NYSE AMERICAN: MTA
TSXV: MTA
VANCOUVER, BC, June 17, 2021 /CNW/ - Metalla Royalty &
Streaming Ltd. ("Metalla" or the "Company") (NYSE
American: MTA) (TSXV: MTA) is pleased to announce it has completed
the acquisition of an existing 1.35% net smelter return royalty on
a portion of the Côté Gold Project and all of the Gosselin project
("Côté") owned by IAMGOLD Corporation
("IAMGOLD")(NYSE: IAG; TSX: IMG) and Sumitomo Metal Mining
Co., Ltd., ("Sumitomo")(TYO: 5713) for a total consideration
of C$7.5 million in cash from arm's
length sellers9.
Brett Heath, President &
CEO of Metalla, commented, "This transaction provides extraordinary
value for Metalla shareholders. The royalty covers a portion of the
near term producing World-Class Côté Gold Project. Côté will be one
of Canada's largest gold mines
which is currently being constructed by IAMGOLD and Sumitomo.
Metalla shareholders will also gain exposure to the full extent of
the expected 3-5Moz Gosselin Zone
1.5km northeast of the Côté deposit which has the potential to
materially enhance the production profile at Côté in the
future."
CÔTÉ/GOSSELIN ZONE (1.35%
NSR)(2)(3)(4)(8)
Côté is poised to become one of Canada's largest gold mines with an expected
annual output of 493Koz and total cash costs of US$600/oz in the first five years of operation.
Construction of the US$1.3 billion
mine commenced in the fall of 2020 and is expected to ramp up to
commercial production in the second half of 2023. Côté currently
boasts a 7.2Moz reserve, a measured and indicated resource of
10.2Moz and an inferred resource of 3.8Moz making it one of the
largest gold resources in Canada.
The royalty covers a portion of the northern and north-eastern
part of the Côté pit and all of the Gosselin-Young-Shannon gold
project ("Gosselin"). Gosselin is located ~1.5km to the
northeast of the Côté deposit which IAMGOLD estimates to host an
exploration target of 3-5Moz of gold. Gosselin was discovered in
2019 and is part of the Côté joint venture between IAMGOLD &
Sumitomo. The Gosselin zones exhibit similar geology and
metallurgical characteristics, indicating potential for similar
gold recoveries to the Côté gold deposit. IAMGOLD expects to
complete a 13,000 – 16,000 metre diamond drill program including
12,000 – 14,000 metres of delineation drilling in the Côté district
to support the maiden resource estimate for the Gosselin project
that IAMGOLD expects to be announced in the second half of
2021. According to IAMGOLD, Gosselin & Young-Shannon have
the potential to support production levels of ~500koz per year at
the Côté operation beyond the first 5 years where production at
Côté is expected to drop towards the 367Koz per year average.
Notable intercepts from the recent Gosselin exploration program
include 1.28 g/t gold over 412 metres, 0.98 g/t gold over 342.5
metres and 0.94 g/t gold over 264.5 metres. The Gosselin deposit
remains open at depth to the northwest and along strike to the east
and southwest.
CÔTÉ/GOSSELIN ROYALTY MAP(8)
GOSSELIN EXPLORATION UPSIDE
(1)(2)(4)(5)(6)(7)
Exploration
Upside
|
|
Tonnes
|
Gold
|
|
(Millions)
|
(g/t)
|
(Moz)
|
Gosselin
Zone
|
130 - 133
|
0.7 – 1.2
|
3.0 – 5.0
|
CÔTÉ RESERVE & RESOURCE ESTIMATE
(1)(2)(5)(6)
Reserve &
Resource Estimate
|
|
Tonnes
|
Gold
|
|
(000's)
|
(g/t)
|
(Koz)
|
Proven
Reserves
|
139,253
|
1.0
|
4,640
|
Probable
Reserves
|
93,747
|
0.9
|
2,644
|
Proven &
Probable Reserves
|
233,000
|
1.0
|
7,284
|
Measured
Resources
|
152,100
|
1.0
|
4,720
|
Indicated
Resources
|
213,400
|
0.8
|
5,480
|
Measured &
Indicated Resources
|
365,500
|
0.9
|
10,200
|
Inferred
Resources
|
189,600
|
0.6
|
3,820
|
AT THE MARKET EQUITY PROGRAM UPDATE
The Company is also pleased to provide an update on its
at-the-market equity program. As of the date of this news release,
Metalla has sold 510,532 Common Shares under the ATM Program for
gross proceeds of US$5.1 million. As
a result of these proceeds and cash held on the balance sheet, the
Company was fully funded to close the royalty acquisition on
Côté.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The technical information contained in this news release has
been reviewed and approved by Charles
Beaudry, geologist M.Sc., member of the Association of
Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and the Ordre des Géologues du Québec
and a consultant to Metalla. Mr. Beaudry is a Qualified Person as
defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of disclosure
for mineral projects.
ABOUT METALLA
Metalla was created for the purpose of providing shareholders
with leveraged precious metal exposure by acquiring royalties and
streams. Our goal is to increase share value by accumulating a
diversified portfolio of royalties and streams with attractive
returns. Our strong foundation of current and future
cash-generating asset base, combined with an experienced team,
gives Metalla a path to become one of the leading gold and silver
companies for the next commodities cycle.
For further information, please visit our website at
www.metallaroyalty.com.
ON BEHALF OF METALLA ROYALTY & STREAMING LTD.
signed "Brett Heath"
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Notes:
|
|
(1)
|
For details on the
estimation of mineral resources and reserves, including the key
assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral
Resources and Mineral Reserves and technical data on the project,
Canadian investors should refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Reports
for the Côté Gold Project titled "Cote Gold Project NI 43-101
Technical Report on Feasibility Study" dated November 1, 2018 (the
"2018 Technical Report") and on file at www.sedar.com and the
IAMGOLD June 2020 Côté Project Update from July 21,
2020.
|
(2)
|
See IAMGOLD Corporate
Presentation March 2021 pg. 10 & pg. 37 and IAMGOLD
Presentation titled: "The time is now: Côté Gold" dated July 21,
2020.
|
(3)
|
See IAMGOLD News
Release dated March 8, 2021 ("IAMGOLD Reports Additional Positive
Results from Its 2020 Resource Delineation Drilling on the Gosselin
Gold Zone - Côté Gold Joint Venture Project") and IAMGOLD News
Release Dated January 21, 2021 ("IAMGOLD Reports Additional
Positive Results from Its Resource Delineation Drilling Program on
the Gosselin Zone - Côté Gold Project, Ontario").
|
(4)
|
IAMGOLD disclosure:
"Exploration Target Potential: The potential quantity and grade of
the exploration targets referred to are conceptual in nature and
insufficient exploration work has been completed to define a
Mineral Resource. The property will require significant future
exploration to advance to a resource stage and there can be no
certainty that the exploration target will result in a Mineral
Resource being delineated. The exploration targets are consistent
with similar deposits in the area, deposit models or derived from
initial drilling results."
|
(5)
|
Numbers may not add
due to rounding.
|
(6)
|
Mineral resources
which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
|
(7)
|
Total tonnage was
back-calculated using the following formula: (sum of ounces *
31.1035 / grade).
|
(8)
|
The royalty covers
Zone 4 and Zone 6 in the 2018 Technical Report royalty zones, which
together cover the northern portion of the Côté reserve pit and the
full extent of Gosselin development project. The Côté/Gosselin
royalty applies to the Chester 2 patented mineral
claims.
|
(9)
|
Metalla was also
granted a Right of First Refusal on the sale of the remaining 0.15%
NSR held by one of the sellers.
|
TECHNICAL AND THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION
Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this press
release relating to the Cote & Gosselin property is based on
information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of this
property and information/data available in the public domain as at
the date hereof and none of this information has been independently
verified by Metalla. Specifically, as a royalty holder, Metalla has
limited, if any, access to the property subject to the royalty.
Although Metalla does not have any knowledge that such information
may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such
third-party information is complete or accurate. Some information
publicly reported by the operator may relate to a larger property
than the area covered by Metalla's royalty interests. Metalla's
royalty interests often cover less than 100% and sometimes only a
portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral
resources and production of a property.
Unless otherwise indicated, the technical and scientific
disclosure contained or referenced in this press release, including
any references to mineral resources or mineral reserves, was
prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101
("NI 43-101"), which differs significantly from the requirements
of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Accordingly, the scientific
and technical information contained or referenced in this press
release may not be comparable to similar information made public
by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure
requirements of the SEC.
"Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty
as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic
and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of
an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. Historical results or feasibility models presented herein
are not guarantees or expectations of future performance.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is
expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims",
"anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including
negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be
identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may",
"could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or
be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include,
but are not limited to, statements with respect to expected
construction and production at the Cote project, the accretive
nature of and value to be derived from the transactions, future
exploration, development, production, recoveries, cash flow, the
profitability margins that are expected to be achieved, current
and potential future estimates of mineral reserves and resources on
the Cote project, the Company's potential to become a leading gold
and silver company, and anticipated or possible future
developments at the Cote and Gosselin project. Forward-looking
statements and information are based on forecasts of future
results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions
that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently
subject to significant business, economic and competitive
uncertainties, and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and
information are subject to various known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of Metalla to
control or predict, that may cause Metalla's actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from those
expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on
assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set
out herein, including but not limited to: the risk that the parties
may be unable to satisfy the closing conditions for the
contemplated transactions or that the transactions may not be
completed; risks associated with the impact of general business
and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining
operations from which Metalla will purchase precious metals or from
which it will receive stream or royalty payments and risks related
to those mining operations, including risks related to
international operations, government and environmental regulation,
delays in mine construction and operations, actual results of
mining and current exploration activities, conclusions of economic
evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans are
refined; problems related to the ability to market precious metals
or other metals; industry conditions, including commodity price
fluctuations, interest and exchange rate fluctuations;
interpretation by government entities of tax laws or the
implementation of new tax laws; regulatory, political or economic
developments in any of the countries where properties in which
Metalla holds a royalty, stream or other interest are located or
through which they are held; risks related to the operators of the
properties in which Metalla holds a royalty or stream or other
interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such
operators; risks related to global pandemics, including the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic, and the spread of
other viruses or pathogens; influence of macroeconomic
developments; business opportunities that become available to, or
are pursued by Metalla; reduced access to debt and equity capital;
litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests
on any of the properties in which Metalla holds a royalty, stream
or other interest; the volatility of the stock market;
competition; future sales or issuances of debt or equity
securities; use of proceeds; dividend policy and future payment of
dividends; liquidity; market for securities; enforcement of civil
judgments; and risks relating to Metalla potentially being a
passive foreign investment company within the meaning of U.S.
federal tax laws; and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed
under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent
annual information form, annual report on Form 40-F and other
documents filed with or submitted to the Canadian securities
regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the EDGAR website
at www.sec.gov. Metalla undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking information except as required by applicable law.
Such forward-looking information represents management's best
judgment based on information currently available. No
forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future
results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or
information.
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SOURCE Metalla Royalty and Streaming Ltd.