Environmental Contingencies
The Company’s mining and exploration activities are subject to various laws, regulations and permits governing the protection of the environment. These laws, regulations and permits are continually changing and are generally becoming more restrictive. The Company has made, and expects to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws, regulations and permits, but cannot predict the full amount of such future expenditures.
Legal
On February 22, 2022, a purported Gatos stockholder filed a putative class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company, certain of our former officers, and several directors (the “U.S. Class Action”). An amended complaint was filed on August 15, 2022. The amended complaint, allegedly brought on behalf of certain purchasers of Gatos common stock and certain traders of call and put options on Gatos common stock from December 9, 2020, through January 25, 2022, seeks, among other things, damages, costs, and expenses, and asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as well as Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. The amended complaint alleges that certain individual defendants and Gatos, pursuant to the control and authority of the individual defendants, made false and misleading statements and/or omitted certain material information regarding the mineral resources and reserves at the Cerro Los Gatos mine. Gatos and all defendants filed a motion to dismiss this action on October 14, 2022.That motion was fully briefed as of December 23, 2022. On April 26, 2023, following a joint motion, the Court ordered that it will postpone a ruling on defendants’ motion to dismiss until on or after June 16, 2023.
On June 13, 2023, we entered into an agreement in principle to settle the U.S. Class Action. Subject to certain conditions, including class certification by the District Court, the execution of a definitive stipulation of settlement and approval of the settlement by the District Court, the settling parties have agreed to resolve the U.S. Class Action for a payment by us and our insurers of $21,000 to a settlement fund. We are in the process of finalizing the amount of defense expenses incurred that are covered under the directors’ and officers’ insurance policy which will be deducted from the $10,000 retention held by the Company. We expect to fund no more than $7,900 of the settlement, with the balance of the settlement payment to be paid by insurance. We and the other defendants will not admit any liability as part of the settlement. On June 16, 2023, the parties filed a joint status report requesting that the Court grant a temporary stay of all proceedings in the case pending submission of proposed settlement documentation on or before July 13, 2023. On July 13, 2023, the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion for an order preliminarily approving the a stipulation of settlement agreed by the parties and providing for class notice which will provide for (i) preliminary approval of the settlement; (ii) approval of the form and manner of giving notice of the settlement to the settlement class; and (iii) a hearing date and time to consider final and approval of the Settlement and related matters. That motion is currently pending a decision by the Court. Since the settlement of the U.S. Class Action is subject to conditions, there can be no assurance that the U.S. Class Action will be finally resolved pursuant to the agreement that has been reached.
By Notice of Action issued February 9, 2022 and subsequent Statement of Claim dated March 11, 2022 Izabela Przybylska commenced a putative class action against Gatos Silver, Inc. (“Gatos”), certain of its former officers and directors, and others in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on behalf of a purported class of all persons or entities, wherever they may reside or be domiciled, who acquired securities of Gatos in both the primary and secondary markets during the period from October 28, 2020 until January 25, 2022. The action asserts claims under Canadian securities legislation and at common law and seeks unspecified monetary damages and other relief in respect of allegations the defendants made false and misleading statements and omitted material information regarding the mineral resources and reserves of Gatos. The plaintiff filed motion materials for leave to proceed in respect of her statutory claims and for class certification on March 3, 2023, which materials were amended and filed on May 1, 2023. The court has tentatively set dates in late March of 2024 for the hearing of the plaintiff’s motions.
There can be no assurance that any of the foregoing matters individually or in aggregate will not result in outcomes that are materially adverse for us.
Equipment Loan Agreements
The Company guarantees the payment of all obligations, including accrued interest, under the LGJV equipment loan agreements. As of June 30, 2023, the LGJV had $13.0 outstanding under the LGJV equipment loan agreements, which was fully repaid on July 24, 2023.
