PROJECT FINANCE

Kerr gets Copperstone funding

Kerr Mines (TSX: KER) could deliver up to 95,000oz of gold from a mine at Copperstone in Arizona to Pandion Mine Finance as repayment for US$27.6 million of project finance outlined this week. The ‘prepaid forward gold agreement’ is a bit of a throwback to the past for a North American gold miner, though such deals are more common elsewhere.

Staff reporter
Copperstone existing infrastructure

Copperstone existing infrastructure

Kerr is targeting the December quarter next year for first production from Copperstone, slated as a circa-40,000oz per annum producer at a US$875/oz all-in sustaining cost. It has current measured, indicated and inferred resources of about 422,000oz at more than 7gpt.

Kerr expects to deliver Pandion about 95,000oz over 40 months, with no gold deliverable in the first 22 months. The New York-based mine financier will get the gold at a discount to the prevailing market price at the time and can convert up to 10,000oz of gold into C40c Kerr shares.

The gold junior says it will sell all other production from Copperstone at market prices, and can buy out or terminate the deal.

It will receive the finance in two tranches of US$19.6 million and $8 million, the first targeted for next month.

"After careful review of the financing options available, we are pleased to select Pandion Mine Finance as our funding partner," Kerr CEO Claudio Ciavarella said.

"We believe the terms of this financing are competitive and create value for our shareholders.

"With this funding arrangement now in place, we are highly focused on continuing to create shareholder value and are now able to turn our attention to achieving our next targets - production in 2019, expansion of resources and mine life."

Kerr Mines' shares are up 10% since Monday at C22c, capitalising the company at C$55 million.

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