Black Bear Minerals (ASX: BKB) will commence trading on the US OTCQX Market under the ticker symbol BKBMF tonight (16 December), marking a major milestone in the company's US expansion.
The OTCQX listing coincides with Black Bear commencing its maiden drilling program at the high-grade Shafter silver project in Texas.
The dual quotation expands Black Bear's access to the world's largest capital market, supporting institutional engagement, US partnerships, and potential future US exchange listings.
The company's shares will continue to trade on the Australian Securities Exchange, with the OTCQX quotation allowing US investors to trade in US dollars during US market hours.
Strategic Timing in Silver Market
Trading on the OTCQX comes at a pivotal time for the sector, with silver prices recently trading above US$64 per ounce and reaching all-time highs.
Silver was recently added to the 2025 US Critical Minerals List by the US Department of the Interior, and plays a vital role in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
The US government is actively supporting critical minerals projects through advanced permitting processes, targeted grant funding, and potential equity investments, highlighting the strategic importance of domestic and allied production of metals such as silver.
North American exchanges – particularly the TSX and NYSE – host the majority of the world's largest silver producers and developers, with the direct US listing expected to provide Black Bear with greater visibility to a market that understands the silver investment proposition.
High-Grade Projects Gain Exposure
The US listing boosts visibility for the Shafter silver project, which hosts a foreign mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 17.5 million ounces at 289 grams per tonne silver, as well as the company’s Independence gold project in Nevada.
Consisting of 80 unpatented mining claims and 84 unpatented mill sites spanning approximately 1,861 acres across Lander County, Independence contains 984,000oz at 6.6g/t gold in a JORC-compliant MRE.
Chief executive officer Dennis Lindgren said the dual quotation is timed perfectly, as the company launches its maiden drilling program at Shafter.
"This momentum, coupled with all-time high silver prices and new status on the US Critical Minerals List, underscores the exceptional value potential of our portfolio, including the high-grade Independence gold project in Nevada," he said.
Black Bear regards the OTCQX listing as a platform for potential future listings on the NYSE or NASDAQ.
