VANCOUVER, Feb. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Taseko Mines Limited
(TSX: TKO; NYSE MKT: TGB) ("Taseko" or the "Company") is pleased to
announce that it has entered into a US$33
million streaming agreement with Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd
("Osisko") for Taseko's 75% share of payable silver production from
the Gibraltar Mine.
Russell Hallbauer, President and
CEO of Taseko, stated, "Management is continually searching for
accretive initiatives to allow the Company to advance its business
strategy, while ensuring shareholder's interests are held
paramount. Selling this silver stream, which is an unappreciated
aspect of our business, was not an obvious source of capital, but
turned out to be a very attractive source. With the proceeds from
this transaction added to our year end cash balance we have
approximately $130 million in
available liquidity. The expected cash generation from
Gibraltar will further strengthen
our balance sheet this year, providing us with a number of options
regarding our debt obligations and project advancement."
"While we believe the higher copper prices combined with our
strong operational performance will generate significant cash flow
in the months ahead, monetizing Gibraltar's modest silver production for
C$43 million is a prudent decision
for the Company. Silver sales represent approximately 1% of
Gibraltar's total revenue and the
sale of this small by-product will not materially impact the mine's
overall cost structure. Offsetting the impact from the reduced
silver revenue is the strong operating performance of our
molybdenum plant as well as higher molybdenum prices."
"We are very happy to partner with Osisko on this transaction.
In less than three years, they have become a world-class precious
metal royalty and streaming company, already holding more than 50
royalties. Osisko's investment in Gibraltar's silver stream further endorses our
high quality copper mine," concluded Mr. Hallbauer.
"The Gibraltar silver stream is
Osisko's first streaming transaction," commented Sean Roosen, Chair and Chief Executive Officer
of Osisko. "Taseko's management team has a history of success, and
we are pleased to partner with them as they build a strong platform
within the copper sector."
Transaction Details
In exchange for an upfront deposit of US$33 million, Taseko will deliver 100% of its
share of Gibraltar payable silver
production until 5.9 million ounces have been delivered, which is
approximately equivalent to Taseko's share of the silver in the
current proven and probable reserves. After that threshold has been
met, 35% of Taseko's share of all future silver production will be
delivered to Osisko. Osisko will pay US$2.75 per ounce for all the silver deliveries
made under the contract. Additionally, Osisko will be granted
warrants for three million common shares of Taseko with a strike
price to be set at a 50% premium to the 10-day VWAP prior to
closing. The warrants will expire on April
1, 2020.
Closing of the transaction is expected to occur in early
March 2017 and is subject to the
completion of customary conditions.
Russell Hallbauer
President and CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or
disapproved of the information contained in this news release.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were
based on Taseko's expectations, estimates and projections as of the
dates as of which those statements were made. Generally, these
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "anticipate",
"project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend",
"should" and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to
be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. These included but are not limited
to:
- uncertainties and costs related to the Company's exploration
and development activities, such as those associated with
continuity of mineralization or determining whether mineral
resources or reserves exist on a property;
- uncertainties related to the accuracy of our estimates of
mineral reserves, mineral resources, production rates and timing of
production, future production and future cash and total costs of
production and milling;
- uncertainties related to feasibility studies that provide
estimates of expected or anticipated costs, expenditures and
economic returns from a mining project;
- uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary
licenses permits for development projects and project delays due to
third party opposition;
- uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory
proceedings;
- changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and
government policies affecting our exploration and development
activities and mining operations, particularly laws, regulations
and policies;
- changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets
and in the demand and market price for copper, gold and other
minerals and commodities, such as diesel fuel, steel, concrete,
electricity and other forms of energy, mining equipment, and
fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with respect to the
value of the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar, and the continued
availability of capital and financing;
- the effects of forward selling instruments to protect against
fluctuations in copper prices and exchange rate movements and the
risks of counterparty defaults, and mark to market risk;
- the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain
insurance to cover mining risks;
- the risk of loss of key employees; the risk of changes in
accounting policies and methods we use to report our financial
condition, including uncertainties associated with critical
accounting assumptions and estimates;
- environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining
including processing and stock piling ore; and
- labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or
difficulties in, the employment of labour in markets in which we
operate mines, or environmental hazards, industrial accidents or
other events or occurrences, including third party interference
that interrupt the production of minerals in our mines.
For further information on Taseko, investors should review the
Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission www.sec.gov and home jurisdiction filings
that are available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE Taseko Mines Limited