Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields) (JSE, NYSE: GFI) is pleased to
announce a partnership with Osisko Mining Inc. (TSX: OSK)
(
Osisko) to develop and mine the world class
underground Windfall Project in Québec, Canada, now known as the
Windfall Mining Group (
Partnership). Under
executed and implemented transaction agreements, Gold Fields,
through a 100% held Canadian subsidiary, has acquired a 50%
interest in the feasibility stage Windfall Project (including
exploration potential) on the following key terms:
a) Cash payment of C$300 million
(c.US$220 million) paid on signing;
b) Cash payment of C$300 million
payable on issuance of key permits by the Deputy Minister of
Québec’s Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les
changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
(MELCCFP) to the Partnership authorising the
construction and operation of the Windfall Project; and
c) 50/50 co-share of interim and
construction capital expenditures.
Under the Partnership, Gold Fields has also acquired a 50%
up-front vested interest in Osisko’s highly prospective Urban Barry
and Quévillon district exploration camps, totaling approximately
2,400km2 (Exploration Properties), which will be
co-explored and co-developed under the Partnership. In exchange,
Gold Fields will fund the first C$75 million in regional
exploration on those Exploration Properties over the first seven
years of the Partnership. Thereafter, exploration spend will be
shared 50/50.
This transaction constitutes a measured strategic entry into a
sought after, Tier 1 mining jurisdiction, at an attractive
valuation, underpinned by a world class near mine asset, with
significant camp scale exploration potential. Gold Fields is
excited to do so in partnership with an experienced operator in
Osisko, who has already achieved great exploration success at
Windfall and the Urban Barry camp, and who brings with them a
successful track record and reputation of permitting, constructing,
commissioning and operating Tier 1 assets in the province of
Québec.
Under the Partnership structure, each of Osisko and Gold Fields
respectively hold an effective 50% partnership interest in the
Windfall Project and the Exploration Properties. Management and
operatorship will be joint, and each partner holds a 50% interest
in a newly incorporated company responsible for managing the
operations of the Windfall Project and exploring the Exploration
Properties for and on behalf of Gold Fields and Osisko. The
management company will be governed by a Board of Directors
comprising three directors nominated by Gold Fields and three
directors nominated by Osisko.
Having carried out extensive due diligence, management
interaction and site visits for just over a year, Gold Fields
believes the Windfall Project is on track to become a high-quality,
low-cost underground gold mine with a relatively small surface
footprint and considerable growth prospects along strike and down
plunge, well beyond delineated Mineral Reserves and the current 10
year projected mine life set out in Osisko’s December 2022 Windfall
Feasibility Study.
Drawing on more than 20 years of successful brownfields
exploration and reserve growth at its Western Australian
operations, Gold Fields sees the potential for a similar path to
emerge at the Windfall, Urban Barry and Quévillon belts. These gold
belts bear striking similarities to Western Australia's highly
productive greenstone gold belts and boast a growing number of
exciting targets within Osisko’s extensive and underexplored land
tenure.
To accelerate the next phase of discoveries, Gold Fields will
fund the first C$75M over the next seven years, with the goal of
fast-tracking exploration discovery and transitioning the Windfall,
Urban Barry and Quévillon belts into premier, multi-decade mining
operations. Property-wide regional and near-deposit exploration is
already in progress, with 6 drills exploring targets developed by
Osisko over the past 7 years, and include the Golden Bear, Fox and
Shellian prospects. An initial exploration program developed by
Osisko and Gold Fields includes $20 million dedicated to these and
other targets in the coming 24 months.
Strategic rationale
This transaction will firmly deliver on Pillar 3 of the Gold
Fields strategy of growing the value and quality of our portfolio
of assets. The Windfall Project and the Exploration Properties
comprehensively tick Gold Fields’ key portfolio management
criteria.
Gold Fields believes the projected 10-year LOM (based only on
stated Mineral Reserves in the Windfall Feasibility Study) to be
conservative. The average projected all-in-sustaining-cost (AISC),
as per the Feasibility Study, of US$758/oz (C$985/oz) is expected
to position Windfall as one of the lowest cost mines in our
portfolio, thus enhancing the average asset quality of the Gold
Fields portfolio. Further, a producing mine in Canada enhances the
jurisdictional quality of our global footprint.
The life extension upside, both within the Windfall mine
footprint through resource conversion and expected onsite
exploration success, together with significant regional exploration
potential on the Exploration Properties is anticipated to provide a
range of additional opportunities to Gold Fields’ pipeline. None of
these upside opportunities form part of the Windfall Feasibility
Study.
Gold Fields brings extensive experience in exploring,
delineating and mining similar complex orebodies like the Windfall
deposit, through two decades of effective and profitable mining at
our Western Australian assets in particular. The Windfall
opportunity presents geology and mining methods we know and
understand well. Our operating and construction experience,
particularly at Gruyere and Salares Norte, together with Osisko’s
Québec exploration and construction credentials, forge a strong
capability that will strive to unlock significant value through
permitting, construction and operation from the Windfall project
and the Exploration Properties.
Significantly, the Windfall Partnership is also consistent with
Pillar 2 of Gold Fields strategy – to build on our leading
commitment to ESG – and will contribute to achieving our 2030 ESG
commitments. We are encouraged by Osisko’s strong ESG practices and
relationships with their host communities. Osisko has demonstrated
genuine commitment through its actions by, for example, the recent
agreement with Miyuukaa Corp. a wholly-owned corporation of the
Cree First Nation of Waswanipi with respect to the construction of
proposed transmission facilities and the transmission of
hydroelectric power to the Windfall Project through an 87km
powerline. Construction of the powerline is already underway.
Asset description
Based on the Windfall Feasibility Study1:
- Mineral Reserves of 3.2Moz (12.18Mt at 8.06g/t)
- Life-of-mine of 10 years
- Average production (100% basis) of 294,000 ounces (peak
production of 374,000 ounces in year 2)
- AISC of US$758/oz (C$985/oz)
- Total capital expenditure of c.C$1.1bn which includes
pre-construction spend and project capital to be funded 50/50
- First production is expected in 2025, subject to approval of
permitting and final engineering design
Total investment into the Windfall Project by Osisko to date
exceeds C$800m. Some of the underground infrastructure already in
place includes 12.5km of underground development to 635 metres of
vertical depth, four main ventilation raises and 40 drill bays. To
date Osisko has completed three test stopes to confirm the ability
to target ore in production quantities. In addition, extensive
civil works have already been undertaken, including a lined waste
pad and lined water treatment ponds, an accommodation complex,
administrative offices, a communication tower and recreation
area.
Osisko submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for
the Windfall Project to the relevant authorities at the end of
March 2023.
_______________1 The results of the Windfall Feasibility Study
can be found at:
https://www.osiskomining.com/osisko-mining-delivers-positive-feasibility-study-for-windfall
Deal structure and funding
The acquisition of the 50% Partnership interest was executed and
completed on 2 May 2023, and there are no further conditions
precedent, including regulatory approvals, to closing. Requisite
South African Reserve Bank notification has been made.
The Windfall Partnership in which Gold Fields has invested holds
the mining rights, permits, employees, contracts and associated
assets necessary to continue the exploration and development of the
Windfall Project and the Exploration Properties in collaboration
with Osisko.
Gold Fields has funded the initial C$300m through existing cash
reserves and debt facilities. We intend to fund the remaining
purchase price and project capital from internally generated cash
and debt facilities.
Our enhanced dividend payout of 30% to 45% of normalised
earnings will be effective from the 2023 interim dividend
declaration and this transaction will not impact the dividend
payout.
Comment from Martin Preece (Gold Fields interim CEO)
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Osisko to bring the
high-quality Windfall Project into production and believe that this
will be the first mine of several in this partnership in a highly
prospective region. We have actively reviewed a range of
opportunities to gain exposure to the prolific Abitibi region and
believe that this deal is the opportunity which meets our
requirements. We are excited to be working together with our
partners to create value for all our stakeholders.
This deal, following the recently announced JV with AngloGold
Ashanti in Ghana demonstrates our commitment to growing the value
and quality of our portfolio of assets. Further, adding in Salares
Norte, which is expected to come into production at the end of this
year, strengthens Gold Fields’ future production profile and
enhances its position on the cost curve.”
The Partnership is classified below the 5% categorisation level,
thus not categorised in terms of the JSE Listings Requirements.
McCarthy Tétrault LLP acted as legal advisers to Gold Fields on
the transaction.
Notes to editors
About Gold Fields
Gold Fields is a globally diversified gold
producer with nine operating mines in Australia, South Africa,
Ghana (including the Asanko JV) and Peru and one project in Chile.
We have total attributable annual gold-equivalent production of
2.40Moz, proved and probable gold Mineral Reserves of 46.1Moz,
measured and indicated gold Mineral Resources of 31.1Moz (excluding
Mineral Reserves) and inferred Gold Mineral Resources of 11.2Moz
(excluding Mineral Reserves). Our shares are listed on the
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and our American depositary
shares trade on the New York Exchange (NYSE).
Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa
(Pty) Ltd
About Osisko Mining Inc.
Osisko is a listed mineral exploration company
(TSX:OSK) focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development
of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Prior to this
transaction Osisko held a 100% interest in the high-grade Windfall
gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Québec and
in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area and
nearby Quévillon area (approximately 2,400 square kilometres).
Forward-Looking StatementsThis announcement
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe
harbour” provisions of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements
of historical fact included in this announcement may be
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be
identified by the use of words such as “will”, ““would”, “expect”,
“potential”, “may”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “target”, “estimate”
and words of similar meaning.
These forward-looking statements, including among others, those
relating to Gold Fields’ future financial position, business
strategies, business prospects, production and operational
guidance, ESG-related targets, and plans and objectives for future
operations (including LOM extension), project finance and the
completion or successful integration of joint ventures, are
necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgement of Gold Fields’
management. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
such statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of
which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of
Gold Fields that could cause its actual results and outcomes to be
materially different from historical results or from any future
results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. As
a consequence, these forward-looking statements should be
considered in light of various important factors, including those
set forth in Gold Fields 2022 Integrated Annual Report and annual
report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) on 30 March 2023 (SEC File no. 001-31318). These
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
announcement. Gold Fields expressly disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement
(except to the extent legally required).
Non-IFRS MeasuresThe information contained in
this announcement contains certain non-IFRS measures, including
AISC. These measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled
measures used by other companies and are not measures of Gold
Fields’ financial performance under IFRS. These measures should not
be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Investor Enquiries |
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Media Enquiries |
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Avishkar NagaserTel +27 11 562 9775Mobile +27 82 312 8692Email
Avishkar.Nagaser@goldfields.com |
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Thomas MengelTel +27 11 562 9849Mobile +27 72 493 5170Email
Thomas.Mengel@goldfields.com |
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Sven LunscheTel +27 11 562 9763Mobile +27 82 260 9279Email
Sven.Lunsche@goldfields.com |
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