TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2011 /CNW/ - Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (TSX: GCM) announced today that, further to its announcement on December 12, 2011
that GMP Securities L.P. had been retained to assist the Company in the
evaluation of several debt financing alternatives, it has signed an
exclusive mandate letter with Standard Bank Plc, in conjunction with
Pareto Commodities LLC, for the arrangement of a US$100 million senior
secured term loan facility (the "Facility") to fund the Company's plan
to increase production at its Segovia Operations through the
development of a new mechanized mining operation and the acquisition of
a new 2,500 tonnes per day mill in addition to its expanded Maria Dama
mill.
Maria Consuelo Araujo, Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
commented: "We are very pleased to be working with Standard Bank. Its
Facility will provide Gran Colombia with the funding required to
accelerate the growth at our Segovia Operations at a prudent cost of
capital (approximately 12-13%), third party validation of our Segovia
assets and a clear path to the next stage of the Company's evolution.
Standard Bank has an unparalled reputation in executing debt financings
in the resource sector."
The Facility, expected to close at the end of January 2012, will
incorporate gold price participation on a total of 150,000 ounces of
gold production from the Segovia Operations over the five-year term of
the Facility. This represents only 17% of the Company's total estimated
gold production from the Segovia Operations over the same five-year
period. The fully-funded expansion of the existing Maria Dama mill,
already in process and scheduled to be completed in the first quarter
of 2012, is expected to almost double gold production from the Segovia
Operations in 2012 to approximately 130,000 ounces. The expansion of
mining and milling capabilities with the proceeds of this Facility will
enable the Company to increase total gold production at Segovia to
approximately 200,000 ounces annually by 2014 and to reduce long-term
cash costs below US$900 per ounce.
Under the Facility, Standard Bank will purchase 2,500 ounces of gold per
month ("Minimum Production") from the Company at market prices, subject
to an agreed upon hedging program. From the monthly proceeds derived
from the sale of the Minimum Production, Standard Bank will deduct
interest on the Facility at LIBOR plus 6.5%, any net premiums related
to the hedging program, principal repayments and its gold price
participation, which is only 25% to 35% of the gold price realized
above US$1,300 per ounce.
The Company will pay interest only on the Facility during the first 12
months, allowing the Company to use its operating cash flow in 2012 to
fund its planned US$20 million 80,000 meter drilling program to expand
and upgrade its resource at its Segovia Operations. Principal
repayments of US$25 million per annum will commence at the beginning of
the second year of Facility and will be made on a monthly basis. The
Facility may be prepaid at any time after six months.
The Facility will be secured by a pledge of the shares of certain of the
Company's subsidiaries holding title to the Segovia Operations, an
assignment of the specific assets of the Segovia Operations, an
undertaking from the Company regarding the Minimum Production
obligation and certain limitations on the incurrence of additional
debt, excluding project financing for the development of the Marmato
Project.
About Gran Colombia Gold Corp.:
Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based gold and silver exploration,
development and production company with its primary focus in Colombia.
Gran Colombia is currently the largest underground gold and silver
producer in Colombia with six underground mines in operation. In
addition, Gran Colombia is also developing a large-scale, open-pit gold
and silver mine at Marmato. The Company also has a highly-prospective
land position in Colombia as well as an advanced stage property in
Venezuela and earlier stage properties in Mali.
Additional information on Gran Colombia can be found on the Company's
website at www.grancolombiagold.com and by reviewing the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may
include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future
financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects.
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by
the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget",
"scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or
believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words
and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may",
"could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Gran
Colombia disclaim, other than as required by law, any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's
estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no
assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned
not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
<p align="justify"> Gran Colombia Gold Corp.<br/> Investor Relations<br/> (416) 360-4653 </p>