Aldridge Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: AGM) (“Aldridge” or the “Company”)
announced today the filing of unaudited consolidated financial
statements as at and for the three and six months ending June 30, 2015
(the “Q2 2015 Financials”), and the Management’s Discussion & Analysis
related thereto (the “Q2 2015 MD&A”), which are available on SEDAR and
at www.aldridgeminerals.ca.
Han Ilhan, President & CEO, commented: “Aldridge accomplished several
key milestones during the second quarter. Not only did the Company
receive approval of the “Public Benefit” letter, which provides
certainty that the Company will have access to the land needed for the
development of the Yenipazar Project in central Turkey, the Company also
received approval of its investment incentive qualification. These
milestones clearly demonstrate the strong support Aldridge and the
Yenipazar Project enjoy in Turkey. The Company remains well-capitalized
and is intensely focused on completing the acquisition of the farmland
within our permitted Project fence line and analyzing multiple advanced
stage project finance alternatives as well as other strategic
alternatives.”
Aldridge’s Highlights and Achievements
The following are a summary of the key achievement areas in Q2.
Additional details are provided in the Q2 2015 MD&A:
-
Robust working capital position – The Company ended the second
quarter with US$6,394,406 in cash and US$6,624,642 in working capital.
As at June 30, 2015 the Company had drawn down US$10 million of its
loan facility (due in August 2016) with US$25 million remaining in
undrawn facility. The combination of the present working capital
position and undrawn facility funds the Company’s planned Yenipazar
land acquisition and engineering through to project financing in 2016.
-
Leadership – In January 2015 the Company enhanced its
leadership team with the appointment of Mr. Jaymes Dircks as
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) Director. Mr. Dircks
brings 26 years of experience in varying roles of successful EPC
delivery for heavy industry minerals projects in Turkey and worldwide
that finished on budget and schedule.
-
Value Engineering - The Company’s Value Engineering Study (“VE
Study”) was completed in April 2015. The Study evaluated alternative
engineering and construction strategies to ensure constructability and
operational effectiveness. The VE Study found no material changes to
the Yenipazar Project and the Optimization Study (“OS”) results were
confirmed. The Company expects to advance the engineering on long lead
time and critical path items in 2015 and the first half of 2016, which
will facilitate a timely construction schedule following the closing
of project financing.
-
Land Acquisition - The land acquisition process (“LAP”),
initiated in 2014, progressed through the second quarter of 2015. As
at June 30, 2015 the total cost of land acquired was US$6,347,778 for
approximately 25% of the required land. The total cost includes six
months interest capitalization of US$603,488 in 2015 on its
borrowings. In the second quarter of 2015, the Company received an
approved “Public Benefit” letter from the Ministry of Energy and
Natural Resources in Turkey. This letter represents the first
significant milestone of the well-established State-assisted
compulsory land acquisition process in Turkey that should result in
completion of the land acquisition process in 2016. Accordingly, the
Public Benefit letter provides certainty that the Company will have
access to the land needed for the development of the Yenipazar Project
in central Turkey.
-
Exploration Program – The Company completed its 2015
exploration program on the Yenipazar site, which is primarily focused
on the northern extension from the known resource area where two
outcrops were previously identified. Eight drill holes with a combined
depth of 2,525 metres were drilled. The drilling confirmed the
continuity of mineralization to the north of the known ore body.
Highlights from assaying included 6.13% lead, 7.78% zinc, 1.06%
copper, 1.79 g/t gold and 118 g/t silver over 17 metres.
-
Investment Incentive Certificates (“IICs”) - During the second
quarter of 2015, the Company was approved for and received both a
Strategic IIC and Regional IIC from the Turkish Ministry of Economy
for the development of the Yenipazar Project. As a result, the
corporate income tax rate is reduced from 20% to a range of 2% to 4%.
Obtaining the Strategic IIC approval increased the incentive
contribution rate from 40% to 50% on the majority of qualifying
capital expenditures, which will increase the life of mine tax savings
benefit to US$76,000,000, or by US$14,000,000 from US$62,000,000
estimated in the Optimization Study.
Strategy and Outlook
The primary objective in 2015 is to position the Company for project
construction in 2016 and 2017 and production in 2018. As a result, the
Company’s 2015 focus is on advancing the following initiatives already
underway:
-
Land Acquisition – The LAP includes a combination of voluntary
and government assisted land purchases. With the receipt of the
“Public Benefit” letter, the Company expects the LAP to be completed
in 2016.
-
Basic Engineering – The Company expects to commence basic
engineering on long lead time and critical path items in Q3 2015
through Q2 2016, which will facilitate a timely construction schedule
following the closing of project financing.
-
Exploration – Given the promising results of the exploration
program completed in May 2015, the Company is in the process of
finalizing plans to investigate the additional potential of its 100
square kilometre Yenipazar license area, 90% of which has not been
explored in detail.
-
Project Financing – The Company is actively considering various
project financing alternatives. The process is expected to be advanced
significantly in 2015, with completion anticipated in 2016. The
expected timing of substantial completion of the LAP has significant
influence on the potential closing dates of the project financing
components. The amount and timing of obtaining new funds may be
affected by capital market conditions for junior mining companies,
fluctuations in commodity prices, potential changes to the political
environment in Turkey and the timing of completing the LAP.
Selected Financial Information
The following table provides selected consolidated financial information
that should be read in conjunction with the Q2 2015 Financials.
United States Dollars
|
|
SIX MONTHS ENDED AND AS AT
JUNE 30,
2015
|
|
SIX MONTHS ENDED AND AS AT
JUNE 30,
2014
|
|
YEAR
ENDED AND AS AT
DECEMBER 31, 2014
|
Loss before income tax
|
|
$(2,723,183)
|
|
$(1,571,119)
|
|
$(3,191,177)
|
Net loss
|
|
(2,723,183)
|
|
(1,571,119)
|
|
(3,191,177)
|
Net loss per share
|
|
(0.03)
|
|
(0.02)
|
|
(0.04)
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
6,394,406
|
|
2,507,974
|
|
14,331,409
|
Working capital (i)
|
|
6,624,642
|
|
2,324,469
|
|
14,103,639
|
Total assets
|
|
24,280,358
|
|
9,069,297
|
|
25,829,329
|
Total non-current financial liabilities
|
|
9,582,084
|
|
136,154
|
|
8,445,579
|
(i) Working capital equals current assets less current
liabilities, and is a non-GAAP measure used by management
About Aldridge
Aldridge is a development stage mining company focused on its wholly
owned Yenipazar polymetallic Massive Sulfide Project (Au, Ag, Cu, Pb,
Zn) in Turkey, a country that is committed to developing its natural
resources. Aldridge completed the Yenipazar Optimization Study and filed
the related technical report in May 2014, which updated the original May
2013 Feasibility Study. The Company is currently advancing the Yenipazar
Project on key aspects including engineering, land acquisition and
project financing.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Canadian securities laws, including, but are not limited to
the ability to accomplish remaining milestones, land acquisitions,
securing project financing and commencing construction in 2016,
advancing the Yenipazar Project to production in 2018, economic
performance, future plans and objectives of the Company.
Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and
opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in such
forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors
including meeting conditions for advances under the Loan and the other
factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s
Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the
year ended December 31, 2014 and in other continuous disclosure filings
made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and
available at www.sedar.com.
Any number of important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future
results.
Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and
assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which
may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in
connection with the continuance of Aldridge and its subsidiaries as a
going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices,
the accuracy of mineral resource estimates. Although Aldridge believes
that the assumptions and factors used in making the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these
statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no
assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time
frames or at all. Aldridge disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider
(as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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