Torq Resources and Gold Fields Sign Definitive Santa Cecilia Project Earn-in Agreements
TSX.V: TORQ | OTCQB: TRBMF 1400 – 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 3T5
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Torq Resources and Gold Fields Sign Definitive Santa Cecilia Project Earn-in
Agreements
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – December 2, 2024 – Torq Resources Inc. (TSX -V: TORQ,
OTCQB: TRBMF) (“Torq” or the “Company”) announces that further to its August 1, 2024 news release,
that Torq and an affiliate of Gold Fields Limited (“Gold Fields”) have executed a definitive Implementation
Agreement dated November 29, 2024 superseding the Santa Cecilia Project earn -in term sheet
announced August 1, 2024. Under the Implementation Agreement, Gold Fields will, subject to final TSX
Venture Exchange (“ TSXV”) approval and disinterested Torq shareholders approval (or a regulatory
exemption therefrom), be granted a staged option to acquire up to a 75% indirect interest in Torq’s Santa
Cecilia Project (the “ Project”). To earn the maximum interest Gold Fields must fund an aggregate of
US$48 million in exploration spending at the Project over a maximum 6-year period. The Implementation
Agreement is an umbrella agreement which contemplates Gold Fields being granted the option to acquire
up to 75% of the shares of Torq’s Chilean subsidiary which owns the Project rights, together with a
corporate joint venture shareholders agreement (together the “Definitive Agreements”), which reflect the
terms announced August 1, 2024 and recapped below.
Under the Definitive Agreements, Gold Fields will acquire an initial option to earn up to a 51% interest
in the Project by funding an aggregate of US$18 million of Project expenses, including exploration
expenditures, property payments and other like expenses within the first 30 months of closing under
the Definitive Agreements which is anticipated in early January 2025. Of th is US$18 million amount,
US$6 million is a committed minimum spend after which Gold Fields will have earned an initial 10%
interest. Gold Fields may thereafter earn an additional 41% interest in the Project by funding a further
US$12 million of exploration expenditures by the end of the 30 months, and a further 24% interest
(total 75%) by incurring, as operator, a final US$30 million during the following 42 months (total of 6
years).
Under an interim bridge loan agreement with Gold Fields which was announced by Torq on October
18, 2024, Gold Fields has been making interim loans to Torq . These loans, to be made to a maximum
amount of up to US$1 .8 million, will be credited upon closing of the Definitive Agreements against the
initial USD$6 million commitment . The loan proceeds are already being used for work preparatory to
drilling t he Project in early 2025 . Closing of the Definitive Agreements is subject to final TSXV
approval and dis interested Torq shareholders’ approval (or a regulatory exemption from this
requirement). TSXV has conditionally accepted the Definitive Agreements with customary final
approval to follow upon satisfaction of all required conditions .
A joint venture shareholders agreement (“ JVSA”) is one of the Definitive Agreements . The JVSA will
govern ongoing funding, management and operation of the Chilean subsidiary which owns the Project
rights and will be jointly owned by Torq and Gold Fields upon the exercise of any portion of the option .
It contains customary provisions regarding establishment of a board of directors with voting rights
proportional to each party’s shareholding interests, approval of annual programs and budgets, rights
to participate on board -approved programs and budgets, dilution for non -participation, super -majority
TSX.V: TORQ | OTCQB: TRBMF 1400 – 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 3T5
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approval of extraordinary matters, restrictions on transfer and agreements relating to the Project
operator. Torq will remain as Project operator until such time as Gold Fields earns a 51% interest . To
the extent that a party’s shareholding interest is diluted to less than 10%, its ownership will be
converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty capped at US$20 million. Torq has the right to
repurchase Gold Fields ’ initial 10% interest for US$6 million if Gold Fields does not proceed with the
remainder o f the option.
Torq has convened an annual and special shareholders meeting to be held in Vancouver, BC, Canada
January 10, 2025 to , among other things, seek disinterested shareholders’ approval for the Definitive
Agreements because they constitute a “related party transaction” by virtue of Gold Fields ’ current
14.87% shareholding in Torq . In the event that the ongoing Canadian postal strike makes holding this
meeting on time impossible, Torq will seek to rely on available financial hardship exemptions from
the disinterested shareholder vote given Torq management’s understanding that Torq shareholders
overwhelmingly support th is transaction and the negative financial impact to Torq resulting from any
delay in holding the meeting due to financial commitments related to the rapid mobilization of
drilling equipment, personnel and other resources. The Implementation Agreement and the Definitive
Agreements will filed at SEDARplus.CA in the immediate future. Shareholders of Torq, including
members of Torq’s board of directors and management team, holding a total of 25,330,604 common
shares (representing 21.40% of Torq’s outstanding shares, exclusive of the 14.87% interest held by an
affiliate of Gold Fields) have entered into voting support agreements under which they have agreed to
vote their shares in favour of the Definitive Agreements at the meeting of shareholders.
Torq CEO, Shawn Wallace commented “We are pleased to have this important part of the earn -in
transaction completed and appreciate Gold Fields ’ accelerated approach to exploration which is being
made possible by the interim loan . With Project drilling set for early in the new year, 2025 promises
to be an exciting time for both companies.”
Torq’s financial advisor for the transaction is Minvisory Corp. and its legal advisors are McMillan LLP .
The legal advisors to Gold Fields are Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
Shawn Wallace
CEO & Chair
For further information on Torq Resources, please visit www.torqresources.com or contact the
company at (778) 729-0500 or [email protected].
About Torq Resources
Torq is a Vancouver-based copper and gold exploration company with a portfolio of premium holdings in Chile . The Company
is establishing itself as a leader of new exploration in prominent mining belts, guided by responsible, respectful and sustainable
practices. The Company was built by a management team with prior success in monetizing exploration assets and its
specialized technical team is recognized for their extensive experience working with major mining companies, supported by
robust safety standards and tec hnical proficiency. The technical team includes Chile -based geologists with invaluable local
expertise and a noteworthy track record for major discovery in the country . Torq is committed to operating at the highest
standards of applicable environmental, social and governance practices in the pursuit of a landmark discovery . For more
information, visit www.torqresources.com.
Forward Looking Information
TSX.V: TORQ | OTCQB: TRBMF 1400 – 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 3T5
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This release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking information in
this release includes statements that relate to the final closing of the option and joint venture on the Santa Cecilia Project with
Gold Fields and the terms thereof and final timing of a shareholders meeting or exemption from a disinterested shareholders’
approval requirement and the timing therefor, as well as the prospectivity of the Santa Cecilia project. These statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company to be materially different (either positively or negatively) from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by some of the principal forward -looking statements. See Torq’s Annual Information Form filed April 29,
2024, at www.sedarplus.ca for disclosure of the risks and uncertainties faced in this business.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.