(c) | New and amended standards adopted by the Company |
The following standard was effective and implemented for the annual period as of January 1, 2021.
Interest rate benchmark reform
In 2020, the IASB published Interest Rate Benchmark Reform - Phase 2 (Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4, and IFRS 16) (“Phase 2 amendments”) to address the financial reporting impacts of replacing one benchmark interest rate with an alternative rate. The Phase 2 amendments provide a practical expedient to ease the potential burden of accounting for changes in contractual cash flows and include disclosure requirements at the time of benchmark interest rate replacement. The Company has adopted these Phase 2 amendments effective January 1, 2021 and has applied the Phase 2 amendments retrospectively. There was no significant impact to the current period or comparative periods presented as a result of the Phase 2 amendments.
Note 3 – Acquisitions and other transactions
(a) | Acquisition of Séguéla Royalty – Côte d'Ivoire |
On March 30, 2021, the Company acquired a 1.2% NSR on Roxgold Inc.’s (“Roxgold”) Séguéla gold project in Côte d'Ivoire for $15.2 million (A$20.0 million). The royalty agreement is subject to a buy-back at the option of Roxgold of up to 50% of the royalty at a pro rata portion of the purchase price for a period of up to three years after closing.
The acquisition of the Séguéla royalty has been accounted for as an asset acquisition.
(b) | Acquisition of Condestable Gold and Silver Stream – Peru |
On March 8, 2021, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, closed a precious metals stream agreement with reference to the gold and silver production from the Condestable mine in Peru, for an up-front deposit of $165.0 million. The Condestable mine is located approximately 90 kilometers south of Lima, Peru, and is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Southern Peaks Mining LP (“SPM”), a private company.
Commencing on January 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2025, Franco-Nevada will receive 8,760 ounces of gold and 291,000 ounces of silver annually until a total of 43,800 ounces of gold and 1,455,000 ounces of silver have been delivered (the “Fixed Deliveries”). Thereafter, Franco-Nevada will receive 63% of the contained gold and contained silver produced until a cumulative total of 87,600 ounces of gold and 2,910,000 ounces of silver have been delivered (the “Variable Phase 1 Deliveries”). The stream then reduces to 25% over the remaining life of mine (the “Variable Phase 2 Deliveries”). Franco-Nevada will pay 20% of the spot price for gold and silver for each ounce delivered under the stream (the “Ongoing Payment”). The stream has an effective date of January 1, 2021, with the first quarterly delivery received on March 15, 2021.
For a period of four years from closing, subject to certain restrictions, a subsidiary of SPM may, at its option, make a one-time special delivery comprising the number of ounces of refined gold equal to $118.8 million at the then current spot price subject to the Ongoing Payment, to achieve the early payment of the Fixed Deliveries and Variable Phase 1 Deliveries. The Variable Phase 2 Deliveries would commence immediately thereafter.
The acquisition of the Condestable stream has been accounted for as an asset acquisition.
(c) | Acquisition of U.S. Oil & Gas Mineral Rights with Continental Resources, Inc. |
The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, has a strategic relationship with Continental to acquire, through a jointly-owned entity (the “Royalty Acquisition Venture”), royalty rights within Continental’s areas of operation.
In the first three months ended March 31, 2021, Franco-Nevada recorded contributions to the Royalty Acquisition Venture of $1.2 million (Q1/2020 – $16.8 million). As at March 31, 2021, the total cumulative investment in the Royalty Acquisition Venture totaled $407.2 million. Franco-Nevada has remaining commitments of up to $112.8 million, approximately half of which is expected to be deployed in the remainder of 2021. Accrued liabilities at March 31, 2021 include $0.6 million (2019 - $5.6 million) of contributions disbursed after period-end.
The Royalty Acquisition Venture is accounted for as a joint operation in accordance with IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements.