Skeena Resources Limited (Skeena) engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in the Golden Triangle area of northwest British Columbia, Canada.
The company owns or controls several exploration-stage properties, including the past-producing Eskay Creek gold mine (‘Eskay’, ‘Eskay Creek’ or ‘Eskay Creek Revitalization Project’), and the past-producing Snip gold mine (‘Snip’).
On July 31, 2017, the company acquired the Snip Project from Barrick. The Snip Project consists of t...
Skeena Resources Limited (Skeena) engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in the Golden Triangle area of northwest British Columbia, Canada.
The company owns or controls several exploration-stage properties, including the past-producing Eskay Creek gold mine (‘Eskay’, ‘Eskay Creek’ or ‘Eskay Creek Revitalization Project’), and the past-producing Snip gold mine (‘Snip’).
On July 31, 2017, the company acquired the Snip Project from Barrick. The Snip Project consists of the past producing Snip mine, including one mining lease and four mineral tenures totaling approximately 4,724 hectares in the Liard Mining Division. The Snip mine produced approximately 1.1 million ounces of gold from 1991 until 1999 at an average gold grade of 27.5 g/t.
On October 2, 2020, Skeena acquired the Eskay Creek Project from Barrick. The Eskay Creek Project consists of eight mineral leases, two surface leases, and several unpatented mining claims, which total 7,666 hectares. In addition, the Eskay Creek Project has excellent infrastructure, including all-weather road access and proximity to the new 287-kV Northwest Transmission Line.
On October 16, 2018, Skeena announced that in connection with an investment by Hochschild and their entering into a definition agreement with Hochschild (the 'Hochschild Agreement'), it granted Hochschild an option to earn a 60% undivided interest in the Company’s Snip Project ('Hochschild Option'). Hochschild was granted three years to provide notice to Skeena that it wishes to exercise the Hochschild Option.
On July 6, 2020, Skeena announced that it had signed a binding term sheet with Barrick, setting out the revised terms pursuant to which Skeena would exercise its option to acquire 100% of the Eskay Creek Project. Further, it announced that Barrick had agreed to waive its back-in right on the Eskay Creek Project. Upon completion of the transaction and execution of the definitive agreements associated therewith (the ‘Eskay Creek Barrick Agreement’), Barrick became a significant shareholder in Skeena.
2021
On April 8, 2021, Skeena announced that a new conservancy to protect the environmental and wildlife of Tahltan territory had been created in an area of northwest BC known as the Ice Mountain Lands, also known as the Spectrum property. Skeena returned its mineral tenures on the Spectrum property, enabling the Tahltan Central Government (‘TCG’), Skeena, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and BC Parks Foundation to collaborate and create this conservancy.
On April 16, 2021, the company entered into an investment agreement (the ‘TCG Investment Agreement’) with the TCG, pursuant to which TCG invested $5 million into Skeena by purchasing 399,285 Tahltan Investment Rights (‘Rights’) for approximately $12.52 per Right.
On July 19, 2021, the second and third Milestones (as set forth in the TCG Investment Agreement) were met, and as such, a portion of the Rights were converted to Common Shares. As a result of achieving these Milestones, 199,642 Rights were converted into 199,642 Common Shares. On January 13, 2023, 119,785 Rights were converted into 119,785 Common Shares as a result of the first Milestone being satisfied.
On June 10, 2021, the company consolidated its issued and outstanding Common Shares on a 4 old for 1 new basis. All Common Share figures and information within this AIF reflect the share consolidation.
On October 14, 2021, Hochschild notified Skeena of its intention to take over as operator of Snip, and begin spending to earn 60% of Skeena’s interest in the Snip Project, in accordance with the Hochschild Option. In order to earn 60% of Skeena’s interest, Hochschild must incur expenditures of approximately $100 million during the Option Period.
On October 27, 2021, the company received listing authorization from the NYSE and began trading on the NYSE on November 1, 2021, under ticker symbol ‘SKE’.
On December 23, 2021, Skeena closed a non-brokered private placement whereby Franco-Nevada Corporation (‘Franco-Nevada’) purchased 1,471,739 Common Shares. Concurrent with the closing of the offering, Skeena entered into a definitive agreement that granted to Franco-Nevada a right of first refusal over the sale of a 0.5% NSR over the Eskay Creek Project (the ‘2021 Franco-Nevada Agreement’).
2022
QuestEx was an exploration company with mineral properties located in the Golden Triangle and Toodoggone area of British Columbia and its exploration projects included KSP, Kingpin, Sofia, Heart Peaks, Castle, Moat, Coyote, and North ROK. On June 1, 2022, the company acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of QuestEx, pursuant to a court approved plan of arrangement for $0.65 cash and 0.0367 of a Skeena common share for each QuestEx common share outstanding at closing. Skeena replacement options and warrants were also issued to the holders of QuestEx options and warrants ‘the QuestEx Transaction’.
Immediately following the QuestEx Transaction, on June 1, 2022, Skeena sold certain QuestEx properties, including Heart Peaks, Castle, Moat, Coyote, and North ROK properties, and related assets, to an affiliate of Newmont Corporation via an asset purchase agreement for total consideration of $25.6 million ‘the Newmont Transaction’.
On September 8, 2022, the company announced the results of a feasibility study (‘FS’) for the Eskay Creek Project.
On September 23, 2022, the company closed a bought deal public offering. The company issued 5,702,479 Common Shares, including 743,801 Common Shares issued in connection with the exercise in full of the over-allotment option granted to the syndicate of underwriters led by Raymond James Ltd., at a price of $6.05 per Common Share for gross proceeds of approximately $34.5 million.
On September 23, 2022, the company repurchased the 0.5% NSR royalty held by Barrick on the Eskay Creek Project, at a cost of $17.5 million. This royalty was reduced to a 0.5% NSR royalty as a result of this transaction.
On December 30, 2022, the company closed a royalty sale with Franco-Nevada pursuant to which the company granted a 0.5% NSR on the Eskay Creek Project, for a payment of $27 million from Franco-Nevada at closing and contingent cash consideration of $1.5 million.
2023
On May 24, 2023, the company closed a bought deal offering. The company issued 1,305,000 Common Shares, including 300,000 Common Shares issued in connection with the exercise in full of the over-allotment option granted to the syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Capital Markets, at a price of $7.35 per Common Share for gross proceeds of approximately $73.5 million.
On November 14, 2023, the company announced the results of a Definitive Feasibility Study (‘DFS’) for the Eskay Creek Project, which was ultimately published on December 22, 2023.
On December 18, 2023, the company completed a financing package of $81 million with Franco-Nevada consisting of a private placement financing of $25 million aggregate principal amount of convertible unsecured debenture of Skeena, and the sale of a 1.0% net smelter return royalty on Eskay Creek for $56 million (the ‘2023 Franco-Nevada Agreement’).
The Eskay Creek Project has a long-standing history of providing benefits to the Tahltan Nation. Previous operators maintained agreements with the Tahltan Nation, which included provisions for training, employment, and contracting opportunities. The company has been working in the Tahltan territory since 2016 and has developed a strong working relationship with the Tahltan Nation. Skeena participates in the British Columbia Regional Mining Alliance (‘BCRMA’) which is a partnership between Indigenous groups, the British Columbia Government, Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia, and exploration companies operating in the Golden Triangle region of British Columbia. The BCRMA provides a platform for all parties to collaborate in communications with the potential investment partners on opportunities in the region.
History
The company was incorporated in 1979. The company was formerly known as Prolific Resources Ltd. and changed its name to Skeena Resources Limited in 1990.