i-80 Gold Buys Time with Precious Metal Deferrals Amid Cash Crunch
i-80 Gold Corp. (TSX: IAU), facing mounting financial pressures, announced the deferral of December 2024 gold prepay and January 2025 silver purchase agreement deliveries. This move underscores the company’s weak financial position but also reflects an effort to buy time for a recapitalization plan aimed at stabilizing its operations and securing its future.
The deferred deliveries involve 3,210 ounces of gold and 400,000 ounces of silver, originally due on December 31, 2024, and January 15, 2025, respectively. These commitments, critical to satisfying agreements with longtime financier Orion Mine Finance, will now be delayed until March 31, 2025. In return, i-80 Gold agreed to issue five million common share purchase warrants to Orion and amend its convertible loan agreement, extending its expiration date by six months to June 30, 2026.
This move marks a critical juncture for the company, which has struggled to manage debt obligations amid operational challenges. Richard Young, CEO of i-80 Gold, expressed optimism about the arrangement, saying, “The deferral provides us with the breathing room needed to advance our recapitalization plan and develop our portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Nevada.”
The deferral offers immediate relief from cash flow pressures but also underscores the gravity of i-80 Gold’s financial challenges. The company is grappling with a liquidity crisis, exacerbated by poor operational performance in 2024. Its Q3 financial results revealed a net loss of $38 million, with cash reserves dwindling to $22 million—barely enough to meet short-term obligations.
By postponing its metal deliveries, i-80 Gold avoids immediate penalties or defaults, allowing it to focus on securing additional funding and restructuring its debt.
i-80 Gold last traded at $0.69 on the TSX.
Information for this briefing was found via Sedar and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
