Mike Fagan's Precious Portfolio: Special Alert No. 13: Tier-2 Portfolio Addition
Alert No. 13
March 16, 2021
Special Alert: Tier-2 Portfolio Addition
Dear Precious Portfolio subscriber,
In today’s alert, we’re announcing a new portfolio addition for Tier-2 (Mid-Tiers) — Torex Gold Resources Inc.
Torex offers speculators exposure to gold-silver-copper via an innovative intermediate producer with a strong financial position, solid precious and base metals production, expansive exploration upside, and near-term M&A potential.
Precious Portfolio Alert #13:
Tier-2: Torex Gold Resources Inc. (OTC: TORXF)(TSX: TXG)
Tier-2: Torex Gold Resources Inc. (OTC: TORXF)(TSX: TXG)
Toronto-based Torex Gold is an intermediate, single-asset gold producer engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100%-owned Morelos Gold Property located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City in the state of Guerrero, Mexico.
The Morelos Gold Property – located in the prolific Guerrero Gold Belt – is truly expansive at some 70,000 acres (110 sq mi) and remains 75% unexplored.
The project encompasses the El Limón Guajes mining complex (open pit and underground operations) and the Media Luna deposit (early-stage development).
Maximizing Free Cash Flow From ELG (El Limón Guajes) A Key Focus
Evaluating opportunities to optimize mine plan and extend reserve life
- Accelerating near term underground
exploration given ongoing success at
Sub Sill and ELD; positive drill results
from 2020 program recently released
-
Drill testing additional high priority targets
including the down dip extension of ore in
the Guajes pit
-
Study underway to investigate potential to
extend life of El Limón pit
-
Updated mine plan for ELG to be
released in conjunction with Media Luna
feasibility study in Q1 2022
-
Portal 3 expected to reduce underground
haul distances by 50%
The company is led by president & CEO (previously COO) Ms. Jody Kuzenko who brings 20-plus years of operational and business experience primarily at Inco/Vale and boasts a proven record of execution and leadership in the areas of metals, sustainability, and government relations.
Jody Kuzenko
President & CEO
Torex Gold Resources Inc.
Last month, Torex announced full year 2020 gold production of approximately 430,500 ounces at all-in sustaining costs (AISC) of US$924 per ounce along with record net income of US$109.0 million, or US$1.27 per share on a basic basis, and US$1.25 per share on a diluted basis.
Free cash flow came in at US$168.1 million. Torex has a similar outlook for FY2021 (450,000 ounces gold production at US$945/oz), which means the company could exit the year debt-free with over US$400 million in cash.
That puts the company in a strong financial position to bring its second mine online next door at Media Luna (slated for 2024) while also having ample cash available to explore M&A opportunities.
Media Luna on Track for First Production in Q1/24
Expected to deliver strong cash flow well beyond the life of ELG
Media Luna has the potential to be
a multi decade underground mine
- 2018 PEA outlined average annual
AuEq production of ~350 koz over
~10 years
Permitting well underway
- CUS has been approved and MIA
amendment has been filed
-
Baseline studies for balance of
permitting requirements on track
-
Required land occupational
agreements signed with Ejido
members and land owners
Media Luna to leverage existing
infrastructure at ELG
- First blast on main Guajes tunnel
occurred in December
-
Development of South Portal expected
to commence mid-2021
Feasibility study expected in Q1 2022
- Results of 2020 and 2021 infill drilling
programs to be incorporated into the
feasibility study
-
Both conventional and Muckahi based
mine designs being studied
-
Feasibility study will form part of the
updated Morelos Technical Report
The Media Luna underground deposit primarily contains gold, silver, and copper mineralization.
Following completion of a 175-hole infill drill program in 2019, the deposit contains:
- 2.24 million gold equivalent ounces Indicated at a gold equivalent grade of 5.55 grams per tonne (g/t) -- 1.32 million gold ounces at a grade of 3.27 g/t
-
4.56 million gold equivalent ounces Inferred at a gold equivalent grade of 4.23 g/t -- 2.68 million gold ounces at a grade of 2.49 g/t
Media Luna is in Feasibility Study now which should be completed and released to the market around the midpoint of this calendar year.
Torex is highly committed to ESG standards with a focus on community relations and minimizing the mining footprint of its Morelos Gold Project.
ESG Excellence As A Foundation
Delivering value to shareholders while making a positive difference in society
Productive relationships with
employees
- 99% workforce from Mexico; 70% from
Guerrero State
-
Competitive compensation & benefits
plus profit sharing plan (PTU)
-
New 2 year CBA signed with unionized
employees (2021 through end of 2022)
Solid environmental performance
- Limited air emissions and zero water
discharge operation
-
Filtered tailings facility materially reduces
current and legacy risk relative to
conventional tailings
Strong governance & diversity focus
- Women make up 40% of Executive Team
and 30% of Board of Directors
-
Leadership with deep knowledge of
Mexico and highly respected by Mexican
authorities
-
Management and Board guidelines
enhanced to increase share ownership
Strong relationships with local
communities and stakeholders
- Community Development Agreements in
place with 11 surrounding communities
-
$13.3M invested in local community
development projects in 2019
That includes innovation (and implementation at El Limón) of Torex’s proprietary Muckahi Mining System which essentially is a roof-mounted “monorail” conveyor-based system allowing for the continuous transport of broken rock directly from the face/stope to the surface, thus, translating to greater mining rates with less tunneling.
Muckahi Mining System - A Torex Innovation
A complete rethink of underground mining
Steep ramps (30 degrees)
- Efficient and rapid excavation
-
¼ the length of conventional ramps
Monorail
based transport
- Muck box “trains” on the level and the ramps
-
2 way traffic in high volume, large mines
-
Single lane traffic in low volume, small mines
Monorail
based tunnel development
- High speed development
-
Paradigm shift in $/m
Step change in mine footprint
- Reduced energy consumption
-
Asset stewardship
-
Portable capital as equipment can be reused
The system is being designed to be all-electric (powered by the grid or with batteries) with no diesel trucks or other heavy equipment needed; the company envisions a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 95% versus conventional mining techniques.
With potential CAPEX and OPEX savings of up to 30 percent, this innovative mining process has the potential to be a game-changer not only for Torex but for the mining industry at large.
Torex Gold is well-funded with cash and short term investments, at 31 December 2020, of US$206.2 million. And as mentioned, the company should be able to exit 2021 debt-free with over US$400 million in cash.
Torex has approximately 85.7 million shares outstanding for a current market cap of approximately US$1.1 billion.
With its strong cash position and sound capital structure, Torex is well positioned to continue to build out its Morelos asset in Mexico while also seeking out additional growth opportunities to acquire mineral assets outside of Mexico that enable profitable and productive geographic diversification.
Current price: US$12.77 per TORXF share: Buy up to US$12.85
Establish your Torex Gold (OTC: TORXF)(TSX: TXG) position incrementally and look for opportunities to buy additional shares on any intermittent weakness. Learn more about Torex Gold Resources Inc. at www.torexgold.com.
Yours In Profits,
Mike Fagan
Editor, Precious Portfolio
Mike Fagan has mining in his blood. As a teenager he staked countless gold and silver properties in Nevada alongside his dad Brian Fagan, who created the Prospect Generator model that’s still widely used today in the resource space. One of those staking projects was put into production by a major Canadian mining company — a truly rare and profitable experience. That background uniquely qualifies him as a mining stock speculator. One of the most well-known names in the business, Mike is now putting that experience to use for the benefit of Resource Stock Digest, Hard Asset Digest, and Mike Fagan's Precious Portfolio readers.
Previous Alerts
Alert No. 1 | Alert No. 2 | Alert No. 3 | Alert No. 4 | Alert No. 5 | Alert No. 6 | Alert No. 7 | Alert No. 8 | Alert No. 9 | Alert No. 10 | Alert No. 11 | Alert No. 12