Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (“Sandstorm” or the “Company”) (NYSE MKT: SAND, TSX: SSL) has released its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017 (all figures in U.S. dollars).

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
•Record attributable gold equivalent ounces sold1 of 15,558 ounces (Q1 2016 - 11,381 ounces);
•Revenue of $18.8 million (Q1 2016 - $13.4 million);
•Average cash cost per attributable gold equivalent ounce of $258 resulting in cash operating margins1 of $952 per ounce (Q1 2016 - $267 per ounce and $909 per ounce respectively);
•Operating cash flow of $11.9 million (Q1 2016 - $9.7 million); and
•Net income of $7.0 million (Q1 2016 - $13.2 million).
•On January 26, 2017, Orezone Gold Corporation exercised its option to repurchase the royalty on the Bomboré gold project for $3.6 million, representing a 20% premium to the original upfront payment. Sandstorm retains a right of first refusal on any future stream or royalty financings related to the Bomboré gold project.
•During the first quarter, Sandstorm acquired 22 royalties for consideration of $1.9 million. The assets include royalties on development-stage, advanced exploration-stage and exploration-stage projects located in Canada, Mexico and Peru. The addition of these royalties adds exploration potential in stable jurisdictions while increasing the optionality within the Company’s stream and royalty portfolio.
•On March 31, 2017, Luna Gold Corp. (“Luna”) completed its previously announced merger with JDL Gold Corp creating Trek Mining Inc. (“Trek”), a new multi-asset mining company with over C$110 million in cash. This places the newly merged company in a position to advance the Aurizona gold project in Brazil wherein Sandstorm holds a 3% to 5% sliding scale NSR royalty. Concurrent with the closing of the transaction, the term debt facility that was owed by Luna to Sandstorm, in the amount of $20 million plus accrued interest, was settled in equity of Trek.

Subsequent Events

On April 26, 2017, Sandstorm announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire all the issued and ordinary share capital of Mariana Resources Ltd. (“Mariana”) that Sandstorm does not already own. Under the terms of the arrangement, Mariana shareholders will receive 28.75 pence in cash and 0.2573 of a Sandstorm common share for each one Mariana share held. Mariana holds a joint venture interest in the Hot Maden project, which Sandstorm intends on converting into a gold stream. The Hot Maden project is a unique asset with a robust cash flow profile that has the potential to more than double Sandstorm’s attributable gold equivalent production once in full operation. Upon completion, the arrangement is expected to create a leading mid-tier streaming and royalty company. It is presently anticipated that Mariana will send its scheme document to Mariana shareholders around mid-May. The transaction will then go to a vote by Mariana shareholders, requiring a majority in number, representing 75% in value of scheme shareholders present and voting, to approve the scheme. That vote is expected to occur around mid-June and with a successful vote, the transaction would then go back to the U.K. court for final approval in late June. Sandstorm’s cash and shares would then be issued to shareholders of Mariana. For more information, refer to the UK rule 2.7 announcement at www.sandstormgold.com/transaction.

Sandstorm’s President & CEO, Nolan Watson commented, “The record production numbers and strong operating cash flow helped grow our cash balance to more than $32 million by quarter-end, enabling us to add a number of new streams and royalties to the portfolio and agree to terms on the proposed combination with Mariana announced in late April. The quarterly results are a great example of the power of the stream and royalty business model at work; our existing portfolio is generating strong free cash flow and that cash is being reinvested into accretive acquisitions that will build the per share value of the Company for our shareholders.”

Watson continued, “We believe that the Mariana transaction announced after quarter-end will transform Sandstorm into a leading mid-tier streaming and royalty company. Hot Maden has the potential to be an anchor asset in the portfolio and is anticipated to more than double Sandstorm’s attributable gold equivalent ounces once the mine reaches production.”

OUTLOOK

Based on the Company’s existing gold streams and royalties, attributable gold equivalent production for 2017 is forecast to be between 45,000 and 55,000 ounces. The Company is forecasting attributable gold equivalent production of over 65,000 ounces per annum by 2020.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Sandstorm’s attributable gold equivalent production and revenue showed significant growth when compared to the first quarter of 2016. Specifically, gold equivalent production was 37% higher (a record for the Company) and revenue was 41% higher. The increase is largely due to additional gold equivalent ounces coming from the Diavik royalty, Yamana silver stream, Chapada copper stream and the Karma gold stream. The increases were partially offset by a decrease in ounces from the Santa Elena mine. Precious metal streams and royalties (including diamonds) accounted for 78% of the Company’s revenue during the quarter, with the other 22% coming primarily from base metal projects.

Cash flow from operations was higher and net income was lower when compared to Q1 2016. The change in net income was primarily due to a decrease in gains recognized on the revaluation of the Company’s investments. Specifically, a gain on revaluation of investments of $2.7 million was recognized during the first quarter of 2017 which was $10.7 million less than Q1 2016. This was offset by other factors including a $2.2 million gain resulting from the settlement of Luna debt, the 20% premium associated with Orezone exercising the repurchase option on the Bomboré royalty, as well as a $1.0 million decrease in finance expense, as the Company’s revolving line of credit was fully repaid during 2016.

STREAMS & ROYALTIES: Q1 UPDATES

Sandstorm’s revenue was generated by 21 producing assets during the period. Of the gold equivalent ounces delivered to Sandstorm, approximately 43% of the ounces were attributable to mines located in Canada, 23% from the rest of North America and 34% from South America and other countries.

Three months ended Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue
(in millions) Gold Equivalent Ounces

Canada $ 8.2 6,792
North America excl. Canada $ 4.3 3,586
South America & Other $ 6.3 5,180
Total $ 18.8 15,558

Canada

Streams and royalties on Canadian mines contributed 34% more gold equivalent ounces to Sandstorm when compared to the first quarter of 2016. The change is primarily attributable to an increase in production from the Diavik mine in the Northwest Territories (“Diavik”), as well as increases from the Bracemac McLeod mine in Quebec, the Black Fox mine in Ontario and the Ming mine in Newfoundland.

Diavik
At Diavik, gold equivalent ounces increased by 62% compared to the first quarter of 2016. The A-21 pipe at Diavik is progressing on time and on budget with the completion of the A-21 dike and the start of dewatering expected during 2017 in accordance with the project plan. Following waste stripping, processing of ore from the A-21 pipe is expected to commence in 2018.

A year end reserve was recently filed for the Diavik mine which when compared to the 2015 technical report, adds approximately 6.7 million carats to the mineral reserves and supports an extension in the mine life to 2025 from 2023. Dominion Diamond Corporation is renewing its focus on exploration at its extensive land package in the Lac de Gras region and drilling of three priority kimberlites is planned at Diavik during 2017.

For more information refer to www.ddcorp.ca.

Bachelor Lake
During 2017, Metanor Resources Inc. (“Metanor”) has announced the closing of two private placements totaling C$20 million which included an investment by Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. Metanor continues to release positive drill results from its exploration activities at the Bachelor Lake mine.

For more information refer to www.metanor.ca.

North America excl. Canada

When compared to Q1 2016, gold equivalent ounces coming from North America, excluding Canada, decreased by 12%. The change was driven by a decrease in gold equivalent ounces attributable to the Santa Elena mine in Mexico and the San Andres mine in Honduras, offset by an increase in ounces sold from the Emigrant mine in Nevada, USA.

South America & Other

Operations in South America and other countries contributed 5,180 attributable gold equivalent ounces during the first quarter of 2017, a 128% increase when compared to 2016. The change was primarily due to an additional 1,640 ounces sold from the Yamana silver stream and Chapada copper stream and 1,667 ounces sold from the Karma mine in Burkina Faso.

Yamana Silver Stream
The Yamana silver stream delivered ounces to Sandstorm from the Minera Florida mine in Chile and the Chapada mine in Brazil and beginning in 2019, Sandstorm will begin to purchase silver from the Cerro Moro mine in Argentina (“Cerro Moro”). Cerro Moro is a high-grade gold and silver deposit currently in construction and development by Yamana Gold Inc. (“Yamana”). Yamana is forecasting commissioning in early 2018.

The 2017 work plan at Cerro Moro includes an increase in the rate of underground mining relative to 2016 such that during the last quarter of the year ore will be mined to feed the stockpile ahead of the plant start-up in early 2018. Site construction and detailed engineering are ahead of schedule and planned spending for the project is $178 million during 2017.

The updated mine plan estimates 2019 production to be approximately 130,000 ounces of gold at an average feed grade of 11 grams per tonne and approximately 9,900,000 ounces of silver at an average feed grade of 920 grams per tonne.

For more information refer to www.yamana.com.

Karma
During the first quarter of 2017, Endeavour Mining Corporation announced that an infill drill program at the North Kao deposit has confirmed the continuity of the previous inferred resource, resulting in a maiden indicated resource of 314,000 ounces amenable to heap leaching and a subsequent conversion of 262,000 ounces of reserves, extending the mine life to beyond 10 years. The North Kao deposit is located within 10 kilometres of the current processing plant at Karma and its main mineralized zone stretches over 1.4 kilometres along strike and remains open to the north.

A $4.0 million exploration program totaling approximately 30,000 metres has been planned for 2017 to drill near-mill targets such as Rambo West and Yabonsgo.

For more information refer to www.endeavourmining.com