|
Announcement Highlights:
- Sandstorm has entered into a gold purchase agreement with Brigus Gold Corp. on its Black Fox gold mine in Ontario
- Sandstorm to purchase 12% of the life of mine gold production
- Sandstorm will make an upfront payment of US$56.3 million with cash on hand
- Sandstorm will pay US$500 per ounce as an ongoing payment
- The Black Fox mine is currently in production and Sandstorm expects to receive delivery of gold beginning in January 2011
Vancouver, British Columbia, November 9, 2010 -- Sandstorm Resources Ltd. ("Sandstorm") (TSX-V: SSL) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a gold purchase agreement with Brigus Gold Corp. ("Brigus") (TSX: BRD).
Sandstorm has agreed to purchase 12% of the life of mine gold produced from Brigus' Black Fox mine, located in Ontario, Canada (the "Black Fox Mine") for US$56.3 million as an upfront payment plus ongoing per ounce payments equal to the lesser of US$500 (subject to an inflationary adjustment beginning in 2013, not to exceed 2% per annum)(the "Per Ounce Payments") and the then prevailing market price per ounce of gold. Brigus will have the option, for a period of 24 months, to repurchase 50% of the gold purchase agreement by making a US$36.6 million payment to Sandstorm, upon receipt of which, the percentage of gold Sandstorm is entitled to purchase shall be decreased from 12% to 6%. Also, for no additional upfront consideration, Sandstorm will have the right to purchase, by remitting the Per Ounce Payments, 10% (decreasing to 4.5% if the full repurchase option is exercised within 24 months) of the gold produced from an area defined as the Black Fox Extension, covering a portion of Brigus' Pike River property.
About The Black Fox Mine
The Black Fox Mine is located outside of Matheson, Ontario, Canada in the Timmins Gold District and has been in commercial production since May 2009. It is currently operating as an open pit mine, but since mid 2010, began development of an underground mine which it expects to begin production in early 2011. At this time, both open pit and underground operations are expected to run concurrently. Ore is trucked to the Black Fox mill, which is a 2,000 tonne per day mill and tailings facility located east of the mine. Brigus has been operating the asset with improving production rates and reducing cash costs quarter over quarter since the beginning of commercial production. In the third quarter of 2010, the Black Fox Mine produced in excess of 21,000 ounces of gold, and production is continuing to ramp up.
The Black Fox mineralization is an Archean age, lode gold deposit located within the Abitibi greenstone belt along with several other producing gold mines and gold camps. Exploration is ongoing with a drill program being pursued at the mine.
"This is a very significant and transformative deal for Sandstorm," stated Nolan Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sandstorm Resources, "the Black Fox mine is expected to provide us with cash flow from gold sales immediately and is also a project that has fantastic growth prospects on the exploration front. Brigus has assembled an excellent operating team and seems to be in a position to grow the project effectively."
ABOUT SANDSTORM RESOURCES
Sandstorm Resources Ltd. is a growth focused resource based company that seeks to complete transactions with companies that have advanced stage development projects or operating mines. By making upfront payments to its partners, Sandstorm receives gold purchase agreements (i.e. metal stream deals). Sandstorm helps other companies in the resource industry grow their businesses, while acquiring attractive assets in the process.
Sandstorm is focused on low cost operations with excellent exploration potential and strong management teams. Sandstorm has completed gold purchase agreements with Luna Gold Corp., SilverCrest Mines Inc., Santa Fe Gold Corporation, Rambler Metals and Mining plc and Brigus Gold Corp. For more information visit: https://www.sandstormresources.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Sandstorm as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Sandstorm to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining operations from which Sandstorm will purchase gold 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; problems inherent to the marketability of minerals; industry conditions, including fluctuations in the price of metals, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in interest rates; stock market volatility; competition; as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Sandstorm's annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2009. Although Sandstorm has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Sandstorm does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is contained or incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Sandstorm is a precious metals company. Sandstorm does not provide any representation as to its comparability with other companies in its industry including, but not limited to, Gold Wheaton Gold Corp., Silver Wheaton Corp., Royal Gold, Inc., and Franco-Nevada Corporation.
Contact Information:
Sandstorm President & CEO
Nolan Watson
(604) 689-0234
Investor Relations Contact
Denver Harris
(604) 689-0234 |