Callinan Royalties Recommences Litigation Against Hudbay Minerals
TSXV: CAA
VANCOUVER, Aug. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Callinan Royalties Corp. ("Callinan", the "Company") (TSXV: CAA) reports that it has provided the required 30 day notice of recommencing litigation to Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co., Limited ("Hudbay"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HudBay Minerals Inc. as provided under the standstill agreement referenced below.
In the law suit, which was commenced in 2007 in the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, Callinan alleged that Hudbay had not properly accounted to Callinan for the Net Profits Interest ("NPI") under the Net Profits Interest and Royalty agreement with Hudbay dated January 1, 1988. The agreement covers past and present mining areas that include Hudbay's flagship 777 mine, currently in production, as well as the 777 North mine, which recently commenced production.
The law suit was prolonged while Callinan pursued an application against Deloitte & Touche, LLP ("Deloitte"), Hudbay's auditor for production of Deloitte's working papers prepared in connection with Deloitte's annual audit of the NPI and opinion to the effect that the NPI had been properly calculated. Although the application did not initially succeed, Callinan prevailed on appeal and production of the working papers was ordered by the Manitoba court.
On September 09, 2011, Callinan reported that it had executed a standstill agreement with Hudbay, which placed in abeyance Callinan's law suit in respect of its Net Profits Interest and Royalty agreement with Hudbay dated January 1, 1988 while Callinan conducted an independent audit.
Under the standstill agreement, Callinan initially planned to audit the NPI calculations for four selected years, namely 1993, 2003, 2004 and 2007. Callinan retained Grant Thornton LLP to conduct the independent audit. Hudbay agreed to cooperate with the auditors and to supply all available documents reasonably requested for the audit.
In return, Callinan had agreed to hold the law suit in abeyance during the conduct of the audit while retaining the right at its sole discretion to terminate the audit and proceed with the law suit on reasonable notice in writing to Hudbay of not less than 30 days.
On February 26, 2013, Callinan reported that the independent audit by Grant Thornton of the NPI calculations could not be completed as planned. Audit work for the four initially selected years as well as a partial audit of 2011 had been protracted as much of the source material evidencing entries from the originally selected early years is not available from Hudbay. Therefore, the audit work conducted is incomplete and inconclusive in nature.
The Board of Directors of Callinan subsequently undertook a review to determine the next course of action. Alternatives included, but were not be limited to, conducting additional audit work, engaging in discussions with a view to a resolution of outstanding issues, or providing notice in writing to Hudbay and proceeding with litigation.
The Board of Directors of Callinan has elected to recommence litigation against Hudbay and the Company does not intend to disclose information from the incomplete audit work conducted or report any developments with respect to the litigation unless required by regulation or law and until its Board of Directors otherwise deems that disclosure is appropriate.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Roland Butler
Roland Butler, CEO
About Hudbay Minerals
Hudbay is a Canadian integrated mining company with assets in North and South America principally focused on the discovery, production and marketing of base and precious metals. Hudbay's objective is to maximize shareholder value through efficient operations, organic growth and accretive acquisitions, while maintaining its financial strength. A member of the S&P/TSX Composite Index and the S&P/TSX Global Mining Index, Hudbay is committed to high standards of corporate governance and sustainability. Further information about Hudbay can be found on www.hudbayminerals.com .
About Callinan Royalties
Callinan Royalties is a Canadian company that creates and acquires mineral royalties. The company uses its royalty income to provide alternative financing options to mineral exploration and development companies with attractive projects. Callinan's strategy is to create shareholder value over the long term by generating a portfolio of profitable mineral royalties.
The Corporation currently has two producing royalties. Callinan holds a 6⅔% net profits interest royalty and a $0.25 per ton production royalty on lands that include the 777 mine and 777 North mine owned by Hudbay Minerals Inc. located in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. Callinan also holds the 777 Deeps (War Baby) property and an associated royalty option on the property, which is located adjacent to the 777 mine.
Callinan is a dividend paying Tier 1 company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CAA. The Corporation has a strong financial position with no debt, approximately $28 million in cash and approximately 49.1 million shares outstanding.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain of the information presented in this News Release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (together referred to as "forward-looking statements"). The forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including any delays in the receipt of consents or approvals. Although Callinan Royalties has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this News Release and in any document referred to in this News Release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Callinan Royalties undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.
SOURCE Callinan Royalties Corp.
Contact
For more information, please visit www.callinan.com or contact:
Roland Butler, CEO
Callinan Royalties Corp.
+1 709 535 3433
shareholder@callinan.com
Tamara Edwards, CFO
Callinan Royalties Corp.
+1 604 605 0885
shareholder@callinan.com
Corporate Office:
1110 - 555 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada, V6B 4N4