Australian miner Cavalier secures necessary funding to bring gold project to production

The company signed binding term sheets with commodities trader Javelin Global Commodities and mining financier Ottomin for project debt facilities of $13-million (gold prepayment facility) and a A$5-million loan facility, respectively, providing A$23-million of project debt funding.

Cavalier says the funding structure is designed to minimise shareholder dilution while providing the capital required to advance Crawford towards production.

The funding is intended to support site establishment, procurement of long-lead items, project construction and working capital.

The repayment structure is aligned with future project cashflows and gold production, Cavalier notes.

Under the gold prepayment facility, Cavalier will deliver just under 7 000 oz of refined gold bullion over a 20-month term. Javelin also has a future offtake option covering 50 000 oz following completion of the gold prepayment facility.

Cavalier advises that definitive documentation still needs to be executed before drawdown can take place.

In turn, the gold loan facility with Ottomin will be repaid in three equal cash instalments of A$1.6-million in months ten, 11 and 12 following the date on which the gold loan facility is drawn in full.

"The board has deliberately pursued a funding strategy that combines project debt with measured equity funding to minimise shareholder dilution while ensuring Crawford is appropriately funded through development.

By linking lender repayments to future project cash flows and gold production, the financing package preserves capital during the critical development phase while maintaining the flexibility required to execute the company's development plan," Cavalier states.