VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jul 18, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX)----Dorato Resources Inc. ("Dorato" or the "Company") (TSXVENTURE:DRI)(FRANKFURT:DO5) is pleased to announce that it has enteredinto a letter agreement with Franco-Nevada Corporation (TSX:FNV)("Franco-Nevada") wherein Franco-Nevada has agreed to purchase1,500,000 units of a 1,900,000 common share non-brokered privateplacement (approximately 5% of the issues and outstanding shares of theCompany) at a price of $1.70 per common share. The price of $1.70represents a 15% premium over the 20 day average market price prior tothe date of this news release. Under the terms of the agreement,Franco-Nevada will be offered the right to participate in allsubsequent financings on a pro-rata basis for a period of two years.

Dorato has also agreed togrant Franco-Nevada the option to purchase a perpetual royalty on 100% of the gold and silver produced from its El Tambo andsurrounding land package covering approximately 152 square kilometres along the southern extension of Aurelian Gold's Frutadel Norte structural trend as it enters Peru (the "Option"). Dorato has exploration rights to a total of 700 km2 Cordilleradel Condor Project in northern Peru. The Option will be set forth in a Royalty Option Agreement to be entered into by theparties. The material terms of the Royalty Option Agreement will be as follows:

-The Option will expire the sooner of: (a) the expiration or terminationof the concessions or other property comprising the El Tambo andsurrounding land packages or (b) sixty days following a decision toconstruct a mine;

-The Option may be exercised within sixty days following a decision toconstruct a mine by Dorato and/or its successor in interest togetherwith a firm commitment to finance construction;

- The royalty rate shall be either 1% or 2% of the Net Smelter Return, dependent on the gold price at the time of theexercise of the Option; and

-The Option may be exercised at a purchase price equal to the RoyaltyNet Present Value which, for the purposes of the Royalty OptionAgreement, shall mean the after tax net present value of the royaltyrevenue from the production of gold and silver using the royalty rateand a 7 1/2% discount rate applied to the base case model assumptionscontained in a feasibility study used to make the decision to constructthe mine.

David Harquail, President and CEOof Franco-Nevada, states, "The Dorato land package which lies along the southern extension of the prolific Fruta del Nortetrend within the mining friendly jurisdiction of Peru is an exceptional opportunity for Franco-Nevada to participate on theground floor of a new emerging World Class Gold District. The private placement and royalty option agreement fits well withour objective of working with quality partners to create royalty interests in major gold belts offering security of tenure."

The transaction is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receiving the approval of the TSX VentureExchange.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of DORATO RESOURCES INC.

Anton J. Drescher, President

CautionaryStatement

Thispress release contains statements that are "forward looking".Generally, the words "expect", "intend", "estimate", "will" and similarexpressions identify forward-looking statements, By their very nature,forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks anduncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance orachievements, or that of our industry, to differ materially from thoseexpressed or implied in any of our forward looking statements.Statements in this press release regarding Dorato's business orproposed business, which are not historical facts, are"forward-looking" statements that involve risks and uncertainties, suchas estimates and statements that describe Dorato's future plans,objectives or goals, including words to the effect that Dorato ormanagement expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forwardlooking statements address events and conditions, by their very nature,they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in eachcase could differ materially from those currently anticipated in suchstatements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance onforward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they aremade.

SOURCE: DoratoResources Inc.