Royal Gold Reports Revenue of $237 Million for Fiscal 2014 Including Growing Contribution from Mt. Milligan

Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD) (TSX:RGL) (together with its subsidiaries, “Royal Gold” or the “Company”) is reporting net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders (“net income”) of $62.6 million, or $0.96 per basic share, on annual revenue of $237.2 million in fiscal 2014 (ended June 30), compared with net income of $69.2 million, or $1.09 per share, on revenue of $289.2 million in fiscal 2013. The average gold price in fiscal 2014 was $1,296 per ounce, down 19% from $1,605 per ounce in fiscal 2013.

Fiscal 2014 Highlights:

• Three consecutive quarters of growing contribution from Mt. Milligan, totaling $27.2 million in revenue;
• Reported net income of $0.96 per share, down 12% from a year ago despite a 19% decline in gold price;
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $3.11 per basic share, or 85% of revenue; and
• Cash dividends of $53.4 million, representing a payout ratio of 36% of operating cash flow, in our 13^th straight year of increasing dividends.

Fourth Fiscal Quarter 2014 Highlights Compared with the Prior Year Quarter:

• Net income of $0.26 per basic share, up 63%;
• Revenue of $70.1 million, up 22%;
• Gold Equivalent Ounces (“GEOs”)² of 54,442, up 34%; and
• New production at Mt. Milligan and higher production at Peñasquito, Cortez and Canadian Malartic.

Tony Jensen, President and CEO, commented, “In fiscal 2014 we successfully delivered strong financial performance despite a significantly lower gold price. This performance reflects our new phase of growth, as Mt. Milligan’s revenue contribution in fiscal 2014 increased in each successive quarter of its production. Over the last year we’ve continued to invest, giving our shareholders exposure to properties with excellent development potential, including Rubicon Minerals’ Phoenix Project and Barrick’s Goldrush Project, while also expanding our interests at Cortez. We returned over one third of our operating cash flow to our shareholders this year, and we still have over $1 billion of liquidity to invest in new opportunities.”

For fiscal 2014, we recorded net income of $62.6 million, or $0.96 per basic share, compared with net income of $69.2 million, or $1.09 per basic share, for fiscal 2013. Revenue in fiscal 2014 was lower than fiscal 2013 due to lower average gold, silver, copper and nickel prices and lower production at Andacollo, Voisey’s Bay, Mulatos and Robinson. These decreases during the current period were partially offset by new production at Mt. Milligan and higher production at Peñasquito.

Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2014 was $202.1 million ($3.11 per basic share), representing 85% of revenue, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $260.5 million ($4.12 per basic share), or 90% of revenue, for fiscal 2013. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue was lower in fiscal 2014 due to the inclusion of ongoing stream payments to Mt. Milligan of $435 per ounce of gold, which are recorded as a cost of sales.

As of June 30, 2014, the Company had a working capital surplus of $713.5 million. Current assets were $736.0 million (including $659.5 million in cash and equivalents), compared to current liabilities of $22.5 million, resulting in a current ratio of 33 to 1.

For the fourth fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2014, net income was $16.6 million, or $0.26 per basic share, compared with net income of $10.7 million, or $0.16 per basic share, for the prior year quarter. Revenue was $70.1 million, compared with revenue of $57.3 million for the same period in fiscal 2013. Adjusted EBITDA was $57.1 million ($0.88 per basic share), or 81% of revenue, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $50.3 million ($0.78 per basic share), or 88% of revenue, for the prior year quarter.

Fiscal fourth quarter 2014 net income included a non-cash loss on available-for-sale securities of $4.5 million ($0.07 per basic share) and income tax expense was reduced by $5.9 million ($0.09 per basic share) for a non-cash reduction of our uncertain tax positions. Absent the net impact of these items, net income would have been $0.23 per basic share during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.

Results for the fourth quarter fiscal 2014 were impacted by a lower average gold price of $1,288 per ounce, representing a 9% decrease over the prior year quarter of $1,414 and lower production at Andacollo, offset by new production at Mt. Milligan and higher production at Peñasquito and Cortez.

FISCAL 2014 AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Mt. Milligan Gold Stream

Thompson Creek reports that the ramp-up at Mt. Milligan continues to progress well with ore grades and metal recoveries as expected, and mill throughput steadily improving. Thompson Creek expects variations in throughput as they ramp up production to 80% of design capacity, targeted by year-end 2014.

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, Royal Gold, through a wholly owned subsidiary, purchased 25,750 ounces of physical gold, which came from a combination of provisional and final settlements associated with the first seven shipments of concentrate from Mt. Milligan. We sold 21,100 ounces of gold during fiscal year 2014 at an average price of $1,292 per ounce, and had 7,800 ounces of gold in inventory as of June 30, 2014. Approximately 3,100 ounces of the gold in inventory were received prior to fiscal year end but were not paid for until July 2, 2014.

Deliveries of gold to Royal Gold are based on ounces shipped in concentrates from Mt. Milligan multiplied by a 97% payable factor. Under the purchase and sale agreement, the first 12 concentrate shipments from Mt. Milligan are subject to gold deliveries based on the receipt of provisional payments under each smelter contract. For shipments 1-4, 75% of the gold ounces delivered to Royal Gold were based on receipt of the provisional payment under each smelter contract, and 25% of the gold ounces are delivered upon final settlement under each contract. For shipments 5-8, those percentages are 50% and 50%, respectively, and for shipments 9-12, the percentages are 25% and 75%, respectively. Thereafter, all deliveries will be based solely on final settlement timing and volumes, subject to Thompson Creek’s smelter contracts. Royal Gold currently sells most of the delivered gold within three weeks of receipt, and recognizes revenue on its streaming transactions when the metal received is sold.

Tulsequah Chief Gold and Silver Stream

On July 4, 2014, the Company amended its December 2011 Tulsequah Chief gold and silver stream to decrease its remaining advance payment commitment, which remains subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, from $50 million to $45 million. The amendment also increased the stream percentages as follows: increased the gold stream percentage from 12.50% to 17.50% of payable gold until 65,000 ounces have been delivered to Royal Gold, and 8.75% of payable gold thereafter, up from 7.50%; and increased the silver stream percentage from 22.50% to 25% of payable silver until 3.0 million ounces have been delivered, and 12.50% of payable silver thereafter, up from 9.75%. The amendments also revised the cash payments to be made for each ounce of gold and silver delivered to a constant 30% and 25%, respectively, of the spot prices of gold and silver on the date of each delivery. Additional details are available in Royal Gold’s Form 10-K.

Phoenix Gold Project Stream

On February 11, 2014, Royal Gold, through a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a $75 million Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) for a gold stream transaction with Rubicon Minerals Corp. (“Rubicon”) to help pay a significant portion of the construction costs of the Phoenix Gold Project located in Ontario, Canada, which is currently in the development stage. The $75 million payment to Rubicon is prepayment of the purchase price for refined gold and is payable in five installments. As of June 30, 2014, the Company has a remaining commitment of $45 million.

Based on current forecasts, Rubicon projects that gold production will start in mid-2015. The Phoenix Gold Project is fully permitted for initial production at 1,250 tonnes per day. Upon commencement of production at the Phoenix Gold Project, Royal Gold will purchase and Rubicon will sell 6.30% of any gold produced from the Phoenix Gold Project until 135,000 ounces have been delivered, and 3.15% of gold produced thereafter. For each delivery of gold, Royal Gold will pay a purchase price per ounce of 25% of the spot price of gold at the time of delivery, subject to certain conditions.

Goldrush Gold Royalty Acquisition

On January 7, 2014, Royal Gold, through a wholly owned subsidiary, acquired a 1.0% net revenue royalty on the southern end of Barrick Gold Corporation’s (“Barrick”) Goldrush deposit in Nevada from a private landowner for total consideration of $8.0 million, of which $1.0 million was paid at closing and the remaining $7.0 million will be paid in seven annual installments. Goldrush is located approximately four miles from the Cortez mine. Barrick reports that Goldrush is currently in the pre-feasibility stage and a study remains on schedule for completion in mid-2015.

NVR1 Royalty at Cortez

On January 2, 2014, Royal Gold, through a wholly owned subsidiary, increased its ownership interest in the limited partnership that owns the 1.25% net value royalty (“NVR1”) covering certain portions of the Pipeline Complex at Barrick’s Cortez gold mine in Nevada. As a result of the transaction, the NVR1 royalty rate attributable to our interest increased from 0.39% to 1.014% on production from all of the lands covered by the NVR1 royalty excluding production from the mining claims comprising the Crossroad deposit (the “Crossroad Claims”), and from zero to 0.618% on production from the Crossroad Claims. Total consideration for the transaction was approximately $11.5 million. Barrick reports that drilling in the lower zone at Cortez is in the final stages of a program to upgrade and expand the resource.

Pascua-Lama Gold Royalty

In late 2013, Barrick announced the temporary suspension of construction at Pascua-Lama, except for activities required for environmental and regulatory compliance. During the June quarter, Barrick signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a group of 15 Diaguita indigenous communities and associations in Chile's Huasco province. Barrick reports that a decision to restart development will depend on improved economics and reduced uncertainty related to legal and regulatory requirements.

El Morro Gold Royalty Acquisition

In August 2013, Royal Gold, through a wholly owned Chilean subsidiary, acquired a 70% interest in a 2.0% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on certain portions of the El Morro copper gold project in Chile (“El Morro”), from Xstrata Copper Chile S.A., for $35 million. Goldcorp Inc. holds 70% ownership of the El Morro project and is the operator, with the remaining 30% held by New Gold Inc. Goldcorp has indicated that all El Morro project field construction activities have been suspended since April 27, 2012, pending the definition and implementation by the Chilean environmental permitting authority (the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental or SEA) of a community consultation process which corrects certain deficiencies in that process as specifically identified by the Antofogasta Court of Appeals. The project continues with community engagement, optimization of project economics and evaluation of alternatives for a long-term power supply. During the period of temporary suspension, El Morro worked with the Chilean authorities and local communities to address any perceived deficiencies in respect of the environmental permit. El Morro subsequently filed an addendum to its environmental permit and it was reinstated on October 22, 2013. Certain local communities and groups filed constitutional actions challenging the reinstated permit, and on November 22, 2013, the Copiapo Court of Appeals granted an injunction suspending development of the El Morro project. On April 28, 2014, the Copiapo Court of Appeals rejected the constitutional actions and consequently the injunction was lifted.

PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights at certain of the Company’s principal producing and development properties during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, compared with the prior fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 are listed below. Production for our producing properties reflects the actual production subject to our interests reported to us by the various operators through June 30, 2014.

Producing Properties

Andacollo – Production decreased 27% due to lower grades as expected in the mine plan.

Canadian Malartic – Production increased 20% as the operator accessed a higher grade portion of the pit and increased throughput from additional crushing.

Cortez – Production increased 16% as surface mining activity at the Pipeline and Gap pits increased during the current period. Additionally, after deferrals in late 2013, Barrick resumed shipments of roaster ore stockpiled at Cortez to Goldstrike for processing, which occurred during the March 2014 quarter. Our royalty interests cover the entire Pipeline and South Pipeline pit, part of the Gap pit, and all of the Crossroads deposit.

Holt – Production increased 12% as St Andrews credited additional mine infrastructure and mine development for the operational improvements. Although production at Holt increased, our royalty rate and corresponding revenue decreased due to the decrease in gold price. The sliding-scale NSR royalty rate on gold produced from the Holt portion of the mining project is derived by multiplying 0.00013 by the quarterly average gold price. For example, at a quarterly average gold price of $1,300 per ounce, the effective royalty rate payable would be 16.9%.

Las Cruces – Production increased 5% due to higher throughput as a result of successful process improvement projects during calendar 2013, and improved recoveries, partially offset by lower copper grade.

Mt. Milligan – Since concentrate production began at Mt. Milligan in September 2013, we have purchased 25,750 ounces of physical gold, which came from a combination of provisional and final settlements associated with the first seven shipments of concentrate from Mt. Milligan. We sold 21,100 ounces of gold and had 7,800 ounces of gold in inventory as of June 30, 2014. Approximately 3,100 ounces of the gold in inventory were received prior to fiscal year end but were not paid for until July 2, 2014.

Mulatos – Production decreased 31%, as Alamos processed lower than expected grades from the Escondida deposit. In addition, they mined and processed less material than expected at the higher grade Escondida Deep deposit. Alamos reports that it expects to process the remainder of the Escondida Deep deposit in the September quarter, while the higher grade San Carlos ore will be mined and stockpiled for processing in the December quarter. The Company’s royalty is subject to a 2.0 million ounce cap on gold production, and as of June 30, 2014, approximately 1.27 million cumulative ounces of gold have been produced.

Peñasquito – Gold production at Peñasquito increased 44%, while reported silver, lead and zinc production also increased. Goldcorp reported that it is mining in the higher grade portion of the pit, which it expects will continue throughout calendar 2014 at a projected mill throughput of 110,000 tonnes per day.

Robinson – Copper production decreased 52% while reported gold production decreased 44%, due to the planned mine sequence moving to the lower grade Kimbley pit. It is expected that mining will return to the higher grade Ruth pit in the second half of calendar 2014.

Voisey’s Bay – Nickel production at Voisey’s Bay decreased 14% and copper production decreased approximately 27%. Vale will transition the Voisey’s Bay nickel concentrate processing from its Sudbury and Thompson smelters to its new Long Harbour hydrometallurgical plant. The Company is discussing with Vale the calculation of the royalty when Long Harbour begins treatment of these nickel concentrates.

Full year and fourth quarter fiscal 2014 production and revenue for the Company’s principal royalty and stream interests are shown in Tables 1 and 2. For more detailed information about each of our principal royalty and stream properties, please refer to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov, or our website located at www.royalgold.com.

CORPORATE PROFILE

Royal Gold is a precious metals royalty and stream company engaged in the acquisition and management of precious metal royalties, streams, and similar production based interests. The Company owns interests on 201 properties on six continents, including interests on 37 producing mines and 23 development stage projects. Royal Gold is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “RGLD,” and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “RGL.” The Company’s website is located at www.royalgold.com.

Note: Management’s conference call reviewing the fourth quarter and year-end results will be held today at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time (noon Eastern Time) and will be available by calling (866) 270-1533 (North America) or (412) 317-0797 (international), conference title “Royal Gold.” The call will be simultaneously broadcast on the Company’s website at www.royalgold.com under the “Presentations” section. A replay of this webcast will be available on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the call ends.

___________________________

Cautionary “Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections or estimates contained herein. Such forward-looking statements include statements about the Company’s expectation of a new phase of growth from Mt. Milligan; the Company’s ability to invest in additional quality properties; and the operators’ expectation of construction, ramp up, production, mine life, resolution of regulatory and legal proceedings and other developments at various mines. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections include, among others, precious metals, copper and nickel prices; performance of and production at the Company's royalty properties; the ability of the various operators to bring projects into production as expected; delays in the operators securing or their inability to secure necessary governmental permits; decisions and activities of the operators of the Company's royalty properties; unanticipated grade, geological, metallurgical, processing, liquidity or other problems the operators of the mining properties may encounter; completion of feasibility studies; changes in operators’ project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changes in estimates of reserves and mineralization by the operators of the Company’s royalty properties; contests to the Company’s royalty interests and title and other defects to the Company’s royalty properties; errors in calculating royalty payments, or payments not made in accordance with royalty agreements; economic and market conditions; risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries; changes in laws governing the Company and its royalty properties or the operators of such properties; and other subsequent events; as well as other factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Most of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made herein. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

FOOTNOTES

SCHEDULE A

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company computes and discloses Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as net income plus depreciation, depletion and amortization, non-cash charges, income tax expense, interest and other expense, and any impairment of mining assets, less non-controlling interests in operating income of consolidated subsidiaries, interest and other income, and any royalty portfolio restructuring gains or losses. Other companies may define and calculate this measure differently. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure of the performance of our royalty portfolio. Adjusted EBITDA identifies the cash generated in a given period that will be available to fund the Company's future operations, growth opportunities, shareholder dividends and to service the Company's debt obligations. This information differs from measures of performance determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Below is a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Royal Gold Inc.
Karli Anderson
Vice President Investor Relations
(303) 575-6517