Benzinga | Aug 4, 2020 08:34AM EDT

Barrick Signs Definitive Agreement On Eskay Creek; Skeena Resources To Exercise Option To Acquire Eskay Creek project

TORONTO, Aug. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) today announced that Barrick Gold Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barrick, has entered into a definitive agreement with Skeena Resources Limited ("Skeena") pursuant to which Skeena will exercise its option to acquire the Eskay Creek project and Barrick will waive its back-in right on the Eskay Creek project, all upon the terms and conditions set out in an amended and restated option agreement (the "Option Agreement").



As previously announced by Skeena, consideration for the transaction consists of: (i) the issuance by Skeena of 22,500,000 units (the "Units"), with each Unit comprising one common share of Skeena and one half of a warrant, with each whole warrant entitling Barrick to purchase one additional common share of Skeena at an exercise price of C$2.70 each until the second anniversary of the closing date; (ii) the grant of a 1% NSR royalty on the entire Eskay Creek land package; and (iii) a contingent payment of C$15 million payable during a 24-month period after closing.

Prior to entering into the Option Agreement, Barrick directly and indirectly held 1,575,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.8% of Skeena's then-issued and outstanding Common Shares (calculated on a non-diluted basis).

On the closing of the transaction, on a pro-forma basis, (i) Barrick will hold 24,075,000 Skeena common shares, representing approximately 12.4% of Skeena's issued and outstanding common shares on closing (calculated on a non-diluted basis); and (ii) assuming the exercise in full of all of the warrants issuable pursuant to the transaction, Barrick will hold 35,325,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 17.2% of Skeena's issued and outstanding Common Shares.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020, subject to customary conditions, including certain government approvals and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Barrick is acquiring the Units for investment purposes. Other than the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement, Barrick currently has no other plans or intentions that relate to or would result in any of the actions listed in paragraphs (a) through (k) of Item 5 of the early warning report. Depending on market conditions and other factors, including Skeena's business and financial condition, Barrick may, subject to the terms of the investor rights agreement to be entered into in connection with the Option Agreement Transaction, acquire additional common shares or other securities of Skeena or dispose of some or all of the common shares or other securities of Skeena that it owns at such time.

An early warning report will be filed by Barrick in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact Kathy du Plessis, whose contact details are included below.

Barrick is a senior gold mining company organized under the laws of the Province of British Columbia. Barrick's corporate office is located at Brookfield Place, TD Canada Trust Tower, Suite 3700, 161 Bay Street, PO Box 212, Toronto, Ontario. Skeena's head office is located at 650-1021 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 0C3.