- Bluestone Resources Inc. is focused on developing its Cerro Blanco gold project and Mita Geothermal project in Guatemala.
- A feasibility study for the Cerro Blanco project outlines average annual gold production of 113,000oz over 8 years at an AISC of $579/oz and after-tax NPV of $241M.
- The analyst maintains a speculative buy rating and price target of C$3.00 based on a valuation of $380M for Cerro Blanco plus other assets. Near-term catalysts include resource updates and a production decision in 2019.
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Cannacord Genuity - Bluestone Resources Report
1. Bluestone Resources Inc.
Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer
Canaccord Genuity is the global capital markets group of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (CF : TSX)
The recommendations and opinions expressed in this research report accurately reflect the research analyst's personal, independent and objective views about any and all
the companies and securities that are the subject of this report discussed herein.
Canadian Equity Research
29 January 2019
SPECULATIVE BUY
PRICE TARGET C$3.00
Price (28-Jan)
Ticker
C$1.40
BSR-TSXV
52-Week Range (C$): 1.05 - 1.60
Avg Daily Vol (000s) : 9.78
Shares Out. (M) : 63.8
Market Cap (C$M): 89.3
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1
Feb-18
Mar-18
Apr-18
May-18
Jun-18
Jul-18
Aug-18
Sep-18
Oct-18
Nov-18
Dec-18
Jan-19
BSR
Junior Gold Miners Index (rebased)
Source: FactSet
Priced as of close of business 28 January 2019
Bluestone is a development-stage natural resource
company focused on the exploration and development
of its 100% owned Cerro Blanco Gold project and
Mita Geothermal project, both located in Guatemala.
Cerro Blanco is a proposed underground gold
mining operation located in southeast Guatemala
approximately 160 kilometers by road from the capital,
Guatemala City. Mita Geothermal is a geothermal
energy resource located adjacent to Cerro Blanco.
Kevin MacKenzie, P.Geo., MBA | Analyst | Canaccord Genuity Corp. (Canada) | kmackenzie@cgf.com |
1.604.643.7357
Michael Pettingell, MASc | Associate | Canaccord Genuity Corp. (Canada) | mpettingell@cgf.com | 1.604.643.7419
Company Update
First look: Cerro Blanco feasibility study
Event: Bluestone released the results of a feasibility study for its 100% owned and
permitted, Cerro Blanco gold project located in SE Guatemala (Figure 1).
Discussion:
• The feasibility study, centered on a reserve base of 0.94Moz grading 8.5g/t Au,
highlights an average annual gold production profile of 113,000oz/yr over eight years.
Based on a 1,250tpd throughput, the study outlines an AISC cost of US$579/oz, an
after-tax NPV5% of US$241M and IRR of 34% (at US$1,250/oz Au).
• The initial project CAPEX of US$196M was in line with expectations (CGe US$200M).
As highlighted in our initiation of coverage report, Permitted and on the path to
production, the Cerro Blanco project benefits from a low overall initial CAPEX as the
result of US$170M in past infrastructure investments.
• OPEX was higher than expected (US$118/t vs. CGe US$102/t), this as the result of an
increase in the amount of cut & fill utilized in the updated mine plan. The breakdown
between long-hole and cut & fill, and associated applied dilutions, was not provided in
the release.
• Overall, the 8-year mine life was lower than expected, this as the result of a 78%
conversion from M+I to P+P.
• We note that the increase in annual payables, relative to the 2017 PEA (Figure 3), is
largely attributable to the higher head-grade (8.5g/t Au vs. 8.14g/t Au previously), as
well as the results of Bluestone’s metallurgical/flowsheet optimization test work (96%
Au recovery vs. 91% previously).
• Ongoing drilling at Cerro Blanco remains focused on further increasing the project’s
mine life by (1) converting Inferred ounces (0.36Moz grading 8.1g/t Au) to the M+I
category, and (2) defining new resources along known veins within the footprint of
the current mine plan. Initial results to date have been successful in illustrating the
continuity of high-grade mineralization within principal vein-sets, in addition to the
discovery of a new high-grade vein (12.6g/t Au over 2.7m). We currently assume 70%
Inferred conversion in our model, and management is targeting 56-70% conversion by
Q3/19.
Impact: Positive. Overall, the results of the Cerro Blanco feasibility study were largely
in line with expectations. We continue to highlight Cerro Blanco as a clear standout
amongst its peer comparable group (Figure 6 & 7), given its (1) high-grade profile (P
+P: 8.5g/t Au), (2) projected low initial CAPEX (US$196M), and (3) first quartile AISC
(US$579/oz). Beyond the ongoing resource conversion/extension drill program, we see
considerable exploration upside associated with the Cerro Blanco project (Figure 9).
If realized, this could support a material mine life extension and further improve the
project’s already robust economics.
Valuation: We reiterate our SPECULATIVE BUY recommendation and C$3.00/sh target
price. Our target price is predicated on a C$380M valuation of Bluestone’s Cerro Blanco
asset plus other non-operating and balance sheet items.
Potential near-term catalysts. Resource update (Q3/19), feasibility study update
(Q4/19) and project financing/production decision (H2/19).
For important information, please see the Important Disclosures beginning on page 6 of this document.
2. Figure 1: Cerro Blanco property location map
Source: Company Reports
Figure 2: Photo of Cerro Blanco project area (looking south); agriculture is the primary land-use surrounding the project site. The town of Asuncion
Mita is located 5km SE of project, with smaller local communities at distances of 2-3km.
Source: Company Reports, Canaccord Genuity estimates
Bluestone Resources Inc.
Company Update
Speculative Buy Target Price C$3.00 | 29 January 2019 Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer 2
3. Figure 3: Cerro Blanco valuation comparison
Source: Company Reports, Canaccord Genuity Estimates
Figure 4: 2018 Cerro Blanco resource estimate (3.5g/t Au cut-off)
Source: Company Reports
Mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 3.5g/t Au assuming: metal price of US$1,250/oz Au and US$16/oz Ag, and a number of
operating cost and recovery assumptions, including a contingency factor.
AuEq assuming US$1,250/oz Au and US$16.00/oz Ag
Figure 5: 2019 Cerro Blanco reserve estimate (3.5g/t Au cut-off)
Source: Company Reports
Mineral Reserves were estimated using a $1,250/oz gold price and a gold cut-off of 3.5g/t. Other costs and factors used for gold cut-off grade
determination were mining, processing and other costs of $109.04/t, transport and treatment charges of $5.0/oz, a royalty of $24.84/oz Au
and a gold metallurgical recovery of 95%.
AuEq assuming US$1,250/oz Au and US$18.00/oz Ag
Unit 2017 PEA 2019 FS CG Base
Price Assumptions
Long-Term Gold Price US$/oz $1,250 $1,250 $1,415
Long-Term Silver Price US$/oz $16.00 $18.00 $16.14
Operating Assumption
Start Date yr - - 2022
Mine Life yr 9.0 8.0 12.9
Throughput tpd 1,250 1,250 1,250
Mill Feed Mt 3.98 3.40 5.61
Gold Grade g/t 8.14 8.50 8.07
Silver Grade g/t 28.0 32.2 29.1
Moz 0.95 0.90 1.38
oz/yr 105,556 112,800 107,519
Moz 3.11 3.06 4.62
oz/yr 345,444 382,500 358,566
Cost Assumption
OPEX US$/t feed $93 $118 $102
Sustaining US$M $105 $140 $183
Initial CAPEX US$M $171 $196 $200
Cash Cost US$/oz Au $372 $424 $399
AISC US$/oz Au $490 $579 $531
Project Economics (after-tax)
NPV 5% US$M $317 $241 $423
NPV 8% US$M $261 - $292
IRR % 44% 34% 33%
Gold Payable
Silver Payable
Tonnes Gold Silver AuEq Gold Silver AuEq
(Mt) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (Moz) (Moz) (Moz)
Measured 0.29 10.30 39.10 10.80 0.10 0.37 0.10
Indicated 3.43 10.00 37.80 10.48 1.11 4.16 1.16
Inferred 1.37 8.10 23.60 8.40 0.36 1.04 0.37
Total = 5.09 9.53 34.04 9.96 1.56 5.57 1.63
Category
Tonnes Gold Silver AuEq Gold Silver AuEq
(Mt) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (Moz) (Moz) (Moz)
Proven 0.31 8.30 31.40 8.75 0.08 0.32 0.09
Probable 3.13 8.50 32.30 8.97 0.86 3.25 0.90
Total = 3.44 8.50 32.20 8.96 0.94 3.57 0.99
Category
Bluestone Resources Inc.
Company Update
Speculative Buy Target Price C$3.00 | 29 January 2019 Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer 3
4. Figure 6: Global resource profile comparables
Source: Company Reports, Canaccord Genuity estimates
Figure 7: CAPEX and AISC comparables
Source: Company Reports, Canaccord Genuity estimates
*No economics on project currently, reported based on CG estimates
Figure 8: Bluestone valuation summary
Source: Canaccord Genuity estimates
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
GlobalAuEqgrade(g/t)
GlobalAuEqounces(Moz)
Contained (Moz AuEq) AuEq (g/t)
Horne 5 (FPC)
Cerro Blanco (BSR)
Loma Larga (INV)
Red Mountain (IDM)
Back River(SBB)
Las Chispas (SIL)*
Windfall Lake (OSK)
Madsen (PGM)
Cariboo (BGM)*
Phoenix (RMX)*
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$300 $400 $500 $600 $700 $800 $900 $1,000
Pre-productioncapitalexpense(US$M)
All-in-sustaining costs (US$/oz Au)
C$M C$/sh
Project NAV
Cerro Blanco $380 $1.92
Exploration Credit $44 $0.22
Mita Geothermal $39 $0.20
Total Project NAV $463 $2.33
Corporate Adjustments
Working Capital $21 $0.10
ITM Options & Warrants $1 $0.01
Exploration/Pre-Dev. Expense ($32) ($0.16)
Exploration/Pre-Dev. Financing $20 $0.10
Construction Equity Financing $130 $0.65
Corporate Adjustments $139 $0.70
Corporate NAV $602 $3.04
Shares (M): O/S+ITM+Financings 198.3
Bluestone Resources Inc.
Company Update
Speculative Buy Target Price C$3.00 | 29 January 2019 Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer 4
5. Exploration Upside
The Cerro Blanco project hosts multiple levels of exploration upside, which include:
Near deposit. With an improved understanding of the controls of mineralization at
Cerro Blanco, there exists the potential to locally expand the project’s resource
with targeted infill drilling, and additional step-out drilling to the north and south.
Local exploration. We view the greater Cerro Blanco 3km by 1km hydrothermal
alteration footprint as a prospective target for the potential discovery of additional
center(s) of mineralization. This is evidenced by the high-grade drill intercepts and
surface anomalies located outside of the project’s resource area (Figure 9).
Regional exploration. As part of the Cerro Blanco project acquisition, Bluestone
acquired all of Goldcorp’s in-country exploration datasets. While grassroots in
nature, the datasets highlight multiple regional anomalies for follow-up
investigation.
Figure 9: Plan map highlighting exploration upside at Cerro Blanco
Source: Company Reports
Bluestone Resources Inc.
Company Update
Speculative Buy Target Price C$3.00 | 29 January 2019 Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer 5
6. Appendix: Important Disclosures
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.
Analysts employed outside the US are not registered as research analysts with FINRA. These analysts may not be associated persons of
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Sector Coverage
Individuals identified as “Sector Coverage” cover a subject company’s industry in the identified jurisdiction, but are not authoring
analysts of the report.
Investment Recommendation
Date and time of first dissemination: January 29, 2019, 11:17 ET
Date and time of production: January 29, 2019, 11:17 ET
Target Price / Valuation Methodology:
Bluestone Resources Inc. - BSR
Our target price is predicated on a US$292M NPV8% valuation of Bluestone’s Cerro Blanco project on a fully financed basis (US$200M
CAPEX, 50/50 debt to equity) plus other non-operating and balance sheet items.
Risks to achieving Target Price / Valuation:
Bluestone Resources Inc. - BSR
In addition to the usual risks to target prices associated with commodity pricing, exchange rates, and mineral exploration/development,
we highlight the following:
Financing Risk – As a pre-cash flow development company, Bluestone is reliant on the capital markets to remain a going concern. As of
Sept. 30th, the company had a cash position of ~US$12M, and to date remains well positioned to continue to advance its Cerro Blanco
project in the near term. However, we note that there is no guarantee that Bluestone will be able to continue to access capital markets,
as a result of possible changes in market sentiment/pricing and/or concerns involving project feasibility.
Shareholder Dilution – Our valuation of Bluestone includes the associated share dilution of US$200M initial project CAPEX financing
(50/50 debt-to-equity), as well as an interim $20M exploration/pre-development equity financing. In total, these two financings mark a
projected 67% share dilution from current levels. We note the potential for even higher dilution should equity be financed at lower than
projected levels, and/or if initial CAPEX is financed at >50% equity.
Resource Conversion – Our valuation of Bluestone incorporates 70% of the Cerro Blanco Inferred category resource into our mine model.
We note that there is no guarantee that future drilling will be successful in converting such resources to a higher level of confidence
suitable for mine planning. As such, a failure to do so could negatively impact our valuation.
Development Risk – In our valuation of Bluestone, we utilized several assumptions in our estimation of both the capital and operating
costs for the Cerro Blanco project. The forecast economics for this project have the potential to incur higher development costs/overruns,
procurement delays, permitting issues, and other associated factors that could adversely impact our valuation of Bluestone.
Operational Risk – Our forecasts are based upon technical data, guidance from the company and our own knowledge and experience
with regard to the operation of individual mining projects. We note the potential for operational and financial performance to change
rapidly due to weather-related issues, unexpected changes in minerology and in general unforeseen operational difficulties.
Regulatory Risk – While the Cerro Blanco project is fully permitted, we note the possibility for additional project consultation and/or
technical studies to be required. If material, such delays could affect the timing of future cash flows and, by extension, our project
valuation. In addition, we note that changes to the current tax/royalty regime, and/or environmental regulation, also have the potential to
negatively impact our valuation of the Cerro Blanco project.
Bluestone Resources Inc.
Company Update
Speculative Buy Target Price C$3.00 | 29 January 2019 Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer 6
7. Distribution of Ratings:
Global Stock Ratings (as of 01/29/19)
Rating Coverage Universe IB Clients
# % %
Buy 560 62.71% 47.50%
Hold 200 22.40% 30.00%
Sell 12 1.34% 25.00%
Speculative Buy 121 13.55% 68.60%
893* 100.0%
*Total includes stocks that are Under Review
Canaccord Genuity Ratings System
BUY: The stock is expected to generate risk-adjusted returns of over 10% during the next 12 months.
HOLD: The stock is expected to generate risk-adjusted returns of 0-10% during the next 12 months.
SELL: The stock is expected to generate negative risk-adjusted returns during the next 12 months.
NOT RATED: Canaccord Genuity does not provide research coverage of the relevant issuer.
“Risk-adjusted return” refers to the expected return in relation to the amount of risk associated with the designated investment or the
relevant issuer.
Risk Qualifier
SPECULATIVE: Stocks bear significantly higher risk that typically cannot be valued by normal fundamental criteria. Investments in the
stock may result in material loss.
12-Month Recommendation History (as of date same as the Global Stock Ratings table)
A list of all the recommendations on any issuer under coverage that was disseminated during the preceding 12-month period
may be obtained at the following website (provided as a hyperlink if this report is being read electronically) http://disclosures-
mar.canaccordgenuity.com/EN/Pages/default.aspx
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 Bluestone Resources Inc. in the next three months.
An analyst has visited the material operations of Bluestone Resources Inc.. Partial payment was received for the related travel costs.
Bluestone Resources Inc. Rating History as of 01/28/2019
C$3.50
C$3.00
C$2.50
C$2.00
C$1.50
C$1.00
C$0.50
C$0.00
Apr 14 Jul 14 Oct 14 Jan 15 Apr 15 Jul 15 Oct 15 Jan 16 Apr 16 Jul 16 Oct 16 Jan 17 Apr 17 Jul 17 Oct 17 Jan 18 Apr 18 Jul 18 Oct 18 Jan 19
I:SB:C$3.00
10/18/2018
Closing Price Price Target
Buy (B); Speculative Buy (SB); Sell (S); Hold (H); Suspended (SU); Under Review (UR); Restricted (RE); Not Rated (NR)
Past performance
In line with Article 44(4)(b), MiFID II Delegated Regulation, we disclose price performance for the preceding five years or the whole period
for which the financial instrument has been offered or investment service provided where less than five years. Please note price history
refers to actual past performance, and that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future price and/or performance.
Online Disclosures
Bluestone Resources Inc.
Company Update
Speculative Buy Target Price C$3.00 | 29 January 2019 Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer 7
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Bluestone Resources Inc.
Company Update
Speculative Buy Target Price C$3.00 | 29 January 2019 Precious Metals - Developer/Explorer 8