The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information for the purposes of Regulation 11 of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

16 December 2024

Panthera Resources Plc

("Panthera" or the "Company")

Initial Arbitration Tribunal Hearing

Gold exploration and development company Panthera Resources Plc (AIM: PAT), with assets in West Africa and India, provides the following update in relation to the Company's Australian subsidiary, Indo Gold Pty Ltd's ("IGPL's") claim against the Republic of India ("India") over the latter's breach of the 1999 Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of India on the Promotion and Protection of Investments (the "Treaty").

On 26 July 2024, the Company announced that IGPL had formally issued a Notice of Arbitration ("NoA") to India in relation to the Bhukia project.  Under the Treaty, an arbitral tribunal comprising three members, including a Chair, was to be constituted following delivery of the NoA.  On 26 November 2024, the Company announced that the arbitration panel was fully constituted.

The Company now advises that the initial tribunal hearing has been held.  Amongst other matters, the hearing considered the procedural timetable inclusive of submissions and hearing(s) and the legal place or seat of the arbitration together with the physical location for in-person hearings.

The Company will provide further updates as necessary.

IGPL's Treaty Claims

The Bhukia project comprises legal rights that the Company holds via its Australian subsidiary, IGPL, in respect of an area that was the subject of a rejected Prospecting Licence Application in Rajasthan lodged by Metal Mining Pvt Ltd ("MMI"), a wholly owned subsidiary of IGPL. 

The Company made its initial investment in the Bhukia project (through IGPL) in or around 2004.  IGPL provided substantial funding and managed the joint venture exploration programmes with MMI. IGPL's right to be granted a Prospecting Licence over the Bhukia project, through its joint venture holding, was denied and frustrated over an extended period by the Government of Rajasthan ("GoR").  In 2021, India passed a new act ("MMDR2021") to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 2015 ("MMDR2015").  Under Clause 13 of the MMDR2021, the preferential right to a Prospecting Licence and a Mining Lease was revoked.

By virtue of the measures it took resulting in the total loss of IGPL's investment, India breached the Treaty, including but not limited to, Article 3 (Promotion and Protection of Investments), Article 4 (Treatment of Investments) and Article 7 (Expropriation and Nationalisation). IGPL is now seeking damages from India.

There can be no certainty as to the outcome of IGPL's Treaty claims.

Bhukia Project Background

IGPL completed a total of 20 holes drilled between 2005 and 2006 and in October 2006 reported a JORC compliant mineral resource estimate of 38.5 Mt @ 1.4 g/t Au for some 1.74 Moz gold using a cutoff of 0.5 g/t Au (updated in 2017 to comply with JORC 2012). In 2007, the Company advised shareholders of its plan to undertake a first-phase, systematic drill-out campaign upon grant of a Prospecting Licence, on well-defined exploration targets of 6 Moz gold.  Its vision from early on was that the Bhukia project represented an exceptional gold project capable of supporting a large, low-cost, open pit gold mining operation with low stripping ratios and copper and cobalt by-product credits.

The Geological Survey of India ("GSI") published a report in 2014 after the completion of over 150 drill holes (Bulletin Series A (April 2014)), wherein it reported an indicated and inferred resource estimate of 6.7 Moz gold (excluding additional resources subsequently found through additional drilling by the GSI). The estimate was reportedly prepared according to the UNFC code. More recently, the GoR issued a gazette notification containing an updated resource estimate of 113.52 Mt at 1.96 g/t and 0.14% Cu, which amounts to 7.2 Moz of gold plus copper credits, and also with accessory nickel and cobalt. According to Indian law, the resource estimate was required to be prepared in accordance with the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules 2015 ("MEMCR") which are based on the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO), though modifications to these standards have been made by India in formulating the terms of the MEMCR.

More recently, India has auctioned part of the Bhukia project area (including the area containing the above resource) to a third party, Mr. Saiyyed Owais Ali. The terms of the winning bid were as follows:

-      US$60m in upfront payments;

-      US$60m in performance guarantees (vis-à-vis development work); and

-      A 65.3% 'mineral share'.

The 'mineral share' to which India is entitled confers upon India fees equivalent to 65.3% of the value of all gold contained in ore extracted from the Bhukia project area during mining.

LCM Litigation Financing

On 25 August 2023, the Company announced that IGPL had secured up to US$13.6 million in litigation financing ("Facility") with LCM Funding SG Pty Ltd ("LCM Funding" or the "Funder").  LCM Funding is a subsidiary of Litigation Capital Management Limited ("LCM"), a firm quoted on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange. LCM is a leading global disputes funder with significant expertise in international arbitration and cross-border disputes, including bilateral investment treaty claims over mineral resource assets.

The non‐recourse Facility is to be used by IGPL in prosecuting its Treaty claims against India. If no award and/or recovery are achieved, then LCM Funding is not entitled to any repayment of the Facility. 

Contacts

Panthera Resources PLC

Mark Bolton (Managing Director)                                                                              +61 411 220 942

                                                                                                            contact@pantheraresources.com

Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker)             +44 (0) 20 3328 5656

John Depasquale / Vivek Bhardwaj (Corporate Finance)                                                               

Guy McDougall / Kelly Gardiner

VSA Capital Limited (Joint Broker)                                                                   +44 (0) 20 3005 5000

Andrew Monk / Andrew Raca

Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker)                                                      +44 (0) 20 7399 9400

Colin Rowbury                                                                                                                                                  

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Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this disclosure has been read and approved by Ian S Cooper (BSc, ARSM, FAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Qualified Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies.  Mr Cooper is a geological consultant to Panthera Resources PLC.

Glossary 

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

**ENDS**