Aya Gold & Silver
Primary Ticker: TSX:AYA
Stage of Development: Production, Development, Exploration
Primary Minerals: Silver
Country / Region: Morocco
Market Cap: 1b
Website: Aya Gold & Silver
Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a rapidly growing, Canada-based silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco.
The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have hosted past-producing mines and historical resources.
Aya’s management team has been focused on maximizing shareholder value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its operations, governance, and financial growth plans.
CAD18M
Debt:100M
Major shareholders:
Robert Taub -10%
Van Eck – 8%
BlackRock – 7%
Global X – 2%
Family Office – 33%
Management Ownership – 10%
Management Profile
Benoit La Salle – President & CEO
Benoit La Salle was appointed President & CEO of Aya in April 2020, bringing with him over 25 years of experience in developing and operating responsible mining companies in West Africa based on community empowerment. In 1995, Mr. La Salle founded Canadian-based SEMAFO Inc., which grew from a junior explorer to a 250,000+ ounce-per-year gold producer in West Africa, and established SEMAFO Foundation in 2008 to support its local communities. Since 2010, he has held board positions at six public companies, in addition to founding three West African-focused exploration companies and one privately held power producer. An active contributor to the non-profit section, Mr. La Salle is a former board director and chair of Plan International Canada and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of The Canadian Council on Africa since 2013.
Alex Ball – VP, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
During his 15+ years in corporate finance, Alex Ball has managed $5 billion in debt and equity financings and M&A transactions in mining with UBS Canada, CIBC World Markets and BMO Capital Markets. Alex was also part of the Active Equities Group with OMERS, a $100 billion AUM pension fund. Previously, he held the role of Executive Vice President, Finance & Corporate Development at Algold Resources.
What is your rationale for taking part in 121 Mining Investment?
We are a pure play silver mining company, with recently expanded operations (Zgounder) expecting to produce ~5M ounces of silver in 2025. We are also developing our polymetallic Boumadine project in Morocco drilling 100,000+ metres this year. We are interested in meeting new institutional shareholders.
What recent news would you like to highlight to investors attending?
1. Completed expansion of Zgounder Silver Mine going from 700tpd to 3,000tpd processing capacity. Ramping up to steady state in 2025.
2. Continue to report high-grade results from Zgounder and Boumadine in Morocco
3. Reported updated mineral resource estimate at Boumadine.
What are your key goals in 3 months, 6 months, 12 months?
3 Months:
Announce drill results for Zgounder and Boumadine
6 Months:
Continue to drill at Zgounder and Boumadine
12 Months:
Ramp up to steady state by end of 2025
What do you see as the key risks and challenges facing your company at the moment and how are you overcoming these?
Silver price, but Aya will grow production profile over the next 12 months.
What do you think makes your company such a compelling investment?
Aya is fully funded and is the only exchange listed silver producer globally. It also offers tremendous growth potential and a play on the South Atlas Fault in Morroco.
