Gabriel Resources Ltd.: Third Quarter Report

TORONTO, CANADA--(Marketwired - Nov 15, 2013) - Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSX:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces the publication of its Third Quarter Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis Report for the period ended September 30, 2013.

Summary of Recent Events

Capitalised terms used in this summary section are defined in "Further Information" below

• On September 17, 2013, Parliament established a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies with an objective to (a) examine the Draft Law initiated by the Government, as well as any amendments submitted by the Government, deputies and senators; (b) prepare a report for discussion in each Chamber; and (c) facilitate a decision on the adoption of the Draft Law in a plenary session of each Chamber.
  
  
• On November 11, 2013 the Special Committee issued its report on the Draft Law which will be submitted to the Senate of the Parliament for debate and an advisory vote before it is passed to the Chamber of Deputies for a final binding vote of Parliament. The Special Committee considered it necessary to undertake a wide debate and analysis of the Project and, accordingly, issued numerous conclusions and recommendations in the Report, which are summarized in "Further Information" below.
  
  
• The conclusions of the Report do not propose a rejection of the Project by the Parliament but the creation of a new general legal framework applicable to gold and silver mining projects in order to stimulate the implementation of such projects and attract investment. However the Special Committee voted in favour of a recommendation for the rejection of the Draft Law.
  
  
• The Company notes the Special Committee's proposal for the creation of a new generic legal framework applicable to gold and silver mining operations such as the Project, an initiative to address the recognised deficiencies in the current legal framework for the evaluation and development of large-scale mining operations such as the Project. The Company will monitor the development of this initiative closely, whilst actively considering all possible opportunities in the interests of its stakeholders.
  
  
• A number of the recommendations presented by the Special Committee have already been addressed extensively by the competent authorities or institutions charged with assessing the Project, such as the Technical Analysis Committee, however the Company is fully committed to working with the relevant ministries and Government institutions, as appropriate, to clarify issues raised in the Report.
  
  
• RMGC has initiated a defamation suit in response to completely ungrounded accusations made before the Special Committee concerning the falsification of certain maps relating to the Corna Valley basin and will examine all possible legal action to counter such unfounded allegations and protect its rights.
  
  
• Whilst some of the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Committee may be positive for the development of the Project, certain conclusions and recommendations, if acted upon, may cause unspecified delay in the permitting process and/or necessitate changes to the terms of the License and/or the existing joint venture arrangements between Gabriel and Minvest RM.
  
  
• Until such time as the Company can complete the extensive dialogue necessary with the relevant ministries of the Government regarding the ultimate outcome of the Parliamentary Review, Gabriel cannot provide any assurances or estimates of the likely time required to address and resolve such matters or as to the impact of such resolution on the permitting progress of the Project.

Q3 Summary

• The Government has deferred the decision on the environmental permitting of the Project until after the conclusion of the Parliamentary Review and the recommendation of the Ministry of Environment. The Company is unable to provide guidance on the related timeframes to a final decision from the TAC, MoE or the Government. Ultimately, the EP must be approved by a Cabinet decision of the Government prior to its issuance.
  
  
• Visits to Rosia Montana included delegations from the Ministry of Culture and from the Romanian Parliamentary Commission for UNESCO. After this visit the reported view of the Minister of Culture was that the Project had no chance to be included in the UNESCO heritage list at this time, and the chances will be higher in future years if the old galleries are preserved and the old buildings are restored, as is the intention of the Company should the Project proceed.
  
  
• During Q3 2013, the Company continued, at its own cost, with programmes for the maintenance of 160 houses, and the complete restoration of more than 110 houses, located within the historical center of the village of Rosia Montana ("Protected Area"), as well as continuing further detailed archaeological work focusing on opening up previously unexplored old underground mining galleries. Subject to internal fit out, the primary restoration of the former town hall was completed during 2012.
  
  
• On July 18, 2013, a refund of RON 13.4 million ($4.0 million equivalent) was received from the Romanian fiscal authorities in respect of taxes, penalties and interest previously paid.
  
  
• $56.2 million of cash and cash equivalents was held as at September 30, 2013.

Jonathan Henry, Gabriel's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated:

"The inclusion of the Project within Romania's National Plan for Strategic Investment and Job Creation and the Parliamentary Review has shown that the Government is serious about economic growth for Romania. Gabriel will now assess the impact of the Report and the Government's revised strategy on initiating and implementing a new framework legislation for gold and silver mining."

Further information and commentary on the operations and results in the third quarter of 2013, together with events anticipated in the short term, is given below. The Company has filed its Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and each is available for review on the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com.

Further Information

Financial Performance

• The net profit for the third quarter of 2013 was $2.1 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

• Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2013 amounted to $56.2 million.
  
  
• During Q3 2013, the Company issued 0.1 million common shares upon the exercise of Deferred Share Units, with nil proceeds. No stock options were exercised.
  
  
• Excluding realized foreign exchange translation differences and the July 2013 tax refund, the Company's average monthly net cash usage during Q3 2013 was $3.5 million (Q2 2013: $3.2 million).
  
  
• During 2013 the Company has continued with its underlying cost containment, following implementation of cost reduction measures initiated in mid-2012, to preserve capital until such time as the Government moves ahead with Project permitting. However, increased activity levels associated with permitting and communications activities following the announced Parliamentary Review during the latter part of Q3 2013 are expected to continue to increase cash usage throughout Q4 2013.

Capital Cost

• Including interest, financing and corporate costs, the Company estimates the capital required to bring the Project into production and to a position of positive cash flow is approximately US$1.5 billion.

Political Environment

• On December 9, 2012, scheduled parliamentary elections brought an overwhelming victory for the 'USL' alliance of the Social Democrat, National Liberal and Conservative parties, led by Social Democrat leader Victor Ponta. The USL gained two thirds of the parliamentary seats - a position facilitating majority control in both chambers (the 'Senate' and the 'Chamber of Deputies') of the Parliament of Romania ("Parliament").

• The first half of 2013 saw the USL add definition to its program for its 4-year governmental term, which manifested itself in an announcement by Mr. Ponta on July 11, 2013 of a National Plan for Strategic Investment and Job Creation (the "Plan"). In the Plan, Mr. Ponta set out key targets for 2013, including investment commitments into Romania of EUR10 billion and the creation of over 50,000 jobs in five strategic investment fields. Seven projects within the mineral resources field have been identified for focus by the Government in order to achieve those targets, of which one is the Project.

• In its meeting on August 27, 2013, the Government approved a draft law "on certain measures related to the exploitation of the gold-silver deposits from Rosia Montana and stimulation and facilitation of mining development in Romania" (the "Draft Law") for debate and adoption by Parliament.

• On September 5, 2013, the Draft Law was formally presented to Parliament for consideration by both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies (the "Parliamentary Review"). On September 17, 2013, Parliament established a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies (the "Special Committee"). The Special Committee was given an objective to (a) examine the Draft Law initiated by the Government, as well as any amendments submitted by the Government, deputies and senators by no later than October 1, 2013; (b) prepare a report for discussion in each chamber; and (c) facilitate a decision on the adoption of the Draft Law in a plenary session of each Chamber.

• The findings, conclusions and proposals of the Special Committee were due to be submitted to the plenary of the Senate by October 20, 2013; this deadline was subsequently amended to November 10, 2013.

Report of the Special Committee

• On November 11, 2013 the Special Committee published its report on the Draft Law (the "Report"), and voted in favour of a recommendation for the rejection of the Draft Law by seventeen votes "for" and with two abstentions. This recommendation is now expected to be debated in the Senate of the Parliament, before the Report and the Draft Law are sent to the Chamber of Deputies, as the decision-making body charged with voting on its adoption.

• Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conclusions of the Report do not propose a rejection of the Project by the Parliament.

• The Special Committee considered it necessary to undertake a wider debate and analysis of the Project and, accordingly, issued numerous and wide-ranging conclusions and recommendations in the Report, including amongst others, the following:
  
  
  • a recommendation that Parliament creates a new general legal framework applicable to gold and silver mining projects in order to stimulate the implementation of such projects and attract investment, acknowledging that the existing mining law is not sufficient to legislate for the scale and complexity of the Project.
    
    
  • an acknowledgement that the development of a stable and predictable royalty regime for natural resources' projects must be a priority of economic policy-making in Romania.
    
    
  • recognition of the improvements to the economic benefits that the Project is forecast to provide to the Romanian State, as promoted by the Government through the Draft Law, compared to those which the Romanian State enjoys under the terms of the existing exploitation license for the Project ("License").
    
    
  • recommendations that any future agreement should include enhanced protections for the State regarding, amongst other matters, extended shareholder veto rights, increased assurances of revenue returns from the Project's operations and financial guarantees.
    
    
  • a recommendation for the declassification and disclosure of the License.
    
    
  • a recommendation that the competent authorities should analyze and, where appropriate, investigate the evolution of the joint venture arrangements between the Company and Minvest, including the initial tender and transfer processes of the late 1990s through which Rosia Montana Gold Corporation ("RMGC") ultimately acquired the License and the Company acquired its current indirect equity interest in RMGC, and the process through which the License has been amended since its issuance in December 1998.
    
    
  • a recommendation that the competent authorities should analyze and, where appropriate, investigate the statements made before the Committee by the former director general of the Romanian Institute of Geology, Mr. Ştefan Marincea, with regard to the alleged falsification of the maps for the Corna Valley basin (see below).
    
    
  • a recommendation that specific ministries verify certain statements made by interested parties during the Committee hearings related to the potential risks associated with (i) the use of cyanide in mining operations, including an assessment of the possibility of using the alternative technology of cyanidation through flotation (ii) dam safety and (iii) permeability of the Project's Tailings Management Facility ("TMF").
    
    
  • a recommendation that the Parliament examines the opportunity to amend the legislation, so as to avoid the use of exploitation technologies in the mining industry that could compromise the possibility to exploit other commercially valuable mineral resources.
    
    
  • a recommendation that the Ministry of Culture organizes a public consultation in order to present a competent point of view regarding the potential dangers which may occur in relation to the cultural and historical heritage in Rosia Montana and initiates a public debate on the eligibility of Rosia Montana for inclusion on the UNESCO Heritage list.
    
    
• The Company notes the Special Committee's proposal for the creation of a new generic legal framework applicable to gold and silver mining operations such as the Project, an initiative to address the recognised deficiencies in the current legal framework for the evaluation and development of large-scale mining operations such as the Project. The Company will monitor the development of this initiative closely, whilst actively considering all possible opportunities in the interests of its stakeholders.
  
  
• A number of the recommendations presented by the Special Committee in response to concerns raised by interested parties during the Special Committee hearings, particularly relating to the preservation of cultural heritage, the risks of cyanide use and alternative technologies, and the safety of the TMF, have already been addressed extensively by the competent authorities or institutions charged with assessing the Project, such as the Technical Analysis Committee.
  
  
• The Company is fully committed to working with the relevant ministries and Government institutions, as appropriate, to clarify the above issues and others raised in the Report. Gabriel, together with is advisers, has already commenced the process of addressing a number of the Report's conclusions and recommendations.
  
  
• RMGC has initiated a defamation suit against the former director general of the Romanian Institute of Geology (IGR), Mr. Ştefan Marincea, on November 12, 2013 in response to the completely ungrounded accusations made by Mr. Marincea before the Special Committee concerning the falsification of certain maps relating to the Corna Valley basin. The Company, through RMGC, will examine all possible legal action to counter such unfounded allegations and protect its rights.

Impact on the Project

• Whilst some of the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Committee may be positive for the development of the Project, certain conclusions and recommendations, if acted upon, may cause unspecified delay in the permitting process and/or necessitate changes to the terms of the License and/or the existing joint venture arrangements between Gabriel and Minvest RM.

• Until such time as the Report and Draft Law are sent to the Chamber of Deputies and the Company can complete the extensive dialogue necessary with the relevant ministries of the Government regarding the ultimate outcome of the Parliamentary Review, the Company cannot provide any assurances or estimates of the likely time required to address and resolve such matters or as to the impact of such resolution on the permitting progress of the Project.

Project Ownership and Royalty Rates

• In accordance with the terms of a reorganization of Minvest's business approved by the Government on April 30, 2013, Minvest transferred its entire direct 19.31% shareholding in RMGC to Minvest Rosia Montana S.A. ("Minvest RM"), a wholly-owned state entity. On November 1, 2013 the shareholders of RMGC formally approved the transfer of the shareholding in RMGC from Minvest to Minvest RM.
  
  
• The Company announced on July 12, 2013 that it was in negotiations with the Government on an increase in the Romanian State's equity interest in the Project and royalties, along with other long-term commitments on environment, cultural heritage and a defined route to successful permitting to underpin the Project's status as a world-class, long-term and sustainable investment. The measures proposed by the Draft Law, as announced by the Government, included a detailed agreement between RMGC and the Government cover those issues and the following terms:
  
  
  • the transfer by the Company, upon obtaining certain milestones in the permitting process, of 5.69% of the share capital of RMGC to the Romanian State, such that its indirect interests will increase to 25%, with the Company retaining a 75% ownership; and
    
    
  • an increase in the mining royalty applicable to the Project from 4% to 6% of revenues.
    
    
• As noted above, the Report includes, amongst others, acknowledgements that the development of a stable and predictable royalty-regime for natural resources' projects must be a priority of economic policy-making in Romania and that the economic benefits to the Romanian State are improved compared to those which it enjoys under the terms of the existing exploitation license for the Project.
  
  
• On November 14, 2013 it was reported that an emergency ordinance had been approved by the Government to set new royalties for mineral resources, to be applied from 2014 upon either (i) the conclusion of a license or (ii) the issuance of a mining permit. For noble metals, including gold, it is reported that a royalty of 6% of the mining production value will be applied. Until such time as the ordinance is recognized in the Official Gazette in Romania and an addendum to the License is agreed by RMGC, it is the Company's understanding that the royalty rate of 4% established in the License will continue to apply to the Project.

Environmental/Permitting

• The Company's understanding remains that Government approval of the environmental permit ("EP") is pivotal to the permitting progress of the Project. Furthermore, a key factor in the Government decision is the recommendation of the Technical Assessment Committee ("TAC"), originally charged with the detailed review of the environmental impact assessment ("EIA") and compliance of the Project; the TAC having met most recently on four occasions in May, June and July 2013. The Company remains confident that it will comply with, and in some aspects exceed, its obligations under European and Romanian laws for environmental protection and guarantees.

• Through its decision of August 27, 2013, the Government deferred the substantive in-principle decision affecting the environmental permitting of the Project until after the conclusion of the Parliamentary Review and the recommendation of the Ministry of Environment. Whilst the Company awaits the outcome of the Parliamentary Review, it will seek engagement with the Government on its strategy for addressing the findings of the Special Committee and the initiative to create a new legislative framework for gold and silver mining projects. The Company will also request confirmation from the relevant authorities of the status of, amongst other matters, the environmental permitting procedure for the Project.

• At this time the Company remains unable to provide guidance on the related timeframes to a final decision from the TAC, MoE or the Government. Ultimately, the EP must be approved by a Cabinet decision of the Government prior to its issuance.

• The Company has instigated a number of environmental initiatives in recent years to show how the implementation of the Project can assist with cleaning up legacy local environmental degradation from historical, unregulated mining activities. One such initiative is an acid rock drainage pilot test work program to clean mine water contaminated with high levels of heavy metals and total dissolved solids above EU and Romanian water standards. These tests have been conducted on water courses in Rosia Montana that are currently adversely affected by existing acid mine drainage from historic mining activities. The results have successfully shown that a full scale plant will clean up water discharges from the Project, along with much of the existing baseline contamination in the area, to levels fully compliant with all regulations in place (and even to potable water standards).

• Since late 2012, the Company has been working with the requisite Government agency to use the pilot plant for additional testing of eight former state-run mine sites and has demonstrated that a full scale water treatment plant would be successful in cleaning up the contaminants to the required EU and Romanian standards at all sites tested. This is one example of how the Project, and the commitments made in the EIA, will produce long-term environmental benefits at local, regional and national levels.

• The Company's amended industrial zonal urbanism plan ("Industrial Area PUZ") is at an advanced stage, and currently there are 19 valid endorsements of the 23 required for its approval; the Company has submitted the necessary documentation for two further endorsements and is progressing with the submission of documents for the remaining two. After obtaining all the necessary endorsements, the final approval for the Industrial Area PUZ will be given by the local councils of Rosia Montana, Abrud and Bucium.

• In addition, 10 out of the total of 13 endorsements necessary for the final approval of the zonal urbanism plan for the Rosia Montana historical protected area ("Historical Area PUZ") had been obtained at the end of Q3 2013, with the remainder being a documentary work in progress.

• While the Company understands there is no formal link between the receipt of remaining endorsements for the Industrial Area PUZ, the Historical Area PUZ and the EIA review process, it believes that these respective remaining endorsements are likely to be obtained on, or after, the issuance of the EP.

Archaeology and Preservation of Cultural Heritage

• The Company continues, at its own cost, with maintenance work on 160 houses identified in the historical center of the village of Rosia Montana ("Protected Area"), with the aim of preventing their deterioration. While these village houses are not designated as historic, the restoration will contribute to maintaining the character of the village.
  
  
• The Company is advancing a project to complete restoration of more than 110 houses located within the Protected Area, which will bring these back into functional use. To date, the design work and permitting has been completed, with the final stage for obtaining construction authorization yet to be initiated.
  
  
• RMGC, in partnership with the local council of Rosia Montana, initiated the restoration of two iconic buildings in the Protected Area which will be used for tourism initiatives. Subject to internal fit out, the primary restoration of the former town hall was completed during 2012. Work on the old school house advanced to the stage of the building being secure and weather tight. Further restoration work has been put on hold until such time as the Government moves ahead with Project permitting.
  
  
• RMGC is continuing further detailed archaeological work focusing on opening up previously unexplored old underground mining galleries that lie under the Protected Area, such as Catalina Monulesti. Such areas will serve as a permanent museum, a visible testimony to the 2,000 year mining history at Rosia Montana and an accessible example of historic mining activities for parties with interests in the regional mining sector. The Company has already hosted over one thousand visitors to Catalina Monulesti, representing various stakeholder groups. The archaeological results identify Roman mining galleries and related wooden artifacts, all outside of the Project footprint. This is all part of the long term initiatives in the Protected Area funded solely by the Company. Without such programs, there would be no comparable preservation of the area's mining heritage.
  
  
• During Q3 2013, visits to Rosia Montana included delegations from the Ministry of Culture and from the Romanian Parliamentary Commission for UNESCO. After this visit the reported view of the Minister of Culture was that the Project had no chance to be included in the UNESCO heritage list at this time, and the chances will be higher in future years if the old galleries are preserved and the old buildings are restored, as is the intention of the Company should the Project proceed.

Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR)

• The Company continues to pursue a strategy of engagement with all stakeholders to explain the critical importance of the Project as part of the sustained economic development for Romania and its commitment to adhere to the highest standards on engineering, environmental, cultural and social matters, which will allow the Project to become a showcase for further investment into Romania and a sustainable legacy for the Romanian people.
  
  
• Gabriel takes pride in its commitment to achieving the highest levels of sustainability from workplace safety to community and environmental responsibility. The Company invests significant resources into its CSR programs, which in Romania is a multi-dimensional commitment managed by RMGC covering employee training and safety, local communities, living traditions, direct and indirect social impacts, educational programs, environmental protection, community sponsorship and heritage aspects.
  
  
• One of RMGC's core commitments is to develop local employment, local supply and a strategy for local economic diversification during the life of the Project for sustainable development for the benefit of future generations, evidenced through:
  
  
  • Local employment - RMGC currently employs approximately 500 people directly and numerous others indirectly, with some 85 percent hired from the local community. The Company is investing in training and skills assessments for the construction phase of the Project; and
    
    
  • Local supply - more than 600 local firms are suppliers / contractors to RMGC.

Litigation

• Over the years, certain foreign and domestically-funded non-governmental organizations ("NGOs") have initiated a multitude of legal challenges against licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals obtained for the exploration and development of the Project.
  
  
• The publicly stated objective of the NGOs in initiating and maintaining these legal challenges is to use the Romanian court system not only to delay as much as possible, but to ultimately stop the development of the Project. Often an action will be taken by the NGOs on a particular issue in several different regional court jurisdictions, and such legal objection may be raised in separate cases seeking a suspension or cancellation of a particular license, permit or approval.
  
  
• There were no significant legal developments during the third quarter of 2013, save that on September 9, 2013 the Bucharest Tribunal dismissed a claim brought by two NGOs which sought the cancellation and suspension of the ADC for the Carnic open pit. This decision may be appealed by the NGOs.
  
  
• The High Court of Cassation and Justice ("Supreme Court") has admitted applications submitted by RMGC seeking the relocation from the Cluj Tribunal of four separate legal claims relating to the Project, namely those seeking the suspension and cancellation of the strategic environmental assessment ("SEA") endorsement for the Industrial Area PUZ and the suspension and cancellation of the ADC for the Carnic open-pit. These applications were submitted on the grounds of the association of certain members of the Cluj Tribunal with opponents of the Project. All four claims described below will now be heard by alternative Tribunals, with hearing dates yet to be determined:
  
  
  • On October 31, 2013 the action filed by three NGOs requesting the suspension of the ADC for the Carnic open-pit was relocated from the Cluj Tribunal to the Suceava Tribunal.
    
    
  • On November 5, 2013 a claim brought by the same three NGOs seeking the cancellation of the ADC for the Carnic open-pit was relocated from the Cluj Tribunal to the Calarasi Tribunal.
    
    
  • On October 25, 2013 a claim initiated by two NGOs seeking the suspension of the SEA was relocated from the Cluj Tribunal to the Bacau Tribunal.
    
    
  • On November 6, 2013 a claim initiated by two NGOs seeking the cancellation of the SEA was relocated from the Cluj Tribunal to the Covasna Tribunal.
    
    
• As previously reported, on April 1, 2013 the Bucharest Tribunal rejected a claim brought by an NGO which sought the disclosure of certain documents pertaining to the Rosia Montana exploitation license. On October 2, 2013, the complainant NGO submitted an appeal against this decision to the Bucharest Court of Appeal and the first appeal hearing has been scheduled for April 25, 2014.
  
  
• The most recent urbanism certificate, UC-47, was issued on April 22, 2013. All four of the urbanism certificates which preceded UC-47 were the subject of legal action by NGOs, and, on August 14, 2013, three NGOs initiated proceedings before the Cluj Tribunal seeking the cancellation of UC-47. The date of the first hearing of this action has yet to be fixed and the location of the hearing, as in the cases noted above, may be challenged.
  
  
• Due to the inherent uncertainties of the judicial process, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome or impact, if any, with respect to matters challenged in the Romanian courts. In all circumstances, the Company and/or RMGC will vigorously maintain its legal rights and will continue to work with local, county and federal authorities to ensure the Project receives a fair and timely evaluation in accordance with Romanian and EU laws. However, there can be no assurance that any claims will be resolved in favor of the Company, RMGC or the Project. The implications of a negative court ruling will only be known once such a decision is issued formally by the relevant Court and the position of the Government is assessed, and may have a material adverse effect on the timing and/or outcome of the permitting process for the Project and the Company's financial condition.

Outlook

• The Company's key objectives in the short term include to:
  
  
  • Consider fully the implications of the findings and recommendations of the Special Committee and, where appropriate, assist in the process to positive conclusion of issues raised;
    
    
  • Maintain ongoing engagement with the Government during the Parliamentary Review process;
    
    
  • Continue to highlight the key economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits brought to Romania by the Project in order to highlight the merits of the Project to all stakeholders;
    
    
  • Obtain approval of the EP;
    
    
  • Continue appropriate stewardship of cash resources;
    
    
  • Maximize shareholder value, while optimizing benefits of the Project for all stakeholders.

About Gabriel

Gabriel is a Canadian TSX-listed resource company focused on permitting and developing its world-class Rosia Montana gold and silver project. The exploitation license for the Project, the largest undeveloped gold deposit in Europe, is held exclusively by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, a Romanian company in which Gabriel currently owns an 80.69 percent equity interest, with the 19.31 percent balance held by CNCAF Minvest S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining enterprise. Gabriel and RMGC are committed to responsible mining and sustainable development in the communities in which they operate. The Project is anticipated to bring over US$24 billion (at US$1,200/oz gold) to Romania as potential direct and indirect contribution to GDP. The Project will generate thousands of employment opportunities. Gabriel intends to build a state-of-the-art mine using best available techniques and implementing the highest environmental standards whilst preserving local and national cultural heritage in Romania.

For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information as defined in applicable securities laws relating to the Company and/or the Project (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the development of a new legal framework for mining in Romania, returns to Romania from the Project and in respect of future permitting processes. All statements other than statements of historical facts included herein, including without limitation, those incorporated by reference, those which may refer to the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans, objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to the Company's business) the economic impact, job creation, costs estimates, patrimony plans, future ability of the Company to finance the Project, Project delivery and estimates regarding the timing of completion of various aspects of the Project's development or of future performance are forward-looking statements.

The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "intends", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "projects", "may", "will", "schedule", "potential", "proposed" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, legislative, political and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are difficult, or may be beyond Gabriel's ability, to predict or control and that may cause the actual outcomes, level of activity, financial results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation, changes in the worldwide price of precious metals; fluctuations in exchange rates; legislative, political or economic developments including changes to mining and other relevant legislation in Romania; geopolitical uncertainty, uncertain legal enforcement; changes in, and the effects of, the government policies affecting the Company's operations; uncertainties related to timelines for awaited approvals; changes in general economic conditions, and the financial markets; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, development or mining; environmental risks; the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; and the Company's requirements for substantial additional funding.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Gabriel undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.