Wrap Text
South32 and Trilogy Metals to form upper Kobuk Mineral projects joint venture
South32 Limited
(Incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth))
(ACN 093 732 597)
ASX / LSE / JSE Share Code: S32 ADR: SOUHY
ISIN: AU000000S320
south32.net
SOUTH32 AND TRILOGY METALS TO FORM UPPER KOBUK MINERAL PROJECTS JOINT VENTURE
South32 Limited (ASX, LSE, JSE: S32; ADR: SOUHY) (“South32”) and Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX, NYSE
American: TMQ) (“Trilogy Metals”) announced today that South32 has exercised its option to acquire a 50%
interest in a joint venture company (“Joint Venture”) that will own the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (“UKMP”)
located in northwest Alaska.
Trilogy Metals will contribute all of its assets associated with the UKMP and South32 will contribute
US$145 million to the Joint Venture. Establishment of the Joint Venture is expected to occur in February 2020
and follows an initial exploration partnership between South32 and Trilogy Metals over three field seasons to
advance both parties’ geological understanding of the UKMP.
Following formation, the Joint Venture will retain US$87.5 million of the US$145 million subscription payment to fund its
activities and exploration programs with the balance of US$57.5 million loaned back to South32. The loan will be repaid
in instalments, on notice by the Joint Venture as required to advance development studies, resource drilling and regional
exploration programs.
South32 Chief Executive Officer, Graham Kerr said “Investing in exploration to create shareholder value is integral to
our Group’s strategy. Forming the UKMP Joint Venture will be another important milestone as we reshape and improve
our portfolio, by adding high-quality copper and base metals development options. The decision to exercise the option
follows a successful exploration partnership with Trilogy Metals and is an exciting step forward.”
“We look forward to furthering our partnership with Trilogy Metals and NANA Regional Corporation, the Iñupiat-owned
Alaska Native corporation in the region, as we work together to advance the Arctic and Bornite deposits and further test
the significant regional potential across the Ambler Mining District.”
Trilogy Metals Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, James Gowans said “Having the support and partnership
from a senior mining company like South32 – both in terms of their financial support and technical expertise – is
tremendous for Trilogy Metals. The Ambler Mining District has great potential that we expect will finally be realised with
the formation of the Joint Venture and when the Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Project, providing key
infrastructure access, is approved. We are very excited to advance this partnership.”
“This joint venture is an investment in the future – not only for the UKMP but for NANA shareholders and the people of
Alaska,” said NANA Regional Corporation, Inc (“NANA”) president and CEO Wayne Westlake. “Continued exploration
offers opportunities for economic growth, allowing NANA to further fulfill our mission to improve the quality of life for our
people.”
Registered Office Level 35 108 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Australia
ABN 84 093 732 597 Registered in Australia 1
About UKMP
The UKMP is located in the Ambler Mining District in Alaska and includes the high grade, polymetallic Arctic deposit,
the Bornite copper deposit and a highly prospective regional exploration portfolio.
Figure 1: Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects, Alaska
Figure 1 can be found within the National Storage Mechanism version of the release.
Arctic is a polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) style deposit that has a reported reserve and resource 1
in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Current activities at Arctic are focused on advancing
development studies and permitting, following release of a pre-feasibility study by Trilogy Metals in April 2018. Bornite
is a carbonate hosted copper deposit that has a reported resource2 in accordance with NI 43-101. The 2020 field season
will include further exploration drilling at Bornite and regional activity across the highly prospective Ambler VMS and
carbonate hosted copper belts.
South32 expects to release initial JORC compliant Mineral Resource estimates for Arctic and Bornite in the
March quarter 2020 following establishment of the Joint Venture. South32 cautions that the NI 43-101 Mineral
Resources for Arctic and Bornite published by Trilogy Metals are foreign estimates and are not reported in accordance
with the JORC Code. A Competent Person has not done sufficient work to classify the NI 43-101 Mineral Resources
and Mineral Reserves as JORC Code Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves respectively in accordance with the JORC
Code. It is uncertain that following evaluation and/or further exploration work that the NI 43-101 Mineral Resources and
Mineral Reserves will be able to be reported as Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves in accordance with the JORC
Code.
About NANA
NANA is a for-profit Alaska Native corporation formed as a result of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)
of 1971. NANA manages 2.3 million acres of land located in northwest Alaska, largely above the Arctic Circle, and is
owned by more than 14,500 Iñupiat shareholders, or descendants, who live or have roots in the region. In October 2011,
Trilogy Metals and NANA entered into an agreement to consolidate their landholdings into the land package that hosts
the UKMP and established a framework for co-operative development of their respective interests by formation of a joint
venture or royalty payment mechanism.
About South32
South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. We produce bauxite, alumina, aluminium, energy and
metallurgical coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead and zinc at our operations in Australia, Southern Africa and South
America. We are also the owner of a high grade zinc, lead and silver development option in North America and have
several partnerships with junior explorers with a focus on base metals. Our purpose is to make a difference by
developing natural resources, improving people’s lives now and for generations to come, and to be trusted by our owners
and partners to realise the potential of their resources.
About Trilogy
Trilogy Metals is a metals exploration and development company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler
mining district located in north-western Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant
districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic VMS deposits
that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host
high-grade copper and cobalt mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler
mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within
the Company's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA,
a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the
Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a
premier North American copper producer.
1 Refer to Trilogy Metals press release dated 6 April 2018
2 Refer to Trilogy Metals press release dated 5 June 2018
SOUTH32 AND TRILOGY METALS TO FORM UPPER KOBUK MINERAL PROJECTS JOINT VENTURE 2
Approved for release by Nicole Duncan, Company Secretary, South32
JSE Sponsor: UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd
20 December 2019
South32 Investor Relations
Alex Volante Tom Gallop
T +61 8 9324 9029 T +61 8 9324 9030
M +61 403 328 408 M +61 439 353 948
E Alex.Volante@south32.net E Tom.Gallop@south32.net
South32 Media Relations
Rebecca Keenan Jenny White
T +61 8 9324 9364 T +44 20 7798 1773
M +61 402 087 055 M +44 7900 046 758
E Rebecca.Keenan@south32.net E Jenny.White@south32.net
Trilogy Contacts
Patrick Donnelly Elaine Sanders
T +1 604 630 3569 T +1 604 630 3573
E patrick.donnelly@trilogymetals.com E elaine.sanders@trilogymetals.com
Further information on South32 can be found at www.south32.net and further information on Trilogy Metals can be
found at www.trilogymetals.com.
SOUTH32 AND TRILOGY METALS TO FORM UPPER KOBUK MINERAL PROJECTS JOINT VENTURE 3
Forward-looking statements
This press release includes certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively,
“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including, but not limited to,
statements regarding the completion of the transactions contemplated herein, the timing of the establishment of the
Joint Venture, the realisation of the value in the mining district related to the Joint Venture and the final structure thereof
and access road and the use of proceeds from the contribution payment by South32 and the timing of the release of the
JORC compliant Mineral Resource estimates. These forward-looking statements reflect expectations at the date of this
release; however, they are not guarantees or predictions of future performance. They involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this release. Readers are cautioned not to put undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, neither Trilogy Metals nor
South32 undertakes to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information
or future events. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Trilogy Metals’ expectations include risks
related to the negotiation and settlement of definitive documentation and the satisfaction or waiver of conditions
precedent to the establishment of the Joint Venture and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Trilogy Metals’ Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2018 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities
and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Trilogy Metals reports and documents
filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time.
Mineral Resources and Reserves – clarifying statements
The estimates of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for Arctic and Bornite are foreign estimates under the ASX
Listing Rules reported in accordance with NI 43-101 and filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on 6 April 2018 and 20 July
2018 respectively.
In accordance with NI 43-101, Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
There is no certainty that all or any part of mineral resources will be converted to Mineral Reserves. Inferred Mineral
Resources are based on limited drilling which suggests the greatest uncertainty for a resource estimate and that
geological continuity is only implied. Additional drilling will be required to verify geological and mineralisation continuity
and there is no certainty that all of the Inferred Resources will be converted to Measured and Indicated Resources.
Quantity and grades are estimates and are rounded to reflect the fact that the resource estimate is an approximation.
The categories of Mineral Resource classification used are in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 is a ‘qualifying
foreign estimate’ (Chapter 19, ASX Listing Rules) and has similar categories of resource classification as the JORC
Code (Appendix 5A, ASX Listing Rules).
Reliability of estimate: South32 has experience of managing similar operations to Arctic and Bornite. South32’s key
technical and operational personnel have conducted site visits to Arctic and Bornite. Trilogy Metals provided information
used to estimate Mineral Resources to South32 for review.
The basis for the estimates as provided to South32 consists of a geological database incorporating geology, analytical
results and surface topography. Mining and processing recoveries are based on the NI 43-101 reports on Arctic (filed
6 April 2018) and Bornite (filed 20 July 2018) which are available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
South32 believes that the information provided is the most recent publicly available.
Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the current requirements of the SEC, and information
on mineral deposits contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In
particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource” does not equate to the term "reserves”,
and the requirements for “reserves” under NI 43-101 are also not the same as those under SEC rules. Under U.S.
standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve” unless the determination has been made that the
mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made.
The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral
resources”, "indicated mineral resources” or "inferred mineral resources” or other descriptions of the amount of
mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves” by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted
into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty
as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Accordingly, information concerning
SOUTH32 AND TRILOGY METALS TO FORM UPPER KOBUK MINERAL PROJECTS JOINT VENTURE 4
mineral deposits set forth in this press release may not be comparable with information made public by companies that
report in accordance with U.S. standards.
Competent persons’ statement
In accordance with ASX listing rule 5.12, Tracy Fouet, a Competent Person, employee of South32 and a Chartered
Professional and Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, confirms the information in this market
announcement that relates to the Arctic and Bornite NI 43-101 foreign estimates filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on
6 April 2018 and 20 July 2018 are accurate representations of the available data and studies provided to South32 by
Trilogy Metals. Ms Fouet has sufficient relevant experience for the styles of mineralisation and types of deposits under
consideration to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for the Reporting
of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). Ms Fouet consents to the inclusion in the
report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.
Qualified Persons
Andrew W. West, Certified Professional Geologist, Exploration Manager for Trilogy Metals, is a Qualified Person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. West has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news
release on behalf of Trilogy Metals and approves the disclosure contained herein.
SOUTH32 AND TRILOGY METALS TO FORM UPPER KOBUK MINERAL PROJECTS JOINT VENTURE 5
Date: 20-12-2019 08:00:00
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