Aris Mining Corporation (TSX: ARIS) (NYSE-A: ARMN) announces that it has entered into a binding agreement with MDC Industry Holding Company LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi based investment company Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, whereby, subject to certain customary conditions, Aris Mining will acquire an additional 31% joint venture interest in the Soto Norte gold-copper project in Colombia (Soto Norte or PSN) and amend the current Joint Venture Agreement to account for this change in ownership. Soto Norte is one of the largest undeveloped underground gold projects in South America, set to employ modern and sustainable mining practices.

• Acquisition of 51% of PSN and Share Exchange: Aris Mining will acquire an additional 31% joint venture interest in PSN from Mubadala, bringing its total ownership to 51%. In exchange, Aris Mining will issue 15,750,000 shares to Mubadala, representing an approximate 9.9% ownership stake based on Aris Mining’s issued and outstanding shares as of March 31, 2024, with an additional 6,000,000 shares to be issued on receipt of an environmental license for PSN.
• New, Smaller-Scale Development Plan: Aris Mining has completed optimization studies of a smaller, more efficient development plan for PSN. Key changes include reducing the environmental footprint, building a smaller processing plant with a longer operating life, adopting a flexible mining method to target higher-grade material earlier in the mine life, and installing a paste backfill plant to minimize surface tailings storage requirements.
• Strategic and Operational Benefits: With a 51% controlling interest, Aris Mining will integrate the PSN development team into its management structure and procedures, enhancing operational efficiencies and creating synergies.

Aris Mining CEO Neil Woodyer stated: “As the only mining company with operational experience to own and operate Soto Norte, we believe a new, smaller-scale development plan with a reduced environmental footprint is the right path forward. Aris Mining also plans to incorporate processing solutions for contract mining partners into the design and development of Soto Norte, following the successful partnership model developed at our Segovia Operations in Colombia. Based on the attractive results of our preliminary work, we are initiating a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) of the new development plan, which is expected to be complete by early 2025.

In support of this plan, we are delighted to become the 51% controlling shareholder of the Soto Norte joint venture at closing, enabling Aris Mining to develop this very attractive project.”

Soto Norte Transaction

• On closing, Aris Mining will issue 15,750,000 common shares to Mubadala. These shares will be subject to a 12-month hold period, inclusive of a four-month statutory hold period and an additional eight-month contractual restriction on transfer.
• Following receipt of an environmental license to develop PSN, Aris Mining will issue an additional 6,000,000 common shares to Mubadala, which together with the 15,750,000 common shares issued at closing would increase Mubadala’s ownership stake to approximately 13% based on Aris Mining’s issued and outstanding shares as of March 31, 2024.
• The current market value of the 21,750,000 Aris Mining shares to be issued to Mubadala is US$90 million.
• On closing, Aris Mining will hold a 51% interest in PSN and Mubadala will retain a 49% interest. The current option held by Aris Mining to acquire an additional 30% interest in PSN will be terminated. Aris Mining will continue to be the operator of PSN.
• Aris Mining and Mubadala have mutual right-of-first-offer (ROFO) rights, should a partner choose to exit the joint venture.
• As a result of Aris Mining integrating the PSN development team into its management structure and procedures, Aris Mining will sole fund certain operating costs on behalf of the joint venture during the pre-licensing period. Non-operating and project construction costs will be funded on a pro-rata ownership basis.
• Closing of the transaction is expected to occur in June 2024 following satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including execution of definitive documentation related to the issuance of the shares and approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American.

Soto Norte Project and Planned Optimizations

In March 2022, Aris Mining disclosed the results of mineral resource and reserve estimates and the results of a Feasibility Study for the Soto Norte Gold Project in a NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report with an effective date of January 1, 2021 (the Feasibility Study). The Feasibility Study includes a 7,200 tonnes per day (tpd) capacity processing plant with average annual production of over 450,000 gold ounces (oz) over an 11-year production period at average all in sustaining costs (AISC) of US$471/oz from a 5.0 million ounce mineral reserve¹.

In 2023, Aris Mining commissioned a technical and economic assessment of PSN that considered a scaled-down mining concept. Aris Mining is now commissioning a new PFS and NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report for the scaled-down concept, both of which are expected to be completed in Q1 2025. The new PFS will include the assessment of the key project optimizations described in Table 1.

Table 1: Key project optimizations to be evaluated in the new PFS

Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Pamela De Mark, P.Geo, Senior Vice President, Geology and Exploration of Aris Mining, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Unless otherwise indicated, the mineral resource and reserve estimates, scientific disclosure, and technical information included in this news release are based upon information included in the following NI 43-101 compliant technical report: “NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study of the Soto Norte Gold Project, Santander, Colombia”, dated March 21, 2022 with an effective date of January 1, 2021 (the Soto Norte Technical Report). The Soto Norte Technical Report was prepared by Ben Parsons, MSc, MAusIMM (CP), Chris Bray, BEng, MAusIMM (CP), and Dr John Willis PhD, BE (MET), MAusIMM (CP), and Dr Henri Sangam, Ph.D., P.Eng., each of whom is independent of Aris Mining within the meaning of NI 43-101 and is a “Qualified Person” as such term is defined in NI 43-101. The report was also prepared by Robert Anderson, P.Eng., a Qualified Person who is considered non-independent of Aris Mining. The Soto Norte Technical Report is available for download on Aris Mining’s website at www.aris-mining.com and on Aris Mining Holdings Corp’s (Aris Holdings) SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and in Aris Mining’s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Aris Holdings is a subsidiary of Aris Mining.

About Aris Mining

Aris Mining is a gold producer in the Americas, currently operating two mines with expansions underway in Colombia. The Segovia Operations and the Marmato Upper Mine produced 226,000 ounces of gold in 2023. Aris Mining is targeting a production rate of 500,000 ounces of gold per year in the second half of 2026, following a ramp-up period after the Segovia mill expansion scheduled for completion in Q1 2025 and the Marmato Lower Mine’s first gold pour in late 2025. Aris Mining also operates the Soto Norte joint venture, where environmental licensing is advancing to develop a new underground gold, silver and copper mine. In Guyana, Aris Mining is advancing Toroparu, a gold/copper project. Aris Mining intends to pursue acquisitions and other growth opportunities to unlock value through scale and diversification.

Aris Mining promotes the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining into contract mining partners as this process enables all miners to operate in a legal, safe and responsible manner that protects them and the environment.