Lithium Royalty Corp. Agrees to Be Acquired by Altius Minerals Corporation
The Purchase Price represents a premium of approximately 29.6% and 41.4% to the closing price and the 30-trading day volume weighted average trading price, respectively, of the common shares on the
“This transaction represents an exciting new chapter for the Company,” said
Transaction Details
The Transaction emerged from a strategic review process conducted by the Company in late November and
In connection with the Transaction, Royalty Capital Funds and Riverstone, who collectively own or control approximately 84.7% of the outstanding shares, have entered into voting and support agreements agreeing to vote their shares in favour of the Transaction at the Meeting. In addition, each of the directors and executive officers of the Company, who collectively hold less than 3% of the outstanding shares (excluding their interests held through the Royalty Capital Funds), have entered into similar voting and support agreements.
Transaction Rationale
The conclusions and recommendations of the Special Committee and the Board were based on several factors, including the following:
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Strategic Alternatives: The Transaction is the result of a strategic review process led by the Company’s financial advisors,
TD Securities Inc. (“TD Securities”) andCormark Securities Inc. (“Cormark”), which included outreach to a pool of potential interested parties. After assessing (with the assistance of financial and legal advisors) the relative benefits and risks of the strategic alternatives reasonably available to the Company (including maintaining the status quo and executing its current strategic plan), the Board and the Special Committee concluded that the Transaction is more favourable to Shareholders than any other strategic alternative reasonably available to the Company. -
Compelling Value to Shareholders: The Purchase Price represents a premium of approximately 41.4% to the 30-trading day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares as of
December 19, 2025 . -
Fairness Opinions: The Special Committee received an opinion from
Canaccord Genuity Corp. (“Canaccord Genuity”), and the Board received opinions from bothTD Securities and Cormark, in each case that, as ofDecember 21, 2025 , and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications to be set forth in written fairness opinions to be subsequently delivered, the consideration to be received by the Shareholders (excluding the Royalty Capital Funds) pursuant to the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to such Shareholders. - Arrangement Agreement Terms: The Arrangement Agreement is the result of a comprehensive negotiation process that was undertaken at arm’s length, with the oversight and participation of the Special Committee, advised by highly qualified legal and financial advisors and resulted in terms and conditions that are reasonable in the judgment of the Special Committee and the Board and treat all stakeholders of the Company equitably and fairly.
- Ability to Respond to Superior Proposal: Under the Arrangement Agreement, the Board of Directors, in certain circumstances until Shareholder approval is obtained, is able to consider any unsolicited acquisition proposals. Where the Board determines that an acquisition proposal is a superior proposal, the Board may, subject to a right to match in favour of Altius, terminate the Arrangement Agreement in order to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to such superior proposal, or in certain circumstances withdraw, modify or amend its recommendation that Shareholders vote to approve the Transaction and terminate the Arrangement Agreement, provided that the Company pays a break fee to Altius.
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Break Fee: The break fee of
$23.44 million is only payable by the Company in limited circumstances, such as where the Arrangement Agreement is terminated as a result of the Board accepting a superior proposal in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement or changing its recommendation. - No Financing Condition: The Transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
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Minority Vote and Court Approval: The Transaction must be approved (i) by two-thirds of the votes cast by Shareholders at the Meeting, (ii) by a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders at the Meeting excluding the Shares owned or controlled by the Royalty Capital Funds and any other Shareholders required to be excluded from such vote in the context of a “business combination” pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”), and (iii) by the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List), which will consider the fairness and reasonableness of the Transaction to Shareholders. - Support for the Transaction: As described above, the Royalty Capital Funds and Riverstone, and all of the Company’s directors and executive officers have entered into voting and support agreements, pursuant to which they have agreed to, among other things, vote in favour of the Transaction at the Meeting.
Fairness Opinions
In connection with its review and consideration of the Transaction, the Special Committee engaged Canaccord Genuity to provide independent financial advice with respect to the consideration to be provided to the Shareholders in the Transaction. Canaccord Genuity provided an oral opinion that, as of
The Board also received oral opinions from each of
Additional Transaction Details
The Transaction is to be completed by way of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act. The Transaction is subject to a number of conditions customary for transactions of this nature, including, among others: (i) the approval of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Shareholders at the Meeting; (ii) the approval of a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders other than the Royalty Capital Funds and any other Shareholders required to be excluded pursuant to MI 61-101 at the Meeting; and (iii) court approval. Completion of the Transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
The Company intends to hold the Meeting to consider and vote on the Transaction in early 2026. If approved at the Meeting, the Transaction is expected to close near the end of the first quarter of 2026, subject to court approval and other customary closing conditions. Following closing of the Transaction, Altius intends to cause the LRC common shares to be delisted from the TSX.
Further information regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction is set out in the Arrangement Agreement, which will be publicly filed under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Additional information regarding the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, the background to the Transaction, the fairness opinions and the rationale for the recommendations by the Special Committee and the Board will be provided in the information circular for the Meeting, which will also be filed under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Additionally, subject to completion of definitive documentation, Altius has agreed to provide LRC with a secured bridge loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to
Advisors
About
LRC is a lithium-focused royalty company organized in
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the proposed Transaction, closing of the proposed Transaction, entering into definitive documentation for the Bridge Loan and drawing under the Bridge Loan and statements about Altius’ free cash flow, financial strength, platform scale, liquidity, the ability for LRC to execute on its proprietary pipeline of critical mineral royalties and continue to achieve outsized growth among royalty peers. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budgets”, “potential for”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “predicts”, “projects”, “intends”, “targets”, “aims”, “anticipates” or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of LRC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and LRC does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
A number of risks could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation: the possibility that the Transaction will not be completed on the terms and conditions, or on the timing, currently contemplated, and that it may not be completed at all due to a failure to obtain or satisfy, in a timely manner or otherwise, required shareholder and court approvals and other conditions of closing necessary to complete the Transaction or for other reasons; the possibility of adverse reactions or changes in business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Transaction; risks relating to the retention of key personnel during the interim period; the possibility of litigation relating to the Transaction; risks related to the diversion of management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; and the other risk factors disclosed in LRC’s most recent Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion & Analysis filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: that the Transaction will be well-received by Shareholders and other market participants, that the Company will be able to achieve the expected timeline, that approvals will be forthcoming without challenge and on a timely basis, that the Company will comply with its obligations under the Arrangement Agreement and that no material adverse effect will occur with respect to the Company or Altius. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. LRC cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
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Contact Information for Inquiries:
Investor Relations
(647) 792-1100
jonida@lithiumroyaltycorp.com
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