All dollar amounts are in USD unless otherwise indicated and abbreviation "M" means million.
- Strategic acquisition of an established operating gold mine, located in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction
- Establishes Orezone as a diversified multi-asset producer, adding material scale, production and free cash flow
- Casa Berardi's operating history, well established resource & reserve base, and substantial exploration upside provide a foundation for future asset growth
- Transaction funded by an attractive financing package and financial sponsorship from Franco-Nevada Corporation
- Transaction is accretive on all key operating and financial per share metrics, benefiting all existing shareholders
- Value creation potential through multiple expansion and enhanced capital markets profile
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE| ASX: ORE | OTCQX: ORZCF) ("Orezone" or "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire (the "Transaction") Hecla Quebec Inc. ("Hecla Quebec"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hecla Mining Company ("Hecla Mining"). Through this Transaction, Orezone will acquire 100% ownership of the operating Casa Berardi gold mine and a portfolio of exploration properties, all located in Quebec. Consideration for the acquisition consists of upfront and deferred consideration of $352M (the "Upfront and Deferred Consideration") and contingent consideration of up to $241M (the "Contingent Consideration") (the "Transaction").
The Upfront and Deferred Consideration consists of $160M in cash and $112M in Orezone common shares representing 9.9% of the pro forma issued and outstanding shares of Orezone, both payable upon closing of the Transaction, and $80M of deferred consideration in two cash installments payable at 18 months and 30 months following the closing of the Transaction. The Contingent Consideration consists of $10M linked to gold prices, and $231M based on permitting and future gold production from the proposed Principal and WMCP open pits of Casa Berardi.
This Transaction marks a significant inflection point for Orezone as it adds a proven, cash-flow-generating asset to our portfolio, and provides asset diversification in a Tier 1 Jurisdiction," commented Patrick Downey, President & CEO of Orezone. "The combination of Casa Berardi and Bomboré creates a multi-asset platform with strong production and free cash flow, positioning Orezone for near-term growth and long-term value creation. Casa Berardi's established operating history, robust resource and reserve base, and substantial exploration upside across a 37 km mineralized corridor, provide a foundation for sustained growth. Consistent with recent acquisitions of non-core Canadian operating mines, we believe this transaction represents a defining milestone that will generate meaningful value for all shareholders.
I want to thank Franco-Nevada for their sponsorship in this acquisition, and their team's dedication and support throughout. We welcome Hecla Mining as a new major shareholder and are committed to maintaining and building upon their legacy in the region. In addition, we welcome all of Hecla Quebec's employees to the Orezone team, and are excited to continue to advance the long-term success of the Casa Berardi mine for the benefit of all project stakeholders, including local communities and Abitibiwinni First Nation."
"We are delighted to partner with Orezone in this transformative transaction to acquire the Casa Berardi mine and portfolio of exploration properties in Quebec," said Paul Brink, President & CEO of Franco-Nevada Corporation. "Patrick and the Orezone team have an excellent track record operating and developing mines and we look forward to their future success as they advance Casa Berardi's next chapter."
HECLA QUEBEC OVERVIEW
Casa Berardi Mine
- Casa Berardi is an established underground and open-pit gold mine located in the Abitibi region of Quebec, a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure and strong community support
- The mine has a long-standing operating history, with a proven track record of resource replacement since 1988. The mine has produced over 3.2 million ounces of gold to date and continues to deliver meaningful production and cash flow
- As of December 31, 2024, Casa Berardi contained:1, 2, 3
- Proven and probable reserves: 1.3 million ounces (14.4 Mt at grade of 2.79 g/t Au)
- Measured and indicated resources2: 0.9 million ounces (4.7 Mt at 5.92 g/t Au)
- Inferred resources: 0.5 million ounces (2.4 Mt at 6.01 g/t Au)
- 2026 gold production guidance for Casa Berardi is 83,000 to 91,000 ounces, with the 5-years prior averaging 106,100 ounces of gold production
- Significant exploration upside with several well-established mineralized zones open at depth and along strike, in addition to new zones of high-grade mineralization identified outside of existing resources and reserves
- Casa Berardi maintains robust health, safety, and environmental performance, reinforcing Orezone's commitment to responsible mining practices
Quebec Exploration Properties
- The broader Casa Berardi exploration tenements (19,150 ha) cover 37 km of strike along the Casa Berardi Fault, which hosts the potential for multiple satellite deposits to the main Casa Berardi operation. To date, limited exploration along this primary regional trend has successfully identified several zones of mineralization, the most advanced of which is the Lac Germain prospect located ~7km east of the Casa Berardi mill
- Within the acquired exploration portfolio of properties, the Heva-Hosco project is the most advanced, with an established 1.2 million ounce Indicated and 0.6 million ounce Inferred resource3. The project is located ~150 km southeast of Casa Berardi, along the Cadillac-Larder Lake fault, which hosts multiple large scale gold mines including LaRonde (~20 km away) and Canadian Malartic (~45 km away)
BENEFITS TO OREZONE SHAREHOLDERS
- Transforms Orezone into a diversified gold producer with operations in a Tier 1 jurisdiction, enhancing resilience and growth potential
- Delivers immediate scale and increased gold production, strengthening Orezone's leverage to the gold price and capacity to generate free cash flow
- Establishes a robust growth pipeline through Casa Berardi's proven resource & reserve base and significant exploration upside across a 37 km mineralized corridor
- Improves financial flexibility with a balanced funding structure, supporting future development initiatives while maintaining a strong balance sheet
- Creates a multi-asset portfolio that reduces single-asset risk and positions Orezone for sustained value creation
- Unlocks strategic opportunities for multiple expansion and enhanced capital markets visibility through increased size and jurisdictional diversification
- Aligns with Orezone's ESG commitment by adding an operation with a strong health, safety, and environmental track record
