F-10
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2018

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM F-10

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Form F-10

MAG SILVER CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

British Columbia, Canada

(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

1040

(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number, if applicable)

Not applicable

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No., if applicable)

#770-800 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 2V6

Tel: 604-630-1399

(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

Telephone: 302-738-6680

(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Christopher J. Cummings, Esq.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &

Garrison LLP

77 King Street West

Suite 3100

Toronto, ON, Canada

M5K 1J3

Tel: 416-504-0522

Fax: 416-504-0530

  

Bob J. Wooder

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

595 Burrard Street

P.O. Box 49314

Suite 2600, Three Bentall Centre

Vancouver, BC, Canada

V7X 1L3

Tel: 604-631-3330

Fax: 604-631-3309

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:. As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

Province of British Columbia, Canada

(Principal jurisdiction regulating this offering)

It is proposed that this filing shall become effective (check appropriate box below):

 

A. ☒ upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 467(a) (if in connection with an offering being made contemporaneously in the United States and Canada).

 

B. ☐ at some future date (check the appropriate box below):

 

  1. ☐ pursuant to Rule 467(b) on (    ) at (    ) (designate a time not sooner than 7 calendar days after filing).

 

  2. ☐ pursuant to Rule 467(b) on (    ) at (    ) (designate a time 7 calendar days or sooner after filing) because the securities regulatory authority in the review jurisdiction has issued a receipt or notification of clearance on (    ).

 

  3. ☐ pursuant to Rule 467(b) as soon as practicable after notification of the Commission by the Registrant or the Canadian securities regulatory authority of the review jurisdiction that a receipt or notification of clearance has been issued with respect hereto.

 

  4. ☐ after the filing of the next amendment to this Form (if preliminary material is being filed).

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to the home jurisdiction’s shelf prospectus offering procedures, check the following box.  ☒

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

  Amount
to be
registered (1)
  Proposed
maximum
offering price
per unit (3)
  Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price (4)
  Amount of
registration fee

Common Shares (no par value) (2)

               

Preferred Shares (no par value)

               

Debt Securities

               

Subscription Receipts (5)

               

Units (6)

               

Warrants

               

Total

  U.S.$200,000,000       U.S.$200,000,000   U.S.$24,900

 

 

 

(1) There are being registered under this Registration Statement such indeterminate number of common shares, preferred shares, subscription receipts, units and warrants of the Registrant and such indeterminate amount of unsecured debt securities of the Registrant consisting of debentures, notes or other unsecured evidence of indebtedness as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed U.S. $200,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency used to denominate the securities). Any securities registered under this Registration Statement may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered under this Registration Statement.
(2) Includes rights to purchase additional shares pursuant to the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated as of May 13, 2016, between the Registrant and Computershare Investor Services Inc. No separate consideration is paid for these rights and, as a result, the registration fee for these rights is included in the fee for the shares registered hereby.
(3) The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the sale of the securities registered under this Registration Statement.
(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(5) Each subscription receipt will be issued under a subscription receipt agreement and will represent a right to exchange such subscription receipt into common shares, preferred shares or debt securities.
(6) Each unit will consist of one or more of the Registrant’s common shares, preferred shares, subscription receipts, warrants and debt securities.

 

 

 


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PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE

DELIVERED TO OFFEREES OR PURCHASERS


Table of Contents

SHORT FORM BASE SHELF PROSPECTUS

 

New Issue    January 19, 2018

 

 

LOGO

U.S.$200,000,000

Common Shares

Preferred Shares

Debt Securities

Subscription Receipts

Units

Warrants

 

 

This prospectus relates to the offering for sale from time to time, during the 25-month period that this prospectus, including any amendments hereto, remains effective, of the securities of MAG Silver Corp. (“we”, “MAG” or the “Company”) listed above in one or more series or issuances, with a total offering price of such securities, in the aggregate, of up to U.S.$200,000,000. The securities may be offered separately or together, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined based on market conditions at the time of the sale and set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

The common shares of the Company (the “Common Shares”) are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol “MAG” and on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) under the symbol “MAG”. On January 18, 2018, the last trading day before the date hereof, the closing price per share of our common shares was C$14.40 on the TSX and U.S.$11.55 on the NYSE American. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, our preferred shares, debt securities, subscription receipts, units and warrants will not be listed on any securities or stock exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system. There is currently no market through which our securities, other than our Common Shares, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell such securities purchased under this prospectus. This may affect the pricing of our securities, other than our Common Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these securities and the extent of issuer regulation. See “Risk Factors”.

We are permitted to prepare this prospectus in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), and the audit of such financial statements may be subject to Canadian auditing and auditor independence standards. They may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies.

Owning our securities may subject you to tax consequences both in the United States and Canada. This prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any applicable prospectus supplement.

Your ability to enforce civil liabilities under the United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely because we are incorporated in British Columbia, some or all of our officers and directors and some or all of the experts named in this prospectus are Canadian residents, and many of our assets are located outside of the United States.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATOR HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES, OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

No underwriter has been involved in the preparation of this prospectus or performed any review of the contents of this prospectus.

All applicable information permitted under securities legislation to be omitted from this prospectus that has been so omitted will be contained in one or more prospectus supplements that will be delivered to purchasers together with this prospectus. Each prospectus supplement will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus for the purposes of securities legislation as of the date of the prospectus supplement and only for the purposes of the distribution of the securities to which the prospectus supplement pertains. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any securities issued pursuant to this prospectus. Our securities may be sold pursuant to this prospectus through underwriters or dealers or directly or through agents designated from time to time at amounts and prices and other terms determined by us. In connection with any underwritten offering of securities, the underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities offered. Such transactions, if commenced, may discontinue at any time. See “Plan of Distribution”. A prospectus supplement will set out the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of our securities, the amounts, if any, to be purchased by underwriters, the plan of distribution for such securities, including the net proceeds we expect to receive from the sale of such securities, if any, the amounts and prices at which such securities are sold and the compensation of such underwriters, dealers or agents.

Investment in the securities being offered is highly speculative and involves significant risks that you should consider before purchasing such securities. You should carefully review the risks outlined in this prospectus (including any prospectus supplement) and in the documents incorporated by reference as well as the information under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and consider such risks and information in connection with an investment in the securities. See “Risk Factors”.

Our head office is located at 770, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6 and our registered office is located at 2600 – 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1L3, Canada.

Dr. Peter Megaw and Harald Muller, who have provided consents to the incorporation by reference into this base shelf prospectus of certain technical information for which they are the responsible qualified person, reside outside of Canada and have appointed an agent for service of process in Canada. See “Agent for Service of Process”.

Investors should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide investors with different information. Information contained on our website shall not be deemed to be a part of this prospectus (including any applicable prospectus supplement) or incorporated by reference and should not be relied upon by prospective investors for the purpose of determining whether to invest in the securities. We will not make an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Investors should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the face page of this prospectus, the date of any applicable prospectus supplement, or the date of any documents incorporated by reference herein.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR UNITED STATES INVESTORS

     1  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     3  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     6  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     8  

DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     8  

EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION

     9  

THE COMPANY

     10  

RISK FACTORS

     30  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     51  

PRIOR SALES

     51  

MARKET FOR SECURITIES

     51  

EARNINGS COVERAGE

     51  

CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION

     52  

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

     52  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     53  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     63  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     64  

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RECEIPTS

     65  

CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     67  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     68  

AUDITORS, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

     69  

INTEREST OF EXPERTS

     69  

AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS

     70  

LEGAL MATTERS

     71  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     71  

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

     71  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement and on the other information included in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell or seeking an offer to buy the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of those documents and that information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of that document, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or of any sale of our securities pursuant thereto. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Market data and certain industry forecasts used in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement were obtained from market research, publicly available information and industry publications. We believe that these sources are generally reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed. We have not independently verified such information, and we do not make any representation as to the accuracy of such information.

In this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts and references to “U.S.$” are to U.S. dollars and references to “C$” or “$” are to Canadian dollars.

In this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “us”, “our” or similar terms, as well as references to “MAG” or the “Company”, refer to MAG Silver Corp. together with our subsidiaries.

CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR UNITED STATES INVESTORS

We are permitted under a multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States to prepare this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference and any prospectus supplement, in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws.

Technical disclosure regarding our properties included herein or in the documents incorporated herein by reference has not been prepared in accordance with the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Without limiting the foregoing, such technical disclosure uses terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and certain estimates are made in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in the technical disclosure have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System.

Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and mineral reserve and resource information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “resource” does not equate to the term “reserves”. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally

 

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produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made and volumes that are not “reserves’ should not be disclosed. Among other things, all necessary permits would be required to be in hand or issuance imminent in order to classify mineralized material as reserves under the SEC standards. Accordingly, mineral reserves estimates included herein and in the documents incorporated herein by reference may not qualify as “reserves” under SEC standards. The SEC’s disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” or “inferred mineral resources” or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute “reserves” by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC.

U.S. investors should also understand that “inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an “inferred mineral resource” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated “inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an “inferred mineral resource” exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. In addition, the definitions of “proven mineral reserves” and “probable mineral reserves” under reporting standards in Canada differ in certain respects from the standards of the SEC. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein and in the documents incorporated herein by reference may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to:

 

    the future price of silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper;

 

    the estimation of mineral resources;

 

    preliminary economic estimates relating to the Juanicipio Project (as defined herein);

 

    estimates of the time and amount of future silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper production for specific operations;

 

    estimated future exploration and development expenditures and other expenses for specific operations;

 

    permitting timelines;

 

    the Company’s expectations regarding impairments of mineral properties;

 

    the Company’s expectations regarding its negotiations with the Ejido to obtain surface access to the Cinco de Mayo Property;

 

    the anticipated timing of a formal ‘production decision’ at Minera Juanicipio (as defined herein);

 

    the Company’s expectations regarding the sufficiency of its capital resources and requirements for additional capital;

 

    litigation risks;

 

    currency fluctuations;

 

    environmental risks and reclamation cost; and

 

    changes to governmental laws and regulations.

When used in this prospectus, any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events of performance (often but not always using words or phrases such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “strategy”, “goals”, “objectives”, “project”, “potential” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur, or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions), as they relate to the Company or management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Such statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions.

Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information, including, among others:

 

    the potential for no commercially mineable deposits due to the speculative nature of the Company’s business;

 

    none of the properties in which the Company has an interest having any mineral reserves;

 

    the Company’s properties are primarily in the exploration stage, and most exploration projects do not result in commercially mineable deposits;

 

    estimates of mineral resources being based on interpretation and assumptions which are inherently imprecise;

 

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    no guarantee of surface rights for the Company’s mineral properties;

 

    no guarantee of the Company’s ability to obtain all necessary licenses and permits that may be required to carry out exploration and development of its mineral properties and business activities;

 

    risks related to the properties in which the Company has an interest being primarily located in Mexico;

 

    the effect of global economic and political instability on the Company’s business;

 

    risks related to maintaining a positive relationship with the communities in which the Company operates;

 

    risks related to the Company’s ability to finance substantial expenditures required for commercial operations on its mineral properties;

 

    the Company’s history of losses and no revenues from operations;

 

    risks related to the Company’s ability to arrange additional financing, and possible loss of the Company’s interests in its properties due to a lack of adequate funding;

 

    risks related to the development of the ramp decline to access and confirm mineralization at the Juanicipio Project, particularly, Minera Juanicipio not yet having made a formal “production decision”, and no guarantee that the financial results and the contemplated development timeline will be consistent with the 2017 PEA (as defined herein);

 

    risks related to access and availability of infrastructure, power and water;

 

    risks related to ground water levels at the Juanicipio Project;

 

    risks related to a lack of access to a skilled workforce;

 

    risks relating to the capital requirements for the Juanicipio Project and the timeline to production;

 

    risks related to title, challenge to title, or potential title disputes regarding the Company’s mineral properties;

 

    risks related to the Company being a minority shareholder of Minera Juanicipio;

 

    risks related to disputes with joint venture partners;

 

    risks related to the influence of the Company’s significant shareholders over the direction of the Company’s business;

 

    the potential for legal proceedings to be brought against the Company;

 

    risks related to environmental regulations;

 

    the highly competitive nature of mineral exploration industry;

 

    risks related to equipment shortages, access restrictions and lack of infrastructure on the Company’s mineral properties;

 

    the Company’s dependence upon key personnel, some of whom may not have entered into written agreements with the Company, and other qualified management;

 

    the Company’s dependence on certain related party service providers (Minera Cascabel S.A. de C.V. (“Cascabel”) and IMDEX Inc. (“IMDEX”)) to supervise operations in Mexico;

 

    the Company’s dependence on Fresnillo plc (“Fresnillo”) to attract, train and retain qualified personnel;

 

    risks related to directors being, or becoming, associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interest;

 

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    currency fluctuations (particularly the C$/U.S.$ and U.S.$/Mexican Peso exchange rates) and inflationary pressures;

 

    risks related to mining operations generally;

 

    risks related to fluctuation of mineral prices and marketability;

 

    the Company being subject to anti-corruption laws, human rights laws and Mexican foreign investment, income tax laws and Mexican laws;

 

    the Company being subject to Canadian disclosure practices concerning its mineral resources which allow for more disclosure than is permitted for domestic U.S. reporting companies;

 

    risks related to maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting;

 

    funding and property commitments that may result in dilution to the Company’s shareholders;

 

    the volatility of the price of the Company’s Common Shares;

 

    the uncertainty of maintaining a liquid trading market for the Company’s Common Shares;

 

    the Company being a “passive foreign investment company” which may have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. shareholders;

 

    the difficulty of U.S. litigants effecting service of process or enforcing any judgments against the Company, as the Company, its principals and assets are located outside of the United States;

 

    all of the Company’s assets being located outside of Canada;

 

    risks related to the decrease of the market price of the Common Shares if the Company’s shareholders sell substantial amounts of Common Shares;

 

    risks related to dilution to existing shareholders if stock options are exercised;

 

    risks related to dilution to existing shareholders if deferred share units, restricted share units or performance share units are converted into Common Shares of the Company;

 

    the history of the Company with respect to not paying dividends and anticipation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future;

 

    the absence of a market through which the Company’s securities, other than Common Shares, may be sold; and

 

    risks related to the debt securities being unsecured.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements and information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation, those referred to in this prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors” and documents incorporated by reference herein. The Company’s forward-looking statements and information are based on the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations or opinions should change. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not attribute undue certainty to or place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

 

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Information has been incorporated by reference in this short form prospectus from documents filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada. Copies of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request without charge from the Secretary of the Company at Suite 770, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 2V6, telephone (604) 630-1399 and are also available electronically under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC’s EDGAR system at www.sec.gov.

The following documents filed by the Company with the various securities commissions or similar authorities in the Provinces of Canada, are specifically incorporated by reference and form an integral part of this short form prospectus:

 

  1. annual information form of the Company dated March 29, 2017 for the year ended December 31, 2016 (except for the technical report entitled “Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Update for the Juanicipio Joint Venture, Zacatecas State, Mexico”, dated June 12, 2014, as amended on June 30, 2014, prepared by David Ross, P.Geo., Jason Cox, P.Eng., and Holger Krutzelmann, P.Eng. (the “Previous Technical Report”), incorporated by reference therein, and the information derived from such Previous Technical Report included therein) (the “Annual Information Form”);

 

  2. audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, together with the notes thereto and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon;

 

  3. management’s discussion and analysis of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (except for information included therein that is derived from the Previous Technical Report);

 

  4. unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017;

 

  5. management’s discussion and analysis of the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017;

 

  6. management information circular of the Company dated May 12, 2017 prepared for the purposes of the annual general and special meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on June 15, 2017;

 

  7. material change report dated February 14, 2017 relating to the announcement of exploration results from the Deep Zones of the Valdecañas Vein on the Minera Juanicipio S.A. de C.V. Joint Venture property;

 

  8. material change report dated April 3, 2017 relating to the determination by the Company that its ability to regain surface access at the Cinco de Mayo property is indeterminable and its related recognition of an impairment under IFRS;

 

  9. material change report dated November 13, 2017 relating to the announcement of the results of an independent NI 43-101 Technical Report with an effective date of October 21, 2017 and prepared by Adrienne Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Geol., Gary Methven, P.Eng., Harald Muller, FAusIMM and Carl Kottmeier, P.Eng., encompassing a new Mineral Resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Juanicipio Project (as defined herein) in Zacatecas State, Mexico, which report was amended and restated on January 19, 2018 and re-titled “Juanicipio NI 43-101 Technical Report (Amended and Restated)” (the “2017 PEA”);

 

  10. material change report dated December 8, 2017 relating to the completion of a non-brokered private placement offering of 4,599,641 Common Shares to existing shareholders at a price of US$10.47 per Common Share for gross proceeds of US$48.16 million; and

 

  11. the 2017 PEA.

 

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Any documents of the type described in Section 11.1 of Form 44-101F1 Short Form Prospectuses filed by the Company with a securities commission or similar authority in any province of Canada subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to the expiry of this prospectus, or the completion of the issuance of securities pursuant hereto, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

In addition, to the extent that any document or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus is filed with, or furnished to, the SEC pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) after the date of this prospectus, such document or information will be deemed to be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part (in the case of a report on Form 6-K, if and to the extent expressly provided therein).

A prospectus supplement containing the specific terms of any offering of our securities will be delivered to purchasers of our securities together with this prospectus and will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus as of the date of the prospectus supplement and only for the purposes of the offering of our securities to which that prospectus supplement pertains.

Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, in any prospectus supplement hereto or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes. The making of a modifying or superseding statement is not to be deemed an admission for any purposes that the modified or superseded statement, when made, constituted a misrepresentation, an untrue statement of material fact or an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

Upon our filing of a new annual information form and the related annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis with applicable securities regulatory authorities during the currency of this prospectus, the previous annual information form, the previous annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis and all interim financial statements, supplemental information, material change reports and information circulars filed prior to the commencement of our financial year in which the new annual information form is filed will be deemed no longer to be incorporated into this prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of our securities under this prospectus. Upon interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying management’s discussion and analysis and material change report being filed by us with the applicable securities regulatory authorities during the duration of this prospectus, all interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying management’s discussion and analysis filed prior to the new interim consolidated financial statements shall be deemed no longer to be incorporated into this prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of securities under this prospectus.

References to our website in any documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus do not incorporate by reference the information on such website into this prospectus, and we disclaim any such incorporation by reference.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A registration statement on Form F-10 will be filed by the Company with the SEC in respect of the offering of securities. The registration statement, of which this prospectus constitutes a part, contains additional information not included in this prospectus, certain items of which are contained in the exhibits to such registration statement, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

In addition to the Company’s continuous disclosure obligations under the securities laws of the provinces of Canada, the Company is subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and in accordance therewith the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC reports and other information. The reports and other information that the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC are prepared in accordance with the disclosure requirements of Canada, which differ in certain respects from those of the United States. As a foreign private issuer, the Company is exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and the Company’s officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, the Company may not be required to publish financial statements as promptly as U.S. companies. Copies of any documents that the Company has filed with the SEC are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be read at the SEC’s public reference room at Room 1500, 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549. Copies of the same documents may also be obtained from the public reference room of the SEC by paying a fee. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or access its website at www.sec.gov for further information about the public reference room.

DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

The following documents have been or will be filed or furnished with the SEC as part of the registration statement on Form F-10 of which this prospectus forms a part: (i) the documents listed under the heading “Documents Incorporated by Reference”; (ii) powers of attorney from our directors and officers, as applicable; (iii) the consent of Deloitte LLP; (iv) the consent of each “qualified person” for the purposes of NI 43-101 listed on the Exhibit Index of the registration statement; and (v) the form of debt indenture. A copy of the form of warrant indenture, subscription receipt agreement or statement of eligibility of trustee on Form T-1, as applicable, will be filed by post-effective amendment or by incorporation by reference to documents filed or furnished with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

 

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EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION

The following table sets forth for each period indicated: (i) the exchange rates in effect at the end of the period; (ii) the high and low exchange rates during such period; and (iii) the average exchange rates for such period, for one Canadian dollar, expressed in U.S. dollars, as quoted by the Bank of Canada.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2016      2015      2014  
     U.S.$      U.S.$      U.S.$  

Closing

     0.7448        0.7233        0.8620  

High

     0.7972        0.8511        0.9422  

Low

     0.6854        0.7161        0.8589  

Average

     0.7548        0.7821        0.9054  

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2017      2016  
     U.S.$      U.S.$  

Closing

     0.8013        0.7624  

High

     0.8245        0.7972  

Low

     0.7276        0.6854  

Average

     0.7657        0.7565  

On January 18, 2018, the daily exchange rate as quoted by the Bank of Canada was C$1.00 = U.S$0.8035 (U.S.$1.00 = C$1.2446).

 

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THE COMPANY

Name, Address and Incorporation

The Company was incorporated under the Company Act (British Columbia) on April 21, 1999 under the name “583882 B.C. Ltd.” On June 28, 1999, in anticipation of becoming a capital pool company, the Company changed its name to “Mega Capital Investments Inc.” On April 22, 2003, the Company changed its name to “MAG Silver Corp.” to reflect its new business upon the completion of its qualifying transaction on the TSX Venture Exchange. Effective March 29, 2004, the Company Act (British Columbia) was replaced by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Accordingly, on July 27, 2005, the Company transitioned under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and adopted new articles and concurrently increased its authorized capital from 1,000,000,000 Common Shares to an unlimited number of Common Shares without par value and an unlimited number of Preferred Shares without par value.

The Company’s head office is located at Suite 770, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 2V6. The Company’s registered office is located at 2600 – 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V7X 1L3.

 

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Intercorporate Relationships

The following chart illustrates the Company’s significant subsidiaries, including the jurisdiction of incorporation of each company and its properties.

 

LOGO

 

(1) The Company is the registered owner of 99.99% of the issued Class I shares of Minera Pozo Seco S.A. de C.V. (“Pozo Seco”), a corporation incorporated under the laws of Mexico. The remaining 0.01% of the issued Class I shares of Pozo Seco are held by Dan MacInnis, a director of the Company, on behalf of the Company.
(2) The Company is the registered owner of 99.99% of the issued Class I shares of Minera Los Lagartos, S.A. DE C.V. (“Lagartos”), a corporation incorporated under the laws of Mexico. The remaining 0.01% of the issued Class I shares of Lagartos are held by Dan MacInnis, a director of the Company, on behalf of the Company.
(3) Lagartos is the registered owner of a 44% interest in Minera Juanicipio, S.A. De C.V. (“Minera Juanicipio”), a corporation incorporated under the laws of Mexico, which holds the joint ventured Juanicipio Project (the “Juanicipio Joint Venture”) with Fresnillo, a London Stock Exchange listed company controlled by Industrias Peñoles, S.A. De C.V. (“Peñoles”), which holds the remaining 56% interest in Minera Juanicipio.

 

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Summary Description of Business

The Company is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration and development company that is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral exploration properties, with its primary focus being silver projects located in the Mexican Silver Belt in Mexico. The Company’s principal property is its 44% interest in the Juanicipio Joint Venture, a primarily silver exploration and development project (the “Juanicipio Project”). The Company currently considers the Juanicipio Project to be its material property for the purposes of NI 43-101.

The Company also owns or holds an interest in a number of other property assets and mineral claims in Mexico, including its 100% owned Cinco de Mayo property, a silver, gold, lead and zinc exploration project (the “Cinco de Mayo Property”).

Principal Project

Juanicipio Project

The Juanicipio Project is located in the Fresnillo District, Zacatecas State, Mexico, approximately 6 kilometres west of the mining town of Fresnillo, and covers approximately 7,679 hectares. The Company initially acquired a 100% interest in the Juanicipio Project in 2003. From 2005 to 2007, Peñoles earned a 56% interest in the Juanicipio Project by conducting U.S.$5,000,000 of exploration on the property and purchasing U.S.$1,000,000 worth of Common Shares of the Company at market price at the time of purchase. In December 2007, Lagartos and Peñoles established Minera Juanicipio to hold and operate all mineral and surface rights related to the Juanicipio Project. In 2008 Peñoles transferred its 56% interest of Minera Juanicipio to Fresnillo pursuant to a statutory merger. Fresnillo is the operator of Minera Juanicipio, which is governed by a shareholders agreement dated October 10, 2005 (the “Shareholders Agreement”) and its corporate by-laws. Pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement and Minera Juanicipio’s corporate by-laws, each shareholder is to provide funding pro rata to its interest in Minera Juanicipio, with Fresnillo contributing 56% and the Company, through Lagartos, contributing 44%, respectively, and if either party does not fund pro rata, their ownership interest will be diluted in accordance with the Shareholders Agreement.

The major asset associated with the Juanicipio Project is a high grade silver-gold-lead-zinc epithermal vein deposit. An NI 43-101-compliant technical report commissioned by the Company, the 2017 PEA, was filed on SEDAR on January 19, 2018. Fresnillo prepares its own internal resource estimate annually. Fresnillo’s estimates are not prepared in compliance with NI 43-101, and were not used in the 2017 PEA and are not relied upon by the Company.

Summary

The following summary of the Juanicipio Project is extracted from the 2017 PEA. The complete report can be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The detailed disclosure, including project description and location, climate, local resources, infrastructure, physiography, history, geological setting, exploration, mineralization, drilling sampling, and Mineral Resource estimates, are contained in the 2017 PEA. The 2017 PEA is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Defined terms and abbreviations used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the 2017 PEA. The monetary values shown in the 2017 PEA are in US dollars ($) and are reported on a 100% basis, unless otherwise denoted.

Introduction

The 2017 PEA provides an update of the Mineral Resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Mineral Resources identified within the Minera Juanicipio Property (the “Juanicipio Property”) in Zacatecas State, Mexico. The 2017 PEA has been prepared by AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. (AMC) of Vancouver, Canada on behalf of MAG.

 

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MAG owns 44% of Minera Juanicipio, a Mexican incorporated joint venture company, which owns (100%) of the Juanicipio Property. Fresnillo holds the remaining 56% interest in the joint venture and is the project operator. The 2017 PEA has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101, “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects” of the Canadian Securities Administrators for lodgement on SEDAR.

The economic analysis in the 2017 PEA is preliminary in nature and is based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the results of the 2017 PEA will be realized.

The monetary values shown in the 2017 PEA are in US dollars ($).

Location

The Juanicipio deposit consists of two main vein systems that lie in the north-eastern part of the Juanicipio Property, which is situated about 6 km to the south-west of the city of Fresnillo, a town located about 60 km north-west of the state capital, Zacatecas City. Zacatecas City has a population of approximately 140,000 and is located about 550 km northwest of Mexico City. Zacatecas City is serviced by daily flights from Mexico City. Surface rights to the part of the Juanicipio Property where mineral resources have been identified are held by Minera Juanicipio.

Geology and mineralization

The Juanicipio deposit consists of two main vein systems, the Valdecañas vein system and the Juanicipio vein, which are significant silver-gold epithermal structures. The Valdecañas vein system consists of five veins (V1E, V1W, HW1, VANT, and V2W) and the Juanicipio vein (VJUA). Both systems strike east-southeast and dip 35° to 70° with an average dip of about 58° southwest. The Valdecañas vein system displays the metal zonation typical of the Fresnillo District and epithermal veins in general, of an upper precious metal zone (Bonanza Zone) grading downwards into a deeper base metal zone (Deep Zone). There is significant evidence for a repeat of this zonation in the deeper reaches, perhaps reflecting “stacked” boiling levels (Buchanan, 1981). The Valdecañas structure hosts the majority of the Mineral Resources currently estimated on the Juanicipio Property.

The Juanicipio vein is located some 1,100 m to the south of the Valdecañas vein. Thirty-five drillholes contribute to the definition of this vein. Overall, Juanicipio is a much thinner vein and appears to have a higher gold content; however, this interpretation is based on a limited number of overall samples. Mineralization styles and host rocks are the same as those for Valdecañas.

The Valdecañas vein system has undergone multiple mineralizing events as suggested by various stages of brecciation and quartz sealing, local rhythmic microcrystalline quartz-pyrargyrite-acanthite banding, and open-space cocks-comb textures and vuggy silica. The vein system exhibits the characteristic metal zoning of the principal veins in the Fresnillo district, observed as a change from silver- and gold-rich zones at the top (Bonanza Zone) to increased lead and zinc in the deeper reaches (Deep Zone), with copper coming in at the deepest levels.

Mineralization in the Bonanza Zone consists of precious metal-rich, banded, or brecciated quartz-pyrargyrite-acanthite-polybasite-galena-sphalerite veins. Mineralization in the Deep Zone consists of base metal-rich, banded, or brecciated quartz-galena-sphalerite-chalcopyrite veins with lesser acanthite and pyrargyrite. Portions of the veins in the Deep Zone show skarn minerals, including garnets, pyroxenes, ilvaite, and axinite within and surrounding the veins. Retrograde hydration of these minerals to chlorite and hydrogrossular is pervasive and widespread.

Mineral Resources

In December 2016, MAG commissioned AMC to prepare an independent estimate of the Mineral Resources of the Juanicipio Property, to be compiled using exploration data available up to 31 December 2016. The updated

 

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global Mineral Resource estimate is summarized in Table 1.1. The Mineral Resources are based on a cut-off Net Smelter Return (NSR) value of $55/t.

Table 1.1: Summary of Global Mineral Resources as of 21 October 2017

 

Resource

Category

   Tonnes
(Mt)
     Ag
(g/t)
     Au
(g/t)
     Pb
(%)
     Zn
(%)
     Cu
(%)
     Metal contained in Mineral Resources  
                     Ag
(Moz)
     Au
(koz)
     Pb
(Mlbs)
     Zn
(Mlbs)
     Cu
(Mlbs)
 

Indicated

     12.83        427        2.10        2.11        3.68        0.13        176        867        598        1041        38  

Inferred

     12.13        232        1.44        2.46        4.68        0.27        91        562        658        1252        71  

Notes:

CIM Definition Standards (2014) were used for reporting the Mineral Resources.

Dr A. Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo. of AMC is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and takes responsibility for the Mineral Resource estimate.

Mineral Resources are estimated at a resource NSR cut-off value of $55 per tonne.

Resource NSR values are calculated in US$ using factors of $0.61 per g/t Ag, $34.27 per g/t Au, $19.48 per % Pb, and $19.84 per % Zn. These factors are based on metal prices of $20/oz Ag, $1,300/oz Au, $0.95/lb Pb, and $1.00/lb Zn and estimated recoveries of 82% Au, 95% Ag, 93% Pb, 90% Zn. The Mineral Resource NSR does not include offsite costs.

Drilling results up to 31 December 2016.

Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The numbers may not compute exactly due to rounding.

Source: AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd.

The Valdecañas vein system displays the vertical grade transition from upper silver-rich zones to deep base metal dominant areas that is typical of Fresnillo District veins and epithermal silver veins in general. The Mineral Resource estimate was manually divided into the Bonanza Grade Silver (BGS) Zone and the Deep Zone to highlight differing metal content within the two zones. Parts of the Juanicipio vein are included in the BGS Zone as well as the silver-rich portions of the other veins. The BGS Zone terminology was used in the previous report and is kept for continuity. The results are shown in Table 1.2.

Table 1.2: Mineral Resource by Bonanza and Deep Zones as of 21 October 2017

 

Zone

   Resource
category
   Tonnes
(Mt)
     Ag
(g/t)
     Au
(g/t)
     Pb
(%)
     Zn
(%)
     Cu
(%)
     Ag
(Moz)
     Au
(koz)
     Pb
(Mlbs)
     Zn
(Mlbs)
     Cu
(Mlbs)
 

BGS Zone

   Indicated      8.17        550        1.94        1.63        3.08        0.08        145        509        294        554        14  
   Inferred      1.98        648        0.81        1.32        2.80        0.06        41        52        58        123        3  

Deep Zone

   Indicated      4.66        209        2.39        2.96        4.73        0.23        31        359        304        486        24  
   Inferred      10.14        151        1.57        2.69        5.05        0.31        49        510        601        1129        69  

Notes:

See footnotes under Table 1.1.

Geotechnical considerations

Following the 2012 PEA, Minera Juanicipio conducted additional exploration drilling and captured further geotechnical data from the drill core. This data was used to complement the existing data, and a re-assessment of conceptual stope dimensions, ground support requirements and vertical development stability analyses was conducted. The assessment findings were recorded in a Preliminary Geotechnical Report compiled in September 2015.

Subsequently, AMC was requested to further review the available geotechnical information and to undertake underground visits to neighbouring mines and the existing decline at Juanicipio. These visits afforded AMC’s

 

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geotechnical engineers the opportunity to take relevant measurements, obtain an appreciation of the geotechnical environment in which the mining operation is expected to take place, assess the stability of existing underground excavations taking cognisance of installed support systems, and liaise with technical services personnel.

AMC also assisted the Minera Juanicipio geologists in reviewing the existing geotechnical model, and a new 3D geotechnical model was developed by AMC for Juanicipio. The new geotechnical model takes cognisance of the additional laboratory-conducted rock strength testing recommended by AMC.

Rock mass properties and hydrogeology

A total of 20 drillholes has been geotechnically logged for the Juanicipio project area. The results indicate that the quality of the host rock can be anticipated to be Fair; and that there will be some areas where Poor ground conditions could be expected, these being in the vicinity of faults and intersections with rhyolite tuff agglomerate or shale.

The Deformation Modulus (Young’s Modulus) is an indication of the stiffness of the rock type. The host rock at Juanicipio is fairly soft, implying that deformation can be expected when subjected to large loads / stress.

To assess the rock mass properties, the results of data reduction analyses were input into Rocscience’s RocLab software package. Only the LUAR rock mass properties were evaluated, reflecting both the predominance of the LUAR lithology as the host rock for the mineralized vein and the quantity and type of available rock strength test data. The results of the rock mass property analysis indicate that the waste rock strength is Fair to Good. The single sample for vein mineralization indicated a Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) of 178 MPa or Good classification.

Based on limited data, the depth of weathering appears to vary significantly across the site. Depths of weathering down to 400 m below surface have been recorded.

There have been no detailed investigations carried out on the hydrogeology of the Juanicipio area. AMC recommends that hydrogeological investigations be carried out, taking particular cognisance of any further available relevant information from other mines close by. The strategy adopted for mine planning is to have the main development (ramps and footwall access) ahead of the stope mining front. This strategy will assist in dewatering levels prior to stoping.

Stable stope spans

No additional detailed geotechnical core logging has been conducted on drillhole core since the assessment of potential stope panel dimensions and vertical development recommendations were made in 2015. The results of the stope stability assessments for the Juanicipio project using the empirical Stability Graph Method (Mathews et al. 1981; Potvin, Y. 1988) indicate that hangingwall stability is strongly influenced by vein dip. At a 65° dip a vertical stope height of 21.8 m is projected to be stable without support. At lower dip angles cable bolt support may be needed, especially in the volcanic lithologies. At a 45° dip and in the volcanic lithology, a 15 m or greater vertical height is projected to require hangingwall support for stability.

Stope dilution estimation

Dilution for Long Hole Open Stopes (LHOS) has been geotechnically estimated using the equivalent linear overbreak slough (ELOS) technique (Clark and Pakalnis, 1997). This empirical method estimates the overbreak based on recorded case histories and established design curves relating the modified stability number N’ and the hydraulic radius. Stopes are considered likely to be sensitive to overbreak to some degree given the blocky ground conditions. The dilution estimation indicates an anticipated dilution of ~0.55 m from a sedimentary hangingwall dipping at 55°.

 

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Mining concept

A number of conceptual mining method studies have been carried out to identify suitable design strategies for the project. The studies include identification of the most suitable stoping method, production rate, backfilling method, and haulage method for the mine. Methods that provide high mining recovery and lower dilution have been assessed against other methods that may be cheaper, but result in greater loss or dilution of mineralization.

The 2012 PEA study considered a longhole stoping mining method with pastefill and a production rate of 2,650 tpd. AMC undertook several site visits to other operating mines in the area to review the details of the mining methods used and the application of rock fill. The primary mining method continues to be longhole stoping, but at an increased production rate of 4,000 tpd. Some cost savings and production efficiencies have been identified with the use of waste rock fill, which is now considered as the primary backfill; in the wider stopes where more than one longitudinal pass is required, cemented rock fill will be utilized.

The proposed mining method employs zone access via three internal ramps on 20 m sub-levels, as well as footwall access to the extents of the mineralization to allow placement of rock fill. Stopes 20 m high (floor to floor) are mined from the extents back to the central access (on retreat) with rock fill placed within 20 m of the blasting face.

In the lower levels of the vein, the vein widens out to a maximum thickness of approximately 30 m. In these areas, the vein will be mined in two longitudinal passes with a maximum width of 15 m. The footwall stope will be taken first over the full strike length, followed by the hangingwall stope. Cemented rock fill will be used in the footwall stope to prevent waste entering the hanging wall stope.

A composite conceptual plan view of the mine design showing the general layout of ramps and footwall drives for backfill access is shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1: Composite plan view of mine design

 

 

LOGO

 

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Truck haulage, shaft hoisting, and conveying have been considered for transferring mineralized rock and waste from the mine workings to surface. All waste not placed directly in stopes will be trucked to surface via twin access declines, where it will be stockpiled and later used for backfilling stopes as they are mined out. In early mining, mineralized rock from development and stoping will be trucked to a rock pass feeding the underground crusher. The crusher station is located on 1950 RL, from where the mineralized rock will be transferred to surface via a main conveyor (base at 1940 RL). The decline portal for the conveyor is near the projected processing plant location.

An underground winze (780 m in length) will be sunk in the hangingwall of the mineralization. The winze is planned to eventually hoist (after Year 8) mineralized rock from the loading station on 1300 RL to the top of the shaft on 2040 RL. Mineralized rock is transferred directly from the skips to the decline conveyor via a rock pass and loading station.

It is envisaged that mining will be carried out using modern trackless mining equipment. The proposed mine ventilation circuit will include a number of ventilation raises, raise-bored from surface.

Figure 1.2 is an illustration of the mine as a whole, showing the ventilation layout, the conveyor route to surface, and the winze.

Figure 1.2: Overall mine layout

 

 

LOGO

Mineral processing

Metallurgical test work was carried out between 2008 and 2015 on metallurgical samples composited from 67 drillhole samples taken from the Valdecañas vein system.

 

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The proposed process plant consists of a comminution circuit followed by the sequential flotation of a silver-rich lead concentrate, a zinc concentrate, and a gold-rich pyrite concentrate.

It is envisaged that crushed mineralized rock will be delivered to a stockpile located near the mill and will feed directly to the mill via transfer conveyors.

The proposed milling circuit comprises a semi-autogenous grinding mill and ball mill, producing feed to the flotation circuit. Separate lead, zinc, and pyrite concentrates would be thickened, filtered, and stockpiled for dispatch by truck directly to customers or for onward shipment. It is noted that, although Cu is estimated in the Mineral Resource, it is not considered in this study, additional mineral processing work being required to establish prospects for reasonable extraction.

It is envisaged that the process plant will ramp up operations over a three year period to a steady state throughput rate of 1.4 Mtpa. Estimated mill recoveries are summarized in Table 1.3.

Table 1.3: Mill recoveries

 

     Gold     Silver     Lead     Zinc  

Mill recovery

     82     95     93     90

Project infrastructure

A 6.5 km access road, mostly over hilly terrain, will be required to access the main decline portal site from the mill. A two-lane sealed road suitable for use by heavy vehicles is proposed.

Power would be supplied to a main substation at the site via a 115 kV overhead power line supplied from the local grid. The line would have a length of approximately 1.5 km to the main processing plant sub-station.

The electrical supply system for the Juanicipio Project will be developed in stages as the project develops. An initial system, with power sourced from a nearby mine, has been used for the initial decline development. This power will eventually be disconnected and the supply switched over to the permanent mine system, which originates at the mill substation.

The permanent system will have power feeding the underground and surface facilities from the mill substation. There will be two feeders for the mine: a power line that will follow the access road to deliver power from the mill to the current portal and surface ventilation fans, and a second power line going down the conveyor decline.

It is anticipated that water will initially be provided via a pipeline from a neighbouring mine that has excess water from ground water inflow. This water will be supplemented by any water from dewatering the underground workings at Juanicipio.

It is envisaged that all mill tailings will be discharged to a tailings storage facility (TSF) with a total volume of approximately 18 Mm3. No detailed environmental or geotechnical studies have been carried out on suitable sites for the TSF for the project. Nevertheless, several sites have been considered, including a location adjacent to the proposed mill site.

Underground infrastructure

The proposed handling system for mineralized material is based around a nominal 4,000 tpd capacity, approximately equivalent to 216 tph over a 24-hour period, based on a capacity factor of 1.3. This allows for excess capacity in the mineralized material handling system relative to any potential disconnection between the

 

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mine and mill. Initially mineralized material transport from various mining levels will be by truck haulage to the crusher on 1950 RL. The crushed material is then placed on a load-out belt feeding two sequential conveyors to the surface stockpile adjacent to the mill.

Later in the mine life, an internal winze is projected to be sunk to allow the hoisting of mineralized material from the loading pocket on 1300 RL up to the crusher on 1950 RL. From there, the material will be conveyed out of the mine via the existing conveyor system. The winze hoist consists of a double drum, dual skip system with rope guides. The hoist is mounted at the head of the winze excavation in a chamber above the skip dumps. The skips are discharged via pneumatic self-discharge systems into a raise that leads to a 500 t storage bin. Mineralized material that is delivered to the bin will be sized to minus 200 mm. The storage bin discharges into a jaw crusher that sizes the material to minus 100 mm. The hoist is designed to accommodate the production capacity of 1.4 Mtpa, however there is some spare capacity built in through potential minor adjustments in hoisting schedules or skip sizes.

Development waste is either hauled to surface by trucks via the twin access declines, or placed directly into stopes as backfill. All waste hauled to surface will be stored near the current portal. Waste required for subsequent backfilling will be delivered down a waste pass driven as close to the deposit as practicable, and then distributed to the stopes.

Two bays will be provided for the storage of bulk emulsion, each containing one 24,000 L storage tank and a storage area. A third bay will be designated for the storage of detonators on wooden shelves. A powder bay will be designated for the storage of all other explosive products (other than the bulk emulsion and the detonators) on wooden shelves. A concrete wall with a steel door will separate this bay from the rest of the mine workings. All explosives bays will be located on 1920 RL.

The main maintenance area will be located on surface. All major scheduled planned maintenance and rebuilds will take place in the surface workshop. Two small service bays will be located underground for low-level maintenance such as lubrication and small repairs. To reduce the quantity of fuel and oils stored underground, it is envisaged that the truck fleet and most utility vehicles will be fuelled on surface and maintained in a surface heavy equipment workshop. Only vehicles and equipment not travelling to surface as part of their daily routine will be fuelled underground.

Local area compressors will supply compressed air for the underground maintenance and service bay area, with compressed air lines from the air receiver routed to convenient locations in the area. All mobile drilling equipment, including jumbos, longhole drills, bolters, and cable bolters will be equipped with on-board compressors. ITH drills will have portable adjacent compressors to meet their elevated pressure requirements. Two units are required for this purpose.

Refuge station chambers with 30-person capacity will be used for emergencies; these chambers will be portable for flexibility of location at the most appropriate areas of the mine.

The ground water inflow into the mine has been estimated using information from nearby mines and is not based on a hydrogeological model. The hydrology data available at the time of this report is not sufficiently detailed to fully understand the likely magnitude of water inflow into the mine along faults or other geological features. AMC understands that other mines in the area are currently experiencing a steady mine inflow of the order of 190 L/s in similar geological structures and lithologies to those that will be encountered at Juanicipio. Relating the strike length of the Juanicipio mineralization to other mineralization strike lengths in the area has allowed a design criterion for long term steady state inflow of 95 L/s to be projected. The mine dewatering system will be sized to handle twice this amount as the peak outflow.

The overall dewatering strategy largely depends on accessing the lower levels of the mine well ahead of stope production. This early development approach provides a means for installing a series of dewatering sumps that

 

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will dewater sections of the mine prior to production mining. The risk of flooding will be partially mitigated by this early development strategy and by the provision of spare pumping capacity.

Project development and production schedule

Minera Juanicipio is currently developing an access decline to the mineralization, which is at approximately 1920 RL as of the time of the 2017 PEA. It is estimated that it will take approximately two years to extract first mineralization and commence concentrate production. Key conceptual milestones relating to the project development are shown in Table 1.4.

Table 1.4: Project development conceptual milestones

 

Milestone

   Start      Finish  

Decline development

     Year 1        Year 8  

Conveyor decline

     Year 1        Year 2  

Internal winze, engineering, and construction

     Year 3        Year 9  

Processing plant

     Year 1        Year 3  

Full production (ramp up to 1.4 Mtpa)

     Year 2        Year 5  

 

* Year 1 is assumed to be 2018.

The estimated LOM production tonnage and grade that forms the basis for the preliminary economic assessment is set out in Table 1.5. Mill feed from vein development comprises approximately 25% of total mill feed, with the remainder from stoping operations.

Table 1.5: Material projected to be mined and processed as a basis for the economic assessment

 

     Grade    Contained metal

Tonnes

   Ag
(g/t)
   Au
(g/t)
   Pb
(%)
   Zn
(%)
   Ag
(Moz)
   Au
(koz)
   Pb
(Mlbs)
   Zn
(Mlbs)
23,123,706    282    1.37    1.84    3.43    210    1,019    938    1,748

The tonnage and grades shown in Table 1.5 have resulted from the mine design and scheduling process conducted on the Mineral Resource estimate and block model prepared by AMC and described in the 2017 PEA. A $55 Net Smelter Return (NSR) cut-off was applied to the resource model, stope shapes have been projected, and estimated dilution and mining losses have been accounted for. Metal prices used in the NSR calculation were $1,225 per ounce gold, $17.30 per ounce silver, $0.87 per pound lead, and $0.94 per pound zinc. An exchange rate of 18.46 Mexican pesos to one US dollar was assumed.

In developing the tonnage and grade estimates, stope blocks that were in contact with the property boundaries were excluded and zero grade has been assumed for the dilution material. Approximately 38% of the tonnage and 22% of the silver content of the material that forms the basis of the economic assessment is derived from Inferred Mineral Resources. The 2017 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the results of the 2017 PEA will be realized.

Project capital costs

Project capital is estimated at $840M; pre-production capital (Year 1 to Q1 Year 3 inclusively) is estimated to be $360M. Sustaining capital ($480M) is defined as all capital following pre-production and includes ongoing mine development after concentrate production commences, and mobile and fixed equipment replacements and rebuilds over the mine life. A summary of projected capital costs is shown in Table 1.6.

 

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Table 1.6: Summary of projected capital costs

 

     Capital ($) total
LOM
     Pre-production capital ($)  

Item

      Y01      Y02      Y03*  

Underground development

     226,272,930        25,243,270        32,209,310        5,241,840  

Mine equipment

     161,878,000        0        7,284,510        4,249,300  

Winze

     64,044,740        0        0        0  

Material movement—trucking development waste

     46,949,770        1,778,840        2,082,660        1,414,330  

Road and powerline to portal

     5,914,000        5,914,000        0        0  

Process plant

     91,877,700        23,902,690        38,244,310        9,561,080  

Surface infrastructure

     68,138,330        13,865,330        13,865,330        13,865,330  

UG infrastructure

     65,830,930        19,276,980        19,276,980        19,276,980  

Capitalized operating costs

     22,770,790        5,149,800        14,096,800        3,524,200  

EPCM

     24,956,260        8,318,750        8,318,750        8,318,750  

Owners cost

     16,377,420        5,459,140        5,459,140        5,459,140  

Contingency

     45,157,810        15,052,600        15,052,600        9,572,230  

Total

     840,168,680        123,961,400        155,890,390        80,483,180  

Pre-production capital

     360,334,970           

Sustaining capital

     479,833,710           

Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of the components due to rounding adjustments.

 

* Assumed to be Q1 2020

Site operating costs

Total site operating costs have been estimated at $58.67/t milled. The unit costs are broken down as follows:

 

    Mining: $34.95/t milled

 

    Milling: $20.37/t milled

 

    General and Administration: $3.34/t milled

Key factors relating to the operating cost estimate include:

 

    Some unit mine operating costs from the 2012 PEA were updated for inflation.

 

    Revised costs were estimated for trucking, conveying and hoisting activities. Costs relating to labour, equipment and power were also updated to reflect the current production schedule.

 

    Power costs were estimated based on updated infrastructure needs and a unit cost of $0.0834/kWh.

 

    A waste rock backfill operating cost of $0.87/t mineralized material for imported waste rock fill from surface was estimated from first principles.

 

    Mineralized drift development cost per metre was based on a single-face average advance rate of 100 m/month. The labour component (~30%) of unit costs was scaled-up from the 2012 PEA to reflect this (2012 PEA assumed 120 m/month single-face advance). Unit mineralized development costs were also projected 10% higher for 100 m/month compared to the 2012 PEA. Unit development rates reflect current contractor pricing.

 

    Variable processing unit costs ($/t milled) remained the same as for the 2012 PEA to reflect inflation, but also taking account of the savings due to economies of scale. Fixed processing costs ($/year) for items such as salaries, mill maintenance and other fixed costs, were escalated by the 6 / 10 power rule to account for the higher mill throughput rate, and suitable cost inflation was also applied.

 

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    Fixed general and administration (G&A) costs ($/year) for items including site administration, human resources, finance and purchasing, general maintenance, safety and environment, were escalated by the 6 / 10 power rule to account for the higher production rate, and suitable cost inflation was also applied.

 

    Operating costs were estimated for the underground conveyor at $0.59/t and for the winze and crusher at $1.22/t. These costs include labour, energy, and maintenance.

A summary of the projected annual operating costs over the life of mine is provided in Table 1.7.

Table 1.7: Summary of projected life of mine site operating costs

 

Year

   Date     

Operating cost $M

Year 1

     2018      n/a – capitalized as pre-operative capital

Year 2

     2019      n/a – capitalized as pre-operative capital

Year 3

     2020      48

Year 4

     2021      79

Year 5

     2022      83

Year 6

     2023      85

Year 7

     2024      84

Year 8

     2025      87

Year 9

     2026      85

Year 10

     2027      85

Year 11

     2028      87

Year 12

     2029      89

Year 13

     2030      80

Year 14

     2031      78

Year 15

     2032      74

Year 16

     2033      74

Year 17

     2034      73

Year 18

     2035      57

Year 19

     2036      48

Year 20

     2037      34

Year 21

     2038      29

Total

      1,357

Note:

Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of the components due to rounding adjustments.

Offsite costs (concentrate transport, treatment, and refining costs)

No detailed market studies have been undertaken at this stage of the project. Lead and zinc concentrates are commonly sold as part of the world’s mining and metals industries. It is envisaged that silver-rich lead concentrate and zinc concentrate may be sold to smelters in the Asian region. Lead concentrate could potentially be sold to a smelter in Mexico or exported to offshore smelters. If sold to a local smelter, transport costs could be reduced.

For purposes of its analysis, AMC has assumed that both the lead and zinc concentrates will be treated in Asia, with lead and zinc treatment charges of $235/dry metric tonne of concentrate, silver refining charges equivalent to 4% of the silver price, gold refining charges of $5/oz and, subject to a transport cost of $115/wet metric tonne. Treatment and other terms for lead and zinc concentrates were suggested by Neil S. Seldon & Associates Ltd. (NSA, 2016). Both lead and zinc concentrates are projected to incur minor treatment penalties for impurities. The

 

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pyrite concentrate is expected to be of high value and it is assumed that it will be sold to a Mexican smelter, but other alternatives are expected to be available.

Total off-site costs have been estimated at $41.32/t milled.

Taxes

Income and other taxes presented in the PEA are based on Mexican legislated tax rates and do not reflect any tax planning opportunities. The tax provisions include a conventional profit based tax using the 30% corporate tax rate currently in effect, a 7.5% special mining duty applied on earnings before amortization and taxes, and a 0.5% gross revenue royalty on all gold and silver revenues. Employee profit sharing (PTU) is not included in the financial estimates and the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) of the project may fluctuate depending on how the project is structured once it is in operation.

Projected sales

Project economics have been assessed using the following metal prices (Base Case Prices), which were selected after discussion with MAG and referencing current market and recent historical prices, values used in other recent projects, and forecasts in the public domain:

 

    Silver price = $17.90/oz

 

    Gold price = $1,250/oz

 

    Lead price = $0.95/lb

 

    Zinc price = $1.00/lb

It is envisaged that a silver-rich zinc concentrate will be sold primarily to smelters in the Asian region. Lead concentrate could potentially be sold to a smelter in Mexico or exported to offshore smelters. It is envisaged that the gold-rich pyrite concentrate will be sold to a customer able to recover gold and silver using a conventional cyanide leach process.

Economic analysis

All currency is in US dollars ($) unless otherwise stated. The cost estimate was prepared with a base date of Year 1 and does not include any escalation beyond this date. For net present value (NPV) estimation, all costs and revenues are discounted at 5% from the base date. An exchange rate of MXP18.46:US$1 and a corporate tax rate of 30% have been assumed.

AMC conducted a high level economic assessment of the conceptual underground operation of the Juanicipio deposit. The mine is projected to generate approximately $1,860M pre-tax NPV and $1,138 M post-tax NPV at 5% discount rate, pre-tax IRR of 64.5% and post-tax IRR of 44.5%. Project capital is estimated at $840 M with a payback period of 3.4 years (undiscounted pre-tax cash flow from Year 1).

Table 1.8 provides a summary of the key inputs and results of the economic analysis. The results of the 2017 PEA compare favorably with the previous 2012 PEA, which projected a post-tax NPV at 5% discount rate of $1,233M and post-tax IRR of 43%.

 

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Table 1.8: Key inputs and results of economic analysis

 

Juanicipio deposit

   Unit   Value (7)  

Total mineralized rock

   tonnes     23,123,706  

Total waste production

   tonnes     6,758,008  

Production tonnage silver grade (1)

   g/t     282  

Production tonnage gold grade (1)

   g/t     1.37  

Production tonnage zinc grade (1)

       %     3.43  

Production tonnage lead grade (1)

       %     1.84  

Silver recovery (1)

       %     94.8  

Gold recovery (1)

       %     81.6  

Zinc recovery (1)

       %     89.8  

Lead recovery (1)

       %     92.8  

Silver price

   $/oz   $ 17.90  

Gold price

   $/oz   $ 1,250  

Zinc price

   $/lb   $ 0.95  

Lead price

   $/lb   $ 1.00  

Silver payable (2)

       %     87  

Gold payable (2)

       %     73  

Zinc payable (2)

       %     76  

Lead payable (2)

       %     86  

Payable silver metal

   oz     182,789,511  

Payable gold metal

   oz     747,417  

Payable zinc metal

   lb     1,326,904,724  

Payable lead metal

   lb     811,923,951  

Revenue split by commodity

   Silver     51.90

Revenue split by commodity

   Gold     14.82

Revenue split by commodity

   Zinc     21.05

Revenue split by commodity

   Lead     12.23

Gross revenue

   $ (M)   $ 6,304  

Capital costs

   $ (M)     840  

Operating costs (total) (3)

   $ (M)     1,357  

Mine operating costs (4)

   $/t     34.95  

Processing costs

   $/t     20.37  

Operating costs (total) (3)

   $/t     58.67  

Operating cash cost (Ag)

   $/oz Ag     (3.94

Total all-in sustaining cost (Ag)

   $/oz Ag     5.02  

Payback period from plant start up (5)

   Years     1.8  

Cumulative net cash flow (6)

   $ (M)     3,152  

Pre-tax NPV @5% discount rate

   $ (M)     1,860  

Pre-tax IRR

       %     64.5  

Post-tax NPV @5% discount rate

   $ (M)     1,138  

Post-tax IRR

       %     44.5  

 

1. LOM average.
2. Overall payable % includes recoveries, treatment, transport, refining costs and selling costs.
3. Includes mine operating costs, milling, and mine G&A.
4. Underground mining costs only.
5. Values are post-tax from projected plant start up.

 

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6. Pre-tax and undiscounted.
7. The results are preliminary in nature and include Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be realized.

Sensitivity

AMC has carried out a sensitivity analysis of the conceptual project economics. The sensitivity analysis examined the impact on the post-tax NPV (at 5% discount rate) of a 30% positive or negative change in metal prices, operating costs, capital costs, corporate tax rate, foreign exchange rate (MXN Peso:$) and the discount rate. The results (Figure 1.3) show that the post-tax NPV is very positive and remains so for the range of sensitivities evaluated.

Figure 1.3: Sensitivity analysis – post-tax NPV at 5% discount rate

 

 

LOGO

Conclusions

Mineral Resource estimate

AMC makes the following observations and conclusions:

 

    Indicated tonnes have increased by 27%, while Inferred tonnes have increased by 138%.

 

    Both Indicated and Inferred grades have decreased for silver and increased for base metals.

 

    Average gold grades have increased in the Indicated category and decreased in Inferred category.

 

    The net result in the Indicated category has been an increase in contained silver of 6% and an increase in contained gold of 59%. The increases in contained lead and zinc are 43% and 34% respectively.

 

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    The net result in the Inferred category has been an increase in contained silver of 48% and an increase in contained gold of 76%. Contained lead and zinc show increases of 226% and 295% respectively.

 

    Although not a significant part of the total Mineral Resource, copper is quoted for the first time as a result of high copper values being intercepted at depth in the new drilling.

Reasons for the differences in grade, tonnes and contained metal include Mineral Resource addition down-dip and conversion to higher categories arising from the new drilling. The most significant change from the previous estimate is the increase in extent of the Deep Zone mineralization as a result of the new drilling. This is in keeping with the increase in tonnes seen in the 2017 AMC estimate. Also, the overall decrease in average precious metal grades and increase in average base metal grades reflects the new drilling targeting the deeper base metal rich zones.

Mining

 

    The mine will be accessed by twin declines and a conveyor decline.

 

    Mechanized longhole stoping with waste backfill has been selected as the mining method. This offers good productivity while maintaining selectivity.

 

    Trade-off studies have identified that conveying the mineralized rock directly to the relocated process plant from underground is economically and operationally superior to other arrangements.

 

    Evaluation of the planned production rate and scheduling of the deposit indicates that the deposit supports 1.4 Mtpa.

 

    All waste will be tipped directly into stopes or trucked to surface. There will be a deficit in the amount of waste required for backfilling, projected to be in Year 11. It is assumed that waste will be mined from a small pit and dropped down a waste pass for distribution to the stopes.

 

    A 780 m long winze will be developed to handle the mineralized material at depth. The winze will commence hoisting in Year 8.

 

    A 1.5 km paved access road is required from the main highway to the process plant. A 6.5 km access road, mostly over hilly terrain, will be required to access the main portal site from the plant. A two-lane sealed road suitable for use by heavy vehicles is proposed.

 

    Power would be supplied to a main substation at the site via a 115 kV overhead power line from an existing power line located to the north of the property. The line would have a length of approximately 2 km to the main processing plant sub-station.

 

    It is anticipated that mine service water will initially be provided via a pipeline from a neighbouring mine that has excess water from groundwater inflow. This water will be supplemented by any water from dewatering the underground workings at Juanicipio (see final point below).

 

    It is envisaged that all mill tailings will be discharged to a tailings storage facility (TSF) with a total volume of approximately 18 Mm3.

 

    No detailed environmental or geotechnical studies have been carried out on suitable sites for the TSF for the project.

 

    Extensive groundwater is anticipated at Juanicipio. Currently there has not been a detailed hydrogeological study for the mine; this may be considered a risk.

 

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Processing

 

    A third metallurgical laboratory test program was undertaken during 2013, building on the two previous programs. Locked cycle flotation tests confirmed that the flotation circuit will be viable and good recoveries of silver (80.1%), lead (92.8%), and copper (38.4%) to the lead concentrate were achieved. Recoveries to zinc concentrate were 4.9% for gold, 6.8% for silver, 43.9% for copper, and 89.8% for zinc. Gold recoveries of 22.1% to pyrite concentrate were also achieved, along with 9.9% of the silver and 58.1% of the iron. Losses to final tails were reasonable, with metal grades observed in the final tails stream of 0.2 g/t gold, 24 g/t silver, 0.11% lead, 0.01% copper, and 0.11% zinc. Cyanidation of the pyrite concentrate demonstrated good gold and silver recoveries of 52% and 80% respectively.

 

    The proposed flowsheet is designed to treat a nominal 4,000 tpd of feed and consists of a comminution circuit, with underground primary crushing, secondary crushing and milling on surface, followed by sequential flotation to produce a silver-rich lead concentrate; followed by production of a zinc concentrate and a gold-containing pyrite concentrate. The flowsheet is conventional for lead-zinc operations, with the pyrite flotation circuit providing a variation to the most commonly used circuits. Test work supports the selection and design of the flotation circuits.

 

    The location of the processing plant has changed from previous studies to a large flat area suitable for construction and of sufficient size to accommodate the processing plant and tailings facility.

Economics

The preliminary economic assessment clearly indicates that the Juanicipio Project has the potential to be developed into an economically positive, high-grade underground silver mine. Further drilling and investigation work aimed at upgrading Inferred Mineral Resources and increasing the geotechnical and hydrogeological understanding of the deposit is recommended to augment the next stage of project design and evaluation.

Risks

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is a degree of uncertainty attributable to the estimation of Mineral Resources. Until resources are actually mined and processed, the quantity of mineralization and grades must be considered as estimates only. Any material change in quantity of resources, mineralization, or grade may affect the economic viability of the project.

Opportunities for further consideration currently excluded from project scope

Potential opportunities for the project include:

 

    Significant exploration potential within a large land package and a number of high priority drill targets.

 

    The Valdecañas vein system, including the new Anticipada Vein, is largely open at depth.

 

    Deep zone is open to the east and west boundaries of the joint venture property.

 

    Juanicipio vein open to the west and to depth for further exploration.

 

    The 2017 PEA only considers the identified Mineral Resources within the Valdecañas vein system, the Juanicipio vein is not considered at this time.

 

    Further analysis to determine the metal grade of the diluting material from the Hangingwall and Footwall over blast.

 

    A characterization study of the planned dilution and dilution grade.

 

    Lease versus purchase analysis of equipment, considering equipment availability and tax benefits of leasing.

 

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    Assess the ability to increase the recoverability and payability of Ag and Au with a gravity circuit.

 

    Potential recoverability of copper to be considered and assessed.

 

    An opportunity exists to commence negotiations with potential smelters to possibly capitalize on lower lead and zinc treatment charges, and possibilities to reduce transport costs of concentrate.

Recommendations for further work

AMC recommends the following additional work:

 

    In-fill drilling to convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources in the Valdecañas vein system.

 

    Step-out drilling to expand the Deep Zone in the Valdecañas vein system and to delineate the western extent and depth of the Juanicipio vein.

 

    Undertake surface exploration and drilling programs on targets outside of the existing Mineral Resource area, as only 5% to 10% of the overall property has been drill tested and numerous targets for drill-based exploration have been identified.

 

    Continue with relevant mapping, sampling and geophysical surveys to assist in identification of new drill targets.

 

    Undertake a hydrogeological study to reduce risks associated with ground water and better define the dewatering strategy.

 

    Undertake a geotechnical data collection program to include an appropriate number of laboratory-conducted rock strength tests on all lithological units that are expected to be intersected by underground mining.

 

    Geotechnically log the centreline of the planned winze and conduct a geophysical survey of the proposed shaft centreline using an optical and acoustic televiewer.

 

    Create a more detailed cost estimate and life of mine production plan for the next phase of the project. Assess potential to optimize lateral and vertical development quantities. The depth of the winze may need to be re-evaluated if the Mineral Resource extends further at depth.

 

    Optimization of the lead flotation circuit should be investigated to improve the lead grade of the concentrate without compromising recoveries. It has been shown that up to 37% of the gold and 28% of the silver in feed could be recovered to a gravity concentrate, which could improve project economics and potentially eliminate the requirement for a pyrite flotation circuit. More test work will be required to demonstrate the viability of including a gravity circuit in the final process design. An overall cost benefit study of the pyrite flotation circuit should be undertaken.

 

    The potential impact of metallurgical variability within the conceptual mining areas has not been demonstrated and more variability work may be required to ensure that projected grades and recoveries can be reasonably assumed to be consistently achievable over the life of the operation.

 

    Detailed mass and water balances should be generated to confirm metal deportment throughout the processing circuit, process water requirements and, as necessary, water discharge requirements. Similarly, energy requirements for processing operations should be further evaluated.

 

    Discussions with potential customers are recommended to better define likely concentrate payment terms. The discussions should be directed towards establishing provisional concentrate off-take agreements.

 

    Undertake further work to identify and establish firm contracts for water supply either with a neighbouring mine or from an alternative source. Further understanding of the likely quantity of ground water will be gained from a hydrogeological study; this together with catchment dams could be an alternative solution.

 

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It is recommended that further work be carried out as part of a structured program that includes completion of a more detailed project feasibility study. The estimated cost of this program is $15.2M.

Other Exploration Properties

Cinco de Mayo Property

The Company owns 100% of the mineral concessions comprising the Cinco de Mayo Property. The property is located approximately 190 kilometres northwest of the city of Chihuahua, in northern Chihuahua State, Mexico, and covers approximately 25,113 hectares. The primary concessions of Cinco de Mayo Property were acquired by way of an option agreement dated February 26, 2004, and the property remains subject to a 2.5% net smelter returns royalty. As the Company has been unable to negotiate a renewed surface agreement with the local Ejido controlling the surface access to key portions of the property, a full impairment was recognized on the property in the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company continues to believe that the Cinco de Mayo Property has significant geological potential and will continue to maintain its mineral concessions in good standing. Efforts to restore the surface access will continue, although the Company has no current plans to conduct any geological exploration programs on the property. There are no contractual or statutory time limits on obtaining surface access rights under the relevant permits required for continued exploration.

The Company also holds interests in various other early stage exploration properties. The Company continues to evaluate other exploration opportunities both on currently owned properties and on new prospects.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information included, or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the risks described below before purchasing our securities. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could materially suffer. As a result, the trading price of our securities, including our Common Shares, could decline, and you might lose all or part of your investment. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face; risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. You should also refer to the other information set forth or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes.

Risk Factors – Table of Contents

 

Risks Relating to the Company’s Business Operations

     31  

Speculative Nature of Mineral Exploration

  

Lack of Mineral Reserves

  

Likelihood of Commercially Mineable Deposit

  

Nature of Mineral Resource Estimates

  

Surface Use

  

Licenses and Permits

  

Business Climate in Mexico

  

Global Economic and Political Instability

  

Community Relations

  

Risks Relating to Financing the Company’s Business Operations

     35  

Necessity of Substantial Expenditures

  

History of Losses and Lack of Realizable Value

  

Dependence on Additional Financing for Future Liquidity

  

Inadequate Funding

  

Risks Relating to Development of Juanicipio Project

     36  

No Formal Production Decision

  

Infrastructure, Power, and Water

  

Access to Skilled Workforce

  

Inconsistencies between Development Timeline and 2017 PEA

  

Capital Requirements and Timeline to Production

  

Risks Relating to the Company’s Property Titles

     39  

Title Risk

  

Nature of Title Opinions

  

Title Registered in Other Parties’ Names

  

Risks Related to Minority Investment in Juanicipio Project

     40  

Minority Shareholder

  

Joint Venture

  

Significant Shareholders

  

Other Business Risks

     41  

Litigation

  

Environmental Regulation

  

Competitive Industry

  

Lack of Infrastructure

  

Key Personnel

  

Cascabel and IMDEX

  

 

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Qualified Personnel

  

Conflicts of Interest

  

Foreign Currency and Inflation

  

Insufficient Insurance

  

Metal Prices

  

Risks Relating to the Regulatory Environment

     45  

Anti-Corruption Laws

  

Human Rights Laws

  

Mexican Foreign Investment and Income Tax Laws

  

Mexican Regulators

  

Canadian Disclosure Practices

  

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

  

Risks Relating to the Company’s Securities

     48  

Dilution Through Funding and Property Commitments

  

Share Price Volatility

  

Liquidity

  

Tax Consequences of Passive Foreign Investment

  

Difficulties for U.S. Litigants

  

Asset Location

  

Dilution Through Exercise of Common Share Equivalents

  

Dividend Payment

  

Market for Securities Other Than Common Shares

  

Unsecured Debt Securities

  

Risks Relating to the Company’s Business Operations

Mineral exploration and development is a highly speculative business and most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable deposits.

Exploration for minerals is a highly speculative venture necessarily involving substantial risk. The expenditures made by the Company described herein may not result in discoveries of commercial quantities of minerals. The failure to find an economic mineral deposit on any of the exploration concessions in which the Company has an interest will have a negative effect on the Company.

None of the properties in which the Company has an interest has any mineral reserves.

Currently, there are no mineral reserves (within the meaning of NI 43-101) on any of the properties in which the Company has an interest. Only those mineral deposits that the Company can economically and legally extract or produce, based on a comprehensive evaluation of cost, grade, recovery and other factors, are considered mineral reserves. The resource estimates contained in the Company’s technical reports are indicated and inferred resource estimates only and no assurance can be given that any particular level of recovery of silver or other minerals from mineralized material will in fact be realized or that an identified mineralized deposit will ever qualify as a commercially mineable mineral deposit. In particular, inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Further, the economic assessment contained in the 2017 PEA is preliminary in nature, and actual capital costs, operating costs, production, economic returns and other estimates contained in studies or estimates prepared by or for the Company may differ from those described therein and herein, and there can be no assurance that actual costs will not be higher than anticipated. Substantial additional work, including mine design and mining schedules, metallurgical flow sheets and process plant designs, would be required in order to determine if any economic deposits exist on the Company’s properties. Substantial expenditures would be required to establish mineral reserves through drilling and metallurgical and other testing techniques. The costs, timing and complexities of upgrading the mineralized material to proven or probable reserves may be greater than the value of the

 

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Company’s reserves on a mineral property and may require the Company to write-off the costs capitalized for that property in its financial statements. The Company cannot provide any assurance that future feasibility studies will establish mineral reserves at its properties. The failure to establish mineral reserves could restrict the Company’s ability to successfully implement its strategies for long-term growth.

Most exploration projects do not result in commercially mineable deposits.

The Company’s property interests are primarily at the exploration stage. None of the Company’s properties have known commercial quantities of minerals. Development of mineral properties involves a high degree of risk and few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. The commercial viability of a mineral deposit is dependent upon a number of factors which are beyond the Company’s control, including the attributes of the deposit, commodity prices, government policies and regulation and environmental protection. Fluctuations in the market prices of minerals may render resources and deposits containing relatively lower grades of mineralization uneconomic. Further exploration or delineation will be required before a final evaluation as to the economic and legal feasibility of any of the Company’s properties is determined. Even if the Company completes its exploration programs and is successful in identifying mineral deposits, it will have to spend substantial funds on further drilling and engineering studies before it will know if it has a commercially viable mineral deposit. Most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable mineral deposits.

Estimates of reserves and resources, mineral deposits and production costs can be affected by such factors as environmental permit regulations and requirements, indigenous communities’ rights, weather, environmental factors, unforeseen technical difficulties, unusual or unexpected geological formations and work interruptions. As a result, there is a risk such estimates are inaccurate. For example, the 2017 PEA includes a resource estimate prepared by AMC in accordance with NI 43-101. The grade of precious and base metals ultimately discovered may differ from the indicated drilling results. If the grade of the resource was lower, there would be a negative impact on the economics of the Juanicipio Project. There can be no assurance that precious metals recovered in small-scale tests will be duplicated in large-scale tests under on-site conditions or in production scale. The probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is extremely remote. If a property does not contain any reserves, any funds spent on exploration of that property will be lost. The failure of the Company to find an economic mineral deposit on any of its exploration concessions will have a negative effect on the Company.

Estimates of mineral resources are based on interpretation and assumptions and are inherently imprecise.

The mineral resource figures referred to in the 2017 PEA, this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference have been determined and valued based on assumed future prices, cut-off grades and operating costs. However, until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, any mineral resources must be considered as estimates only. Fresnillo prepares its own internal resources estimates annually in respect of the Juanicipio Project and such estimates may be materially different than those relied upon by the Company. Any such estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices. Estimates can be imprecise and depend upon geological interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sampling analysis, which may prove to be unreliable. In addition, the grade and/or quantity of precious metals ultimately recovered may differ from that indicated by drilling results. There can be no assurance that precious and base metals recovered in small-scale tests will be duplicated in large-scale tests under on-site conditions or in production scale. The grade of the reported mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and it is uncertain whether further technical studies will result in an upgrade to them. Further drilling on the mineralized zones is required to complement the current bulk sample and add confidence in the continuity of mineralized zones in comparison to the current block model. Any material change in the quantity of mineralization, grade or mineralization to waste ratio or extended declines in market prices for silver and precious metals may render portions of the Company’s mineralization uneconomic and result in reduced reported mineralization. Any material reductions in estimates of mineralization, or of the Company’s ability to extract this mineralization, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

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Rights to use the surface of the Company’s mineral properties are not guaranteed.

The majority of the mineral properties in which the Company has an interest are located in remote and relatively uninhabited areas. Some properties, like the Juanicipio Project, are near towns and other habitations, but there are currently no areas of interest to the Company within its mineral concessions that are overlain by significant habitation or industrial users. However, there are potential overlapping surface usage issues in some areas. Some surface rights are owned by local communities or “Ejidos” and some surface rights are owned by private ranching or residential interests. The Company will be required to negotiate the acquisition of surface rights in those areas where it may wish to develop mining operations. In some areas the Company has been required or is in the process of negotiating compensation for surface rights holders in order to secure right of access. In some areas, surface right compensation has been negotiated and is awaiting formal government expropriation in its favour. The Company’s interest in a property or project could be adversely affected by an inability to obtain surface access permissions, or by challenges, regardless of merit, to existing surface access agreements.

With respect to the Company’s Cinco de Mayo Property, the Company has been unable to negotiate a renewed surface agreement with the local Ejido controlling the surface access to key portions of the property and a full impairment was recognized on the property in the year ended December 31, 2016.

There is no guarantee that licenses and permits required by the Company or Minera Juanicipio to conduct business will be obtained, which may result in an impairment or loss in the Company’s mineral properties.

The Company’s and Minera Juanicipio’s current and anticipated future operations, including further exploration, development activities and commencement of production on the Company’s properties, require permits from various national, provincial, territorial and local governmental authorities. The Company and Minera Juanicipio may not be able to obtain all necessary licenses and permits that may be required to carry out exploration, development and mining operations at their projects. In addition, the grant of required licenses and permits may be delayed for reasons outside the Company’s and Minera Juanicipio’s control. For example, the Company has been prevented from obtaining the Soil Use Change Permit required for the Cinco de Mayo Property due to the opposition from certain members of the local Ejido described above. In addition, development permitting delays resulting from a Mexican government changeover in 2012 and 2013 delayed the start of the decline development at the Juanicipio Project. Failure to obtain such licenses and permits on a timely basis, or failure to comply with the terms of any such licenses and permits that the Company and Minera Juanicipio do obtain, may adversely affect their respective business as the Company and Minera Juanicipio would be unable to legally conduct their intended exploration, development or mining work, which may result in increased costs, delay in activities or the Company or Minera Juanicipio losing its interest in its mineral properties.

The properties in which the Company has an interest are located primarily in Mexico.

The Company’s operations are currently conducted in a foreign jurisdiction, Mexico, and, as such, the Company’s operations are exposed to various levels of political, economic and other such risks and uncertainties as extreme fluctuations in currency exchange rates; high rates of inflation; labour unrest; the risks of war or civil unrest; expropriation and nationalization; renegotiation or nullification of existing concessions, licenses, permits and contracts; illegal mining; changes in taxation policies; restrictions on foreign exchange and repatriation; and changing political conditions, currency controls and governmental regulations that favour or require the awarding of contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors to employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction. In addition, there have recently been reports of increased domestic and international political unrest, police and military enforcement action against drug cartels and a corresponding increase in violent crime in Mexico.

In the past, Mexico has been subject to political instability, changes and uncertainties, which may cause changes to existing governmental regulations affecting mineral exploration and mining activities. Mexico’s status as a developing country may make it more difficult for the Company to obtain any required financing for its projects.

 

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Any changes in governmental laws, regulations, economic conditions or shifts in political attitudes or stability in Mexico are beyond the control of the Company and its joint venture partner, Fresnillo, and may adversely affect the Company’s business, including its interest in the Juanicipio Project.

Economic and political instability may affect the Company’s business.

The volatile global economic environment has created market uncertainty and volatility in recent years. From mid-calendar 2008 until early 2009 there was a negative trend with regard to the market for metal commodities and related products as a result of global economic uncertainty, reduced confidence in financial markets, bank failures and credit availability concerns. Similar periods of instability in the market for metal commodities have been experienced since April 2013 and through to present day. These macro-economic events negatively affected the mining and minerals sectors in general, and the Company’s market capitalization has been significantly reduced in periods of market instabilities. Many industries, including the mining industry, are impacted by these market conditions. Global financial conditions remain subject to sudden and rapid destabilizations in response to economic shocks. A slowdown in the financial markets or other economic conditions, including but not limited to consumer spending, employment rates, business conditions, inflation, fuel and energy costs, consumer debt levels, lack of available credit, the state of the financial markets, interest rates and tax rates, may adversely affect the Company’s growth and profitability. Future economic shocks may be precipitated by a number of causes, including the ongoing European debt situation, a continued rise in the price of oil and other commodities, the volatility of metal prices, geopolitical instability, terrorism, the devaluation and volatility of global stock markets and natural disasters. Any sudden or rapid destabilization of global economic conditions could impact the Company’s ability to obtain equity or debt financing in the future on terms favorable to the Company or at all. In such an event, the Company’s operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted.

There are no assurances with respect to the relative strength and stability of future metal markets. Although the Company remains financially strong, its liquidity and long term ability to raise the capital required to execute its business plans may be affected by market volatilities.

The Company’s future profitability and the viability of development depends in part upon the world market price of silver, and other metals such as gold, lead, zinc and copper. Prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. The price of silver is influenced by factors including industrial and retail supply and demand, exchange rates, inflation rates, changes in global economies, confidence in the global monetary system, forward sales of silver and other metals by producers and speculators as well as other global or regional political, social or economic events. The supply of silver and other metals consists of a combination of new mine production and existing stocks held by governments, producers, speculators and consumers, which could increase due to improved mining and production methods.

Prices and availability of commodities consumed or used in connection with exploration and development and mining, such as natural gas, diesel, oil and electricity, also fluctuate, and these fluctuations affect the costs of production at various operations. These fluctuations can be unpredictable, can occur over short periods of time and may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operating costs or the timing and costs of various projects.

The Company assesses on a quarterly basis the carrying values of its mineral properties. Should market conditions and commodity prices worsen and persist in a worsened state for a prolonged period of time, an impairment of the Company’s mineral properties may be required.

Community relations may affect the Company’s business, including its interest in the Juanicipio Project.

Maintaining a positive relationship with the communities in which we operate, including with respect to the Juanicipio Project, is critical to continuing successful exploration and development. As Fresnillo is the operator of the Juanicipio Project, the community relations maintained with respect to that project lie outside the direct

 

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control of the Company. Community support for operations is a key component of a successful exploration or development project. As a business in the mining industry, we may come under pressure in the jurisdictions in which we explore or develop, to demonstrate that other stakeholders benefit and will continue to benefit from our commercial activities. We may face opposition with respect to our current and future development and exploration projects which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and share price.

Risks Relating to Financing the Company’s Business Operations

Substantial expenditures are required for commercial operations and if financing for such expenditures is not available on acceptable terms, the Company may not be able to justify commercial operations.

Substantial expenditures are required to establish reserves through drilling, to develop processes to extract the resources and, in the case of new properties, to develop the extraction and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for extraction. Although substantial benefits may be derived from the discovery of a major deposit, resources may not be discovered in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operations, or the funds required for development may not be obtained at all or on terms acceptable to the Company.

The Company’s expenditures are currently funded from its cash balances, which are the proceeds of previous equity financings. The Company may require significant additional capital in the future to meet its project-related expenditures, as it is unlikely that the Company will generate sufficient operating cash flow to meet all of its future expenditure requirements.

The Company has a history of losses and values attributed to the Company’s assets may not be realizable.

The Company has a history of losses and has no revenues from operations. None of the Company’s properties is currently in production, and there is no certainty that the Company will succeed in placing any of its properties into production in the near future, if at all. The Company has no proven history of performance, revenues, earnings or success. The amounts attributed to the Company’s exploration concessions in its financial statements represent acquisition and exploration costs and should not be taken to represent realizable value with certainty. The Company anticipates continued losses for the foreseeable future until it can successfully place one or more of its property interests into commercial production on a profitable basis. It could be years before the Company receives any revenues from any production of metals, if ever. If the Company is unable to generate revenues with respect to its properties, the Company will not be able to earn profits which would adversely affect its business and prospects.

The Company’s future liquidity will depend upon its ability to arrange significant additional debt or equity financing.

The Company’s future liquidity is dependent upon the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to complete the development of its interests and achieve future profitable production or, alternatively, upon the Company’s ability to dispose of its interests on a profitable basis. Given the Company has incurred losses from inception and does not have any operating cash flow, there can be no assurance that additional capital or financing will be available if needed or that, if available, the terms of such financings will be acceptable to the Company. If the Company raises additional funds through the sale of equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities, shareholders may have their equity interest in the Company diluted.

Adequate funding may not be available, resulting in the possible loss of the Company’s interests in its properties.

Sufficient funding may not be available to the Company for further exploration and development of its property interests. Failure to obtain such additional financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of further

 

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exploration and development of the Company’s properties. If the Company becomes unable to meet its share of costs incurred under agreements to which it is a party, the Company may have its property interests subject to such agreements reduced as a result or even face termination of such agreements. The Company also has options to acquire interests in mineral property claims and in order to obtain ownership of such mineral claims, it must make payments to the current owners and incur certain exploration expenditures on those properties. Accordingly, additional financing will be required to secure ownership of these mineral properties. Failure of the Company to make the requisite payments in the prescribed time periods will result in the Company losing its entire interest in the subject property and the Company will no longer be able to conduct certain aspects of its business as described in this prospectus.

The Company may not have sufficient funds to: (a) make the minimum expenditures to maintain its properties in good standing under Mexican law; (b) make the corresponding payments of semi-annual governmental (mining) duties to maintain its properties in good standing under Mexican law; and (c) make the minimum expenditures to earn its interest in such properties. In such event, in respect of any of the properties, the Company may seek to enter into a joint venture or sell the subject property or elect to terminate its option.

The Company will require new capital to continue to operate its business and to continue with exploration on its properties, and additional capital may not be available when needed, if at all.

Risks Relating to the Development of the Juanicipio Project

Minera Juanicipio has not yet made a formal “Production Decision” at the Juanicipio Project and development to date has not been based on a feasibility study.

Although a requirement of the Minera Juanicipio shareholders’ agreement in order to make a production decision, a feasibility study confirming the economic feasibility of the Juanicipio Project has not previously been undertaken by the Juanicipio Joint Venture partners. The unanimous decision in 2013 to commence the underground development and the access decline at the Juanicipio Project was made based on the results of a preliminary economic assessment. The annual development budgets for 2014, 2015 and 2016 were consistent with the recommendations of the preliminary economic assessment and were unanimously approved by both shareholders of Minera Juanicipio. In 2017, with additional drilling success from 2015 to early 2017 and the expected expanded resource estimate at the Juanicipio Project, the Company and Fresnillo considered alternate mine plans and various mine design upgrades different from what was set out in the above-noted preliminary economic assessment. Considerations included increasing the processing plant nameplate capacity from 2,650 tonnes per day to 4,000 tonnes per day, expanding underground workings to handle increased waste-rock production and sinking an internal shaft (or winze) to access the Deep Zone sooner. A 2017 development budget reflecting expanded underground workings was presented to and unanimously approved by Minera Juanicipio during the year; however, further development budgets for 2018 and beyond and a formal timeline to production have yet to be considered by Minera Juanicipio.

Although Fresnillo has indicated to the Company and in its public presentations that it expects Minera Juanicipio to be in production by the first half of 2020, there are no assurances that a formal development or production decision will be made or that production will be achieved by that date.

The contemplated development of the Juanicipio Project may be adversely impacted by lack of access and availability of infrastructure, power and water.

The development of the Juanicipio Project will require access to and an ability to maintain adequate and reliable infrastructure, including roads, power sources and water systems. If the required infrastructure is not readily available, it may have to be built, and there is no assurance that it can be built in a timely manner or at all. There is no assurance that Minera Juanicipio can access and maintain the infrastructure needed, or, where necessary, obtain rights of way, government authorizations and permits to construct, or upgrade the same at a reasonable

 

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cost, in a timely manner, or at all. Access to infrastructure may also be interrupted by natural causes, such as drought, floods, earthquakes and other weather phenomena, or man-made causes, such as blockades, sabotage, conflicts, government issues, political events, protests, rationing or competing uses.

Inadequate, inconsistent, or costly infrastructure could compromise many aspects of the project’s feasibility, viability and profitability, including, but not limited to the construction schedule, capital and operating costs.

Ground water levels could affect the Juanicipio Project development.

As identified in the 2017 PEA, substantial ground water may be encountered at the Juanicipio Project, and currently there has not been a detailed hydrogeological study for the planned mine. Further understanding of the likely quantity of ground water is required and will be gained from a hydrogeological study, which is a recommendation contained within the 2017 PEA. Until such hydrogeological study is completed, the impact of underground water on the Juanicipio Project development is unknown, and may affect the project’s feasibility and profitability.

The contemplated development of the Juanicipio Project may be adversely impacted by a lack of access to a skilled workforce.

The development of the Juanicipio Project will depend on availability of a skilled workforce, including but not limited to mining and mineral, metallurgical and geological engineers, geologists, environmental and safety specialists, and mining operators to explore and develop the project. Inadequate access to an available skilled workforce, could compromise many aspects of the project’s feasibility, viability and profitability, including, but not limited to the construction schedule, capital and operating costs.

The Juanicipio Project mine plan and mine design, the financial results, and the contemplated development timeline to production may not be consistent with the 2017 PEA.

The 2017 PEA was commissioned independently by MAG, and not by the Juanicipio Joint Venture. The mine plan and mine design envisioned in the 2017 PEA are based on both an inferred and indicated resource and reflects a processing capacity of 4,000 tonnes per day, expanded underground workings and the sinking of an internal shaft (or winze) to access the Deep Zone (as defined in the 2017 PEA). The 2017 development budget unanimously approved by the Minera Juanicipio technical committee and 2017 development to date has, to the extent applicable, incorporated this mine plan and design. As well, Fresnillo has indicated to the Company that permit applications based on this mine design have been submitted and that the permits are expected to be issued in the first quarter of 2018. There is no assurance that such permits will be issued on a timely basis or at all (see “There is no guarantee that licenses and permits required by the Company or Minera Juanicipio to conduct business will be obtained, which may result in an impairment or loss in the Company’s mineral properties”, above).

Although the Company believes the 2017 PEA reflects the mine plan and design that Fresnillo as operator will build and operate, Fresnillo may adopt alternate mine plans and other changes, and the scope of operations, if any, may differ materially from that presented in the 2017 PEA (see “Minera Juanicipio has commissioned a Feasibility Study as a basis for a “Production Decision,” the results of which will differ from the 2017 PEA” below).

As well, the preliminary economic assessment set out in the 2017 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the estimates described in the 2017 PEA will be realized. In addition, the Feasibility Study (as defined herein) commissioned by Minera Juanicipio will not include inferred mineral resources in the mine plan so the results of such Feasibility Study are expected to be different than the results of the 2017 PEA. As a result, there are

 

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additional risks as to the size and grade of the resource, extent of capital and operating costs, mineral recovery and financial viability. There is no guarantee that development and construction will be completed in accordance with the 2017 PEA, and if completed, that production will begin or that operating or financial results will be consistent with the 2017 PEA.

The Juanicipio Project capital requirements and timeline to production contemplated in the 2017 PEA are subject to volatility and uncertainty.

The development of the Juanicipio Project will use a significant amount of commodities, consumables and other materials. Prices for steel, concrete, fuel and other materials, commodities and consumables required for mine development can be volatile and price changes can be substantial, occur over short periods of time and be affected by factors beyond control of the project operator. Higher costs for construction materials like steel and concrete, the impact of the Mexican peso exchange rate on various development inputs, or tighter supplies can affect the costs and timing of the project development.

The development of the Juanicipio Project will also utilize significant amounts of large and small equipment that may be critical to the development and construction of the project. Repeated and/or unexpected equipment failures and/or unavailability of equipment could cause interruptions or delays in the development and construction, and could have a material adverse effect on the project costs and timeline.

The 2017 PEA estimates from January 1, 2018 initial project capital of U.S.$360.3 million for the Juanicipio Project inclusive of capitalized operating costs (MAG’s 44% share is U.S.$158.5), to be incurred prior to the envisaged commencement of commercial operations in 2020. As neither Minera Juanicipio nor the Company has completed a pre-feasibility study or feasibility study on the Juanicipio Project (as described more fully below, Minera Juanicipio’s recently commissioned feasibility study on the Juanicipio Project is still in progress), these estimates are subject to uncertainty. The 2017 PEA is preliminary in nature and there is no certainty that the estimates described in it will be realized.

Any changes in the mine plan, mine design and/or scope of operations from those envisioned in the 2017 PEA, may have a significant adverse impact on capital costs or timing to start-up, than is currently expected.

Minera Juanicipio has commissioned a Feasibility Study as a basis for a “Production Decision,” the results of which will differ from the 2017 PEA.

Prior to a formal production decision being made by the joint venture partners of Minera Juanicipio, a feasibility study confirming the economic viability of mining the resource is a requirement of the Minera Juanicipio shareholders’ agreement. In August 2017, Minera Juanicipio engaged AMC, who also prepared the 2017 PEA, to undertake the preparation of an independent feasibility study (the “Feasibility Study”) on the Juanicipio Project. The Feasibility Study is expected to be completed by early 2018, and upon completion, Minera Juanicipio is expected to present the Feasibility Study to both its board of directors and the respective boards of directors of the joint venture partners for formal development approval.

An independent feasibility study cannot include inferred resources in the mine plan. As a result, the mine plan and mine design in the Feasibility Study will only be based on the indicated resource, and the conclusions and recommendations with respect to the project development will be different than those in the 2017 PEA. There is no assurance that the Feasibility Study will recommend proceeding with the project development, and any recommendation to proceed with development may differ significantly from the scope and design recommended in the 2017 PEA.

 

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A “Production Decision” based on the Feasibility Study, may alter the mine plan and mine design, and impact financial results and the contemplated development timeline to production.

Changes to the mine plan and mine design recommended in the Feasibility Study, if approved and implemented, will impact the Juanicipio Project’s construction schedule, capital and operating costs, profitability and cash flows, and timeline to production, the impact of which cannot be quantified at this time.

If the Feasibility Study is presented for approval to the Minera Juanicipio shareholders with the technical committee recommendation to develop the project, each shareholder must either participate in the development, or else sell their interest to the other shareholder.

If the Minera Juanicipio technical committee approves the Feasibility Study upon its completion and recommends development of the Juanicipio Project, Minera Juanicipio will present the Feasibility Study to each of the Company and Fresnillo (the “Shareholders”) for formal development approval. Pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, following the approval of a Feasibility Study and recommendation to develop the Juanicipio Project, each Shareholder has 30 days to decide whether or not it will participate in the Juanicipio Project’s development. Under the terms of the Shareholders Agreement, the consequence of either Shareholder not agreeing to participate in the development is that the non-participating Shareholder’s interest may be purchased by the other Shareholder for an amount equivalent to its capital contributions to date.

There are no assurances that the Company will decide to participate in the development of the Juanicipio Project, and as such, its interest may be sold to the other shareholder at an amount equivalent to its capital contributions to date.

Risks Relating to the Company’s Property Titles

The Company’s mineral properties are subject to title risk and any challenge to the title to any of such properties may have a negative impact on the Company.

The Company’s mineral property rights, including its indirect interest in the Juanicipio Project, may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers and claims and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. Title to, and the area of, the mineral interests held by the Company may be disputed. A full investigation of legal title to the Company’s property interests has not been carried out at this time. Accordingly, title to these property interests may be in doubt. Other parties may dispute title or access to the properties in which the Company has an interest. The Company’s property interests may also be subject to prior unregistered agreements or transfers or land claims and title may be affected by such undetected defects. Any challenge to the title or access to any of the properties in which the Company has an interest may have a negative impact on the Company as the Company will incur delay and expenses in defending such challenge and, if the challenge is successful, the Company may lose any interest it may have in the subject property.

Title opinions provide no guarantee of title and any challenge to the title to any properties may have a negative impact on the Company.

Although the Company has or will receive title opinions for any concessions in which it has or will acquire a material interest, there is no guarantee that title to such concessions will not be challenged or impugned. In Mexico, a title opinion does not provide absolute comfort that the holder has unconditional or absolute title. Any challenge to the title or access to any of the properties in which the Company has an interest, including its indirect interest in the Juanicipio Project, may have a negative impact on the Company as the Company will incur expenses in defending such challenge and, if the challenge is successful, the Company may lose any interest it may have in the subject property.

 

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Titles to the properties in which the Company has an interest that are not registered in the name of the Company may result in potential title disputes having a negative impact on the Company.

All of the agreements under which the Company may earn interests in properties, including any indirect interest acquired through Minera Juanicipio, have either been registered or been submitted for registration with the Mexican Public Registry of Mining, but title relating to the properties in which the Company may earn its interests may be held in the names of parties other than the Company. Any of such properties may become the subject of an agreement which conflicts with the agreement pursuant to which the Company may earn its interest, in which case the Company may incur expenses in resolving any dispute relating to its interest in such property and such a dispute could result in the delay, indefinite postponement of further exploration and development of properties or the possible loss of such properties.

Risks Related to Minority Interest Investment in the Juanicipio Project

The Company is a minority shareholder and non-operator of Minera Juanicipio and therefore is dependent on, and subject to, the decisions of the majority shareholder and operator of the project.

Although the Company has representation on both the board and technical committee of Minera Juanicipio, the terms of the Shareholders Agreement governing the operation of Minera Juanicipio, as well as its corporate by-laws, provide effective control to Fresnillo over many of the activities and operating decisions of Minera Juanicipio since it holds a majority (56%) of the shares of Minera Juanicipio. While a limited number of decisions of the Shareholders or the directors of Minera Juanicipio require a special majority of 60%, and in one instance 75%, giving the Company an effective veto over any such decisions, the Company is a minority shareholder and non-operator of Minera Juanicipio and is dependent on Fresnillo to manage and operate the affairs of Minera Juanicipio and to do so in compliance with the Shareholders Agreement (which, among other things, requires Fresnillo to manage and operate the joint venture in accordance with best industry practices), the by-laws of Minera Juanicipio and applicable Mexican law. If Fresnillo manages the affairs of Minera Juanicipio in a manner that results in violation(s) of the Shareholders’ Agreement, by-laws and applicable laws, such violation(s) may have an adverse impact on the Company.

Fresnillo, as operator of the Juanicipio Project, has the ability to undertake certain actions, legal or otherwise, which may result in the Shareholders of Minera Juanicipio having to fund cash calls. The Shareholders Agreement calls for adjustments to the interests of the Shareholders in Minera Juanicipio where either Shareholder fails to fund cash calls within certain specified periods. If the Company fails to fund cash calls, it risks having its interest reduced, may lose its effective veto power over certain decisions and ultimately could be diluted out of Minera Juanicipio altogether. Fresnillo is a much larger entity with far greater access to financial resources than the Company.

The Company holds its Juanicipio Project interest through a joint venture and therefore may be adversely impacted by disputes with its joint venture partner.

The Company’s 44% interest in the Juanicipio Project is also subject to the risks normally associated with the conduct of joint ventures. The existence or occurrence of one or more of the following circumstances and events, for example, could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operations and financial condition or the viability of its interests held through joint ventures: disagreement with joint venture partners on how to conduct business efficiently; inability of joint venture partners to meet their obligations to the joint venture or third parties; or litigation arising between joint venture partners.

The joint venture in respect of the Juanicipio Project is organized through a corporation (Minera Juanicipio) that is formed under and governed by the laws of Mexico. The laws in Mexico do not provide all of the same protections that are available to shareholders of corporations that are formed under the laws of Canada or the United States. Accordingly, any dispute between the Company and Fresnillo as the Shareholders of Minera Juanicipio could have a materially adverse effect on the Company.

 

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In 2010, MAG initiated arbitration proceedings with the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC”), and in May 2011, the Company announced that it had received a favourable ruling, dated April 28, 2011, of a three member arbitral panel of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC with respect to the arbitration proceedings against its joint venture partner, Fresnillo. In its ruling, the arbitral tribunal awarded MAG U.S.$1.86 million in damages. Although this dispute between the Company and Fresnillo was ultimately determined in favour of the Company, there can be no guarantee that future disputes between the parties will not arise and lead to further litigation proceedings, the outcome of which is uncertain.

The Company has significant shareholders that may be able to exert influence over the direction of the Company’s business.

Based upon the Company’s review of the insider reports filed with System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (“SEDI”) with respect to Fresnillo and its affiliates, and filed on the SEC’s EDGAR system with respect to BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) and Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. (“Tocqueville”) and their respective affiliates, as at the date of this prospectus, the Company believes that each holds approximately 11.4%, 16.0% and 8.4%, respectively, of the Company’s Common Shares. Accordingly, Fresnillo, BlackRock and Tocqueville, either in unison and/or individually, may have significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders of the Company for approval, including business combinations and any proposed sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. Unless full participation of shareholders takes place in such shareholder meetings, Fresnillo, BlackRock and/or Toqueville may be able to approve on its own, or effectively prevent the approval, of any such significant corporate transactions.

Further, the significant ownership of Common Shares by Fresnillo, BlackRock and Toqueville may affect the market price and liquidity of the Common Shares. The effect of these rights and their influence may impact the price that investors are willing to pay for Common Shares. If any of these parties sells a substantial number of Common Shares in the public market, the market price of the shares could decrease.

The presence of a dominant shareholder like Fresnillo, that is the operator of the Juanicipio Project, and has substantial property holdings surrounding the Juanicipio Project, may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, as Fresnillo’s interests may differ from, or be adverse to, the interests of the Company’s other shareholders. Without the consent and cooperation of Fresnillo, Minera Juanicipio may be prevented from entering into transactions that would be beneficial to the Company and its other shareholders.

Other Business Risks

The Company or Minera Juanicipio may be subject to litigation, the disposition of which could negatively affect the Company’s profits to varying degrees.

All industries, including the mining industry, are subject to legal claims, with and without merit. Due to the nature of its business, each of the Company and Minera Juanicipio may, in the future, be subject to claims (including class action claims and claims from government regulatory bodies) based on allegations of negligence, breach of statutory duty, public nuisance or private nuisance or otherwise in connection with its operations or investigations relating thereto. Defense and settlement costs can be substantial, even with respect to claims that have no merit. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the litigation process, the litigation process could take away from management time and effort and there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular legal proceeding will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations and financial position. Results of litigation are inherently uncertain and there can be no assurances as to the final outcome. The Company’s liability insurance may not fully cover such claims. See also “The Company holds its Juanicipio Project interest through a joint venture and therefore may be adversely impacted by disputes with its joint venture partner”.

 

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Environmental regulations are becoming more onerous to comply with, and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations and changes in such regulations may reduce the profitability of the Company’s operations and Minera Juanicipio’s operations.

Environmental legislation on a global basis is evolving in a manner that will ensure stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessment of proposed development, the possibility of affected parties pursuing class action lawsuits and a higher level of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. The Company’s operations and the operations of Minera Juanicipio at the Juanicipio Project are subject to environmental regulations promulgated by government agencies from time to time. Environmental legislation provides for restrictions and prohibitions of spills, release or emission of various substances produced in association with certain mining industry operations, such as seepage from tailing disposal areas, which could result in environmental pollution. Failure to comply with such legislation may result in the imposition of fines and penalties. In addition, certain types of operations require submissions to and approval of environmental impact assessments. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which means stricter standards and enforcement, and more stringent fines and penalties for non-compliance. Environmental assessments of proposed projects carry a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and directors, officers and employees. The cost of compliance with environmental regulations and changes in such regulations may reduce the profitability of the Company’s operations and the operations of Minera Juanicipio. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations may require significant capital outlays on behalf of the Company and Minera Juanicipio and may cause material changes or delays in the Company’s and Minera Juanicipio’s intended activities. The environmental impact assessments may impose the condition to the Company or Minera Juanicipio of obtaining the authorization from the indigenous communities where the mining activities are to be carried out.

Mineral exploration is a highly competitive industry.

The mineral exploration industry is intensely competitive in all of its phases and the Company must compete in all aspects of its operations with a substantial number of large established mining companies with greater liquidity, greater access to credit and other financial resources, newer or more efficient equipment, lower cost structures, more effective risk management policies and procedures and/or greater ability than the Company to withstand losses. The Company’s competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new laws or regulations or emerging technologies, or devote greater resources to the expansion of their operations, than the Company can. In addition, current and potential competitors may make strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties. Competition could adversely affect the Company’s ability to acquire suitable new producing properties or prospects for exploration in the future. Competition could also affect the Company’s ability to raise financing to fund the exploration and development of its properties or to hire qualified personnel. The Company may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

The Company may face equipment shortages, access restrictions and a lack of infrastructure.

The majority of the Company’s interests in mineral properties are located in remote and relatively uninhabited areas. Such mineral properties, including the Company’s interest in the Juanicipio Project, will require adequate infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and sources of power and water, for future exploration and development activities. The lack of availability of these items on terms acceptable to the Company, and in the case of the Juanicipio Project, on terms acceptable to the operator (Fresnillo), or the delay in availability of these items could prevent or delay exploitation or development of the Company’s mineral property interests. In addition, unusual weather phenomena, sabotage, government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could adversely affect our operations and profitability. Natural resource exploration, development, processing and mining activities are dependent on the availability of mining, drilling and related equipment in the particular areas where such activities are conducted. A limited supply of such equipment or access restrictions

 

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may affect the availability of such equipment to the Company and Minera Juanicipio and may delay exploration, development or extraction activities. Certain equipment may not be immediately available, or may require long lead time orders. A delay in obtaining necessary equipment could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations and financial results.

The Company is dependent on its key personnel, some of whom may not have entered into written agreements with the Company and none of whom is insured by the Company.

The Company is dependent upon the continued availability and commitment of its key management, employees and consultants, whose contributions to immediate and future operations of the Company are of central importance. The Company relies on its President & CEO, George Paspalas, and its other officers, who have entered into written employment agreements with the Company, for the day-to-day operation of the Company, its projects and the execution of the Company’s business plan. The Company has not obtained “key man” insurance for any of its management. The loss of any member of the senior management team could impair the Company’s ability to execute its business plan and could therefore have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The loss of George Paspalas in particular could have a negative impact on the Company until he is replaced.

The Company is dependent on Cascabel and IMDEX to oversee its operations in Mexico.

The Company is dependent upon the continued availability and commitment of Cascabel and IMDEX for the day-to-day supervision of the Company’s operations in Mexico. The Company also relies heavily on Dr. Peter Megaw, a principal of Cascabel and IMDEX, for the planning, execution and assessment of the Company’s exploration programs. Dr. Megaw and his team developed the geologic concepts and directed the acquisition of all the Company’s projects, including the Juanicipio Project. Dr. Megaw was a director of MAG from February 6, 2006 to June 23, 2014 and has since been appointed the Company’s Chief Exploration Officer (although he is still remunerated through IMDEX). IMDEX is paid a fee for his services based on fair market rates and his submission of invoices for services rendered. The Company has not obtained “key man” insurance for Dr. Megaw. The loss of Dr. Megaw, or the services of Cascabel and IMDEX, could impair the Company’s ability to execute its business plan in Mexico, and could therefore have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

If either the Company or Minera Juanicipio, through its operator Fresnillo, is unable to hire, train, deploy and manage qualified personnel in a timely manner, particularly in Mexico, its ability to manage and grow its business will be impaired.

Recruiting and retaining qualified personnel is critical to the Company’s and Minera Juanicipio’s success. As Fresnillo is the operator of the Juanicipio Project, the ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel with respect to that project lies outside the direct control of the Company. The number of persons skilled in acquisition, exploration and development of mining properties is limited and competition for such persons is intense. As business activity grows, additional key financial, administrative and mining personnel as well as additional operations staff may be required, particularly in Mexico. The Company or Minera Juanicipio may not be successful in attracting, training and retaining qualified personnel as competition for persons with these skill sets increases. If the Company or Minera Juanicipio is not successful in attracting, training and retaining qualified personnel, the efficiency of its operations could be impaired, which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s future cash flows, earnings, results of operations and financial condition.

It may be particularly difficult to find or hire qualified personnel in the mining industry who are situated in Mexico, to obtain all of the necessary services or expertise in Mexico, or to conduct operations on the Company’s projects (including the Juanicipio Project) at reasonable rates. If qualified personnel cannot be obtained in Mexico, the Company or Minera Juanicipio may need to obtain those services outside of Mexico, which will require work permits and compliance with applicable laws and could result in delays and higher costs to the Company.

 

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Conflicts of interest may arise among the Company’s directors as a result of their involvement with other natural resource companies.

Most of the Company’s directors do not devote their full time to the affairs of the Company. All of the directors and some of the officers of the Company are also directors, officers and shareholders of other natural resource or public companies, and as a result they may find themselves in a position where their duty to another company conflicts with their duty to the Company. Although the Company has policies which address such potential conflicts and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), has provisions governing directors in the event of such a conflict, none of the Company’s constating documents or any of its other agreements contains any provisions mandating a procedure for addressing such conflicts of interest. There is no assurance that any such conflicts will be resolved in favour of the Company. If any such conflicts are not resolved in favour of the Company, the Company may be adversely affected.

Foreign currency fluctuations and inflationary pressures may have a negative impact on the Company’s financial position and results.

The Company’s property interests in Mexico make it subject to foreign currency fluctuations and inflationary pressures which may adversely affect the Company’s and Minera Juanicipio’s financial position and results. Option agreements to acquire property interests in Mexico may result in option payments by the Company denominated in Mexican pesos, Canadian or U.S. dollars over a period of years. Exploration and development programs to be conducted by the Company and Minera Juanicipio in Mexico will be partially funded in Mexican pesos and any appreciation in Mexican currency against the U.S. dollar will increase the costs of carrying out operations in Mexico.

The Company has determined that its functional currency is the U.S. dollar; however, it maintains a portion of cash balances in Canadian and Mexican pesos in order to fund expenditures in such currencies. The Company is therefore exposed to currency risks and exchange losses may be realized on a devaluation of either the Canadian dollar or Mexican peso.

The steps taken by management to address foreign currency fluctuations may not eliminate all adverse effects and, accordingly, the Company may suffer losses due to adverse foreign currency fluctuations. The Company also bears the risk of incurring losses occasioned as a result of inflation in Mexico.

Mining operations generally involve a high degree of risk and potential liability and insurance coverage may not cover all potential risks associated with the Company’s operations.

Unusual or unexpected formations, power outages, labour disruptions, indigenous communities complaints, industrial accidents, flooding, explosions, cave-ins, seismic activity, rock bursts, landslides, pollution, inclement weather, fire, mechanical equipment failure and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labour are several of the hazards and risks involved in the conduct of exploration programs in the Company’s mineral properties, including the Juanicipio Project, any of which could result in personal injury or death, damage to property, environmental damage and possible legal liability for any or all damage. There was a fatality at the Juanicipio Project in 2014. Safety measures have been implemented by the Company or its joint venture partner, Fresnillo, but there are no assurances that these measures will be successful in preventing or mitigating future accidents. The Company maintains insurance against risks in the operation of its business in amounts that it believes to be reasonable. Such insurance, however, contains exclusions and limitations on coverage and the Company’s insurance may not cover all potential risks associated with the Company’s operations, including the operations in the Juanicipio Project. There can be no assurance that any such insurance will continue to be available, will be available at economically acceptable premiums or will be adequate to cover any resulting liability. In some cases, such as with respect to environmental risks, coverage is not available or considered too expensive relative to the perceived risk. Losses resulting from any uninsured events may cause the Company to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations and financial

 

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condition. In addition, from time to time, the Company and Minera Juanicipio may be subject to governmental investigations and claims and litigation filed on behalf of persons who are harmed while at its properties or otherwise in connection with the Company’s operations. To the extent that the Company or Minera Juanicipio is subject to personal injury or other claims or lawsuits in the future, it may not be possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these claims and lawsuits due to the nature of personal injury litigation. Similarly, if the Company or Minera Juanicipio is subject to governmental investigations or proceedings, it may incur significant penalties and fines, and enforcement actions against it could result in the closing of certain of the Company’s mining operations. If claims and lawsuits or governmental investigations or proceedings are finally resolved against the Company or Minera Juanicipio, as applicable, the Company’s financial performance, financial position and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Metal prices and marketability fluctuate and any decline in metal prices may have a negative effect on the Company.

Metal prices, including gold, silver, zinc, lead and copper prices, have fluctuated widely in recent years. The marketability and price of any metals that may be acquired or produced by the Company may be affected by numerous factors beyond the control of the Company. These factors include delivery uncertainties related to the proximity of potential reserves to processing facilities and extensive government regulation relating to price, taxes, royalties, allowable production land tenure, the import and export of minerals and many other aspects of the mining business.

Declines in metal prices may have a negative effect on the Company and on the trading value of its shares.

Risks Relating to the Regulatory Environment

The Company is subject to anti-corruption laws.

The Company is subject to anti-corruption laws under the Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which generally prohibit companies from bribing or making other prohibited payments to foreign public officials in order to obtain or retain an advantage in the course of business. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other fraudulent practices may occur in Mexico or any other jurisdiction in which the Company may conduct business. The Company cannot ensure that its employees or the employees of Minera Juanicipio or other agents will not engage in such prohibited practices, for which the Company or Minera Juanicipio could face severe penalties, reputational damage and other consequences that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and financial condition. The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to promote legal and ethical business conduct by its directors, officers and employees. However, the Company cannot provide assurance that this code, or other policies or procedures that it may adopt, will be sufficient to protect against corrupt activity. In particular, the Company may not be able to prevent or detect corrupt activity by employees or third parties, such as sub-contractors or joint venture partners, for which the Company might be held responsible.

The Company may be required by human rights laws to take actions that delay the advancement of its projects.

There are various international and national laws, codes, resolutions, conventions, guidelines and other materials that relate to human rights (including rights with respect to health and safety and the environment surrounding our operations). Many of these materials impose obligations on government and companies to respect human rights. Some mandate that government consult with communities surrounding our projects regarding government actions that may affect local stakeholders, including actions to approve or grant mining rights or permits. The obligations of government and private parties under the various international and national materials pertaining to human rights continue to evolve and be defined. One or more groups of people may oppose the Company’s current and future operations or further development or new development of its projects or operations. Such opposition may be directed through legal or administrative proceedings or expressed in manifestations such as

 

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protests, roadblocks or other forms of public expression against the Company’s activities, and may have a negative impact on its reputation. Opposition by such groups to the Company’s or Minera Juanicipio’s operations may require modification of, or preclude the operation or development of, its projects or may require the Company or Minera Juanicipio to enter into agreements with such groups or local governments with respect to its projects, in some cases causing considerable delays to the advancement of its projects.

Mexican Foreign Investment and Income Tax Laws apply to the Company.

Under the Foreign Investment Law of Mexico, there is presently no limitation on foreign capital participation in mining operations; however, the applicable laws may change in a way which may adversely impact the Company and its ability to repatriate profits. Under Mexican Income Tax Law, dividends paid out of “previously taxed net earnings” are not subject to Mexican corporate taxes. Otherwise, dividends are subject to the Mexican income tax at the corporate level, which presently is 30% over a gross up basis (amount of the dividend times 1.4286), payable by the Mexican company as an advance of its annual income tax. As of January 1, 2014, there is a new withholding tax on dividends paid by a Mexican company to Mexican individuals and non-Mexican shareholders of 10% applicable to earnings generated as of 2014; “previously tax net earnings” generated until 2013 are not subject to this withholding tax. This withholding tax rate may be reduced under the applicable Tax Treaties to Avoid Double Taxation entered by Mexico.

Corporations with their tax residence in Mexico are taxed on their worldwide income, which include all profits from operations, income from investments not relating to the regular business of the corporation and capital gains. The current corporate income tax rate in Mexico is 30%. As of January 1, 2014, a mining royalty fee is in effect in Mexico of 7.5% on income before tax, depreciation, and interest, as well as an extraordinary governmental fee on precious metals, including gold and silver, of 0.5% of gross revenues, as described above under “Income Tax – New Tax Regime Effective January 1, 2014”. Among the amendments for 2014, Mexican companies are no longer allowed to partially deduct certain expenses such as fringe benefits paid to its employees which in turn are tax exempted for the same employees (e.g. food coupons, pension and retirement funds additional to those provided for under the Mexican Security Law).

The IETU Flat Tax (Impuesto Empresarial a Tasa Única) which was structured as an alternative minimum tax was repealed effective January 1, 2014.

On December 31, 2016, the State Government of Zacatecas, Mexico published a new tax law for the state (Ley de Hacienda del Estado de Zacatecas, the “Zacatecas Tax Law”), which came into effect on January 1, 2017. There have been several constitutional challenges launched against the validity of the tax by various companies. As well, the Federal Government of Mexico is challenging its constitutionality. The outcomes of these challenges are not known at this time. As provided for in the Zacatecas Tax Law, certain so called “environmental duties” were established for operations carried out within the State of Zacatecas, Mexico. Minera Juanicipio’s operations are located in the State of Zacatecas. This tax, if upheld, will apply to the Juanicipio Project once it is in production, the adverse effects of which have not been quantified, nor are they estimated and reflected in the 2017 PEA.

The Mexican value-added tax (“VAT”) is a refundable tax levied on the value added to goods and services, and is imposed on corporations that carry out activities within Mexican territory, including (i) the sale or other disposition of property; (ii) the rendering of independent services; (iii) the granting of temporary use of property; or (iv) the importation of goods and services. The standard value added tax rate is currently 16%, but is subject to periodic review and change by the relevant Mexican tax authorities. The Company and Minera Juanicipio have traditionally held a VAT receivable balance due to the expenditures they incur whereby VAT is paid to a vendor or service provider. Collections of these receivables from the Government of Mexico often take months and sometimes years to recover. The Company and Minera Juanicipio to date have been able to recover the majority of their VAT paid. However, legislative changes in the VAT effective January 1, 2017 may prevent mining companies from requesting VAT refunds during the exploration stage, unless they are certain they will eventually

 

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operate and generate revenue. The recoveries of future VAT paid, and possible extended delays in recoveries common in Mexico, could adversely affect exploration, development, and operating costs.

The Company’s activities in the properties are subject to extensive laws and regulations governed by Mexican regulators.

The Company’s activities, including but not limited to the operations at the Juanicipio Project, are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing worker health and safety, employment standards, waste disposal, protection of historic and archaeological sites, mine development, protection of endangered and protected species, indigenous communities’ rights and other matters. Specifically, the Company’s Mexican mining concessions are subject to regulation by the Mexican Department of Economy – Direccion General of Mines (“DGM”), the environmental protection agency of Mexico (“SEMARNAT”), Comisión Nacional del Aqua (“CONAGUA”), which regulates water rights, and the Mexican Mining Law. Mexican regulators have broad authority to shut down and/or levy fines against facilities that do not comply with regulations or standards.

The Company follows Canadian disclosure practices concerning its Mineral Resources which allow for more disclosure than is permitted for domestic U.S. reporting companies.

The Company’s mineral resource estimates are not directly comparable to those made by domestic U.S. reporting companies subject to the SEC’s reporting and disclosure requirements, as the Company reports resources in accordance with Canadian practices. These practices are different from the practices used to report resource estimates in reports and other materials filed by domestic U.S. reporting companies with the SEC in that the Canadian practice is to report measured, indicated and inferred resources. In the United States, mineralization may not be classified as a reserve unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of indicated resources will ever be converted into reserves. Further, “inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Disclosure of “contained ounces” is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards only as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources contained in this prospectus may not be comparable to information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC. See “Cautionary Note for United States Investors”.

The Company may fail to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Management has documented and tested its internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“SOX”). SOX requires an annual assessment by management of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company may fail to maintain the adequacy of its internal control over financial reporting as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, and the Company may not be able to conclude, on an ongoing basis, that it has effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of SOX. The Company’s failure to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of SOX on an ongoing, timely basis could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of its financial statements, which in turn could harm the Company’s business and negatively impact the trading price or the market value of its securities. In addition, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm the Company’s operating results or cause it to fail to meet its reporting obligations. If the Company expands, the challenges involved in implementing appropriate internal control over financial reporting will increase and will require that the Company continues to monitor its internal control over financial reporting. Although the Company intends to expend time and incur costs, as necessary, to ensure ongoing compliance, it cannot be certain that it will be successful in complying with Section 404 of SOX.

 

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Risks Relating to the Company’s Securities

Funding and property commitments may result in dilution to the Company’s shareholders.

The Company may sell equity securities in public offerings (including through the sale of securities convertible into equity securities) and may issue additional equity securities to finance operations, exploration, development, acquisitions or other projects. The Company cannot predict the size of future issuances of equity securities or the size and terms of future issuances of debt instruments or other securities convertible into equity securities or the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of the Company’s securities will have on the market price of the Common Shares. Any transaction involving the issuance of previously authorized but unissued Common Shares, or securities convertible into Common Shares, would result in dilution, possibly substantial, to security holders. Exercises of presently outstanding share options may also result in dilution to security holders.

The board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has the authority to authorize certain offers and sales of additional securities without the vote of, or prior notice to, shareholders. Based on the need for additional capital to fund expected expenditures and growth, it is likely that the Company will issue additional securities to provide such capital. Such additional issuances may involve the issuance of a significant number of Common Shares at prices less than the current market price for the Common Shares.

Sales of substantial amounts of the Company’s securities, or the availability of such securities for sale, could adversely affect the prevailing market prices for the Company’s securities and dilute investors’ earnings per share. A decline in the market prices of Company’s securities could impair the Company’s ability to raise additional capital through the sale of securities should the Company desire to do so.

The price of the Company’s Common Shares is volatile.

Publicly quoted securities are subject to a relatively high degree of price volatility. It should be expected that continued fluctuations in price will occur, and no assurances can be made as to whether the price per share will increase or decrease in the future. In recent years, the securities markets in the United States and Canada have experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and the market price of many companies, particularly those considered exploration or development stage companies, have experienced wide fluctuations in price which have not necessarily been related to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. The factors influencing such volatility include macroeconomic developments in North America and globally, and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular industries. The price of the Common Shares is also likely to be significantly affected by short-term changes in precious metal prices or other mineral prices, currency exchange fluctuations and the Company’s financial condition or results of operations as reflected in its earnings reports. Other factors unrelated to the performance of the Company that may have an effect on the price of the Common Shares include the following: the extent of analyst coverage available to investors concerning the business of the Company may be limited if investment banks with research capabilities do not follow the Company’s securities; lessening in trading volume and general market interest in the Company’s securities may affect an investor’s ability to trade significant numbers of securities of the Company; the size of the Company’s public float may limit the ability of some institutions to invest in the Company’s securities; and a substantial decline in the price of the securities of the Company that persists for a significant period of time could cause the Company’s securities to be delisted from an exchange, further reducing market liquidity.

Securities class-action litigation often has been brought against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. The Company may in the future be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and damages and divert management’s attention and resources.

There is no assurance of a sufficient liquid trading market for the Company’s Common Shares in the future.

Shareholders of the Company may be unable to sell significant quantities of Common Shares into the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of their Common Shares, or at all. There can be no

 

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assurance that there will be sufficient liquidity of the Company’s Common Shares on the trading market, and that the Company will continue to meet the listing requirements of the TSX or the NYSE American or achieve listing on any other public listing exchange.

The Company is a “passive foreign investment company”, which may have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. Holders of Offered Shares.

U.S. investors should be aware that they could be subject to certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences in the event that we are classified as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The determination of whether we are a PFIC for a taxable year depends, in part, on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations, and the determination will depend on the composition of our income, expenses and assets from time to time and the nature of the activities performed by our officers and employees. We believe that MAG was a PFIC for the 2017 financial year. Prospective investors should carefully read the tax discussion in any applicable prospectus supplement for more information and consult their own tax advisers regarding the likelihood and consequences of the Company being treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including the advisability of making certain elections that may mitigate certain possible adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences but may result in an inclusion in gross income without receipt of such income.

The Company, its principals and assets are located outside of the United States, which makes it difficult for U.S. litigants to effect service of process, or enforce, any judgments obtained against the Company or its officers or directors.

The majority of the Company’s assets are located outside of the United States and the Company does not currently maintain a permanent place of business within the United States. In addition, most of the directors and officers are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of such persons’ assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for U.S. litigants to effect service of process or enforce any judgments obtained against the Company or its officers or directors, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of Canada, Mexico and other jurisdictions would recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against the Company or its directors and officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof, or be competent to hear original actions brought in Canada, Mexico or other jurisdictions against the Company or its directors and officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof. Further, any payments as a result of judgments obtained in Mexico could be in pesos and service of process in Mexico must be effectuated personally and not by mail.

All of the Company’s mineral assets are located outside of Canada.

All of the Company’s mineral assets are located outside of Canada. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to enforce within Canada any judgments obtained against the Company or its officers or directors, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of applicable securities laws. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of Mexico and other jurisdictions would recognize or enforce judgments of Canadian courts obtained against the Company or its directors and officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of Canada, or be competent to hear original actions brought in Mexico or other jurisdictions against the Company or its directors and officers predicated upon the securities laws of Canada. Further, any payments as a result of judgments obtained in Mexico should be in pesos and service of process in Mexico must be effectuated personally and not by mail.

The Company has outstanding common share equivalents which, if exercised, could cause dilution to existing shareholders.

The Company has common share equivalents issued consisting of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding exercisable stock options or issuable upon the conversion of restricted share units (“RSUs”),

 

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performance share units (“PSUs”) and deferred share units (“DSUs”) each convertible into one Common Share. Stock options are likely to be exercised when the market price of the Company’s Common Shares exceeds the exercise price of such stock options. RSUs and PSUs may be converted at any time by the holder subject to vesting conditions, and the DSUs may only be converted by a departing director of the Company. The exercise of any of these instruments and the subsequent resale of such Common Shares in the public market could adversely affect the prevailing market price and the Company’s ability to raise equity capital in the future at a time and price which it deems appropriate. The Company may also enter into commitments in the future which would require the issuance of additional Common Shares and the Company may grant additional share purchase warrants, stock options, RSUs, PSUs and DSUs. Any share issuances from the Company’s treasury will result in immediate dilution to existing shareholders’ percentage interest in the Company.

The Company has not paid dividends and may not pay dividends in the foreseeable future.

Payment of dividends on the Company’s Common Shares is within the discretion of the Company’s Board and will depend upon the Company’s future earnings if any, its capital requirements and financial condition, and other relevant factors. The Company anticipates that all available funds will be invested to finance the growth of its business for the foreseeable future.

There is currently no market through which our securities, other than our Common Shares, may be sold.

There is currently no market through which our securities, other than our Common Shares, may be sold and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, our preferred shares, debt securities, subscription receipts, units and warrants will not be listed on any securities or stock exchange or any automated dealer quotation system. As a consequence, purchasers may not be able to resell preferred shares, debt securities, subscription receipts, units or warrants purchased under this prospectus. This may affect the pricing of our securities, other than our Common Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these securities and the extent of issuer regulation. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for our securities, other than our Common Shares, will develop or, if developed, that any such market, including for our Common Shares, will be sustained.

The debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other future unsecured debt.

The debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured debt. The debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt to the extent of the assets securing such debt. If we are involved in any bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization, the secured debt holders would, to the extent of the value of the assets securing the secured debt, be paid before the holders of unsecured debt securities, including the debt securities. In that event, a holder of debt securities may not be able to recover any principal or interest due to it under the debt securities. See “Description of Debt Securities”.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from any sale of our securities to advance business objectives outlined in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, for working capital requirements and for exploration and development of the Company’s mineral property interests, including but not limited to the development of the Juanicipio Project through to the envisioned start of commercial production.

The Company has an obligation to fund its 44% pro rata interest in the exploration and development of the Juanicipio Project in order to maintain its proportionate ownership in the project and to avoid dilution. Although the Feasibility Study commissioned by Minera Juanicipio is still in the process of being prepared and no formal production decision has been made, underground development was commenced by Fresnillo in 2013 and is currently ongoing.

The Company currently has no long term debt and has sufficient working capital to maintain its property interests and currently planned programs extending beyond the next 12 months. However, the scale and scope of the complete development of the Juanicipio Project is subject to change and uncertainties, and may result in capital requirements over the next three years exceeding the Company’s cash on hand.

As the Company currently has no operating revenues, it experienced a negative operating cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2016 and it expects to experience a negative operating cash flow for the 2017 fiscal year. In order to raise additional funds to finance future growth opportunities, we may, from time to time, issue securities (including debt securities).

More detailed information regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of securities, including any determinable milestones at the applicable time, will be described in any applicable prospectus supplement. We may also, from time to time, issue securities otherwise than pursuant to a prospectus supplement to this prospectus.

PRIOR SALES

Information in respect of our Common Shares that we issued within the previous twelve month period, Common Shares that we issued upon the exercise of options, share units or deferred share units granted under our equity incentive plans, and in respect of such equity securities exercisable or convertible into Common Shares that we granted under such equity incentive plans, will be provided as required in a prospectus supplement with respect to the issuance of securities pursuant to such prospectus supplement.

MARKET FOR SECURITIES

Our Common Shares are listed on the TSX in Canada (trading symbol: MAG) and on the NYSE American in the United States (trading symbol: MAG). Trading price and volume of the Company’s securities will be provided as required for all of our Common Shares, as applicable, in each prospectus supplement to this prospectus.

EARNINGS COVERAGE

If we offer debt securities having a term to maturity in excess of one year or preferred shares under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, the applicable prospectus supplement will include earnings coverage ratios giving effect to the issuance of such securities.

 

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CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION

Since September 30, 2017, the date of our most recently published interim financial statements, there have been no material changes in our consolidated share and loan capital. Information relating to any issuances of our Common Shares within the previous twelve month period will be provided as required in a prospectus supplement under the heading “Prior Sales”.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

The Company’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. As at the date of this short form prospectus, 85,478,790 Common Shares and no preferred shares are issued and outstanding.

Common Shares

The shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each Common Share on all matters to be voted on by the shareholders. Each Common Share is equal to every other Common Share and all Common Shares participate equally on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of our assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs after the Company has paid out its liabilities. The shareholders are entitled to receive pro rata such dividends as may be declared by the Board out of funds legally available for such purpose and to receive pro rata the remaining property of the Company upon dissolution. No shares have been issued subject to call or assessment. There are no pre-emptive or conversion rights, and no provisions for redemption, retraction, purchase or cancellation, surrender, sinking fund or purchase fund. Provisions as to the creation, modification, amendment or variation of such rights or such provisions are contained in the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the articles of the Company.

On May 13, 2016, the Board approved a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”). The Rights Plan was adopted to ensure the fair treatment of shareholders in connection with any take-over bid for Common Shares of the Company. The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any proposal to acquire control of the Company. The Rights Plan provides for expiry at the end of the third annual general meeting of the Company’s shareholders following initial approval, unless renewed by the shareholders. On June 15, 2016, the Rights Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the annual and special meeting of shareholders and by the TSX.

Dividend Policy

The Company has neither declared nor paid dividends on its Common Shares. The Company has no present intention of paying dividends on its Common Shares, as it anticipates that all available funds will be invested to finance the growth of its business.

Preferred Shares

We may issue our preferred shares from time to time in one or more series. The terms of each series of preferred shares, including the number of shares, the designation, rights, preferences, privileges, priorities, restrictions, conditions and limitations, will be determined at the time of creation of each such series by our Board, without shareholder approval, provided that all preferred shares will rank equally within their class as to dividends and distributions in the event of our dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

In this description of debt securities, “we”, “us”, “our” or “MAG” refer to MAG Silver Corp., but not to our subsidiaries. This section describes the general terms that will apply to any debt securities issued pursuant to this prospectus. We may issue debt securities in one or more series under an indenture to be entered into between us and one or more trustees. Such indenture will be subject to and governed by the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). A copy of the form of indenture relating to the debt securities has been filed as an exhibit to MAG’s registration statement filed with the SEC. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities and is not intended to be complete. For a more complete description, prospective investors should refer to the indenture and the terms of the debt securities, once it has been entered into. If debt securities are issued, we will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the particular terms and provisions of any series of the debt securities and a description of how the general terms and provisions described below may apply to that series of the debt securities. Prospective investors should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement and not on the following information to the extent that the information in such prospectus supplement is different from the following information.

We may also issue debt securities and incur additional indebtedness other than through the offering of debt securities pursuant to this prospectus.

General

The indenture will not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue under the indenture and will not limit the amount of other indebtedness that we may incur. The indenture will provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars or any foreign currency. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be our unsecured obligations. The indenture will also permit us to increase the principal amount of any series of the debt securities previously issued and to issue that increased principal amount.

The applicable prospectus supplement for any series of debt securities that we offer will describe the specific terms of the debt securities and may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

    the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the percentage of principal amount at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

    whether payment on the debt securities will be senior or subordinated to, or rank pari passu with, our other liabilities or obligations;

 

    whether the payment of the debt securities will be guaranteed by any other person;

 

    the date or dates, or the methods by which such dates will be determined or extended, on which we may issue the debt securities and the date or dates, or the methods by which such dates will be determined or extended, on which we will pay the principal and any premium on the debt securities and the portion (if less than the principal amount) of debt securities to be payable upon a declaration of acceleration of maturity;

 

    whether the debt securities will bear interest, the interest rate (whether fixed or variable) or the method of determining the interest rate, the date from which interest will accrue, the dates on which we will pay interest and the record dates for interest payments, or the methods by which such dates will be determined or extended;

 

    the place or places we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, and the place or places where debt securities can be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;

 

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    whether and under what circumstances we will be required to pay any additional amounts for withholding or deduction for Canadian taxes with respect to the debt securities, and whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts;

 

    whether we will be obligated to redeem or repurchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking or purchase fund or other provisions, or at the option of a holder and the terms and conditions of such redemption;

 

    whether we may redeem the debt securities at our option and the terms and conditions of any such redemption;

 

    the denominations in which we will issue any registered debt securities, if other than denominations of U.S.$2,000 and any multiple of U.S.$l,000 in excess thereof and, if other than denominations of U.S.$5,000, the denominations in which any unregistered debt security shall be issuable;

 

    whether we will make payments on the debt securities in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars or by delivery of our Common Shares or other property;

 

    whether payments on the debt securities will be payable with reference to any index or formula;

 

    whether we will issue the debt securities as global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global securities;

 

    whether we will issue the debt securities as unregistered securities (with or without coupons), registered securities or both;

 

    the periods within which and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we may redeem the debt securities prior to maturity and the price or prices of which and the currency or currency units in which the debt securities are payable;

 

    any changes or additions to events of default or covenants;

 

    the applicability of, and any changes or additions to, the provisions for defeasance described under “Defeasance” below;

 

    whether the holders of any series of debt securities have special rights if specified events occur;

 

    any mandatory or optional redemption or sinking fund or analogous provisions;

 

    the terms, if any, for any conversion or exchange of the debt securities for any other securities;

 

    rights, if any, on a change of control;

 

    provisions as to modification, amendment or variation of any rights or terms attaching to the debt securities; and

 

    any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences (or limitations on such rights and preferences) including covenants and events of default which apply solely to a particular series of the debt securities being offered which do not apply generally to other debt securities, or any covenants or events of default generally applicable to the debt securities which do not apply to a particular series of the debt securities.

Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, no holder of debt securities will have the right to require us to repurchase the debt securities and there will be no increase in the interest rate if we become involved in a highly leveraged transaction or we have a change of control.

We may issue debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate below the prevailing market rate at the time of issuance, and offer and sell these securities at a discount below their stated principal amount. We may also sell any of the debt securities for a foreign currency or currency unit, and payments on the debt securities may be

 

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payable in a foreign currency or currency unit. In any of these cases, we will describe certain Canadian federal and U.S. federal income tax consequences and other special considerations in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, we may reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of such series (unless the reopening was restricted when such series was created).

Ranking and Other Indebtedness

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will be unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding and equally with other securities issued under the indenture. The debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries.

Our Board may establish the extent and manner, if any, to which payment on or in respect of a series of debt securities will be senior or will be subordinated to the prior payment of our other liabilities and obligations and whether the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be guaranteed by any other person and the nature and priority of any security.

Debt Securities in Global Form

The Depositary and Book-Entry

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a series of the debt securities may be issued in whole or in part in global form as a “global security” and will be registered in the name of and be deposited with a depositary, or its nominee, each of which will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series. Unless and until exchanged, in whole or in part, for the debt securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of the depositary, by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any such nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a particular series of the debt securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series. We anticipate that the provisions described in this section will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary therefor or its nominee will credit, on its book entry and registration system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of such persons, designated as “participants”, having accounts with such depositary or its nominee. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities or by us if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary therefor or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) or by participants or persons that hold through participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The laws of some states in the United States may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form.

So long as the depositary for a global security or its nominee is the registered owner of the global security, such depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of

 

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beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have a series of the debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such series of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture.

Any payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on global securities registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security representing such debt securities. None of us, the trustee or any paying agent for the debt securities represented by the global securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for a global security or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of such depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name”, and will be the responsibility of such participants.

Discontinuance of Depositary’s Services

If a depositary for a global security representing a particular series of the debt securities is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue such series of the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a global security representing such series of the debt securities. If an event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing, debt securities in definitive form will be printed and delivered upon written request by the holder to the trustee. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have a series of the debt securities represented by a global security and, in such event, will issue a series of the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for all of the global securities representing that series of debt securities.

Debt Securities in Definitive Form

A series of the debt securities may be issued in definitive form, solely as registered securities, solely as unregistered securities or as both registered securities and unregistered securities. Registered securities will be issuable in denominations of U.S.$2,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof and unregistered securities will be issuable in denominations of U.S.$5,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$5,000 or, in each case, in such other denominations as may be set out in the terms of the debt securities of any particular series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, unregistered securities will have interest coupons attached.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities (other than global securities) will be made at the office or agency of the trustee, or at our option we can pay principal, interest, if any, and premium, if any, by check mailed or delivered to the address of the person entitled at the address appearing in the security register of the trustee or electronic funds wire or other transmission to an account of the person entitled to receive payments. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest, if any, will be made to the persons in whose name the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the day or days specified by us.

At the option of the holder of debt securities, registered securities of any series will be exchangeable for other registered securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. If, but only if, provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, unregistered securities (with all

 

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unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all matured coupons in default) of any series may be exchanged for registered securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. In such event, unregistered securities surrendered in a permitted exchange for registered securities between a regular record date or a special record date and the relevant date for payment of interest shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such date for payment of interest, and interest will not be payable on such date for payment of interest in respect of the registered security issued in exchange for such unregistered security, but will be payable only to the holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the terms of the indenture. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, unregistered securities will not be issued in exchange for registered securities.

The applicable prospectus supplement may indicate the places to register a transfer of the debt securities in definitive form. Except for certain restrictions set forth in the indenture, no service charge will be payable by the holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities in definitive form, but we may, in certain instances, require a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection with these transactions.

We shall not be required to:

 

    issue, register the transfer of or exchange any series of the debt securities in definitive form during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of securities of that series of the debt securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant redemption date if the debt securities for which such issuance, registration or exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption;

 

    register the transfer of or exchange any registered security in definitive form, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part;

 

    exchange any unregistered security called for redemption except to the extent that such unregistered security may be exchanged for a registered security of that series and like tenor; provided that such registered security will be simultaneously surrendered for redemption with written instructions for payment consistent with the provisions of the indenture; or

 

    issue, register the transfer of or exchange any of the debt securities in definitive form which have been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, thereof not to be so repaid.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities, the following is a summary of events which will, with respect to any series of the debt securities, constitute an event of default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series:

 

    we fail to pay principal of, or any premium on, any debt security of that series when it is due and payable;

 

    we fail to pay interest or any additional amounts payable on any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and such default continues for 30 days;

 

    we fail to make any required sinking fund or analogous payment for that series of debt securities;

 

    we fail to comply with any of our other agreements in the indenture that affect or are applicable to the debt securities for 90 days after written notice by the trustee or to us and the trustee by holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series affected thereby;

 

    certain events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

    any other event of default provided for in that series of debt securities.

 

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A default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default under another series. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest, if any, if in good faith it considers it in the interests of the holders to do so.

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series, subject to any subordination provisions, may require us to repay immediately:

 

    the entire principal and interest and premium, if any, of the debt securities of the series; or

 

    if the debt securities are discounted securities, that portion of the principal as is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If an event of default relates to events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal of all debt securities will become immediately due and payable without any action by the trustee or any holder. Subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series can rescind this accelerated payment requirement. If debt securities are discounted securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will contain provisions relating to the acceleration of maturity of a portion of the principal amount of the discounted securities upon the occurrence or continuance of an event of default.

Other than its duties in case of a default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of the rights or powers that it will have under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this reasonable indemnity, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all series of debt securities affected by an event of default may, subject to certain limitations, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.

We will be required to furnish to the trustee a statement annually as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indenture and, if we are not in compliance, we must specify any defaults. We will also be required to notify the trustee as soon as practicable upon becoming aware of any event of default.

No holder of a debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy, unless:

 

    the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of the affected series;

 

    the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by an event of default have made a written request, and the holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the trustee to institute a proceeding as trustee; and

 

    the trustee has failed to institute a proceeding, and has not received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by an event of default a direction inconsistent with the request, within 60 days after their notice, request and offer of indemnity.

However, such above-mentioned limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the holder of a debt security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on such debt security on or after the applicable due date specified in such debt security.

Defeasance

When we use the term “defeasance”, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under the indenture. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if we deposit with the trustee sufficient cash

 

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or government securities to pay the principal, interest, if any, premium, if any, and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the debt securities of a series, then at our option:

 

    we will be discharged from the obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series; or

 

    we will no longer be under any obligation to comply with certain restrictive covenants under the indenture, and certain events of default will no longer apply to us.

If this happens, the holders of the debt securities of the affected series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and the replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities. These holders may look only to the deposited fund for payment on their debt securities.

To exercise our defeasance option, we must deliver to the trustee:

 

    an opinion of counsel in the United States to the effect that the holders of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series will not recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of a defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance had not occurred;

 

    an opinion of counsel in Canada or a ruling from the Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the holders of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series will not recognize income, or a gain or loss for Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income or other tax purposes as a result of a defeasance and will be subject to Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax and other tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case had the defeasance not occurred; and

 

    a certificate of one of our officers and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to defeasance have been complied with.

If we are to be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities, and not just from our covenants, the U.S. opinion must be based upon a ruling from or published by the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.

In addition to the delivery of the opinions described above, the following conditions must be met before we may exercise our defeasance option:

 

    no event of default or event that, with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing for the debt securities of the affected series;

 

    we are not an “insolvent person” within the meaning of applicable bankruptcy and insolvency legislation; and

 

    other customary conditions precedent are satisfied.

Modification and Waiver

Modifications and amendments of the indenture may be made by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by the modification. However, without the consent of each holder affected, no modification may:

 

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on any debt security;

 

    reduce the principal, premium, if any, or rate of interest, if any, or any obligation to pay any additional amounts;

 

    reduce the amount of principal of a debt security payable upon acceleration of its maturity;

 

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    change the place or currency of any payment;

 

    adversely affect the holder’s right to require us to repurchase the debt securities at the holder’s option;

 

    impair the right of the holders to institute a suit to enforce their rights to payment;

 

    adversely affect any conversion or exchange right related to a series of debt securities;

 

    reduce the percentage of debt securities required to modify the indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture; or

 

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities necessary to take certain actions.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive, insofar as only that series is concerned, past defaults under the indenture and compliance by us with certain provisions of the indenture. However, these holders may not waive a default in any payment on any debt security or compliance with a provision that cannot be modified without the consent of each holder affected.

We may modify the indenture without the consent of the holders to:

 

    evidence our successor under the indenture;

 

    add covenants or surrender any right or power for the benefit of holders;

 

    add events of default;

 

    provide for unregistered securities to become registered securities under the indenture and make other such changes to unregistered securities that in each case do not materially and adversely affect the interests of holders of outstanding securities;

 

    establish the forms of the debt securities;

 

    appoint a successor trustee under the indenture;

 

    add provisions to permit or facilitate the defeasance or discharge of the debt securities as long as there is no material adverse effect on the holders;

 

    cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, make any other provisions in each case that would not materially and adversely affect the interests of holders of outstanding securities and related coupons, if any;

 

    comply with any applicable laws of the United States and Canada in order to effect and maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

    change or eliminate any provisions where such change takes effect when there are no securities outstanding under the indenture.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

The Trustee

The trustee under the indenture or its affiliates may provide banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of their business.

 

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The indenture may contain certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, as long as it or any of its affiliates remains our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received on any claim as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates will be permitted to engage in other transactions with us. If the trustee or any affiliate acquires any conflicting interest and a default occurs with respect to the debt securities, the trustee must eliminate the conflict or resign.

Resignation of Trustee

The trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of the debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each such trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other such trustee, and any action described herein to be taken by the “trustee” may then be taken by each such trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee.

Consent to Service

In connection with the indenture, we will designate and appoint Puglisi & Associates, 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711 as our authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture or the debt securities that may be instituted in any U.S. federal or New York state court located in the Borough of Manhattan, in the City of New York, or brought by the trustee (whether in its individual capacity or in its capacity as trustee under the indenture), and will irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts.

Enforceability of Judgments

Since all or substantially all of our assets, as well as the assets of some of our directors and officers, are outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or certain of our directors or officers, including judgments with respect to the payment of principal on the debt securities, may not be collectible within the United States.

We have been advised that the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein permit an action to be brought against us in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Province of British Columbia on any final and conclusive judgment in personam of any federal or state court located in the State of New York, or a New York Court, which is subsisting and unsatisfied for a sum certain with respect to the enforcement of the indenture and the debt securities that is not impeachable as void or voidable under the internal laws of the State of New York if: (1) the New York Court rendering such judgment had jurisdiction over the judgment debtor, as recognized by the courts of the Province of British Columbia (and submission by us in the indenture to the jurisdiction of the New York Court will be sufficient for that purpose); (2) proper service of process in respect of the proceedings in which such judgment was obtained was made in accordance with New York law; (3) such judgment was not obtained by fraud or in a manner contrary to natural justice and the enforcement thereof would not be inconsistent with public policy, as such terms are understood under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, the federal laws of Canada or contrary to any order made by the Attorney General of Canada and under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) or by the Competition Tribunal under the Competition Act (Canada); (4) the enforcement of such judgment would not be contrary to the laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, including bankruptcy, reorganization, winding-up, moratorium and similar laws, and does not constitute, directly or indirectly, the enforcement of foreign laws which a court in the Province of British Columbia would characterize as revenue, expropriatory or penal laws; (5) in an action to enforce a default judgment, the judgment does not contain a manifest error on its face; (6) the action to enforce such judgment is commenced within the appropriate limitation period; (7) interest payable on the debt securities is not characterized by a court in the Province of British Columbia as interest payable at a criminal rate within the meaning of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada); and (8) the

 

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judgment does not conflict with another final and conclusive judgment in the same cause of action; except that a court in the Province of British Columbia may stay an action to enforce a foreign judgment if an appeal of a judgment is pending or time for appeal has not expired; and except that any court in the Province of British Columbia may give judgment only in Canadian dollars.

We have been advised that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Canada by a court in original actions, or in actions to enforce judgments of U.S. courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities laws.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

This section describes the general terms that will apply to any warrants for the purchase of Common Shares, or equity warrants, or for the purchase of debt securities, or debt warrants.

We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agency agreements to be entered into by us and one or more banks or trust companies acting as warrant agent.

The Company will deliver an undertaking to the securities regulatory authority in each of the provinces of Canada that it will not distribute warrants that, according to the aforementioned terms as described in the prospectus supplement for warrants supplementing this prospectus, are “novel” specified derivatives within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, separately to any member of the public in Canada, unless the offering is in connection with and forms part of the consideration for an acquisition or merger transaction or unless the prospectus supplement containing the specific terms of the warrants to be distributed separately is first approved by or on behalf of the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada where the warrants will be distributed.

This summary of some of the provisions of the warrants is not complete. The statements made in this prospectus relating to any warrant agreement and warrants to be issued under this prospectus are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable warrant agreement. You should refer to the warrant indenture or warrant agency agreement relating to the specific warrants being offered for the complete terms of the warrants. A copy of any warrant indenture or warrant agency agreement relating to an offering or warrants will be filed by us with the securities regulatory authorities in applicable Canadian offering jurisdictions and the United States after we have entered into it.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we offer will describe the particular terms of those warrants and include specific terms relating to the offering.

Original purchasers of warrants (if offered separately) in Canada will have a contractual right of rescission against us in respect of the exercise of such warrant. The contractual right of rescission will entitle such original purchasers to receive, upon surrender of the underlying securities acquired upon exercise of the warrant, the total of the amount paid on original purchase of the warrant and the amount paid upon exercise, in the event that this prospectus (as supplemented or amended) contains a misrepresentation, provided that: (i) the exercise takes place within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the warrant under the applicable prospectus supplement; and (ii) the right of rescission is exercised within 180 days of the date of purchase of the warrant under the applicable prospectus supplement. This contractual right of rescission will be consistent with the statutory right of rescission described under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia), and is in addition to any other right or remedy available to original purchasers under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) or otherwise at law.

The particular terms of each issue of warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This description will include, where applicable:

 

    the designation and aggregate number of warrants;

 

    the price at which the warrants will be offered;

 

    the currency or currencies in which the warrants will be offered;

 

    the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

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    the number of Common Shares or debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of each warrant and the price at which and currency or currencies in which the Common Shares or debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of each warrant;

 

    the terms of any provisions allowing or providing for adjustments in (i) the number and/or class of securities that may be purchased, (ii) the exercise price per security or (iii) the expiry of the warrants;

 

    whether we will issue fractional shares;

 

    whether we have applied to list the warrants or the underlying securities on any exchange;

 

    the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants will be offered, if any, and the number of the warrants that will be offered with each security;

 

    the date or dates, if any, on or after which the warrants and the related securities will be transferable separately;

 

    whether the warrants will be subject to redemption and, if so, the terms of such redemption provisions;

 

    material U.S. and Canadian federal income tax consequences of owning the warrants; and

 

    any other material terms or conditions of the warrants.

Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities subject to the warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

MAG may issue units, which may consist of one or more Common Shares, warrants or any combination of securities as is specified in the relevant prospectus supplement. In addition, the relevant prospectus supplement relating to an offering of units will describe all material terms of any units offered, including, as applicable:

 

    the designation and aggregate number of units being offered;

 

    the price at which the units will be offered;

 

    the designation, number and terms of the securities comprising the units and any agreement governing the units;

 

    the date or dates, if any, on or after which the securities comprising the units will be transferable separately;

 

    whether we will apply to list the units on any exchange;

 

    material U.S. and Canadian income tax consequences of owning the units, including, how the purchase price paid for the units will be allocated among the securities comprising the units; and

 

    any other material terms or conditions of the units.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RECEIPTS

We may issue subscription receipts, which will entitle holders thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of certain release conditions and for no additional consideration, Common Shares, warrants or any combination thereof. Subscription receipts will be issued pursuant to one or more subscription receipt agreements (each, a “Subscription Receipt Agreement”), each to be entered into between the Company and an escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”) that will be named in the relevant prospectus supplement. Each Escrow Agent will be a financial institution organized under the laws of Canada or a province thereof and authorized to carry on business as a trustee. If underwriters or agents are used in the sale of any subscription receipts, one or more of such underwriters or agents may also be a party to the subscription agreement governing the subscription receipts sold to or through such underwriter or agent.

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of subscription receipts that may be issued hereunder and is not intended to be complete. The statements made in this prospectus relating to any Subscription Receipt Agreement and subscription receipts to be issued thereunder are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable Subscription Receipt Agreement. Prospective investors should refer to the Subscription Receipt Agreement relating to the specific subscription receipts being offered for the complete terms of the subscription receipts. We will file a copy of any Subscription Receipt Agreement relating to an offering of subscription receipts with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States after it has entered into it.

General

The prospectus supplement and the Subscription Receipt Agreement for any subscription receipts that we may offer will describe the specific terms of the subscription receipts offered. This description may include, but may not be limited to, any of the following, if applicable:

 

    the designation and aggregate number of subscription receipts being offered;

 

    the price at which the subscription receipts will be offered;

 

    the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares, warrants or a combination thereof to be received by the holders of subscription receipts upon satisfaction of the release conditions, and any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers;

 

    the conditions (the “Release Conditions”) that must be met in order for holders of subscription receipts to receive, for no additional consideration, the Common Shares, warrants or a combination thereof;

 

    the procedures for the issuance and delivery of the Common Shares, warrants or a combination thereof to holders of subscription receipts upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions;

 

    whether any payments will be made to holders of subscription receipts upon delivery of the Common Shares, warrants or a combination thereof upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions;

 

    the identity of the Escrow Agent;

 

    the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will hold all or a portion of the gross proceeds from the sale of subscription receipts, together with interest and income earned thereon (collectively, the “Escrowed Funds”), pending satisfaction of the Release Conditions;

 

    the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Escrow Agent will hold Common Shares, warrants or a combination thereof pending satisfaction of the Release Conditions;

 

    the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will release all or a portion of the Escrowed Funds to the Company upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions;

 

   

if the subscription receipts are sold to or through underwriters or agents, the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will release a portion of the Escrowed Funds to such underwriters or agents in

 

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payment of all or a portion of their fees or commissions in connection with the sale of the subscription receipts;

 

    procedures for the refund by the Escrow Agent to holders of subscription receipts of all or a portion of the subscription price of their subscription receipts, plus any pro rata entitlement to interest earned or income generated on such amount, if the Release Conditions are not satisfied;

 

    any contractual right of rescission to be granted to initial purchasers of subscription receipts in the event that this prospectus, the prospectus supplement under which subscription receipts are issued or any amendment hereto or thereto contains a misrepresentation;

 

    any entitlement of MAG to purchase the subscription receipts in the open market by private agreement or otherwise;

 

    whether we will issue the subscription receipts as global securities and, if so, the identity of the depository for the global securities;

 

    whether we will issue the subscription receipts as bearer securities, as registered securities or both;

 

    provisions as to modification, amendment or variation of the Subscription Receipt Agreement or any rights or terms of the subscription receipts, including upon any subdivision, consolidation, reclassification or other material change of the Common Shares, warrants or other MAG securities, any other reorganization, amalgamation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or any distribution of property or rights to all or substantially all of the holders of Common Shares;

 

    whether we will apply to list the subscription receipts on any exchange;

 

    material U.S. and Canadian federal income tax consequences of owning the subscription receipts; and

 

    any other material terms or conditions of the subscription receipts.

Original purchasers of subscription receipts will have a contractual right of rescission against us in respect of the conversion of the subscription receipt. The contractual right of rescission will entitle such original purchasers to receive the amount paid on original purchase of the subscription receipt upon surrender of the underlying securities gained thereby, in the event that this prospectus (as supplemented or amended) contains a misrepresentation, provided that: (i) the conversion takes place within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the subscription receipt under this prospectus; and (ii) the right of rescission is exercised within 180 days of the date of purchase of the subscription receipt under this prospectus. This contractual right of rescission will be consistent with the statutory right of rescission described under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia), and is in addition to any other right or remedy available to original purchasers under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) or otherwise at law.

Rights of Holders of Subscription Receipts Prior to Satisfaction of Release Conditions

The holders of subscription receipts will not be, and will not have the rights of, shareholders of MAG. Holders of subscription receipts are entitled only to receive Common Shares, warrants or a combination thereof on exchange of their subscription receipts, plus any cash payments, all as provided for under the Subscription Receipt Agreement and only once the Release Conditions have been satisfied. If the Release Conditions are not satisfied, holders of subscription receipts shall be entitled to a refund of all or a portion of the subscription price thereof and all or a portion of the pro rata share of interest earned or income generated thereon, all as provided in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.

Escrow

The Subscription Receipt Agreement will provide that the Escrowed Funds will be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent, and such Escrowed Funds will be released to the Company (and, if the subscription receipts are sold to or

 

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through underwriters or agents, a portion of the Escrowed Funds may be released to such underwriters or agents in payment of all or a portion of their fees in connection with the sale of the subscription receipts) at the time and under the terms specified by the Subscription Receipt Agreement. If the Release Conditions are not satisfied, holders of subscription receipts will receive a refund of all or a portion of the subscription price for their subscription receipts, plus their pro-rata entitlement to interest earned or income generated on such amount, if provided for in the Subscription Receipt Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Common shares or warrants may be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent and will be released to the holders of subscription receipts following satisfaction of the Release Conditions at the time and under the terms specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.

Modifications

The Subscription Receipt Agreement will specify the terms upon which modifications and alterations to the subscription receipts issued thereunder may be made by way of a resolution of holders of subscription receipts at a meeting of such holders or consent in writing from such holders. The number of holders of subscription receipts required to pass such a resolution or execute such a written consent will be specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.

The Subscription Receipt Agreement will also specify that we may amend any Subscription Receipt Agreement and the subscription receipts, without the consent of the holders of the subscription receipts, to cure any ambiguity, to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, or in any other manner that will not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holder of outstanding subscription receipts or as otherwise specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.

The foregoing summary of certain of the principal provisions of the securities is a summary of anticipated terms and conditions only and is qualified in its entirety by the description in the applicable prospectus supplement under which any securities are being offered.

CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The applicable prospectus supplement may describe certain Canadian federal income tax consequences to an investor who is a non-resident of Canada or to an investor who is a resident of Canada of acquiring, owning and disposing of any of our securities offered thereunder. The applicable prospectus supplement may also describe certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of any of our securities offered thereunder by an initial investor who is a U.S. person (within the meaning of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986), including, to the extent applicable, such consequences relating to debt securities payable in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, issued at an original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes or containing early redemption provisions or other special items. Investors should read the tax discussion in any prospectus supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult their own tax advisors with respect to their own particular circumstances.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

New Issue

We may issue our securities offered by this prospectus for cash or other consideration (i) to or through underwriters, dealers, placement agents or other intermediaries, (ii) directly to one or more purchasers or (iii) in connection with acquisitions of assets or shares or another entity or company.

Each prospectus supplement with respect to our securities being offered will set forth the terms of the offering, including:

 

    the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or other placement agents;

 

    the number and the purchase price of, and form of consideration for, our securities;

 

    any proceeds to us; and

 

    any commissions, fees, discounts and other items constituting underwriters’, dealers’ or agents’ compensation.

Our securities may be sold, from time to time, in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market price or at negotiated prices, including sales in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market distributions” as defined in National Instrument 44-102Shelf Distributions, including sales made directly on the TSX, NYSE American or other existing trading markets for the securities. The prices at which the securities may be offered may vary as between purchasers and during the period of distribution. If, in connection with the offering of securities at a fixed price or prices, the underwriters have made a bona fide effort to sell all of the securities at the initial offering price fixed in the applicable prospectus supplement, the public offering price may be decreased and thereafter further changed, from time to time, to an amount not greater than the initial offering price fixed in such prospectus supplement, in which case the compensation realized by the underwriters will be decreased by the amount that the aggregate price paid by purchasers for the securities is less than the gross proceeds paid by the underwriters to the Company.

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with our securities offered by that prospectus supplement.

Under agreements which may be entered into by us, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of our securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable Canadian securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. The underwriters, dealers and agents with whom we enter into agreements may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

No underwriter or dealer involved in an “at the market distribution” as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, no affiliate of such underwriter or dealer and no person acting jointly or in concert with such underwriter or dealer has over-allotted, or will over allot, our securities in connection with an offering of our securities or effect any other transactions that are intended to stabilize the market price of our securities.

In connection with any offering of our securities, other than an “at the market distribution”, the underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of our securities offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

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AUDITORS, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

The auditors of the Company are Deloitte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, 2800 – 1055 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, British Columbia.

The transfer agent and registrar for the Company’s Common Shares in Canada is Computershare Investor Services Inc. at its principal offices in Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.

INTEREST OF EXPERTS

The technical information, mineral resource estimates and economic estimates relating to the Juanicipio Project, the Cinco de Mayo Property and the Company’s other properties included or incorporated by reference in this short form prospectus has been included or incorporated by reference in reliance on the report, valuation, statement or opinion of the persons described below. The following persons are named as having prepared or certified a report under NI 43-101 referenced in this short form prospectus, either directly or in a document incorporated by reference.

Adrienne Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Geol., Gary Methven, P.Eng., Harald Muller, FAusIMM and Carl Kottmeier, P.Eng. are the authors responsible for the preparation of the technical report entitled “Juanicipio NI 43-101 Technical Report (Amended and Restated)”, dated January 19, 2018, with an effective date of October 21, 2017 and filed on SEDAR on January 19, 2018. This report replaces and supercedes the previously filed reports with respect to the Juanicipio Project.

Dr. Peter Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G., and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, has prepared, supervised the preparation of or reviewed certain parts of this short form prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein that are of a scientific or technical nature.

Deloitte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, have issued reports of an independent registered public accounting firm dated March 29, 2017 in respect of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as at and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. Deloitte LLP is independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia.

None of the experts named in the foregoing section held, at the time they prepared or certified such statement, report or valuation, received after such time or will receive any registered or beneficial interest, direct or indirect, in any securities or other property of the Company or one of the Company’s associates or affiliates, other than Dr. Peter Megaw who is a shareholder of the Company and holds approximately 0.4% of the outstanding securities of the Company. Cascabel and IMDEX, of which Dr. Peter Megaw is a principal, are entitled to a 2.5% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on the Cinco de Mayo Property and on other mineral claims held by the Company in Mexico (excluding the Juanicipio Project).

 

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AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS

Dr. Peter Megaw and Harald Muller reside outside of Canada and have appointed the following agents for service of process in Canada:

 

Name of Person

  

Name and Address of Agent

Dr. Peter Megaw

  

MAG Silver Corp.

770 – 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2V6

Harald Muller

  

MAG Silver Corp.

770 – 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2V6

Purchasers are advised that it may not be possible for investors to enforce judgments obtained in Canada against any person or company that is incorporated, continued or otherwise organized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction or resides outside of Canada, even if the party has appointed an agent for service of process.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters related to our securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon on our behalf by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, with respect to matters of Canadian law, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton  & Garrison LLP, with respect to matters of U.S. law.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are required to file with the securities commission or authority in each of the applicable provinces of Canada annual and quarterly reports, material change reports and other information. In addition, we are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance with the Exchange Act, we also file reports with, and furnish other information to, the SEC. Under a multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States and Canada, these reports and other information (including financial information) may be prepared in accordance with the disclosure requirements of Canada, which differ in certain respects from those in the United States. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required to publish financial statements as promptly as U.S. companies.

You may read any document we file with or furnish to the securities commissions and authorities of the provinces and territories of Canada through SEDAR and any document we file with, or furnish to, the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at Station Place, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at l-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Certain of our filings are also electronically available on EDGAR, and may be accessed at www.sec.gov. Please note that the SEC’s website and the website containing Canadian securities regulatory filings are including in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement as inactive textual references only. The information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, and should not be considered to be part of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, except as explicitly described in the section titled “Documents Incorporated by Reference”.

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

We are a company incorporated under the BCBCA. Most of our directors and officers, and the experts named in this prospectus, are residents of Canada or otherwise reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets may be, and a substantial portion of the Company’s assets are, located outside the United States. We have appointed an agent for service of process in the United States (as set forth above), but it may be difficult for holders of securities who reside in the United States to effect service within the United States upon those directors, officers and experts who are not residents of the United States. It may also be difficult for holders of securities who reside in the United States to realize in the United States upon judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon our civil liability and the civil liability of our directors, officers and experts under the United States federal securities laws. We have been advised that a judgment of a U.S. court predicated solely upon civil liability under U.S. federal securities laws or the securities or “blue sky” laws of any state within the United States, would likely be enforceable in Canada if the United States court in which the judgment was obtained has a basis for jurisdiction in the matter that would be recognized by a Canadian court for the same purposes. We have also been advised, however, that there is substantial doubt whether an action could be brought in Canada in the first instance on the basis of the liability predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities laws.

 

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We filed with the SEC, concurrently with our registration statement on Form F-10 of which this prospectus is a part, an appointment of agent for service of process on Form F-X. Under the Form F-X, we appointed Puglisi & Associates, 850 Liberty Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711 as our agent for service of process in the United States in connection with any investigation or administrative proceeding conducted by the SEC, and any civil suit or action brought against or involving us in a U.S. court arising out of or related to or concerning the offering of securities under this prospectus.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED

TO OFFEREES OR PURCHASERS

Indemnification

The Registrant is subject to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Act”).

Under Section 160(a) of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, an individual who:

 

    is or was a director or officer of the Registrant,

 

    is or was a director or officer of another corporation (i) at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the Registrant, or (ii) at the request of the Registrant, or

 

    at the request of the Registrant, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity,

and includes, except in the definition of “eligible proceeding” and except in sections 163(1)(c) and (d) and 165 of the Act, the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of that individual (collectively, an “eligible party”), may be indemnified by the Registrant against all eligible penalties (as defined herein) to which the eligible party is or may be liable. Section 160(b) of the Act permits the Registrant to pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding (as defined herein) after the final disposition of such eligible proceeding.

Under Section 159 of the Act, an “eligible penalty” is defined as a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding. An “eligible proceeding” means a proceeding (as defined herein) in which an eligible party or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the Registrant or an associated corporation, (a) is or may be joined as a party, or (b) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding. A “proceeding” includes any legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed.

Under Section 161 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, the Registrant must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the eligible party in respect of that proceeding if the eligible party (a) has not been reimbursed for those expenses, and (b) is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding.

Under Section 162 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, the Registrant may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding; provided the Registrant must not make such payments unless it first receives from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited by Section 163, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.

Under Section 163(1) of the Act, the Registrant must not indemnify an eligible party under Section 160(a) of the Act, or pay the expenses of an eligible party in respect of that proceeding under Sections 160(b), 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, if any of the following circumstances apply:

 

    if the indemnity or payment is made under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the agreement to indemnify or pay expenses was made, the Registrant was prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles;

 

    if the indemnity or payment is made otherwise than under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the indemnity or payment is made, the Registrant is prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles;

 

    if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Registrant or the associated corporation, as the case may be; or

 

    in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party’s conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful.

Under Section 163(2) of the Act, if an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of the Registrant or by or on behalf of an associated corporation, the Registrant must neither indemnify the eligible party under Section 160(a) of the Act in respect of the proceeding, nor pay the expenses of the eligible party under Sections 160(b), 161 or 162 of the Act in respect of the proceeding.

 

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Under Section 164 of the Act, despite any other provision of Division 5 – Indemnification of Directors and Officers and Payment of Expenses under the Act and whether or not payment of expenses or indemnification has been sought, authorized or declined under such Division, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the “Court”) may, on application of the Registrant or an eligible party, may:

 

    order the Registrant to indemnify an eligible party against any liability incurred by the eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;

 

    order the Registrant to pay some or all of the expenses incurred by an eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;

 

    order the enforcement of, or any payment under, an agreement of indemnification entered into by the Registrant;

 

    order the Registrant to pay some or all of the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any person in obtaining an order under this section; or

 

    make any other order the Court considers appropriate.

Under Section 165 of the Act, the Registrant may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an eligible party or the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party against any liability that may be incurred by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the Registrant or an associated corporation.

The articles of a company may affect its power or obligation to give an indemnity or pay expenses. As indicated above, this is subject to the overriding power of the Court under Section 164 of the Act.

Under Article 21 of the articles of MAG Silver Corp. (the “Articles”), the Registrant must indemnify a director, former director or alternate director of the Registrant and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Registrant must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each director and alternate director is deemed to have contracted with the Registrant on the terms of the indemnity contained in Article 21 of the Articles.

Subject to any restrictions in the Act, the Registrant may indemnify any person.

The failure of a director, alternate director or officer of the Registrant to comply with the Act or the Articles does not invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under the Article 21 of the Articles.

For the purposes of the Articles, an “eligible penalty” means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding. An “eligible proceeding” means a legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed, in which a director, former director or alternate director of the Registrant (an “eligible party”) or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or alternate director of the Registrant, (a) is or may be joined as a party, or (b) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding. “Expenses” has the meaning set out in the Act.

Under the Articles, the Registrant may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives) who:

 

    is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant;

 

    is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the Registrant;

 

    at the request of the Registrant, is or was a director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity;

 

    at the request of the Registrant, holds or held a position equivalent to that of a director, alternate director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity;

against any liability incurred by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, employee or agent or person who holds or held such equivalent position.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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FORM F-10

EXHIBITS OF MAG SILVER CORP.

 

EXHIBIT
NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

4.1    Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016, dated March  29, 2017 (except for the technical report entitled “Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Update for the Juanicipio Joint Venture, Zacatecas State, Mexico”, dated June 12, 2014, as amended on June  30, 2014, prepared by David Ross, P.Geo., Jason Cox, P.Eng., and Holger Krutzelmann, P.Eng., (the “Previous Technical Report”) incorporated by reference therein, and the information derived from such technical report included therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.2    Audited consolidated financial statements as at December  31, 2016 and 2015 and for the years then ended, together with the notes thereto and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.3    Management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December  31, 2016 (except for information included therein that is derived from the Previous Technical Report) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on March, 30 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.4    Unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements as at September  30, 2017 and for the three and nine month periods ended September  30, 2017 and 2016, together with the notes thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.5    Management’s discussion and analysis for the three and nine month periods ended September  30, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.6    Management Information Circular, dated May 12, 2017 relating to the annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on June  15, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on May 17, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.7    Material Change Report, dated February  14, 2017, relating to the announcement of exploration results from the Deep Zones of the Valdecañas Vein on the Minera Juanicipio S.A. de C.V. Joint Venture property (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.8    Material Change Report, dated April  3, 2017, relating to the determination by the Registrant that its ability to regain surface access at the Cinco de Mayo property is indeterminable and its related recognition of an impairment under IFRS (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.9    Material Change Report dated November 13, 2017, relating to the announcement of the results of an independent NI 43-101 Technical Report with an effective date of October  21, 2017 and prepared by Adrienne Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Geol., Gary Methven, P.Eng., Harald Muller, FAusIMM and Carl Kottmeier, P.Eng., encompassing a new Mineral Resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Juanicipio Project in Zacatecas State, Mexico, which report was amended and restated on January 19, 2018 and retitled “Juanicipio NI 43-101 Technical Report (Amended and Restated)” (the “2017 PEA”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.10    Material Change Report dated December  8, 2017 relating to the completion of a non-brokered private placement offering of 4,599,641 Common Shares to existing shareholders at a price of US$10.47 per Common Share for gross proceeds of US$48.16  million (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on 6-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.11    2017 PEA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2018 (File No. 001-33574)).
5.1    Consent of Deloitte LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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EXHIBIT
NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

5.2    Consent of Peter Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G.
5.3    Consent of Adrienne Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Geol.
5.4    Consent of Gary Methven, P.Eng.
5.5    Consent of Harald Muller, FAusIMM
5.6    Consent of Carl Kottmeier, P.Eng.
6.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).
7.1    Form of indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 7.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-10 filed with the SEC on January 20, 2016).

 

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PART III

UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

Item 1. Undertaking

The Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to the securities registered pursuant to Form F-10 or to transactions in said securities.

Item 2. Consent to Service of Process

A written Appointment of Agent for Service of Process and Undertaking on Form F-X for the Registrant and its agent for service of process is being filed concurrently herewith.

Any change to the name or address of the agent for service of process of the Registrant shall be communicated promptly to the Commission by amendment to Form F-X referencing the file number of this Registration Statement on Form F-10.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-10 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Vancouver, Canada, on January 19, 2018.

 

MAG SILVER CORP.
By:  

/s/ George Paspalas

 

Name: George Paspalas

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints George Paspalas and Larry Taddei, or either of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each of whom may act alone, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and any and all additional registration statements (including amendments and post-effective amendments thereto) in connection with any increase in the amount of securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents and in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all his or her said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/ George Paspalas

George Paspalas

  

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

  January 19, 2018

/s/ Larry Taddei

Larry Taddei

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial & Accounting Officer)

  January 19, 2018

/s/ Peter D. Barnes

Peter D. Barnes

   Director   January 19, 2018

/s/ Richard P. Clark

Richard P. Clark

   Director   January 19, 2018

/s/ Richard M. Colterjohn

Richard M. Colterjohn

   Director   January 19, 2018

/s/ Jill Leversage

Jill Leversage

   Director   January 19, 2018

/s/ Dan MacInnis

Dan MacInnis

   Director   January 19, 2018

 

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Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/ Jonathan A. Rubenstein

Jonathan A. Rubenstein

   Director   January 19, 2018

/s/ Derek C. White

Derek C. White

   Director   January 19, 2018

 

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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned has signed this Registration Statement, in the capacity of the duly authorized representative of the Registrant in the United States, on January 19, 2018.

 

By:  

/s/ Donald J. Puglisi

 

Name: Donald J. Puglisi

Title:   Managing Director, Puglisi & Associates

 

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INDEX OF EXHIBITS OF MAG SILVER CORP.

to

FORM F-10

 

EXHIBIT
NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

4.1    Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016, dated March  29, 2017 (except for the technical report entitled “Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Update for the Juanicipio Joint Venture, Zacatecas State, Mexico”, dated June 12, 2014, as amended on June  30, 2014, prepared by David Ross, P.Geo., Jason Cox, P.Eng., and Holger Krutzelmann, P.Eng., (the “Previous Technical Report”) incorporated by reference therein, and the information derived from such technical report included therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.2    Audited consolidated financial statements as at December  31, 2016 and 2015 and for the years then ended, together with the notes thereto and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.3    Management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December  31, 2016 (except for information included therein that is derived from the Previous Technical Report) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on March, 30 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.4    Unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements as at September  30, 2017 and for the three and nine month periods ended September  30, 2017 and 2016, together with the notes thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017 (File No.  001-33574)).
4.5    Management’s discussion and analysis for the three and nine month periods ended September  30, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.6    Management Information Circular, dated May 12, 2017 relating to the annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on June  15, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on May 17, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.7    Material Change Report, dated February  14, 2017, relating to the announcement of exploration results from the Deep Zones of the Valdecañas Vein on the Minera Juanicipio S.A. de C.V. Joint Venture property (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.8    Material Change Report, dated April  3, 2017, relating to the determination by the Registrant that its ability to regain surface access at the Cinco de Mayo property is indeterminable and its related recognition of an impairment under IFRS (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.9    Material Change Report dated November 13, 2017, relating to the announcement of the results of an independent NI 43-101 Technical Report with an effective date of October  21, 2017 and prepared by Adrienne Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Geol., Gary Methven, P.Eng., Harald Muller, FAusIMM and Carl Kottmeier, P.Eng., encompassing a new Mineral Resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Juanicipio Project in Zacatecas State, Mexico, which report was amended and restated on January 19, 2018 and retitled “Juanicipio NI 43-101 Technical Report (Amended and Restated)” (the “2017 PEA”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.10    Material Change Report dated December  8, 2017 relating to the completion of a non-brokered private placement offering of 4,599,641 Common Shares to existing shareholders at a price of US$10.47 per Common Share for gross proceeds of US$48.16  million (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on 6-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2017 (File No. 001-33574)).
4.11    2017 PEA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2018 (File No. 001-33574)).

 

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EXHIBIT
NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

5.1    Consent of Deloitte LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
5.2    Consent of Peter Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G.
5.3    Consent of Adrienne Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Geol.
5.4    Consent of Gary Methven, P.Eng.
5.5    Consent of Harald Muller, FAusIMM
5.6    Consent of Carl Kottmeier, P.Eng.
6.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).
7.1    Form of indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 7.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-10 filed with the SEC on January 20, 2016).

 

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