IAMGOLD Completes Acquisition of Vanstar Resources

Rhea-AI Summary

IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE: IAG) successfully completes the acquisition of Vanstar Mining Resources Inc., acquiring all issued common shares and gaining 100% interest in the Nelligan Gold Project. The transaction involved former Vanstar shareholders receiving 0.2008 IAMGOLD common shares for each Vanstar Share. Trading of Vanstar Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange has been halted for delisting.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The acquisition of Vanstar by IAMGOLD represents a strategic consolidation within the mining sector, specifically impacting the gold market. By obtaining 100% interest in the Nelligan Gold Project, IAMGOLD enhances its asset portfolio, which could lead to increased operational efficiency and potential cost savings. The issuance of nearly 12 million IAMGOLD shares to former Vanstar shareholders dilutes current IAMGOLD shareholdings but may be offset by the long-term value creation from the Nelligan project.

The acquisition also includes a 1% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty, which provides IAMGOLD with a percentage of the revenue from the extracted minerals without bearing the costs of mining. This could improve IAMGOLD's revenue streams and profitability margins. Investors should monitor the integration process and potential resource assessments from Nelligan, as these factors will influence IAMGOLD's performance and stock valuation in the long term.

Mining Industry Analyst

The Nelligan Gold Project is now a notable asset within IAMGOLD's portfolio, given its location in a stable jurisdiction and potential for resource expansion. The halting and delisting of Vanstar shares is a standard procedural step post-acquisition, which simplifies the capital structure and may reduce administrative costs for IAMGOLD. However, the market will be closely observing how IAMGOLD integrates Vanstar's assets and manages the increased operational scope.

Furthermore, the acquisition of additional exploration properties in Northern Quebec indicates IAMGOLD's commitment to long-term growth through exploration. The impact on IAMGOLD's stock will depend on the exploration results, which could take several years to fully materialize. The 1% NSR royalty acquired could become increasingly valuable if the selected claims prove to be rich in gold deposits, thus contributing positively to IAMGOLD's royalty income.

Legal Expert

The completion of the arrangement between IAMGOLD and Vanstar, approved by the court and involving cross-border legal advisors, underscores the complex legal landscape of international mining acquisitions. The role of legal advisors in ensuring compliance with Canadian and U.S. securities regulations is crucial, especially when it comes to the early warning report filing on SEDAR+ and the subsequent cessation of Vanstar as a reporting issuer. This legal process must be navigated carefully to prevent regulatory issues that could affect investor confidence and the company's reputation.

The legal transition and delisting of Vanstar shares from multiple exchanges must be executed flawlessly to avoid potential market confusion. Stakeholders should be reassured by the involvement of prominent legal firms, which may mitigate risks associated with the legal aspects of the acquisition.

All monetary amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 13, 2024) - IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE: IAG) (TSX: IMG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of the previously announced transaction with Vanstar Mining Resources Inc. ("Vanstar"), whereby IAMGOLD has acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Vanstar (the "Vanstar Shares") pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement").

Pursuant to the Arrangement, former Vanstar shareholders received 0.2008 of an IAMGOLD common share (each whole common share of IAMGOLD, an "IAMGOLD Share") for each Vanstar Share. As a result of the Arrangement, IAMGOLD issued an aggregate of 11,989,406 IAMGOLD shares.

With the acquisition of Vanstar complete, IAMGOLD now owns a 100% interest in the Nelligan Gold Project, located 60 kilometres southwest of Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada. In addition, IAMGOLD acquired a 1% NSR royalty on selected claims of Nelligan, as well as other earlier stage exploration properties in Northern Quebec.

Trading of the Vanstar Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) has been halted and will remain halted until the Vanstar Shares have been delisted from the TSXV, which is expected to be on February 15, 2024. The Vanstar Shares are also expected to be delisted from the OTCQX and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Following the delisting, Vanstar intends to submit an application to the applicable securities regulators in Canada to cease to be a reporting issuer. In connection with the Arrangement, IAMGOLD will file a report on its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues containing additional information respecting the foregoing matters. A copy of such report may be obtained by contacting Graeme Jennings, Vice President Investor Relations at IAMGOLD at (416) 360-4743.

Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP is acting as Canadian legal advisor to IAMGOLD in connection with the Arrangement. Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as US legal advisor.

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD is an intermediate gold producer and developer based in Canada with operating mines in North America and West Africa. The Company is building the large-scale, long life Côté Gold project in Canada in partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., which is expected to commence production in early 2024. In addition, the Company has an established portfolio of early stage and advanced exploration projects within high potential mining districts in Canada. IAMGOLD employs approximately 3,600 people and is committed to maintaining its culture of accountable mining through high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance practices, including its commitment to Zero Harm®, in every aspect of its business. IAMGOLD is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IAG) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: IMG) and is one of the companies on the Jantzi Social Index, a socially screened market capitalization-weighted consisting of companies which pass a set of broadly based environmental, social and governance rating criteria.

IAMGOLD Contact Information

Graeme Jennings, Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: 416 360 4743 | Mobile: 416 388 6883
Toll-free: 1 888 464 9999
info@iamgold.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

All information included in this news release, including any information as to the Company's future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, including statements in respect of the prospects and/or development of the Company's projects, other than statements of historical fact, constitutes forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") and such forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words such as "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "budget", "aim", "can", "focus", "forecast", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "schedule", "guidance", "outlook", "potential", "seek", "targets", "cover", "strategy", "during", "ongoing", "subject to", "future", "objectives", "opportunities", "committed", "prospective", or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. For example, forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources and the realization of such estimates; the expected commencement of commercial production at the Côté Gold project; expected delisting of the Vanstar Shares; Vanstar ceasing to be a reporting issuer in Canada;and the completion of the Arrangement.

The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, financial, operational and other risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, including those described below, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and, as such, undue reliance must not be placed on them. Forward-looking statements are also based on numerous material factors and assumptions, including as described in this news release, including with respect to: the Company's present and future business strategies; operations performance within expected ranges; anticipated future production and cash flows; local and global economic conditions and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future; the price of precious metals, other minerals and key commodities; projected mineral grades; international exchanges rates; anticipated capital and operating costs; the availability and timing of required governmental and other approvals for the construction of the Company's projects.

Risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the ability of the Company to successfully complete the construction of Côté Gold and commence commercial production from the mine; the ability of the Company to complete the sales of the remaining Bambouk assets; the Company's business strategies and its ability to execute thereon; security risks, including civil unrest, war or terrorism and disruptions to the Company's supply chain as a result of such security risks, particularly in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region surrounding the Company's Essakane mine; the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 (and its variants) on the Company and its workforce; the availability of labour and qualified contractors; the availability of key inputs for the Company's operations and disruptions in global supply chains; the volatility of the Company's securities; litigation; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; mine closure and rehabilitation risks; management of certain of the Company's assets by other companies or joint venture partners; the lack of availability of insurance covering all of the risks associated with a mining company's operations; unexpected geological conditions; competition and consolidation in the mining sector; the profitability of the Company being highly dependent on the condition and results of the mining industry as a whole, and the gold mining industry in particular; changes in the global prices for gold, and commodities used in the operation of the Company's business (such as diesel and electricity); legal, litigation, legislative, political or economic risks and new developments in the jurisdictions in which the Company carries on business; changes in taxes, including mining tax regimes; the failure to obtain in a timely manner from authorities key permits, authorizations or approvals necessary for exploration, development or operation, operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, including geotechnical difficulties and major equipment failure; the inability of the Company to participate in any gold price increase above the cap in any collar transaction entered into in conjunction with certain gold sale prepayment arrangements; the availability of capital; the level of liquidity and capital resources; access to capital markets and financing; the Company's level of indebtedness; the Company's ability to satisfy covenants under its credit facilities; changes in interest rates; adverse changes in the Company's credit rating; the Company's choices in capital allocation; effectiveness of the Company's ongoing cost containment efforts; the Company's ability to execute on de-risking activities and measures to improve operations; availability of specific assets to meet contractual obligations; risks related to third-party contractors, including reduced control over aspects of the Company's operations and/or the failure and/or the effectiveness of contractors to perform; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; changes in U.S. dollar and other currency exchange rates or gold lease rates; capital and currency controls in foreign jurisdictions; assessment of carrying values for the Company's assets, including the ongoing potential for material impairment and/or write-downs of such assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; the fact that reserves and resources, expected metallurgical recoveries, capital and operating costs are estimates which may require revision; the presence of unfavourable content in ore deposits, including clay and coarse gold; inaccuracies in life of mine plans; failure to meet operational targets; equipment malfunctions; information systems security threats and cybersecurity; laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment; employee relations and labour disputes; the maintenance of tailings storage facilities and the potential for a major spill or failure of the tailings facilities due to uncontrollable events, lack of reliable infrastructure, including access to roads, bridges, power sources and water supplies; physical and regulatory risks related to climate change; unpredictable weather patterns and challenging weather conditions at mine sites; disruptions from weather related events resulting in limited or no productivity such as forest fires, flooding, heavy snowfall, poor air quality, and extreme heat or cold; attraction and retention of key employees and other qualified personnel; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour, negotiations with respect to new, reasonable collective labour agreements may not be agreed to; the ability of contractors to timely complete projects on acceptable terms; the relationship with the communities surrounding the Company's operations and projects; indigenous rights or claims; illegal mining; the potential direct or indirect operational impacts resulting from external factors, including infectious diseases, pandemics, or other public health emergencies; and the inherent risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business generally. Please see the Company's Annual Information Form or Form 40-F available on www.sedarplus.ca or www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml for a comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by the Company and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable law.

All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedarplus.ca or at www.sec.gov.

Si vous désirez obtenir la version française de ce communiqué, veuillez consulter le www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197678

FAQ

What is the recent acquisition announced by IAMGOLD Corporation?

IAMGOLD Corporation recently completed the acquisition of Vanstar Mining Resources Inc., acquiring all issued common shares.

What project did IAMGOLD gain 100% interest in through the acquisition?

IAMGOLD now owns a 100% interest in the Nelligan Gold Project located in Quebec, Canada.

How many IAMGOLD common shares were issued as part of the acquisition?

IAMGOLD issued an aggregate of 11,989,406 common shares as part of the acquisition.

Why has trading of Vanstar Shares been halted on the TSX Venture Exchange?

Trading of Vanstar Shares has been halted for delisting from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Who acted as the Canadian legal advisor to IAMGOLD in the acquisition?

Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP acted as the Canadian legal advisor to IAMGOLD in the acquisition.