Gold Royalty Corp. (“
Gold Royalty” or the
“
Company”) (NYSE American: GROY) is pleased to
announce that it has entered into a binding purchase and sale
agreement (the “
PSA”) with OMF Fund III (Cr) Ltd.,
an entity managed by Orion Mine Finance Management LP
(“
Orion”) to acquire a copper stream (the
“
Stream”) on the Vares Silver Project
(“
Vares”), operated by a subsidiary of Adriatic
Metals plc ("
Adriatic") located in Bosnia and
Herzegovina (the “
Transaction”).
Under the terms of the PSA, Gold Royalty will
pay consideration to Orion of US$50 million to acquire the Stream
at closing of the Transaction, consisting of US$45 million payable
in cash and US$5 million to be satisfied by the issuance of
2,906,977 Gold Royalty shares.
Transaction Highlights:
-
Materially accretive to Gold Royalty’s cash flow
- The Vares Stream
applies to 100% of copper production from the mining area over the
Rupice deposit. The Stream has associated ongoing payments equal to
30% of the LME spot copper price, with the effective payable copper
fixed at 24.5%.
- First
concentrate production at Vares occurred in February 2024 with
commercial production expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.
- Adriatic has
provided production guidance of 240-300 kt of ore mined from Vares
with copper grades of 0.5-0.6% in 2024. Adriatic forecasts 750-850
kt and 800-900 kt of ore mined in 2025 and 2026 respectively at
grades of 0.5-0.7% Cu.
- Gold Royalty
expects to potentially further benefit from copper prices currently
near all time highs.
-
High-quality asset with exploration and expansion
upside
- Adriatic’s most
recent guidance is targeting a mine life of 18 years with an
attractive operating cost profile.
- Mine plan is
built upon the high-grade polymetallic Rupice deposit with copper
expected to comprise only 2% of the life of mine revenue.
- Studies are
underway to increase annual production rates to 1 million tonnes of
ore per year by 2026.
- Adriatic has
stated that the project remains open for further exploration within
the existing Vares concessions.
- Aligning
with a strong and proven operating team
- Adriatic's
operating team is highly experienced.
- Recent
initiatives have improved productivity levels and advanced
development supporting Adriatic’s disclosed guidance of commercial
production in the fourth quarter of 2024.
David Garofalo, Chairman and CEO of Gold
Royalty, commented: “With this acquisition we are adding another
high-quality, long-life asset to our portfolio which we expect will
meaningfully increase our revenue and cash flow on a per share
basis. Vares not only provides significant near-term cash flow, but
also provides potential upside through exploration and mine
expansion. We welcome Orion as a strategic shareholder and look
forward to further enhancing our relationship with a leading
private equity firm with an exceptional track record in the global
mining sector. Finally, while the Gold Royalty portfolio is still
predominantly precious metals focussed, the Company expects to
benefit from record copper prices through the additional copper
exposure that comes with the Vares Stream.”
Overview of the Vares Silver
Project
The Vares Silver Project consists of 41 km2 of
concession area, which is centered around the town of Vares. The
town is located in the Vares municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina
and is a 50-minute drive from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The Vares Operation is one of the largest investments
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, bringing significant economic and social
benefits to the country. The Stream applies to certain areas of
Vares, including the Rupice area of the project. All mineral
reserves and resources within the current Vares mine plan are from
the Rupice deposit and are subject to the Stream (refer to
Table 2 and Table 3).
Vares is a polymetallic project with the
majority of expected production to be silver and zinc, in addition
to smaller components of lead, gold, copper, and antimony. Current
development and near-term production are expected from the Rupice
underground mine.
The Vares Processing Plant has a nominal
capacity of 800,000 tonnes per annum, and applies three-stage
crushing, grinding, flotation and filtration to produce two
saleable concentrates: silver-lead and zinc concentrates are
expected to be transported via rail to the Port of Ploče for
shipment to smelters. The silver-lead concentrate contains payable
silver, lead, zinc, copper and gold. The zinc concentrate contains
payable zinc, silver, and gold. Both the Rupice Mine and Vares
Processing Plant have been designed and constructed using the
latest technology from the leading manufacturers in the industry,
whilst adhering to the highest levels of health and safety.
On January 24, 2024, Adriatic announced its
maiden production guidance for 2024, 2025 and 2026 following an
updated reserve announcement in December 2023. The guidance is
based on successful extension and exploration drilling, mine
optimization work and advancing higher grade development at Rupice
and Rupice Northwest. Such guidance consisted of the 2024 ramp-up
and future life of mine averages:
Table 1 – Adriatic Production
Guidance for the Vares Silver Project
|
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027-2040(average) |
Ore Mined (kt) |
240-300 |
750-850 |
800-900 |
800-900 |
Zinc (%) |
4.5-5.9 |
5.8-7.8 |
6.1-8.1 |
4.6-6.1 |
Silver (g/t) |
261-348 |
259-345 |
211-281 |
160-214 |
Lead (%) |
3.2-4.2 |
3.6-4.9 |
3.5-4.7 |
2.9-3.9 |
Copper (%) |
0.5-0.6 |
0.5-0.7 |
0.5-0.7 |
0.4-0.5 |
Gold (g/t) |
2.1-2.8 |
2.4-3.2 |
2.1-2.8 |
1.2-1.6 |
Table 2 – Rupice Deposit
Mineral Reserves (as announced on December 20, 2023)
Classification |
Tonnes(Mt) |
Grades |
Contained Metal |
Ag(g/t) |
Zn(%) |
Pb(%) |
Au(g/t) |
Cu(%) |
Sb(%) |
Ag(Moz) |
Zn(kt) |
Pb(kt) |
Au(koz) |
Cu(kt) |
Sb(kt) |
Proved |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Probable |
13.8 |
187 |
5.2 |
3.3 |
1.4 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
83 |
723 |
457 |
640 |
64 |
24 |
Mineral Reserves Notes:
- The Mineral Reserve has been
prepared by Adriatic reported in accordance with the requirements
of ASX Listing Rule 5.8 and the JORC Code and is not a current
mineral resource estimate prepared under SK-1300.
- For the mineral reserves, metal
prices of US$23.00/oz Ag, US$2,450/t Zn, US$2,280/t Pb, US$8,335/t
Cu, US$1,912/oz Au and US$11,525/t Sb were used.
- A mining cost of US$35/t was used
for the cost model, all other costs remained as per the previous
definitive feasibility study disclosed by Adriatic;
- As there was no measured mineral
resource, no proven ore reserves were estimated.
- During the stope optimization
process, a maximum of 5% inferred material is allowed to be
included in individual stope shapes;
- Overall, less than 1% of the Ore
Reserve is in the inferred category;
- Any inferred material was given a
zero grade;
- No stoping had taken place at the
cut-off date of this report and while development stockpiling has
commenced, volumes are not sufficient for any reasonable grade
reconciliation to commence;
- The estimated reserves were
reported on a 100% basis; and
- A cut-off is applied using a net
smelter return of US$68/t ore.
Table 3 – Rupice Deposit
Mineral Resource Estimate (as announced on July 27, 2023)
Classification |
Tonnes(Mt) |
Grades |
Contained Metal |
Ag(g/t) |
Zn(%) |
Pb(%) |
Au(g/t) |
Cu(%) |
Sb(%) |
BaSO4(%) |
Ag(Moz) |
Zn(kt) |
Pb(kt) |
Au(koz) |
Cu(kt) |
Sb(kt) |
BaSO4(kt) |
Indicated |
18.3 |
168 |
4.6 |
2.9 |
1.3 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
30 |
98.6 |
844 |
535 |
74 |
81 |
36 |
5,426 |
Inferred |
2.8 |
75 |
2.4 |
1.6 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
13 |
6.8 |
69 |
46 |
47 |
7 |
4 |
353 |
Mineral Resource Estimate Notes:
- The Mineral Resource Estimate has
been prepared by Adriatic reported in accordance with the
requirements of ASX Listing Rule 5.8 and the JORC Code and is not a
current mineral resource estimate prepared under SK-1300.
-
A cut-off grade of 50 g/t silver equivalent was applied.
-
Silver equivalent (AgEq) –was calculated using conversion factors
of 31.1 for Zn, 24.88 for Pb, 80.0 for Au, 1.87 for BaSO4, 80.87
for Cu, 80.87 for Sb, and recoveries of 90% for all elements. Metal
prices used were US$2,500/t for Zn, US$2,000/t for Pb, US$150/t for
BaSO4, US$2,000/oz for Au, US$25/oz for Ag, US$6,500/t for Sb and
US$6,500 for Cu.
-
The applied formula was: AgEq = Ag(g/t) x 90% + 31.1 x Zn(%) x 90%
+ 24.88 x Pb(%) * 90% + 1.87 x BaSO4% x 90% + 80 x Au(g/t) x 90% +
80.87 x Sb(%) x 90% + 80.87 x Cu(%) x 90%
-
Adriatic disclosed that it was the opinion that all elements and
products included in the metal equivalent formula have a reasonable
potential to be recovered and sold.
-
Metallurgical recoveries of 90% have been applied in the metal
equivalent formula based on recent and ongoing test work
results.
-
A bulk density (BD) was calculated for each model cell based on its
domain, using regression formulas. For the Main zone: BD = 2.66612
+ BaSO4 x 0.01832 + Pb x 0.03655 - Zn x 0.02206 + Cu x 0.09279 for
the barite high-grade domain, BD = 2.72748 + BaSO4 x 0.02116 + Pb *
0.04472 + Zn x 0.01643 - Cu x 0.08299 for the barite low-grade
domain; and for the NW zone: BD = 2.92581 + BaSO4 x 0.01509 + Pb x
0.04377 - Zn x 0.02123 + Cu x 0.10089 for the barite high-grade
domain, BD = 2.74383 + BaSO4 x 0.01731 + Pb x 0.04573 + Zn x
0.02023 - Cu x 0.06041 for the barite low-grade-domain (the barite
domains were interpreted using 30% BaSO4 cut-off).
-
Rows and columns may not add up due to rounding.
For further information regarding the Vares
Project and the above estimates and guidance, please refer to
Adriatic's company announcements dated January 24, 2024, December
20, 2023, July 27, 2023, August 19, 2021, available under its
profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Transaction Funding
The Company expects to fund the acquisition by
means of its announced equity offering and borrowings under its
revolving credit facility. Gold Royalty has entered into an
amendment to its credit agreement with the Bank of Montreal and the
National Bank of Canada to expand its existing secured revolving
credit facility by US$5 million in connection with the Transaction.
As amended, the expanded credit facility will consist of a US$30
million secured revolving credit facility with an accordion feature
providing for an additional US$5 million of availability subject to
certain conditions. Such amendment is subject to, among other
things, closing of the Transaction and the satisfaction of
customary conditions.
About Gold Royalty Corp.
Gold Royalty Corp. is a gold-focused royalty
company offering creative financing solutions to the metals and
mining industry. Its mission is to invest in high-quality,
sustainable, and responsible mining operations to build a
diversified portfolio of precious metals royalty and streaming
interests that generate superior long-term returns for our
shareholders. Gold Royalty's diversified portfolio currently
consists primarily of net smelter return royalties on gold
properties located in the Americas.
Gold Royalty Corp. Contact
Peter BehnckeDirector, Corporate Development
& Investor RelationsTelephone: (833) 396-3066Email:
info@goldroyalty.com
Qualified Person
Alastair Still, P.Geo., Director of Technical
Services of the Company, is a "qualified person" as such term is
defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI
43-101") and has reviewed and approved the technical
information disclosed in this news release.
Notice to Investors
Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in
this press release relating to the Vares Project has been derived
from the disclosures of Adriatic identified herein and other public
information disclosed by it. Such information has not been
independently verified by the Company. Specifically, Gold Royalty
has limited, if any, access to the property subject to the royalty.
Although Gold Royalty does not have any knowledge that such
information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that
such third-party information is complete or accurate.
Unless otherwise indicated, the technical and
scientific disclosure contained or referenced in this news release,
including any references to mineral resources or mineral reserves,
was prepared by the Adriatic under the 2012 Edition of the
Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, which
differs from the requirements under NI 43-101 and those of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including under subpart 1300 of
Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("SK
1300"). Accordingly, the scientific and technical information
contained or referenced in this news release may not be comparable
to similar information prepared by entities under NI 43-101 or SK
1300.
In addition, the disclosure herein includes
information regarding resource and reserve estimates and other
exploration information prepared and disclosed by Adriatic, which
has been included by the Company pursuant to Item 1304 of SK1300 as
such information was prepared and disclosed by Adriatic prior to
the Company's acquisition of an interest in Vareš. The Company is
not treating such information as a current estimate of mineral
resources or mineral reserves under SK1300 and notes that a
qualified person of the Company has not done sufficient work to
classify the estimate as such under SK1300.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the information contained in this
news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking
statements"), including but not limited to statements regarding the
Company's expected acquisition of the Stream and the anticipated
benefits of the Transaction, the disclosed expectations, plans,
strategies and expectations disclosed by the operator of the Vares
Project, including its production guidance and expected production
milestones for the project, the proposed amendments to the
Company's revolving credit facility and the completion of the
announced equity offering. Such statements can be generally
identified by the use of terms such as "may", "will", "expect",
"intend", "believe", "plans", "anticipate" or similar terms.
Forward-looking statements are based upon certain assumptions and
other important factors, including that the conditions to the
Offering and the SPA will be satisfied in a timely manner, the
amendments to the Company's revolving credit facility will be
completed as expected, the announced equity offering of the Company
will be completed as contemplated and that the operator of the
Vares Project will achieve its disclosed expected timelines and
milestones at the project, future growth and acquisitions and the
parties' ability to identify and complete investment opportunities.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results
to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements including, among others, including the
possibility that the Transaction does not close when expected, or
at all, because conditions to closing are not satisfied on a timely
basis, possibility that the announced equity offering does not
close when expected, or at all, because conditions to closing are
not satisfied on a timely basis, or at all, any inability to amend
the Company's revolving credit facility as expected, volatility in
the price of gold or copper, risks related to the operator of the
Vares Project, including operational risks associated with mine
development and operation, risks related to exploration,
development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical
difficulties of such project, the influence of macroeconomic
developments and other factors set forth in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its
other publicly filed documents under its profiles at
www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov. Although the Company has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except
in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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