15:24:53 EDT Mon 06 May 2024
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Osisko Mining Inc
Symbol OSK
Shares Issued 384,095,386
Close 2023-05-01 C$ 3.77
Market Cap C$ 1,448,039,605
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Osisko Mining, Gold Fields enter 50/50 JV at Windfall

2023-05-02 08:30 ET - News Release

Mr. John Burzynski reports

OSISKO MINING AND GOLD FIELDS ANNOUNCE 50/50 JOINT VENTURE ON WINDFALL GOLD PROJECT

Osisko Mining Inc. has concluded a 50/50 joint venture agreement with a subsidiary of Gold Fields Ltd. for the joint ownership and development of Osisko's Windfall gold project, located in the Abitibi greenstone belt, Urban township, Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec.

Transaction highlights:

  • Gold Fields initial cash payment to Osisko of $300-million on signing.
  • Gold Fields additional cash payment to Osisko of $300-million on issuance of the applicable permits authorizing the construction, operation and mining of the Windfall project.
  • Gold Fields will sole finance expenditures for regional exploration up to a maximum of $75-million, after which regional exploration programs would be proportionately financed by each of Osisko and Gold Fields.
  • In addition to the initial cash payment and the deferred cash payment, Gold Fields will make two additional separate $17-million cash payments to Osisko ($34-million in total, the first on July 31, 2023, and the second on Dec. 31, 2023). These represent reimbursement of items already incurred by Osisko as part of preconstruction spend.
  • Gold Fields and Osisko will share all preconstruction costs (provisional budget estimated at $250-million) and construction costs (feasibility capital expenditure estimated at $789-million) on a 50/50 basis going forward.
  • Governance arrangements with equal representation in the partnership from Osisko and Gold Fields, to leverage each party's skill sets.

Osisko's chairman and chief executive officer, John Burzynski, stated: "We are very pleased to partner with Gold Fields on the Windfall project and our exploration property portfolio. Today is the start of what, we believe, will prove to be a long and fruitful partnership with Gold Fields at Windfall, and in what, we both believe, is a significant emerging gold district in Quebec. This partnership further strengthens our strong balance sheet, allows us to significantly derisk Windfall and brings us a very important step closer to realizing our objective of becoming a leading Canadian gold producer. With the proceeds from this transaction, Osisko is fully funded for our share of development capital to bring Windfall into production. Osisko shareholders retain considerable upside in the project while also benefiting from the mine-building, operating and technical expertise of Gold Fields. Assuming the project is ultimately permitted and approved by the partners consistent with the Windfall feasibility study, Gold Fields' acquisition cost, exploration commitment, and contribution to preconstruction and project capital would ultimately represent an investment of $1.2-billion to acquire its interest, bring Windfall into production and further unlock the regional exploration upside. This transaction is highly compelling on many fronts and represents the best path forward to maximize value for all stakeholders.

"Osisko Mining would like to acknowledge and thank Sean Roosen in particular and the directors of Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. (OGR) for their forward-looking vision in supporting the 2015 recreation of Osisko Mining -- one of the key first investment decisions in OGR's very innovative and successful accelerator model concept to create new high-value, negative-cost royalties tied to equity investment in new exploration companies. OGR holds a 2-per-cent-to-3-per-cent NSR [net smelter return] royalty on the Windfall area claims and 13 per cent of the undiluted equity in the corporation."

Transaction details

The transaction closed on May 2, 2023, with Gold Fields acquiring a 50-per-cent partnership interest in Windfall Mining Group, a partnership formed under the laws of Ontario, which will develop the Windfall project and the surrounding Urban Barry and Quevillon exploration properties. The transaction was implemented in accordance with, among other things, a framework agreement dated May 2, 2023, among Osisko, Gold Fields, Gold Fields Holdings Company Ltd., Windfall Mining Group and 1000516419 Ontario Inc., the manager of the partnership. Pursuant to the terms of the framework agreement, Gold Fields acquired a 50-per-cent interest in the partnership for an aggregate consideration of $600-million in cash to Osisko. The partnership agreement also requires Gold Fields to sole finance up to $75-million in contributions to the partnership for regional exploration. Prior to the acquisition of the 50-per-cent partnership interest by Gold Fields, Osisko had contributed the property to the partnership, together with any claims, permits, leases, all other real property, personal property, contractual rights and other assets currently held or acquired for the benefit of the property.

The framework agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions for a transaction of this nature. The obligations of Gold Fields are guaranteed by Gold Fields Holdings Company, a significant intermediate holding company with material indirect interests in a number of Gold Fields operations.

About Windfall Mining Group

The business and affairs of the partnership are managed by the manager, which has the exclusive right to act on behalf of the partnership. Each of Osisko and Gold Fields holds 50 per cent of the common shares in the manager, as well as a 50-per-cent partnership interest in the partnership (apart from a nominal interest in the partnership held by the manager).

The relationship among the parties is governed by a second amended and restated partnership agreement and a shareholders agreement. The governing documents contain customary transfer rights restrictions, governance and decision-making mechanisms which are typical in a transaction of this nature. The partnership agreement contains provisions relating to programs and budgets in respect of the property, financing obligations and remedies for breaches of financing obligations, cost overruns, as well as a mutual standstill.

Advisers

Maxit Capital LP acted as financial adviser to Osisko, and Bennett Jones LLP acted as Osisko's legal counsel.

Conference call

Osisko and Gold Fields will host a joint conference call on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 9 a.m. ET.

About Osisko Mining Inc.

Osisko is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Subsequent to this announcement, Osisko holds a 50-per-cent interest in the high-grade Windfall gold deposit, located between Val d'Or and Chibougamau in Quebec, and a 50-per-cent interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area and nearby Quevillon area (over 2,300 square kilometres).

Qualified person

The scientific and technical content in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mathieu Savard, PGeo (OGQ No. 510), president of Osisko, who is a qualified person (within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101).

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