Curis is a mineral exploration and development company whose principal asset is the Florence Copper Project ("Florence"), an in situ copper recovery and solvent extraction/electrowinning ("SX/EW") project located adjacent to the town of Florence in central Arizona, USA. The Florence deposit contains approximately 2.4 billion pounds of copper reserves with an average grade of 0.36% TCu, contained within a measured and indicated resource of 2.8 billion pounds of copper with an average grade of 0.33% TCu.
Under the terms of the Agreement, each Curis shareholder will receive 0.438 of a Taseko common share for each Curis common share held (the "Offer"), representing consideration of $1.055 per share based on Taseko’s 20-day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") for the period ending September 5, 2014. The Offer represents a 21% premium to Curis’ 20-day VWAP and a 31% premium to Curis’ 60-day VWAP, each for the period ending September 5, 2014, and based on Taseko’s 20-day VWAP and 60-day VWAP during the same period. Following the completion of the Transaction, Curis shareholders, excluding Taseko, will hold 12% of the pro forma company, calculated using basic shares outstanding.
Russell Hallbauer, President and CEO of Taseko stated, "The addition of the Florence Copper Project to Taseko continues to strengthen the Company’s near-term development pipeline with an advanced-stage project. The project is located in a favourable mining jurisdiction with access to key infrastructure, including power, rail, natural gas and roads. We believe our board and combined management teams have both the permitting and technical experience to advance this opportunity to production in a timely manner. From an operational perspective, Taseko has the technical experience to effectively build and operate the Florence SX/EW facilities. The SX/EW plant at our Gibraltar Mine, which was restarted in 2007, is not unlike the facility which will be constructed at Florence. If our Gibraltar plant was processing the same oxide copper grade as Florence, it would produce at roughly half the capacity of Florence."
"Florence adds diversity to our pipeline of development projects. There are very few copper projects in secure jurisdictions which have first quartile operating costs, such as Florence, and the timing of anticipated production from the project could be ideal for the next copper price cycle. Florence’s low initial capital costs should allow us to manage the project’s funding requirements through to production." continued Mr. Hallbauer.
"With our Aley Niobium Project also entering the environmental assessment phase, we could potentially have two projects ready for construction in the next 24 months. In an era with few economically viable projects available, we are in an enviable position." concluded Mr. Hallbauer.
Commenting on the Transaction, David Copeland, President and CEO of Curis stated, "With the announcement today of the acquisition of Curis by Taseko, I believe there is an opportunity for shareholders of Curis to benefit from both retained exposure to our Florence Copper Project and Taseko’s continuing success in operating the Gibraltar Mine and developing the New Prosperity and Aley Projects. The Transaction also provides Curis shareholders with access to additional financial resources to de-risk the funding of the Florence Copper Project, ownership in a mature, cash flowing producer, as well as enhanced trading liquidity and analyst coverage."
