April 18, 2013 Tsodilo Announces Strategic Partnership with First Quantum Minerals to obtain Equity Funding and Accelerate Work on Copper Projects
TORONTO, ONTARIO - Tsodilo Resources Limited ("Tsodilo" or the "Company") (TSX-V:TSD) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TSX:FM)(LSE:FQM) ("First Quantum"). Under the terms of a binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") dated April 17, 2013 entered into between the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Ltd. ("Gcwihaba"), First Quantum and First Quantum's wholly-owned subsidiary Faloxia (Proprietary) Limited "FQM Subco"), First Quantum will make a strategic investment in Tsodilo by way of private placement of 2,272,727 units of the Company (the "Units"). The Units will be issued at a price of C$1.10 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of C$2.5 million. Each Unit will consist of one common share and one purchase warrant, each such warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at USD$1.21 for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance of the warrant.
In addition to the initial strategic equity investment described above, First Quantum (which term for the purposes of this press release includes FQM Subco) will also acquire the right to earn up to a 70% interest in metals prospecting licences in Botswana granted to Gcwihaba insofar as they cover base, precious and platinum group metals and rare earth minerals by meeting certain funding and other obligations as set forth below. The interests that may be earned by First Quantum specifically exclude any rights to iron held by Gcwihaba. Completion of the transactions contemplated by the MOU is subject to regulatory approval and the execution of definitive agreements.
Tsodilo's Chairman and CEO, James M. Bruchs, commented "We are absolutely delighted to announce First Quantum as our strategic partner. They are a world-class mining company with great financial strength and specific expertise in exploration for African Copperbelt type base metal targets gained from their mining operations in Zambia. The sequence of rocks in northwest Botswana that Tsodilo has identified in the past several years are identical in age and composition to those in the Central African Copperbelt. These rocks are in fact the southwesterly extension of the Zambian Copperbelt and clearly hold great potential for Copperbelt-style targets. Having First Quantum's experienced exploration team from Zambia moving exploration on our ground forward is as good as it gets. This joint venture will allow for aggressive exploration for world-class base metal deposits on our licensed areas. In addition, First Quantum's equity investment will enable Tsodilo to accelerate the exploration and evaluation of our Xaudum iron formation project as well as continue our kimberlite exploration. First Quantum's involvement will allow us to deliver results from our metals projects to the market sooner than we could have without the help of our new strategic partner."
"Several years ago, International Finance Corporation ("IFC"), a member of the World Bank Group, became an equity investor in Tsodilo. At the time we referred to IFC as our "Partner of Choice" as their participation, professionalism, guidance and expertise combined with the economic, political and social stability afforded by the Government of Botswana, together with the assistance and support provided by the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources and the Department of Geological Survey, created a winning atmosphere for mineral exploration and development. Now, given our large metal license areas it was important for us to partner with a group who understands our rocks and who has a proven history of exploration and development success. There is no better strategic partner for us than First Quantum to further explore and develop these potential resources", concluded Mr. Bruchs.
Under the terms of the MOU, First Quantum can earn either a 51% participating interest or a 70% participating interest in designated projects within the overall licence area covered by the MOU (the "Project Area") by satisfying the following requirements:
funding exploration expenditures within the Project Area in the aggregate amount of US$6 million within the first two years after the execution of a definitive earn-in option agreement (the "Tranche 1 Funding Commitment");
funding an additional US$9 million in exploration expenditures within the Project Area by the end of the fourth year after the execution of the earn-in option agreement; and
completing a technical report (a "Technical Report") on a designated area within the Project Area prepared in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators and that meets certain requirements with respect to resources as described below.
The Tranche 1 Funding Commitment is a firm commitment by First Quantum and must be satisfied irrespective of whether First Quantum elects to pursue the other requirements to earn an interest in Gcwihaba's licences.
In the event that First Quantum satisfies the funding obligations as set forth above but a Technical Report has not been completed by the end of the fourth year following the execution of the earn-in option agreement, First Quantum may maintain the earn-in option for up to an additional three years by continuing to spend a minimum of $2 million per year on exploration and evaluation studies on the Project Area.
If the Technical Report delineates a "Major Defined Project" (defined in the MOU to mean a designated project within the Project Area with respect to which the Technical Report delineates a measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource within the Project Area of not less than 2,000,000 tonnes of copper), First Quantum will be deemed to have earned a 70% interest in the property that is the subject of such report. If the Technical Report delineates a "Minor Defined Project" (defined in the MOU to mean a designated project within the Project Area with respect to which the Technical Report delineates a measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource within the Project Area of: (i) less than 2,000,000 tonnes of copper, or (ii) a resource of another base, precious or platinum group metal and rare earth mineral), First Quantum will be deemed to have earned a 51% interest in the property that is the subject of such report; provided, however, that it may elect to retain an option for up to five years to convert such property into a Major Defined Project. If First Quantum makes such election, it will be responsible for all further costs and expenses associated with the Minor Defined Project, including for operations and capital expenditures, until the earliest of: (a) the completion of a Technical Report for a Major Defined Project, in which event the Minor Defined Project will be deemed to be converted into a Major Defined Project and First Quantum will be deemed to have earned a vested 70% participating interest therein; (b) written notice from First Quantum to the Company that First Quantum no longer wishes to retain the option to convert such Minor Defined Project into a Major Defined Project; and (c) five years after the date of the original vesting of a 51% interest in the Minor Defined Project. If First Quantum fails to satisfy the requirements to convert a Minor Defined Project into a Major Defined Project it will retain a vested 51% participating interest in the Minor Defined Project.
Upon First Quantum's participating interest in a defined project being crystallized at either 51% or 70%, Gcwihaba and First Quantum will enter into a joint venture agreement for such project. Under the terms of each such joint venture agreement, Gcwihaba's participating interest in each joint venture will be carried until the commencement of construction of a mine for the project. Accordingly, all costs and expenses associated with the defined project until such time, including for operations and capital expenditures, will be funded by First Quantum.
About First Quantum Minerals: First Quantum is one of the fastest growing copper companies with a projected compound annual growth in copper production of more than 20% for at least the next decade. First Quantum's core strength is discovering, developing and operating mines efficiently and cost effectively. The recent combination of the First Quantum and Inmet assets has created one of the world's leading copper producers with a geographically diversified portfolio of high-quality operations and development projects in eight countries across four continents. First Quantum is a globally diversified mining and metals company and its stated aim is to produce more than 1.3 million tonnes of copper per annum by 2018. (www.first-quantum.com)
About Tsodilo Resources Limited: Tsodilo is an international diamond and metals exploration company engaged in the search for economic diamond and metal deposits at its Newdico (Pty) Limited ("Newdico") and Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Limited ("Gcwihaba") projects in northwest Botswana. The Company has a 98% stake in Newdico (895 km² under Precious Stone - diamond licenses). The Gcwihaba project area: 2,404 km² under Precious Stone - diamond licenses; 11,159 km² Metal (base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth) licenses; and, 6,925 km² under Radioactive Minerals licenses is 100% held by the Company. Tsodilo is the operator of both the Newdico and Gcwihaba license areas.
The Company has offices in Toronto, Canada and Gaborone and Maun, Botswana. Please visit the Company's website, www.TsodiloResources.com, for additional information and background on our projects.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
