SolGold PLC Announces Exploitation Contract for Cascabel Project

Rhea-AI Summary

SolGold PLC has signed an Exploitation Contract (EC) for its Cascabel Project in Ecuador, marking a significant milestone. The EC, approved by Ecuador's government, outlines legal and financial terms for the project's development, including a minimum 50% share of cumulative benefits for the government. SolGold's subsidiary, ENSA, will develop and produce copper, gold, and silver from the area for 33 years. The company will make an advance royalty payment totaling $75 million. The corporate income tax rate is expected to be 20%, with a variable royalty on net smelter revenues ranging from 3% to 8%. The EC also includes investor protection rights and an economic imbalance mechanism.

Positive

• Signing of Exploitation Contract for Cascabel Project.
• Government of Ecuador to receive at least 50% of cumulative discounted benefits.
• Development rights for 33 years, renewable for the mine's life.
• Advance royalty payment of $75 million.
• Corporate income tax rate expected at 20%.
• Variable royalty on net smelter revenues from 3% to 8%.
• Economic imbalance mechanism included.
• Investor protection rights and international arbitration for dispute resolution.

Negative

• Significant financial obligations including $75 million in advance royalty payments.
• High government share of benefits (at least 50%) may reduce profit margins.
• Variable royalty rates increase financial uncertainty.
• Long-term commitment of 33 years, with potential economic and regulatory risks.

BISHOPSGATE, LONDON / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2024 / SolGold (LSE:SOLG)(TSX:SOLG) is pleased to announce the signing of the Exploitation Contract ("Exploitation Contract" or "EC") for the Cascabel Project ("Project"), its flagship copper-gold project in Ecuador. This milestone follows the successful contractual negotiations and approval of the term sheet ("Term Sheet") by the Government of Ecuador in July 2023 (see SolGold release dated 20 July 2023). The EC and existing legislation and regulations establish the legal and financial terms and conditions required for the Cascabel Project's development.

Mr. Diego Ocampo, Vice Minister of Mines, stated: "This Contract represents a new era of economic development for Ecuador, demonstrating our commitment to promoting investment and sustainable development in the mining sector. The Government of Ecuador supports the Cascabel Project, which will bring substantial long-term benefits to our country's economy and local communities through significant investment, job creation, and sustainable growth."

Mr. Scott Caldwell, CEO and President of SolGold Ecuador, commented: "The signing of the Exploitation Contract for the Cascabel Project is a landmark achievement for SolGold and our stakeholders. This success would not have been possible without the invaluable collaboration and support from the Government of Ecuador, regional administrations, and local communities. We are strongly committed to cultivating sustainable development and shared prosperity in Ecuador and its communities."

Exploraciones Novomining S.A. ("ENSA"), SolGold's wholly-owned subsidiary in Ecuador, embarked on a rigorous exploration journey at Cascabel in 2012, leading to the major discovery hole at Alpala in early 2014, and the subsequent discovery of Tandayama-Ameríca deposit in later drill programs. SolGold has since drilled over 300,000 metres of cored exploration, resource definition, and geotechnical drill holes and has conducted numerous resource, mining, metallurgical, environmental, and social studies on the Project. This extensive work has transformed the Project into one of the world's largest undeveloped copper-gold porphyry deposits, with the potential to significantly boost the Ecuadorian economy and serve as a blueprint for the exploration and discovery of other resources on SolGold's extensive regional targets throughout Ecuador.

Key Exploitation Contract Terms (All monetary amounts are stated in United States Dollars)

Share of Cumulative Benefits: The EC provides that the Government of Ecuador's share of cumulative discounted benefits derived from SolGold's Cascabel Project will be at least 50%. The Government of Ecuador's benefit will be calculated as the present value of the cumulative sum of taxes paid, including corporate income taxes, royalties, labour profit sharing paid to the State, non-recoverable VAT, and any previous sovereign adjustment payments.

Development and Production Rights: ENSA ("Mining Concessionaire") has secured the right to develop the Cascabel Project and produce copper, gold, and silver from the contract area for 33 years, which may be renewed for the life of the mine.

Advance Royalty Payment: SolGold will make an advance royalty payment totalling $75 million, with the first payment of $25 million due upon the concentrator construction start date. The remaining two payments, each of $25 million, will be made on the first and second anniversary, respectively, from the date of the first payment. The advance royalty will be deductible against the Government Royalty (defined below).

Government Royalty & Taxes: Once the Government of Ecuador approves the new Investment Protection Agreement, the Company expects a corporate income tax rate of 20% during the Project's life. Based on this corporate income tax rate, the Mining Concessionaire, the State, and SolGold have agreed to a variable royalty on net smelter revenues by Ecuadorian Mining Law ("Government Royalty"). The Government Royalty on net smelter revenues will follow a variable percentage rate from 3% to 8%, depending on the type of mineral and its price.

Economic Imbalance Mechanism: The EC includes a mechanism for correcting any economic imbalance for the Mining Concessionaire due to changes in fiscal policy, taxes, laws, and regulations. This provision removes significant uncertainty for the future economic environment governing the Project.

Investor Autonomy: One of the most crucial principles that the EC develops is the autonomy and freedom of the Company to make its commercial decisions. The technical design of the mine, investment amount, production capacity, etc., are decisions of the Company and respond to its business strategy. This freedom and autonomy ensure development that aligns with SolGold's philosophy and principles.

Investor Protection Rights: The EC addresses various investor protection rights, ensuring the protection of the investment, including a dispute resolution mechanism through international arbitration.

CONTACTS

Scott Caldwell Chief Executive Officer	Tel: +44 (0) 20 3807 6996
Tavistock (Media) Jos Simson/Gareth Tredway	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150

ABOUT SOLGOLD
SolGold is a leading resources company focused on the discovery, definition and development of world-class copper and gold deposits and continues to strive to deliver objectives efficiently and in the interests of shareholders.

The Company operates with transparency and in accordance with international best practices. SolGold is committed to delivering value to its shareholders while simultaneously providing economic and social benefits to impacted communities, fostering a healthy and safe workplace, and minimizing environmental impact.

SolGold is listed on the London Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (LSE/TSX: SOLG).

See www.solgold.com.au for more information.

CAUTIONARY NOTICE
News releases, presentations and public commentary made by SolGold plc (the "Company") and its Officers may contain certain statements and expressions of belief, expectation or opinion which are forward looking statements, and which relate, inter alia, to interpretations of exploration results to date and the Company's proposed strategy, plans and objectives or to the expectations or intentions of the Company's Directors, including the plan for developing the Project currently being studied as well as the expectations of the Company as to the forward price of copper. Such forward-looking and interpretative statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the control of the Company that could cause the actual performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from such interpretations and forward-looking statements.

Accordingly, the reader should not rely on any interpretations or forward-looking statements; and save as required by the exchange rules of the TSX and LSE or by applicable laws, the Company does not accept any obligation to disseminate any updates or revisions to such interpretations or forward-looking statements. The Company may reinterpret results to date as the status of its assets and projects changes with time expenditure, metals prices and other affecting circumstances.

This release may contain "forward‑looking information". Forward‑looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans for developing its properties. Generally, forward‑looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward‑looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward‑looking information, including but not limited to: transaction risks; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the ability of exploration activities (including assay results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling and/or mine development plan; capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; the preliminary nature of visual assessments; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other required approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; the global economic climate; fluctuations in commodity prices; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities, including drilling; delays in the development of projects; environmental risks; community and non-governmental actions; other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; the ability of the Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward‑looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company and its officers do not endorse, or reject or otherwise comment on the conclusions, interpretations or views expressed in press articles or third-party analysis.

See www.solgold.com.au for more information. Follow us on 'X' @SolGold_plc

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: SolGold PLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is the duration of the Exploitation Contract for SolGold's Cascabel Project?

The Exploitation Contract grants development and production rights for 33 years, which can be renewed for the life of the mine.

How much is the advance royalty payment for SolGold’s Cascabel Project?

SolGold will make an advance royalty payment of $75 million, with $25 million paid on the concentrator construction start date and the rest in two annual installments.

What is the expected corporate income tax rate for SolGold's Cascabel Project?

The expected corporate income tax rate for SolGold's Cascabel Project is 20%.

What is the Government of Ecuador's share of benefits from SolGold's Cascabel Project?

The Government of Ecuador will receive at least 50% of cumulative discounted benefits from the project.

What royalty rate applies to SolGold’s Cascabel Project?

The Government Royalty on net smelter revenues will range from 3% to 8%, depending on the mineral type and price.

What investor protection mechanisms are included in SolGold's Exploitation Contract?

The Exploitation Contract includes investor protection rights, an economic imbalance mechanism, and dispute resolution through international arbitration.