Marlin Gold Reports $27.1 Million ($0.16 per share) of Adjusted EBITDA and $13.9 Million ($0.08 per share) of Net Loss for the Nine Months Ending September 30, 2017

 

VANCOUVER, Nov. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. (TSX-V: MLN) ("Marlin" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial results for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2017 ("Q3" and the "First Nine Months 2017," respectively).  This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 as well as Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") for the same period, available on the Company's website at www.marlingold.com and under the Company's name on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.  All monetary amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

Marlin began continuously mining the high grade HS Zone at the La Trinidad gold mine in Sinaloa, Mexico (the "La Trinidad Mine") on September 15, 2016, and began recovering gold from this area early in the fourth quarter of 2016 ("Q4").  For the First Nine Months 2017, the Company produced 29,955 ounces of gold and sold 36,112 ounces.

Adjusted EBITDA was $0.0 million ($0.00 per share) and $27.1 million ($0.16 per share) in Q3 and the First Nine Months 2017, respectively.¹  Net Loss was $6.7 million ($0.04 per share) and $13.9 million ($0.08 per share) in Q3 and the First Nine Months 2017, respectively.

The current assets of the Company at Q3 stand at $42.3 million ($0.25 per share).  Cash and finished gold account for $1.9 million of current assets, while inventories account for $17.2 million.  Inventories included $1.3 million of finished gold and $14.4 million of gold-in-process.  Investments in shares of Golden Reign Resources Ltd. stood at $12.7 million at quarter end.

Akiba Leisman, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO states that, "Q3 was an especially active quarter for Marlin.  Most of the activity focused on expanding and deepening the north side of the Taunus pit and mitigating the rainy season at the La Trinidad Mine.  Rainy season ended in early October and the Company regained access to the remaining high grade HS Zone in the north side of the Taunus pit.  The Company is now focused on accessing the high grade HS Zone in the south side of the pit, drilling exploration targets at Colinas (less than one kilometer from the pit) and completing an expanded 30-hole exploration program at Commonwealth."

Q3 and First Nine Months 2017 Highlights

• Production of 29,955 (2016 – 5,106) ounces of gold in the First Nine Months 2017
• Sale of 36,112 (2016 – 5,651) ounces of gold in the First Nine Months 2017
• Revenue of $58.2 million (2016 – $9.5 million) in the First Nine Months 2017
• On July 5, 2017, August 8, 2017 and August 30, 2017, the Company received US$2 million, US$5 million and $1.9 million, respectively, from the Wexford Funds, increasing the Wexford Loan to US$38.9 million
• On August 17, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of the Gavilanes Property located in Durango State, Mexico from Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd for total consideration of US$3.6 million
• On August 25, 2017, the Wexford Funds extended the maturity on the Wexford Loan by one year
• In the First Nine Months 2017, the Company initiated another normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB"), pursuant to which the Company has purchased 1.26 million common shares in the capital of the Company. All common shares acquired by the Company under the NCIB have been returned to treasury and cancelled

Highlights Subsequent to September 30, 2017

• On October 24, 2017 and November 14, 2017, the Company received US$1.1 million and US$1.5 million, respectively, from the Wexford Funds, increasing the Wexford Loan to US$41.5 million.
• On October 30, 2017, the Company received $89,416 (US$69,655), the cash equivalent of the second 55 troy ounces of gold as part of the proceeds from the sale of the El Compas gold-silver mining project

La Trinidad Update

The Company mined what could safely be accessed in the north part of the high grade HS Zone by January 2017.  During this time, a surface stockpile was accumulated that, when combined with inventory in the leach pad, reached $40.3 million of gold-in-process in Q4.  The surface stockpile was largely depleted in Q2 2017 and the proceeds were used to fund waste removal to regain access to the high grade HS Zone and a leach pad expansion.

Marlin returned to mining high grade HS Zone mineralization in the north side of the Taunus pit in early August.  Since then, gold stacked to the leach has been steadily increasing.  Month-to-date November, over 5,700 ounces of gold have been stacked on the leach pad, daily gold recoveries are now exceeding 125 ounces and expected to continue to rise and a stockpile of approximately 20,000 tonnes (containing approximately 1,200 ounces of gold) has been accumulated in front of the crusher.  Importantly, mining of the high grade mineralization in the south HS Zone is expected to commence in approximately two months.

A drill program at the Colinas target less than one kilometer from the Taunus pit commenced with assays on the first two holes released earlier this week.  Diamond drill hole 17COLDDH02 intersected 10.57 g/t Au over 6.00 meters (see press release dated November 27, 2017).  Assays from additional drill holes at Colinas are expected by year-end.

Commonwealth Update

In the First Nine Months 2017, $3.2 million of exploration was expensed at Marlin's wholly owned Commonwealth silver and gold property in Cochise County, Arizona (the "Commonwealth Project").  Notably, drill results at the Commonwealth Project are surpassing the Company's expectations.  Specifically, results from the Six Mile Hill target (see press release dated July 17, 2017) are pointing to a discovery that the Company is aggressively following up on.  An expanded 30-hole drill program (up from 15) is currently underway at Six Mile Hill with first results expected in early January.  Additionally, an approximately 10-tonne comprehensive metallurgical program is also underway, with results also expected early in 2018.

Sailfish Update

On June 27, 2017, Sailfish entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 3.5% royalty (the "TZ Royalty") on the advanced stage Tocantinzinho gold project in Brazil owned by Eldorado Gold Corp. for US$6.5 million in cash and US$5.5 million in common shares of Sailfish (see press release dated June 28, 2017).  The TZ Royalty, along with Sailfish's interest in the gold stream agreement with Golden Reign Resources Ltd. on its high grade San Albino gold deposit in Nicaragua (the "SA Gold Stream"), which is expected to begin production in late 2018, gives Sailfish enough scale to operate as a separate publicly traded royalty company. 

Marlin received an interim order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia dated November 15, 2017, authorizing the Company to convene an annual and special meeting of its shareholders on December 14, 2017 for the purpose of, among other things, considering and approving an arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement"), which would result in the spin-out of Sailfish to Marlin's shareholders (the "Spin-out").  Marlin expects to complete the Spin-out shortly thereafter, subject to the concurrent closing of the acquisition of the TZ Royalty.

Gavilanes Acquisition

On August 17, 2017, Marlin completed the acquisition of the Gavilanes property in Durango, Mexico for cash consideration of US$3.5 million, plus applicable value added taxes (see joint press release dated August 17, 2017).  The Company will be evaluating next steps for the Gavilanes property, which may include the creation of a separate publicly traded exploration company.

Wexford Loan

Principal on the loan owed to affiliates of the Company's controlling shareholder, Wexford Capital LP (together the "Wexford Funds"), stood at US$38.9 million at Q3.  During the quarter, the Wexford Funds extended the maturity on the Wexford Loan by one year to January 15, 2019 for no additional fees.  Subsequent to the quarter end, an additional US$2.6 million in loans were received to support exploration efforts at Commonwealth and La Trinidad.

 

 

 

Non-IFRS Measures

The discussion of financial results in this press release includes reference to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non- International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") measure.  Ajdusted EBITDA does not have any standard meaning under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA presented by other issuers.  The Company provides this measure as additional information regarding the Company's financial results and performance.

Qualified Person

Dr. Matthew D. Gray. C.P.G., of Resource Geosciences Incorporated, which oversees, directly or indirectly, the Company's exploration programs in Mexico and Arizona, a Qualified Person under the definitions of CSA NI 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the information that forms the basis for the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

Notes on sampling and assaying of drill holes in this press release can be found in the previously disseminated press releases referenced herein.

About Marlin

Marlin is a growth-oriented gold and silver mining company focused on the Americas.  The company owns three properties located in Mexico and the USA and a portfolio of royalties.  Marlin's priority is to profitably operate its La Trinidad Mine, conduct further exploration on its other projects and enhance shareholder value through growth of its wholly owned subsidiary, Sailfish Royalty Corp.  Marlin is backed by a well-funded investor with a successful track record in the resources sector.  The La Trinidad Mine in Sinaloa, Mexico declared commercial production on November 1, 2014 and is one of the highest-grade open pit heap leach gold mines in Mexico.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

None of the securities to be issued under the Arrangement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and such securities are anticipated to be issued in the United States pursuant to exemptions from such registration requirements.  This news release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.

Cautionary statement regarding forward‐looking information

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as the following: expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, assumes, potential and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements also include reference to events or conditions that will, would, may, could or should occur, including, without limitation statements relating to: the receipt of assay results; the anticipated access to mineralized material at the Taunus Pit; the timing of certain drilling and metallurgical programs; the anticipated uses of the Increased Facility; and the completion of the Arrangement. These forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are based on management's expectations and considered reasonable at the time they are made, including among others: that work proceeds in accordance with the timing and scope anticipated by management; that the projects that the Company and Sailfish have a stream or royalty interest in are advanced as contemplated by the project owners and operators; that the Company will obtain all necessary court, shareholder and regulatory approvals for the Arrangement and the Spin-out; that the Company will be able to complete the Spin-out as expected; that the Sailfish shares will be accepted for listing on the TSX-V; that the Company will hold the Meeting on or about December 14, 2017; and that the Company will complete the acquisition of the TZ Royalty concurrently with the Arrangement. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill projections/expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's projects; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and other tests and the estimation of gold resources; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of environmental issues at the Company's projects; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in work programs; the need to obtain permits and comply with environmental laws and regulations and other government requirements; fluctuations in the price of gold; the risk that the project in which the Company and/or Sailfish have a stream or royalty interest in are not put into production as presently contemplated or at all; the risk that the Company is unable to obtain all necessary court, shareholder and regulatory approvals for the Arrangement as and when expected or at all; the risk that the Company is unable to complete the Arrangement as expected or at all; the risk that the Company fails to hold the Meeting when expected; the risk that the Company may not close the acquisition of the TZ Royalty as expected or at all; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's annual management's discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Unless required by law, Marlin has no intention to and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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¹ This is a non-IFRS measure; refer to Non-IFRS Measures section of this press release and see below for reconciliation to the Company's financial statements.

SOURCE Marlin Gold Mining Ltd.

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