Discovery Silver Corp. (TSX: DSV, OTCQX: DSVSF)
(“Discovery” or the “Company”) today announced financial results
for the three months (“Q4 2024”) and full-year (“FY 2024”) ended
December 31, 2024. All figures are stated in Canadian dollars
unless otherwise noted.
Tony Makuch, Discovery’s CEO, commented: “2024
was a transformational year for Discovery as we work towards
becoming a highly profitable North American precious metals
producer. Through the efforts of our team, today we stand poised to
become a diversified gold and silver company, with a portfolio that
combines growing gold production in the Timmins Camp, with
tremendous upside, with our Cordero project
(“Cordero”) in Mexico, one of the industry’s
leading silver development projects.
“In February 2024, we issued the Cordero
feasibility study (the “Feasibility Study” or
“Study”) results, which clearly established
Cordero as a future industry leader. The project has a reserve of
302 million ounces of silver, will average 37 Moz of silver
equivalent production in the first 12 years and will generate
attractive economic returns. Very importantly, Cordero will provide
substantial socio-economic benefits to Mexico, including creating
thousands of high-quality jobs and providing billions of dollars in
investment, local purchasing and tax revenue.
“Since releasing the Study, we have continued to
de-risk the project. On that front, a significant milestone was
achieved earlier this month, with the acquisition of the final
parcel of land required for the development of the mine. The next
key achievement for Cordero will be receiving approval of our
environmental impact assessment (Manifesto de Impacto Ambiental in
Spanish or “MIA”). Given an improved political
environment in Mexico, we are increasingly optimistic that Cordero
will complete the permitting phase and be advancing towards
construction by the end the year.
“During the second half of 2024, our focus was
largely on evaluating the potential acquisition of Newmont
Corporation’s Porcupine Complex, with an agreement being announced
on January 27, 2025 (the “Acquisition”). Through
the Acquisition, we are transforming Discovery into a new Canadian
gold producer with multiple operations, a large base of Mineral
Resources and substantial potential for growth. We know the
Porcupine Complex well, with many members of our team being from
Timmins and having direct experience managing these assets. We will
bring to Timmins an overriding focus on value creation and a goal
of re-establishing Porcupine as a Tier 1 asset in the global gold
space.
“We are holding a special meeting of
shareholders on March 27, 2025 to approve the issuance of shares to
Newmont as part of the consideration for the Transaction and
continue to work towards closing the Acquisition. Upon closing, we
will move forward as a growing precious metals company with
tremendous upside potential, significant leverage to both gold and
silver prices, and a solid track record for achieving excellence in
responsible mining. We will also have significantly improved
financial strength resulting from a US$575 million financing
package, arranged concurrently with the acquisition, including
US$450 million of royalty, debt and equity financing from
Franco-Nevada Corporation.
“The new Discovery is a company well positioned
for success. It is success that will be achieved through an
attractive combination of assets, a commitment to making these
assets the best they can be, and a focus on investment that
generates value for our shareholders and all stakeholder
groups.”
PORCUPINE COMPLEX
ACQUISITIONThe Porcupine Complex consists of the Hoyle
Pond, Pamour and Hollinger mine properties, the Dome mine property
and milling facility (collectively “Dome”), and
numerous former producing mines and legacy sites in Timmins,
Ontario. The Complex also includes the Borden mining operation near
Chapleau, Ontario. All mineralization from the operating mines is
treated at Dome, including mineralization from Borden, which is
trucked 190 km to the Dome plant.
Highlights of the acquisition include:
-
Establishes Discovery as a new Canadian gold
producer with multiple operations in one of the world’s
most prolific gold camps, accounting for approximately 70 million
ounces of total historical production, with a large base of Mineral
Resources remaining and substantial exploration upside.
- Adds
growing gold production with anticipated average annual
production of over 285,000 ounces during the next 10 years and a
total expected mine life of 22 years with substantial upside
potential.
- Provides
opportunity to unlock value with numerous opportunities
identified to increase production and reduce costs at the Hoyle
Pond, Borden and Pamour mines, the potential to upgrade a large
Inferred Mineral Resource at Dome Mine (currently closed) and a
commitment to invest in drilling to realize the significant
exploration upside that exists in the Timmins Camp.
- Allows
Discovery’s management team to apply its extensive experience
working in the Timmins Camp to maximize the value of the
Porcupine Complex, with over a century of collective experience in
exploration, discovery, development and operation of deposits and
mines in the area.
-
Attractive acquisition with Porcupine Complex
expected to generate significant after-tax free cash flow and an
attractive net present value (“NPV”) at 5%
discount rate.
- Free cash flow
of US$1.3 billion in first 10 years with NPV of US$1.2 billion at
base case analyst consensus gold prices1
- NPV of US$2.3
billion at a +23% sensitivity case using LT gold price of US$2,650
per ounce.2
-
Positions Discovery to build substantial financial
strength through attractive US$575 million financing
package and future production from the Porcupine Complex.
-
Establishes a diversified portfolio with the
strength of the Porcupine Complex to support the financing, and
ultimate development and operation, of Cordero.
All operating and financial estimates in this
press release related to the Porcupine Complex are taken from the
technical report entitled, “Porcupine Complex, Ontario, Canada,
Technical Report on Preliminary Economic Assessment”, filed under
the Company’s profile at SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) on January 28,
2025 and available on Discovery’s website at
www.discoverysilver.com.The report includes the results of a
preliminary economic assessment which is preliminary in nature. It
includes Inferred Mineral Resources that 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 estimates will be
realized.
________________________1 Project
economics in the PEA were generated with a base case using CIBC
World Markets Inc.’s December 2024 analyst consensus gold prices,
including 2025: US$2,576/ounce; 2026: US$2,484 per ounce; 2027:
US$2,437 per ounce; and a LT gold price of US$2,150 per ounce
beginning in 2028.2 Sensitivity case involves gold
prices +23% to the base case, including a LT gold price of US$2,650
per ounce.
CORDERO SILVER PROJECT
Feasibility StudyResults of the
Feasibility Study for Cordero were released on February 20, 2024.
Key highlights of the Feasibility Study include:
-
Large-scale, long-life, low-cost
production: 19-year life-of-mine (“LOM”) with
average annual production of 37 Moz silver equivalent
(“AgEq”)3 in Years 1 – 12, and average all-in
sustaining costs4 under US$12.50 per AgEq ounce in Years 1 –
8.
-
Attractive returns: NPV5% of US$1.2 billion at
US$22 per ounce silver, which increases to US$2.2 billion in Year 4
when the Project reaches final completion to 51,000 tonnes per
day.
-
Tremendous leverage to silver prices: NPV5%
increases 92%, to US$2.3 billion, using current metal prices as of
March 25, 20255 and grows to US$3.3 billion in Year 4.
-
Substantial benefits for Mexico: Total investment
of US$1.4 billion, 2,500 direct jobs created during construction,
peak employment of over 1,000 direct jobs during operation, an
estimated US$4.0 billion of goods and services purchased and
expected tax payments of approximately US$2.3 billion within Mexico
(at current metal prices as of March 25, 2025).
- Industry-leading
environmental standards: Third-party reviews of proposed
environmental practices completed to ensure compliance with
industry-leading standards; US$130 million budgeted for site
restoration and rehabilitation; and significant investment to
promote green energy sources and to bring infrastructure and
technology to improve water treatment in the area.
____________3 Please see the Technical Disclosure section of
this news release for more information related to AgEq production.4
Non-GAAP Measure. Please see the Technical Disclosure and Non-GAAP
Measures sections of this news release.5 Current spot metal prices
as at March 25, 2025 include silver: US$33.60 per ounce; gold:
US$3,020 per ounce, zinc: US$1.35 per pound and lead: US$0.95 per
pound versus Feasibility Study prices of silver: US$22.00 per
ounce; gold: US$1,600 per ounce; zinc: US$1.20 per pound; lead:
US$1.00 per pound.
Recent DevelopmentsOn March 19,
2025, the Company achieved a significant milestone with the
acquisition of 66 hectares of land near the planned location of the
Cordero processing plant. With this acquisition, Discovery now owns
100% of the land required to advance Cordero into development.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:The
following selected financial data is taken from the Company’s
consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto (the
“Financial Statements”) for the year ended
December 31, 2024 and the Management’s Discussion and Analysis
(“MD&A”) for the quarter and year ended
December 31, 2024. The Company’s Financial Statements and MD&A
are available at www.discoverysilver.com and on SEDAR+
at www.sedarplus.ca.
|
|
Q4 2024 |
|
|
Q4 2023 |
|
|
FY 2024 |
|
|
FY 2023 |
|
Net Loss |
$ |
(7,918,235 |
) |
$ |
(5,665,597 |
) |
$ |
(20,895,391 |
) |
$ |
(15,752,515 |
) |
Basic and diluted loss per share |
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.05 |
) |
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
Total comprehensive loss |
$ |
(7,419,994 |
) |
$ |
(4,539,860 |
) |
$ |
(23,590,584 |
) |
$ |
(14,403,320 |
) |
Total weighted average shares outstanding |
|
400,414,988 |
|
|
395,747,953 |
|
|
398,385,856 |
|
|
382,703,062 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
29,310,579 |
|
$ |
58,944,459 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
122,882,786 |
|
$ |
146,065,998 |
|
Total current liabilities |
$ |
8,607,312 |
|
$ |
12,168,225 |
|
Working capital(1) |
$ |
24,397,116 |
|
$ |
49,691,371 |
|
Total shareholders’ equity |
$ |
111,988,213 |
|
$ |
129,421,106 |
|
(1) Defined
as current assets less current liabilities from the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
ABOUT DISCOVERYDiscovery is a
growing North American precious metals company. The Company has
exposure to silver through its first asset, the 100%-owned Cordero
project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped silver deposits,
which is located close to infrastructure in a prolific mining belt
in Chihuahua State, Mexico. On January 27, 2025, Discovery
announced an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Porcupine
Complex from Newmont Corporation. The addition of the Porcupine
Complex will transform the Company into a new Canadian gold
producer with multiple operations in one of the world’s most
renowned gold camps in and near Timmins, Ontario, with a large base
of Mineral Resources remaining and substantial growth and
exploration upside. The Acquisition is expected to close in the
first half of 2025.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Tony Makuch, P.EngPresident, CEO &
Director
For further information
contact: Mark Utting, CFAVP Investor
RelationsPhone: 416-806-6298Email:
mark.utting@discoverysilver.comWebsite: www.discoverysilver.com
Qualified
PersonThe scientific and technical information
included in this press release is derived from the Porcupine
Technical Report, which was prepared by Mr. Eric Kallio, P.Geo., an
independent consultant to the Company, Mr. Pierre Rocque, P.Eng. of
Rocque Engineering Inc., and Dr. Ryan Barnett, P.Geo. of Resource
Modelling Solutions Inc. Messrs. Kallio, Rocque and Barnett are
independent “Qualified Persons” as such term is defined in NI
43-101 (“QPs”). The QP responsible for the Mineral Resource
estimates for Hoyle Pond, Borden and Pamour, as provided in the
Porcupine Technical Report is Mr. Kallio. The QP responsible for
Mineral Resource estimates for Dome as provided in the Porcupine
Technical Report is Mr. Barnett. Mr. Rocque acted as QP for the
subset of Mineral Resource estimates used in the 2024 LOM plan
provided by the Newmont technical services team in the Porcupine
Technical Report. Messrs. Kallio, Rocque and Barnett have reviewed
and approved the scientific and technical information included in
this press release.
Scientific and technical information in this
press release relating to the Cordero project has been reviewed and
validated by Gernot Wober, P.Geo, VP Exploration, Discovery Silver
Corp., and Mr. Rocque, each of whom is a QP.
Cordero Technical
Disclosure
- The Feasibility
Study project team was led by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC
(“Ausenco”), with support from AGP Mining Consultants Inc. (“AGP”),
WSP USA Inc. (“WSP”) and RedDot3D Inc.
- Mineral
resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability.
- A full technical
report has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and was filed
on SEDAR on March 28, 2024.
- AgEq produced is
metal recovered in concentrate. AgEq payable is metal payable from
concentrate. AgEq produced and AgEq payable are calculated as Ag +
(Au x 72.7) + (Pb x 45.5) + (Zn x 54.6); these factors are based on
metal prices of Ag - $22/oz, Au - $1,600/oz, Pb - $1.00/lb and Zn -
$1.20/lb.
- AISC is calculated as: [Operating
costs (mining, processing and G&A) + Royalties + Concentrate
Transportation + Treatment & Refining Charges + Concentrate
Penalties + Sustaining Capital (excluding $37M of capex for the
initial purchase of mining fleet in Year 1)] / Payable AgEq
ounces.
NON-GAAP MEASURES:The Company
has included certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios as
detailed below. In the mining industry, these are common
performance measures and ratios but may not be comparable to
similar measures or ratios presented by other issuers and the
non-GAAP measures and ratios do not have any standardized meaning.
Accordingly, these measures and ratios are included to provide
additional information and should not be considered in isolation or
as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance
with IFRS Accounting Standards. Total cash costs per ounce, all-in
sustaining costs, and free cash flow, are all forward-looking
non-GAAP financial measures or ratios. As the Cordero Project is
not in production, these prospective non-GAAP financial measures or
ratios may not be reconciled to the nearest comparable measure
under IFRS and there is no equivalent historical non-GAAP financial
measure or ratio for these prospective non-GAAP financial measures
or ratios. Each non-GAAP financial measure and ratio used herein is
described in more detail below.
TOTAL CASH COSTS
The Company calculated total cash costs per
ounce by dividing the sum of operating costs, royalty costs,
production taxes, refining and shipping costs, net of by-product
silver credits, by payable ounces. While there is no standardized
meaning of the measure across the industry, the Company believes
that this measure is useful to external users in assessing
operating performance.
ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTS
The Company has provided an all-in sustaining
costs performance measure that reflects all the expenditures that
are required to produce an ounce of silver from operations. While
there is no standardized meaning of the measure across the
industry, the Company’s definition conforms to the all-in
sustaining cost definition as set out by the World Gold Council in
its updated Guidance Note issued in 2018. The Company believes that
this measure is useful to external users in assessing operating
performance and the Company’s ability to generate free cash flow
from current operations. Subsequent amendments to the guidance have
not materially affected the figures presented.
FREE CASH FLOW
Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP performance measure
that is calculated as cash flows from operations net of cash flows
invested in mineral property, plant, and equipment and exploration
and evaluation assets. The Company believes that this measure is
useful to the external users in assessing the Company’s ability to
generate cash flows from its mineral projects.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS:Neither TSX Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy
of this release.
This news release is not for distribution to United States
newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.
This news release does not constitute an offer
to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any
sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the
securities in the United States of America. The securities have not
been and will not be registered under the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or any state securities
laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to,
or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in
Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933
Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such
registration requirements is available.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release may include forward-looking
statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.
All statements within this news release, other than statements of
historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although
Discovery believes the expectations expressed in such
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results or developments may differ materially from those described
in forward-looking statements. Statements include but are not
limited to the feasibility of the Project and its attractive
economics and significant exploration upside; construction decision
and development of the Project, timing and results of the
feasibility study and the anticipated capital and operating costs,
sustaining costs, net present value, internal rate of return, the
method of mining the Project, payback period, process capacity,
average annual metal production, average process recoveries,
concession renewal, permitting of the Project, anticipated mining
and processing methods, feasibility study production schedule and
metal production profile, anticipated construction period,
anticipated mine life, expected recoveries and grades, anticipated
production rates, infrastructure, social and environmental impact
studies, the completion of key de-risking items, including the
timing of receipt permits, availability of water and power,
availability of labour, job creation and other local economic
benefits, tax rates and commodity prices that would support
development of the Project, and other statements that express
management's expectations or estimates of future performance,
operational, geological or financial results Information concerning
mineral resource/reserve estimates and the economic analysis
thereof contained in the results of the feasibility study are also
forward-looking statements in that they reflect a prediction of the
mineralization that would be encountered, and the results of
mining, if a mineral deposit were developed and mined.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts which address events, results, outcomes or developments that
the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based
on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management
on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of
risks and uncertainties.
Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal
prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and
general economic, market or business conditions, the actual results
of current and future exploration activities; changes to current
estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources; conclusions of
economic and geological evaluations; changes in project parameters
as plans continue to be refined; the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development; risks in obtaining and maintaining
necessary licenses, permits and authorizations for the Company’s
development stage and operating assets; operations may be exposed
to new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including any ongoing or
future effects of COVID-19 (and any related ongoing or future
regulatory or government responses) and its impact on the broader
market and the trading price of the Company’s shares; provincial
and federal orders or mandates (including with respect to mining
operations generally or auxiliary businesses or services required
for operations) in Mexico, all of which may affect many aspects of
the Company's operations including the ability to transport
personnel to and from site, contractor and supply availability and
the ability to sell or deliver mined silver; changes in national
and local government legislation, controls or regulations; failure
to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and
regulations; labour and contractor availability (and being able to
secure the same on favourable terms); disruptions in the
maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information
technology systems; fluctuations in the price of gold or certain
other commodities such as, diesel fuel, natural gas, and
electricity; operating or technical difficulties in connection with
mining or development activities, including geotechnical challenges
and changes to production estimates (which assume accuracy of
projected ore grade, mining rates, recovery timing and recovery
rate estimates and may be impacted by unscheduled maintenance);
changes in foreign exchange rates (particularly the Canadian
dollar, U.S. dollar and Mexican peso); the impact of inflation;
geopolitical conflicts; employee and community relations; the
impact of litigation and administrative proceedings (including but
not limited to mining reform laws in Mexico) and any interim or
final court, arbitral and/or administrative decisions; disruptions
affecting operations; availability of and increased costs
associated with mining inputs and labour; delays in construction
decisions and any development of the Project; changes with respect
to the intended method of mining and processing ore from the
Project; inherent risks and hazards associated with mining and
mineral processing including environmental hazards, industrial
accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures and
cave-ins; the risk that the Company’s mines may not perform as
planned; uncertainty with the Company's ability to secure
additional capital to execute its business plans; contests over
title to properties; expropriation +or nationalization of property;
political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico and other
jurisdictions in which the Company may carry on business in the
future; increased costs and risks related to the potential impact
of climate change; the costs and timing of exploration,
construction and development of new deposits; risk of loss due to
sabotage, protests and other civil disturbances; the impact of
global liquidity and credit availability and the values of assets
and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; risks arising
from holding derivative instruments; and business opportunities
that may be pursued by the Company. There can be no assurances that
such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are
advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties.
Discovery does not assume any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements except as required under applicable
laws. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop
such forward-looking information, are described under the heading
"Risks Factors" in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated
March 28, 2024, which is available under the Company’s issuer
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
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