news
release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
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