Asante Gold Corporation Expects to File Year-End Financial Results by Late May and Announces Grant of Management Cease Trade Order
VANCOUVER, May 03, 2023 - Asante Gold Corp. (CSE:ASE | GSE:ASG | FRANKFURT:1A9 | U.S.OTC:ASGOF) ("Asante" or the "Company") announces that it has applied for, and received, a management cease trade order ("MCTO") from the British Columbia Securities Commission pursuant to which the Company will have until June 30, 2023 to file its annual financial statements, and related CEO and CFO certifications, for the years ended January 31, 2023 and January 31, 2022 and its annual information form for the year ended January 31, 2023 (collectively, the "Annual Filings"). The Company expects to complete the Annual Filings by no later than May 31, 2023.
The MCTO prohibits trading in securities of the Company by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company, whether direct or indirect, for so long as the Annual Filings are not filed, while permitting continued trading by persons other than the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer. The MCTO will remain in effect until the Company completes the Annual Filings.
As a result of the Company's listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange on June 29, 2022, the Company ceased to be a "venture issuer" for purposes of National Instrument 51-102 and the filing deadline for the Annual Filings accelerated from May 31, 2023 to May 1, 2023.
Due to the complexity associated with consolidating the Chirano gold mine acquisition, completed on August 10, 2022, Asante determined that it was not able to meet the May 1, 2023 deadline (the "Filing Deadline") for its Annual Filings. Specifically, the Company and its auditors are still assessing the accounting process for the purchase price in respect of this acquisition.
The Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in Sections 9 and 10 of National Policy 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly status reports in the form of news releases so long as the Annual Filings are outstanding.
About Asante Gold Corporation
Asante is a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines with combined forecast production of approximately 400,000 ounces of gold for 2023. The Company continues with detailed technical studies at its Kubi Gold Project for early production. All mines and exploration projects are located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana's Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.asantegold.com.
About the Bibiani Gold Mine
Bibiani is an operating open pit gold mine situated in the Western North Region of Ghana, with previous gold production of more than 4.5 million ounces. It is fully permitted with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site consisting of a newly refurbished 3 million tonne per annum process plant and existing mining infrastructure. Mining commenced in late February 2022 with the first gold pour announced on July 7, 2022. Commercial production was announced November 10, 2022.
For additional information relating to the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Bibiani Gold Mine, please refer to Asante's press releases dated July 18, 2022 and September 1, 2022 and the technical report filed on its SEDAR profile (www.sedar.com) on September 1, 2022.
About the Chirano Gold Mine
Chirano is an operating open-pit and underground mine located in the Western Region of Ghana, immediately south of the Company's Bibiani Gold Mine. Chirano was first explored and developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005. The mine comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines. Gold Equivalent Production in 2021 was 154,668 oz on a 100% basis (source Kinross Gold Corp.).
For further information please contact:
Dave Anthony, President & CEO: +1 647 382 4215 (Canada) or +233 55 879 3309 (Ghana), dave@asantegold.com
Frederick Attakumah, Executive Vice President, frederick@asantegold.com
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dave Anthony, P. Eng., Mining and Mineral Processing, President and CEO of Asante, who is a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the timing of the Annual Filings. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and the price of gold. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.