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Monument Mining Ltd
Symbol MMY
Shares Issued 275,158,030
Close 2014-01-17 C$ 0.29
Market Cap C$ 79,795,829
Recent Sedar Documents

Monument dissident Kreimer nominates six directors

2014-01-17 19:59 ET - Shareholders Letter

Mr. Avner Kreimer, concerned shareholder, reports

CONCERNED SHAREHOLDER OF MONUMENT MINING LIMITED SEEKS TO ELECT NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Avner Kreimer has nominated six persons to be elected to the board of directors of Monument Mining Ltd. at the company's annual general meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, on Feb. 7, 2014.

Mr. Kreimer filed on SEDAR today the following letter to shareholders:

"Letter from a concerned shareholder to investors in Monument Mining

"Dear fellow shareholders:

"I am greatly distressed by actions taken by management of Monument Mining Ltd. under the current board of directors. I have lost confidence in the existing board's ability to effectively oversee Monument's management. The company's share price remains depressed in spite of good performance at the production level with the Selinsing mine having steady gold output at a low cash cost.

"I believe that Monument's future is in jeopardy under the existing board due to excessive spending by management on non-accretive acquisitions and compensation of senior management that has lowered the value of our shares and is taking focus away from the company's profitable operations.

"There can be a prosperous future for Monument, but only if it becomes more fiscally conscious and is led by a new independent board of directors. All of Monument's shareholders should benefit from the company's riches, not just the company's officers and directors.

"Elect a new board to curb management's excesses

"I am dissatisfied with the current board of directors and its ability to guide or control senior management in corporate strategy. Since positive cash flow was achieved at the Selinsing (low-cash-cost) mine, senior management has pursued expensive acquisitions of high-risk projects, draining the company's cash reserves and causing unnecessary dilution. The proposed new board will provide independence and clear views to reorganize Monument's business and finally deliver value to shareholders.

"In the immediate term, the new board intends to focus attention on the company's existing cash flow, generating operations while finding a solution for the potentially high-risk Mengapur project. Other projects will be reviewed on their own merits. An assessment by the proposed board of seasoned mining executives, from desk material in the public domain, has yielded the following conclusions:

"The Selinsing and Buffalo gold mine appears to be a self-contained operation. However, it will require great attention to renew its oxide resources quickly. Since publishing its Aug. 31, 2012, reserve statement, the company has announced consistent production such that reserves of oxide material left at Selinsing, Buffalo Reef and in stockpile must be nearing depletion. I feel the ability for the mine to generate cash flow from its existing operation is in jeopardy and reserves must be added to. To best leverage the company's existing assets, this should be prioritized through exploration in the vicinity of the mine and by finalizing the most appropriate process to treat the sulphide ore economically. A lot of work has already been done, but action is needed. Selinsing is the company maker, and I believe it could still live another four to five years, but there is no visibility beyond this at this stage, and the company's reserve statements are grounds for concern.

"Mengapur was presented to shareholders as a company maker, but it could easily become a company breaker. The purchase price paid by Monument and subsequent investment (I estimate approximately $120-million in cash, which is significantly more than the current market capitalization of the company) cannot find justification in the displayed public documentation. Mengapur was first presented to shareholders as a polymetallic project, then iron ore, but from the information provided by the company in its technical public disclosure, the real value in the project appears to be as an acid plant, and even as such this would only represent value for a fraction of the funds invested in this project to date. Additional expenditures have not yet made this project more attractive, and it is recommended to look at a possible monetization or partnership. Unlike major mining companies, Monument is not in a position to absorb massive write-offs without shareholders' bottom line being severely affected.

"I question the recently announced $15-million acquisition of the Murchison mine. Gold at $1,200 an ounce is still a good environment to be a producer, and yet under the previous operator, the mine shut down in August, 2013, because it was not profitable. In its Jan. 7, 2014, news release announcing the proposed acquisition, Monument advised its shareholders that it has not yet made a production decision in respect of the property and that it intends to undertake a complete review program in respect of the property following closing of the acquisition and possession of the property. Later, in its Jan. 10, 2014, news release, Monument advised shareholders that it plans to close the Murchison acquisition shortly." I question management's decision to move ahead quickly with an upfront all-cash acquisition without having first satisfied itself that production could be profitably carried out. It appears to me that management has bought the mine to speculate on a higher gold price. If Mengapur is the company maker and all focus was to be put on achieving production, why overleverage the Selinsing cash flow with the additional risk of an uncertain project before Mengapur has proven its ability to contribute?

"In the past, management has indicated its willingness to enter into highly dilutive financings. The previously proposed $80-million financing, pursuant to which management had intended to issue a total of 160 million common shares, was rationalized by proceeds being required for the initial development of the Mengapur polymetallic project and for general corporate purposes. However, in my opinion, the initial development of the Mengapur project (being initially exploration and metallurgy), as well as the general corporate needs, could have been easily covered by the company's positive cash flow from Selinsing.

"Monument's news release of Jan. 10, 2014, and its fiscal 2013 annual report describe the company's objective and underlining strategies to be increasing shareholder value by building a mineral property pipeline through acquisitions, exploration, development and production while mitigating business risk. However, I believe that management's actions evidence excessive spending on non-core/risky projects with little attention to leveraging the company's existing assets. If Monument had not undertaken any of the acquisitions and had better control over operations and executive spending, I believe it could have cash in the bank for significantly more than its present market capitalization.

"A new board can lead to a prosperous future

"I believe that the existing board has failed to effectively direct and control Monument's management. There is a prosperous future for Monument, but only if it becomes more fiscally conscious and is led by a new, independent board of directors. Therefore, I have gathered a group of independent persons, with proven records to replace Monument's existing board. The new slate of directors I am proposing bring extensive qualifications and experience in operating and managing public gold-mining and -exploration companies, international finance, and the independence needed to guide Monument's management team and future operations.

"These are my nominees for election to the board of directors of Monument Mining:

  • "Patrick de Saint Simon of Lyon, France, is a mining engineer and economist, who has been involved in the engineering and management of natural resource infrastructure development projects in Africa, Europe, Russia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and in North, Central and South America since 1972. He has explored, designed, built and managed several mines across continents and has been instrumental to the success of several public and private mining companies. Mr. de Saint Simon holds a bachelor of sciences in applied geology from the University of Paris VI, France, a master of sciences in geotechnical and mining engineering from the University of Orleans, and a master of business administration from McGill University.
  • "Andrew Forrest of Nyon, Switzerland, is a mechanical and mining engineer with 20 years experience in the resource and technology sectors, including serving as a director of several publicly traded mineral exploration and mine development companies. He has managed development and exploration projects in the natural resource industry throughout the world, including projects in Guyana, Peru, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Germany and Canada. Mr. Forrest holds a master of science in mining engineering from Camborne School of Mines and a bachelor of engineering in mechanical engineering from the University of Edinburgh and is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
  • "Gaston J. Reymenants of Howth, Ireland, has over 40 years experience in mining, smelting, refining and metal trading. He served with Falconbridge International for 20 years in various managerial roles and was also involved in the joint venture with Norilisk Kombinat. Mr. Reymenants holds degrees in economics, marketing, international law, shipbuilding and languages from the University of Leuven.
  • "Edward Karr of Geneva, Switzerland, founded Ram Partners SA, a private Swiss financial management company, in 2003 to focus on restructuring and raising capital for special situation publicly traded companies. Mr. Karr holds a bachelor of science degree, majoring in economics and finance, from Southern New Hampshire University.
  • "Michael Donald Smith of Toronto, Ont., is the principal of MSmith Consult through which Mr. Smith acts as an independent geological adviser to junior mining companies and investors. He has acted as a director and officer of publicly traded companies and as lead geologist and manager for many exploration programs during his 40-year career in the mineral industry. Mr. Smith holds an honours degree in geology from Brock University in Ontario, Canada.
  • "Avner Kreimer of Thonex, Switzerland, is currently a financial adviser to high-net-worth individuals. Prior to his role as a financial adviser, Mr. Kreimer worked as a senior executive at Bank Hapoalim Switzerland. Mr. Kreimer has a bachelor of economics from Tel Aviv University.

"This group is highly qualified and highly experienced and has the necessary independence to lead Monument's management with skill, conviction and without bias.

"The new board will actively guide management

"It is the responsibility of the board of directors to direct and control management so that decisions taken are in the interest of shareholders and the company. It is my view that a new board can build value for shareholders with the following initiatives:

  • "Take care of shareholders: Shareholders have been promised dividends by management, and I have recently heard calls amongst shareholders that a share buyback should be undertaken at a time when the company's own producing assets are amongst the most undervalued in the industry. Instead, Monument appears willing to proceed with speculative cash acquisitions, while the share price remains within a historical low range. Your new board of directors will focus on you, the company's shareholder, providing the most optimal returns to shareholders while addressing the company's continuing needs, as well as growth opportunities. With regard to Monument's recent announcement of yet another cash acquisition of a non-operating mine without NI 43-101 or Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant reserves or resources, is the company's available cash being used for shareholders' best interests?
  • "Control executive compensation: The management information news release for the 2014 annual general meeting discloses generous salaries and bonuses, lavish stock options (in lieu of owning the company's shares), and recently negotiated severance packages and proposes a 15-per-cent stock option plan. Monument's president and chief executive officer's base salary alone for the 2013 fiscal year was double that of 2012, and his aggregate compensation from all sources in 2013 was nearly $1.3-million, notwithstanding a consistently declining market price of the company's shares. These benefits do not align the interests of current officers and directors with yours. Although I believe that a stock option plan is an important aspect of executive compensation, in my opinion, the proposed 15-per-cent fixed stock option plan is excessive and prejudicial to the interests of Monument's shareholders. Instead I propose to reapprove Monument's previous 10-per-cent rolling stock option plan.
  • "Reassess the current situation and future strategy: Each of Monument's projects must be viable on its own terms as a stand-alone and must fit with the general strategy of the company while optimizing synergies in both costs and opportunities. Blue-sky opportunities must not put the survival of the entire company in jeopardy. If an existing project cannot justify the effective use of funds, the new board will find ways to optimize value from the assets and focus on utilizing the company's resources in a responsible manner that benefits shareholders first.

"The new board will seek to preserve your investment

"Mining is a world of continuous opportunities that should be grasped when available. However, these opportunities need to be undertaken with vision, risk control, discipline and focus. Current senior management has failed to demonstrate these principles and needs control and direction from an independent board with the necessary skills. Instead, I believe they have generously compensated themselves with high salaries and lavish stock option packages, while going on a buying spree -- all at the expense of Monument's shareholders.

"Now is the time for existing shareholders to replace the present board of directors with a new, highly experienced and independent board dedicated to preserving Monument's currently producing gold properties, protecting shareholders', as well as the company's, interests and achieving Monument's full potential and value.

"Sincerely yours,

"Avner Kreimer

"A concerned shareholder

"Vote today for Monument's new board of directors

"In accordance with applicable securities and corporate law requirements, in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the AGM, I have prepared and filed an information news release and form of concerned shareholder proxy under Monument's profile at SEDAR on Jan. 17, 2014. The concerned shareholder information news release and proxy will mailed to shareholders.

"I urge shareholders to read the concerned shareholder AGM materials and vote your shares in support of our new slate of directors. Your vote is crucial to the future of Monument. Please refer to the instructions contained in the concerned shareholder information news release and form of proxy and sign and return your proxy no later than Feb. 4, 2014, at 9 a.m. Even if you previously voted with Monument's form of proxy, the more recent proxy will revoke the previously voted one."

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