LithiumBank Announces Option Agreement for Saskatchewan Properties - Receives $8 Million Non-Refundable Deposit - Terminates Pristine Asset Purchase Agreement

Rhea-AI Summary

LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF) has entered into an option agreement to grant the optionee the right to purchase one or more of the Company's three lithium brine projects in Saskatchewan, Canada. The optionee has paid a non-refundable deposit of $8 million and may exercise the options until March 31, 2024. The Company has terminated the asset purchase agreement with Pristine Lithium Corp. and has agreed to pay a cash finder's fee to Kepis & Pobe Financial Group Inc.

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - December 21, 2023) - LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF) ("LithiumBank'' or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into an option agreement dated December 20, 2023 (the "Option Agreement") pursuant to which the Company has granted the optionee the option to purchase one or more of the Company's three lithium brine projects, Estevan, South and Kindersley (the "Assets") located in Saskatchewan, Canada (collectively, the "Options").

Concurrently with entering into the Option Agreement, the optionee has paid to the Company a non-refundable deposit of $8 million. The optionee may exercise one or more of the Options by paying the applicable purchase price as set out in the option agreement, less the deposit, to the Company at any time until March 31, 2024, upon which time the Options shall automatically terminate.

"LithiumBank's objective is to maximize shareholder value and to lay the foundation for a thriving lithium district in western Canada," commented Paul Matysek, Executive Chairman of LithiumBank. "This option agreement is further validation of our vision. The agreement provides the Company non-dilutive capital while also raising the profile and potential of the geological district that includes the Company's Flagship Boardwalk Project and its larger look-a-like Park Place Project in west central Alberta. We appreciate the work done by Pristine Lithium and wish them luck in their future endeavours."

Termination of Pristine Asset Purchase Agreement

Further to the Company's news release dated July 31, 2023, the Company announces that it has mutually agreed with Pristine Lithium Corp. ("Pristine") to terminate the asset purchase agreement entered into in July 2023 pursuant to which Pristine agreed to acquire the Assets. In connection with the termination, the Company: (i) paid to Pristine a break-fee of $3.0 million and (ii) returned to Pristine its deposit of $250,000.

In connection with the Option Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay a cash finder's fee to Kepis & Pobe Financial Group Inc. equal to 1.6% of the consideration received by the Company pursuant to the Option Agreement.

The Option Agreement, the Options, and the payment of the finder's fee remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.

About LithiumBank Resources Corp.

LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF), is a publicly traded lithium company that is focused on developing its two flagship projects, Boardwalk and Park Place, in Western Canada. The Company holds 2,480,196 acres of brown-field lithium brine permits, across 3 districts in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In May 2023, LithiumBank completed an initial robust preliminary economic assessment of its Boardwalk project that targets a 31,350 TPA operation with a USD $2.7B NPV and a 21.6% IRR with the potential for a number of near term enhancements. The Company will continue to de-risk its assets through detailed geological modelling and advanced engineering. Commencing in early 2024, several piloting campaigns are planned with capacity to process up to 10,000 L/d of brine and yield up to 3 kg/d LCE as the Boardwalk Project advances into its feasibility studies phase of development. The Company also anticipates that the facility will accelerate the development of the Company's other assets in Western Canada.

For more information see the Company's Boardwalk Lithium Brine Project Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical report entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for LithiumBank Resources Boardwalk Lithium-Brine Project in West- Central Alberta, Canada" effectively dated June 16, 2023 filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) on June 23, 2023 and on the Company's website (www.lithiumbank.ca).

Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into a mineral reserve. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environment, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. A preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature as it includes a portion of inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.

The scientific and technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Kevin Piepgrass (Chief Operations Officer, LithiumBank Resources Corp.), who is a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia (APEGBC) and is a Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Piepgrass consents to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.

Contact:

LithiumBank

Rob Shewchuk
CEO & Director
rob@lithiumbank.ca
(778) 987-9767

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, including without limitation, that the Company will receive TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, exercise of the Options, payment of the finder's fee, the target and potential production of the Company's projects and the de-risking of the Company's assets are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should" or "would" or occur.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including that Company will be able to receive TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, that the optionee exercises the Options, that the Company will be able to achieve its target and potential production and that that the Company will be able to de-risk its assets.

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important risks that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation, the risk that the Company is unable to receive TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, the risk that the Options are not exercised, that the Company is unable to achieve its target and potential production and the risk that the Company will not be able to de-risk its assets.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/191971

FAQ

What is the recent announcement from LithiumBank Resources Corp.?

LithiumBank Resources Corp. has entered into an option agreement to grant the optionee the right to purchase one or more of the Company's three lithium brine projects in Saskatchewan, Canada.

What is the deposit amount paid by the optionee?

The optionee has paid a non-refundable deposit of $8 million to the Company.

What is the deadline for exercising the options?

The optionee may exercise the options until March 31, 2024.

What is the status of the asset purchase agreement with Pristine Lithium Corp.?

The Company has terminated the asset purchase agreement with Pristine Lithium Corp.

Who will receive a cash finder's fee in connection with the Option Agreement?

The Company has agreed to pay a cash finder's fee to Kepis & Pobe Financial Group Inc. equal to 1.6% of the consideration received.