Note 3 - Acquisitions and other transactions
(a) | Acquisition of Royalty on Magino Gold Project – Ontario, Canada |
Subsequent to quarter-end, on October 27, 2022, Franco-Nevada acquired a 2% NSR on Argonaut Gold Inc.’s (“Argonaut”) construction-stage Magino gold project located in the province of Ontario, Canada, for a purchase price of $52.5 million. In addition to the Magino project, the royalty covers all of Argonaut’s regional exploration properties.
The Company also completed a private placement with Argonaut Gold, acquiring 34,693,462 common shares at a price of C$0.39 per share for a total cost of $10.0 million (C$13.6 million).
(b) | Acquisition of Royalties on Spences Bridge Gold Belt Claims – British Columbia, Canada |
Subsequent to quarter-end, on October 6, 2022, Franco-Nevada acquired a 2% NSR on all of Westhaven Gold Corp.’s (“Westhaven”) claims across the Spences Bridge Gold Belt in Southern British Columbia, Canada, for $6.0 million. Westhaven has an option to buy-down 0.5% of the NSR for $3.0 million for a period of 5 years from the closing of the transaction. Franco-Nevada also acquired an existing royalty 2.5% NSR from Westhaven on adjoining properties currently owned by Talisker Resources Ltd for a purchase price of $0.75 million.
In addition, Franco-Nevada also subscribed for 2,500,000 common shares of Westhaven at a price of C$0.40 per share for total cost of $0.73 million (C$1.0 million).
(c) | Acquisition of Royalties – Chile |
On July 25, 2022, the Company acquired, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, a portfolio of seven royalties, each with a 2% NSR on precious metals and 1% NSR on base metals, for a purchase price of $1.0 million.
(d) | Financing Package G Mining Ventures on the Tocantinzinho Gold Project – Brazil |
On July 18, 2022, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Franco-Nevada (Barbados) Corporation (“FNBC”), acquired a gold stream with reference to production from the Tocantinzinho project, owned by G Mining Ventures Corp. (“G Mining Ventures”) and located in Pará State, Brazil (the “Stream”). FNBC will provide a deposit of $250.0 million. Additionally, the Company agreed, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, to provide G Mining Ventures with a $75.0 million secured term loan (the “Term Loan”).
Stream deliveries to FNBC are based on gold production from the Tocantinzinho property, according to the following schedule: (i) 12.5% of gold produced until 300,000 ounces of gold have been delivered and, thereafter, (ii) 7.5% of gold produced for the remaining mine life. G Mining Ventures will receive 20% of the spot gold price for each ounce of gold delivered. The $250 million deposit will become available after G Mining Ventures has spent at least $95 million on the Tocantinzinho project from January 1, 2022 and subject to certain other conditions.
The Term Loan is a $75 million, 6-year term loan with an availability period of 3.5-years, drawable quarterly at G Mining Ventures’ option following full funding of the Stream. The Term Loan will bear interest at a rate of 3-Month Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“3-Month SOFR”) +5.75% per annum, reducing to 3-Month SOFR +4.75% after completion tests have been achieved at the project. Amortization will begin in December 2025 with equal quarterly repayments followed by a final 25% repayment upon maturity in June 2028. Fees payable to Franco-Nevada’s subsidiary include a standby fee on undrawn amounts of 1.0% per annum and a 2.0% original issue discount payable on principal amounts drawn. Pursuant to the Term Loan, Franco-Nevada was granted warrants with a fair value of $0.75 million to purchase 11.5 million common shares of G Mining Ventures (“G Mining Common Shares”) with a 5-year term and an exercise price of C$1.90 per G Mining Common Share. The warrants are included in Investments in the statement of financial position and are accounted for as derivatives with fair value through profit and loss in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.
Franco-Nevada also subscribed for 44,687,500 G Mining Common Shares at a share price of C$0.80 per G Mining Common Share for a total cost of $27.5 million (C$35.8 million). The G Mining Common Shares are included in Investments in the statement of financial position and are accounted for as equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.
As at September 30, 2022, no funding has been provided to G Mining Ventures under the Stream agreement and the Term Loan.
(e) | Acquisition of Additional Castle Mountain Royalty – California, U.S. |
On May 2, 2022, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired an existing 2% NSR on gold and silver produced from the Pacific Clay claims, which comprise a portion of the JSLA pit of Equinox Gold Corp.’s Castle Mountain project in San Bernardino County, California, for $6.0 million. When combined with the Company’s 2.65% NSR on the broader Castle Mountain land position, the Company now has an effective 4.65% NSR on the Pacific Clay claims.