RE: RNS15 May 2023 07:04
HIGHLIGHTS
Near term cash flow over an attractive asset & new commodity exposure
· La Preciosa is one of the largest undeveloped primary silver resources in Mexico, originally acquired by Coeur in 2013 for approximately C$350 million. In March 2022, Coeur sold the asset to Avino for cash, shares, and the Royalty Assets.
· Avino operates the Avino silver mine and mill 19km from La Preciosa, producing concentrates which are sold to Samsung C&T U.K. Ltd. Avino intends to begin processing stockpiled material from La Preciosa in late H2 2023 at its mill, before commencing production from fresh ore in 2024.1
· Avino intends to ramp annual silver production from La Preciosa to circa 3 million ounces ("Moz") by 2027, increasing to 3.5Moz in 2028.2 With a current total Mineral Resource estimate of 120Moz of silver and 224,000 ounces of gold3, La Preciosa is expected to be a long-life asset with further expansion potential.
· The Transaction introduces a new commodity to Trident's portfolio, which currently contains exposure to gold, lithium, copper, iron ore, and mineral sands. In addition to being a tangible store of value and an inflation hedge, with over 50% of silver use for industrial purposes, it is increasingly important due to its conductivity and corrosion resistance, making it a critical component of both solar panels and electric vehicles.