Mr. Mitchell Krebs reports
COEUR ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF NEW GOLD TO CREATE A NEW, ALL NORTH AMERICAN SENIOR PRECIOUS METALS PRODUCER
Coeur Mining Inc. and New Gold Inc. have entered into a definitive agreement whereby a wholly owned subsidiary of Coeur will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of New Gold, pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement. All figures are in United States dollars unless denoted otherwise.
Under the terms of the arrangement agreement, New Gold shareholders will receive 0.4959 share of Coeur common stock for each New Gold common share (the exchange ratio). The exchange ratio implies consideration of $8.51 per New Gold common share, based on the closing price of Coeur shares of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Oct. 31, 2025. This represents a 16-per-cent premium to the Oct. 31, 2025, closing price of New Gold on the NYSE American. In the aggregate, this implies a total equity value of approximately $7-billion based on New Gold's common shares outstanding and a pro forma combined equity market capitalization of approximately $20-billion. Upon completion of the transaction, existing Coeur stockholders and New Gold shareholders will own approximately 62 per cent and 38 per cent of the outstanding common stock of the combined company, respectively.
Transaction highlights and strategic rationale
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Creates a leading, all North American-based precious metals producer -- The combined company creates a new, 100-per-cent North American senior mining company with an approximately $20-billion market capitalization; seven high-quality operations producing approximately 1.25 million gold equivalent ounces in 2026, including 20 million ounces of silver and 900,000 ounces of gold; over 80 per cent of its revenue generated from the United States and Canada, and sector-leading free cash flow.
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Significant and immediate addition to Coeur's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and free cash flow -- The combined company is expected to generate approximately $3.0-billion of EBITDA and approximately $2.0-billion of free cash flow in 2026 at significantly lower overall costs and higher margins, representing a material increase to Coeur's expected 2025 full-year EBITDA and free cash flow of approximately $1-billion and $550-million, respectively.
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Best-in-class financial position -- This strong free cash flow profile is expected to lead to a net cash position at closing and a rapidly growing cash balance, creating a clear path to a potential investment-grade credit rating and to higher levels of stockholder returns.
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Robust, fully financed growth pipeline -- This strong financial position is expected to accelerate investment in multiple high-return organic growth opportunities including New Afton's K-Zone, brownfield exploration at Rainy River and across all of Coeur's portfolio in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Highly accretive transaction -- The transaction is accretive on all of Coeur's key per-share metrics, including net asset value, operating cash flow and free cash flow, positioning the combined company for a potential share price rerating.
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Enhanced sector and capital market profile -- The combined company will be among the top 10 largest precious metals companies and top five largest silver producers globally, with silver representing 30 per cent of total metals reserves. This enhanced scale is expected to provide investors with significantly enhanced daily trading liquidity of over $380-million with the potential for inclusion in key major United States indexes.
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Bolstered combined management team along with key board additions -- Upon closing, several members of the New Gold management team are expected to join Coeur to create a stronger and more resilient organization. Additionally, current New Gold president, chief executive officer and director Patrick Godin and one other current New Gold director will join Coeur's board of directors upon closing of the transaction.
"This transaction provides clear and compelling benefits for New Gold and Coeur shareholders by bringing together two companies with similar cultures to create a stronger, more resilient and larger-scale precious metals mining company," said Mitchell J. Krebs, Coeur's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Both companies are in the early stages of generating significant cash flow after several years of heavy investment. We believe this is an extraordinary opportunity to create an unrivalled North American-only, mining powerhouse at just the right time.
"With the addition of New Gold's two Canadian operations to our five current operating mines we expect to generate approximately $3-billion of EBITDA and approximately $2-billion of free cash flow in 2026 at significantly lower overall costs and higher margins. Just two years ago, Coeur's full-year EBITDA totalled $142-million and its free cash flow was ($297)-million. Even comparing to our expected approximate $1-billion of EBITDA and $550-million of free cash flow in 2025 highlights the extent to which this transaction helps accelerate Coeur's continuing repositioning as a larger, more resilient, lower cost and lower risk company.
"We also look forward to creating a deep and talented combined team that can deliver the benefits of this combination to our stockholders with the addition of several members of the New Gold management team and by having Pat join our board of directors along with one other existing New Gold director."
Patrick Godin, president, chief executive officer and director of New Gold, said: "Today is a monumental day for New Gold and the culmination of diligent focus by the team on operational and development work that has transformed New Gold into the financially strong and significant free-cash-flow-generating company it is today. A combination with Coeur unlocks the next level of potential for our shareholders, uniting with a company of similar financial strength and cash flow generation while also gaining exposure to a larger-scale, diversified portfolio with new long-life assets and immense exploration potential. Together, we will be a cash flow powerhouse, leaping above larger peers, with significant exploration upside and the potential to significantly extend mine life and grow net asset value per share.
"The combination will provide New Gold shareholders with value from combined operational synergies including rapidly unlocking the potential of K-Zone at New Afton and the exploration potential of Rainy River while also diversifying our asset base by adding five high-quality precious metals operations with significant upside. I strongly believe in the potential of the pro forma company, which is why I am keen to join the board, as we embark on the next stage in the evolution of both companies as a new, all North American senior precious metals company, one that is unique in our industry."
Benefits to Coeur stockholders
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Ownership in a liquid, new senior precious metals producer with a well-balanced platform of seven North American operations and sector-leading free cash flow yield;
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Enhances asset portfolio quality by adding two large, lower-cost, higher-margin Canadian operations which is expected to meaningfully reduce overall costs;
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Provides exposure to a compelling and unique metals mix consisting of gold, silver and copper;
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Accretive to Coeur's per-share net asset value, and significantly accretive to operating cash flow and free cash flow metrics;
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Further strengthens Coeur's balance sheet by adding significant free cash flow to build a robust cash balance and provide enhanced operational and strategic flexibility;
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Offers significant upside potential from numerous high-return, organic growth opportunities across the combined portfolio;
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Strengthens Coeur's ability to return meaningful capital to stockholders;
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Bolsters the combined management team and board to deliver the benefits of this transaction to the combined stockholders.
Benefits to New Gold shareholders
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Immediate and significant premium of approximately 16 per cent to the Oct. 31, 2025, closing price;
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Substantial equity participation in Coeur's well-balanced portfolio of mines in North America, while retaining meaningful exposure to future upside at New Afton and Rainy River with New Gold shareholders owning approximately 38 per cent of the combined company;
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Allows New Gold shareholders to gain exposure to a combined entity with greater scale and operating diversification thereby significantly reducing risk;
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Uniquely positions the combined company's robust financial strength and flexibility, along with its extensive underground mining expertise, to unlock the full potential of New Afton and Rainy River;
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Offers significantly enhanced trading liquidity and capital markets exposure with a U.S. listing combined with a new Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) listing being sought by Coeur in connection with this transaction;
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Potential for significant additional ETF (exchange-traded fund) ownership and eligibility for larger generalist investors;
- A combination with a company sharing similar culture values and alignment on safety and caring for its work force and local communities;
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Significant rerate opportunity for the combined entity, providing additional potential value for New Gold shareholders.
Benefits to Canada
Coeur and New Gold believe that the combined entity will provide multiple tangible benefits to Canada, British Columbia and Ontario -- the communities where New Gold operates -- and the Canadian mining industry more generally. As part of this transaction, the combined company plans to:
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Accelerate levels of investment in exploration and expansion at New Gold's existing operations as well as the continued evaluation of Coeur's Silvertip critical minerals project in Northern British Columbia;
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Sustain significant employment levels in Canada and increase Canadian representation on Coeur's board of directors and senior management team:
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Combined company would have over 1,700 employees across Canada, with approximately 450 more employed as contractors;
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Maintain New Gold's existing corporate office in Toronto, in addition to the office in Vancouver that Coeur has maintained since 2017.
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Maintain offtake agreement for processing of minerals in Canada;
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Maintain New Gold's strong partnerships, relationships and contributions with indigenous and local communities in British Columbia and Ontario;
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Apply to list Coeur common stock for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Transaction summary
The proposed transaction will be effected pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), which is required to be approved by a British Columbia court. The transaction will require approval by 66.67 per cent of the votes cast by the shareholders of New Gold at a special meeting of New Gold shareholders expected to be held in the first quarter of 2026. The transaction will also require approval of a simple majority of votes cast by the shareholders of New Gold, excluding those votes attached to New Gold common shares held by persons required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -- Protection of Minority Security Holder in Special Transaction. Registered shareholders of New Gold at the record date for New Gold's shareholders' meeting will have customary dissent rights. The issuance of shares by Coeur pursuant to the transaction and an amendment to the Coeur certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Coeur stock is subject to approval by the Coeur stockholders at a special meeting also expected to be held in the first quarter of 2026. The directors and senior officers of New Gold and Coeur have entered into customary voting support agreements, pursuant to which they have committed to vote their common shares held in favour of the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, existing Coeur stockholders and New Gold shareholders will own approximately 62 per cent and 38 per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the combined company, respectively. Additionally, upon closing of the transaction, Patrick Godin and one other current New Gold director are expected to join Coeur's board of directors.
In addition to respective Coeur and New Gold court and shareholder approvals, the transaction is subject to applicable regulatory approvals, approval of the listing of Coeur shares of common stock to be issued under the transaction on the New York Stock Exchange and TSX, and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. Subject to the satisfaction of such conditions, the transaction is expected to close in H1 2026. The arrangement agreement includes customary deal protections, including reciprocal fiduciary-out provisions, non-solicitation covenants and the right to match any superior proposals. Additionally, break fees in the amount of approximately $414-million and approximately $255-million are payable by Coeur and New Gold, respectively, and a reciprocal expense reimbursement fee is payable by one party to the other party in certain circumstances if the transaction is not completed.
Following completion of the transaction, New Gold common shares are expected to be delisted from the TSX and the NYSE American.
Full details of the transaction will be included in Coeur's proxy statement and New Gold information circular.
Board of directors' recommendations
After consultation with its outside financial and legal advisers, the board of directors of Coeur has unanimously approved the transaction. The board of directors of Coeur recommends that Coeur stockholders vote in favor of the transaction.
The board of directors of New Gold appointed a special committee of independent directors to consider and make a recommendation with respect to the transaction. Based on the unanimous recommendation of the New Gold special committee, and after consultation with its outside financial and legal advisers, the board of directors of New Gold has unanimously approved the transaction. The board of directors of New Gold recommends that New Gold shareholders vote in favour of the transaction.
National Bank Capital Markets has provided a fairness opinion to the New Gold board of directors, and CIBC Capital Markets has provided a fairness opinion to the New Gold special committee, to the effect that, as of the date thereof, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in each such opinion, the consideration to be received by New Gold shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of New Gold.
Advisers and counsel
BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial adviser to Coeur. RBC Capital Markets is also acting as a financial adviser to Coeur. Goodmans LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP are acting as Coeur's legal advisers.
National Bank Capital Markets is acting as financial adviser to New Gold and CIBC Capital Markets is acting as financial adviser to the special committee. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP are acting as New Gold's legal advisers, and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as counsel to the special committee.
Conference call
Coeur and New Gold will conduct a joint conference call to discuss the transaction on Nov. 3, 2025, at 8 a.m. Eastern Time. An accompanying presentation will be made available on the company's website.
Dial-in numbers: 855-560-2581 (United States, Canada),
412-542-4166 (international)
Conference ID: Coeur Mining
Hosting this call will be Mitchell J. Krebs, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Coeur, who will be joined by Patrick Godin, president, chief executive officer and director of New Gold. A replay of the call will be available through Nov. 10, 2025.
Replay numbers: 855-669-9658 (U.S., Canada),
412-317-0088 (international)
Conference ID: 869 91 14
About Coeur
Mining Inc.
Coeur is a U.S.-based, well-diversified, growing precious metals producer with five wholly owned operations: the Las Chispas silver-gold mine in Sonora, Mexico, the Palmarejo gold-silver complex in Chihuahua, Mexico, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, the Kensington gold mine in Alaska and the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota. In addition, the company wholly owns the Silvertip polymetallic critical minerals exploration project in British Columbia.
About New Gold
Inc.
New Gold is a Canadian-focused intermediate mining company with a portfolio of two core-producing assets in Canada, the New Afton copper-gold mine and Rainy River gold mine. New Gold's vision is to be the most valued intermediate gold and copper producer through profitable and responsible mining for the company's shareholders and stakeholders.
We seek Safe Harbor.
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