VANCOUVER, Jan. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. (News - Market indicators) (OTCQX:GQMNF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to secure a US$10,000,000 loan (the "Loan"). The proceeds of the Loan will be applied to the ongoing development of the Soledad Mountain Project (the "Project").
The Loan will allow the Company to commit to long lead-time items required for the crushing-screening plant and commence its Phase 2 construction program. This will permit the Project to stay on schedule with a target for the start of commissioning of the Merrill-Crowe plant during the second quarter of 2015.
The Loan will be provided by members of the Clay family including $7.5m to be provided by an investment vehicle managed by Thomas M. Clay, a Director and insider of the Company. The Loan has a twelve-month term and bears an annual interest rate of 5%, payable on the maturity date. If the Loan is repaid on a date that is less than 183 days before the maturity date, the Company will pay the Lenders an amount of 105% of the principal amount plus interest on the principal amount at the rate of 5% per annum accrued to the date the Loan is repaid.
No finder's fee or commission will be paid in connection with the Loan. Closing of the Loan is subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Phase 2 Construction:
The Phase 2 construction is scheduled to begin in January 2014, and will run concurrently with Phase 1 construction, which is expected to be completed in February. The Phase 2 construction includes construction of the workshop-warehouse, a wash slab for washing earthmoving equipment and the assay laboratory. These facilities will be required to support pre-production mining. The Company is also planning to complete site preparation of the area where the crushing-screening plant and the Merrill-Crowe plant will be constructed with scheduled completion in the first quarter of 2014.
Work is continuing with detailed engineering for the facilities for the Project.
The estimated cost of Phase 2 construction is between $5 and $6 million. Phase 2 construction will take from three to six months and will overlap with the Phase 3 construction program, which is expected to start during the second quarter of 2014.
Manpower:
The Company expects to build up the management team on site during the first quarter of 2014. This will include a Plant Operations Manager, Purchasing Manager, Human Resources Manager and support staff.
Project Financing Update:
The Company is continuing to evaluate various financing options for the Project, including equity, debt, and other alternatives. The Company aims to secure the remaining funds required to complete the construction of the Project in the first quarter of 2014. The Company estimates that construction can be completed in 15 to 18 months once project financing has been secured.
About Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd:
The Company is developing a gold-silver, open pit, heap leach operation on its fully-permitted Soledad Mountain property, located just outside the town of Mojave in Kern County in southern California. The Soledad Mountain Project will use conventional open pit mining methods and the cyanide heap leach and Merrill-Crowe processes to recover gold and silver from crushed, agglomerated ore.
THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.
Cautionary Note and Forward Looking Statements
The information in this press release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, plans for and intentions with respect to the Company's properties, statements regarding intentions with respect to obligations due for various projects, statements regarding expected regulatory action or positions, permitting, commencement of mining and similar information are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could influence placing the project into production include uncertainties involving the availability and timing of project financing in the debt and capital markets, and there is no guarantee that such financing will be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of the estimation of reserves and resources; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in ore grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates, changes in mining laws, additional regulatory requirements in connection with mining permits, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Golden Queen's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with U.S. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities and in other reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. These forward looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. Forward looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in Golden Queen's business, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, should not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd.
For further information:
Lutz Klingmann, President
Telephone: (604) 921-7570
Email: lklingmann@goldenqueen.com
