Based on our current Feasibility Study, the Agreement is anticipated to provide sufficient funding to complete the construction of the Karma Project ("Karma" or the "Project") in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Highlights:

  • US$120-million financing commits funds to construct Karma without need for additional equity
  • Funding provides True Gold with the flexibility to deliver base case outlined in the Karma Project Feasibility Study and scale up quickly, with the goal of becoming a high-margin, mid-tier gold producer
  • Significant construction to begin next month, with first gold pour anticipated by the end of 2015
  • Agreement is a strong endorsement of Karma and the project’s long-term growth potential from two leading royalty and streaming companies
  • Funding package provides capital at more favourable terms than traditional project financing
  • True Gold now ranks among a select group of emerging producers worldwide with a permitted, fully funded project

The US$100M Agreement requires True Gold to purchase and deliver 100,000 ounces of gold over five years, and thereafter 6.5% of equivalent production at Karma. In addition, True Gold holds the sole option to increase funding by up to US$20-million ("Increase Option") during the next 18 months. If the Increase Option is exercised in full, True Gold would deliver an additional 30,000 ounces of gold on a fixed payment schedule.

"It is a pleasure to welcome Franco-Nevada and Sandstorm and their high-calibre management teams as our newest partners on the Karma Project," said Mark O’Dea, Executive Chairman of True Gold. "Their participation provides a strong endorsement of the project and the quality of our team. We feel this is a highly attractive funding package that is well aligned with our development plans and we look forward to working together."

"I would also like to thank our cornerstone investors, Liberty Metals and Mining and Teck Resources, for their leadership roles in supporting the advancement of Karma over the past year. Since May 2013, during one of the toughest financing environments in recent history, True Gold has arranged approximately $200 million in funding," said Mr. O’Dea.

"We are pleased to be partnering with both True Gold and Sandstorm in supporting the development of Karma, a robust project with low capital and operating costs on a property that has excellent exploration potential," said Paul Brink, Senior Vice President, Business Development of Franco-Nevada. "True Gold has assembled an excellent operational team to build and operate Karma, in one of the fastest growing gold jurisdictions in the world today."

With permits secured to build the mine envisioned in the Feasibility Study and development fully funded, True Gold’s Board of Directors has approved a construction decision and is targeting first gold pour for the end of 2015. Karma will be the seventh mine built in Burkina Faso within the past five years.

KEY TRANSACTION TERMS

  • Franco-Nevada and Sandstorm (the "Syndicate") will provide True Gold with US$100 million in funding, currently split 75% for Franco-Nevada and 25% for Sandstorm.
  • Over a period of five years, starting March 31, 2016 (the "Delivery Period"), True Gold shall purchase and deliver to the Syndicate an aggregate of 20,000 ounces of gold each year, for a total of 100,000 ounces of gold. During the Delivery Period, the Syndicate will pay True Gold 20% of the spot price of gold ("Ongoing Payment") for each ounce purchased and delivered by True Gold.
  • Following the Delivery Period, True Gold shall purchase and deliver to the Syndicate an amount of refined gold equal to 6.5% of the equivalent amount of gold produced at Karma for the life of the Project in exchange for Ongoing Payments.
  • The Increase Option is repayable in eight quarterly deliveries totalling up to 30,000 ounces of gold based on the pro-rata portion of the amount drawn thereunder, starting 18 months from when the first tranche of the Increase Option is drawn down.

Having flexibility in Karma’s development plan was a critical factor in determining the best project finance package and partner for True Gold. The Company believes strongly in the organic growth potential of the Karma Property and the high likelihood of additional production from the discovery of new resources. As such, True Gold took careful consideration in selecting a project finance package that was cost effective and aligned well with the Company’s growth strategy and timeline.

True Gold spent the past year reviewing and negotiating over a dozen term sheets from traditional and alternative funding sources. The Franco-Nevada/Sandstorm funding package demonstrated the strongest solution in terms of cost of capital, operational flexibility, alignment of business interests and long-term partnership benefits, which the Company believes will provide maximum benefits to our shareholders.

The Agreement covers the 856-square-kilometre Karma project area. Supplemental permits for Kao and Nami are expected to be in place to allow for initial draws on the deposit in September 2014.

DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS AND PROGRESS UPDATE

In a short period, True Gold has advanced and significantly de-risked the Karma Project. Since January 2014, the Company has been implementing and executing on the Karma Project Feasibility Study to stay on-track for first gold pour in 2015. To date, the Company has completed the following milestones:

  • Assembled our development team on-site;
  • Constructed the water reservoir, which is currently filled to capacity with 1.3 million m3 of water;
  • Ordered and put deposits on the mining fleet for delivery to site in late November/early December;
  • Secured Karma exploitation permit;
  • Discovered, drilled-off and announced additional inferred resources of 1,662,000 ounces of gold (47.8Mt at 1.08 g/t Au), not included in the Feasibility Study; and
  • Completed detailed engineering and construction-level design work.

We are currently negotiating long-term consumables contracts. A scoping study of the North Kao deposit is also underway, in addition to ongoing exploration focused on regional targets and the recently discovered northern extension to the Nami deposit. Upcoming milestones include:

  • Construction of major mining infrastructure will begin in earnest in September 2014, and is expected to be completed in Q3, 2015.
  • Procurement process is underway, and will continue until Q3, 2015.
  • Ore from the Rambo deposit will be placed on the leach pad in Q4, 2015.
  • First gold pour is expected by the end of 2015.
  • First full year of production expected in 2016, with production of more than 150,000 ounces of gold projected.