PRECIOUS METALS

Altus heralds 'transformational' Newcrest deal

AIM-listed Altus Strategies has teamed up with Abu Dhabi-based royalty player AlphaStream to buy a portfolio of precious metals royalties from Aussie-based Newcrest Mining for US$37.5 million.

Altus heralds 'transformational' Newcrest deal

The portfolio comprises 24 royalties and royalty interests, the biggest of which is a 4.5% NSR on the Allied Gold-operated Bonikro mine in Cote D'Ivoire, which is ready to start producing and is expected to ramp up to 100,000oz per year in the March quarter of 2023.

The remaining assets, all of which are Australia, include two producing mines - Ballarat, operated by Singapore-listed Shen Yao Holdings, and the South Kalgoorlie Operations (SKO) underground mine, operated by Northern Star Resources.

Rounding out the portfolio are 15 development stage and six exploration stage assets.

"This proposed acquisition of a material portfolio of mining royalties and royalty interests from Newcrest heralds the transformation of Altus into a major royalty company backed by La Mancha," said Steve Poulton, CEO of Altus.

"The Newcrest portfolio provides Altus with immediate cash flow, portfolio diversification and is heavily weighted towards gold in Australia, a 'top tier' jurisdiction," he added.

In terms of the deal structure, Altus will pay $24 million, which it has funded via a £19.8 million placement at 53.5p on AIM and C90c on TSX-V, with major shareholder La Mancha retaining its 35% interest with a £6.8 million investment.

AlphaStream will settle the remaining US$17.5 million with Newcrest.

The Bonikro royalty will be held 50/50 between Altus and AlphaStream, while the Aussie portfolio will be held by a holding company in-country which will be 80.1% owned by Altus and 19.9% by AlphaStream.

Altus said the portfolio would generate about US$3.5 million per year in post-tax revenue over the next 10 years, based on the company's gold price assumptions which start at US$1,879/oz in 2022 and slide to US$1,599/oz in 2025 and beyond.

Altus' portfolio of assets now extends to 33 royalties and 27 projects interests across nine countries and nine commodities.

Shares in Altus were down 4.8% at 11am on Tuesday in London, with the company capitalised at £48.23 million.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.