Highland Gold signs deal to acquire mining assets in Russia for $91m

Highland Gold Mining has signed an agreement to purchase an operating mine and two exploration licence areas in the Russian region of Chukotka for a consideration of $91m.

The assets are set to be secured via the acquisition of a 100% interest in three companies from Cyprus-registered Aristus Holdings.

Highland will be required to issue 38,621,343 ordinary shares worth around $78.7m under the arrangement.

“This acquisition adds a fourth operating mine, Valunisty, to our portfolio, as well as positive upside potential in the surrounding KAS licence area.”

The deal also includes the assumption of approximately $12.3m of net debt.

The proposed acquisition includes Valunisty, an operating gold mine and processing plant with annual production of 31,000 ounces, as well as the Kanchalano-Amguemskaya Square and Kayenmivaam (Kayen) exploration licences.

Highland Gold Mining CEO Denis Alexandrov said: “This acquisition adds a fourth operating mine, Valunisty, to our portfolio, as well as positive upside potential in the surrounding KAS licence area, all in a familiar region with existing mining infrastructure.

“The transaction is structured in such a way as to be immediately value-accretive to the benefit of all our shareholders.”

The KAS licence covers the area surrounding Valunisty and hosts several satellite deposits, including the operating Gorny open pit and Zhilny deposit, while Kayen is located 130km to the south-east of Kinross Gold’s Kupol mine and contains multiple target deposits.

Valunisty and KAS have total proven and probable ore reserves of 3.4 million tonnes at 5.1 grams per tonne of gold equivalent as of 1 January, in addition to indicated and inferred mineral resources of 17.6Mt at 3.0g/t of gold equivalent.