PRECIOUS METALS

St Barbara completes Atlantic takeover

Cash takeover gives St Barbara its third mine and a foothold in North America

Staff reporter
St Barbara's new Moose River Consolidated asset in Nova Scotia, Canada

St Barbara's new Moose River Consolidated asset in Nova Scotia, Canada

Last week 99.6% of Atlantic shareholders voted in favour of the transaction and it received British Columbia court approval on Wednesday. The acquisition, first announced in May, was funded from cash and a A$490 million raising at $2.89 per share.

St Barbara now owns the low-cost Moose River Consolidated (MRC) openpit operation in Nova Scotia, Canada.

MRC phase one only achieved commercial production in March last year, before producing 91,000 ounces at all-in sustaining costs of US$540 an ounce.

Atlantic reported a 60% EBITDA margin for 2018, the lowest of any of its Canadian peers.

MRC, which has a mine life of 12 years, is expected to produce 92,000-98,000oz this year at AISC of just US$530-577/oz. A phase two expansion will lift production to 200,000oz per annum from 2023.

St Barbara will retain the Atlantic operating team to ensure continuity of operations.

The company has been working on the integration of the asset since the deal was announced.

St Barbara managing director and CEO Bob Vassie said Atlantic ticked all the boxes.

"I am confident Atlantic Gold will deliver long-term value for St Barbara shareholders because it diversifies St Barbara's production base with a low-cost, high-margin, long-life mine and a quality growth pipeline in a very favourable and prospective region," he said.

"The acquisition also brings Atlantic Gold's operating team, who have an excellent track record of project delivery and operating performance.

"When the time is right, we will be well placed to consider other North American growth opportunities."

St Barbara will report its full June quarterly results this week.

Shares in the Melbourne-based miner were unchanged at A$3.55, valuing the company at $2.47 billion.

 

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