Osisko Reports Strong Second Quarter 2021 Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend by 10%

Record operating cash flows from the royalties and streams segment of $37.3 million

Record cash margin of $47.2 million

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (the “Company” or “Osisko”) (OR: TSX & NYSE) today announced its consolidated financial results for the second quarter of 2021. Amounts presented are in Canadian dollars, except where otherwise noted.

Financial Highlights

• Earned 20,178 GEOs¹ (Q2 2020 –12,245 GEOs)
• Record revenues from royalties and streams of $49.9 million (Q2 2020 – $28.7 million)
• Cash margin⁴ of 94% from royalty and stream interests (Q2 2020 – 95%)
• Consolidated cash flows from operating activities of $30.9 million (Q2 2020 – $15.4 million)
  
  
  • Record operating cash flows from the royalties and streams segment² of $37.3 million
  • Operating cash flows from the mining exploration and development segment³ (i.e. Osisko Development Corp. – TSX-V:ODV) of ($6.4) million

• Net loss attributable to Osisko’s shareholders of $14.8 million, or $0.09 per basic share (Q2 2020 – net earnings of $13.0 million, or $0.08 per basic share), as a result of an impairment charge of $36.1 million on the Bonanza Ledge Phase 2 project, operated by Osisko Development
• Adjusted earnings⁵ of $20.2 million, or $0.12 per basic share³ (Q2 2020 – $5.7 million, or $0.03 per basic share)
  
  
  • Adjusted earnings⁵ from the royalties and streams segment² of $23.9 million, or $0.14 per basic share⁵
  • Adjusted loss⁵ from the mining exploration and development segment³ of $3.7 million, or $0.02 per basic share⁵

• Quarterly dividend increased by 10% to $0.055 per share (annualized dividend of $0.22 per share), payable on October 15, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2021
• Osisko amended its revolving credit facility and increased the amount available by $150.0 million to $550.0 million, with an additional uncommitted accordion of up to $100.0 million (for a total availability of up to $650.0 million). The maturity date of the facility was extended to July 30, 2025, which can be further extended annually. The applicable margins have also been reduced, therefore reducing the fees on the undrawn and drawn portions of the facility. The drawn portion of the facility remains unchanged.

Sandeep Singh, President and CEO of Osisko commented on the activities of the second quarter of 2021: “In the second quarter, our royalty and streaming business generated record revenues, cash margins and operating cash flows, as our main assets continue to deliver strong performance. The increase and extension of our credit facility, at a reduced cost of capital, also demonstrates the confidence of our lenders in our business and increases our financial flexibility and ability to pursue growth opportunities. On the back of strong first half 2021 results and our ongoing financial strength, we have prioritized returns to shareholders and increased our quarterly dividend by 10%. Our high margin business affords us the ability to continue, and increase, returns to investors despite a volatile market.”

Financial Highlights by Operating Segment
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

As a result of its 75% ownership in Osisko Development, the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company consolidate the activities of Osisko Development and its subsidiaries. The table below provides some financial highlights per operating segment. More information per operating segment can be found in the consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the three months ended June 30, 2021.

Other Highlights

• Published Osisko’s inaugural ESG report and commitment to the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact.
  
  
• Acquired six royalties and one precious metals offtake, from two private sellers, for total cash consideration of US$26.0 million ($32.6 million). Four of the royalties are on claims overlying the Spring Valley project held by Waterton Global Resource Management, and increased the Company’s current net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on Spring Valley from 0.5% to between 2.5% – 3.0% (sliding scale royalty percentages as long as gold prices are above US$700 per ounce).
  
  
• Entered into a royalty transfer agreement to purchase a 2.75% NSR royalty on the Tocantinzinho gold project (“Tocantinzinho”) held by Eldorado Gold Corp. for cash consideration of US$10 million ($12.6 million). The operator of Tocantinzinho has a one-time buy-down option in relation to the royalty. At the time of project construction, the operator may make a payment of US$5.5 million to reduce the royalty percentage by 2% resulting in a royalty of 0.75%. Pursuant to a pre-existing agreement, the buy-down payment is payable to the original royalty owners.

• GoGold Resources Inc. (“GoGold”) and Osisko Bermuda Limited (“Osisko Bermuda”), a subsidiary of Osisko, entered into an agreement to convert the current Parral gold and silver offtake into a life-of-mine gold and silver stream. Under the stream, Osisko Bermuda will receive, effective April 29, 2021, 2.4% of the gold and silver produced from tailings piles currently owned or acquired by GoGold, with a transfer price of 30% of the gold and silver spot prices. Osisko currently has no other offtake agreements on producing assets.
  
  
• Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per common share paid on April 15, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2021.

Osisko Development Update

Osisko Development is currently conducting an extensive drilling program of approximately 200,000 metres to expand and delineate the known and new vein corridors and deposits at the Cariboo gold project. This exploration is focused on the expansion of the Lowhee Zone and further delineation of the Cow, Valley, Mosquito and Shaft deposits with ten diamond drill rigs. Regional greenfield exploration will occur along the Burns, Yanks and Cariboo Hudson targets and will include geological mapping and geochemical surface sampling.

A total of approximately 100,000 metres have been drilled thus far in 2021 by Osisko Development as part of the exploration and category conversion program at the Cariboo gold property on Mosquito Creek, Lowhee, Valley and Shaft. The drilling confirmed down dip extensions of mineralized vein corridors and high-grade intercepts within the current mineral resource estimate. The objective of the 2021 exploration and delineation program is to convert inferred resources to indicated resources to support reserves for the ongoing feasibility study and to increase overall ounces in the inferred and indicated resource categories by exploring the depth and strike potential of the known deposits.

Osisko Development received the Cow Mountain Underground Bulk Sample Permit in July 2021. Design and development work has been initiated for the underground portal. Osisko Development will also continue developing the Cariboo gold deposit and is working at completing a feasibility study in the first semester of 2022.

Impairment - Bonanza Ledge Phase 2 project

In March 2021, processing of ore commenced at the Bonanza Ledge Phase 2 project and Osisko Development earned its first pre-commercial production revenues of $0.8 million since recommissioning of the Quesnel Regional Mill. This is a small underground satellite project that will help train the workforce and also serve to permanently sequester above-ground waste material from historical operations and mitigate an existing environmental liability.

As a result of operational challenges incurred during the second quarter for 2021, it was determined that total capital and production costs related to the Bonanza Ledge Phase 2 project would be higher than originally planned. These factors were considered indicators of impairment, among other facts and circumstances and, accordingly, management performed an impairment assessment as at June 30, 2021. As a result of the impairment assessment, Osisko Development recorded an impairment charge of $36.1 million on the Bonanza Ledge Phase 2 project during the three months ended June 30, 2021.

For additional information on the Osisko Development activities, please refer to the press releases and other documents filed on Sedar (www.sedar.com) under Osisko Development’s profile and on its website (www.osiskodev.com).

Q2 2021 Results and Conference Call Details

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Guy Desharnais, Ph.D., P.Geo., Vice President, Project Evaluation at Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd, who is a “qualified person” as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).

About Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd is an intermediate precious metal royalty company focused on the Americas that commenced activities in June 2014. Osisko holds a North American focused portfolio of over 150 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes. Osisko’s portfolio is anchored by its cornerstone asset, a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine, which is the largest gold mine in Canada.

Osisko’s head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Suite 300, Montréal, Québec, H3B 2S2.

For further information, please contact Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd:

Heather Taylor
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel. (514) 940-0670 x105
htaylor@osiskogr.com

Notes:

Average Metal Prices and Exchange Rate

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address future events, developments or performance that Osisko expects to occur including management’s expectations regarding Osisko’s growth, results of operations, estimated future revenue, requirements for additional capital, production estimates, production costs and revenue, business prospects and opportunities are forward-looking statements. In addition, statements relating to gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs"), especially as they relate to production guidance for 2021, are forward-looking statements, as they involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be given that the GEOs will be realized. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "is expected" "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled" and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations of such words and phrases), or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions, events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur including, without limitation, the performance of the assets of Osisko, including exploration results from other properties over which Osisko holds an interest, Osisko’s ability to seize future opportunities including as a result of its increased financial flexibility and the ability of Osisko Development to achieve the objective of its 2021 exploration and delineation program to successfully expand and delineate the known and new vein corridors and deposit at the Cariboo gold project, and the successful performance of regional greenfield exploration work along the Burns, Yanks and Shaft deposits, the timely development of the Cariboo gold project and timely completion of the related feasibility study, the achievement of the goals pursued by Osisko Development in mining the Bonanza Ledge Phase 2 deposit. Although Osisko believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may accordingly differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results deriving from Osisko’s royalties, streams and other interests to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the uncertainties related to the COVID-19 impacts, the influence of political or economic factors including fluctuations in the prices of the commodities and in value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions; regulations and regulatory changes in national and local government, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies; whether or not Osisko 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; potential changes in Canadian tax treatments of offshore streams or other interests, litigation, title, permit or license disputes; risks and hazards associated with the business of exploring, development and mining on the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest including, but not limited to development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties, unusual or unexpected geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or cave-ins, flooding and other natural disasters or civil unrest, rate, grade and timing of production differences from mineral resource estimates or production forecasts or other uninsured risks; risk related to business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by Osisko and exercise of third party rights affecting proposed investments. 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 Osisko holds a royalty, stream 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 that underlie the asset portfolio; Osisko’s ongoing income and assets relating to the determination of its PFIC status, no material changes to existing tax treatments; no adverse development in respect of any significant property in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest; the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production; 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. Osisko cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements and investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the most recent Annual Information Form of Osisko which is filed with the Canadian securities commissions and available electronically under Osisko's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects Osisko’s expectations as at the date of this press release and is subject to change after such date. Osisko disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.