Gold Reserve Inc. (NYSE Alternext:GRZ) (TSX:GRZ) has reviewed several
news reports related to remarks by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
concerning the Venezuelan government plans to jointly develop the Las
Cristinas deposit and Gold Reserve’s Brisas deposit. We understand
President Chavez also referred to the formation of VENRUS CA, a joint
venture between Rusoro Mining Ltd. ("Rusoro”) (TSX-V:RML.V) and the
Venezuelan government, to develop and exploit these deposits.
Gold Reserve has had no communication from the government of Venezuela
with respect to this matter. Gold Reserve also notes that there has been
no disclosure concerning the formation of such a joint venture by Rusoro
in its public filings.
Gold Reserve has invested US $230 million in proprietary work in Brisas,
including, amongst other things, drilling and assaying, metallurgical,
geotechnical, environmental and comprehensive feasibility studies,
equipment and detailed engineering for the project.
In the event that the government of Venezuela decides to proceed in this
manner, Gold Reserve believes that it has alternatives to realize
considerable value related to its Brisas investment. Gold Reserve could
entertain an offer from the Venezuelan government or its joint venture
partner to purchase the Company’s assets and proprietary work. If the
purchase amount is adequate then this would be beneficial in the near
term to Gold Reserve and save the purchaser several years of time in
duplicating our work.
If a mutually agreeable purchase price could not be determined or other
satisfactory resolution is not found then Gold Reserve has remedies to
protect its investment in Brisas under Venezuela’s domestic legal
system, or under bilateral investment treaties to which Venezuela is a
party. In the case of accessing bilateral investment treaties, Gold
Reserve would seek the recovery of its US $230 million investment, plus
potential lost profits of several US $ billion.
The value of Rusoro’s proposed take-over is substantially less than the
value of the Company’s net cash, equipment and Brisas investment. In its
Directors’ Circular and Schedule 14D-9, the Gold Reserve Board strongly
recommends that all Gold Reserve shareholders reject the Rusoro Offer
and not tender their shares. Shareholders are encouraged to read the
Company’s Directors’ Circular and Schedule 14D-9, which are available at www.sedar.com
or www.sec.gov,
respectively, to carefully consider the reasons for the Board’s
recommendation.
Gold Reserve Inc. is a Canadian company which holds the rights to the
Brisas gold/copper project and the Choco 5 gold exploration property in
Bolivar State, Venezuela. For the Company's periodic TSX (SEDAR) or SEC
(Edgar) filings, please visit our website at www.goldreserveinc.com
under the Investor Relations section.
Certain statements included herein or in the Directors’ Circular may
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this
time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and
competitive uncertainties and contingencies. We caution that such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other risks that may cause the actual financial
results, performance, or achievements of Gold Reserve Inc. to be
materially different from our estimated future results, performance, or
achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements.
Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
concentration of operations and assets in Venezuela; corruption and
uncertain legal enforcement; requests for improper payments; regulatory,
political and economic risks associated with Venezuelan operations
(including changes in previously established legal regimes, rules or
processes); the ability to obtain or maintain the necessary permits or
additional funding for the development of the Brisas Project; in the
event any key findings or assumptions previously determined by us or our
experts in conjunction with our 2005 bankable feasibility study (as
updated or modified from time to time) significantly differ or change as
a result of actual results in our expected construction and production
at the Brisas Project (including capital and operating cost estimates);
risk that actual mineral reserves may vary considerably from estimates
presently made; impact of currency, metal prices and metal production
volatility; fluctuations in energy prices; changes in proposed
development plans (including technology used); our dependence upon the
abilities and continued participation of certain key employees; and
risks normally incident to the operation and development of mining
properties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect
any of the Company's forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned
not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All subsequent
written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company
or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their
entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation
to update publicly these forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.