Ayubowan Capital Enters into TWO Mineral Exploration and Option Agreements to Acquire Silver Rich – Zinc Lead Copper Carbonate Replacement Concessions IN Mexico
AYUBOWAN CAPITAL LTD.
Suite 2200, 885 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 3E8
NEWS RELEASE
AYUBOWAN CAPITAL ENTERS INTO TWO MINERAL EXPLORATION AND OPTION
AGREEMENTS TO ACQUIRE SILVER RICH – ZINC LEAD COPPER CARBONATE
REPLACEMENT CONCESSIONS IN MEXICO
Vancouver, British Columbia – May 1, 2017 – Ayubowan Capital Ltd. (the “Company”) (TSX-
V: AYB.H) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mineral expl oration and option
agreement (the “Puerto Rico Option Agreement ”) dated April 7, 2017, with Jesus Miguel
Hernandez Garza and Juan Reynaldo Elizondo Falcon (together, the “Vendors”), providing an
option (the “Option”) to acquire certain mineral concessions (the “Mineral Concessions”) located
in Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico (the “Proposed Transaction”), forming part of the Puerto Rico
exploration project (the “Puerto Rico Property”).
In addition, the Company has entered into a second mineral exploration and opt ion agreement
(the “Renata Option Agreement ”) dated April 20, 2017, also with the Vendors, providing an
option to acquire a certain mineral concession (the “Renata Concession”) also located in
Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico comprising the Renata exploration project (the “Renata Property”).
The Company is currently listed on NEX and it is intended that the Proposed Transaction will
constitute its "reactivation" as defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the
"Exchange"). Upon completion of th e Proposed Transaction and meeting all the conditions of
the Exchange, the Company will have its listing transferred from NEX to the Exchange. The
Proposed Transaction will constitute a Change of Business and the Puerto Rico Property will be
the Company’s Qualifying Property under Exchange policies. Upon completion of the Proposed
Transaction the Company will operate as a junior mining / exploration company.
The Proposed Transaction and the Renata Option Agreement are subject to, among other things,
receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, the final approval of the Exchange and the
satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the conditions described below. The
proposed acquisition of the Puerto Rico Property and the Renat a Property are arm's length
transactions and do not require shareholder approval under applicable securities or corporate
legislation. As such, the Company, with the consent of the Exchange, does not intend to seek the
approval of its shareholders to compl ete the Proposed T ransaction. Sponsorship is required
under Exchange policies and the Company will be requesting a waiver of Sponsorship. There is
no guarantee Sponsorship will be waived.
Property descriptions
The Puerto Rico and Renata properties sit within a newly consolidated 3,000 square kilometre
land package that covers hundreds of historical high grade Zn-Pb-Ag +/- Cu workings and mines,
virtually none of which have ever been drill tested. The propert ies are situated on the major
carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) belt that extends 1,700 km from SE Arizona to central
Mexico.
The Puerto Rico Property hosts the former Puerto Rico, San José and Zaragoza mines situated
along a 12 km long, 1 km wide structural zone. This zone hosts extensive underground workings
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and prospect pits, with high grade Ag, Zn, Pb and Cu mineralization on surface and in the
underground workings that is open for extension in all directions. Very little modern exploration
has ever been carried out on what is clearly a district scale target.
There are reported to be over 200 historical workings in the district, with the Puerto Rico and San
José mines accounting for over 90% of the historically mined tonnage. Non-mechanized mining
by the Vendors at the Puerto Rico project over the past three years , has resulted in the sale of
approximately 20,000 tonnes of mineralized material grading > 20% Zn.
Based on exposures in underground workings, the mineralized system hosts multiple high grade
mantos and chimneys separated by lower grade wallrock. To assist with due diligence and i n
order to verify h istorical geochemical analyses , the Company arranged for the collection of 33
samples on the Puerto Rico Property during a site visit consisting of: four grab samples from mine
dumps or selective samples from outcrops to test specific mineralized zones, six underground
grab samples, 10 rock chip samples from outcrops, and 13 underground rock chip samples .
Highlights from the sampling include:
• 42.7% Zn, 4.0% Pb and 180 ppm Ag over 1.0 metre in sample3 A49819;
• 34.5% Zn, 6.1% Pb and 118 ppm Ag over 1.0 metre in sample3 A49811;
• 26.0% Zn, 15.7% Pb and 309 ppm Ag in grab sample1,3 A49820; and
• 8.9% Zn, 12.7% Pb and 299 ppm Ag in grab sample1,3 A49803.
For a complete table of the sample results see the attached Schedule “A” to this news release.
A technical report under National Instrument 43 -101 for the Puerto Rico Property has been
prepared. Details of the proposed initial exploration program and budget will be disclosed in a
subsequent press release, and the technical report will be available on SEDAR.
The Renata Property is located a few kilometres south of and in a similar geological setting as a
privately held mine and may host a possible extension of high grade Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization
currently being mined. The Company expects to be able to quickly drill test to confirm any
mineralization at the Renata Property. At the present time, the Company considers the Renata
Property non -material and a technical report under National Instrument 43 -101 has not been
prepared.
The Vendors collectively hold 100% title in the five mineral concessions forming the Puerto Rico
Property that is subject to the Puerto Rico Option Agreement. The Vendors also collectively hold
100% title in one mineral concession forming the Renata Property that is subject to the Renata
Option Agreement.
Terms of the Puerto Rico Option Agreement
Consideration
Pursuant to the terms of the Puerto Rico Option Agreement, the Company may exercise the
Option and acquire the Puerto Rico Property from the Vendors, on the following payments to the
Vendors:
a) a cash payment of US$300,000, payable by the Company on the latter of final Exchange
approval and the Company entering into certain land occupation agreements with and/or
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receiving consent from the local Ejido, duly registered at the National Agrarian Registry of
Mexico;
b) the issuance of an aggregate of 500,000 common shares on or before June 30, 2017;
c) an additional cash payment of US$300,000 and the issuance of a further 500,000 common
shares upon the receipt of all necessary permits and approvals to conduct drilling activities
on the Mineral Concessions from the applicable authorities (the “Drilling Approvals”);
d) the issuance of four tranches of 500,000 common shares on each anniversary of the
closing of the Pr oposed Transaction , with the first issuance occurring on the second
anniversary of the closing; and
e) the issuance of additional common shares (the “Additional Consideration Shares ”),
representing 30% (the “Thirty Percent Interest ”) of the Company ’s then iss ued and
outstanding share capital, taking into account any common shares already issued to the
Vendors.
In the event that the market value of the Thirty Percent Interest is less than US$10,000,000 at the
time of issuance, the Company will issue further c ommon shares to the Vendors such that the
common shares of the Company issued the Vendors, in aggregate, have a market value of
US$10,000,000, subject to a maximum aggregate ownership interest by the Vendors of 35%. Any
amount in excess of the 35% share threshold will be paid to the Vendors in cash, to an aggregate
value of US$10,000,000.
In the event the Company has any material assets in addition to the Puerto Rico Property, at the
time of the issuance of the Additional Consideration Shares, the number of the Additional
Consideration Shares issuable to the Vendors will be reduced to represent 30% of the market
value of only the Puerto Rico Property, as determined by an independent third party valuation.
Expenditures
In order to exercise the Option, the Company is required to complete exploration expenditures of
not less than US$12,500,000 (the “Expenditures”) on the Puerto Rico Property within five years
of receipt of the Drilling Approvals. The Company must complete not less than US$2,000,000 of
these Expenditures within the first twelve (12) months.
All cash consideration paid by the Company to the Vendors shall be credited towards the
Expenditures. At any time, t he Company may pay any remaining amount of the Expenditures
directly to the Vendors, a nd issue any remaining consideration as outline above, in order to
accelerate the acquisition of the Puerto Rico Property pursuant to the Option.
The Company will be the operator of the Puerto Rico Property during the term of the Option and
is required to pay all mining duties to maintain the Mining Concessions in good standing.
Terms of the Renata Option Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of the Renata Option Agreement, the Company may exercise the o ption
and acquire the Renata Property on the following terms:
a) an aggregate cash payment of US$100,000 to the Vendors three months from approval
of the Renata Option Agreement by the Exchange; and
b) the Company incurring exploration expenditures on the Renata Property of not less than
US$2,000,000 within three years of the latter of the closing date and the entering into by
the Company of any required land occupation or lease agreements on the subject lands.
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An additional US$100,000 payment will be due if the Company has not made a decision to keep
or return the Renata Concession to the Vendors within two years.
During the term of the Renata Option Agreement, the Company may negotiate the sale and
transfer of the Renata Concession to an arm ’s length party, before or after making the required
exploration expenditures and acquiring the Renata Property. In the event of sale, the Vendors
shall receive the first US$3,000,000 of sale proceeds, and the balance of consideration shall be
split equally between the Company and the Vendors, net of any exploration expenditures already
incurred.
The Company will be the operator of the Renata Property during the term of the Renata Option
Agreement and is required to pay all mining duties to maintain the Renata Concession in good
standing.
Financing
As a condition to comp leting the Proposed Transaction the Company intends to complete a
private placement financing. The terms of the financing have yet to be finalized. The financing will
be announced once the final terms have been determined.
Loans
On the execution of the Puerto Rico Option Agreement and the Renata Option Agreement, the
Company advanced loans to the Vendors in the aggregate amount of US$150,000 (the “Loan”).
The Loans will be credited towards the first cash payments required under the Puerto Rico Option
Agreement and the Renata Option Agreement.
In the event that the Puerto Rico Option Agreement and Renata Agreement are terminated prior
to closing, the Vendors shall repay the Loans within 30 day s of demand by the Company. If not
repaid within 30 day s any unpaid amount shall accrue interest at the rate of 12% per annum,
calculated and compounded monthly. The Vendors have executed promissory notes in favour of
the Company as security for the Loans.
Board Changes
On completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Company ’s Board of Directors will be
reconstituted, to include the following directors:
Dr. Mark O’Dea, PhD., P. Geo.
Dr. O ’Dea has played leadership roles in founding, financing and building numerous mining
companies, creating over $3 billion in shareholder value. As Co -Founder, CEO and Director, he
grew Fronteer Gold from start-up to its sale in 2011 to Newmont Mining, which included the spin-
out of Pilot Gold. Dr. O ’Dea also co-founded and served as CEO and Director of Aurora Energy
which was sold to Paladin in 2011. He co-founded True North Nickel, which was sold to Royal
Nickel in 2014, and most recently co -founded and served as Executive Chairman of True Gold
Mining, which built the Karma Gold Mine in B urkina Faso. True Gold was sold to Endeavour
Mining in 2016. He is the founder of Oxygen Capital, and currently serves as Chairman of Pilot
Gold and as Director of Pure Gold Mining and NexGen Energy. He has received numerous
business and industry awards, including the Globe and Mail’s Top 40 Under 40, winner of the EY
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Entrepreneur Of The YearTM 2014 Pacific mining and metals category, and the AMEBC’s Murray
Pezim Award for perseverance and success in financing mineral exploration.
Murray John
Prior to his retirement in December 2014, Mr. John was President and Chief Executive Officer of
Dundee Resources Limited, a private resource -focused investment company, and Managing
Director and a Portfolio Manager with Goodman Investment Counsel, where he was responsible
for managing resource and precious metals focused mutual funds and flow -through limited
partnerships. Mr. John is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Corona Gold
Corporation and Ryan Gold Corp. He is also a lead director of Osisko Mining Inc., formerly Oban
Mining Corp., a director of Dundee Precious Metals Inc. and a former director of several other
public companies. He has been involved with the resource investment industry since 1992 and
has worked as an investment banker, buy -side mi ning analyst, sell -side mining analyst and
portfolio manager. Mr. John graduated from the Camborne School of Mines in 1980 with a B. Sc
(Hons) in mining engineering and has extensive industry experience working as a mining engineer
for Strathcona Mineral Services Ltd., Nanisivik Mines Ltd. and Eldorado Nuclear Limited. He also
received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto in 1992.
Jesus Miguel Hernández Garza
Mr. Garza holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universit y Regiomontana located in
Monterrey Nuevo León, Mexico, and holds a Masters degree in Environment and Administration.
He is a principal of Revi Minerals S.A. de C.V., a company dedicated to open pit mining of coal
and zinc deposits in Mexico. He has also been involved in the mining of gravel, fluorite and barite
in Mexico and has held positions in state and municipal governments where he maintains a
number of key government relationships. He is a former employee of Freeport McMoran at the
Puerto Rico Project, where he also held the title of Manager of Social Management. Mr. Garza is
a resident of the local Ejido which owns surface rights around the Puerto Rico Project.
"We intend to complete our evaluation of the new properties and complete a financing to fund an
aggressive exploration program on closing,” said Dr. Mark O ’Dea. “We also intend to further
expand the Board at the next Annual General Meeting of the Company and are in active
discussions with potential management teams to direct the project".
Special Advisor
On completion of the Proposed Transaction, Mr. Cal Everett will be appointed Special Advisor to
the Board.
Mr. Everett is a geologist with more than 14 years of surface and underground exploration
experience with senior mining companies and is the President and CEO of Pilot Gold Inc., a TSX
listed company. Mr. Everett moved to the financial sector in 1990, and spent 12 years with BMO
Nesbitt Burns focused on resource equities, and seven years with PI Financial Corp. in senior
resource institutional sales and capital markets. From 2008 to 2015, he was President and Chief
Executive Officer of Axemen Resource Capital.
Mr. Everett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economic Geology from the University New
Brunswick.
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Completion of the Proposed Transaction remains subject to the Exchange approval . Trading in
the Company’s common shares will remain halted pending further filings with the Exchange.
The technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Moira Smith, Ph.D., P.Geo.
who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
For further information, contact Scott Ackerman at [email protected]
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of:
AYUBOWAN CAPITAL LTD.
Scott Ackerman
Director
Ayubowan Capital Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to,
Exchange acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable,
the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no
assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned
that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared
in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the
transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the
securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange
Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved
nor disapproved the contents of this news release.
This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and
uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are
to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in
such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from
those described in forward -looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in forward -looking statements include fluctuations in market
prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general
economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will
prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own ev aluation of such
uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except
as required under applicable laws.
Schedule “A”
Independent Verification Samples Collected for Geochemical Analyses
Sample Easting Northing Mine Type1 Widt Zn Pb Ag Cu
(m) (%)3 (%) (ppm) (%)
A49800 713050 3229116 chip 1.0 0.1 2.4 38 0.05
A49801 713016 3229175 Zaragoza chip 1.0 1.2 1.8 226 0.20
A49802 712982 3229304 Zaragoza grab 0.3 14.7 220 0.16
A49803 712946 3229273 San José grab 8.9 12.7 299 3.23
A498042 713071 3229088 Zaragoza chip 1.0 23.9 2.2 48 0.03
A49806 713071 3229077 Zaragoza grab 13.4 4.2 107 0.06
A49807 713077 3229048 Zaragoza grab 3.6 0.4 45 7.31
A49808 712968 3229250 San José grab 1.8 0.0 58 5.54
A49809 712972 3229250 San José chip 1.0 3.4 3.5 56 0.11
A49810 712934 3229282 San José chip 1.0 34.2 0.7 10 0.48
A49811 712935 3229285 San José chip 1.0 34.5 6.1 118 0.22
A49812 712936 3229250 San José chip 1.0 0.2 0.1 17 2.05
A49813 710799 3231550 La Cubana chip 0.5 0.6 0.6 215 8.25
A49814 712157 3229929 La Cubana chip 1.0 0.0 0.1 5 0.02
A49816 712121 3229934 Puerto Rico chip 2.0 10.9 0.6 28 1.78
A49817 712074 3229981 Puerto Rico chip 1.5 13.4 4.0 157 0.11
A49818 712016 3230013 Puerto Rico chip 0.5 15.1 2.0 280 0.02
A49819 712009 3230024 Puerto Rico chip 1.0 42.7 4.0 180 0.02
A49820 712023 3230016 Puerto Rico grab 26.0 15.7 309 0.02
A49821 712037 3229940 Puerto Rico chip 0.5 1.7 1.9 3327 2.55
A49822 710644 3233244 grab 13.4 6.6 79 0.02
A49823 710644 3233238 panel 11.1 7.5 90 0.01
A49824 711190 3232244 chip 1.0 3.9 1.7 29 0.00
A49826 711209 3232131 chip 1.0 0.2 0.5 4 0.00
A49827 711196 3232127 grab 0.5 14.5 198 0.00
A49828 711076 3230522 grab 0.0 0.1 < 3 0.05
A49829 711083 3230495 chip 1.0 1.6 0.6 228 0.50
A49830 711087 3230477 chip 1.0 0.4 1.4 222 0.07
A49831 710961 3230863 grab 0.0 0.4 202 0.03
A49832 713725 3223171 chip 0.5 24.7 0.1 13 0.00
A49833 713707 3223262 chip 1.0 5.1 0.5 27 0.02
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A49834 713704 3223258 chip 1.0 2.1 1.3 55 0.12
A49836 713576 3223297 chip 1.0 0.0 0.0 3 0.17
1 Grab samples are selective samples an d are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on
the property
2 Approximate location
3 Zinc grades quoted are from Zinc oxides