- Highlights Value of the Tres Quebradas Royalty; LRC will
retain a net 0.9% royalty on the Tres Quebradas Project
- Enhances Balance Sheet Strength, with Estimated Pro-Forma
Cash of $34.4 Million (in U.S. dollars unless otherwise
noted)
Lithium Royalty Corp. (TSX: LIRC) (“LRC” or the “Company”) is
pleased to announce that the Company has entered a definitive
agreement with Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. and it’s
wholly-owned subsidiary TF R&S Canada Ltd. (“Triple Flag”) to
sell a 0.5% gross overriding revenue royalty over the Tres
Quebradas lithium brine project in Catamarca, Argentina to Triple
Flag for total cash consideration of $28 million. Following this
transaction, the Company will continue to hold a net aggregate 0.9%
gross overriding revenue royalty over the Tres Quebradas
project.
“The partial sale of the royalty highlights the intrinsic value
of the Tres Quebradas royalty and shines a favourable light on our
portfolio value as a whole. LRC appreciates the productive
relationship with Triple Flag to reach this deal. The Triple Flag
management team has been a pleasure to work with,” stated LRC’s
CEO, Ernie Ortiz.
“LRC intends to use a portion of the sale proceeds to repurchase
common shares and will explore the use of a Substantial Issuer Bid.
Given the significant discount that LRC’s shares trade relative to
their net asset value, we believe that repurchases could be
materially accretive to net asset value and cash flow per share in
the future, starting in 2025. The transaction also reloads our
balance sheet and enables LRC to acquire additional royalties on
top tier lithium assets, at what we believe to be the bottom in the
lithium cycle”.
Transaction Benefits
Crystalizes Value to LRC at a Significant
Premium – The transaction price is significantly accretive to
LRC, as the price to net asset value (P/NAV) multiple reflected in
the transaction is a significant premium to the current P/NAV
multiple reflected in LRC shares, based on analyst consensus NAV.
Along with other recent lithium industry transactions, this
highlights the meaningful value disconnect between public market
valuations of lithium assets and intrinsic value.
Endorsement of LRC Strategy and Tres
Quebradas Royalty – LRC is the leading royalty company in the
lithium sector. LRC was the first mover in the sector and continues
to uncover some of the world’s leading lithium royalties. This
transaction validates our strategy. The transaction also speaks to
the progress and development of the Tres Quebradas project and
Zijin as an attractive counterparty.
Enhances Balance Sheet Strength – As a
low-cost royalty company, LRC is well positioned to navigate the
current lithium downturn. The proceeds from this transaction inject
further liquidity onto our balance sheet and augment the ability to
transact on future accretive acquisitions and/or share repurchases
at cycle lows. The Company maintains zero debt. The Company
currently anticipates that after tax proceeds will be approximately
equal to the transaction value. The Company estimates that
pro-forma cash on hand following the transaction would be
approximately $34.4 million (C$49.2 million), based on the
anticipated December 31 cash balance of $6.7 million. The
transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.
Update on Tres Quebradas Project
In October 2024, Zijin announced that it had postponed
commencement of production at the Tres Quebradas project in
Argentina until 2025. LRC expects to earn revenue from the project
not earlier than the second half of 2025, based on the latest
available information. Zijin disclosed that during this interim
period, it intends to further optimize production techniques and
process flows and to lower and solidify the cost base, with the
objective of improving the project’s ability to withstand price
fluctuations.
Zijin Mining is investing in a solar plant at the chemical
facility which should further optimize its cost by reducing
expenditures on outside power. Furthermore, Zijin is evaluating
participation in the RIGI investment regime in Argentina that
allows for tax benefits and other benefits tied to infrastructure
projects.
Members of both the LRC and Triple Flag teams visited the Tres
Quebradas site during the week of November 18, 2024 and confirmed
the advanced status of the project and its prospects as a near term
revenue asset.
Advisors and Counsel
The parties did not use a financial advisor for the transaction.
Stikeman Elliott LLP acted as legal counsel to Lithium Royalty
Corp.
Conference Call and Webcast
Lithium Royalty Corp will hold a conference call and webcast on
Thursday, December 19,2024 at 9:00am (ET) to discuss the
transaction. Participants may dial in using the numbers below:
Local – (+1) 289 819 1520 | Conference ID:
16438
Toll Free North America – (+1) 800 549
8228 | Conference ID: 16438
Webcast – Click here
Important Dates and Events
Date
Event
January 14, 2025
TD Securities 16th Annual Global Mining
Conference
February 23, 2025
BMO 34th Global Metals, Mining &
Critical Minerals Conference
March 17, 2025
LRC Reports Q4 2024 Results
March 18, 2025
LRC Q4 2024 Earnings Call. Click here for
call details
May 20, 2025
Canaccord Genuity 4th Annual Global Mining
and Metals Conference
About Lithium Royalty Corp.
LRC is a lithium-focused royalty company organized in Canada,
which has established a globally diversified portfolio of 35
revenue royalties on mineral properties that are related to the
electrification and decarbonization of the global economy. The
Company’s royalty portfolio is focused on the battery supply chain
for the transportation and energy storage industries and is
underpinned by mineral properties that produce or are expected to
produce lithium and other battery materials. LRC is a signatory to
the Principles for Responsible Investment; the integration of ESG
factors and sustainable mining are considerations in our investment
analysis and royalty acquisitions.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” and
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited
to, statements with respect to future events or future performance,
management’s expectations regarding LRC’s growth, results of
operations, estimated future revenues, performance guidance,
carrying value of assets and requirements for additional capital,
mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, production
estimates, production costs and revenue, future demand for and
prices of commodities, expected mining sequences, business
prospects and opportunities, the performance and plans of third
party operators and the expected exposure for current and future
assessments and available remedies. In addition, statements
relating to resources and reserves and mine life are
forward-looking statements, as they involve implied assessment,
based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be
given that the estimates and assumptions are accurate and that such
resources and reserves or mine life will be realized. Often, but
not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use
of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budgets”,
“potential for”, “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
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors,
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
LRC to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking information is based on management’s
beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to
management. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of
the date of this press release only and LRC does not assume any
obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information,
estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise,
except as required by applicable law.
A number of factors could cause actual events or results to
differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including,
without limitation: fluctuations in the prices of the primary
commodities that drive royalty revenue (including various lithium
products); fluctuations in the value of the Canadian and Australian
dollar and any other currency in which revenue is generated,
relative to the U.S. dollar; changes in national and local
government legislation, including permitting and licensing regimes
and taxation policies and the enforcement thereof; the adoption of
a global minimum tax on corporations; regulatory, political or
economic developments in any of the countries where properties in
which LRC holds a royalty or other interest are located or through
which they are held; risks related to the operators of the
properties in which LRC holds a royalty or other interest,
including changes in the ownership and control of such operators;
relinquishment or sale of mineral properties; influence of
macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become
available to, or are pursued by LRC; reduced access to debt and
equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes
related to interests on any of the properties in which LRC holds a
royalty or other interest; whether or not the Company is determined
to have “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) status as
defined in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended; excessive cost escalation as well as
development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical
difficulties on any of the properties in which LRC holds a royalty
or other interest; actual mineral content may differ from the
resources and reserves contained in technical reports; rate and
timing of production differences from resource estimates, other
technical reports and mine plans; risks associated with the
solvency of operators of projects that LRC has royalties over;
risks and hazards associated with the business of development and
mining on any of the properties in which LRC holds a royalty or
other interest, including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected
geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or
cave-ins, sinkholes, flooding and other natural disasters,
terrorism, civil unrest or an outbreak of contagious disease; and
the integration of acquired assets. The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are based upon assumptions
management believes to be reasonable, including, without
limitation: the ongoing operation of the properties in which LRC
holds a royalty or other interest by the owners or operators of
such properties in a manner consistent with past practice; the
accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or
operators of such underlying properties; no material adverse change
in the market price of the commodities (including various lithium
products) that underlie the asset portfolio; the Company’s ongoing
income and assets relating to determination of its PFIC status; no
material changes to existing tax treatment; the expected
application of tax laws and regulations by taxation authorities; no
adverse development in respect of any significant property in which
LRC holds a royalty or other interest; the solvency of project
operators; the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the
development of underlying properties that are not yet in
production; integration of acquired assets; and the absence of any
other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ
from those anticipated, estimated or intended. However, 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. Investors are
cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance. LRC cannot assure investors that actual results
will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty
therein.
For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties
and assumptions, please refer to LRC’s most recent Annual
Information Form dated March 27, 2024 and filed with the Canadian
securities regulatory authorities on www.sedarplus.com. These risks
and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described
under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form, and in
particular risks summarized under the “Risks Related to Mining
Operations” heading.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219516150/en/
Contact Information for Inquiries: Jonida Zaganjori
Investor Relations (647) 792-1100 jonida@lithiumroyaltycorp.com
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