VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - Focus Ventures Ltd. (News - Market indicators) ("Focus") and Stonegate Agricom Ltd. (TSX:ST) ("Stonegate") are pleased to announce that they have signed a Letter of Intent pursuant to which Focus has the right to acquire, subject to successful due diligence, a 70% interest in the Mantaro phosphate deposit, located 250 km east of Lima in the District of Junín, central Peru. Phosphate is a key nutrient used in the manufacture of fertilizers and is an integral part of the food supply chain. 

Mantaro, one of only a small number of phosphate deposits known in the Andes, is also one of the world's largest undeveloped phosphate deposits. Phosphate mineralization is hosted in the Aramachay Formation, a moderately dipping sequence of Jurassic-aged marine sedimentary unit that has been folded and faulted, resulting in three parallel mineralized zones termed the West, East and Far East Zones. Each Zone has been mapped on surface over a strike length of over 20 km with a total of over 60 km of phosphate-bearing units defined by surface mapping and trenching, averaging approximately 25m in width.

Drilling and trenching in the West Zone during 2009 by Stonegate resulted in the definition of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, described in the table below.* To the best of Focus's and Stonegate's knowledge, information and belief, there is no new material scientific or technical information that would make the disclosure of these mineral resource estimates inaccurate or misleading.

Similar mineralized widths and strike lengths are observed on surface in the East and Far East zones and considerable potential exists to expand the resource base by further trenching and drilling. The conceptual mineral deposits in the East and Far East zones were estimated in Stonegate's 2010 technical report as follows:

These potential quantities and grades are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource in the East and Far East Zones and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in these targets being delineated as a mineral resource.

"We are pleased to have Focus Ventures as a partner on the Mantaro Phosphate Project," said Mark Ashcroft, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stonegate. "We believe that Mantaro is a world class deposit. This transaction will permit further work on the Mantaro deposit to proceed while Stonegate concentrates on its Paris Hills Phosphate Project in Idaho."

David Cass, President of Focus, comments: "South America is dependent on the import of fertilizers for its growing agricultural industry. Subject to successful due diligence, the acquisition of a majority interest in the Mantaro deposit will be a catalyst in the development of our phosphate assets and will put Focus firmly on the map as perhaps the only junior exploration company with a diverse portfolio of phosphate assets in Andean South America. The exploration and development of phosphate rock quarries to provide the source material for fertilizers and nutrient products, is a unique opportunity for Focus. Management of Focus intends to establish sustainable and ethical operations that would directly contribute to the domestic and international agronomic economies of Latin America."

Agreement

Stonegate has granted Focus an exclusive right and option to acquire a 70% interest in the Mantaro property by investing a total of US$25 million over 4 years in exploration, including permitting and drilling, and including the completion of a feasibility study and an updated NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Resource calculation. 

Focus will have 90 days from the signing of the Letter of Intent to conduct due diligence and raise a minimum of $2 million to spend on the property. If Focus decides to proceed, it will implement a community relations and stakeholder engagement program during the first 6 - 12 months of the option to obtain the necessary land access agreements and drill permits required to commence exploration and drilling.

During the first year Focus will decide whether: (a) the option will form a key project in a newly created phosphate company ("Newco") (with the potential addition of Focus's other phosphate assets in Peru and Colombia, including the 18,000 hectare Machay phosphate property located approximately 30km to the north of Mantaro), or (b) the option will be held 100% by Focus. As applicable, Stonegate will receive either a right to a board seat on Newco and 5.0% of the post-financing issued common shares of Newco, or 3.0 million common shares of Focus.

Finder's fees will be payable if Focus proceeds with this transaction.

Background

The 26,000 hectare Mantaro property is located in the Peruvian altiplano in the southern end of the historic Central Peru Mining District at an elevation of 3,600m - 4,000m a.s.l. The potential for a significant phosphate resource was recognized in the 1960's by Cerro de Pasco Mining Corporation. Mineralization is hosted within Aramachay Formation, a Jurassic-aged sandstone-shale unit that extends for hundreds of kilometers along the length of the belt. The Mantaro property is strategically located adjacent to asphalt highways, rail and electricity grids.

Exploration by Stonegate in 2009 included mapping, trenching and drilling of 3,414m in 23 holes. The work tested mainly the West Zone and resulted in a NI 43-101 resource calculation (see above table). Six historic trenches with high grade phosphate intersections occur in the same area and to the north along trend and indicate that the mineralization is continuous over very long distances. In 2011 a further 29 holes were drilled at closer drill spacings for a total of 6,386m; however, no updated resource estimation was performed.

Mineralogy, processing and beneficiation studies in 2010 concluded that both oxide and unoxidized phosphatic ores at Mantaro could be successfully treated by conventional grinding and flotation techniques to produce a marketable phosphate concentrate of similar quality to that of Moroccan Phosrock (~30% P₂0₅). Morocco controls a third of the world's seaborne traded phosphate rock sold on international markets. Similar results were also obtained in previous bench work studies undertaken in 2006 and 2001.

Phosphates

Focus is acquiring phosphate projects in Latin America through its subsidiary, Agrifos. Projects acquired to date include the Machay and Quebranta phosphate properties in Peru, and in Colombia, Focus has optioned the Maria Luisa phosphate project and signed a strategic agreement with a local landholder.

Approximately 75% of global phosphate resources are from marine sedimentary phosphate deposits which are typically amenable to beneficiation to produce marketable phosphate rock concentrate or chemical grade fertilizers. Given the current global food crisis owing to the world's growing population and economic development, crop yields need to increase and demand for worldwide fertilizers is expected to grow, particularly in new markets such as Brazil, India and Indonesia.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information in this release was prepared for Focus under the supervision of Mr. David Cass, Focus's President, who is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, and a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101. Mr. Cass reviewed and approved this release.

The Mantaro technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved for Stonegate by David Brownrigg, P.Eng. General Manager, Mantaro Phosphate Project, who is a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Brownrigg has reviewed and approved this release.

About Focus Ventures

Focus Ventures is developing a diversified portfolio of quality silver, gold, copper and phosphate properties in Peru, Mexico and Colombia. The Company is currently drilling at its Reventon Ag-Au property in Mexico and permitting for drilling at its Aurora Cu-Mo porphyry in Peru. Backed by an experienced technical team of geologists and consultants, Focus's strategy is to identify and acquire former producing mines or untested mineral properties that show potential to become new mines. Further information is available at www.focusventuresltd.com.

About Stonegate Agricom

Stonegate Agricom, which is actively engaged in acquiring and developing agricultural nutrient projects, is currently focused on the development of two potentially world-class, long-life phosphate deposits, the Paris Hills Phosphate Project located in Idaho and the Mantaro Phosphate Project located in Peru. The Company is confident that the two deposits have sufficient size and grade to become strategic, cost-effective sources of phosphate supply for major fertilizer producers. Further information is available at www.stonegateagricom.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE FOCUS BOARD

David Cass, President

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Shares Issued: 40.1-million

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the businesses of Focus Ventures Ltd. and Stonegate Agricom Ltd. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statement.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable law, which include statements herein relating to the potential to increase mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates. Generally, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions that have been made as at the date of such information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks relating to whether Focus and Stonegate complete the transaction described in this news release, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, uncertainty of inferred mineral resources, mineral exploration, reliability of historical exploration work, risks relating to assumptions used in preparation of the Feasibility Study on the Lower Phosphate Zone of the Paris Hills Phosphate Project as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Stonegate's most recently filed annual information form available at www.sedar.com. Although Stonegate have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained in this news release are included for the purpose of providing investors with information to assist them in understanding the expected financial and operational performance and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Focus and Stonegate do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement or forward-looking information that is included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.