Royal Gold launches friendly $5-billion takeovers of Sandstorm Gold, Horizon Copper

Royal Gold Inc. RGLD-Q is bidding $5-billion for Vancouver-based Sandstorm Gold Ltd. SSL-T and Horizon Copper Corp. HCU-X in a pair of friendly takeovers meant to create one of North America’s largest gold royalty companies. Early Monday, Denver-based Royal announced a US$3.5-billion, all-share…