HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Morien Resources Corp. (“Morien” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: MOX) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with Rife Royalties Ltd. (“Rife”) to establish a strategic alliance focused on acquiring royalties on construction aggregate production in the United States and Canada.
Strategic Alliance
Rife is wholly owned by one of Canada’s largest single-employer pension funds and ranks among North America’s largest private energy and mining investment companies.
Under the proposed alliance, Morien will identify, evaluate and introduce qualifying royalty acquisition opportunities, Rife will provide the acquisition capital, and Morien will earn a direct beneficial interest alongside Rife in each royalty successfully acquired through the alliance.
Construction aggregates are essential to infrastructure and construction, with relatively inelastic demand and reserve lives that commonly span decades. The alliance is intended to build a diversified portfolio of aggregate royalties across the United States and Canada, increasing the scale and geographic reach of Morien's existing aggregate royalty portfolio.
Alliance Structure and Economics
Following execution of a definitive agreement, the arrangement is expected to begin with a 12-month trial period. Leveraging Morien’s established network, the Company will identify, evaluate and introduce qualifying opportunities to Rife. Morien may earn up to an 8% beneficial interest in each royalty acquired through the alliance, without contributing acquisition capital. For each introduction that results in a successful acquisition, Morien will earn at closing a beneficial interest equal to 4% of the acquired royalty, on the same economic terms as Rife's acquired interest, and may earn a further 4% if the royalty meets certain performance criteria.
If the alliance achieves certain acquisition thresholds during the trial period, the arrangement will automatically extend for a further 24 months. The parties may also agree to extend the alliance regardless of whether those thresholds are achieved.
During the trial period, Morien and Rife will share agreed sourcing and evaluation costs on a 50/50 basis, subject to an approved budget.
The term sheet is non-binding, other than certain provisions including confidentiality, termination and general provisions, and remains subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement. There can be no assurance that a definitive agreement will be executed, that any identified opportunity will result in an acquisition, or that Morien will earn any royalty interest under the proposed alliance.
About Morien
Morien is a Nova Scotia-based royalty and mining development company focused on building long-duration royalty exposure through disciplined, capital-efficient partnerships. Its primary assets include royalties on the Donkin Mine in Cape Breton and the Lazy Head and Black Point aggregate projects in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. The proposed Rife alliance has the potential to expand Morien’s royalty portfolio through sourcing and evaluation work rather than direct acquisition capital, consistent with the Company’s partner-driven business model. Management and the Board remain focused on disciplined capital allocation and long-term per-share value creation. Morien has 60,180,889 issued and outstanding common shares and 62,330,889 common shares on a fully diluted basis. Further information is available at www.MorienRes.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable securities laws. These statements reflect Morien's current expectations of future revenues and business prospects and opportunities and are based on information currently available to Morien. Morien cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Morien currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties described in documents filed by Morien with the Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) from time to time. Morien cautions that its royalty revenue will be based on production by third party property owners and operators who will be responsible for determining the manner and timing for the properties forming part of Morien’s royalty portfolio. These third party owners and operators are also subject to risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted herein including: volatility in financial markets or general economic conditions; capital requirements and the need for additional financing; fluctuations in the rates of exchange for the currencies of Canada and the United States; prices for commodities including coal and aggregate; unanticipated changes in production, mineral reserves and mineral resources, metallurgical recoveries and/or exploration results; changes in regulations and unpredictable political or economic developments; loss of key personnel; labour disputes; and ineffective title to mineral claims or property. There are other business risks and hazards associated with mineral exploration, development and mining. Although Morien believes that the forward-looking information contained herein is based on reasonable assumptions (including assumptions relating to economic, market and political conditions, the Company’s working capital requirements and the accuracy of information supplied by the operators of the properties in which the Company has a royalty interest), readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Morien expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information in this news release, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All dollar values discussed herein are in Canadian dollars. Any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information in this news release, as defined by applicable securities laws, has been approved by management of Morien as of the date of this news release. Such financial outlook or future-oriented financial information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such outlook or information should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed in this news release.
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.
For more information, please contact:
Dawson Brisco, President & CEO
Phone: (902) 403-3149
dbrisco@MorienRes.com
or
John P.A. Budreski, Executive Chairman
Phone: (416) 930-0914
www.MorienRes.com
