Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – December 9, 2024) – Riverside Resources Inc.(TSXV: RRI) (OTCQB: RVSDF) (FSE: 5YY) (“Riverside” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce it has signed an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Taft Project (“Project”). The Project covers a total area of 3,000 hectares (30 km2) and is located in the highly prospective Revelstoke Carbonatite Belt region of British Columbia for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and gold mineralization. This transaction aligns with Riverside’s strategy of targeting high-value mineral assets in favorable jurisdictions and taking advantage of government support led by technical quality as a focus. Critical metals, such as rare earth elements (REE), are essential for national security and economic prosperity and Riverside is actively strengthening its position by acquiring and staking high-potential critical metals projects. The Company plans to begin a field program on the Project immediately.
“Riverside Resources has a long history of identifying and acquiring high-potential mineral assets in stable jurisdictions, and the Taft Project is another excellent example of this approach,” stated John-Mark Staude, President and CEO of Riverside Resources. “As the demand for critical minerals continues to grow, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, electric vehicles, and advanced technologies, projects like Taft play an essential role in securing North America’s access to these vital resources.”
“With governments increasingly emphasizing the importance of developing domestic supply chains for critical minerals, including recent initiatives by the United States and Canada to support exploration and production, Riverside is proud to contribute to this strategic imperative. By acquiring and investing in projects like Taft, we are not only enhancing our portfolio but also progressing the global transition to cleaner energy and more resilient supply networks.”
Project Option Terms:
As per the Agreement, Riverside can earn a 100% interest in the Taft Project by making staged cash payments totaling CAD $125,000 over five years, as detailed below:
a) $15,000 upon signing of the Agreement; (paid) b) $15,000 on or before the 1st anniversary of the Effective Date; c) $20,000 on or before the 2nd anniversary of the Effective Date; d) $20,000 on or before the 3rd anniversary of the Effective Date; e) $25,000 on or before the 4th anniversary of the Effective Date; and f) $30,000 on or before the final anniversary of the Effective Date.
Additionally, Riverside will commit to a minimum of $320,000 in exploration expenditures over the same period, as detailed below:
a) $ 60,000.00 on or before the 1st anniversary of the Effective Date; b) $ 60,000.00 on or before the 2nd anniversary of the Effective Date; c) $ 60,000.00 on or before the 3rd anniversary of the Effective Date; d) $ 60,000.00 on or before the 4th anniversary of the Effective Date; and e) $ 80,000.00 on or before the final anniversary of the Effective Date.
This transaction involves no royalties, aligning with Riverside’s ongoing commitment to maintaining royalty-free projects. Consistent with its business model over the past 15+ years, Riverside creates royalties only when optioning or selling projects to third parties in future business transactions.
Exploration Plans
The exploration program will begin with stream geochemistry studies initiated this summer, followed by soil and rock geochemical prospecting. Fieldwork will include geological mapping and reconnaissance traverses, building on earlier government studies and prior prospector reports. The focus is to delineate the Rare Earth Element potential associated with carbonatite intrusions, which are key mineralization targets for both the property and the company within this belt. Additionally, the program will investigate gold anomalies identified in initial surveys, building on previous exploration efforts in the area. Riverside’s planned investments include geological mapping, sampling, and targeted drilling to further define the resource potential of the project.
About the Taft Project
The Taft Project presents a high-potential opportunity to discover critical mineral resources essential to the increasing demand for renewable energy, technology, and advanced materials. Its favorable geological setting and strategic location within a supportive jurisdiction highlight its importance in Riverside’s portfolio. Geological mapping of the REE-rich terrane has identified promising areas along the belt, supported by favorable geochemistry and indicator minerals. Current sampling and exploration efforts, in collaboration with local prospectors, aim to refine targets through access, sampling, and mapping. These activities are paving the way for a focused exploration program in 2025, targeting both REE and gold zones.
Figure 1: Location map and mineral concession map with tenure under option in red and Riverside 100% owned tenure in yellow.
The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo, a non-independent qualified person to Riverside Resources who is responsible for ensuring that the information provided in this news release is accurate and who acts as a “qualified person” under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Riverside Resources Inc.:
Riverside is a well-funded exploration company driven by value generation and discovery. The Company has over $5M in cash, no debt and less than 75M shares outstanding with a strong portfolio of gold-silver and copper assets and royalties in North America. Riverside has extensive experience and knowledge operating in Mexico and Canada and leverages its large database to generate a portfolio of prospective mineral properties. In addition to Riverside’s own exploration spending, the Company also strives to diversify risk by securing joint-venture and spin-out partnerships to advance multiple assets simultaneously and create more chances for discovery. Riverside has properties available for option, with information available on the Company’s website at www.rivres.com.
ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC.
“John-Mark Staude”
Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO
For additional information contact:
John-Mark Staude President, CEO Riverside Resources Inc. info@rivres.com Phone: (778) 327-6671 Fax: (778) 327-6675 Web: www.rivres.com
Eric Negraeff Investor Relations Riverside Resources Inc. Phone: (778) 327-6671 TF: (877) RIV-RES1 Web: www.rivres.com
Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology (e.g., “expect”,” estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”). Such information involves known and unknown risks — including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Kelowna, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – December 3, 2024) – Strathmore Plus Uranium Corporation (TSXV: SUU) (OTCQB: SUUFF) (FSE: TO3) (“Strathmore” or “the Company“) is pleased to announce that the Company drilled two newly identified uranium roll fronts on the Beaver Rim project. Four drill holes were completed, including the discovery of the two mineralized zones on the South Sage claim group. The intercepts included 7.5 feet grading 0.042% eU3O8 from 1,119-1,126.5 feet (hole BR-03-24) and 4.5 feet grading 0.024% eU3O8 from 1,090-1,094.5 feet (hole BR-01-24).
The Beaver Rim areas drilled lie 1 to 3 miles south of Cameco’s fully permitted in-situ recovery Gas Hills project. The goals of the drilling program were to determine the validity of our geologic model for Beaver Rim and that it’s a legitimate uranium exploration target. This included:
Finding out if the arkosic-rich sediments beneath Beaver Rim correlate to the uranium bearing sediments to the north in the adjacent Gas Hills mining district?
Did these sediments act as the geologic passageway for uranium transport from the south through the project area towards Gas Hills?
Are these sediments suitable for uranium deposition and was there any uranium mineralization discovered in the Beaver Rim sediments?
With completion of the initial phase of drilling, Strathmore believes we have answered “Yes” to each of the questions regarding the geologic model, by having encountered uranium mineralization on the Beaver Rim project. The targeted host sandstone, the Puddle Springs Arkose member of the Eocene Wind River Formation was tested with the drilling. Results of the drilling show that the Puddle Springs is a very clean quartzite and feldspar-rich coarse sandstone and lesser mudstones. The member varied in thickness from 130-170 feet. Mineralization above grade cutoff (0.015% eU3O8) was encountered in two holes (BR-01-24, BR-03-24) in two separate sandstone intervals. A third hole, BR-02-24, showed above background gamma levels in three distinct sand intervals with notable alteration of the granitic sandstones in all holes drilled.
Based on these results, Strathmore believes the Beaver Rim area is a viable uranium exploration target. The Company plans to continue exploration of the project in 2025, including on the Diamond claim group to the west where previous drilling by Strathmore Minerals in 2012 encountered stacked roll front mineralization.
Hole ID
Latitude
Longitude
Collar (Ft)
From (Ft)
To (Ft)
Thickness (Ft)
Grade %
BR-01-24
42.72470
-107.51230
7,118
1,090.0
1,094.5
4.5
0.028
BR-02-24
42.72918
-107.51454
7,178
Below cutoff
BR-03-24
42.72495
-107.51283
7,126
1,119.0
1,126.5
7.5
0.042
1,137.0
1,139.5
2.5
0.028
BR-04-24
42.76613
-107.50053
7,403
Below cutoff
Note: The tabled geophysical results are based on equivalent uranium (eU3O8) of the gamma-ray probes calibrated at the Department of Energy’s Test Facility in Casper, Wyoming. A series E Century Geophysical logging tool with gamma-ray, spontaneous potential, resistivity, and drift detectors was utilized in the logging. The reader is cautioned that the reported uranium grades may not reflect actual uranium concentrations due to the potential for disequilibrium between uranium and its gamma emitting daughter products. Further analysis on radiometric equilibrium will be conducted by Strathmore in the future.
Beaver Rim Technical Report The Company has refiled to Sedar a technical report for the Beaver Rim project titled Technical Report on the Gas Hills-Beaver Rim Uranium Exploration Project, Fremont and Natrona Counties, Wyoming, USA. The report was authored by Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., of SLR International Corporation, and dated May 31, 2022. The report was required for Company regulatory purposes and inadvertently misfiled at the time in 2022. The report is available at www.sedarplus.ca. An updated report is planned upon completion of the autumn exploration program at the Beaver Rim project.
About the Beaver Rim Project The Gas Hills uranium district is the largest uranium district in the State of Wyoming; with more than 100 million pounds of uranium being mined between 1954 to1988 when production ceased due to declining prices. Historical and recent reports suggest 50 to100 million pounds of uranium may exist in the Gas Hills district. The Beaver Rim project consists of 265 wholly owned mining claims totaling 5,475 acres. The project area was previously explored by American Nuclear in the 1970s, Cameco between1990 to early 2000’s, and most recently by Strathmore Minerals in 2012, where uranium mineralization was encountered at depths of 700-1,000 feet, contained in stacked, Wyoming-type roll front deposits within arkosic-rich sandstones of the Eocene-age Wind River Formation.
The Beaver Rim project lies immediately south and adjacent to Cameco’s fully permitted Gas Hills in-situ recovery project. Cameco reported for their Gas Hills project indicated and inferred mineral resources of 13.3 million and 6 million pounds of uranium, at 0.14% and 0.08% eU3O8 respectively (reported Dec. 31, 2023). Additional, historically defined resources controlled by Cameco are noted to trend from their Property south beneath the Beaver Rim claims including the West Diamond, East Diamond, North Sage, and South Sage properties. Strathmore is reviewing the greater Beaver Rim area and past exploration as part of its intent to acquire additional properties with the potential to contain uranium mineralization.
About Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. Strathmore has three permitted uranium projects in Wyoming: Agate, Beaver Rim, and Night Owl. The Agate and Beaver Rim properties contain uranium mineralization in typical Wyoming-type roll front deposits based on historical and recent drilling data. The Night Owl property is a former producing surface mine that was in production in the early 1960s.
Cautionary Statement: “Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”
Certain information contained in this press release constitutes “forward-looking information,” within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur”, “be achieved” or “has the potential to”. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.
Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Terrence Osier, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp., a Qualified Person.
Kelowna, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – December 3, 2024) – F3 Uranium Corp. (TSV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) (“F3” or “the Company“) is pleased to announce rush assay results for drillhole PLN24-176 (see NR September 10, 2024) of the ongoing 2024 drill program on the PLN Property which returned 7.5m of 30.9% U3O8, including an ultra-high grade core with 4.5m of 50.1% U3O8.
Sam Hartmann, Vice President Exploration, commented:
“PLN24-176 represents the best hole drilled to date at the JR Zone in terms of grade thickness, including a true width assay interval of 4.5m of 50.1% U3O8, starting at a shallow vertical depth of only 190m below surface. This drillhole was collared approximately 14m up-dip of PLN24-137 which returned 15.0m of 3.2% U3O8, including a high grade 2.5m interval averaging 18.6% U3O8 (See NR July 30, 2024). These results from PLN24-176 emphasize the need for tightly spaced drilling in these high grade basement hosted structurally controlled uranium deposits, which can often result in opening up additional targeting areas for high grade mineralization; in this case in the up-dip direction.”
JR Zone Assay Highlight:
PLN24-176 (line 035S):
7.5m @ 30.9% U3O8 (196.0m to 203.5), including:
5.5m @ 42.2% U3O8 (197.0m to 202.5m), further including:
4.5m @ 50.1% U3O8 (197.5m to 202.0m)
Table 1. Drill Hole Summary and Uranium Assay Results
Assay composite parameters: 1. Minimum Thickness of 0.5 m 2. Assay Grade Cut-Off: 0.05% U3O8 (weight %) 3. Maximum Internal Dilution: 2.0 m
Composited weight % U3O8 mineralized intervals are summarized in Table 1. Samples from the drill core are split in half sections on site. Where possible, samples are standardized at 0.5m down-hole intervals. One-half of the split sample is sent to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK while the other half remains on site for reference. Analysis includes a 63 element suite including boron by ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS and gold analysis by ICP-OES and/or AAS.
The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U3O8 as “high grade” and results greater than 20.0 weight % U3O8 as “ultra-high grade”.
All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thickness are yet to be determined.
The Company’s 4,078-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North property (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Fission Uranium’s Triple R and NexGen Energy’s Arrow high-grade world class uranium deposits which is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone uranium discovery is located 23km northwest of Fission Uranium’s Triple R deposit.
Qualified Person:
The technical information in this news release has been prepare in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has verified the data disclosed.
About F3 Uranium Corp:
F3 Uranium is a uranium exploration company advancing its newly discovered high-grade JR Zone and exploring for additional mineralized zones on its 100%-owned Patterson Lake North (PLN) Project in the southwest Athabasca Basin. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone discovery is located ~25km northwest of Fission Uranium’s Triple R and NexGen Energy’s Arrow high-grade uranium deposits. This area is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. The PLN project is comprised of the PLN, Minto and Broach properties.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of the management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
F3 Uranium Corp. 750-1620 Dickson Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2
Contact Information Investor Relations Telephone: 778 484 8030 Email: ir@f3uranium.com
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD “Dev Randhawa” Dev Randhawa, CEO
(Bloomberg) — US President-elect Donald Trump warned the so-called BRICS nations that he would require commitments that they would not move to create a new currency as an alternative to using the US dollar and repeated threats to levy a 100% tariff.
“The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump said in a post to his Truth Social network on Saturday.
“We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy,” he added.
Trump on his campaign trail pledged that he would make it costly for countries to move away from the US dollar. And he’s threatened to use tariffs to ensure they complied. Saturday’s threat took on new relevance as the president-elect prepares to retake power in January.
Trump and his economic advisers have been discussing ways to punish allies and adversaries alike who seek to engage in bilateral trade in currencies other than the dollar. Those measures include considering options such as export controls, currency manipulation charges and levies on trade, according to people familiar with the matter.
Trump has long stressed that he wants the US dollar to remain the world’s reserve currency, saying in a March interview with CNBC that he “would not allow countries to go off the dollar” because it would be “a hit to our country.”
The BRICS nations — as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are collectively known — discussed the issue of de-dollarization at a summit in 2023. Backlash against the dollar’s dominance gained traction in 2022 when the US led efforts to impose economic sanctions on Russia.
Economic advisers to Trump and his campaign have spoken in particular about targeting the BRICS effort.
Earlier: Trump Aides Discuss Penalties for Nations That De-Dollarize
“There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the U.S. Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America,” Trump said Saturday.
The president-elect has already rattled world markets ahead of his second term with threats to levy an additional 10% tariffs on goods from China and 25% tariffs on all products from Mexico and Canada if those countries do not do more to stem the flow of illegal drugs and undocumented migrants across US borders.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Trump on Friday to discuss trade and border issues in a bid to tamp down tensions between the two allied nations after the tariff threat.
In this video, Dr. John Mark Staude and Georgie Mark discuss exciting developments from Riverside Resources, including the upcoming spin-out of Blue Jay Resources, a company focused on gold exploration in Ontario’s Beardmore-Geraldton gold belt. Dr. Staude highlights the strategic decision to diversify Riverside’s portfolio beyond Mexico, with Ontario offering a prime location for gold discovery. Georgie Mark, the newly appointed CEO of Blue Jay Resources, shares his vision for the company’s growth, including exploring high-grade gold deposits that have been overlooked for over 70 years. They also discuss Riverside’s strong capital structure and the opportunity for shareholders to benefit from both Riverside and Blue Jay’s future success. Find out why Rick Rule is a shareholder in Riverside Resources.
(Bloomberg) — President-elect Donald Trump nominated Chris Wright, who runs a Colorado-based oil and natural gas fracking services company, to lead the Energy Department.
Wright, the chief executive officer of Liberty Energy Inc., has no previous Washington experience. He’s made a name for himself as a vocal proponent of oil and gas, saying fossil fuels are crucial for spreading prosperity and lifting people from poverty. The threat of global warming, he has said, is exaggerated.
“Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy,” Trump said in a statement Saturday. “He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas. Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fueled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics.”
Trump said Wright, if confirmed, would also sit on the newly formed Council of National Energy that will be chaired by Doug Burgum, Trump’s nominee to lead the Interior Department.
The Energy Department has a disparate mission that includes helping to maintain the nation’s nuclear warheads, studying supercomputers and maintaining the US’s several hundred million-barrel stockpile of crude oil.
It also plays a key role in approving projects to export liquefied natural gas, something that was paused during Biden’s administration. Trump has vowed to undo the pause.
While the department has little authority over oil and gas development, Wright will play a leading role in helping Trump carry out his energy priorities.
Trump’s selection of Wright, whose company is among the largest providers of fracking services globally, is a show of support for the hot-button oil and gas extraction method that Trump frequently touted during the campaign to attack his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris.
Harris said she’d consider banning the technique during her 2020 primary run and reversed course in her 2024 campaign.
‘No Climate Crisis’
Wright’s company published a 180-page paper this year that concluded climate change “is far from the world’s greatest threat to human life,” and that “hydrocarbons are essential to improving the wealth, health, and life opportunities for the less energized.”
“There is no climate crisis. And we are not in the midst of an energy transition either,” Wright said in a video posted on his LinkedIn page. “Humans, and all complex life on earth, is simply impossible without carbon dioxide — hence the term carbon pollution is outrageous.”
Wright holds engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California at Berkeley. He describes himself on his Denver-based company’s website as a “tech nerd turned entrepreneur and a dedicated humanitarian.”
While Wright has warned that subsidies for wind and solar drive up power prices and increase grid instability, he does support alternative energy. He serves on the board of small modular reactor developer Oklo Inc., and his company is an investor in geothermal energy and sodium-ion battery technology.
“I’m not here to protect market share for oil gas,” he said during a 2022 interview with Bloomberg Television. “We should do credible things, mostly driven by market forces. But shoveling subsidies at wind and solar, which are 3% of global energy, that’s not meaningfully going to change greenhouse gas emissions. But it is going to drive electricity prices up.”
Wright is also on the board EMX Royalty Corp., a global mining royalties firm, according to his company bio.
Trump named Wright with backing from Continental Resources Chairman Harold Hamm, a Trump energy adviser and donor. Hamm said in an interview with the Houston-based trade publication Hart Energy that Wright was his choice for the job.
If confirmed by Congress, Wright would play a leading role in Trump carrying out his campaign pledge to declare a national emergency on energy. Trump has cast such a declaration as helping increase domestic energy production — including for electricity — which he says is needed to help meet booming power needs for artificial intelligence.
Under the first Trump administration, the Energy Department played a critical role in the president-elect’s efforts to revive US coal power, an initiative he’s hinted he may attempt again.
Wright would also oversee Trump’s promise to refill the nation’s emergency cache of crude oil. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has a capacity of more than 700 million barrels, reached lows not seen since the 1980s following the Biden administration’s unprecedented drawdown of a record 180 million barrels in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump’s first energy secretary, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, called for eliminating the agency entirely during a run for president in the 2012 cycle. He later apologized and vowed to defend the agency “after being briefed on so many of the vital functions” it plays.
Uranium’s spot price doesn’t adequately reflect demand from nuclear power plants, Sprott says. Credit: Adobe Stock photo by pwmotion
The price of uranium will rebound from its lowest level in a year as supply shortages, nuclear energy’s promise for clean energy and president-elect Donald Trump’s America-first security stance provide support, the world’s largest investment fund in the physical metal says.
The heavy metal’s spot price fell to $76.56 per lb. this week, down from a 17-year high of $106 per lb. in February. But it should recover to between $90 and $100 a lb. by about June, according to John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management. He runs the $5.1 billion Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX: U.U for USD; U.UN for CAD).
The United States and other Western nations such as Canada, Australia and Namibia are restarting or ramping up production of uranium oxide. Yet, it’s nowhere near enough to meet just the 50 million lb. a year needed to power US nuclear power plants. Output from global leader Kazakhstan has been hampered by sulphuric acid shortages. The West is attempting to limit uranium supplies from pariah Russia, which controls some 40% of the world’s capacity to enrich uranium into fuel.
“What Trump will continue to do is support local industry in the name of national security and reshoring, and that obviously has implications right across the whole nuclear fuel supply chain,” Ciampaglia said in an interview on Friday with The Northern Miner. “Canada will be a huge winner here as we restart uranium projects and build new uranium mines.”
Utilities defer
However, utilities, which buy the majority of their uranium in long-term contracts, haven’t been stocking up on supplies during the supply shortage as much as Ciampaglia expected. Even some miners such as Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) have had to buy uranium on the spot market to meet utility supply contracts when production fell short. The needs for some 60 new nuclear plants under construction aren’t reflected in the spot price, he said.
“We’re a little bit confused sometimes around the utility behavior,” he said. “We would have thought that their urgency to buy more uranium would be higher, given the risks to the supply chain, given some of the production challenges with the restarts and given the long timelines to get new mines online. The market over the next four to six years is going to be very supply challenged.”
He said the price fell this year over uncertainty about the US Congress passing an import ban in August against Russian enriched uranium. However, it doesn’t take effect until 2028 and some utilities may wait to see if Russia-friendly Trump cuts a deal with President Vladimir Putin to lift the sanctions.
“Energy security is driving a lot of the energy policy, so we’re really bullish on uranium,” Ciampaglia said, adding that the US depends on nuclear for 19% of its power. “That price correction we’ve had in uranium this year is very overdone.”
Trump’s avowed stance to impose tariffs on all kinds of global trade and Putin’s own threat in September to retaliate against the West with sanctions on uranium, nickel and palladium complicates matters. Yet, energy security will be the driving force, the CEO said.
“The US Department of Energy wants to force users in the US to shift to domestic sources, given this capacity that’s being built is very, very expensive,” Ciampaglia said. “They want that capacity to be filled through long-term contracts with the new capacity being scaled.”
Big tech
Uranium demand has more catalysts to rise as energy-hungry artificial intelligence spreads among tech giants Alphabet, the parent of Google, Amazon, Oracle and Microsoft. They’ve all bought property near nuclear plants, or made long-term power deals and expressed interest in the development of small nuclear reactors (SMRs).
“It’s really interesting that big tech with very deep pockets of capital are really stepping up to the plate and acknowledging that they just can’t fund the building of new solar and wind farms to power these AI data centres,” Ciampaglia said. “They also need firm clean power coming from large-scale reactors.”
Microsoft announced a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy in September. It includes nuclear power from the Crane Clean Energy Center and the restart of Three Mile Island Unit One. French state nuclear company Orano chose Tennessee in September to build an enrichment plant and its expanding another in southern France. Urenco, a British-Dutch-German nuclear fuel consortium, is expanding a site in New Mexico.
Projects due
One the production side, Cameco has been ramping up production at the MacArthur River and Key Lake mines in Saskatchewan. The plants were idled when uranium prices were low before the surge of green energy investments to limit climate change. Denison Mines (TSX: DML; NYSE: DNN) and NexGen Energy (TSX: NXE; NYSE: NXE; ASX: NXG) are progressing their advanced-stage Wheeler and Rook I projects, respectively.
Even so, the projects are years if not a decade away from producing. Also, the Canadian government has launched a national security review of Paladin Energy’s (ASX: PDN) proposed C$1.1 billion takeover of Saskatchewan uranium developer Fission Uranium (TSX: FCU).
Meantime, Cameco and Kazakhstan’s Kazatomprom (LSE: KAP), in a joint venture on the Inkai mine in the central Asian country, said this month it was performing about 20% below expectations.
Likewise, south of the border companies such as Uranium Energy (NYSE-AM: UEC) and Energy Fuels (NYSE: UUUU; TSX: EFR) are reopening sites in Wyoming, Texas, Arizona, and Utah after years of inactivity.
Delays
But Energy Fuels’ Canyon project near the Grand Canyon has faced delays due to regulatory challenges, environmental opposition and legal battles with groups concerned about its impact on the nearby national park and groundwater. EnCore Energy’s (TSXV: EU; NASDAQ: EU) Dewey Burdock project in South Dakota and Uranium Energy’s Sheep Mountain project in Wyoming have faced similar hurdles.
The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust raised about C$65 million to C$70 million in new equity in the last six weeks or so, the CEO said. It’s prepared for another September-to-May period when more long-term contracting tends to occur, he said.
“After having a little bit of a low, given all the distractions, we’re just going to get back into another up period,” he said. “We’d love to get back to buying more uranium.”
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – November 14, 2024) – Riverside Resources Inc.(TSXV: RRI) (OTCQB: RVSDF) (FSE: 5YY) (“Riverside” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce the completed transfer of its three key Ontario gold properties: Pichette, Oakes, and Duc to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blue Jay Resources Inc (“Blue Jay”). This move lays the groundwork for Riverside’s strategic plan to advance its Ontario portfolio by establishing Blue Jay as a standalone exploration company. Blue Jay can fully focus on the exploration, discovery, and value-creation potential that these assets deserve. This structure provides Riverside shareholders with exposure to potential gains, while also paving the way for capital investment aimed at unlocking value in these properties.
This approach is similar to Riverside’s past strategy with Capitan Silver Corp. (“CAPT”), where Riverside shareholders received shares of CAPT, which gained value as exploration progressed successfully. Now, Blue Jay offers another opportunity to further unlock shareholder value, while Riverside retains a 2% NSR on each project.
Blue Jay is led by Geordie Mark as Chief Executive Officer, with the company in the final stages of appointing its Chairman, John-Mark Staude, along with a strong lineup of board of directors. Geordie brings extensive experience in the mining industry, with leadership roles spanning exploration, academia, and financial markets. He has spent over 15 years as a mining analyst on both the buy and sell sides in North American equity markets. Under Geordie’s leadership, Blue Jay will leverage Riverside’s Ontario-based gold assets and is already working on an exploration strategy, with plans to initiate a targeted drill campaign during H1 2025.
“We are excited to see Blue Jay Resources rapidly progress towards becoming a focused exploration company, dedicated to advancing this quality portfolio of Ontario gold assets. This spinout provides our shareholders with exposure to a new vehicle for value creation, while Riverside retains upside through a 2% net smelter royalty (NSR) on the projects,” said Dr. John-Mark Staude, CEO of Riverside Resources. “Our goal is to unlock the inherent value of these properties for our shareholders through the potential share spinout.”
Geordie Mark, CEO of Blue Jay Resources, stated, “I’m thrilled by the opportunity to lead Blue Jay as we explore Ontario’s well-established Beardmore-Geraldton greenstone belt, especially in such a proactive mining jurisdiction. Both the Pichette and Oakes projects are strategically positioned near the Equinox Gold Greenstone Gold project, Canada’s 4th largest open pit gold mine, which emphasizes the potential of this area. Our team is committed to realizing the value of these assets through a focused exploration strategy, and we’re eager to expand our work.”
The proposed spinout structure includes Riverside potentially issuing shares of Blue Jay to Riverside shareholders, allowing them direct ownership in the new exploration-focused entity. While terms of the spinout are under consideration and have not been finalized, Riverside’s intention is to ensure shareholders can benefit from the success of both Riverside and Blue Jay Resources and provide positive upside for the growth of both companies.
About the Projects:
Pichette Project The Pichette Gold Project, covering approximately 1190 hectares, is situated in the prolific Geraldton-Beardmore Greenstone Belt of Northwestern Ontario, a renowned gold-producing region in Canada. This 100%-owned project is strategically positioned near Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Gold Project, Canada’s newest large-scale mine and immediately east of Beardmore mining camp that produced from high grade veins similar to some of the targets found at Pichette.
Historical drilling at Pichette, primarily conducted in the 1950s, intersected shallow high-grade gold mineralization, including notable intercepts such as 3.4 meters at 16.7 g/t Au and 3.2 meters at 4.8 g/t Au, associated with banded iron formations (“BIF”). These BIF structures, which span over 15 kilometers of interpreted trend across the project, remain largely untested at depth, with gold mineralization open along strike. Positioned for efficient exploration, Pichette has road access via the Trans-Canada Highway and benefits from existing regional infrastructure. The assay information is historic in nature and will be retested as part of the planned work for Blue Jay to carry out in 2025.
Oakes Project The Oakes Gold Project, located within the productive Geraldton-Beardmore Greenstone Belt in Northwestern Ontario, sits 20km east of the Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Gold Mine. The project is approximately 5200 hectares in size and hosts a series of parallel favorable geology and shear zones with gold mineralization identified along its length. Historical drilling and recent surface sampling have returned high-grade gold values, with drill intercepts of up to 8 g/t Au and surface assays over 30 g/t Au. Geophysical surveys, including magnetics and induced polarization, have mapped several fault zones and structural features aligned with known geological units, offering significant exploration potential.
The project is accessible with robust local infrastructure, including roads, train line and power, which supports low-cost exploration efforts. The future exploration program could expand on previous findings by further testing mineralized zones along strike and at depth, positioning Oakes as a strong candidate for additional high-grade gold discoveries in a historically productive district.
Duc Project The Duc Project is located in the Porcupine Mining Division, approximately 50 km southwest of Kapuskasing, Ontario. Covering 580 hectares, it sits within the highly prospective Kapuskasing Structural Zone, near the open-pit phosphate mine of Agrium Ltd. The property is underlain by a mix of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks, with potential for gold and rare earth element (REE) mineralization. Recent exploration, including a 2023 helicopter magnetics survey, has confirmed key structural elements and identified promising areas for follow-up targeting work.
The Company is leading exploration efforts at Duc, focusing on gold mineralization and potential platinum group metals (PGMs). Historical drilling and geophysical data suggest significant gold and nickel potential, while current geophysical surveys have highlighted new targets. Planned work includes further integration of the new geophysical surveys, geochemical analysis, and then drilling to refine these targets and advance the project towards more detailed exploration.
Qualified Person & QA/QC: The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo, a non-independent qualified person to Riverside Resources who is responsible for ensuring that the information provided in this news release is accurate and who acts as a “qualified person” under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Riverside Resources Inc.: Riverside is a well-funded exploration company driven by value generation and discovery. The Company has over $5M in cash, no debt and less than 75M shares outstanding with a strong portfolio of gold-silver and copper assets and royalties in North America. Riverside has extensive experience and knowledge operating in Mexico and Canada and leverages its large database to generate a portfolio of prospective mineral properties. In addition to Riverside’s own exploration spending, the Company also strives to diversify risk by securing joint-venture and spin-out partnerships to advance multiple assets simultaneously and create more chances for discovery. Riverside has properties available for option, with information available on the Company’s website at www.rivres.com.
ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC.
“John-Mark Staude”
Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO
For additional information contact:
John-Mark Staude President, CEO Riverside Resources Inc. info@rivres.com Phone: (778) 327-6671 Fax: (778) 327-6675 Web: www.rivres.com
Eric Negraeff Investor Relations Riverside Resources Inc. Phone: (778) 327-6671 TF: (877) RIV-RES1 Web: www.rivres.com
Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology (e.g., “expect”,” estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”). Such information involves known and unknown risks — including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – November 7, 2024) – EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9)(the “Company” or “EMX”) is pleased to report results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted).
In Q3 2024, EMX continued on a strong uptrend due to robust royalty production and strong metal prices. Strong performance during the quarter was marked from Caserones, Gediktepe, and Leeville. EMX continued to invest capital generating and acquiring royalties around the world while our partners invested significant capital to expand operations at existing mines, advance towards the development of new mines, and explore for new opportunities.
Summary of Financial Highlightsfor the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Statement of Income (Loss)
Revenue and other income2
$
7,027
$
12,925
$
19,272
$
19,075
General and administrative costs
(1,537)
(1,364)
(5,379)
(4,662)
Royalty generation and project evaluation costs, net
(3,090)
(3,505)
(8,931)
(8,527)
Net income (loss)
$
1,194
$
2,441
$
(5,055)
$
(6,007)
Statement of Cash Flows
Cash flows from operating activities
$
(187)
$
7,122
$
326
$
2,787
Non-IFRS Financial Measures1,2
Adjusted revenue and other income
$
9,660
$
14,527
$
26,711
$
26,108
Adjusted royalty revenue
$
8,817
$
12,744
$
24,310
$
21,951
GEOs sold
3,560
6,608
10,607
11,358
Adjusted cash flows from operating activities
$
1,760
$
8,863
$
5,762
$
7,880
Adjusted EBITDA
$
5,071
$
10,168
$
12,933
$
13,390
Strong Revenue Growth Excluding $6,676,000 in catch-up payments received in Q3 2023 related to the Timok royalty, adjusted revenue and other income1 increased by 23%3 and adjusted royalty revenue1 increased by 45%3 compared to Q3 2023.
Development of Flagship Assets Significant investment by Zijin Mining Group at Timok through continued development of upper and lower zonesIncreased exploration activity by Zijin Mining Group and Lundin Mining within EMX’s existing royalty footprints.
Exceeding Adjusted Royalty Revenue1 Guidance The Company expects to exceed its 2024 adjusted royalty revenue1 guidance range of $22,000,000 to $27,500,000.
Other Q3 2024 Highlights Excluding catch-up payments received in Q3 2023, adjusted EBITDA1 increased 45%3 compared to Q3 2023.Working capital of $41,825,000 as at September 30, 2024.
Outlook
The Company previously announced 2024 guidance of GEOs sales of 11,000 to 14,000, adjusted royalty revenue of $22,000,000 to $27,500,000 and option and other property income of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. The Company is currently on pace to achieve the upper end of its annual guidance for GEOs sold, and exceed adjusted royalty revenue, while aiming for the lower end of our option and other property income guidance.
The Company is excited about the prospect for continued growth in the portfolio for 2024 and the coming years. The driver for near and long term growth in cash flow will come from the large deposits at Caserones in Chile and Timok in Serbia. At Caserones, Lundin has initiated an exploration program which is intended to expand mineral resources and mineral reserves while at the same time looking to increase throughput at the plant. At Timok, Zijin Mining Group Co. continues to increase its production rates in the upper zone copper-gold deposit while developing the lower zone, which we believe will be one of the more important block cave development projects in the world. Zijin also highlighted a recently discovered exploration target south of the Cukaru Peki mine and within EMX’s royalty footprint. Analysis of recent satellite imagery over the Brestovac license, which contains the Cukaru Peki Mine and is covered by EMX’s royalty, shows substantial development of new drill pads with numerous drill rigs visible in the images in the southeast corner of the license.
In terms of other producing royalty assets, the Company expects Gediktepe, Leeville, and Gold Bar South to mirror what occurred in 2023. In Türkiye, Gediktepe continues to perform well and is ahead of its production forecast for 2024 (as of the end of Q3) and production rates at Balya North continued to increase in Q3. New and compelling exploration results were announced at the Viscaria copper-iron-silver development project in Q3 and the new owner/operator of Gediktepe highlighted potential for additional oxide gold and polymetallic sulfide mineralization beyond the currently defined resources. We are also excited about the advancement of Diablillos in Argentina by AbraSilver Resource Corp. where the company continues to expand the mineral resource. These developments are all examples of the remarkable optionality that exists through EMX’s global royalty portfolio.
EMX believes it is well positioned to identify and pursue new royalty and investment opportunities, while further filling a pipeline of royalty generation properties heading into 2025. As the Company continues to generate revenues from its producing royalty assets and from other option, advance royalty and pre-production payments across its global asset portfolio, various opportunities for capital redeployment will be evaluated. Such opportunities may include the direct acquisition of royalties, continued organic generation of royalties through partner funded projects, purchase of strategic investments, share buybacks through the Normal Course Issuer Bid or debt repayment. Through the astute allocation of capital, EMX will seek to build upon its recent years of success and continue creating value for shareholders into the future.
Third Quarter Results for 2024
In Q3 2024, the Company recognized $9,660,000 and $8,817,000 in adjusted revenue and other income4 and adjusted royalty revenue4, respectively, which represented a 23%5 and 45%5 increase, respectively, compared to Q3 2023. The increase is largely due to a 72% increase in royalty revenue from Gediktepe and a 44% increase in royalty revenue from Leeville when compared to Q3 2023.
The following table is a summary of GEOs4 sold and adjusted royalty revenue4 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
2024
2023
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
Caserones
1,063
$
2,633
831
$
1,602
Timok6
499
1,236
3,987
7,689
Gediktepe
1,354
3,353
1,014
1,955
Leeville
449
1,112
401
773
Balya
139
344
295
568
Gold Bar South
42
104
31
59
Advanced royalty payments
14
35
51
98
Adjusted royalty revenue
3,560
$
8,817
6,608
$
12,744
Included in the quarterly revenue for Caserones was a true up of $412,500 (Q3 2023 – $111,000) due to a higher than expected revenue in the prior quarter. The true up in the current period was mainly driven by positive provisional pricing adjustments on prior period concentrate sales, higher than estimated sales and higher than estimate realized copper prices.
The following table is a summary of GEOs1 sold and adjusted royalty revenue1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
2024
2023
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
Caserones
3,232
$
7,439
3,630
$
7,033
Timok6
1,789
4,089
3,987
7,689
Gediktepe
3,569
8,149
2,098
4,056
Leeville
1,374
3,163
1,019
1,971
Balya
367
852
380
730
Gold Bar South
150
346
98
193
Advanced royalty payments
127
272
145
279
Adjusted royalty revenue
10,607
$
24,310
11,358
$
21,951
Net royalty generation and project evaluation costs decreased from $3,505,000 in Q3 2023 to $3,090,000 in Q3 2024. Royalty generation costs include exploration related activities, technical services, project marketing, land and legal costs, as well as third party due diligence for acquisitions. The decrease in net royalty generation and project evaluation costs was predominately attributable to the timing of the 2024 and 2023 annual share-based compensation grants. The 2024 annual grant occurred in Q2 2024 while the 2023 grant occurred in Q3 2023. This timing difference generated a $472,000 decrease in costs when compared to Q3 2023.
Not inclusive of the net royalty generation and project evaluation cost, EMX earned $345,000 in royalty generation revenue in Q3 2024 (Q3 2023 – $1,507,000).
Third Quarter Corporate Updates
Appointment of Stefan Wenger as Chief Financial Officer
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Stefan L. Wenger as Chief Financial Officer effective October 1, 2024. Mr. Wenger was previously the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Royal Gold, Inc., one of the mining industry’s leading royalty companies, from 2006 to 2018.
Credit Agreement with Franco-Nevada Corporation
In August 2024, the Company entered into a $35,000,000 credit agreement with Franco Nevada Corporation with a maturity date of July 1, 2029. Upon closing, the Company used the proceeds of the loan to repay the outstanding balance of the Sprott Credit Facility and for general working capital purposes.
Normal Course Issuer Bid
During Q3 2024 the Company repurchased and returned to treasury 692,189 common shares at a cost of $1,223,000. The Company then cancelled, pursuant to the Company’s Normal Course Issuer Bid, 684,253 common shares. Subsequent to period end, the Company repurchased 2,156,754 shares for a total cost of $3,322,000.
Qualified Persons
Michael P. Sheehan, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on North America and Latin America, except for Caserones. Consulting Chief Mining Engineer Mark S. Ramirez, SME Registered Member #04039495, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and consultant to the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the above technical disclosure with respect to the Caserones Mine. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on Europe, Türkiye and Australia.
Shareholder Information – The Company’s filings for the year are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov, and on EMX’s website at www.EMXroyalty.com. Financial results were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
About EMX – EMX is a precious, and base metals royalty company. EMX’s investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “EMX”. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” that reflect the Company’s current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the future price of copper, gold and other metals, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the Company’s growth strategy and expectations regarding the guidance for 2024 and future outlook, including revenue and GEO estimates, refinancing outstanding debt and the timing thereof, the acquisition of additional royalty interests and partnerships, the purchase of securities pursuant to the Company’s NCIB or other statements that are not statements of fact. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projects,” “estimates,” “assumes,” “intends,” “strategy,” “goals,” “objectives,” “potential,” “possible” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material assumptions, including those listed below, which could prove to be significantly incorrect, including disruption to production at any of the mineral properties in which the Company has a royalty, or other interest; estimated capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns; estimated metal pricing (including the estimates from theCIBC Global Mining Group’s Consensus Commodity Price Forecasts published on January 2, 2024), metallurgy, mineability, marketability and operating and capital costs, together with other assumptions underlying the Company’s resource and reserve estimates; the expected ability of any of the properties in which the Company holds a royalty, or other interest to develop adequate infrastructure at a reasonable cost; assumptions that all necessary permits and governmental approvals will remain in effect or be obtained as required to operate, develop or explore the various properties in which the Company holds an interest; and the activities on any on the properties in which the Company holds a royalty, or other interest will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by development, operating or regulatory risks or any other government actions.
Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, failure to maintain or receive necessary approvals, changes in business plans and strategies, market conditions, share price, best use of available cash, copper, gold and other commodity price volatility, discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, mining operational and development risks relating to the parties which produce the gold or other commodity the Company will purchase, regulatory restrictions, activities by governmental authorities (including changes in taxation), currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions, the absence of control over mining operations from which the Company will receive royalties from, and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, risks in the marketability of minerals, fluctuations in the price of gold and other commodities, fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and interest rates, stock market volatility, as well as those factors discussed in the Company’s MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (“AIF”) for the year ended December 31, 2023, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained or incorporated by reference, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Future-Oriented Financial Information
This news release may contain future-oriented financial information (“FOFI”) within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, about prospective results of operations, financial position, GEOs and anticipated royalty payments based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action, which FOFI is not presented in the format of a historical balance sheet, income statement or cash flow statement. The FOFI has been prepared by management to provide an outlook of the Company’s activities and results and has been prepared based on a number of assumptions including the assumptions discussed under the headings above entitled “2024 Guidance”, “Outlook” and “Forward-Looking Statements” and assumptions with respect to the future metal prices, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, realization of mineral reserve estimates and the timing and amount of estimated future production. Management does not have, or may not have had at the relevant date, or other financial assumptions which may have been used to prepare the FOFI or assurance that such operating results will be achieved and, accordingly, the complete financial effects are not, or may not have been at the relevant date of the FOFI, objectively determinable.
Importantly, the FOFI contained in this news release are, or may be, based upon certain additional assumptions that management believes to be reasonable based on the information currently available to management, including, but not limited to, assumptions about: (i) the future pricing of metals, (ii) the future market demand and trends within the jurisdictions in which the Company or the mining operators operate, and (iii) the operating cost and effect on the production of the Company’s royalty partners. The FOFI or financial outlook contained in this news release do not purport to present the Company’s financial condition in accordance with IFRS, and there can be no assurance that the assumptions made in preparing the FOFI will prove accurate. The actual results of operations of the Company and the resulting financial results will likely vary from the amounts set forth in the analysis presented in any such document, and such variation may be material (including due to the occurrence of unforeseen events occurring subsequent to the preparation of the FOFI). The Company and management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgments as at the applicable date. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks including the risks discussed under the heading above entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s public disclosures, FOFI or financial outlook within this news release should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
The Company has included certain non-IFRS financial measures in this press release, as discussed below. EMX believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. These non-IFRS financial measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.
Non-IFRS financial measures are defined in National Instrument 52-112 – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure (“NI 52-112”) as a financial measure disclosed that (a) depicts the historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow of an entity, (b) with respect to its composition, excludes an amount that is included in, or includes an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the primary financial statements of the entity, (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements of the entity, and (d) is not a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation. A non-IFRS ratio is defined by NI 52-112 as a financial measure disclosed that (a) is in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation, (b) has a non-IFRS financial measure as one or more of its components, and (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements.
The following table outlines the non-IFRS financial measures, their definitions, the most directly comparable IFRS measures and why the Company use these measures.
Non-IFRS financial measure
Definition
Most directly comparable IFRS measure
Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors
Adjusted revenue and other income
Defined as revenue and other income including the Company’s share of royalty revenue related to the Company’s effective royalty on Caserones.
Revenue and other income
The Company believes these measures more accurately depict the Company’s revenue related to operations as the adjustment is to account for revenue from a material asset
Adjusted royalty revenue
Defined as royalty revenue including the Company’s share of royalty revenue related to the Company’s effective royalty on Caserones.
Royalty revenue
Adjusted cash flows from operating activities
Defined as cash flows from operating activities plus the cash distributions related to the Company’s effective royalty on Caserones.
Cash flows from operating activities
The Company believes this measure more accurately depicts the Company’s cash flows from operations as the adjustment is to account for cash flows from a material asset.
Gold equivalent ounces (GEOs)
GEOs is a non-IFRS measure that is based on royalty interests and calculated on a quarterly basis by dividing adjusted royalty revenue by the average gold price during such quarter. The gold price is determined based on the LBMA PM fix. For periods longer than one quarter, GEOs are summed for each quarter in the period.
Royalty revenue
The Company uses this measure internally to evaluate our underlying operating performance across the royalty portfolio for the reporting periods presented and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating results.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA represents net earnings or loss for the period before income tax expense or recovery, depreciation and amortization, finance costs. Adjusted EBITDA adds all revenue from the Caserones Royalty less any equity income from the equity investment in SLM California (Caserones Royalty holder). Additionally, it removes the effects of items that do not reflect our underlying operating performance and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. These may include: share based payments expense; unrealized and realized gains and losses on investments; write-downs of assets; impairments or reversals of impairments; foreign exchange gains or losses; and other non-cash or non-recurring expenses or recoveries.
Earnings or loss before income tax
The Company believes EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are widely used by investors and analysts as useful indicators of our operating performance, our ability to invest in capital expenditures, our ability to incur and service debt and also as a valuation metric.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Revenue and Other Income and Adjusted Royalty Revenue:
During the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had the following sources of revenue and other income:
(In thousands of dollars)
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Royalty revenue
$
6,184
$
11,142
$
16,871
$
14,918
Option and other property income
310
1,409
990
3,109
Interest income
533
374
1,411
1,048
Total revenue and other income
$
7,027
$
12,925
$
19,272
$
19,075
The following is the reconciliation of adjusted revenue and other income and adjusted royalty revenue:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenue and other income
$
7,027
$
12,925
$
19,272
$
19,075
SLM California royalty revenue
$
6,162
$
4,002
$
17,409
$
17,586
The Company’s ownership %
42.7
40.0
42.7
40.0
The Company’s share of royalty revenue
$
2,633
$
1,602
$
7,439
$
7,033
Adjusted revenue and other income
$
9,660
$
14,527
$
26,711
$
26,108
Royalty revenue
$
6,184
$
11,142
$
16,871
$
14,918
The Company’s share of royalty revenue
2,633
1,602
7,439
7,033
Adjusted royalty revenue
$
8,817
$
12,744
$
24,310
$
21,951
Reconciliation of GEOs:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Adjusted royalty revenue
$
8,817
$
12,744
$
24,310
$
21,951
Average gold price per ounce
$
2,477
$
1,929
$
2,292
$
1,933
Total GEOs
3,560
6,608
10,607
11,358
Reconciliation of Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
(187)
$
7,122
$
326
$
2,787
Caserones royalty distributions
1,947
1,741
5,436
5,093
Adjusted cash flows from operating activities
$
1,760
$
8,863
$
5,762
$
7,880
Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Income (loss) before income taxes
$
1,226
$
4,515
$
(4,439)
$
(2,225)
Finance expense
921
1,298
3,066
3,809
Depletion, depreciation, and direct royalty taxes
2,230
1,595
6,018
3,237
EBITDA
$
4,377
$
7,408
$
4,645
$
4,821
Attributable revenue from Caserones royalty
2,633
1,602
7,439
7,034
Equity income from investment in SLM California
(1,276)
(733)
(3,484)
(2,988)
Share-based payments
359
1,538
1,902
1,763
Loss (gain) on revaluation of investments
(1,778)
160
(3,004)
869
Loss (gain) on sale of marketable securities
307
(39)
2,253
420
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
(51)
401
204
1,366
Loss (gain) on revaluation of derivative liabilities
(283)
(336)
(176)
62
Loss on revaluation of receivables
–
124
–
–
Other losses
–
–
2,326
–
Loss on debt settlement
783
–
783
–
Impairment charges
–
43
45
43
Adjusted EBITDA
$
5,071
$
10,168
$
12,933
$
13,390
1 Refer to the “Non-IFRS financial measures” section below and on page 29 of the Q3 2024 MD&A for more information on each non-IFRS financial measure. 2 Included in Q3 2023 and Q3 YTD 2023 was $6,676,000 (3,462 GEOs sold) and $4,783,000 (2,480 GEOs sold) respectively, in catch-up payments from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods (2021 – $1,587,000, 2022 – $3,196,000, Q2 YTD 2023 – $1,893,000) 3 Excluding $6,676,000 in catch-up payments received in Q3 2023 from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods (2021 – $1,587,000, 2022 – $3,196,000, Q2 YTD 2023 – $1,893,000) 4 Refer to the “Non-IFRS financial measures” section below and on page 29 of the Q3 2024 MD&A for more information on each non-IFRS financial measure. 5 Excluding $6,676,000 in catch-up payments in Q3 2023 from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods. 6 Included in Q3 2023 and Q3 YTD 2023 was $6,676,000 (3,462 GEOs sold) and $4,783,000 (2,480 GEOs sold), respectively, in catch-up payments from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods (2021 – $1,587,000, 2022 – $3,196,000, Q2 YTD 2023 – $1,893,000)
