VANCOUVER, BC, October 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp.
(TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G)
("B2Gold") is pleased to announce that it has entered
into a binding agreement with West African Resources Limited
(ASX:WAF) ("WAF") dated October 25,
2021 (the "Kiaka Agreement"), pursuant to which
B2Gold has agreed to sell to WAF 100% of the issued and outstanding
shares of Volta Resources (Cayman) Inc., the holder of an 81%
interest in the Kiaka gold project located in Burkina Faso (the "Kiaka Project").
Under the terms of the Kiaka Agreement, B2Gold will receive
the following consideration (the "Kiaka Transaction"):
- cash payment of US$450,000 paid
on execution of the Kiaka Agreement;
- US$45,000,000 payable on closing
of the Kiaka Transaction, comprised of 50% cash and 50% in WAF
ordinary shares;
- US$45,000,000 payable on the
earlier of (i) commencement of construction at the Kiaka Project
(provided such date will be a minimum of 6 months from the date of
the Kiaka Agreement), (ii) completion of a positive feasibility
study at the Kiaka Project, and (iii) October 25, 2022, in cash or WAF ordinary shares,
at B2Gold's option but subject to any required WAF shareholder
approval to issue WAF ordinary shares; and
- 2.7% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty interest on the
first 2,500,000 ounces of gold produced at the Kiaka Project, and a
0.45% NSR royalty interest on the next 1,500,000 ounces of gold
produced at the Kiaka Project.
The closing of the Kiaka Transaction is subject to certain
customary conditions, including completion of a transaction between
WAF and GAMS-Mining F&I Ltd. ("GAMS") pursuant to which
WAF will acquire GAMS' 9% interest in the Kiaka Project, and
completion of the transaction under the Amended Toega Agreement (as
defined below). The parties expect the Kiaka Transaction to be
completed by the end of November
2021.
Clive Johnson, President and
Chief Executive Officer of B2Gold, stated: "We are pleased to have
reached an agreement with WAF relating to the sale of the Kiaka
Project, building on a strong relationship that we have formed with
WAF over the past several years following the initial agreement
relating to the Toega Project. WAF has a strong reputation of being
a solid operator in Burkina Faso
and with its existing local infrastructure and operating experience
is well positioned to move the Kiaka Project forward in a timely
and cost-effective manner. B2Gold, through the WAF shares it will
receive as part of the consideration, and royalties on both the
Kiaka and Toega projects, will continue to benefit from the future
development of the projects."
In addition, B2Gold has entered into an amended and restated
purchase agreement with WAF and GAMS dated October 25, 2021 (the "Amended Toega
Agreement"), pursuant to which B2Gold has now agreed to sell to
WAF 100% of the shares of Kiaka Gold SARL, the holder of the Toega
gold project located in Burkina
Faso (the "Toega Project")(the original transaction
was structured as a sale of assets comprising the Toega Project)
and GAMS will sell its 10% beneficial interest in the Toega
Project. B2Gold holds a 90% beneficial interest in the Toega
Project with GAMS holding the remaining 10%. Under the terms of the
Amended Toega Agreement, B2Gold will receive a cash payment of
$18,000,000 (US$9,000,000 of which has been received), and on
the first 1,500,000 ounces of gold produced at the Toega Project, a
2.7% NSR royalty until such time as the royalty payments total
US$22,500,000 and thereafter a 0.45%
NSR royalty interest (the "Toega Transaction"). The closing
of the Toega Transaction is subject to certain customary
conditions. The parties expect the Toega Transaction to be
completed by the end of November
2021.
About B2Gold Corp.
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer
headquartered in Vancouver,
Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold
mines in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines, and numerous exploration and development
projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Burkina
Faso, Finland and
Uzbekistan. B2Gold forecasts total
consolidated gold production of between 1,015,000 and 1,055,000
ounces in 2021.
On Behalf of B2GOLD CORP.
"Clive T. Johnson"
President & Chief Executive Officer
For more information on B2Gold, please visit the Company website
at www.b2gold.com or contact:
Ian MacLean
|
Katie
Bromley
|
Vice President,
Investor Relations
|
Manager, Investor
Relations & Public Relations
|
+1
604-681-8371
|
+1
604-681-8371
|
imaclean@b2gold.com
|
kbromley@b2gold.com
|
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither
approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news
release.
Production results and production guidance presented in this
news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates
on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form
dated March 30, 2021 for a discussion
of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.
This news release includes certain "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively
forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and United States
securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance;
forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or
estimated financial and operational performance, gold production
and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining
and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including closing of the
Kiaka Transaction including the satisfaction of the closing
conditions thereunder and the expected timing thereof, completion
of the transaction with GAMS and the expected timing thereof,
satisfaction of the requirements for the payment of the second
US$45,000,000 under the Kiaka
Transaction, closing of the Toega Transaction including the
satisfaction of the closing conditions thereunder and the expected
timing thereof; and including, without limitation: total
consolidated gold production of between 1,015,000 and 1,050,000
ounces in 2021. All statements in this news release that address
events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts and are generally,
although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule",
"forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar
expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or
conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might"
occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's
control, including risks associated with or related to: the
duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of
preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the
Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not
limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business
continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions;
escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and
reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine
doré; the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares;
changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration,
development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and
resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other
estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing
materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other
studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits,
consents or authorizations required for mining activities;
environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex
regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and
climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves
and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of
companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate
new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability
of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential
restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and
the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign
laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the
Philippines, Colombia and
Burkina Faso and including risks
related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to
mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization
generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote
operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure;
fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs
necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in
necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and
country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and
the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties
and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making
authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns
the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the
dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain
skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss;
adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk;
competition with other mining companies; community support for
B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the
halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small
scale miners; failures of information systems or information
security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal
controls over financial reporting as required by law, including
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with
anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures;
social media and B2Gold's reputation; risks affecting Calibre
having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in
Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre;
as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail
under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual
Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and
B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be
viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the
"Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may
affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the
applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable
as of the date hereof, based on the information available to
management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but
are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's
ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the
duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and
workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing,
extent, duration and economic viability of such operations,
including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the
accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts,
studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve
estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of
inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign
exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary
approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future
obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable
terms when required; the current and future social, economic and
political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally
associated with the mining industry.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions
and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations
regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as
of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's
beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as
required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold
will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements.
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SOURCE B2Gold Corp.