DESIGNATED PRESS RELEASE
VANCOUVER, BC, May 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ - Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm Gold Royalties",
"Sandstorm" or the "Company") (NYSE: SAND) (TSX: SSL) is pleased to
announce that the Company has signed a definitive asset purchase
agreement to sell a collection of non-core, non-precious metals
royalties for cash proceeds of $21.0
million plus the retention of the next $10 million in proceeds from the Copper Mountain
Royalty (as defined below). In conjunction with accelerated
deleveraging driven by recent non-core asset sales and the current
commodity price environment, Sandstorm's Board of Directors has
approved the use of the renewed Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB")
allowing the Company to purchase its common shares from time to
time when management believes the common shares are undervalued by
the market (further details below). All dollar figures are in US
dollars unless otherwise stated.
Sale of Non-Core, Non-Precious Metals Royalty Package
Sandstorm has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement with
Evolve Strategic Element Royalties Ltd. ("Evolve") for the sale of
eight royalties for cash consideration of $21.0 million (the "Cash Purchase Price") plus
the retention of the next $10 million
in proceeds from the Copper Mountain Royalty (the "Transaction").
The Transaction is part of the Company's previously announced plan
to monetize certain non-core assets to expedite debt repayment.
Upon completion of the Transaction, Sandstorm will have sold over
$50 million of non-core royalty and
equity investments since the third quarter of 2023, including
approximately $40 million in cash
consideration. While further monetization of the Company's
investment portfolio is possible, subject to market conditions, the
Company does not intend to monetize further royalty or stream
assets. Sandstorm continues to focus on de-leveraging its balance
sheet while also accelerating investment in higher-returning
initiatives including the repurchase of undervalued Sandstorm
shares via the renewed NCIB.
Royalties purchased from Sandstorm by Evolve (the "Royalty
Package") include:
- Highland Valley Copper: a 0.5% net profits interest
("NPI") on Teck Resources Ltd.'s Highland Valley Copper project in
British Columbia, Canada (the "HVC
Royalty").
- Copper Mountain North Pit: a 2.5–5.0% net smelter
returns ("NSR") royalty on the North Pit at the Copper Mountain
mine in British Columbia, Canada
(the "Copper Mountain Royalty"). Sandstorm maintains near-term
exposure to the Copper Mountain North Pit via the retention of
$10 million in royalty revenue (the
"Retained Copper Mountain Royalty"). Based on Hudbay Minerals
Inc.'s current Mineral Reserves, royalty revenues at Copper
Mountain are limited to the North Pit. These reserves are expected
to be largely mined over the next 24 months with royalty payments
expected to be similar to the Retained Copper Mountain Royalty.
Since acquiring the Copper Mountain Royalty in 2015, Sandstorm has
recognized royalty revenues of approximately $5.2 million, including approximately
$4 million within the last 12
months.
- Seymour Lake: a 1.5% NSR
royalty on Green Technology Metals Limited's ("Green Technology
Metals") Seymour Lake lithium
development project in Ontario,
Canada. The royalty covers the Seymour deposit but does not
cover Green Technology Metals' Root project.
- Obalski: a 1.0–1.5% NSR royalty on TomaGold Corp's
Obalski copper-zinc project in Québec, Canada (the "Obalski Royalty").
- Scott Lake: a payment
upon commercial production on Yorbeau Resources Inc.'s Scott Lake project in Québec, Canada ranging from C$1–$4 million depending
on the size of Scott Lake reserves at the time of commercial
production (the "Scott Lake Payment").
- Saints-Leinster & Scotia: a 2.5% NSR royalty on the
Saints-Leinster and Scotia nickel development projects owned by
Future Battery Metals Ltd. and Shine Resources Pty Ltd. in
Western Australia.
Sandstorm will receive the Cash Purchase Price in the second
quarter of 2024 upon completion of customary closing conditions
including the expiry of certain preemptive rights held by project
operators. Evolve has secured financing commitments in excess of
the Cash Purchase Price.
Based on the analyst consensus net asset value ("NAV") of the
Royalty Package, the Transaction concluded at approximately 1.0x
street consensus NAV based on the Cash Purchase Price excluding
proceeds from the Retained Copper Mountain Royalty. Relative to
Sandstorm's invested capital for the Royalty Package, the Company
will realize an internal rate of return exceeding 20% on the
Royalty Package, including cash received to date, the Cash Purchase
Price, and the Retained Copper Mountain Royalty. RBC Capital
Markets served as financial advisor for the Transaction.
Production Outlook Unchanged
The Transaction is not expected to materially impact Sandstorm's
near or long-term production guidance given the expected cash flows
from the Retained Copper Mountain Royalty and the early-stage
nature of several assets in the Royalty Package. The Company
maintains its 2024 production guidance of between 75,000–90,000
gold equivalent ounces, expected to increase to approximately
125,000 ounces within the next five years.
About Evolve Strategic Element
Royalties
Evolve is a private battery and energy transition royalty
company backed and led by Joseph de la
Plante and Vincent Metcalfe,
both formerly of Nomad Royalty Company Ltd. Evolve is focused on
providing capital to strategic element and base metal mines that
will supply future generations with the strategic commodities
needed to transition to a low-carbon economy. For more information
about Evolve, visit their website at www.evolveroyalties.com
or contact Evolve's management team.
Normal Course Issuer Bid Renewal
Sandstorm's NCIB is being renewed after the previous NCIB
expired on April 10, 2024. The
previous NCIB provided Sandstorm with the option to purchase up to
24.0 million of the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") from
time to time when Sandstorm's management believes that the Common
Shares are undervalued by the market. Under the renewed NCIB,
Sandstorm may purchase up to 20.0 million of its Common Shares,
representing approximately 7% of the Company's issued and
outstanding Common Shares. As of April 30,
2024, the Company had 297,829,746 Common Shares issued and
outstanding, 215,872,489 of which made up the "Public Float"
(within the meaning of the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange) and
the 20.0 million Common Shares purchasable under the NCIB
represents approximately 9% of the Company's Public Float. The new
NCIB also provides Sandstorm with the option to purchase its Common
Shares from time to time when Sandstorm's management believes that
the Common Shares are undervalued by the market. The Toronto Stock
Exchange ("TSX") has accepted the Company's notice that it intends
to proceed with a NCIB in accordance with TSX rules. Purchases
under the renewed NCIB may commence on May
7, 2024, and will terminate on the earlier of May 6, 2025, the date that Sandstorm completes
its purchases pursuant to the NCIB as filed with the TSX, or the
date of notice by Sandstorm of termination of the NCIB.
All purchases under the NCIB will be executed on the open market
through the facilities of the TSX or alternative Canadian trading
systems and through the facilities of the NYSE or alternative
trading systems in the United States of
America. Purchases will be made at the market price of the
Common Shares at the time of acquisition and may be funded by
Sandstorm's working capital. Any Common Shares acquired by the
Company under the NCIB will be cancelled. Sandstorm's average daily
trading volume on the TSX during the last six calendar months was
292,442 Common Shares. Under the rules of the TSX, subject to
the Company's ability to make block purchases, daily purchases on
the TSX under the NCIB will not exceed 73,110 Common Shares,
which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX
during the last six calendar months. The maximum number of Common
Shares which can be purchased per day on the NYSE will be 25% of
the average daily trading volume for the four calendar weeks
preceding the date of purchase, subject to certain exceptions for
block purchases.
The actual number of Common Shares that may be purchased and the
timing of such purchases will be determined by the Company.
Decisions regarding purchases will be based on market conditions,
share price, best use of available cash, and other factors.
In the last twelve months, the Company has purchased 2,736,920
Common Shares pursuant to its NCIB at a volume-weighted average
price of approximately C$7.05 per
common share on the TSX and alternative Canadian trading systems
and approximately US$4.89 per common
share on the NYSE and alternative US trading systems.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or
the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale
of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Contact Information
For more information about Sandstorm Gold Royalties, please
visit our website at www.sandstormgold.com or email us at
info@sandstormgold.com.
ABOUT SANDSTORM GOLD ROYALTIES
Sandstorm is a precious metals-focused royalty company that
provides upfront financing to mining companies and receives the
right to a percentage of production from a mine, for the life of
the mine. Following the completion of the Evolve Transaction,
Sandstorm will hold a portfolio of approximately 230 royalties, of
which 39 of the underlying mines are producing. Sandstorm plans to
grow and diversify its low-cost production profile through the
acquisition of additional gold royalties. For more information
visit: www.sandstormgold.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS TO U.S. SECURITYHOLDERS
The financial information included or incorporated by reference
in this press release or the documents referenced herein has been
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards
Board, which differs from US generally accepted accounting
principles ("US GAAP") in certain material respects, and thus are
not directly comparable to financial statements prepared in
accordance with US GAAP.
This press release and the documents incorporated by reference
herein, as applicable, have been prepared in accordance with
Canadian standards for the reporting of mineral resource and
mineral reserve estimates, which differ from the previous and
current standards of the United
States securities laws. In particular, and without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the terms "mineral reserve",
"proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve", "inferred
mineral resources,", "indicated mineral resources," "measured
mineral resources" and "mineral resources" used or referenced
herein and the documents incorporated by reference herein, as
applicable, are Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in
accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 — Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") — CIM
Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves,
adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Definition
Standards").
For United States reporting
purposes, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules (the "SEC
Modernization Rules") to modernize the mining property disclosure
requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the
SEC under the Exchange Act, which became effective February 25, 2019. The SEC Modernization Rules
more closely align the SEC's disclosure requirements and policies
for mining properties with current industry and global regulatory
practices and standards, including NI 43-101, and replace the
historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants
that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7. Issuers were required
to comply with the SEC Modernization Rules in their first fiscal
year beginning on or after January 1,
2021. As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file
reports with the SEC pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional
disclosure system, the Corporation is not required to provide
disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization
Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and
the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, mineral reserve and
mineral resource information contained or incorporated by reference
herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by
United States companies subject to
the United States federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the
SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources",
"indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources." In
addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "proven mineral
reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" to be "substantially
similar" to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards that are
required under NI 43-101. While the SEC will now recognize
"measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and
"inferred mineral resources", U.S. investors should not assume that
all or any part of the mineralization in these categories will be
converted into a higher category of mineral resources or into
mineral reserves without further work and analysis. Mineralization
described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as
to its existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been
characterized as reserves. Accordingly, U.S. investors are
cautioned not to assume that all or any measured mineral resources,
indicated mineral resources, or inferred mineral resources that the
Company reports are or will be economically or legally mineable
without further work and analysis. Further, "inferred mineral
resources" have a greater amount of uncertainty and as to whether
they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore, U.S.
investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of
inferred mineral resources will be upgraded to a higher category
without further work and analysis. Under Canadian securities laws,
estimates of "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of
feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. While
the above terms are "substantially similar" to CIM Definitions,
there are differences in the definitions under the SEC
Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly,
there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources
that the Company may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable
mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral
resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would
be the same had the Company prepared the reserve or resource
estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization
Rules or under the prior standards of SEC Industry Guide 7.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains "forward-looking statements", within
the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the
business, operations and financial performance and condition of
Sandstorm Gold Royalties. Forward-looking statements include, but
are not limited to the expectation that the Evolve Transaction
will close; statements with respect to Sandstorm's proposed NCIB
and the number of Common Shares that may be purchased under the
NCIB; statements regarding the Company's intention to monetize
further royalty or stream assets; the future price of gold,
silver, copper, iron ore and other metals, the estimation of
mineral reserves and resources, realization of mineral reserve
estimates, and the timing and amount of estimated future
production. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will",
"expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe",
"continue", "plans", or similar terminology.
Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain
assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could
cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Sandstorm
Gold Royalties to be materially different from future results,
performances or achievements expressed or implied by such
statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous
assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and
the environment in which Sandstorm Gold Royalties will operate in
the future, including the receipt of all required approvals, the
price of gold and copper and anticipated costs. Certain important
factors that could cause actual results, performances or
achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements include, amongst others, failure to receive necessary
approvals, changes in business plans and strategies, market
conditions, share price, best use of available cash, gold and other
commodity price volatility, discrepancies between actual and
estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and
metallurgical recoveries, mining operational and development risks
relating to the parties which produce the gold or other commodity
the Company will purchase, regulatory restrictions, activities by
governmental authorities (including changes in taxation), currency
fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price
volatility and competition.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of
the Company to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not
limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions,
the absence of control over mining operations from which the
Company will purchase gold, other commodities or receive royalties
from, and risks related to those mining operations, including risks
related to international operations, government and environmental
regulation, actual results of current exploration activities,
conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be refined, risks in the
marketability of minerals, fluctuations in the price of gold and
other commodities, fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and
interest rates, stock market volatility, as well as those factors
discussed in the section entitled "Risks to Sandstorm" in the
Company's annual report for the financial year ended December 31, 2023 and the section entitled "Risk
Factors" contained in the Company's annual information form dated
March 27, 2024 available at
www.sedarplus.com. 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 that are
contained or incorporated by reference, except in accordance with
applicable securities laws.
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SOURCE Sandstorm Gold Ltd.