RETRANSMISSION: Royal Road Minerals Executes Strategic Alliance Agreement with Hemco Nicaragua S.A. for Exploration in Nicaragua
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 6, 2017) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has executed a strategic alliance agreement with Hemco S.A. ("Hemco"), forming a strategic alliance (the "Alliance") for mineral exploration in Nicaragua.
The objective of the Alliance is to identify and explore gold and copper targets in Nicaragua in the areas covered by Royal Road's and Hemco's respective specified existing licenses, which together cover large regions of highly prospective and under-explored land areas and include in excess of 35 currently identified prospect areas. The Alliance will bring together two experienced project generation and exploration teams with track records of success. Royal Road and Hemco will share their collective experience and databases, co-fund early stage exploration programs, and jointly seek to advance their current projects and pursue new projects in Nicaragua. In particular, the Alliance is initially focused on defining reserves in excess of two million ounces of gold (or gold equivalent) recoverable.
Hemco is a subsidiary of Grupo Mineros S.A. (MINEROS:CB), Colombia's largest gold producer, and a holder of licenses covering an area approximately 200,000 hectares in the historic mining region of northeastern Nicaragua known as the "Golden Triangle"(see Figure 1).
Figure 1
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"This joint-venture unlocks significant potential for both parties," said Dr. Tim Coughlin, Royal Road's President and CEO. He added: "We are proud to be aligned with such a respected partner in Nicaragua and excited to have acquired access to the "Golden Triangle" area which, in addition to our Nari??o project in Colombia, provides the Company with another region of gold and copper exploration potential. Moreover, with funding expected to be contributed by Hemco, we anticipate being in a position to drill test the underlying potential of the exciting Los Andes porphyry copper and gold target, whilst also commencing the planned drilling program at Piedra Iman on an accelerated basis."
Eduardo Flores Zelaya VP Corporate Development of Mineros S.A. stated, "This Alliance, with a Company which uses innovative strategies and tools to identify and explore new gold deposits, will significantly improve our probability of success in Nicaragua."
Under the terms of the Alliance, Hemco and Royal Road will jointly fund on an equal basis, initial project generation and exploration of targets. At any time after the commencement of permitted drilling of any project area, parties may elect to define such project area as a "designated project area" (a "DPA") following-which, the applicable rights and licenses for such DPA will be held by a newly formed joint venture company, with Royal Road and Hemco each initially holding an equal 50% proportionate equity interest thereof. All project costs of any such joint venture will be co-funded by the parties based on their respective ownership of the joint venture, which will be subject to dilution in the event funds are not contributed as required. If a party's interest in a joint venture is diluted below 15% of the total interest, such party's interest in the joint venture will automatically convert to a 1.5% net smelter return royalty. The terms of the Alliance also restrict the parties from transferring their respective interests in the relevant licenses covered by the Alliance, except in accordance with the agreement between the parties, which includes reciprocal rights of first refusal with respect to transfers to third parties. Royal Road will be the operator under the Alliance and any joint ventures formed thereunder, and certain decisions of the operator will be subject to the approval of a management committee consisting of two representatives of each of Hemco and Royal Road.
Royal Road anticipates that the initial program to be approved under the Alliance will consist of drilling at Royal Road's Piedra Iman project (see Royal Road's news release dated June 21st 2017), prospect inventory mapping and heliborne magnetics and radiometrics in Hemco's "Golden Triangle" licensed areas, followed by the drilling of two deep holes to test the porphyry copper and gold potential of Royal Road's Los Andes project (see Royal Road's news release dated April 8th 2017). Royal Road's management estimates that the budget for this program will be approximately CAD $1.8 million and funded on a 50%/50% basis by the parties.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Dr. Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSc (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM, President and CEO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Royal Road Minerals employees are instructed to follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures intended to ensure that all sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. More information can be found on Royal Road Minerals web site at www.royalroadminerals.com
Cautionary statement:
This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") including e statements relating to the Alliance and those describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, or with respect to the Alliance, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, those related to the Alliance, Hemco, and the Company's plans exploration plans.
The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Alliance and the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and, in part, on information provided to the Company by Hemco, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.
For further information please contact:
Dr. Timothy Coughlin
President and Chief Executive Officer
USA-Canada toll free 1800 6389205
+44 (0)1534 887166
+44 (0)7797 742800
info@royalroadminerals.com