Malbex Resources Inc. (TSX-V:MBG) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation relating to Malbex’s Del Carmen project in San Juan Province, Argentina whereby Barrick will have the option to earn in to a 51%, and then a 75%, interest in the Del Carmen Project based on meeting certain expenditure requirements. In conjunction with the earn-in arrangements, Barrick has agreed to subscribe for an aggregate of 14,285,714 common shares of Malbex for an aggregate subscription price of C$1,000,000.
 

The closing of the Private Placement and the earn-in arrangements is conditional on, among other things, Malbex causing the exploration agreement covering the Del Carmen Project to be transferred to a newly-formed entity jointly-owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries of Barrick and Malbex the extension of such exploration agreement, the delivery of required work and environmental permits for the Del Carmen Project and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The transfer of the exploration agreement to the Joint Venture Company requires the prior approval of the Instituto Provincial de Exploraciones y Explotaciones Mineras of the San Juan Province, Argentina. Formal application to transfer the exploration agreement is expected to be made to IPEEM shortly.
 

“We welcome Barrick to the Del Carmen Project,” commented Joe Hamilton, CEO of Malbex. “Barrick brings a depth of technical and regional expertise that is impossible to match. While Malbex personnel were successful in identifying and categorizing significant epithermal mineralization at Rojo Grande, the recent Preliminary Economic Assessment indicated that the economics of the project could be significantly enhanced by extending gold mineralization beyond the current resources. Barrick is most familiar with these systems in the Andes and has operated successfully in the area for decades. We look forward to their participation and operating expertise as we continue to move the project towards feasibility.”
 

Shareholders’ Agreement
 

The Joint Venture Company will initially be 95% owned by Malbex and 5% owned by Barrick. Pursuant to the shareholders’ agreement to be entered into by the parties to govern the operation, management and control of the Joint Venture Company:

--  Barrick will be the operator of the Del Carmen Project responsible for

    managing, directing and controlling operations at the project. 

--  Barrick will have the option to earn a 51% interest in the Joint Venture

    Company by incurring an aggregate of US$21 million in exploration

    expenditures on the Del Carmen Project on or prior to the fifth

    anniversary of the execution of the Shareholders' Agreement (the "First

    Earn-in Period"). The proceeds of the Private Placement will count

    towards these expenditures. 

--  In the two years following the First Earn-in Period (the "Second Earn-in

    Period"), Barrick will have the option to further increase its ownership

    of the Joint Venture Company from 51% to 75% by incurring an aggregate

    of US$20 million in additional exploration expenditures on the Del

    Carmen Project. 

--  Following the expiry of the Second Earn-in Period (the "Proportionate

    Funding Period"), each of Malbex and Barrick will be required to fund

    its respective proportionate share of all expenditures relating to the

    Del Carmen Project. If a shareholder fails to advance their

    proportionate share of expenditures, the shareholdings of such

    shareholder will be diluted in accordance with the terms of the

    Shareholders' Agreement. 

--  If a shareholder's ownership stake in the Joint Venture Company falls

    below 10% at any time during the Proportionate Funding Period, such

    shareholder's shares will be converted into a 2% net smelter royalty on

    the Del Carmen Project.

If the Private Placement does not close by October 21, 2014, including as a result of IPEEM not providing its approval in respect of the transfer of the exploration agreement to the Joint Venture Company, either party has the right to terminate the transaction. Following the closing of the Private Placement, Barrick will own approximately 9.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Common Shares to be issued in connection with the Private Placement will only be subject to a four month hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws and the rules of the TSX-V.
 

Technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph A. Hamilton, M.Sc., P.Geo. a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
 

About Malbex

Malbex is a gold exploration company led by experienced management and directors with projects in Argentina. In April 2010, Malbex made a near-surface, gold-silver oxide discovery at Del Carmen, its lead project in Argentina.
 

The Del Carmen project is located in the El Indio Gold Belt, which contains more than 35 million ounces of gold in current reserves and past production, including Barrick’s Veladero mine and Pascua-Lama project.