CanAlaska Executes $9 Million Thompson Nickel Deal
Option-JV Signed with Fjordland Exploration on Two Large Properties; Focus on Large Sulphide Nickel Targets with Tier-1 Potential
Vancouver, May 4, 2020 - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement with Fjordland Exploration Inc. ("FEX"), subject to regulatory approval, which allows FEX to earn up to an 80% interest in CanAlaska's 100%-owned North Thompson Nickel Project in Manitoba, Canada (the "Project") for exploration expenditures of $9M, 8.5M common FEX shares, and other considerations.
Figure 1: CanAlaska's Thompson Nickel project is located 25km north of Thompson, Manitoba
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FEX may earn up to an 80% interest in the Project by undertaking work and payments in three defined earn-in stages as shown in Table 1. During Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the option agreement, CanAlaska will receive fees as operator of the Project.
The structure and content of the underlying joint venture agreement and Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty has been agreed, and form part of the executed option agreement.
FEX will issue to the Company a further 10,000,000 common shares in FEX upon completion of a positive Feasibility Study for the Project provided that FEX has earned, at a minimum, a 70% interest as outlined in Stage 2 of the option.
Table 1: Summary of Option Stages
| Option Stage | FEX Interest Earned (%) | Cash Payment ($) | FEX Shares Issued | Exploration Expenditure ($) | Timeline (months) |
| On signing | 25,000 | 1,000,000 | On TSXV Approval | ||
| Stage 1 | 49 | 1,500,000 | 24 | ||
| Stage 2 | 21 | 50,000 | 1,500,000 | 2,500,000 | 24 |
| Stage 3 | 10 | 75,000 | 6,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 24 |
| Totals | 80 | 150,000 | 8,500,000 | 9,000,000 | 72 |
| Feasibility Bonus | 10,000,000 |
After successful completion of either of Stage 1 or Stage 2 of the option agreement, and if FEX elects to not enter the next stage or in the case of completion of Stage 3, a joint venture will be formed and the parties will either co-contribute on a simple pro-rata basis or dilute on a pre-defined straight-line dilution formula. If either of the Company or FEX dilute down to less than 10% Project interest, the party diluting will relinquish its remaining Project interest and a 2% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty will be granted to the diluting party. In the event the Company is the party granted the 2% NSR royalty, the Company will be entitled to receive up to a maximum $10,000,000 advance royalty payment ("ARP") at commencement of commercial production on the Project, with the sum of the ARP payment being calculated based on 2% of the value of the capital expenditures to develop the operation.
North Thompson Nickel Project
The Project contains a series of high-grade nickel drill intersections from historical work that warrant follow-up with modern geophysics and drilling. There are also numerous untested targets. The area is approximately 25 kilometres from the city of Thompson, Manitoba, where there are existing Tier-1 mines and nickel processing facilities owned and operated by Vale.
The Thompson Nickel Belt is the fifth largest sulphide nickel belt in the world based on contained nickel endowment, containing over 18 nickel deposits and over 5 billion lbs of nickel production since 1959. The largest deposit is the main Thompson Mine at an estimated 150Mt at an average grade of 2.3% nickel. The North Thompson Project covers much of the north and north-western extension of this belt. For further information visit http://www.canalaska.com/project/thompson-nickel-belt/
The "Strong" Licence (MEL1067A), the "Hunter" Licence (MEL1118A), and "Hunter Claims" have a total combined area of 18,685 hectares (Figure 2). These licences and claims have seen virtually no exploration drilling since 2005. In 2007 VTEM airborne geophysical survey provided a number of priority Tier-1 size drill targets. These have never been drill-tested. It is anticipated the first programs under this option agreement will focus on these high priority targets.
The nearby Mel deposit has an Indicated plus Inferred resource of 5.3Mt at 0.87% nickel. The structure hosting the Mel deposit extends onto the Project landholdings.
CanAlaska president, Peter Dasler, comments; "I wish to thank both teams for progressing this new project deal during these difficult times. We all remain committed to advancing the project as we believe that a significant new discovery is possible. The added bonus to shareholders is the location, with excellent infrastructure in this area, and the timeliness of significant new interest in nickel production for battery and clean energy requirements."
Figure 2
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Other News
CanAlaska is advancing its key West McArthur uranium project in the Athabasca Basin, a joint venture with Cameco Corporation, and working on new initiatives for its nearby Cree East uranium project. These are showcased in a recent video presentation on the company website:
Cannot view this video? Visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FCtWM7AWaw
Senior management is monitoring the current COVID 19 situation, and has reduced salaries by 50% while field activities are paused. The Company's treasury remains strong, with a cash position of $1.56M.
About CanAlaska Uranium
CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 152,000 hectares (375,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com.
The qualified technical person for this news release is Dr Karl Schimann, P. Geo, CanAlaska director and VP Exploration.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"Peter Dasler"
Peter Dasler, M.Sc., P.Geo.
President & CEO
CanAlaska Uranium Ltd.
Contacts:
Peter Dasler, President
Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138
Email: info@canalaska.com
Cory Belyk, COO
Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 306
Email: cbelyk@canalaska.com
Neither 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.
Forward-looking information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
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