Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. (“Xtra-Gold”) (TSX:XTG)
(OTCQB:XTGRF)
: The management of Xtra-Gold
wishes to clarify certain erroneous public disclosures made by
Buccaneer Gold Corp. (“Buccaneer”) about its business affairs with
Xtra-Gold in Buccaneer’s filings made on Sedar.
As has been previously disclosed by Xtra-Gold, on July 24, 2015,
Buccaneer filed an action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
against Xtra-Gold and another individual (the “Action”). In the
Action, Buccaneer alleges that in July, 2010, Buccaneer and
Xtra-Gold entered into a letter of intent (the “LOI”) to option
(the “Option”) Xtra-Gold’s Banso and Muoso prospecting licenses in
Ghana leading to a joint venture between the parties.
Buccaneer also alleges that pursuant to the said joint venture,
Buccaneer acquired an immediate 55% undivided interest in the
alluvial mining rights of Xtra-Gold’s Banso and Muoso Concessions
(the “Concessions”) at the time the agreement was reached and paid
$50,000 for those rights.
The Action claims against the defendants damages for breach of
contract and breach of fiduciary duty and for an accounting of
profits from the sale of alluvial gold recovered from the
Concessions.
Erroneous Disclosure About Alleged Alluvial “Immediate
Interest”
In respect of the allegation in the Action by Buccaneer that it
acquired an immediate 55% interest in the alluvial rights to the
Concessions, Xtra-Gold has been unable to locate any record of such
alluvial agreement or payment in respect thereof, and
announced shortly after the Action was issued that it questioned
the validity/existence of the same and that it was reviewing the
circumstances of the previous disclosure made by Xtra-Gold in
respect of an alleged agreement relating to alluvial rights to the
Concessions.
Xtra-Gold notes that at the time of the alleged transaction and
subsequent public disclosures, Mr Paul Zyla was the CEO and a
director of both Xtra-Gold and Buccaneer and in a position of
conflict of interest.
In Buccaneer’s Management Discussion & Analysis made as of
August 26, 2015 and filed on Sedar, Buccaneer makes the following
disclosure:
Erroneous Buccaneer Disclosure:“During the
quarter ended June 30, 2015, the Company discovered that Xtra-Gold
Corp. ("Xtra") recently sold the first batch of
alluvial gold recovered from Xtra's Banso and Muoso Mining Leases
in Ghana. The Banso and Muoso Mining Leases are subject to a Joint
Venture with Buccaneer and the Company previously purchased a 55%
up-front interest in the alluvial proceeds from Xtra for US$50,000
as part of the same Agreement in which the Corporation has the
right to earn a 55% interest in those Mining Leases. “ [Erroneous
portion in italics]
On August 27, 2015, Xtra-Gold’s counsel wrote to Mr Zyla,
requesting evidence of the alleged alluvial agreement and payment
but Mr. Zyla never responded to this letter.
Xtra-Gold notes that, contrary to Buccaneer’s previous
disclosure, Buccaneer’s recent public disclosure, including its
MD&A and audited annual financial statements for the year ended
September 30, 2015 and filed on Sedar, now make no reference to the
previously alleged alluvial “Joint Venture” agreement or the
alleged $50,000 payment.
In light of these events, Xtra-Gold believes it is appropriate
to confirm its position that there is not, and never has been, an
agreement for an immediate 55% interest in the alluvial rights to
the Concession. Xtra-Gold disputes Buccaneer’s public
representations about this situation both in its initial
disclosures and its more recent omission to explicitly correct
previous erroneous disclosure.
Update on Status of Option
As has been previously reported by Xtra-Gold, in 2013, Buccaneer
ceased all activity at the Concession. At the time and in certain
disclosures thereafter, Xtra-Gold reported that it granted
Buccaneer a two year extension to complete its obligation to incur
the $4,425,000 in exploration expenditures. These disclosures
were made while Mr. Zyla was the CEO and a director of both
Xtra-Gold and Buccaneer and in a position of conflict of
interest.
Xtra-Gold has been unable to locate any record of any such
extension agreement. Xtra-Gold recently requested Mr. Zyla to
provide evidence of such an agreement but has received no response
to this request.
Xtra-Gold notes that Buccaneer’s recently filed MD&A for the
year ended September 30, 2015 now references an alleged agreement
to extend based on a “course of conduct and clear intentions of the
parties and other relevant factors”. Xtra-Gold confirms and
reiterates its position that there never has been any extension of
the Option, and accordingly the Option has expired due to
non-fulfillment of its terms.
Xtra-Gold disputes Buccaneer’s public disclosure regarding the
alleged agreement to extend the Option, and disclaims that there is
any proper basis for creating or evidencing a valid “binding
agreement” between two companies for mineral rights in Ghana in the
manner alleged, without terms, documentation or consideration,
particularly given the conflict of interest arising from the fact
that Mr. Zyla was the CEO and director of both Xtra-Gold and
Buccaneer at the relevant times.
Update on the Action
Xtra-Gold believes the claims in the Action are without merit
and will vigorously defend the unfounded claims in the event they
are raised in an appropriate forum. It is Xtra-Gold’s position that
the only contract between the parties was the LOI (which is now
expired), and to the extent there are any matters in dispute
between the parties in respect of activities under the LOI,
resolution of the dispute should be under arbitration pursuant to
the LOI terms, not a court proceeding. The Action is not
properly before the Ontario court, and Xtra-Gold intends to seek an
order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice staying the Action
if it is not withdrawn.
About Xtra-Gold Resources Corp.Xtra-Gold is a
gold exploration company with a substantial land position in the
Kibi Gold Belt. The Kibi Gold Belt, which exhibits many similar
geological features to Ghana’s main gold belt, the Ashanti Belt,
has been the subject of very limited modern exploration activity
targeting lode gold deposits as virtually all past gold mining
activity and exploration efforts focused on the extensive alluvial
gold occurrences in many river valleys throughout the Kibi
area.
Xtra-Gold holds 5 Mining Leases totaling approximately 226 sq km
(22,600 ha) at the northern extremity of the Kibi Gold Belt.
Xtra-Gold’s exploration efforts to date have focused on the Kibi
Project located on the Apapam Concession (33.65 sq km), along the
eastern flank of the Kibi Gold Belt. The NI 43-101 Technical Report
entitled “Independent Technical Report, Apapam Concession, Kibi
Project, Eastern Region, Ghana”, prepared by SEMS Explorations
and dated October 31, 2012, is filed under Xtra-Gold’s profile on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThe TSX does not
accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory
authority has approved or disapproved the information contained
herein. This news release includes certain “forward-looking
statements”. These statements are based on information currently
available to Xtra-Gold and Xtra-Gold provides no assurance that
actual results will meet management’s expectations. Forward looking
statements include estimates and statements that describe
Xtra-Gold's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to
the effect that Xtra-Gold or management expects a stated condition
or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by
such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects","estimates",
"may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions and address future events and
conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and
uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things,
results of exploration, project development, reclamation and
capital costs of Xtra-Gold's mineral properties, and Xtra-Gold's
financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from
those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons
such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in
the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals;
litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial,
regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological
and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the
activities of Xtra-Gold; and other matters discussed in this news
release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect
any of Xtra-Gold's forward-looking statements. These and other
factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place
undue reliance on Xtra-Gold's forward-looking statements. Xtra-Gold
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may
be made from time to time by Xtra-Gold or on its behalf, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.
For further information please contact:
James Longshore, Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: 416 366-4227
E-mail: info@xtragold.com
Website: www.xtragold.com
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