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Equity Research Profiles |
Mako Mining Corp. MAKOF /
Other OTC / $0.22 March 24, 2020 |
Business Overview |
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Mako Mining Corp. (the Company)
is developing the high-grade San Albino gold project in Nueva Segovia,
Nicaragua. The project is believed to be one of the highest-grade open pit
development projects globally, with indicated mineral resources (in-pit) of
150.4koz at 7.13 g/t Au and inferred mineral resources (in-pit) of 192.0koz
at 6.78 g/t Au. A 2015 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) estimated
initial capex at only US$21.1 million, with a payback period of 1.7 years; a
54.2% IRR after tax and royalties; and an NPV (@ 5% discount) of US$173.9
million. The all-in sustaining cost gold equivalent was estimated at US$395/oz,
with average annual gold payable production of 41,300 AuEq
oz and a life of mine gold production of 675,345 AuEq
oz. |
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The San Albino project is fully
permitted, and mine construction is underway. The first gold pour is planned
for late summer 2020. |
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Management has an infill
grade-control drilling program for San Albino. One objective was to find the
strike and dip extension of the near-surface and high-grade Porcelana-style mineralization encountered in a hole that
showed 60.72 g/t Au and 66.4 g/t Ag over 3.1m. The infill hole 35m along
strike then intersected 50.78 g/t Au and 13.0 g/t Ag over 5.3m (5.1m
estimated true width), including 173.3 g/t Au and 26.0 g/t Ag over 1.1m (1.0m
estimated true width). The intercept was only 18m below surface and within
the open pit mine plan. The area remains open along strike. Another hole
within the open-pit mine plan showed 28.36 g/t Au and 44.40 g/t Ag over 5.4m
(4.8m estimated true width) approximately 11m below surface. Additional assay
results are in the press release dated September 26, 2019. |
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The Company has a
district-scale land package (approximately 150 sq. km) in Nicaragua, and its
exploration program of prospective targets is active. Mako has completed a trenching
program at the Las Conchitas area, approximately 2.5
km south of San Albino. Preliminary testing showed recoveries of 95.7% gold
and 68.5% silver, grading on average 8.70 g/t Au and 20.10 g/t Ag. Drilling
has confirmed down-dip continuity of highly mineralized zones identified by
trenching. The Company has a number other, earlier-stage targets that show
promise. |
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In December 2019, the
Company purchased the Potrerillos exploration and
exploitation concession from Condor Gold Plc for US$600,000. Drilling shows
that this concession appears to be along strike and down dip from the San
Albino project. The transfer of the concession is subject to the approval by
December 2020 of the Nicaraguan Ministry of Mines and Energy. |
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The Republic of Nicaragua has been headed since
2006 by Sandinista party President Daniel Ortega and his Vice President wife.
Politics take place in a framework of presidential representative democratic
republic, whereby the President is both head of state and head of government,
and of a multi-party system. The country has a burgeoning mining district
with modern mining law. It offers 25-year exploration and exploitation
concessions, a reasonable tax regime (30% corporate tax, 3% royalty), skilled
labor, a modern infrastructure, and allowance of capital and profits
repatriation. According to the United Nations Development Program, Nicaragua
is the safest country in Central America and one of the safest in Latin
America. |
2020 Focus |
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Management is highly focused
on bringing the San Albino gold mine into production by late summer while
continuing to better define the extent of the resource. |
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The land package is
extensive, and there are many promising targets that require additional
drilling. |
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The Company recently purchased a concession
contiguous to the San Albino project, and it plans to begin exploration work
to evaluate the possibility of expanding San Albino. |
Management |
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Akiba Leisman,
CEO and a Director, was previously Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of
Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. He is presently a consultant to Wexford Capital LP where
he oversees the precious metals public and private equity portfolios. He had
also been an analyst at Red Kite Capital Management for the Mine Finance
funds. |
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The backgrounds of the other members of the
management team are outlined on the Mako website. |
Financials |
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Income Statement (6 months through 10/31/19 vs. 10/31/18 as restated)
(C$) |
|
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Revenue: 10,674,978 vs. 0 Production costs:
6,238,237 vs. 0 Other cost of sales: 2,825,855
vs. 0 Gross profit: 1,610,886
vs. 0 Exploration &
evaluation expenses: 4,611,164 vs. 2,142,726 G&A expense: 2,927,965
vs. 1,363,452 Other income (expense):
4,478,967 vs. 12,627 Income (loss): (1,449,276)
vs. (3,493,551) Foreign currency
translation adjustment: 1,755,495 vs. 929,168 Comprehensive income
(loss): 306,219 vs. (2,564,383) Earnings (loss) per basic and diluted common share: (0.00)
vs. (0.02) Weighted average common shares outstanding: 470,657,285
vs. 192,133,779 |
|
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Balance Sheet (10/31/19) (C$) |
|
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Cash & equivalents: 14,807,056 Receivables and refundable taxes: 3,109,119 Inventories: 11,422,916 Total current assets: 29,553,830 Mineral property, plant & equipment: 6,891,331 Total assets: 36,603,081 Accounts payable & accrued liabilities: 13,691,612 Provision for reclamation and rehabilitation: 3,934,565 Total current liabilities: 17,626,177 Long-term liabilities: 3,902,266 Total liabilities: 21,528,443 Stockholders
equity: 15,074,638 Number of
common shares outstanding (02/25/20): 583,700,000 Options: 50,200,000
at a weighted average strike price of approximately C$0.25 |
|
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On February 21, 2020, the
Company announced the closing of a US$15,150,000 unsecured term loan, available
in up to three drawdowns, from various Wexford funds, each managed by the Mako
controlling shareholder. The bulk of the proceeds were earmarked for construction,
development, and exploration activities in Nicaragua. |
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In December 2019, the Company entered into an LOI
with Goldplay Exploration Ltd., pursuant to which Goldplay shall have the right until year-end 2020 to acquire
100% of Mako’s subsidiary that owns the La Trinidad mine in Mexico. Terms of
any definitive agreement await completion of the Goldplay
due diligence. |
Valuation Considerations |
The PEA for the San Albino project shows a very high IRR (54.2% after
tax and royalties), an NPV (at 5% discount) of US$173.9 million, and a very
low AISC (US$395/oz AuEq). These statistics are
aided by an estimated average mined diluted grade of 8.02 g/t. |
|
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The Company appears to have potential to expand the San Albino project,
and it has a number of other promising prospects within its large land
package (approximately 150 sq. km). |
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As of January 31, 2020, Wexford Capital LP owned 50.9% of the common
shares outstanding. Akiba Leisman, CEO, is a
consultant to Wexford. Wexford backstopped a C$27 million rights offering
that closed in 2019 and committed to a US$15 million unsecured term loan that
closed in February 2020 to fund the expected upfront capex at San Albino. |
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The
impact from COVID-19 remains an uncertainly. In addition, the Mako SEDAR
filings and website include considerable additional information and detail a
number of risk factors. These sources of information are hereby incorporated
by reference. |
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Executive offices: 595
Burrard Street, Suite 2833, Vancouver, BC. Phone 604.646.1580. |
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Investor contact: Deborah
Honig; dhonig@makominingcorp.com. Phone: 647.203.8793. |
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any compensation for publication of this Profile. Analyst: William J. Ritger. |
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