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Contango ORE, Inc. Responds to 13D Filing

CTGO | April 23, 2018

Contango ORE, Inc. Responds to 13D Filing

Contango ORE, Inc. (“CORE” or the “Company”) (OTCQB: CTGO) received notice of a Schedule 13D filing by Royal Gold, Inc. (“Royal Gold”), which was made with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2018 to reflect Royal Gold’s acquisition of more than 13% of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a price of $26 per share. Royal Gold is the parent company of Royal Alaska LLC, CORE’s joint venture partner in Peak Gold, LLC.

The Board has reviewed the Schedule 13D and has engaged advisors to assist it in determining the strategic direction of the Company and its alternatives. The Company has and will continue to evaluate and assess opportunities to further increase stockholder value. In order to permit sufficient time to evaluate opportunities, the Company amended its Rights Agreement to, among other things, extend the Rights Plan until December 19, 2019 and reset the beneficial ownership trigger thereunder to 15%, the original percentage when the Rights Agreement was adopted in 2012. Stockholders wishing to purchase in excess of 15% of the Company’s stock should contact the Company.

ABOUT CORE

CORE is a Houston-based company that engages in the exploration in Alaska for gold and associated minerals through Peak Gold, LLC, CORE’s joint venture company with Royal Alaska, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Gold. Additional information can be found on our web page at www.contangoore.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding CORE that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on CORE’s current expectations and includes statements regarding future results of operations, quality and nature of the asset base, the assumptions upon which estimates are based and other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, strategies or statements about future events or performance (often, but not always, using words such as “expects”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”, “probable”, or “intends”, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “will”, “should”, or “could” be taken, occur or be achieved). Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: the risks of the exploration and the mining industry (for example, operational risks in exploring for, developing mineral reserves; risks and uncertainties involving geology; the speculative nature of the mining industry; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to future production, costs and expenses; the volatility of natural resources prices, including prices of gold and associated minerals; the existence and extent of commercially exploitable minerals in properties acquired by CORE; potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the interpretation of exploration results and the estimation of mineral resources; the loss of key employees or consultants; health, safety and environmental risks and risks related to weather and other natural disasters); uncertainties as to the availability and cost of financing; inability to realize expected value from acquisitions; inability of our management team to execute its plans to meet its goals; and the possibility that government policies may change or governmental approvals may be delayed or withheld, including the inability to obtain any mining permits. Additional information on these and other factors which could affect CORE’s exploration program or financial results are included in CORE’s other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the projections in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. CORE does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.