SANDSTORM METALS & ENERGY ANNOUNCES AMENDMENT TO THE COAL STREAM AGREEMENT WITH ROYAL COAL
Sandstorm Metals & Energy Ltd. has amended the coal purchase agreement with Royal Coal Corp.

Under the terms of the agreement announced on Nov. 26, 2010, Sandstorm is entitled to purchase 18 per cent of the first six million tons of coal produced and 12 per cent of the life-of-mine coal produced thereafter from the Big Branch mine, the Big Branch extension and the SID mine for $55 (U.S.) per ton. As part of the agreement, Royal Coal provided a guarantee that Sandstorm would receive minimum cash flows of $2-million (U.S.) in 2011 and $2.5-million (U.S.) in each of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Sandstorm has amended the agreement whereby the requirement for Royal Coal to deliver the fixed percentage of coal will be deferred until Dec. 31, 2012. This amendment is contingent upon Royal Coal raising $5-million (Canadian) by means of an equity financing. Under the amended coal purchase agreement, a total of $4.4-million (U.S.) will be due to Sandstorm by June 30, 2013, which represents the unpaid portion of the 2011 cash flow guarantee and the $2.5-million (U.S.) 2012 cash flow guarantee, with interest. In addition, the cash flow guarantees to Sandstorm of $2.5-million (U.S.) in each of 2013, 2014 and 2015 remain. The coal purchase agreement is senior secured against all of the assets of Royal Coal.

In August, 2011, Sandstorm provided $3-million (U.S.) in a bridge loan to Royal Coal for the purposes of purchasing the Charlene load-out facility. Royal Coal has agreed to settle the bridge loan by making monthly payments to Sandstorm in the amount of $375,000 (U.S.) beginning in January, 2012. The bridge loan is subject to interest at a rate of 15 per cent per annum.

The 2.7-per-cent gross revenue royalty that Sandstorm acquired on the Big Branch mine, the Big Branch extension and the SID mine is still required to be paid on a monthly basis.

Sandstorm president and chief executive officer, Nolan Watson, commented, "The flexibility that we have extended to Royal Coal in repaying their obligations allows them to focus on increasing their production and cash flow in the short to medium term."

We seek Safe Harbor.