VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2021 / Empress Royalty Corp. (TSXV:EMPR)(OTCQB:EMPYF) (“Empress Royalty” or the “Company“) is pleased to provide an update on its investment portfolio and mining company partners.
“The exciting progress being made at each of our investments demonstrates Empress Royalty’s ability to invest in high quality projects with strong management teams creating long term value for both our shareholders and the shareholders of our mining company partners,” stated Alexandra Woodyer Sherron, CEO and President of Empress Royalty. “These project updates are the catalysts for Empress Royalty to achieve significant shareholder value and revenue in 2022.”
TAHUEHUETO SILVER STREAM –Construction On Time & On Budget
Altaley Mining Corp. (“Altaley”) continues to advance Tahuehueto toward production and recently announced that construction is on time and on budget (see Altaley press release November 2, 2021). Altaley has also recently announced that it has engaged MGA as an underground mining contractor. MGA is a well known underground mining contractor with extensive experience in Mexico. Prior underground development at Tahuehueto provides about 75% of the initial two years of to-be-mined material or “stoped-out inventory”, with the contractor completing underground development for 100% of the stoped-out inventory. This materially de-risks ramp-up risks and accelerates initial and eventual steady-state production, resulting in silver by-product production, that will be subject to the Empress Royalty silver stream. Initial production from Tahuehueto is noted to be near the end of 2021 with ramp-up continuing into the first quarter of 2022. As noted by Altaley, contractors and construction have been working at site since July 2021 and multiple site visits have been completed by Empress Royalty in 2020 and 2021. Please see Altaleys’s website (www.altaleymining.com) for further details.
Image 1. Construction at Tahuehueto
SIERRA ANTAPITE GOLD STREAM – Production Expansion in Progress
Sierra Sun Group (“Sierra Sun”) reports that it is conducting on-going expansion of operations at the Sierra Antapite gold mine. Proceeds from the Empress Royalty stream have been used to continue expansion of the plant from 750 tonnes per day to 1,000 tonnes per day, to expand and enhance the tailings storage facility, to retire payments and to further develop the underground mine. A site visit by a third-party engineering firm was completed in March 2021 and Empress Royalty visited the site in September 2021. Empress Royalty receives weekly updates from Sierra Sun on the production expansion progress. Sierra Sun continues to deliver gold to Empress Royalty since commencement in August 2021. Please see Sierra Sun Group’s website (www.sierrasungroup.com) for further details.
Image 2. Sierra Antapite
MANICA GOLD ROYALTY – Construction Underway
Since closing the Manica royalty at the end of April 2021, Mutupa Mining Processing (“MMP”) has completed engineering and procurement and reports construction is well progressed. Specifically, the bulk of the earthworks is complete, concrete has been poured for the plant, the CIL tanks have been fabricated and the tailings dam construction is complete. Several items of the modular plant equipment have been fabricated and transported from South Africa to site and are currently undergoing installation. Further, the processing plant water storage tank and power is connected and available via a 40 mVA transformer. The mining contractor has been mobilized and preparations are underway for commencement of mining. MMP reports it expects to commence initial production in the first quarter of 2022. Empress has completed two site visits in 2021 through a third party engineering firm, and receive weekly updates from management on construction progress.
Candelaria Mining Corp. (“Candelaria”) announced that it has closed their upsized private placement for a total C$8,441,770 which resulted in Agnico Eagle increasing their ownership in Candelaria from a 9.9% equity stake to a 19.9% on a pre-diluted basis (see Candelaria’s press releases October 29, 2021). Proceeds from the upsized private placement will be used for Caballo Blanco exploration, on-going development of the Pinos project and for working capital. Candelaria continues to advance the Pinos project and is currently in discussions with potential debt financiers. Empress Royalty completed site visits in 2020 and 2021 and continues to be provided updates by Candelaria. Please see Candelaria’s website (www.candelariamining.com) for further details.
Image 3. Construction at Manica
ABOUT EMPRESS ROYALTY CORP.
Empress Royalty is a new royalty and streaming creation company focused on providing investors with a diversified portfolio of gold and silver investments. Since publicly listing in December 2020, Empress Royalty has built a portfolio of 17 precious metal investments and is actively investing in mining companies with development and production stage projects who require additional non-dilutive capital. The Company has strategic partnerships with Endeavour Financial and Terra Capital which allow Empress Royalty to not only access global investment opportunities but also bring unique mining finance expertise, deal structuring and access to capital markets. Empress Royalty is looking forward to continuously creating value for its shareholders through the proven royalty and streaming models.
ON BEHALF OF EMPRESS ROYALTY CORP.
Per: Alexandra Woodyer Sherron, CEO and President
For further information, please visit our website at www.empressroyalty.com or contact Kaitlin Taylor, Investor Communications, by email at info@empressroyalty.com or by phone at +1.604.331.2080.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains statements about Empress’ expectations regarding the Alliance Agreement which are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “aims to”, “plans to” or “intends to” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “will” occur. Although Empress believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include Empress Royalty not being successful in or deciding not to pursue opportunities in the royalties business. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and Empress undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was down more than 200 points in late-morning trading, weighed down by losses in the technology, base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets also fell.
The S&P/TSX composite index was down 239.24 points at 22,749.04.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 312.36 points at 40,443.39. The S&P 500 index was down 80.94 points at 5,422.47, while the Nasdaq composite was down 380.17 points at 16,747.49.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.80 cents US compared with 74.00 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down US$1.07 at US$68.08 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.26 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$2.10 at US$2,541.00 an ounce and the December copper contract was down four cents at US$4.10 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in technology, financial and energy stocks, while U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 171.41 points at 23,298.39.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 278.37 points at 41,369.79. The S&P 500 index was up 38.17 points at 5,630.35, while the Nasdaq composite was up 177.15 points at 17,733.18.
The Canadian dollar traded for 74.19 cents US compared with 74.23 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up US$1.75 at US$76.27 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.10 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$18.70 at US$2,556.50 an ounce and the December copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.22 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.
The crypto market has recently experienced a significant downturn, mirroring broader risk asset sell-offs. Over the past week, Bitcoin’s price dropped by 24%, reaching $53,000, while Ethereum plummeted nearly a third to $2,340. Major altcoins also suffered, with Cardano down 27.7%, Solana 36.2%, Dogecoin 34.6%, XRP 23.1%, Shiba Inu 30.1%, and BNB 25.7%.
The severe downturn in the crypto market appears to be part of a broader flight to safety, triggered by disappointing economic data. A worse-than-expected unemployment report on Friday marked the beginning of a technical recession, as defined by the Sahm Rule. This rule identifies a recession when the three-month average unemployment rate rises by at least half a percentage point from its lowest point in the past year.
Friday’s figures met this threshold, signaling an abrupt economic downshift. Consequently, investors sought safer assets, leading to declines in major stock indices: the S&P 500 dropped 2%, the Nasdaq 2.5%, and the Dow 1.5%. This trend continued into Monday with further sell-offs overseas.
The crypto market’s rapid decline raises questions about its role as either a speculative asset or a hedge against inflation and recession. Despite hopes that crypto could act as a risk hedge, the recent crash suggests it remains a speculative investment.
Since the downturn, the crypto market has seen its largest three-day sell-off in nearly a year, losing over $500 billion in market value. According to CoinGlass data, this bloodbath wiped out more than $1 billion in leveraged positions within the last 24 hours, including $365 million in Bitcoin and $348 million in Ether.
Khushboo Khullar of Lightning Ventures, speaking to Bloomberg, argued that the crypto sell-off is part of a broader liquidity panic as traders rush to cover margin calls. Khullar views this as a temporary sell-off, presenting a potential buying opportunity.
Josh Gilbert, an eToro market analyst, supports Khullar’s perspective, suggesting that the expected Federal Reserve rate cuts could benefit crypto assets. “Crypto assets have sold off, but many investors will see an opportunity. We see Federal Reserve rate cuts, which are now likely to come sharper than expected, as hugely positive for crypto assets,” Gilbert told Coindesk.
Despite the recent volatility, crypto continues to make strides toward mainstream acceptance. Notably, Morgan Stanley will allow its advisors to offer Bitcoin ETFs starting Wednesday. This follows more than half a year after the introduction of the first Bitcoin ETF. The investment bank will enable over 15,000 of its financial advisors to sell BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC. This move is seen as a significant step toward the “mainstreamization” of crypto, given the lengthy regulatory and company processes in major investment banks.
The recent crypto market downturn highlights its volatility and the broader economic concerns affecting all risk assets. While some analysts see the current situation as a temporary sell-off and a buying opportunity, others caution against the speculative nature of crypto. As the market evolves, its role as a mainstream alternative asset continues to grow, marked by increasing institutional acceptance and new investment opportunities.
