Ashanti Gold Corp. (TSX-V: AGZ) and Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSX-V: DAU) are pleased to announce they have entered into a binding letter of intent contemplating the acquisition by Desert Gold of all of the outstanding common shares of Ashanti . The Proposed Transaction, upon completion, will allow Ashanti shareholders to benefit from a consolidation of land positions currently under property rights or owned by both Desert Gold and Ashanti on adjacent properties in a prospective area of Mali.

Under the terms of the LOI, all of the issued and outstanding Ashanti Shares will be exchanged on the basis of 0.2857 Desert Gold common shares  for each Ashanti Share. The Exchange Ratio implies consideration of approximately CAD $0.0514 per Ashanti Share, based on the closing price of the Desert Gold Shares on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange on March 8, 2019. This represents a premium of 28.5% based on the closing price of Ashanti Shares on the TSXV on March 8, 2019. The Proposed Transaction value is approximately CAD $3.8 million on a fully diluted in-the-money basis, and Ashanti shareholders will own 31% of the combined entity.  The parties have until April 15, 2019 to enter into a definitive agreement and have set a long-stop date of September 30, 2019 to close the Proposed Transaction.

Tim McCutcheon, Ashanti’s CEO, commented – This transaction is an exciting opportunity for Ashanti shareholders to be a part of a bigger land package that encompasses both major geological structures in the area. Larger scale in an area of multiple gold mineralization zones lowers risk and raises the attractiveness of the combined land package for investors. The Desert Gold team is impressive and has had major success in creating value with West African gold assets. I am very enthusiastic about the future and see great opportunity for the company.

Transaction Highlights

• Excellent location on the prolific Senegal Mali Shear and Main Transcurrent Shear Zones The district-scale land package spans the SMSZ, which is related to +30 million ounces of gold production and resources⁽¹⁾ and the MTSZ, which hosts Barrick’s  >3 million ounce Massawa Deposit⁽²⁾. The combined property overlies portions of these two structures and the interaction zone between them (see Figure 1).
• District-Scale Land Package – Consolidated properties (see Figure 1 and 2 below) create an ~15 km across by ~25 km long, creating a district-scale, ~190 km², target-rich, land package (see Figure 2).
• Combined Properties host >11 known gold zones occurring both east and west of the SMSZ and MTSZ, suggesting significant exploration potential in a variety of geological settings

Benefits to Ashanti Shareholders

• Acquisition premium (28.5% based on the closing price of Desert Gold and Ashanti’s common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on March 8, 2019.)
• Increased exposure to combined properties overlying regional-scale structures (SMSZ and MTSZ) that are related to numerous, multi-million ounce deposits
• Exposure to Desert Gold projects contiguous to BCM’s Tabakoto and Hummingbird ResourcesYanfolila gold mines in Mali
• Access to a strong, in-country operational team with capabilities to significantly advance combined properties
• Improved capital markets exposure
• Anticipated costs savings from consolidating operations

Benefits to Desert Gold Shareholders

• Strategic acquisition to create a district-scale land package over regional-scale structures (SMSZ and MTSZ) that are related to numerous, multi-million ounce gold deposits
• Exposure to well-situated Anumso gold property in the multi-million ounce Ashanti Belt in Ghana
• Combined entities will likely increase shareholder liquidity, trading and capital markets exposure
• Further strengthen Desert Gold’s exploration and development pipeline
• Anticipated costs savings from consolidating operations
•  

Three photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d53c6967-6fb2-410b-ac87-d89140306aab

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89730de4-99df-43b7-89cf-71f4ad706583

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/669bfa49-d670-40b5-b21e-94188270d1f0

LOI Conditions & Steps to Definitive Agreement

The Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, Ashanti and Desert Gold entering into one or more binding definitive agreements containing customary terms and conditions, including representations and warranties customary in a transaction of this nature. In the event that definitive agreement(s) are entered into between the parties, and subject to the final transaction structure, the closing of the Proposed Transaction will be subject to additional conditions precedent including, but not limited to, the receipt of all required approvals, approval of the Proposed Transaction by the requisite majority of shareholders of Ashanti by way of special meeting of Ashanti shareholders and agreement on customary non-solicitation covenants, board support and other standard provisions for transactions of this nature. In addition to shareholder and regulatory approvals, the closing of the Proposed Transaction is conditional on Ashanti being granted a renewal of the Kossanto East exploration permit in Western Mali which is due to expire on May 7, 2019. Under the terms of the LOI, Ashanti’s CEO Tim McCutcheon will join the board of Desert Gold upon closing of the Proposed Transaction.

Ashanti and Desert Gold are committed to consummating the Proposed Transaction in an expedited manner and will issue further information about the Proposed Transaction in the near future. There can be no assurances that any transaction relating to the Proposed Transaction or otherwise will result, or as to the final definitive terms thereof.

Technical Disclosure

This press release contains certain scientific and technical information of Desert Gold and Ashanti. Each party is solely responsible for the contents and accuracy of any scientific and technical information disclosure relating to it.

Don Dudek, P.Geo. is a director of Desert Gold and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the Desert Gold scientific and technical information contained in this press release.

Dr. Paul Klipfel, CPG (AIPG certification #10821), Ashanti’s COO and Chief Geologist is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Klipfel is responsible for all aspects of the work on the Kossanto East property including the Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs. Dr. Klipfel is not an Independent Person, as he is a shareholder of Ashanti.