8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 20, 2020

McEWEN MINING INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Colorado
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) 001-33190
(Commission File
Number) 84-0796160
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

150 King Street West, Suite 2800

Toronto, Ontario, Canada  M5H 1J9

(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number including area code:  (866) 441-0690

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	MUX	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On March 20, 2020, McEwen Mining Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing a temporary closure of the San Jose mine in Argentina operated by its joint venture partner. The closure resulted from a state of emergency declared by the government of Argentina to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and will last at least until March 31, 2020. Work at the Company’s Los Azules copper project in Argentina is also being suspended until further notice.

The Company also announced that with the confirmed presence of COVID-19 in the Timmins region of Canada, it is implementing numerous additional safety precautions at its operations at the Black Fox complex. As a result of the suspension of work at the San Jose mine as well as the uncertainty regarding the impact of COVID-19 on its operations, the Company has withdrawn all previously-announced production and cost guidance for 2020. A copy of the press release dated March 20, 2020 is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits.
99.1	Press release dated March 20, 2020
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

Cautionary Statement

With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in the press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections or estimates contained therein. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding future exploration, development, construction and production activities. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections or estimates include, among others, the uncertain impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, metal prices, economic and market conditions, operating costs, receipt of permits, receipt of working capital and future drilling results, as well as other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Most of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made in the press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	McEWEN MINING INC.
Date: March 23, 2020	By:	/s/ Carmen Diges
		Carmen Diges, General Counsel

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

McEwen Mining Provides Operations Update and Withdraws Production Guidance Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

TORONTO, March 20, 2020 - McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) reports on the current impacts of COVID-19 on our operations.

· The government of Argentina has declared a state of emergency and imposed a nationwide mandatory quarantine starting today to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As a result, our 49%-owned San José mine has temporarily halted operations effective today, through at least March 31, 2020. The mine site will continue to be staffed by a reduced workforce to ensure appropriate safety, security, and environmental systems are maintained.

· Work at the Los Azules copper project in Argentina is also suspended until further notice.

· With the confirmed presence of COVID-19 in the Timmins region, our Black Fox operation is implementing numerous safety measures in addition to very strict site access and employee screening measures already in place: all non-essential staff and second-in-command managers will be working from home, employees who must travel by plane or for more than 4 hours have been asked not to return to the site, payroll will be isolated off site, group meetings have been discontinued, data is being collected on employee family health status, and numerous other measures.

· As a consequence of the suspension of mining at San José and uncertainty related to the potential impact of COVID-19 on our other operations, we are withdrawing all previously announced production and costs guidance for 2020.

McEwen Mining’s mines in Ontario, Nevada, and Mexico are currently continuing to operate. The measures being taken to combat COVID-19 by the Company and local authorities in each of the jurisdictions where we operate are changing rapidly. We are closely monitoring the situation at our mine sites and in the local communities. McEwen Mining Inc. will be following the guidelines and directions set out by the local public health authorities.

Reliability of Information Regarding San José

Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (MSC), the owner of the San José Mine, is responsible for and has supplied to the Company all reported results from the San José Mine. McEwen Mining’s joint venture partner, a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining plc, and its affiliates other than MSC do not accept responsibility for the use of project data or the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news release, McEwen Mining Inc.'s (the "Company") estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the corporation to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Risk Factors", for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.

McEwen Mining Inc. Page 1

 

The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by management of McEwen Mining Inc.

ABOUT MCEWEN MINING

McEwen Mining is a diversified gold and silver producer and explorer with operating mines in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. It also owns a large copper deposit in Argentina. McEwen’s goal is to create a profitable gold and silver producer focused in the Americas.

McEwen Mining has approximately 400 million shares outstanding. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, owns 20% of the shares.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Investor Relations: (866)-441-0690 Toll Free (647)-258-0395 Mihaela Iancu ext. 320 info@mcewenmining.com	Website: www.mcewenmining.com Facebook: facebook.com/mcewenmining Facebook: facebook.com/mcewenrob Twitter: twitter.com/mcewenmining Twitter: twitter.com/robmcewenmux Instagram: instagram.com/mcewenmining	150 King Street West Suite 2800, P.O. Box 24 Toronto, ON, Canada M5H 1J9

McEwen Mining Inc. Page 2

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Cover	Mar. 20, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 20, 2020
Entity File Number	001-33190
Entity Registrant Name	McEWEN MINING INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000314203
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-0796160
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	CO
Entity Address, Address Line One	150 King Street West
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 2800
Entity Address, City or Town	Toronto
Entity Address, State or Province	ON
Entity Address, Country	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	M5H 1J9
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Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	MUX
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false