Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (“Sabina”) or (the “Company”) (SBB –
TSX/ SGSVF - OTCQX) is pleased to announce that it has completed
final documentation with Orion Mine Finance (“Orion”) and Wheaton
Precious Metals Corp. (“Wheaton”) with respect to a construction
financing package totaling approximately US$520 million in
aggregate (the “Financing”). The Financing will fund construction
and development of the Goose Mine at Sabina’s 100% owned Back River
Project in Nunavut, Canada (the “Project”).
The Financing is comprised of:
- A US$225 million senior secured
debt facility;
- A US$75 million gold prepay
facility;
- A US$125 million gold stream
arrangement; and
- A US$95 million private placement
of Sabina Common shares.
The CAPEX in the Project’s most recent
feasibility study is US$466m (C$610m). Relative to all aspects of
the package, debt and streams make up ~82% of the funding with the
equity component contributing ~18%. The Company is now working to
finalize 2022 work programs and budgets to meet first gold pour in
Q1, 2025.
"This is a major milestone for Sabina,” said
Bruce McLeod, President & CEO. “We are proud to welcome Orion
and Wheaton as significant Sabina equity holders. Their
participation in financing the Goose Mine validates the sound
exploration, engineering, environmental and community work we have
done on the Project and supports our approach to development of
this prolific gold district. We appreciate the diligence and
professionalism both parties brought to the process and are
satisfied that we have concluded a financing package on very
acceptable terms.”
“This Financing enables Sabina to continue on
our path to producer status and to first gold at the Goose Mine
which we expect in Q1, 2025,” he added. “The completion of this
milestone sets Sabina apart from other developers: we have a
financed, fully permitted, significantly advanced, high grade gold
project in a tier one mining jurisdiction. The Goose Mine is the
first mine on the 80 km Back River Gold District. With the George
property as the next obvious focus for exploration and development,
the Back River Gold District stands to deliver significant
opportunities and value creation for all our stakeholders as a
multi-generational mining district.”
In connection with the Financing, Sabina has
executed final documentation with respect to: (i) the provision by
Orion of a senior secured project finance debt facility in the
principal amount of US$225 million and a gold prepay facility in
the amount of US$75 million, (ii) the purchase by Orion of 100% of
the annual refined gold production from the Project based on
prevailing market prices, and (iii) the purchase by Orion, on a
private placement basis, of US$75 million of Sabina common
shares.
Concurrently, Sabina has executed final
documentation with respect to: (i) a definitive precious metal
purchase agreement under which Wheaton will pay Sabina an upfront
payment of US$125 million to acquire payable gold production from
the Project (the “Stream Arrangement’), and (ii) the purchase by
Wheaton, on a private placement basis, of US$20 million of Sabina
common shares.
Credit Facility – Orion
- US$225 million senior secured debt
facility;
- to be funded in
four equal tranches and available from the date the gold prepay
facility is fully drawdown until December 31, 2024;
- Interest rate of
LIBOR + 5.0-8.0%, based on the timing of the drawdown;
- Interest holiday
until September 30, 2025 during which interest will accrue and be
capitalized;
- Principal and
accrued interest is repayable in 20 quarterly instalments until the
maturity at June 30, 2030
- Prepayment at
any time without penalty.
- US$75 million gold prepay facility;
- To be funded to two equal tranches and available subsequent to
the Stream Arrangement being drawn;
- Delivery period will commence September 30, 2025 for a total of
15 quarters at 7,250 oz of gold per quarter.
- Gold Metal Offtake Agreement;
- Applies to sales on 100% of the refined gold production on 5
million ounces of gold delivered from the Project. The quantity
reduces to 20% thereafter;
- Orion to pay Sabina for refined gold based at ~99% of
prevailing market prices; and
- In the event of a change of control, Sabina has the option to
repurchase 50% of the gold offtake for $27 per ounce of remaining
contained gold reserves
Stream Arrangement - Wheaton
- Applies only to
the Goose property and not to any other properties on Back River
Gold district;
- US$125 million
upfront payment (the “Deposit”) for 4.15% of the gold production
from the Project dropping to 2.15% after delivery of 130,000 ounces
and dropping to 1.5% after delivery of 200,000 ounces;
- The Deposit is
to be paid in four equal installments during construction, based on
the remaining capital to be spent prior to the senior debt facility
and the gold prepay being drawn;
- Wheaton will
make ongoing payments equal to 18% of the spot gold price, until
the Deposit has been reduced to zero, thereafter increasing to 22%
of the spot gold price upon delivery; and
- In the event of
a change of control at Sabina or, Sabina has a one-time right to
repurchase 33% of the Stream Arrangement for consideration equal an
amount of cash that generates a 15% rate of return on the advanced
portion of the Deposit and a 5% rate of return on the unadvanced
portion of the Deposit.
Equity Financings
- Orion has agreed to subscribe for
72,732,692shares of Sabina at a price of C$1.30 for aggregate
proceeds of approximately C$95 million (US$75 million).
- Wheaton as agreed to subscribe for
19,395,384 shares of Sabina at a price of C$1.30 for aggregate
proceeds of approximately C$25 million (US$20 million).
- The private placement to Orion and
Wheaton, which is subject to the acceptance of the TSX, will be
completed in multiple tranches, with the first tranche closing in
February and the second tranche closing later in the first quarter
of 2022. The final tranche, which is subject to approval of the
Sabina shareholders pursuant to the policies of the TSX, is
expected to close in the second quarter of 2022.
- Prior to the advance of funding
under the Orion credit facilities and the Wheaton stream
arrangement, Sabina to fund at least US$105 million in additional
third-party equity investment and repay the previously announced
US$20 million Sprott bridge loan in accordance with its terms.
Pursuant to its participation right, Zhaojin International
Mining Company Ltd. (“Zhaojin”) has been given notice of the
financing and will have 10 business days to advise if it will
participate in the private placement.
Following closing of all tranches of the private
placement common share subscriptions (assuming Zhaojin maintains
its 9.9% ownership in the Company, (i) Orion will own approximately
15.9% of Sabina and (ii) Wheaton will own approximately 6.8% of
Sabina, in each case on a basic shares outstanding basis, which
includes shares currently held by Wheaton in the Company.
Sabina was advised on the Financing by its
independent financial adviser, Cutfield Freeman & Co
Limited.
About SabinaSabina Gold &
Silver Corp. is an emerging gold mining that 100% owns the district
scale, advanced, high grade Back River Gold District in Nunavut,
Canada.
Sabina recently filed an Updated Feasibility
Study (the “UFS”) on its first mine on the
district, the Goose Mine, which presents a project that will
produce ~223,000 ounces of gold a year (first five years average of
287,000 ounces a year with peak production of 312,000 ounces in
year three) for ~15 years with a rapid payback of 2.3 years, with a
post-tax IRR of ~28% and NPV5% of C$1.1B. See “National Instrument
(NI) 43-101 Technical Report – 2021 Updated Feasibility Study for
the Goose Project at the Back River Gold District, Nunavut, Canada”
dated March 3, 2021.
The Project received its final major
authorization on June 25, 2020 and is now in receipt of all major
permits and authorizations for construction and operations.
The Company is also very committed to its Inuit
stakeholders, with Inuit employment and opportunities a focus. The
Company has signed a 20-year renewable land use agreement with the
Kitikmeot Inuit Association and has committed to various
sustainability initiatives under the agreement.
In addition to Back River, Sabina also owns a
significant silver royalty on Glencore’s Hackett River Project. The
silver royalty on Hackett River’s silver production is comprised of
22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all
silver produced thereafter.
For further
information please contact: |
|
Nicole Hoeller, Vice-President, Communications: |
1 888 648-4218 |
|
nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com |
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws (the
“forward-looking statements”), including, but not limited to, the
commencement of construction of the Project, the timing for
completion of construction and the timing of first gold pour, the
opportunities for new discovery, the creation of value for
stakeholders, the timing and availability of the drawdown on the
Credit Facility and the Stream Arrangement, the timing and
completion of the private placement as well as a future equity
financing, Zhaojin’s participation in an equity financing and the
projections and assumptions of the results of the UFS. These
forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news
release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the
future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied
by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans,
intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking
statements are based will occur. While we have based these
forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events
as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements
are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are
subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors
which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors and assumptions include, among others, the availability of
equity financing on reasonable terms, the approval of the private
placement to Orion and Wheaton by Sabina’s shareholders, the
uncertainty of construction, production, development plans and
costs estimates for the Back River Gold Project; discrepancies
between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral
resources, between actual and estimated development and operating
costs; the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other
exploration results; the ability of the Company to retain its key
management employees and skilled and experienced personnel;
exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently
dangerous nature of the mining industry, and the risk of inadequate
insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and
other risks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks
including defective title to mineral claims or property; the
effects of general economic conditions, commodity prices, changing
foreign exchange rates and actions by government and regulatory
authorities; and misjudgments in the course of preparing
forward-looking statements. In addition, there are known and
unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks
associated with exploration and project development; the need for
additional financing; the calculation of mineral resources and
reserves; operational risks associated with mining and mineral
processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; government
regulation; obtaining and renewing necessary licenses and permits;
environmental liability and insurance; reliance on key personnel;
the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our
officers or directors; the absence of dividends; currency
fluctuations; labour disputes; competition; dilution; the
volatility of the our common share price and volume; future sales
of shares by existing shareholders; and other risks and
uncertainties, including those relating to the Back River Project
and general risks associated with the mineral exploration and
development industry described in our Annual Information Form,
financial statements and MD&A for the fiscal period ended
December 31, 2020 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators
and available at www.sedar.com. Although we have attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events
or results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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. We are under no obligation to update or
alter any forward-looking statements except as required under
applicable securities laws.
Sabina Gold and Silver (TSX:SBB)
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