Board Changes
Bezant Resources PLC
11 February 2008
Bezant Resources Plc
('Bezant' or the 'Company')
Board Changes
Highlights:
- Gerry Nealon assumes the role of Executive Chairman in line with the Company's
primary focus on its Filipino exploration programme
- Clive Sinclair-Poulton resigns as CEO to pursue other interests but will
continue to act for Bezant in a consultancy capacity
- Mark Burchnall moves to a non-executive board position
Bezant (AIM: BZT), the AIM listed exploration and development company with gold
and copper assets in the Philippines and gold assets in Tanzania, today
announces the following board changes.
Gerry Nealon has assumed the role of Executive Chairman to further exploration
activities following the Company's highly promising initial drilling results at
its Mankayan Project in the Phillippines.
Clive Sinclair-Poulton has stepped down from the board to pursue other interests
but will continue to be associated with the Company in a consultancy capacity.
In addition, Mark Burchnall has moved to a non-executive position alongside
Ronnie Siapno, who continues in his role as a Non-executive Director, and Dr
Bernard Olivier who continues as Technical Director. All of the aforementioned
board changes are with immediate effect.
The Company's Mankayan copper-gold porphyry project saw consistently positive
results from exploration activities during 2007, which culminated in the recent
announcements for drill holes BRC-50 and BRC-51. With five months of promising
exploration completed, the Company will now aggressively pursue its fully funded
drilling programme in the Philippines whilst continuing work on its Mkurumu
Project and seeking to expand its assets in Tanzania. Gerry Nealon and Dr
Bernard Olivier will oversee all of the Company's exploration and work
programmes in their executive roles.
Commenting today, Gerry Nealon, Executive Chairman, said:
'Bezant has made significant exploration progress during 2007 and the Company
remains on course to complete its fully funded drilling programme in the
Philippines on time and within budget. I would personally like to thank Clive
for all his work in assisting the Company to reach this next stage in its
development and look forward to his further contributions as a valued consultant
to the Company.'
For further information, please contact:
Gerry Nealon, Executive Chairman
Bezant Resources Plc
Tel: +61 417 541 873
James Harris / Matthew Chandler
Strand Partners Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 3494
Gary Middleton
St Swithins PR Limited
Email: gary@swithins.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7951 603 289
Additional Information:
Revised Board of Directors
Gerard Nealon M.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons) (Executive Chairman)
Gerard Nealon, aged 47, is a Chartered Chemist holding the degrees of B.Sc.
(Hons) in Biochemistry and M.Sc. in Forensic Science. He has approximately
twenty five years of work experience, primarily in the areas of forensic
science, quality systems, risk management, research & development, corporate
governance and due diligence. Gerard was initially employed by government
agencies, prior to moving into the private sector and founding his own
consulting company in 1994. His main areas of operation have principally been
Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the USA, having
previously held the positions of Chairman with Sylvania Resources Limited
(listed on AIM and ASX) and Commercial Manager with Dwyka Resources Limited
(listed on AIM and ASX). Gerard is currently the Chairman of Magnum Mining and
Exploration Limited and a director of Great Australian Resources Limited (both
listed on ASX).
Dr Bernard Olivier (Technical Director)
Dr Bernard Olivier, aged 32, received his PhD in Economic Geology from the
University of Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2006 and is a member of the
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He has been working as a
geologist since 1998 throughout most of Africa and parts of Asia, including
Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Burundi, Malawi, Namibia and the Philippines. He
has worked on various exploration and development projects as well as active
mining operations on a variety of commodities including, gold, gemstones,
diamonds, base metals and coal. He is a founding director of Olivier Geological
Services, a mining and geological consultancy, and is currently Vice President
Operations for TanzaniteOne Limited (listed on AIM) and Project Manager for
Dwyka Resources Limited (listed on AIM and ASX).
Mark Burchnall BA, LLB (Non-executive Director)
Mark Burchnall, aged 31, graduated in 1998 from the Flinders University of South
Australia before working as a lawyer with a number of prominent Australian law
firms for approximately eight years. Most recently, Mark was employed as a
Senior Associate with Clayton Utz in Perth where he worked for over four years
in the corporate, energy and resources area, providing advice to a number of
Australian and internationally-listed clients, primarily with a natural
resources focus. He has a number of years experience in public and private
capital raisings, asset and share sales and acquisitions (with the associated
due diligence enquiries) and is currently the Manager - Strategic Development
for Dwyka Resources Limited (listed on AIM and ASX) and Sylvania Resources
Limited (listed on AIM and ASX), as well as being a director of Washington
Resources Limited (listed on ASX).
Ronnie Siapno (Non-executive Director)
Ronnie Siapno, aged 44, graduated from the Saint Louis University in the
Philippines in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering and
is currently a member of both the Philippine Institute of Mining, Metallurgical
and Geological Engineers and the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers. Since
graduation, he has held various consulting positions such as Mine Planning
Engineer to Benguet Exploration Inc., Mine Production Engineer to Pacific Chrome
International Inc., Exploration Engineer to both Portman Mining Philippines Inc.
and Phoenix Resources Philippines Inc. and Geotechnical Engineer to Pacific
Falkon Philippines Inc. He is currently the President of Crescent Mining and
Development Corporation.
Notes for editors:
The Philippines is the fifth-most endowed country in the world in terms of
mineral resources and is home to some of the world's biggest under-exploited
deposits of gold and copper. It also benefits from one of the most liberal
mining regimes in the region. The Mining Act of 1995 allows for 100 per cent.
foreign-equity participation through Financial and Technical Assistance
Agreements (FTAAs) with local miners. In addition, the Filipino government has
in recent years sought to promote foreign mining investment by providing various
tax and non-tax incentives and has established the Mineral Development Council
to assist foreign investors in expediting access to mining projects.
Mining investment in the country has steadily increased in recent years, with
the Filipino Chamber of Mines (the 'Chamber') forecasting an estimated US$1.55
billion of mining investment in 2008 and US$2.76 billion in 2009 (compared to an
estimated US$350 million in 2007). The Chamber, the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau predict that the
contribution of mining exports to the Philippines' total export figures will
continue to increase year-on-year over at least the next three to five years.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange