Vancouver, British Columbia – February 5, 2015 – Peruvian Precious Metals Inc. (“the Company”, “Peruvian”) is pleased to announce that it has signed a series of agreements that put into effect the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AM Mining SAC (AMM) of Lima, Peru, that was previously announced on October 9, 2014. The agreements outline the terms and conditions under which AMM will construct and operate on behalf of the Company a 350 metric tonne per day (“350 mt/d”) gold and silver processing plant, utilizing CIP/CIL and Merrill-Crowe precious metal recovery, capable of producing precious metal dore at the Company’s Igor project in northern Peru. AMM, in conjunction with sister company Fundición Callao, SAC (“Fundición”), has over 60 years of mining, mineral processing and plant construction experience, with a hemisphere-wide client and project resume. The Company and AMM will utilize data gathered during on-going metallurgical testing and the previously announced underground bulk sampling program (please see press release dated September 2, 2014) to develop a detailed process flow-sheet for the proposed precious metal processing plant.
Although the Company does not intend this press release to be interpreted as a decision to commence commercial production, it should be noted that a production decision in the absence of a feasibility study of mineral reserves that demonstrates economic and technical viability has increased uncertainty and higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with any production decision.
Important aspects of the MOU are summarized below:
- AMM anticipates that it will take up to 18 months to obtain permits, complete the final design and plant engineering, construct the milling and processing equipment, prepare necessary site infrastructure, install and commission the processing plant at the Igor Project. AMM will be responsible for all aspects of project permitting, site preparation, tailings disposal, as well as the detailed design, assembly and construction of the processing facility. AMM will utilize the engineering expertise of Fundición in the design phase as well as the Fundición fabrication facility in Lima to construct the processing equipment including all mills, tanks, etc. Fundición is highly experienced in process plant design, construction and assembly, having been contractor and sub-contractor on projects of all scales: Mina Peñasquito, Zacatecas, Mexico (Au, Ag, Zn, Pb), Goldcorp, 130,000 tpd; Mina Antapaccay, Peru (Cu, Ag, Au), Xstrata, 60,000 t/d; Minera Aurifera Retamas, Peru (Au), 1,500 t/d; Mina Lagunas Norte, Peru (Au), Barrick Gold, processing facility.
- The Company and AMM have completed preliminary engineering and design work for the processing plant based on available and on-going metallurgical test work. Pending completion of the metallurgical testing, the processing plant will consist of a crushing/grinding circuit with a process capacity of 350 mt/day. Gold and silver recovery will be accomplished with either CIP or CIL leaching, Merrill Crowe silver recovery and a conventional desorption circuit. All support facilities, including analytical laboratory, CN destruction circuit, rock and crushed material loading and feeding conveyors, etc. are included in the proposed plant which is intended to be a
- After completing the construction of the processing plant at the Igor project site, AMM will operate the plant for a period of up to 54 months, charging a fixed fee for plant supervision, environmental monitoring, safety, security and reasonable profit. AMM has the right to receive its fee in dore produced from the plant’s operations. At any time after the plant’s completion, the title to the processing plant can be transferred to the Company at the Company’s discretion. Once the processing plant’s design and engineering is finalized, projected operating costs will be available for disclosure. Following completion of the 54-month operational period or termination of the Agreements as outlined below, the Company will assume operating control of the processing plant.
- As compensation for the design, procurement, permitting and construction of the processing facility as outlined above, Peruvian will pay AMM US$5,000,000, of whichUS$3,870,685 is payable in cash at the commencement of the contract. The balance of US$1,129,305 is payable within 12 months in cash, or at the Company’s option, by the issuance of 12,344,782 shares. Any additional costs for the design, construction and assembly of the processing plant beyond the amount above will be borne by AMM. Peruvian has also agreed to a non-brokered private placement with AMM, for gross proceeds of Cdn$4,865,850. The private placement will consist of 42,311,740 common shares of Peruvian priced at Cdn$0.115 per share. The Company may pay a finder’s fee in connection with the private placement of 8 per cent in shares and 8 per cent in warrants (“Broker Warrants”) in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder, on exercise thereof, to purchase one additional share at a price of $0.18 for a period of 24 months from the completion of the private placement, provided that if the daily volume weighted average price for twenty (20) consecutive days of trading of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (or such other stock exchange on which shares of the Company are listed) exceeds $0.24 per share, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving notice to the holder of the Warrants that the Warrants will expire on the date that is not less than thirty (30) calendar days from the date notice is given.
- Combining the 18-month permitting and construction period with the 54 month period of processing plant operations, the MOU anticipates a total Agreement life of 72 months. The Company has the right to terminate the MOU and Agreements at any time by paying AMM a termination fee based on potential loss of earnings from the anticipated processing plant operations. The base termination fee is US$13,500,000. For each month that the MOU and Agreements are in effect, the termination fee is reduced by US$187,500, commencing at the end of the first month following the effective date of the MOU. The termination fee can be further reduced by applying a credit equal to 50% of any appreciation in value of the shares acquired by AMM in the private placement outlined above. AMM has the right to receive a 120-day notice in event of a termination of the MOU and/or Agreements.
The transactions are subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange and any other applicable approvals.
Kimberly Ann, Peruvian Precious Metals’ CFO and Vice President – Corporate Development: “The Company is excited to have completed these agreements with AMM. The agreements allow the Company to acquire a state-of-the-art processing plant utilizing at market financing. We look forward to the continued permitting of the underground test mining operation and initiating permitting for the processing plant.”
Andre Marsano, General Manager of AMM commented: “AMM is thrilled to be involved in this project with Peruvian. This is just the beginning of a strong business partnership that has the potential to grow in the future; now the circuit is closed and this is a new era with the potential for growth in the future. We intend to apply this new business model to future projects and build on this success.”
About Peruvian Precious Metals Inc.: Peruvian Precious Metals (PPX: TSX.V; BVL) is currently exploring and evaluating mine development opportunities at its Igor Mine Project in Northern Peru. The Igor project explores several high grade, gold and silver mineralized high-angle structures that host significant gold and silver resources. The Callanquitas Structure at the Igor Project contains Inferred gold and silver resources of 7,189,000 tonnes grading 1.94 gpt gold and 71.8 gpt silver containing 448,500 ounces of gold and 16,600,000 ounces of silver at a cutoff grade of 1.5 gpt gold equivalent. Included within this resource estimate is a higher grade zone consisting of 2,730,000 tonnes grading 2.73 gpt gold and 119.1 gpt silver containing 239,400 ounces of gold and 10,500,000 ounces of silver using a 3.0 gpt gold equivalent cutoff grade (Please see Technical Report as amended on September 27, 2013 entitled “Technical Report on the Callanquitas Structure, Igor Mine Project, Northern Peru, South America”, available on the Company’s web site or SEDAR). Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserves.
The Company is continuing its exploration and development of the Igor Project including an underground test mining and bulk sampling program designed to generate data to evaluate future mine development options at Igor. The Company is also completing the design of a new 350 mt/d processing plant at Igor, the design process intended to coincide with a new Technical Report in mid-2015.
All scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Quentin J. Browne, P.Geo. Independent Consulting Geologist to Peruvian Precious Metals, who is a qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Brian J. Maher
President and Chief Executive Officer
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Peruvian Precious Metals Corp. Kimberly Ann Arntson, CFO and Vice President – Corporate Development
Phone: 1-530-414-4400
Email: kimberly.ann@peruvianpmc.com
Website: www.peruvianpmc.com
Cautionary Statement: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements relating to the potential mineralization and geological merits of the Igor Mine Project, statements relating to the design, procurement, permitting and construction of the processing facility as outlined above, statements relating to the private placement and other future plans, objectives or expectations of Peruvian Precious Metals Inc. (the “Company”) are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s plans or expectations include risks relating to the actual results of current exploration and development activities, fluctuating gold prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government, shareholder or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. 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.