Origin Merchant Partners (“Origin”), is pleased to announce we have acted as Financial Advisor to the Special Committee of Rupert Resources Ltd. (“Rupert” or the “Company”) on its definitive arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (“Agnico Eagle”) pursuant to which Agnico Eagle has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Rupert (the “Rupert Shares”) it does not already own by way of plan of arrangement (the “Transaction”).
Under the terms of the Transaction, Rupert shareholders will receive 0.0401 of an Agnico Eagle common share for each Rupert share, representing C$12.00 per share based on Agnico Eagle’s recent trading price, plus a contingent value right (CVR) of up to C$3.00 per share in cash tied to future mineral reserve growth and the achievement of commercial production at Rupert’s Ikkari gold project in Finland. The total Transaction value based on the Share Consideration is approximately C$2.9 billion (on a 100% equity ownership basis). The consideration represents a 67% premium to Rupert’s closing share price prior to the announcement. The Transaction has been unanimously approved by Rupert’s Board of Directors and an independent Special Committee. As its financial advisor, Origin prepared and provided a MI 61-101 formal valuation and fairness opinion to the Special Committee.
Agnico Eagle’s financial strength and extensive operating experience in Finland are expected to accelerate the development of Ikkari and unlock its long‑term exploration potential. Rupert shareholders will retain continued exposure to the project’s upside through both Agnico Eagle share ownership and the CVRs.
The transaction is expected to close in early Q3 2026, subject to shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals.
About Rupert Resources:
Resources Ltd. Rupert Resources Ltd. is a gold exploration and development company focused on advancing the Ikkari project in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt of Northern Finland. Ikkari has a >4Moz gold resource with high margins, lowest quartile costs and emissions, and is located in one of Europe’s most attractive mining jurisdictions.
Press release:
RUPERT RESOURCES TO BE ACQUIRED BY AGNICO EAGLE – Rupert Resources
Deal Team: Jim Meloche, Charles Pennock, Umer Randhawa
Origin Merchant Partners (“Origin”) has announced that it served as the financial advisor to the independent Directors of the Board of Arizona Sonoran Copper on definitive agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) pursuant to which Hudbay has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of ASCU, not already owned by Hudbay, for consideration of 0.242 of a common share of Hudbay per common share of ASCU (the “Transaction”). The offer implies a value of C$9.35 per ASCU share based on Hudbay’s closing share price on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) on February 27, 2026, and represents a premium of 30% to ASCU’s closing share price on February 27, 2026. The offer implies a premium of 36% based on Hudbay’s and ASCU’s 20-day volume-weighted-average share prices (“VWAP”) on the TSX for the period ending February 27, 2026. The Transaction will result in Hudbay owning a 100% interest in ASCU’s Cactus project (“Cactus”).
The Transaction brings together two highly complementary copper growth assets in Arizona and strengthens Hudbay’s position as a premier Americas-focused copper company with a pipeline of long‑life, low‑cost assets located in tier-one jurisdictions. The acquisition is expected to enhance Hudbay’s long‑term copper production profile, expand its U.S. growth pipeline, and benefit from increasing demand for domestically produced critical minerals in the U.S.. The acquisition creates the largest copper district in North America and establishes a major copper hub in southern Arizona with the addition of the Cactus project to Hudbay’s existing Arizona business, including the Copper World project.
About Hudbay
Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a copper-focused critical minerals mining company with three long-life operations and a world-class pipeline of copper growth projects in tier-one mining jurisdictions of Canada, Peru and the United States. Hudbay’s operating portfolio includes the Constancia mine in Cusco (Peru), the Snow Lake operations in Manitoba (Canada) and the Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia (Canada). Copper is the primary metal produced by Hudbay, which is complemented by meaningful gold production and by-product zinc, silver and molybdenum. Hudbay’s growth pipeline includes the Copper World project in Arizona (United States), the Mason project in Nevada (United States), the Llaguen project in La Libertad (Peru) and several expansion and exploration opportunities near its existing operations. The value Hudbay creates and the impact it has is embodied in its purpose statement: “We care about our people, our communities and our planet. Hudbay provides the metals the world needs. We work sustainably, transform lives and create better futures for communities.” Hudbay’s mission is to create sustainable value and strong returns by leveraging its core strengths in community relations, focused exploration, mine development and efficient operations.
About Arizona Sonoran
ASCU is a copper exploration and development company with a 100% interest in the brownfield Cactus project. The Cactus project, on privately held land, contains a large-scale porphyry copper resource and a recent 2025 PFS proposes a generational open pit copper mine with robust economic returns. Cactus is a lower-risk copper development project benefiting from a state-led permitting process, in place infrastructure, highways and rail lines at its doorstep and onsite permitted water access. ASCU’s objective is to develop Cactus and become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, that could generate robust returns and provide a long-term sustainable and responsible operation for the community, investors and all stakeholders. ASCU is led by an executive management team and Board which have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America complemented by global capital markets expertise.
Press release: Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. | News
Deal team: Jim Meloche, Charles Pennock, Umer Randhawa
Origin Merchant Partners (“Origin”) is pleased to announce that it acted as a Financial Advisor to the Special Committee of Teck Resources (“Teck”) with respect to its sale of Elk Valley Resources (“EVR”) to Glencore plc (“Glencore”) for US$9.0 billion.
Teck is one of Canada’s leading mining companies with operations and projects in Canada, the United States, Chile and Peru. Following the spin-off, and subject to its approval, Teck will continue as Teck Metals, which will become a world-class growth-oriented producer of energy transition metals.
EVR will continue as a pure-play, high-margin steelmaking coal producer.
Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities that advance everyday life. Through a network of assets, customers and suppliers that spans the globe, they produce, process, recycle, source, market and distribute the commodities that support decarbonisation while meeting the energy needs of today.
Origin Senior Leads: Charles Pennock, Jim Osler, Jim Meloche.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that it provided a Fairness Opinion to the Special Committee and Board of Directors of Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (“Copper Mountain”) with respect to its combination with Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay”). The combination will create the third largest copper producer in Canada.
Copper Mountain (TSX: CMMC, ASX: C6C) owns 75% of the Copper Mountain Mine, located in British Columbia. The mine produces, on average, approximately 100 million pounds of copper equivalent per year.
Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a diversified mining company with long-life assets in North and South America. The company’s growth strategy is focused on the exploration, development, operation and optimization of properties it already controls, as well as acquisitions that fit its strategic criteria. Hudbay seeks to create sustainable value through its acquisitions, development and operations in jurisdictions that support responsible mining, and to see the regions in which it operates benefit from its presence.
Origin Senior Leads: Charles Pennock, Jim Meloche.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that it provided a Fairness Opinion to the Special Committee of Teck Resources (“Teck”) with respect to the reorganization of its business to separate Teck into two independent, publicly-listed companies: Teck Metals Corp. and Elk Valley Resources Ltd.
Teck is one of Canada’s leading mining companies with operations and projects in Canada, the United States, Chile and Peru. Following the spin-off, and subject to its approval, Teck will continue as Teck Metals, which will become a world-class growth-oriented producer of energy transition metals.
Elk Valley will be a pure-play, high-margin steelmaking coal producer, generating gross proceeds for Teck Metals of over $11.5 billion through a highly innovative royalty and transition capital structure.
Origin Senior Leads: Charles Pennock, Jim Osler, Jim Meloche.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that it provided a Fairness Opinion to the Special Committee of Teck Resources (“Teck”) with respect to the proposed agreement to amend its 54 year old dual class share structure, and sunset its multi-voting shares in 6 years.
Teck is one of Canada’s leading mining companies with operations and projects in Canada, the United States, Chile and Peru. Teck has recently proposed a spin-off of its steelmaking coal assets, and Origin has also provided a fairness opinion on that transaction. Following the spin-off, and subject to its approval, Teck will continue as Teck Metals, which will become a world-class growth-oriented producer of energy transition metals.
Origin Senior Leads: Charles Pennock, Jim Osler, Jim Meloche.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”) has sold royalties owned by its subsidiary, Barrick TZ Limited, to Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (“Osisko”) ”) for total cash consideration of US$11,750,000.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Barrick with respect to this transaction.
Barrick (ABX: TSX, GOLD: NYSE) is one of the largest gold mining companies in the world, with corporate offices located in Toronto, Ontario. The company has gold and copper mining operations and projects in 13 countries around the globe.
Osisko (OR: TSX & NYSE) is an intermediate precious metal royalty company focused on the Americas. The company holds a North American focused portfolio of over 160 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes.
Origin Senior Leads: Charles Pennock, Jim Meloche, Gordon Bogden.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”) has sold the hydrometallurgical and mineral processing assets of AuTec Innovative Extractive Solutions Ltd. (“AuTec”), a subsidiary of Barrick, to FLSmidth & Co (“FLSmidth”). In addition, Barrick divested AuTec’s mineralogy equipment to ALS Limited (“ALS”).
Origin Merchant Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Barrick with respect to this transaction.
Barrick Gold Corporation is one of the largest gold mining companies in the world, with its corporate office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Barrick has mining operations and projects in 15 countries around the globe. The company’s shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GOLD, and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ABX.
FLSmidth & Co. is a global engineering company based in Copenhagen, Denmark. With almost 11,700 employees across over 50 countries worldwide, FLSmidth delivers sustainable productivity to the global mining and cement industries. FLSmidth is listed on NASDAQ OMX Nordic Copenhagen in the C20 index.
ALS Limited (ASX: ALQ), headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, provides laboratory testing, inspection, certification, and verification services out of over 370 sites across 65 countries.
Origin Senior Lead: Charles Pennock
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to provide a Formal Valuation and Fairness Opinion to the Board of Directors of AQM Copper Inc. with respect to a proposed acquisition by Teck Resources Ltd. for all of the outstanding shares of AQM Copper Inc., that it does not already own.
AQM Copper Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company exploring and developing copper deposits in South America. Through its Peruvian subsidiary, Minera AQM Copper Peru S.A.C. (“MAQM”), the Company is developing the Zafranal Copper-Gold Porphyry Project located in Southern Peru. MAQM is the operator of a 50/50 Joint Venture with Teck Resources Limited through a sole purpose Peruvian company, Compañia Minera Zafranal. MAQM is owned 60% by AQM Copper Inc. and 40% by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that CB Gold Inc. (“CB Gold”) has completed its acquisition of 100% of the Santa Ana Silver Project from Condor Precious Metals Inc. Santa Ana covers the core of the historic Mariquita Silver District, one of Colombia’s most prolific colonial silver mining camps with production dating back to the sixteenth century.
Origin Merchant Partners identified the target acquisition for CB Gold with respect to this transaction.
CB Gold Inc. (“CB Gold”) is a well-financed precious metals exploration and development corporation majority owned by near term producer Red Eagle Mining Corporation. CB Gold has an experienced exploration and mine development team focused on building shareholder value through acquiring and developing high grade gold and silver projects with low costs and low technical risks in Colombia, a jurisdiction with prolific historic production but until recently limited modern exploration. CB Gold owns 100% of both the Vetas Gold Project and the Santa Ana Silver Project, which consist of numerous historic and existing mines and where exploration is currently underway to delineate high-grade vein resources exploitable by modern underground mining methods.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. is pleased to announce Carpathian Gold Inc. (“Carpathian) has agreed to a private placement of ten million dollars (CAD$10,000,000) from Forbes & Manhattan Resources Inc. (“F&M”). The net proceeds will be used to advance Carpathian’s Rovina Valley Gold Project in Romania.
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to Carpathian with respect to this transaction.
Carpathian Gold Inc. (CSE: CPN) is an exploration and development company whose primary asset is the Rovina Valley Au-Cu Project located in Romania.
Forbes & Manhattan is a private merchant bank with a global focus on the resource-based sectors. F&M is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with offices, operations and assets across the globe.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Brio Gold Inc. (“Brio”) has entered in an Assignment and Assumption Agreement and a Restructuring Agreement with Macquarie Bank Limited (“Macquarie”) whereby Brio will acquire all of Macquarie’s interest in Carpathian Gold Inc. (“Carpathian”) including the Mineracao Riacho dos Machados Ltda. Gold project in Minas Gerais in Brazil. This transaction is expected to close on or about March 31, 2016.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as financial advisor to Carpathian with respect to this transaction.
Carpathian Gold Inc. (CSE: CPN) is an exploration and development company whose primary business is gold production at its Riacho dos Machados Gold Project in Brazil. It is also focussed on advancing its exploration and development plans on its Rovina Valley Au-Cu Project located in Romania.
Brio Gold Inc., a subsidiary of Yamana Gold, was formed in December 2014 to hold Fazenda Brasileiro, Pilar and C1 Santa Luz as well as some related exploration concessions, all of which were held as non-core assets within Yamana Gold.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. is pleased to announce that Jaguar Mining Inc. (“Jaguar”) has successfully completed its US$21.5 million convertible debenture private placement.
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. acted as Advisor to Jaguar with respect to this transaction.
Jaguar Mining Inc. is a gold producer with mining operations in a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Additionally, Jaguar wholly owns the large-scale Gurupi Development Project in Brazil. In total, the Corporation owns mineral claims covering an area of approximately 197,000 hectares in Brazil.
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. (“OMSI”) is a wholly-owned affiliate of Origin Merchant Partners. OMSI is an exempt market dealer that will agent private placements of debt and equity securities to finance the acquisition capital, growth capital or recapitalization needs of our clients. OMSI is registered as an Exempt Market Dealer with the Ontario Securities Commission.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Partners has successfully advised Designed Alloy Products, Inc. and Alloy Rod Products, Inc. (collectively “DAPI”) on restructuring their debt capital through obtaining a senior revolving credit facility from Wells Fargo Bank (“Wells Fargo”) and a junior term debt loan from Enhanced Capital (“Enhanced Capital”).
DAPI, headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a privately held manufacturer of certified ingot and alloy rod products, and a processor of scrap metal. The company supplies its products to mills and foundries in the United States and to distributors serving foreign markets. DAPI has manufacturing operations in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Wells Fargo is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.5 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, it provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations in 36 countries. With more than 264,000 active, full-time equivalent team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States and ranks No. 25 on Fortune’s 2013 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo ranked fourth in assets and first in the market value of its common stock among all U.S. banks at December 31, 2013.
Enhanced Capital is a diversified, national asset management firm providing investment capital to small businesses that are underserved by traditional sources of financing. Enhanced Capital seeks to create innovative structures that fit the needs of small businesses, helping them to grow and create value for all constituents. Enhanced Capital is headquartered in New York City, and has regional offices in New Orleans, Austin, Birmingham, Denver, Jackson Hole, Nashville, Stamford, Tampa and Washington, D.C.
Origin Senior Leads: Nick Newlin, Bob Wujtowicz
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce the successful merger of Maryland Materials Inc. and its affiliates (collectively. “MMI”) with entities controlled by Bluegrass Materials Company, LLC (“Bluegrass Materials”). Origin Merchant Partners acted as the exclusive advisor to Maryland Materials.
Maryland Materials is one of the largest independent aggregates quarries in the United States. Located in North East, Maryland, MMI produces a complete line of crushed stone products from granite and trap rock reserves that are used for construction site development, highway construction projects and the production of hot mix asphalt and concrete.
Bluegrass Materials is an aggregates producer with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida and operations in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
Origin Senior Lead: Nick Newlin
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. is pleased to announce that Redhawk Resources Inc. (“Redhawk”) has completed its previously announced private placement by issuing 10,420,000 common shares of Redhawk at a price of $0.25 per share for gross proceeds of $2,605,000.
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to Redhawk with respect to this transaction.
Redhawk Resources (RDK-T) is a Canadian-based resource exploration and development company with primary focus on the accelerated development of its advanced stage Copper Creek copper-molybdenum project in San Manuel, Arizona. With over 675K feet of drilling completed to date, the large high grade Copper/Moly Porphyry style system now contains over 7B lbs. of Copper, 150M lbs. of Moly and 32M oz. of Silver. Located in the prolific Southwest Porphyry Copper Belt, Redhawk has emerged as one of the top development companies in North America. With the exceptional experience and strength of Redhawk’s management team, combined with the developed infrastructure, Redhawk is positioned to become a solid mid-tier copper producer.
Origin Merchant Securities Inc. (“OMSI”) is a wholly-owned affiliate of Origin Merchant Partners. OMSI is an exempt market dealer that will agent private placements of debt and equity securities to finance the acquisition capital, growth capital or recapitalization needs of our clients. OMSI is registered as an Exempt Market Dealer with the Ontario Securities Commission.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce the successful sale of Energy Manufacturing Company, Inc. (“Energy”) to Ligon Industries, LLC (“Ligon”). With the addition of Energy, Ligon expands its presence in the mobile industrial equipment end market and further strengthens its products offering. Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor in this transaction.
Energy Manufacturing Company is a leading designer and manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and related products for mobile and stationary industrial equipment. Their products are sold to customers in a wide variety of industries including agriculture, construction, lawn & garden, refuse compaction, forestry and medical. Energy Mfg. is based in Monticello, Iowa. The Company has access to Asian sourcing of cylinders through an exclusive manufacturing relationship in Dongguan, China.
Ligon is the largest independent manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders in North America through its operating businesses including HDM Hydraulics, HTI, Ramrod Industries, Seabee Corporation, Fisher Hydraulics, Great Bend Industries, Hydratech and now Energy Mfg.
Origin Senior Lead: Bill Doepke
