Serafino Iacono, Chairman and Interim CEO of Caldas Gold, commenting on Caldas Gold’s latest results, said, “We are very pleased that Caldas Gold is up and running now. Drilling results from the Deep Zone at Marmato continue to be impressive, setting us up to have a meaningful reserve to build our prefeasibility study for the expansion of the mining operations into the Deep Zone. Drilling has also discovered a new zone which opens up the possibility for further mineral resource expansion. The PFS remains on track to be finalized mid-year. I am also very proud of what our Company has been able to do during COVID-19 to help out the communities in which we live and work. These are definitely unprecedented times and our people have done a tremendous job keeping our operations going while ensuring we all do the right thing to keep our workers safe.”

First Quarter 2020 Highlights

• Caldas Gold and Gran Colombia Gold Corp, (TSX: GCM; OTCQX: TPRFF) successfully completed their reverse takeover transaction on February 24, 2020 creating a new Canadian-listed public company focused on building Colombia’s next major gold and silver mine.
• The Marmato mine is continuing to operate in April and May, but at a reduced rate, during the COVID-19 national quarantine implemented by the Colombian government at the end of March. The quarantine has limited the number of workers who are able to travel to the mine site from the surrounding communities. April’s gold production amounted to 1,202 ounces, about 50% of normal. Caldas Gold is continuing its business continuity program focused on the safety and wellbeing of its workers during the quarantine and is working with the local municipality to find solutions that increase the number of workers allowed to enter the mining operation.
• During the COVID-19 quarantine, Caldas Gold has stepped up its efforts to support the local community, providing medical equipment, supplies and sanitation kits to the local hospitals and groceries to families who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
• Production totaled 5,901 ounces of gold and 9,012 ounces of silver in the first quarter of 2020 compared with 6,215 ounces of gold and 9,839 ounces of silver in the first quarter of 2019.
• Revenue amounted to $10.5 million in the first quarter of 2020, up 48% over the first quarter last year, getting a boost from the 21% increase in spot gold prices which increased Caldas Gold’s realized gold price to an average of $1,587 per ounce sold compared with $1,296 per ounce sold in the first quarter last year. The volume of gold sales in the first quarter of 2020 was also up 21% over the first quarter last year, benefitting from a reduction in mineral inventories following a build up during the refinery shutdown in the holiday period at the end of 2019.
• Total cash costs ⁽¹⁾ per ounce averaged $1,219 per ounce in the first quarter of 2020, up compared with $1,133 per ounce in the first quarter last year, and included approximately $70 per ounce of additional costs related to the optimization program commenced in the existing mining operation at Marmato that is expected to lead to an increase in future production and a reduction in cash costs. The impact on production in early 2020 caused by the temporary explosives shortfall also had an adverse effect on total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2020.
• All-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) ⁽¹⁾ of $1,371 per ounce in the first quarter of 2020, up from $1,189 per ounce in the first quarter last year, reflected the increase in total cash costs and an increased level of sustaining capital expenditures for mining equipment associated with the extension of operations into the transitional zone.
• Caldas Gold reported adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾ of $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2020, more than double compared with the first quarter last year, largely attributed to the higher realized gold prices this year.
• Caldas Gold reported a net loss for the first quarter of $17.6 million, or $0.47 per share, compared with net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per share, in the first quarter last year. The largest item affecting the net loss in the first quarter of 2020 was a $16.7 million charge related to the RTO Transaction. After adjustments for this charge and certain other items as set out in the reconciliation in our MD&A, the adjusted net loss was $1.3 million, or $0.03 per share, in the first quarter of 2020 compared with adjusted net income of $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share, in the first quarter last year. The first quarter 2020 adjusted net loss reflects a $2.2 million charge for share-based compensation related to the initial grant of long-term incentives to Caldas Gold’s directors, executive officers and management following completion of the RTO Transaction.
• Caldas Gold successfully completed Phase 2 of its 2019 infill drilling program which focused above the 600 meter level and was designed to provide enough tonnage and grade in the Measured and Indicated mineral resource categories within the Main Zone to support the prefeasibility study which is currently being carried out and is expected to be finalized by mid-2020. Caldas Gold’s exploration program was also successful in extending the recently discovered New Zone along strike to more than 400 meters, opening up an opportunity for further mineral resource expansion.

Selected Financial Information

(1)     Refer to “Non-IFRS Measures” in Caldas Gold’s MD&A.

Commenting on the closing of the RTO transaction, Executive Chairman of Gran Colombia, Serafino Iacono stated, “We are very pleased to complete the spin-out of our Marmato Mining Assets. With total proceeds from the equity financing of approximately $21.6 million CAD, Caldas Gold is well capitalized to take the Marmato Project forward as it completes the prefeasibility study for the underground mine expansion in the first half of 2020 and continues drilling the deep zone mineralization. The recently released 2019 Phase 2 drilling results have further increased our confidence in the geological model and continue to demonstrate an improvement of grades in the deep zone below the 900 meter level versus the mineral resource block model associated with the preliminary economic assessment. In addition, the discovery of a possible new high-grade zone in the Deeps mineralization opens a new scenario for potential resource growth. Today begins a new chapter in the future of the Marmato Project.”

The Marmato Mining assets principally comprise the existing producing underground gold mine (including the right to mine in the lower portion of the Echandia license area), the existing 1,200 tons per day processing plant and the area encompassing the Deeps mineralization, all located within the mining license area referred to as Zona Baja. The existing underground mine at Marmato produced 25,750 ounces of gold in 2019, representing a 3% increase over 2018, and Caldas Gold expects to produce between 32,000 and 37,000 ounces of gold in 2020.

Through completion of a private placement on February 7, 2020 and the RTO transaction, Gran Colombia acquired an aggregate of 36,250,100 common shares and 7,500,000 share purchase warrants of Caldas Gold with an exercise price of $3.00 CAD expiring December 19, 2024.  With the common shares controlled by Gran Colombia representing approximately 71.8% of the outstanding common shares of Caldas Gold, Gran Colombia is a “control person” of Caldas Gold.  Assuming exercise of the share purchase warrants, Gran Colombia would have control and direction over 43,750,100 common shares representing approximately 75.4% of the then outstanding common shares of Caldas Gold, after giving effect to the exercise of Gran Colombia’s warrants but assuming no exercise of any other outstanding warrants or options of Caldas Gold. Prior to the RTO transaction, Gran Colombia did not hold any securities of Bluenose.