Aston Bay Receives C$1.38 Million Initial Royalty Payment For The Storm Copper Project, Canada
22 October 2024
Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the initial US$1 million (C$1.38 million*) in funding as part of an agreement with the Company's joint venture partner American West Metals Limited ("American West") and TMRF Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P. (“Taurus”), whereby Taurus will provide funding of up to US$12.5 million (C$17.3 million*) under a royalty package for the Storm Copper Project.
Aston Bay and American West have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, with Aston Bay maintaining a free carried interest until a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study. Aston Bay will be allocated 20% of the funding from the royalty package (C$3.46 million*) with no use of proceeds restriction.
Highlights
- The first payment of US$5m (C$6.9m*) under the royalty package has been advanced to American West and Aston Bay
- Further payments to the royalty package are:
- US$3.5m (C$4.9m*) upon delivery of a Prefeasibility Study (PFS) for Storm and submission of permitting documents for development at Storm
- US$4m (C$5.5m*) upon announcement of an increase in the JORC-compliant resource for Storm to at least 400,000 tonnes of contained copper at a resource grade of at least 1.00% Cu
- Funding under the royalty package will be allocated to American West and Aston Bay in accordance with their respective interests under the unincorporated joint venture for Storm, being 80% for American West and 20% for Aston Bay
- There is no use of funds restriction for Aston Bay, providing a non-dilutive source of funds to advance the Company's other projects and contribute to Aston Bay's robust balance sheet
- The funding has enabled an expansion of the exploration and development activities conducted by American West at Storm, including:
- Expansion of the 2024 drill program, which will underpin a maiden resource currently being constructed to Canadian Institute of Mining standards, as well as a significant anticipated upgrade to the American West's JORC-compliant estimate
- An investment in the 2025 field activities with bulk supplies being delivered to site by ship charter – saving approximately C$4 million on the potential logistics costs for the 2025 program
- Completion of environmental, mining and development studies – including detailed test work that supports the potential for a direct shipping operation – which will support the delivery of a PFS anticipated in early 2025
*Based on USD:CAD exchange rate of 1:1.3838.