Mesco Gold Makes First Payment of $700,000 to Angkor Gold

VANCOUVER, B.C., May 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angkor Gold Corp. (TSX-V:ANK) ("ANGKOR") is pleased to provide an update on the strategic transaction announced with Mesco Gold Ltd. on January 16^th, 2013, for the rights to develop and mine Angkor's Phum Syarung prospect ("PS"), located within Angkor Gold's Oyadao South Concession, Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.

Under the terms of the Definitive Agreement, signed on February 20^th, 2013, a one million two hundred thousand US dollars (USD $1,200,000) payment from Mesco Gold to Angkor was payable in two tranches:

• A cash payment of USD $700,000 upon receipt of confirmation from Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) acknowledging the intent of both parties to move to a mining license on the six square kilometres of PS property;
• A promissory note of USD $500,000 payable when a preliminary exploitation licence is granted. Application has been made for this licence, which is expected before the end of 2013.

The first payment was conditional upon approval by MIME. That approval was received on April 8^th 2013. The initial payment was disbursed to Angkor on April 30^th 2013.

Mike Weeks, CEO and President of Angkor, commented: "Receipt of this initial $700,000 further strengthens Angkor's balance sheet. As we push ahead with our expanded exploration program to generate additional mature prospects for future transactions, we look forward to providing more updates on our progress."

Mesco Gold has lodged a mining plan for development of the PS prospect and prefeasibility study with MIME, a copy of which Angkor has received. Highlights include:

• Average head grade expected at 6.2g/t
• Initial production expected to be around 8,800 ounces per year.

Angkor Gold's Vice President of Exploration, Dr Adrian Mann, said: "Their plan is ambitious and straightforward, the way I like it. We will continue to cooperate fully with Mesco to help make this happen as expeditiously as possible." 

After completing four diamond drill holes in March 2013 to confirm the original Angkor results, and collecting a metallurgical sample from a deep trench that also will serve as a portal to one of two planned exploratory winzes, Mesco Gold commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment. A bypass road around Syarung village is being made under Angkor supervision. Angkor Gold personnel have taken responsibility for government and local community relations.

Angkor Gold Corp.. is a public company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange. It is Cambodia's premier gold explorer with a significantly large land package and a first-mover advantage with excellent relationships at all levels of Government (local to national).

Angkor Gold has five exploration licences covering a total of 1102km² in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The company has been actively exploring during the past four years, Angkor has now covered all tenements with stream sediment geochemical sampling, has flown low level aeromagnetic surveys over most of the ground, drilled 17,556 metres of NQ core in 143 holes, of which 8,815m in 66 holes were drilled in the 2012 season; and has collected in excess of 20,000 'C' zone soil samples and over 10,000 termite mound samples in 10 centres of interest, over a combined area of 30km², in addition to numerous trenches and detailed geological field mapping. Exploration on all tenements is ongoing.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM

Reader Advisory

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and completion of the Corporation's financings and related information. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Corporation. Such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada, Cambodia, the United States and globally; industry conditions, including fluctuations in the prices of gold and other base metals; governmental regulation of the mining industry in both Canada and Cambodia, including environmental regulation; unanticipated operating events or performance which can reduce production or cause production to be delayed; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; competition for and/or inability to retain mining equipment and other services; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; liabilities inherent in mining operations; competition for, among other things, capital, undeveloped lands, skilled personnel and supplies; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions; geological, technical, drilling, processing and transportation problems; changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the mining industry; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX Venture nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

 Angkor Gold Corp.
         Mike Weeks, President
         Telephone: (780) 568-3801
         Email: mw@angkorgold.ca