On White Tiger misses deadline to submit financials, says struggling to account for Century buy

White Tiger Gold (TSX:WTG) is already down 47% in 2012 and news out late on Friday will do little to restore investor confidence in the Canada-Russia gold miner.

In a statement the Toronto company announced a “short” delay in filing its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31.

“The delay is caused by the extensive additional procedures required to finalize the consolidation of the Company’s accounts with those of recently acquired Century Mining Corporation,” White Tiger said adding that it still expects to file next week.

On Friday the company closed at $0.47 on the Toronto big board giving it a market valuation of $148 million. That is not even a tenth of what is was in January last year when you’ve had to spend $4.80 to lay your hands on the stock.

White Tiger hopes to go ahead with a pre-feasibility study on its Nasedkino project in Siberia and own number of exploration assets in Russia.

The company, based out of the British Virgin Islands, also operates the Lamaque Mine in Val D’Or Quebec; the Savkino heap leach gold operation located in southeastern Siberia and the San Juan gold mine in San Juan Valley, Peru.

White Tiger, controlled by Russian investor Maxim Finskiy, had a tumultuous 2011, installing new senior management and taking over Century Mining at a substantial premium in a deal valued at the time (in March) at more than $700 million.

It was only in November after months of delays due to action from unhappy minority shareholders who said Century’s main assets – Lamaque and San Juan – were being undervalued, that White Tiger was able to seal the deal.

Ironically it is Lamaque and to a lesser extent San Juan, which have not been performing to expectations due to lower grades and production rates, that have been dragging White Tiger down.

White Tiger is looking at expansion at each of its operating mines and in December signed a $150 million debt deal for Savkino which it is already applying.

The company produced 53,000 oz last year and is hoping to double that in 2012, mainly on the back of higher mill rates and grades at Lamaque.

Comments