Orvana Announces US$ 12.5 million Prepayment Financing with Samsung C&T

TSX:ORV

TORONTO, July 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Orvana Minerals Corp. (TSX:ORV) (the "Company" or "Orvana") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a $12.5 million copper concentrates and gold doré prepayment agreement (the "Facility") with Samsung C&T U.K. Ltd. ("Samsung C&T"). All dollar figures are in US unless otherwise expressed.

Jeff Hillis, Interim Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are very pleased to announce this commercial and financing partnership with Samsung, a reputable and well-recognized global corporation.  We are very proud that, after detailed due diligence by Samsung, Orvana's gold and copper production will form part of its future plans. The successful completion of this transaction, at a competitive cost of capital, represents a significant achievement for Orvana. The financing proceeds will allow us to expedite planned development and infrastructure investments at our El Valle Mine in Spain, as we continue on the path to increase metal production and lower unitary costs at the operation. Along with our recent announcement on May 30, 2016 of the US$7.9 million financing for the recommissioning of the CIL circuit at our Don Mario Mine in Bolivia, we believe that Orvana is now well-positioned for the future and will be able to capitalize on strengthening precious metals markets."

Under the terms of the Facility, Orvana will sell gold doré from its El Valle Mine in Spain and copper concentrate from its Don Mario Mine in Bolivia to Samsung C&T, on an exclusive basis for a period of thirty months (the "Facility Term"). In exchange, Orvana will receive $12.5 million in prepayment financing from Samsung C&T in two instalments. The first instalment of $8.0 million will be drawn upon closing and will be repaid beginning twelve months after drawdown in eighteen equal monthly payments. The second instalment of $4.5 million will be available for drawdown six to twelve months after closing and will be repaid beginning nine months after drawdown in nine equal monthly payments. The Facility will bear interest at LIBOR plus 4.5%. Interest payments and principal repayments will be made against Orvana's future shipments of copper concentrates and gold doré during the Facility Term. Samsung C&T has agreed to pay for copper concentrates and gold doré on at a price based on the prevailing metal prices for the gold, silver and copper content around time of shipment, less customary treatment, refining and shipping charges, and pursuant to the terms of the Facility.

The Company's obligations to Samsung C&T under the Facility are secured by the pledge to Samsung C&T of all of Orvana's shares of its indirectly wholly owned subsidiary OroValle Minerals S.L.U. which owns El Valle Mine in Spain. 

Drawdown of the Facility is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions by Orvana for this type of transaction.

About Orvana
Orvana is a multi-mine gold and copper producer. Orvana's operating assets consist of the producing gold-copper-silver El Valle mine in northern Spain and the producing gold-copper-silver Don Mario mine in Bolivia. Additional information is available at Orvana's website (www.orvana.com).

Cautionary Statements - Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this information constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "believes", "expects", "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "are projected to" be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements herein relate to, among other things, Orvana's ability to achieve improvement in free cash flow; the potential to extend the mine life of El Valle and Don Mario beyond their current life-of-mine estimates; Orvana's ability to optimize its assets to deliver shareholder value; the Company's ability to optimize productivity at Don Mario and El Valle; estimates of future production, operating costs and capital expenditures; mineral resource and reserve estimates; statements and information regarding future feasibility studies and their results; future transactions; future metal prices; the ability to achieve additional growth and geographic diversification; future financial performance, including the ability to increase cash flow and profits; future financing requirements; and mine development plans.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The estimates and assumptions of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in this information, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the various assumptions set forth herein and in Orvana's most recently filed Management's Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form in respect of the Company's most recently completed fiscal year (the "Company Disclosures") or as otherwise expressly incorporated herein by reference as well as: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at El Valle and Don Mario being consistent with the Company's current expectations; political developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; certain price assumptions for gold, copper and silver; prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Orvana's current expectations.

A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and copper; the need to recalculate estimates of resources based on actual production experience; the failure to achieve production estimates; variations in the grade of ore mined; variations in the cost of operations; the availability of qualified personnel; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain all necessary regulatory approvals and licenses; the Company's ability to use cyanide in its mining operations; risks generally associated with mineral exploration and development, including the Company's ability to continue to operate the El Valle and/or Don Mario and/or ability to resume operations at the Carlés Mine; the Company's ability to acquire and develop mineral properties and to successfully integrate such acquisitions; the Company's ability to execute on its strategy; the Company's ability to obtain financing when required on terms that are acceptable to the Company; challenges to the Company's interests in its property and mineral rights; current, pending and proposed legislative or regulatory developments or changes in political, social or economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates; general economic conditions worldwide; and the risks identified in the Company's Disclosures under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties". This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Disclosures for a description of additional risk factors.

Any forward-looking statements made in this information with respect to the anticipated development and exploration of the Company's mineral projects are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements made in this information are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future operating activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

SOURCE Orvana Minerals Corp.

For further information: Jeff Hillis, CFO and Interim CEO, T [phone], E [email protected]; Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer, T [phone], E [email protected]