From new targets at prime locations to major multi-million-dollar financings, Seabridge Gold Inc. (SEA:TSX; SA:NYSE.MKT) begins 2019 with many projects in the works.
New Target at Iskut
In late December 2018, the company announced that summer drilling at its 100%-owned Iskut Project in northwestern British Columbia "encountered the hallmarks of a large copper-gold porphyry system."
The company zeroed in on the Quartz Rise lithocap in 2018. Specifically, it focused on testing for high-grade epithermal precious metal occurrences associated with the uppermost portion of a porphyry mineral system. The drill results indicated that most of the Quartz Rise lithocap had eroded. The company noted that hydrothermal breccia (diatreme) discovered in holes QR-18-14 and 17 confirmed that a porphyry source for the lithocap was nearby.
Seabridge Chairman and CEO Rudi Fronk noted, "We acquired Iskut in 2016 because it showed clear evidence of a large porphyry system similar in age and geology to our KSM project 30 kilometers to the east. Our view was that the Iskut porphyry was likely too deep to be our primary target and we therefore focused initially on finding a lithocap-hosted epithermal top of the porphyry system. We have since learned that this target is probably not viable in the Quartz Rise area due to erosion. However, we are very excited to find that this same erosion has given us the opportunity to explore for another KSM-style porphyry system located much closer to surface than we anticipated. This is the target we will now pursue at Iskut."
Iron Cap Extension
Meanwhile, at Seabridge Gold's 100%-owned KSM project in northwestern British Columbia, Seabridge confirmed the down plunge extension of the Iron Cap core zone. "Results include some exceptional widths of gold and copper mineralization with grades exceeding the KSM resource average," the company noted. Hole IC-18-83, in particular, returned 548 meters of 0.63 g/t gold and 0.44% copper.
During the 2018 drilling program, management assessed the impact of post-mineral intrusions on the south end of the Iron Cap deposit and "obtained data for the optimum alignment of the proposed Mitchell-Treaty Tunnel (MTT) which would transfer ore to the proposed mill."
According to Fronk, "Iron Cap has clearly become one of the best deposits in the KSM cluster, not only for its superior grade but also due to its proximity to infrastructure, which we expect will require less capital to develop than the Kerr and Sulphurets deposits, and also its size and orientation which favour efficient, cost-effective underground block cave mining."
Aside from the 10 holes drilled in the northwest plunge projection, Seabridge also has three holes in its southwest plunge projection and one more in its northeast up dip projection.
Collectively, the drill holes were designed to test down plunge and across the Iron Cap deposit.
Multimillion-Dollar Financing
In late November, Seabridge announced the closing of a $14-million non-brokered private placement.
The proceeds from the financing deal will be used to "fund general working capital requirements and the 2019 drill program at the company's 100% owned Snowstorm Project located in Nevada."
A 250,000 share option was exercised in December 2018, with the company receiving an additional $3.5 million in proceeds. The additional funds will go toward the 2019 drill program as well.
Snowstorm has all of its necessary permits. Management says the project is good to go for exploration. "A current Plan of Operations filed with the US Bureau of Land Management covers most of the property and permits a total disturbance of 200 acres."
Seabridge is on the radar screen of numerous industry analysts.
Derek Macpherson, VP of Mining Analysis at Red Cloud Klondike Strike, wrote on December 18, "Seabridge's summer drill program at its Iskut Property has identified another porphyry target close to surface. Iskut is only 30 km east of Seabridge's KSM Project which hosts four porphyry deposits with P&P Reserves of 39Moz of gold + 10Blbs of copper. These latest results support our view that Seabridge is positioning itself as a gold-copper developer to watch in a premier jurisdiction—we believe majors are taking notice."
Analyst Dalton Baretto with Canaccord Genuity, wrote on December 12, "The 2018 drilling at Iron Cap increases the likelihood of improved project economics from a resequenced mine plan. On the back of these positive results, we continue to note that a key potential catalyst for SEA's shares will be a partnership agreement with a major mining company. We reiterate our SPEC BUY rating on SEA, as well as our CA$26.00/sh target; our target remains based on 1.0x NAV, measured at Oct. 1, 2019, and is predicated on a partnership agreement being concluded."
Mike Kozak, an analyst with Cantor Fitzgerald Canada, wrote on December 12, "Iron Cap is shaping up to be the best deposit within the KSM cluster and potentially one of the most economic. . .Iron Cap is seen to require less capital to develop than the Kerr and Sulphurets deposits. Additionally, its size and orientation favours efficient, cost-effective underground block cave mining methods." Cantor has a Buy rating on Seabridge with target prices of US$19.00 and CA$25.00.
In a December 13 report, ROTH Capital Partners analyst Joe Reagor noted, "We view the drill results as impressive and believe they will drive an increased resource estimate next year." ROTH has a Buy rating and US$17 price target on Seabridge.
On the TSX, Seabridge shares currently sit at CA$16.96, while on the NYSE, the stock trades at US$12.84.
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Disclosure:
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Red Cloud Klondike Strike Inc., Seabridge Gold, December 18, 2018
Red Cloud Klondike Strike Inc., its affiliates and associates, and their respective officers, directors, representatives, researchers and members of their families (collectively, "Red Cloud KS") may hold positions in the companies mentioned in this publication and may buy or sell, or buy and sell their securities or securities of the same class on the market or otherwise. Additionally, Red Cloud KS may have provided in the past, and may provide in the future, certain advisory or corporate finance services and receive financial and other incentives from issuers as consideration for the provision of such services.
Seabridge Gold Company Specific Disclosures
2) In the last 12 months, Red Cloud KS has been retained under a service or advisory agreement by the subject issuer.
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Disclosures from Canaccord Genuity, Seabridge Gold, December 12, 2018
Analyst Certification: Each authoring analyst of Canaccord Genuity whose name appears on the front page of this research hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed in this research accurately reflect the authoring analyst’s personal, independent and objective views about any and all of the designated investments or relevant issuers discussed herein that are within such authoring analyst’s coverage universe and (ii) no part of the authoring analyst’s compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by the authoring analyst in the research.
Required Company-Specific Disclosures (as of date of this publication):
Canaccord Genuity or one or more of its affiliated companies intend to seek or expect to receive compensation for Investment Banking
services from Seabridge Gold in the next three months.
Up-to-date disclosures may be obtained here.
Disclosures from Cantor Fitzgerald, Seabridge Gold Inc., Company Update, December 12, 2018
Potential conflicts of interest: The author of this report is compensated based in part on the overall revenues of Cantor, a portion of which are generated by investment banking activities. Cantor may have had, or seek to have, an investment banking relationship with companies mentioned in this report. Cantor and/or its officers, directors and employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities mentioned herein as principal or agent. Although Cantor makes every effort possible to avoid conflicts of interest, readers should assume that a conflict might exist, and therefore not rely solely on this report when evaluating whether or not to buy or sell the securities of subject companies.
Disclosures as of February 13, 2018
Cantor has provided investment banking services or received investment banking related compensation from Seabridge Gold Inc. within the past 12 months.
The analysts responsible for this research report do not have, either directly or indirectly, a long or short position in the shares or options of Seabridge Gold Inc.
The analyst responsible for this report has visited the material operations of Seabridge Gold Inc. (KSM and Iskut). No payment or reimbursement was received for the related travel costs.
Analyst certification: The research analyst whose name appears on this report hereby certifies that the opinions and recommendations expressed herein accurately reflect his personal views about the securities, issuers or industries discussed herein.
Disclosures from ROTH Capital Partners, Seabridge Gold Inc., Company Note, December 13, 2018
Regulation Analyst Certification ("Reg AC"): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and its or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.
ROTH makes a market in shares of Seabridge Gold Inc. and as such, buys and sells from customers on a principal basis.
ROTH Capital Partners, LLC expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking or other business relationships with the covered companies mentioned in this report in the next three months.
