Centerra Gold buys Thompson Creek Metals

by Keith Powell — July 06, 2016

The deal includes the Mount Milligan Mine and the Thompson Creek Mine in Idaho. — Photo courtesy Thompson Creek Metals

TORONTO, Ontario and DENVER, Colorado – July 5, 2016 – Centerra Gold Inc. (“Centerra”) (TSX:CG) and Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (“Thompson Creek”) (TSX:TCM) (OTCQX:TCPTF) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) whereby Centerra will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Thompson Creek (the “Arrangement”). In connection with the closing of the Arrangement, Centerra will redeem all of Thompson Creek's secured and unsecured notes at their call price plus accrued and unpaid interest, in accordance with their terms.

Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, all of the Thompson Creek issued and outstanding common shares will be exchanged on the basis of 0.0988 of a Centerra common share for each Thompson Creek common share (the “Exchange Ratio”). Upon completion of the Arrangement, existing Centerra and Thompson Creek shareholders are expected to own approximately 92% and 8%, respectively, of the pro forma company.

The Exchange Ratio implies consideration of C$0.79 per Thompson Creek common share, based on the closing price of Centerra common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) on July 4, 2016, representing a 32% premium to the closing price of Thompson Creek common shares on the TSX on July 4, 2016. The Exchange Ratio implies a premium of 33% to Thompson Creek common shares based on each company’s 20-day volume weighted average price on the TSX for the period ending July 4, 2016. Total transaction value, including the assumption of capital lease obligations, is equal to ~US$1.1 billion. In connection with the proposed transactions,

Centerra has entered into a binding commitment letter with Royal Gold Inc. (“Royal Gold”) whereby, upon the closing of the Arrangement, Royal Gold’s 52.25% gold streaming interest at Mount Milligan will be amended to a 35.00% gold stream and 18.75% copper stream. The transfer payment on the gold stream will remain at US$435/oz while the new copper stream will have a transfer payment equal to 15% of the prevailing market price of copper.

Based on the midpoint of Thompson Creek’s 2016 production guidance (240-270 Koz of payable gold and 55-65 MMlbs of payable copper), Mount Milligan’s revenue split to Centerra under the amended stream agreement is expected to be approximately 70% gold, and 30% copper at current spot prices of US$1,351/oz gold and US$2.21/lb copper. Thompson Creek operates the world class Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada, a premier low-cost asset with more than two additional decades of profitable production expected from the current reserve base.

Together with Centerra’s low-cost, long-lived Kumtor Mine in the Kyrgyz Republic, the combined company is expected to be firmly established as a low-cost gold producer with a geographically diversified footprint and industry-leading margins. In addition, the combined company will possess a high quality pipeline of development opportunities and is well positioned to sustain and grow its production 2 base. With a strong balance sheet and liquidity profile, sector leading operating margins, and moderate capital requirements, the combined company is expected to continue to generate robust free cash flows for many years to come.

Highlights of the Transaction

Enhances Centerra’s current high quality producing platform with a balanced geopolitical risk profile: Mount Milligan adds a North American cornerstone asset that could significantly increase Centerra’s production, reserves and resources, and cash flow. With Mount Milligan and Kumtor, the combined company will have a high quality diversified producing platform with a balanced geopolitical risk profile.
Significant low-cost gold production: 2016 pro forma annual production of approximately 675- 725 thousand ounces (Koz) of gold at all-in sustaining costs (AISC) net of by-product credits of US$850-$925/oz.
High quality growth project pipeline: Growth to be driven by various projects including the fully financed Öksüt project in Turkey, Gatsuurt in Mongolia, and Greenstone in Canada which could drive incremental gold production of approximately 500Koz. By 2018, up to half of production is expected to come from Canada, Turkey, and Mongolia. The Berg and IKE development projects are copper, molybdenum and silver exploration properties located in British Columbia. Both are longer-term strategic growth projects with minimal and flexible capital commitments over the next several years.
Maximized gold exposure: Amendment of Royal Gold’s gold stream from 52.25% to 35.00%, in exchange for a 18.75% copper stream, repositions Mount Milligan as a world class gold mine with low pro forma 2016 AISC of US$775-$850/oz and an approximate revenue split of 70% gold, 30% copper at current metal prices. As well, there exists the potential for a re-rating of the pro forma company’s trading multiple in line with gold producer peers.
Attractive acquisition return profile: Expected to be accretive to cash flow, NAV, reserves and production per share with strong acquisition IRR and payback.
Strong balance sheet and financial performance: Strong EBITDA and free cash flow generation provides Centerra with financial strength and flexibility, with an estimated pro forma debt to EBITDA of approximately 0.8x.

Potential upside opportunities: The addition of secondary crushing at the Mount Milligan Mine by year end 2016, as planned, is expected to increase throughput to more than 62,500 tpd. An 3 expansion of the flotation circuit, with the addition of regrind capacity, is expected to improve gold and copper recoveries beyond what has been experienced to date. The development of a geometallurgical model is expected to enable the operators to better manage the material to the mill resulting in more efficient mill operations, better predictability, and improved gold and copper recoveries. Furthermore, the transaction positions Centerra to realize synergies in Canada as well as potentially enabling the utilization of tax benefits.

Optionality retained in molybdenum assets: The Endako and Thompson Creek Mines will be kept on care and maintenance and the Thompson Creek mill will continue to be used as a concentrate upgrade facility. The Langeloth processing facility is expected to operate as a profitable toll processing facility. The molybdenum business is expected to operate on a cash flow neutral basis and represents significant potential value upside in the future.

Scott Perry, CEO of Centerra, said, “The combination with Thompson Creek is a highly compelling transformative transaction that diversifies Centerra’s operating platform and adds low risk production and cash flow from a very high quality, long-lived asset in Mount Milligan. The acquisition will establish an operating base in Canada –one of the lowest risk mining jurisdictions in the world– which will complement our Canadian-based Greenstone project and provide for further flexibility to expand into the Americas. Furthermore, the amendment to the Royal Gold stream repositions the asset by maximizing gold exposure for our shareholders. This business combination is complementary in nature, combining Centerra’s robust balance sheet with Thompson Creek’s high quality asset base.”

Jacques Perron, President and CEO of Thompson Creek, stated, “Following a formal strategic review process and the evaluation of numerous strategic alternatives to address Thompson Creek’s upcoming debt maturities, I am pleased to announce the business combination of Thompson Creek with Centerra. We believe the combination with Centerra represents a unique opportunity for our shareholders to gain exposure to additional high-quality assets with a strong development pipeline. While we believe this transaction delivers our shareholders an attractive premium today, it also delivers our shareholders with significant value generation opportunities going forward.”

“Royal Gold congratulates Thompson Creek for developing Mount Milligan into a world class asset”, Tony Jensen, President and CEO of Royal Gold, said, “Looking forward, we welcome Centerra as our new partner at Mount Milligan and we are pleased that a strong management and operating team will continue to lead the operations at the mine.”

Benefits to Centerra Shareholders:

Establishes a complementary cornerstone, producing and profitable asset in Canada with well established, low-cost operations, and a talented and focused operating team.
Adds a world class long-lived mine with high-margin gold production.
Expected to provide strong return metrics, cash flow accretion and an enhanced ability to generate free cash flow on a per share basis.
Anticipated increased trading liquidity, enhanced value proposition and capital markets profile.
Positioning Mount Milligan as a low cost gold mine as a result of the amendment to the Royal Gold stream arrangement provides potential for a multiple re-rating in line with gold peers.

Benefits to Thompson Creek Shareholders:

Provides a comprehensive solution for Thompson Creek’s capital structure and delivers an immediate up-front premium while maintaining meaningful equity participation in a pro forma company with a strong balance sheet.
Superior financial strength and flexibility to support advancement of various development projects underpinning high-quality gold production growth.
Exposure to a large, long-life reserve base through Centerra’s world-class Kumtor Mine.
Access to a peer-leading dividend policy.

Board of Directors’ Recommendations:

The Arrangement Agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of each of Centerra and Thompson Creek. The Thompson Creek Board recommends that Thompson Creek shareholders vote in favor of the Arrangement. BMO Capital Markets has provided an opinion to the Board of Directors of Thompson Creek, stating that in its opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations, and qualifications set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Thompson Creek shareholders.

About Centerra Gold

Centerra Gold Inc. is a Canadian-based gold mining company focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring gold properties in Asia, North America and other markets worldwide. Centerra is the largest Western-based gold producer in Central Asia. Centerra’s shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol CG. The Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Additional 6 information on Centerra is available on the Company’s website at www.centerragold.com and at SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Thompson Creek Metals Thompson

Creek Metals Company Inc. is a North American mining company. The Company’s principal operating property is its 100%-owned Mount Milligan Mine, an open-pit gold and copper mine and concentrator in British Columbia. The Company’s molybdenum assets consist of its 100%-owned Thompson Creek Mine, an open-pit molybdenum mine and concentrator in Idaho, its 75% joint venture interest in the Endako Mine, an open-pit molybdenum mine, concentrator and roaster in British Columbia, and its Langeloth Metallurgical Facility in Pennsylvania. The Company’s development projects are the Berg and IKE properties, both copper, molybdenum and silver exploration properties located in British Columbia. The Company’s principal executive office is located in Denver, Colorado. More information is available at www.thompsoncreekmetals.com.