Emerita Resources to Petition the Administrative Court to Issue Its Ruling With Respect to the Aznalcollar Public Tender Dispute, Forgoes Appeal of Criminal Trial

Core Viewpoint - Emerita Resources Corp. is petitioning the Administrative Court of Andalucia regarding alleged irregularities in the awarding of the Aznalcollar public tender, while deciding not to appeal a recent criminal case ruling after consulting with Spanish legal counsel [1][3]. Legal Proceedings - The company aims to focus its legal efforts on obtaining rights to develop the Aznalcollar project, as the Administrative Court is deemed the appropriate venue for resolving the public tender issue [2][3]. - Spanish legal counsel believes Emerita has a strong case based on evidence from a detailed police investigation and the lengthy criminal trial, indicating significant administrative errors in the tender process [2]. Allegations of Errors - Emerita's complaint to the Administrative Court includes several alleged errors, such as: - The Minorbis consortium's failure to meet the requirements of the first stage of the Public Tender, making them ineligible for subsequent stages [5]. - The Minorbis bid being incomplete or non-compliant with the tender's defined criteria [5]. - Incorrect interpretation and application of scoring/evaluation criteria to the bids [5]. - The concession being awarded to Minera Los Frailes, which did not participate in the public tender, instead of the bidding entity, Minorbis-Grupo Mexico, which allegedly violates Spanish administrative and EU procurement law [5]. Timeline and Expectations - The company does not have a firm estimate on when the Administrative Court will issue its resolution, but past experiences suggest a timeframe of 2-3 months [1]. - An appeal of the Criminal Case to the Supreme Court is viewed as unlikely to change the sentencing and could delay the Administrative Court's process by 18-24 months [3]. Company Overview - Emerita Resources Corp. is focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Europe, particularly in Spain, with its corporate office and technical team based in Sevilla, Spain, and an administrative office in Toronto, Canada [4].