Endeavour Silver Corp. (“Endeavour” or the “Company”)
(TSX:
EDR, NYSE: EXK) has entered into a definitive agreement to
purchase the Pitarrilla project (“
Pitarrilla”) in
Durango State, Mexico by acquiring all of the issued and
outstanding shares of SSR Durango, S.A. de C.V. (the
“
Transaction”) from SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ/TSX:
SSRM; ASX: SSR) ("
SSR Mining") for total
consideration of $70 million and a 1.25% net smelter returns
royalty (“
NSR Royalty”). All references to dollars
($) in this news release are to United States dollars (US$).
Pitarrilla is a large undeveloped silver, lead,
and zinc project located 160 kilometres north of Durango City, in
northern Mexico. The Pitarrilla property consists of 4,950 hectares
across five concessions and has significant infrastructure in place
with direct access to utilities. SSR Mining filed a technical
report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) titled
“NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Pitarrilla Project” dated
December 14, 2012 (the “2012 Technical Report”).
The 2012 Technical Report provided a feasibility study outlining a
large, mainly open-pit operation and a mineral resource estimate,
which has since been updated by SSR Mining for its Annual
Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2020
(the “SSR Mining 2020 AIF”) (together, the
“Historical Estimate”)2.
“The acquisition of Pitarrilla, one of the
world’s largest undeveloped silver projects1, accelerates our
vision to become a premier senior silver producer,” said Dan
Dickson, Endeavour’s Chief Executive Officer. “We now have a
tremendous growth pipeline, which in addition to Pitarrilla
includes the Terronera and Parral projects, in a country where we
have extensive experience and expertise. While Terronera is the
next project to be developed, we anticipate that Pitarrilla will be
a significant asset in our portfolio and may take priority over the
advancement of Parral. We will be in a position to make such a
decision once we complete further drilling and analyze the
economics of various scales and options for production.”
Total Consideration
Total consideration payable on closing of the
Transaction is $70 million, consisting of $35 million in Endeavour
shares and a further $35 million in cash or in Endeavour shares at
the election of SSR Mining and agreed to by Endeavour. The number
of Endeavour shares to be issued will be based on a deemed price of
$4.0805 per share, being the volume weighted average price of
Endeavour’s common shares on the New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”) for the 10 business days immediately
preceding the date of signing the definitive agreement. The shares
will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day
following the date of closing.
SSR Mining will retain a 1.25% NSR Royalty on
Pitarrilla. Endeavour will have matching rights to purchase the NSR
Royalty in the event SSR Mining proposes to sell it.
Any cash component will be satisfied with cash
on hand. As at September 30, 2021, Endeavour had $101 million in
cash and cash equivalents and $129 million in working capital.
Strategic Rationale for
Acquisition
- Acquiring One of the
World’s Largest Undeveloped Silver Projects
- As outlined in
the 2012 Technical Report and updated in the SSR Mining 2020 AIF,
Pitarrilla has the following mineral resource estimate which
Endeavour is treating as a Historical Estimate3:
- a measured &
indicated mineral resource (open-pit and underground) of 525.27
million ounces (oz) silver (Ag) in 164.79 million tonnes grading
99.1 grams per tonne (gpt) Ag.
- an open-pit
inferred mineral resource of 21.21 million oz Ag in 8.52 million
tonnes at an average grade of 77.4 gpt and underground inferred
mineral resource of 5.46 million oz Ag in 1.23 million tonnes at a
grade of 138.1 gpt.
- By way of
comparison, Endeavour Silver has the following mineral reserve and
resource estimates4 as outlined in its Annual Information Form for
the year ended December 31, 2020:
- a proven and
probable mineral reserve of 86.3 million oz silver equivalent
(AgEq) from 6.99 million tonnes at 380 gpt AgEq.
- a measured &
indicated mineral resource of 43.7 million oz AgEq in 4.40 million
tonnes at an average grade of 309 gpt AgEq.
- an inferred
mineral resource of 87.13 million oz AgEq in 8.04 million tonnes at
an average grade of 337 gpt AgEq.
- Pitarrilla Leverages
Endeavour’s Platform and Experience in Mining-Friendly
Mexico
- Acquisition is
an excellent fit for Endeavour’s experienced regional team, which
has a successful development, exploration and underground mining
track record.
- Accretive Acquisition at an
Attractive Valuation
- Once a current
resource is defined, Pitarrilla is expected to be substantially
accretive on a silver equivalent resource per share metric --
anticipate announcing a current resource in 2022.
- Endeavour
expects to maintain significant silver exposure, silver beta and
trading multiples.
- Pitarrilla
provides additional optionality in a rising silver price
environment.
- Enhances Endeavour’s
Attractive Growth Pipeline
- Pitarrilla,
together with Endeavour’s Terronera and Parral projects, form the
key cornerstones of Endeavour’s mid to long-term growth
profile.
- Over the next
several years, analyze the economics of various scales of
production, including underground option, and then advance towards
potential development and production to strengthen Endeavour’s
long-term production and free cash flow profile.
- Currently
categorized as a development asset, Pitarrilla has been de-risked
by SSR Mining as follows:
- several key
exploration and mining permits have been obtained; and
- collaboration
agreements are in place with the local community.
- Potential Exploration
Upside as Land Package Remains Largely Underexplored
- Deposit remains
open with minimal drilling completed to explore the deposit at
depth.
- Significant
underexplored land package with an opportunity to make new
discoveries.
- The geology at
Pitarrilla and at Endeavour’s underground mines – Guanacevi and
Bolanitos – is broadly similar.
- Upside
potential from upper oxide resource as well as open-pit and
underground optionality.
Approvals and Timing
The Transaction has been approved by the board
of directors of Endeavour.
Closing of the Transaction remains subject to
TSX and NYSE regulatory approvals and receipt of Mexican Federal
Economic Competition Commission approval, as well as customary
closing conditions for a transaction of this kind, which is
expected to occur in the first half of 2022.
On closing, Endeavour plans to prepare a current
mineral resource estimate for Pitarrilla, develop exploration
targets and analyze the economics of various scales of
production.
Advisors and Counsel
PI Financial acted as Endeavour’s financial
advisor. Koffman Kalef LLP acted as the Company’s legal
counsel.
Conference Call and Webcast
Management will host a live conference call and
audio webcast later today to discuss the highlights of the
Transaction as follows:
Date & Time: |
Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET |
|
|
Telephone: |
Toll-free in
Canada and the US +1-800-319-4610 |
|
Local or
International +1-604-638-5340 |
|
Please allow
10 minutes to be connected to the conference call. |
|
|
Webcast: |
Pitarrilla
Acquisition Webcast |
|
|
Replay: |
A replay of
the conference call will be available by dialing +1-800-319-6413 in
Canada and the US (toll-free) or +1-604-638-9010 outside of
Canada and the US. The required passcode is 8339#. The replay
will also be available on the Company’s website
at www.edrsilver.com. |
|
|
Note: |
A slide
presentation will be available for download at
www.edrsilver.com in advance of the call. |
Endeavour Qualified Person and
QA/QC
The scientific and technical data contained in
this news release relating to the Pitarrilla project has been
reviewed and approved by Dale Mah, P.Geo., a qualified person under
National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects. Mr. Mah is Vice President Corporate Development of
Endeavour.
About Endeavour Silver
Endeavour Silver is a mid-tier precious metals
mining company that operates two high-grade, underground
silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the
Terronera mine project towards a development decision, pending
financing and final permits and exploring its portfolio of
exploration and development projects in Mexico, Chile and the
United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior
silver producer. The Company’s philosophy of corporate social
integrity creates value for all stakeholders.
SOURCE Endeavour Silver Corp.
Contact Information Trish MoranInterim Head of
Investor RelationsTel: (416) 564-4290Email:
pmoran@edrsilver.comWebsite: www.edrsilver.com
Follow Endeavour Silver on Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and LinkedIn
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains “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 securities
legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein
include but are not limited to statements regarding the timing and
completion of the Transaction, estimates of mineral resources
including the Historical Estimate, future plans and objectives of
the Company, proposed operations of the Company at Pitarrilla
including mine development and future events and conditions that
are not historical facts. The Company does not intend to and does
not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements
or information, other than as required by applicable law.
Forward-looking statements are based on
assumptions management believes to be reasonable including, but not
limited to, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals required for
completion of the Transaction, the reliability of mineral resource
estimate, the continuation of exploration and mining operations, no
material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining
operations and production will be completed in accordance with
management’s expectations and achieve their stated production
outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may
be other factors that cause results to be materially different from
those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended.
There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or
information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
Forward-looking statements or information
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to
be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the
inability or failure of the Company or SSR Mining to satisfy the
conditions for closing the Transaction including regulatory
approvals; the availability of funds; the financial position of the
Company, timing and content of work programs; results of
exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the
calculation of mineral resources including the Historical Estimate;
the receipt and security of mineral property titles; project cost
overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; currency
fluctuations; the ultimate impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on
operations and results; national and local governments’
legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or
economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial risks due to
precious metals prices; operating or technical difficulties in
mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and
hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the
speculative nature of mineral exploration and development and risks
in obtaining necessary licenses and permits.
Although the forward-looking statements
contained herein reflect management's current beliefs and
reasonable assumptions based upon information available to
management as of the date hereof, Endeavour cannot be certain that
actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking
information. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the
Transaction will be completed on the terms and within the time
disclosed herein or at all.
_______________________________________________1
One of the world’s largest undeveloped silver deposits is based on
publicly filed data available on SNL Metals and Mining and company
disclosure as at December 31, 2021 and includes the following
projects: Navidad project (Argentina), Cordero (Mexico) and Escobal
(Guatemala). Other companies may calculate their respective
resource base differently.
2 For more information on the Historical
Estimate and related notes, please refer to the 2012 Technical
Report and the SSR Mining 2020 AIF, which are available at
www.ssrmining.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The economic
analysis presented in the 2012 Technical Report is not considered
current, is not being relied upon by Endeavour and should not be
considered as representing the expected economic outcome under
Endeavour’s ownership. A qualified person has not done sufficient
work to classify the Historical Estimate as current mineral
resources or mineral reserves. The Company is not treating this
information as current mineral resources or reserves, has not
verified this information and is not relying on it. Following
closing of the Transaction, Endeavour plans to prepare a current
mineral resource estimate for Pitarrilla, develop exploration
targets and analyze the economics of various scales of
production.
3 For more information on the Historical
Estimate and related notes, please refer to the 2012 Technical
Report and SSR Mining’s 2020 AIF, which are available at
www.ssrmining.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The economic
analysis presented in the 2012 Technical Report is not considered
current and is not being relied upon by Endeavour and should not be
considered as representing the expected economic outcome under
Endeavour’s ownership. A qualified person has not done sufficient
work to classify the Historical Estimate as current mineral
resources or mineral reserves. The Company is not treating this
information as current mineral resources or reserves, has not
verified this information and is not relying on it. Following
closing of the Transaction, Endeavour plans to prepare a current
mineral resource estimate for Pitarrilla, develop exploration
targets and analyze the economics of various scales of
production.
4 For more information regarding Endeavour’s
mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and related notes,
please refer to the Company’s annual information form for the year
ended December 31, 2020 dated February 25, 2021 available on the
Company’s website at www.edrsilver.com and SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
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