Gran Colombia Announces Upgrade From Fitch Ratings to ‘B+’; Provides Details for the Quarterly Repayment of Its Gold Note...
October 15 2020 - 4:50PM
Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (TSX: GCM; OTCQX: TPRFF) announced today
that Fitch Ratings has upgraded it to ‘B+’ from ‘B‘ with a Stable
Outlook. In its commentary regarding the rating action, Fitch
Ratings stated that the upgrade reflects the improvement in Gran
Colombia’s capital structure due to strong free cash flow and
capital raising that has led to substantial debt repayment.
Fitch Ratings noted several key rating drivers
including (i) positive strategic decisions over the past 12 months
that have given it a stronger balance sheet and have lowered risk,
including the spin out of Marmato to Caldas Gold and the planned
spin out of Zancudo to ESV Resources, (ii) turnaround in the
Company’s net cash position, (iii) solid free cash flow, (iv)
single-asset risk and (v) competitive cost structure. Additional
information with respect to this rating may be found at
www.fitchratings.com.
Quarterly Gold Notes
Repayment
Gran Colombia also announced today the details
for the forthcoming quarterly repayment of its 8.25% Senior Secured
Gold-Linked Notes due 2024 (the “Gold Notes”) (TSX: GCM.NT.U) as
follows:
Payment date: |
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November 2, 2020 |
|
|
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Record date: |
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October 26, 2020 |
|
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Cash payment amount: |
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Approximately US$0.11377257 per US$1.00 principal amount of Gold
Notes issued and outstanding representing an amortization payment
of the principal amount of approximately US$0.07517084 per US$1.00
principal amount of Gold Notes and a gold premium of approximately
US$0.03860173 per US$1.00 principal amount of Gold Notes. Based on
the London P.M. Fix on October 15, 2020 of US$1,891.90 per ounce,
the aggregate amount of the cash payments on the Payment Date will
be US$4,370,289, of which US$2,887,500 will be applied to reduce
the aggregate principal amount of the Gold Notes issued and
outstanding and the balance represents the Gold Premium. |
|
|
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Principal amount issued and outstanding: |
|
As of today’s date, there is a total of US$38,412,500 principal
amount of Gold Notes issued and outstanding. After this quarterly
repayment, the aggregate principal amount of the Gold Notes will be
reduced to US$35,525,000. |
Arbitration Related to Termination of
Long-Term Supply Agreement
The Company had a long-term supply agreement to
sell all of its production to a single customer in Colombia which
was terminated in January 2019. On May 10, 2019, the Company
received notice of a request to settle the dispute, as permitted
under the supply agreement, under the Rules of Arbitration of the
International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”). The Company was notified
today by the ICC that it has dismissed the customer’s claims on the
basis of breach of the supply agreement.
About Gran Colombia Gold
Corp.
Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based mid-tier gold
producer with its primary focus in Colombia where it is currently
the largest underground gold and silver producer with several mines
in operation at its high-grade Segovia Operations. Gran Colombia
owns approximately 53.5% of Caldas Gold Corp. (TSX-V: CGC; OTCQX:
ALLXF), a Canadian mining company currently advancing a major
expansion and modernization of its underground mining operations at
its Marmato Project in Colombia. Gran Colombia’s project pipeline
includes its Zancudo Project in Colombia together with an
approximately 20% equity interest in Gold X Mining Corp. (TSXV:
GLDX) (Guyana – Toroparu) and an approximately 26% equity interest
in Western Atlas Resources Inc. (“Western Atlas”) (TSX-V: WA)
(Nunavut – Meadowbank).
Additional information on Gran Colombia can be
found on its website at www.grancolombiagold.com and by reviewing
its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information", which
may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect
repayment of the Gold Notes. Often, but not always, forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans",
"expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations
(including negative 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
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk
Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March
30, 2020 which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date
of this press release and Gran Colombia disclaims, other than as
required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, results, future
events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions
should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
For Further Information,
Contact:Mike DaviesChief Financial Officer(416)
360-4653investorrelations@grancolombiagold.com
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