Mr. Vincent Metcalfereports
OSISKO ACQUIRES ADDITIONAL GOLD ROYALTY ON BARKERVILLE'S CARIBOO GOLD PROJECT IN CANADA
Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. has entered into a second amended and restated royalty purchase agreement with Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. pursuant to which it will acquire an additional 1.75-per-cent net smelter return (NSR) royalty for the aggregate purchase price of $20-million on the Cariboo property located in British Columbia, Canada.
Under the terms of the agreement, Barkerville also has the option to grant Osisko an additional 1-per-cent NSR royalty on the property for additional cash consideration of $13-million, at any point between the closing date of the royalty transaction and Dec. 31, 2018. In the event that (i) Barkerville announces a change of control during the royalty option period, or (ii) Osisko participates in an equity financing of Barkerville during the royalty option period, if the royalty option remains unexercised, Osisko will have the right to purchase the royalty option.
The royalty transaction will have the effect of increasing Osisko's existing royalty on the property to a total of 4-per-cent NSR royalty, and a total of 5-per-cent NSR royalty if the royalty option is exercised.
The acquisition of the royalty provides Osisko with:
A meaningful NSR royalty on a significant and growing Canadian high-grade gold deposit;Increased exposure to continued exploration success and resource growth from an extensive land package representing one of the most advanced exploration projects in Canada;Near-term cash flow from continuing small-scale production from the property while Barkerville continues to develop a larger-scale long-term mining plan on the property.
As part of the royalty transaction, Barkerville will grant to Osisko 10 million common share purchase warrants. The warrants will be exchangeable for common shares of Barkerville at an exercise price of 75 cents per common share for a period of 36 months following the closing of the royalty transaction.
The Cariboo gold project
The Cariboo gold project currently hosts 1.6 million ounces in measured and indicated gold resources from 8.1 million tonnes of ore with a grade of 6.1 grams of gold per tonne and 2.16 million ounces in inferred resources from 12.7 million tonnes of ore with a grade of 5.2 grams of gold per tonne, as outlined in a National Instrument 43-101 report filed on SEDAR by Barkerville. The property's mineral tenures cover 1,950 square kilometres along a strike length of 67 kilometres, which includes several past-producing placer and hard-rock mines, making it one of the most well-endowed land packages in British Columbia. The Bonanza deposit is currently being processed at Barkerville's QR mill. QR is a fully owned, permitted mill and tailings facility, located approximately 110 kilometres away from Wells, and can be accessed by an all-season road. Barkerville's Greenfield team is developing quality exploration assets throughout the remaining property through systematic, scientific, exploration.
Immediately prior to the closing of the royalty transaction, Osisko had beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over, (i) 142,309,310 common shares, representing approximately 32.4 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares, and (ii) 5,666,527 warrants. Immediately following the closing of the royalty transaction Osisko will have beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over, (i) 142,309,310 common shares, representing approximately 32.4 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares, and (ii) 15,666,527 warrants. Following the closing of the royalty transaction and after giving effect to the exercise of all the warrants then held by Osisko, Osisko would have beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over, 157,975,837 common shares, representing approximately 34.7 per cent of the common shares that would then be issued and outstanding.
Osisko acquired the warrants for investment purposes and in accordance with applicable securities laws, Osisko may, from time to time and at any time, acquire additional common shares and/or other equity, debt or other securities or instruments of Barkerville in the open market or otherwise, and reserves the right to dispose of any or all of its securities in the open market or otherwise at any time and from time to time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to the securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of Barkerville and other relevant factors.
Certain sections of this news release are issued under the early warning provisions of the Canadian securities legislation. A copy of the early warning report to be filed by Osisko in connection with the transaction described above will be available on SEDAR under Barkerville's profile. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, you may also contact Joseph de la Plante, vice-president, corporate development of Osisko, at 514-940-0670. Barkerville's head office is located at 1055 West Hastings St., Suite 2200, Vancouver, B.C., V6E 2E9.
Guy Desharnais, PhD, PGeo, is the qualified person for this release as defined by National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and verified the technical information contained herein. Mr. Desharnais is an employee of Osisko and is non-independent.
About Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.
Osisko Gold Royalties is an intermediate precious metal royalty company focused on the Americas that commenced activities in June, 2014. Following the acquisition of the Orion portfolio, it now holds a North American-focused portfolio of over 130 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes. Osisko's portfolio is anchored by five cornerstone assets, including a 5-per-cent NSR royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine, which is the largest gold mine in Canada. Osisko also owns a portfolio of investments in publicly held resource companies, including a 15.5-per-cent interest in Osisko Mining Inc. and a 12.7-per-cent interest in Falco Resources Ltd.
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