Sandstorm Gold Acquires Royalty on Diavik Diamond Mine
09:27 EDT Monday, March 23, 2015
VANCOUVER, March 23, 2015 /CNW/ - Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm" or the "Company") (NYSE MKT: SAND, TSX: SSL) is pleased to announce that the Company has acquired a 1% gross proceeds royalty ("Royalty") over property in Lac de Gras in the Northwest Territories, Canada, including property constituting the Diavik Diamond Mine ("Diavik Mine") operated by Rio Tinto plc.
— TRANSACTION TERMS
Sandstorm acquired the Diavik Mine Royalty from IAMGOLD Corporation for US$52.5 million in cash and 3 million warrants of Sandstorm. The warrants have a 5 year term, a strike price of US$4.50 per Sandstorm common share and will be exercisable following initial production from the Diavik Mine's A21 pipe. The Royalty transaction is a unique opportunity which provides the following benefits to Sandstorm:
contributes long-term stable cash flows from a world-class asset run by one of the world's premier diversified mining companies; diamond markets exhibit strong demand with stable growth predicted over the near future; more than 50% of the Company's attributable gold equivalent production is generated from mines operated by large, reliable, diversified mining companies; the Company's gold-based revenue stream will remain above 80%; and, Sandstorm's corporate development efforts remain focused on gold transactions. "Adding a royalty from the world-class Diavik Mine brings approximately US$7 million to US$8 million per annum in additional long-term, stable cash flows to Sandstorm's portfolio," said President and CEO Nolan Watson. Watson added, "With this transaction, over 50% of Sandstorm's free cash flow will come from mines operated by large, multi-asset mining companies including Glencore, Rio Tinto, Newmont, Primero, AngloGold Ashanti and Yamana. We are committed to growing our portfolio of streams and royalties and we will maintain our focus on gold. At present, over 95% of the potential transactions in our deal pipeline are precious metals opportunities, and with approximately US$140 million of cash and available credit facilities, we are well positioned to take advantage of this deal pipeline."
With the addition of the Diavik Mine Royalty, Sandstorm's production for 2015 is now forecasted to be between 40,000 to 50,000 attributable gold equivalent ounces. The Company is forecasting attributable gold equivalent production of approximately 50,000 ounces per annum in 2018, excluding any ounces that may come from Luna Gold Corp.'s Aurizona mine in Brazil.
— ABOUT THE DIAVIK MINE
The Diavik Mine is Canada's largest diamond mine, located on a 20 square kilometre island at Lac de Gras, Northwest Territories, approximately 300 kilometres from Yellowknife. The mine is 60% owned, and operated, by Rio Tinto plc and is 40% owned by Dominion Diamond Corporation.
Diavik began producing diamonds in January 2003, and has since produced more than 90 million carats ("Mcts") from three kimberlite pipes (A154 South, A154 North, and A418). Rio Tinto plc has recently approved the development of open pit mining from a fourth pipe (A21). The kimberlite pipes at Diavik are exceptionally high-grade in nature, making it one of the most profitable diamond mines in the world. The current mine plan is expected to take the mine's production to at least 2023.
For more information on the Diavik Mine, visit the Rio Tinto or Dominion Diamond website: www.riotinto.com/diamondsandminerals/diavik-2232.aspx or www.ddcorp.ca/operations/diavik-mine
ABOUT SANDSTORM GOLD
Sandstorm Gold Ltd. is a gold streaming and royalty company. Sandstorm provides upfront financing to gold mining companies that are looking for capital and in return, receives the right to a percentage of the gold produced from a mine, for the life of the mine. Sandstorm has acquired a portfolio of 58 streams and royalties, of which 15 of the underlying mines are producing. Sandstorm plans to grow and diversify its low cost production profile through the acquisition of additional gold streams and royalties.
For more information visit: www.sandstormgold.com |
