Sprott Weekly Wrap Up: Fear Behind Rising Gold and Silver Prices

This week, host Craig Hemke catches up with intrepid traveller Eric Sprott as he drives down the freeway—but what’s driving precious metals prices? In this edition of the Weekly Wrap-Up, you’ll hear all the gold and silver news you need, including:

• The fears spurring demand for precious metals
• What to watch Sunday evening (hint: it’s not the Super Bowl)
• Plus: Eric’s thoughts on the shares

“As I mentioned last week, you’re dealing with mathematics here. And the rate of growth is just incredible. And probably the best way to start off in terms of having the listeners understand: I think this time last week, we had 200 cases [of coronavirus]. 200. 

We added 2,000 today! And we’re up to pushing 10,000 cases here. And I’ve seen some numerical studies—they’re just numerical—that would suggest that by Feb 20th, we could have something like 500 million occurrences and a million deaths. Now, it’s just something on a piece of paper, but this thing is effectively out of control.”

- Source, Junior Mining Network

Generation Mining Brings on Eric Sprott as Investor

Shares of Generation Mining (CSE:GENM) soared 28 percent higher for the week after announcing Canadian billionaire Eric Sprott was making a C$5 million investment and acquiring an 8.8 percent stake in the firm.

As quoted from the press release:

"Gen Mining is pleased to announce that Eric Sprott has agreed to purchase C$5,000,000 of the offering. On completion of the offering, Eric Sprott will own approximately 8.84 percent of the company on a non-diluted basis and approximately 12.70 percent on a partially diluted basis. 

The company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 25 percent of the offering in units, exercisable in whole or in part at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing date. 

The net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be used for exploration and development of the company’s Marathon palladium project, as well as working capital and general corporate purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about February 13, 2020 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and the applicable securities regulatory authorities. 

The Units to be issued under the offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the offering."

- Source, Investing News

Gran Colombia raising $40 million

Gran Colombia Gold Corp. [GCM-TSX; TPRFF-OTCQX] said Monday January 27 that it is raising $40 million from a non-brokered private placement of 7.14 million units priced at $5.60 each. The company said the net proceeds will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes, including repurchases of the company’s listed warrants under its normal course issuer bid.

Each of the private placement units consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable into a full common share at $6.50 per share for a period of three years from the date of issuance.

On Monday, Gran Colombia shares eased 2.5% or 15 cents to $5.79. The shares are currently trading in a 52-week range of $3.01 and $5.97.

Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based gold and silver producer with a focus on Colombia, where it is currently the largest underground gold and silver producer in that country, with several underground mines in operation at its Segovia and Marmato operations. The majority of the company’s production comes from the Segovia Operations, which are located in the Segovia-Remedios mining district in Antioquia, roughly 180 km east of Medellin, northwest Colombia. Segovia produced 214,241 ounces of gold in 2019.

The company met its 2019 production guidance by producing 240,000 ounces of gold, an increase of 10% over 2018. That figure includes production from the Marmato assets which are being spun out into a new publicly listed vehicle, to be named Caldas Gold Corp. The existing underground mine at Marmato produced 25,750 ounces of gold in 2019. However, production at Marmato is expected to increase to 150,000 ounces annually between 2024 and 2027.

“We see the increased interest from strategic and institutional investors in Gran Colombia as a continuing endorsement of our successful turnaround of the company and the potential for further appreciation in our share price, which doubled in 2019 and is up by almost 300% over the past three years, as we execute our strategy to unlock value in our portfolio of quality assets,” said Serafino Iacono, Gran Colombia’s Executive Chairman.

“We have ramped up our near-mine and regional exploration programs at our high-grade Segovia Operations for the coming year and we are unlocking value in our Marmato Project through the spin out to Caldas Gold Corp., which we anticipate will be completed within the next couple of weeks.”

Back in November, 2019, Gran Colombia said it had closed a $15 million strategic investment by Bay Street financier Eric Sprott.

The company said Sprott agreed to purchase 3.26 million units of Gran Colombia in a non-brokered private placement at $4.60 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant exercisable into a full common share at $5.40 per share for a period of four years after the date of issuance.

Proceeds were earmarked for general working capital and corporate purposes.

- Source, Resource World

Behind The Victorian Gold Revival

For the best part of 50 years Victoria’s historically fecund gold fields have been a basket case, given lack of government support and disastrous big-ticket attempts to revive the underground Bendigo and Ballarat mines.

Now, the region is in the midst of a latter day gold rush, thanks to the efforts of Canadian miner Kirkland Lake Gold ((KLA)) at developing the Fosterville mine into a 600,000 ounce a year, 46 grams a tonne monster.

“There’s never been a better time to be in gold right now in Victoria,” says Kalamazoo Resources’ ((KZR)) executive chairman Luke “Sco-Mo” Reinehr. “Kirkland Lake changed everything.”

Fosterville was considered a low grade and difficult mine until legendary Canadian mining investor Eric Sprott got involved with Kirkland Lake, resulting in an aggressive drilling program that uncovered riches much deeper than expected.

Reinehr notes that at Fosterville the lustrous stuff is also being produced at an “all in” cost of $318 an ounce, which with a circa $2100 an oz Aussie gold price implies the mine is spitting out more than $1 billion of free cash flow annually.

How good is that!

Can Kalamazoo emulate the Kirkland Lake miracle? Well, Sprott himself thinks so, this month taking up $4m of Kalamazoo shares in a placement. The TSX listed Novo Resources, of which Sprott is a director, took up a further $4m.

Enthusiasm for Victorian gold among deep pocketed folk is proving more infectious than the mysterious coronavirus in a Chinese transit lounge.

Last year, fellow Victorian explorer Navarre Minerals ((NVR)) raised $9m in a share placement to Canadian fund manager 1832 Asset Management, which became a 7% shareholder.

Other notable investors along for the Navarre ride are Kirkland Lake (with 10% of the register) and the Victor Smorgon Group (9%).

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has invested $7.9m in Catalyst Metals ((CYL)) which now bears a chunky $250m market cap.

Meanwhile Chalice Gold Mines ((CHN)) is 17% owned by exec chairman Tim Goyder, brother of erstwhile Wesfarmers and AFL supremo Richard.

Founded by “proud Victorian” Luke and Matt Reinehr, Kalamazoo had its roots in the Pilbara.

But they had closely monitored their own turf and cottoned on that Castlemaine Gold – the operator of a Ballarat mine acquired from Lihir Gold in 2008 – was being forced to relinquish its ground because it was not fulfilling it minimum exploration spending commitments.

Castlemaine Gold paid $10m for the Ballarat mine, after Lihir (now Newcrest) sunk $700m into it.

Reinehr says Castlemaine Gold’s new owner, Lion Gold had been “sucking every dollar out of Castlemaine and that means ending exploration.”

Not only did Kalamazoo win the ground for no more than an application fee, but the friendly Castlemaine also bestowed a database with 300 million pieces and the results of an 80,000 metre diamond core program.

“If someone were to buy that today I would hate to think what it would cost, the diamond samples have a $20m replacement value,” Luke Reinehr says.

Similarly, the unlisted Centennial Mining gave up its South Muckleford tenements (also known as South Maldon) and Kalamazoo hoovered these up as well.

“We now control the third largest and seventh largest historical gold fields in Victoria,” Reinehr declares.

Kalamazoo’s 445 square kilometres of prospects are in the greater Bendigo zone, which historically has produced 60 million ounces at an average 15 grams a tonne – 100 times higher than the global average

Castlemaine hosts Forest Creek: “site of the world’s richest shallow alluvial goldfield ever.” There’s even a plaque to prove it.

The company isn’t interested in the alluvial stuff, but is dead keen on finding the source of the gold in the ground.

Reinter acknowledges that to find “the next Fosterville”, the company has to spend some serious dollars. The starting point is a 10,000 metre program using diamond drilling, at a cost of $2.5m.

Just before Christmas, the company reported “exceptional” results at its Mustang prospect, including a 1.42 metre intersect grading 261 grams a tonne (with a sniff of visible gold at 1916 g/t).

The Sprott news sent Kalamazoo shares up as much as 45%, with the placement struck a 24% premium (40c a share).

Earlier, Kalamazoo raised $7m by selling a sold a WA prospect called Snake Well to former Asciano chief Mark Rowsthorn and his business partner Nathan Mitchell.

Given the fancy headline number, Kalamazoo has been allowed to pay in instalments.

Dual-listed on the Frankfurt exchange, Kalamazoo shares remain tightly controlled by the Reinehrs, who hold 32% post placement (the Sprott and Novo camps each hold 8%).

In the meantime, the Victorian government is due to announce the winner of a new tenement grouping called Block 4, which abuts the Fosterville mine. To describe the tender as hotly competed is somewhat of an understatement, with all of the key players expected to have competed in the Dutch auction process.

“We are going in hard we think we have a good chance,” Reinehr says.

- Source, FN Arena

What Does The Lack Of Institutional Ownership Tell Us About dynaCERT?

Institutional investors often avoid companies that are too small, too illiquid or too risky for their tastes. But it’s unusual to see larger companies without any institutional investors.

There could be various reasons why no institutions own shares in a company. Typically, small, newly listed companies don’t attract much attention from fund managers, because it would not be possible for large fund managers to build a meaningful position in the company. Alternatively, there might be something about the company that has kept institutional investors away. Institutional investors may not find the historic growth of the business impressive, or there might be other factors at play. You can see the past revenue performance of dynaCERT, for yourself, below.

TSXV:DYA Income Statement, January 22nd 2020

Hedge funds don’t have many shares in dynaCERT. Eric Sprott is currently the largest shareholder, with 8.3% of shares outstanding. The second largest shareholder with 2.1%, is Raymond Hoffman, followed by Elliot Strashin, with an ownership of 2.1%. Elliot Strashin also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors.

Our studies suggest that the top 10 shareholders collectively control less than 50% of the company’s shares, meaning that the company’s shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock’s expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track.

- Source, Simply Wall St, read the full article here

Galleon Gold Closes Shares for Debt Settlement for Interest Owed to Eric Sprott

Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") announces that it has closed its previously announced debt settlement agreement (see press release January 17, 2020). Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation that is beneficially owned by him, agreed to settle an aggregate amount of $82,177 for interest earned on a Galleon Gold Debenture (the "Debt Settlement"). The Debt Settlement was settled by the issuance of 1,027,218 common shares at a deemed price of $0.08 per share.

The securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four-month hold period commencing on the date of issuance.

Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns and controls 71,248,950 shares of the Company representing 27.9% of the outstanding common shares.

- Source, Junior Mining Network

Generation Mining Announces $8 Million Private Placement of Units Including a $5 Million Investment from Eric Sprott

Generation Mining Limited (CSE:GENM) ("Gen Mining" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Haywood Securities Inc. and Mackie Research Capital Corporation as co-lead underwriters and joint-bookrunners on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters including PowerOne Capital Markets Limited and Raymond James Ltd. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a "bought deal" private placement basis, 15,385,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of C$0.52 per Unit (the “Issue Price”), for total gross proceeds of C$8,000,200 (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one common share (a “Common Share”) in the capital of the Company and one-half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a “Warrant”) of the Company. Each Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) at a price per Warrant Share of C$0.75 for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering.

Gen Mining is pleased to announce that Eric Sprott has agreed to purchase C$5,000,000 of the Offering. On completion of the Offering, Eric Sprott will own approximately 8.84% of the Company on a non-diluted basis and approximately 12.70% on a partially diluted basis.

The Company has granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 25% of the Offering in Units (the "Underwriters’ Option"), exercisable in whole or in part at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing date.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be used for exploration and development of the Company’s Marathon Palladium Project, as well as working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Offering is expected to close on or about February 13, 2020 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and the applicable securities regulatory authorities. The Units to be issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the Offering.

In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters will receive: (i) a cash commission of 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, excluding gross proceeds from the issuance of Units to Eric Sprott for which a commission of 4.0% of such gross proceeds is payable by the Company to the Underwriters; and (ii) that number of non-transferable compensation options (the “Compensation Options”) as is equal to (a) 6.0% of the aggregate number of Units sold under the Offering, excluding those Units sold to Eric Sprott, and (b) 4.0% of the aggregate number of Units sold under the Offering to Eric Sprott. Each Compensation Option is exercisable into one Common Share of the Company at the Issue Price for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

- Source, Junior Mining Network

Eric Sprotts Take on the Recent Gold and Silver Trading Action

Eric Sprott takes time out of his South American fishing trip to discuss the week’s gold and silver news with host Craig Hemke.

- Source

Eric Sprotts Assessment on Initial Gold and Silver Trading Action in 2020

Eric Sprott joins us from Antarctica and offers his assessment of the initial gold and silver trading action as we begin 2020.

- Source, Sprott Money News

Eric Sprott Updates Viewers About the Mining Sector

Eric Sprott the economic events of the past week while also providing updates on a few, key mining companies.

- Source, Sprott Money

Gold's Rise and the Dollar's Demise

Rick Rule, president and CEO of Sprott U.S. Holdings Inc., shares how the worldwide explosion of negative yielding debt shapes his bullish outlook on gold. 

He examines the impact that a "war on savers" has on the global financial system and on precious metals, and he shares his ideas on where inflation fits into the equation. 

Rule explains his outlook for the future of the monetary system by analyzing the evolving relationship between cryptocurrencies, precious metals, and fiat currencies.

- Source, Real Vision

Rick Rule: This Consolidation for Gold Tells me this Market is Extremely Healthy