Sandstorm Gold Royalties Announces Record 2022 First Quarter Results

VANCOUVER, BC, May 11, 2022 /CNW/ - Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm Gold Royalties", "Sandstorm" or the "Company") (NYSE: SAND) (TSX: SSL) has released its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 (all figures in U.S. dollars).

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Record attributable gold equivalent ounces¹ of 18,741 ounces (Q1 2021—17,444 ounces);
• Record revenue of $35.4 million (Q1 2021—$31.0 million);
• Record cash flows from operating activities, excluding changes in non-cash working capital¹ of $26.7 million (Q1 2021—$23.0 million);
• Average cash cost per attributable gold equivalent ounce¹ of $283 resulting in cash operating margins¹ of $1,604 per ounce (Q1 2021 — $307 per ounce and $1,470 per ounce respectively);
• Net income of $9.1 million (Q1 2021—$5.0 million); and
• Creation of new strategic partner, Horizon Copper:
• Hod Maden Gold Stream: In February 2022, the Company announced it has signed a letter of intent, in part, to sell its 30% interest in Hod Maden to Royalty North Partners Ltd. for consideration, in part, for a flagship gold stream on Hod Maden and a portion of debt and equity in the resulting issuer ("Horizon Copper"). With this transaction, Sandstorm intends to unlock additional value in Hod Maden through the re-rating of the asset as a gold stream in its portfolio and further repositions Sandstorm as a pure-play precious metals royalty and streaming company. The transaction is conditional upon various closing items and is expected to close in the second half of 2022. For more information see press release dated February 17, 2022.
• Antamina Silver Stream and Residual Royalty: Subsequent to the quarter's end and concurrent to the BaseCore Transaction (as described below), Sandstorm has partnered with Horizon Copper to sell a portion of the Antamina copper royalty acquired in the BaseCore acquisition and in consideration receive a silver stream on the asset, a residual NPI royalty, a $105 million debenture, equity, and $50 million in cash. The subsequent spin-out of the Antamina royalty is expected to position Horizon Copper as a competitive copper company with a portfolio of high quality cash-flowing and development stage copper assets. For more information, see press release dated May 2, 2022.
• US$1.1 Billion Portfolio Transformation: Subsequent to the quarter's end, Sandstorm announced two transactions totaling $1.1 billion, including the acquisition of Nomad Royalty Company (the "Nomad Acquisition") and a portfolio of royalty assets from BaseCore Metals LP (the "BaseCore Transaction"). The combined transactions are expected to significantly increase Sandstorm's scale through the addition of several high quality, low-cost assets maintaining the Company's industry-leading growth and portfolio diversification. The Nomad Acquisition and BaseCore Transaction are subject to various closing conditions and are expected to close in the second half of 2022 and by the third quarter of 2022, respectively. For more information, see press release dated May 2, 2022.
• Upsized Credit Facility: Concurrent with the transactions described above, Sandstorm entered into an agreement with the Bank of Nova Scotia and BMO Capital Markets securing a commitment to upsize the Company's existing revolving credit agreement to borrow up to $500 million with an additional uncommitted accordion of up to $125 million, for a total of up to $625 million. The upsize is contingent upon closing the BaseCore Transaction, and the accordion of up to $125 million is contingent on closing the Nomad Acquisition. See press release dated May 2, 2022 for more information.

OUTLOOK

Based on the Company's existing royalties and contingent on the close of the Nomad Acquisition and BaseCore Transaction, attributable gold equivalent ounces for 2022 is forecast to be between 80,000 and 85,000 ounces. Subject to the conversion of the Hod Maden interest into a gold stream and the closing of the Nomad Acquisition and BaseCore Transaction, the Company is forecasting attributable gold equivalent production to be 155,000 ounces in 2025.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company realized record revenue of $35.4 million compared with $31.0 million for the comparable period in 2021. The increase is attributable to a 7% increase in attributable gold equivalent ounces sold as well as a 6% increase in the average realized selling price of gold. In particular, the increase in revenue was driven by an increase in revenue attributable to the Vale Royalties, which were purchased in June 2021, and an increase in revenue attributable to the Vatukoula gold stream, which commenced making deliveries in December 2021.

Net income was higher during the first quarter of 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to the increase in revenue. Higher net income was also due to a $2.0 million increase in the gains recognized on the revaluation of the Company's investments compared to the comparable period in 2021. The year-over-year increase in net income was partially offset by an increase in depletion largely due to an increase in attributable gold ounces sold and an increase in tax expense resulting from higher net income.

STREAMS & ROYALTIES

Of the gold equivalent ounces sold by Sandstorm during the first quarter of 2022, approximately 18% were attributable to mines located in Canada, 10% from the rest of North America, 61% from South America, and 11% from other countries.

Canada

Streams and royalties on Canadian mines contributed 10% more gold equivalent ounces to Sandstorm when compared to the first quarter of 2021. The change is primarily due to an increase in royalty revenue from the Diavik mine in the Northwest Territories, driven by diamond price increases. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in ounces sold from the Ming mine. In April 2022, Rambler Metals & Mining PLC, the operator of Ming, exercised its option to repurchase the Ming gold stream in exchange for a payment of $6.7 million in cash and 1,150 ounces of gold (delivered over the course of 18 months).

North America Excluding Canada

The gold equivalent ounces sold from operations located within North America, but outside of Canada, contributed 30% less gold equivalent ounces when compared to the first quarter of 2021. The change was primarily driven by a decrease in ounces received from the Santa Elena mine, partly due to a decrease in production at Santa Elena as well as the timing of sales. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in ounces received from the Relief Canyon mine in Nevada.

South America

Operations in South America contributed 14% more gold equivalent ounces sold when compared to the first quarter of 2021. The change is primarily due to an increase in royalty revenue from the Vale Royalties, which were purchased in June 2021, and an increase in gold equivalent ounces sold from the Chapada mine in Brazil, primarily driven by an increase in the average selling price of copper. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in royalty revenue from the Aurizona mine in Brazil.

Other

Streams and royalties on mines in other countries contributed 22% more gold equivalent ounces sold when compared to the first quarter of 2021. This change is primarily due to an increase in ounces sold from the Vatukoula mine in Fiji, which commenced making deliveries to Sandstorm in December 2021, and an increase in royalty revenue from the Houndé mine in Burkina Faso. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in gold equivalent ounces sold from the Karma mine in Burkina Faso, which was primarily due to the conclusion of the five-year fixed delivery period in accordance with the terms of the stream agreement.

WEBCAST & CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

A conference call will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022 starting at 8:30am PDT to further discuss the first quarter results. To participate in the conference call, use the following dial-in numbers and conference ID, or join the webcast using the link below:

International: (+1) 416-764-8688
North American Toll-Free: (+1) 888-390-0546
Conference ID: 30491561
Webcast URL:  https://bit.ly/3kzDz4D

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 gold royalty company that 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. After the closing of the transactions announced on May 2, 2022, Sandstorm will have acquired a portfolio of 260 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 impact of general business and economic conditions; the properties underlying the Nomad Acquisition, the mines underlying the BaseCore Transaction; the expectation that the various closing conditions of the Hod Maden transaction will be met; the expectation that the Hod Maden transaction with Horizon will close; the expectations regarding whether the proposed Nomad Acquisition and BaseCore Transaction (collectively "The Transactions") will be consummated, including whether conditions to the consummation of the Transactions will be satisfied, or the timing for completing the Transactions; the expectations regarding the potential benefits and synergies of the Transactions and the ability of Sandstorm post-completion of the Transactions to successfully achieve business objectives, including integrating the companies or assets or the effects of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the expectations regarding the growth potential of Sandstorm including in scale and production and the anticipated benefits of the Transactions; the expectations relating to the entering into of definitive agreements related to the Horizon Antamina Agreement and the subsequent spin-out of the Antamina NPI, including the anticipated terms and expected timing thereof; management's expectations regarding Sandstorm's growth; the future price of gold, silver, copper, iron ore and other metals, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, realization of mineral reserve estimates, 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, 2021 and the section entitled "Risk Factors" contained in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2022 available at www.sedar.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.

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