To: hubris33 who wrote (11902 ) 3/18/2013 11:35:01 AM From: hubris33 Respond to Alamos loosing ground in fight for AZK................. ................ .................aurizon.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 18, 2013) - Aurizon Mines Ltd. (TSX:ARZ)(NYSE MKT:AZK) ("Aurizon" or the "Company") today reiterated its recommendation that Aurizon shareholders REJECT the financially inadequate offer by Alamos Gold Inc. ("Alamos") and not tender their shares to it. Counsel for Alamos disclosed in a hearing before the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") on March 15, 2013 that only 6.5% of Aurizon's shares were tendered to its offer as of that date. This represents tendered support declining by half since the announcement of the Hecla offer, given that on March 12, Alamos had suggested that 13% of shares had been tendered as of noon on March 5. In the hearing before the BCSC on March 15, nobody having direct control or direction over Aurizon shares provided an affidavit of support to Alamos. The only supporting affidavit that Alamos was able to present was from a former Aurizon shareholder that had sold its Aurizon shares to Alamos in January. Said George Brack , Chair of the Special Committee of Aurizon's Board: "The Board remains of the view that the Alamos offer is financially inadequate. The offer made by Hecla provides both more value per Aurizon share, as well as a significantly larger cash component."Hecla offers premium value - based on the closing share prices of Hecla and Alamos on March 15, 2013, the Hecla Arrangement provides $0.32 more value than the Alamos bid. Hecla offers more cash - the Hecla arrangement offers Aurizon shareholders greater value certainty through a maximum $513.6 million in cash, which is 68% higher than the maximum amount of cash offered by Alamos ($305 million maximum cash). Roughly two thirds of the Hecla Arrangement is in cash with Alamos' offer being less than half. Hecla offers a more compelling strategic and jurisdictional fit - a combination of Hecla and Aurizon offers shareholders the opportunity to participate in a North America-focused, US$1.64 billion precious metals company with excellent operating assets in superb jurisdictions, complementary mining experience, and exploration potential.
