VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 7, 2023
/CNW/ - New Pacific Metals Corp. ("New Pacific" or the
"Company") reports its financial results for the three months ended
September 30, 2023. All figures
are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise stated.
FISCAL 2024 Q1 HIGHLIGHTS
- The Company filed its inaugural independent National
Instrument 43–101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects ("NI 43-101") mineral resource estimate (the "MRE")
for its Carangas Project on September 18,
2023. Total indicated mineral resources of 214.9 million
tonnes ("Mt") containing 205.3 million ounces ("Mozs") of silver
("Ag"), 1,588.2 thousand ounces ("Kozs") of gold ("Au"), 1,444.9
million pounds ("Mlbs") of lead ("Pb"), 2,653.7 Mlbs of zinc
("Zn"), and 112.6 Mlbs of copper ("Cu"); or collectively 559.8 Mozs
silver equivalent ("AgEq"). Total inferred mineral resources are
45.0 Mt containing 47.7 Mozs of silver, 217.7 Kozs of gold, 297.9
Mlbs of lead, 533.7 Mlbs of zinc, and 16.8 Mlbs of copper; or
collectively 109.8 Mozs AgEq. For further details, please refer to
the Company's news release dated September
18, 2023.
- The Company successfully closed a bought deal financing on
September 29, 2023. A total of
13,208,000 common shares of the Company were sold under the bought
deal financing at a price of $1.96
(CAD $2.65) per common share for
total gross proceeds of approximately $25.9
million (CAD $35 million). The
underwriter's fee and other issuance costs for the transaction were
approximately $1.4 million.
- The Company strengthened the Board by appointing Mr.
Paul Simpson as a director on
September 11, 2023.
- Completed leadership transition as Mr. Andrew Williams was appointed as Chief Executive
Officer ("CEO") of the Company on September
11, 2023. Mr. Williams previously held the role of President
of the Company. Dr. Rui Feng,
founder of the Company, stepped down as CEO.
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Net loss attributable to equity holders of the
Company for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was $1.75 million or $0.01 per share (three months ended September 30, 2022 – net loss of
$2.09 million or $0.01 per share). The Company's financial
results were mainly impacted by the following items:
- Operating expenses for the three months ended
September 30, 2023 were $1.87 million (three months ended September 30, 2022 - $2.06
million).
- Net Income from investments for the three months ended
September 30, 2023 was $0.02 million (three months ended September 30, 2022 – $0.04
million).
- Gain on disposal of plant and equipment for the
three months ended September 30, 2023
was $0.05 million (three months ended
September 30, 2022 – $nil).
- Foreign exchange gain for the three months ended
September 30, 2023 was $0.05 million (three months ended September 30, 2022 – gain of $0.01 million).
Working Capital: As of September
30, 2023, the Company had working capital of $27.06 million.
PROJECT EXPENDITURE
The following schedule summarized the expenditure incurred by
category for each project for relevant periods:
Cost
|
Silver
Sand
|
Silverstrike
|
Carangas
|
Total
|
Balance, July 1,
2022
|
$
76,568,598
|
$
3,269,232
|
$
5,460,946
|
$
85,298,776
|
Capitalized exploration
expenditures
|
|
|
|
|
Reporting and
assessment
|
1,008,174
|
-
|
88,558
|
1,096,732
|
Drilling and
assaying
|
1,925,695
|
977,881
|
8,289,678
|
11,193,254
|
Project management and
support
|
2,719,120
|
256,569
|
1,424,573
|
4,400,262
|
Camp service
|
467,690
|
174,651
|
1,005,158
|
1,647,499
|
Permit and
license
|
195,821
|
-
|
9,389
|
205,210
|
Foreign currency
impact
|
(201,972)
|
(24,680)
|
(8,831)
|
(235,483)
|
Balance, June 30,
2023
|
$
82,683,126
|
$
4,653,653
|
$ 16,269,471
|
$
103,606,250
|
Capitalized exploration
expenditures
|
|
|
|
|
Reporting and
assessment
|
152,549
|
-
|
113,565
|
266,114
|
Drilling and
assaying
|
40,065
|
-
|
8,227
|
48,292
|
Project management and
support
|
561,860
|
50,169
|
365,956
|
977,985
|
Camp service
|
186,734
|
17,147
|
117,801
|
321,682
|
Permit and
license
|
24,691
|
-
|
9,308
|
33,999
|
Foreign currency
impact
|
(222,359)
|
(19,005)
|
(45,440)
|
(286,804)
|
Balance, September
30, 2023
|
$
83,426,666
|
$
4,701,964
|
$
16,838,888
|
$
104,967,518
|
SILVER SAND PROJECT
For the three months ended September 30,
2023, total expenditures of $0.97
million (three months ended September
30, 2022 - $2.50 million) were
capitalized under the project.
CARANGAS PROJECT
For the three months ended September 30,
2023, total expenditures of $0.61
million (three months ended September
30, 2022 - $2.98 million) were
capitalized under the project.
SILVERSTRIKE PROJECT
For the three months ended September 30,
2023, total expenditures of $0.07
million (three months ended September
30, 2022 - $0.44 million)
were capitalized under the project.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This news release should be read in conjunction with the
Company's management discussion and analysis and the
unaudited condensed and consolidated financial statements and
notes thereto for the corresponding period, which have been filed
with the Canadian Securities Administrators and are available under
the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca,on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at
www.newpacificmetals.com.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The scientific and technical information contained in this news
release has been reviewed and approved by Alex Zhang, P. Geo., Vice President of
Exploration, who is a qualified person (as defined in National
Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects ("NI 43-101")) for the purposes of NI 43-101. The
Qualified Person has verified the information disclosed herein
using standard verification processes, including the sampling,
preparation, security and analytical procedures underlying such
information, and is not aware of any significant risks and
uncertainties or any limitations on the verification process that
could be expected to affect the reliability or confidence in the
information discussed herein.
ABOUT NEW PACIFIC
New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company
with precious metal projects in Bolivia, including the Company's flagship
Project, the Silver Sand Silver Project, the Company's recently
discovered Carangas Silver-Gold Project and the Company's third
project, the Silverstrike Silver-Gold Project.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Williams, CEO
New Pacific Metals Corp. Phone: (604) 633-1368 Ext. 236
1750 – 1066 Hastings Street, Vancouver,
BC V6E 3X1, Canada
U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1
(877) 631-0593
E-mail: invest@newpacificmetals.com
For additional information and to receive the Company news by
e-mail, please register using New Pacific's website at
www.newpacificmetals.com.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC
ASSESSMENT
The results of the independent preliminary economic
assessment (the "PEA") contained in the technical report filed in
respect of the Silver Sand Project on February 26, 2023 are preliminary in nature and
are intended to provide an initial assessment of the Silver Sand
Project's economic potential and development options. The PEA mine
schedule and economic assessment includes numerous assumptions and
is based on both indicated and inferred mineral resources. Inferred
resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the
economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to
be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that
the project economic assessments described herein will be achieved
or that the PEA results will be realized. The estimate of mineral
resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental,
permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other
relevant issues. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do
not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional exploration
will be required to potentially upgrade the classification of the
inferred mineral resources to be considered in future advanced
studies. AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. ("AMC Consultants") (mineral
resource, mining, infrastructure and financial analysis) was
contracted to conduct the PEA in cooperation with Halyard Inc.
(metallurgy and processing), and NewFields Canada Mining &
Environment ULC (tailings, water and waste management). The
qualified persons (as defined in NI 43-101) for the PEA for the
purposes of NI 43-101 are Mr. John Morton
Shannon, P.Geo, General Manage and Principal Geologist at
AMC Consultants, Mr. Wayne Rogers,
P.Eng, and Mr. Mo Molavi, P.Eng,
both Principal Mining Engineers with AMC Consultants, Mr.
Andrew Holloway, P.Eng, Process
Director with Halyard Inc., and Mr. Leon
Botham, P.Eng., Principal Engineer with NewFields Canada
Mining & Environment ULC, in addition to Ms. Dinara
Nussipakynova, P.Geo., Principal Geologist with AMC Consultants,
who estimated the mineral resources. All qualified persons for the
PEA have reviewed the disclosure of the PEA herein. The PEA is
based on the MRE, which was reported on November 28, 2022. The effective date of the MRE
is October 31, 2022. The cut-off
applied for reporting the pit-constrained mineral resources is 30
g/t silver. Assumptions made to derive a cut-off grade included
mining costs, processing costs and recoveries and were obtained
from comparable industry situations. The model is depleted for
historical mining activities. Mineral resources are constrained by
optimized pit shells at a silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery
of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of
US$2.6/t, processing cost of
US$16/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, and slope angle of 44-47 degrees. Key
assumptions used for pit optimization for the PEA mining pit
include silver price of US$22.50 per
ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of
99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6/t, incremental mining cost of US$0.04/t (per 10 m
bench), processing cost of US$16/t,
tailing storage facility operating cost of US$0.7/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, royalty of 6.00%, mining recovery of 92%,
dilution of 8%, and cut-off grade of 30 g/t silver.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain of the statements and information in this news
release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any
statements or information that express or involve discussions with
respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections,
objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but
not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is
expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects",
"estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets",
"goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules",
"potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be
taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms
and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and
may be forward-looking statements or information. Such statements
include, but are not limited to, statements regarding:
anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction,
and other activities or achievements of the Company; inferred,
indicated or measured mineral resources or mineral reserves on the
Company's projects; the results of the PEA; timing of receipt of
permits and regulatory approvals; and estimates of the Company's
revenues and capital expenditures.
Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a
variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual events or results to differ from those
reflected in the forward-looking statements or information,
including, without limitation, risks relating to: global economic
and social impact of COVID-19; fluctuating equity prices, bond
prices, commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and
mineralization, general economic conditions, foreign exchange
risks, interest rate risk, foreign investment risk; loss of key
personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management,
uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing
needed in the future, environmental risks, operations and political
conditions, the regulatory environment in Bolivia and Canada, risks associated with community
relations and corporate social responsibility, and other factors
described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual
information form for the year ended June 30,
2023 and its other public filings.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect
any of the Company's forward-looking statements or
information.
The forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a
number of estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and
opinions of management as of the date of this news release that,
while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject
to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies. These estimates, assumptions, beliefs,
expectations and options include, but are not limited to, those
related to the Company's ability to carry on current and future
operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our
operations and workforce; development and exploration activities;
the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such
operations; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections,
forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company's ability to meet
or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the stabilization
of the political climate in Bolivia; the Company's ability to obtain and
maintain social license at its mineral properties; the availability
and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs; foreign
exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary
approvals or permits, including the ratification and approval of
the Mining Production Contract with the Corporacion Minera de
Bolivia ("COMIBOL") by the
Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia; the ability of the Company's Bolivian
partner to convert the exploration licenses at the Carangas Project
to administrative mining contracts; the ability to meet current and
future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on
reasonable terms when required; the current and future social,
economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and
factors generally associated with the mining industry.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this
news release are based upon what management believes are reasonable
assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be
consistent with these forward-looking statements. All
forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by
these cautionary statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on such statements. Other than specifically
required by applicable laws, the Company is under no obligation and
expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter the
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise except as may be required by law.
These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this
news release.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS
This news release has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of
United States securities laws. All
mining terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the
meanings set forth in NI 43-101. Unless otherwise indicated,
the technical and scientific disclosure herein has been prepared in
accordance with NI 43-101, which differs significantly from the
requirements adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Accordingly, information contained in this news release
containing descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits may not
be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies
subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of
United States federal securities
laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Additional information relating to the Company, including the
Company's annual information form, can be obtained under the
Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at
www.newpacificmetals.com.
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SOURCE New Pacific Metals Corp.