Latin Metals Inc. (“Latin Metals” or the “Company”) -
(TSXV: LMS, OTCQB: LMSQF) announces that it has
entered into a binding letter agreement (the “
Letter
Agreement”) with Atlantic Metals Limited
(“
Atlantic”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Moxico
Resources plc (together with Atlantic, “
Moxico”),
a private copper mining company with producing and development
assets in Zambia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, made as of
October 7, 2024 (the “
Effective Date”). Under the
terms of the Letter Agreement, Latin Metals granted to Moxico the
option (the “
Option”) to earn a 75% interest in
the Company’s Esperanza and Huachi copper exploration projects
(the “
Projects”) located in San Juan
Province, Argentina (
Figure 1). To exercise the
Option, Moxico must:
- make staged cash
payments to Latin Metals in the aggregate amount of USD $2,775,000
(Table 1),
- assume the
outstanding cash payment earn-in obligations of Latin Metals to the
underlying owners of the Projects in the aggregate amount of USD
$4,633,000,
- assume the USD
$1,000,000 work expenditure commitments at the Huachi project,
- complete at
least in the aggregate amount of 65,000 metres of drilling on the
Projects (Table 2), and
- deliver
independent NI 43-101 compliant technical reports to Latin Metals
on the Projects setting out a initial mineral resource estimate,
preliminary economic assessment and a bankable feasibility study,
respectively.
Upon the
exercise of the Option, Moxico shall have a top-up right (the
“Top-Up Right”) whereby Moxico
can elect within 60 days of the Option Exercise Date (as defined
below) to purchase the remaining 25% interest in the Projects held
by Latin Metals (for an aggregate 100% interest in the Projects) by
completing a cash payment to Latin Metals equal to the greater of
(i) USD $10,000,000 or (ii) an amount equal to
USD $0.02/lb multiplied by the quantity (in pounds) of copper
equivalent in the measured and indicated resource categories. If
the Top-Up Right is exercised, Latin Metals' interest in the
Projects shall be converted to a 2% net smelter returns
(“NSR”) royalty.
“Quality of option partners is a key ingredient
in the success of any company operating with a prospect generator
model and we are happy to have reached an agreement with Moxico,
which has strong financial and technical capabilities,” said Keith
Henderson, President and CEO of Latin Metals. “The Esperanza
project has seen 8,500m of drilling, with Latin Metals’ best drill
hole intersection returning 387m grading 0.57% copper and 0.27 g/t
gold from surface, including 166m grading 0.84% copper and 0.37 g/t
gold from surface. We look forward to seeing results from the
exploration to be completed by Moxico.”
Alan Davies, Moxico’s CEO stated, “We are very
pleased to conclude this agreement with Latin Metals and have the
option of developing the highly prospective Esperanza and Huachi
properties. We look forward to positively working with the local
communities, authorities and contractors to accelerate the work
program.”
Table 1: Cash
Payments to Latin Metals
Date |
Cash Payments(USD) |
Effective Date |
$350,000(1) (paid) |
First Anniversary of Effective Date |
$150,000(2) |
Second Anniversary of Effective Date |
$150,000 |
Third Anniversary of Effective Date |
$225,000 |
Fourth Anniversary of Effective Date |
$350,000 |
Fifth Anniversary of Effective Date |
$500,000 |
Sixth Anniversary of Effective Date |
$1,050,000 |
Total |
$2,775,000 |
1) Firm commitment.2)
Firm commitment; provided that (i) amount shall be reduced by
USD $100,000 (i.e. to USD $50,000) if the Esperanza
drilling permit is not received by June 30, 2025, and (ii)
payment shall no longer be a firm commitment if the Esperanza
drilling permit is not received by December 31, 2025.
Table 2: Work
Commitments
Date(1) |
Drilling (metres) |
NI 43-101 Technical Reports |
First Anniversary of Effective Date |
5,000(2) |
- |
Second Anniversary of Effective Date |
10,000 |
- |
Third Anniversary of Effective Date |
20,000 |
Mineral Resource Estimate |
Fourth Anniversary of Effective Date |
15,000 |
Preliminary Economic Assessment |
Fifth Anniversary of Effective Date |
15,000 |
- |
Sixth Anniversary of Effective Date |
- |
Bankable Feasibility Study |
Total |
65,000 |
- |
1) Milestone dates
shall be automatically extended until receipt of the Esperanza
drilling permit or the Huachi drilling permit; provided that Moxico
shall have made commercially reasonable and good faith efforts to
obtain the permits.2) Firm commitment, subject to receipt of the
Esperanza drilling permit or the Huachi drilling permit; provided
that Moxico shall have made commercially reasonable and good faith
efforts to obtain same.
Provided the Option shall not have been
terminated, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith toward the
execution of a definitive earn-in and purchase option agreement
within 60 days of the first anniversary of the Effective Date.
Other than the items noted as being firm commitments in Table 1 and
2 above, Moxico shall be under no obligation to fulfill any of the
payment obligations or work commitments, which shall be at the sole
option and discretion of Moxico.
Upon the fulfilment of the payment obligations
and work commitments set forth above, and the delivery by Moxico to
Latin Metals of a notice of exercise of the Option (the
“Option Exercise Date”) and subject to the
exercise of the Top-Up Right, Moxico and Latin Metals will be
deemed to have formed a joint venture (the “Joint
Venture”) for the continued exploration, development and,
if warranted, commercialization of the Projects, in respect of
which the initial participating interests of the parties will be,
Moxico as to 75% and Latin Metals as to 25%.
If and when the parties form the Joint Venture,
the provisions of the agreement governing the Joint Venture will be
negotiated and settled by the parties and will provide, among other
things, that if the participating interest of either party falls
below 10%, the interest of such party shall be converted to a 1%
NSR royalty (according to royalty terms to be agreed upon between
the parties). In addition, if at any time while Latin Metals holds
a 10% or greater participating interest, it shall have the option,
exercisable at its discretion by providing notice to the operator
of the Joint Venture, to require the Joint Venture to repurchase or
redeem its participating interest without consideration, and grant
Latin Metals a 2% NSR royalty payable on all minerals, metals and
ores mined or removed from the Projects (according to royalty terms
to be agreed upon between the parties).
Figure 1:
Esperanza and Huachi Projects, San Juan Province
About The
Projects
Esperanza is a copper-gold porphyry exploration
project where a copper-gold porphyry system has been partially
defined by drilling and where a pyrite halo is exposed at surface
over an area of 1,400m x 850m. Drill hole 18-ESP-025 (see news
release May 8, 2018), completed by Latin Metals, returned 387m
grading 0.57% copper and 0.27 g/t gold from surface, including 166m
grading 0.84% copper and 0.37 g/t gold from surface (true width
unknown). Mineralization is open in all directions with an
interpreted vector to the west towards the Huachi property. Latin
Metals has options to acquire 100% interests in the Esperanza and
Huachi properties, and the Projects are currently subject to
underlying option agreements, as amended (see news releases dated
January 23, 2017 and March 13, 2024).
About
Moxico
Moxico Resources plc’s
principal objective is to be an effective creator of value for its
shareholders, other stakeholders and partners by establishing
itself as one of the main copper producers in Zambia through the
expansion of the Mimbula Copper Project
(“Mimbula”) and the development of the Kalengwa
Copper Project (“Kalengwa”), and developing its
portfolio of exploration assets in Zambia and elsewhere, including
its 50% owned Khnaiguiyah zinc, copper and manganese project
(“Khnaiguiyah”) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
which is expected to commence construction in 2025.
Phase 1 of Mimbula
consists of a 10,000 tonnes per annum heap leach and solvent
extraction and electrowinning (“SX/EW”) plant.
First copper sales were completed in Q1 2023 and Mimbula is
currently producing at a rate in excess of 16,000 tonnes per annum.
Phase 2 of Mimbula is under construction and is expected to be
completed during 2025. It will expand the operation to 56,000
tonnes per annum of copper cathode production through a 46,000
tonne per annum agitated leach and SX/EW circuit. Phase 3 of
Mimbula, consisting of a cobalt processing plant, will extract
cobalt from the ore and the pregnant leach solution.
Exploration drilling
continues to grow the reserve and resource base at Mimbula,
Kalengwa and Khnaiguiyah, while Moxico continues to explore its
portfolio of prospecting assets in Zambia and Saudi Arabia, with
very promising results warranting further work and investment.
Marketing
The Company also announces that it has entered
into an advertising contract with www.TAStocks.com
("TA"), under the terms of which TA will provide
publishing and advertising services, including social media
engagement through X and YouTube. The initial term of the agreement
is 120 days, starting on October 9, 2024, and may be renewed with
the mutual written agreement of TA and the Company. During the
initial term, TA's parent company, Arrow Park Capital Corp., will
be paid $15,000 plus applicable taxes for the services provided. To
the Company’s knowledge, TA does not have any direct interest in
the Company or its securities.
About Latin
Metals
Latin Metals is a mineral exploration company
acquiring a diversified portfolio of assets in South America. The
Company operates with a Prospect Generator model focusing on the
acquisition of prospective exploration properties at minimum cost,
completing initial evaluation through cost-effective exploration to
establish drill targets, and ultimately securing joint venture
partners to fund drilling and advanced exploration. Shareholders
gain exposure to the upside of a significant discovery without the
dilution associated with funding the highest-risk drill-based
exploration.
For more information, please get in touch with
Latin Metals Investor Relations at 604-638-3456 or via email at
info@latin-metals.com. Stay up to date on Latin Metals developments
by joining our online communities through LinkedIn, Facebook, X and
Instagram.
Qualified
Person
Keith J. Henderson
P.Geo is the Company’s qualified person as defined by NI 43-101,
and has reviewed and approved for disclosure the scientific and
technical information contained in this news release.
Mr. Henderson is not independent of the Company, as he is an
employee of the Company and holds securities of the Company.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
LATIN METALS INC.
“Keith Henderson”
President & CEO
For further details on the Company readers are
referred to the Company's web site (www.latin-metals.com) and its
Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.
For further information, please contact:
Keith HendersonSuite 890999 West Hastings StreetVancouver, BC,
V6C 2W2Phone: 604-638-3456E-mail: info@latin-metals.com
Neither 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 news release.
This news release
contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information
(collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of
applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, included
herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the
exercise of the Option and the Top-Up Right by Moxico, the
execution of a definitive option agreement, the entering into of
the Joint Venture, future exploration of the Projects, anticipated
exploration program results from exploration activities, the
discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves,
and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities
of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the
Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give
no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
Often, but not always, forward looking information can be
identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may",
"will", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of
such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that
refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would,
might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the
forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has
applied several material assumptions, including without limitation,
that it will obtain TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, if applicable,
and the required corporate approvals for the proposed transaction,
that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals
demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses
and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development
of the Company’s Argentine projects in a timely manner, the
availability of financing on suitable terms for the development,
construction and continued operation of the Company’s projects, and
the Company’s ability to comply with environmental, health and
safety laws.
Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include,
among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection
with mineral exploration and development and mine development
activities at the Projects, estimation or realization of mineral
reserves and mineral resources, requirements for additional
capital, future prices of precious metals and copper, changes in
general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and
in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations
in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants,
equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour
disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays or the
inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents
or authorizations required, including of the TSX Venture Exchange,
financing or other planned activities, changes in laws, regulations
and policies affecting mining operations, currency fluctuations,
title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the
timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental
issues and liabilities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics
such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's
business, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks
related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those
factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's
latest Management Discussion and Analysis and other filings of the
Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which
can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website
at www.sedarplus.ca.
Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except
as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation
to update any of the forward-looking information in this news
release or incorporated by reference herein.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b3a3f58a-70e0-4b4c-9307-90e259fbbea1
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