Appointment of Chairman & Fin

RNS Number : 6788Y

Metals Exploration PLC

09 July 2008

 



METALS EXPLORATION PLC

Appointment of Chairman and Finance Director

Metals Exploration Plc (the 'Company' or 'Metals Ex') (AIM: MTL), the UK based precious and base metals exploration company focused on the Pacific Rim Region, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Holzberger as Executive Chairman and Tim Wheeler as Finance Director. The Company also announces the resignation of Steven Smith from the Board of Directors of Metals Ex, as referred to in the Chairman's Statement in the Company's Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2007.  

Ian Holzberger 

Ian Holzberger has over 35 years' experience in the base and precious metals mining industry. His experience encompasses a wide range of management, operational, mine development and feasibility study roles.

For ten years, between April 1997 and May 2007, Ian was Managing Director of Highlands Pacific Limited, a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange with operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG). In this capacity he was directly responsible for the feasibility study on the Ramu nickel laterite project, and subsequent sale of a majority interest in the project to a major Chinese corporation. 

He was also responsible for the feasibility study, development, financing, construction and commissioning of the Kainantu gold mine in PNG which was recently acquired by Barrick Gold Corporation for US$141.5 million.  

Having previously worked for a number of major and smaller Australian mining companies throughout Australia and South East Asia, Ian has extensive experience in the implementation of major project feasibility studies, equity raising, investor relations, debt financing, working with traditional societies, Government negotiations and all aspects of project development.  

He is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. 

Tim Wheeler

Tim Wheeler is an experienced Finance Director, Chief Operating Officer and Business Manager with over 20 years' experience in investment banking.  

Most recently he was Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer for Standard Bank Plc where he was responsible for all Standard Bank's operations worldwide with the exception of Africa, including offices in the Far East, Latin America and North America. Standard Bank's product and geographic spread has given him considerable experience of working in the resource sector and in developing economies.  

Jonathan Beardsworth, CEO of Metals Exploration Plc commented:

'We are delighted to welcome Ian as Chairman and Tim as Finance Director. With Ian's background in project development and Tim's expertise in finance, we now have a powerful Board equipped to drive our flagship project at Runruno through development and financing towards production.

'We are grateful for all Steven Smith has done as Chairman of Metals Ex in the period since the Company joined AIM in October 2004.'

Further information on Ian Holzberger 

Ian Raymond Holzberger, aged 53, is beneficially interested in 105,000 ordinary shares representing 0.09 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company. In addition Mr. Holzberger was issued warrants on 8 July 2008 to subscribe for 1,000,000 ordinary shares of 1p each in the Company exercisable immediately at a price of 20p per share. A further 1,000,000 warrants to subscribe for ordinary shares of 1p each exercisable at a price of 40p per share will be issued on completion of the Runruno feasibility study. Both tranches of warrants are exercisable until 30 June 2013. 

Mr. Holzberger is, or has been within the previous five years, a director of the following companies:

Current	Previous
One Body Pty Ltd	Pt Miwah Tambung Emas
GPS Rowing Club Limited	PT Tripa Tambang Nusa
Boatshed Trust	Astrolabe Pty Limited
Skycharger Pty Ltd	Highlands Kainantu Limited
Somerville House The Brisbane High	Astrolabe Limited
School for Girls	Highlands Pacific Services Limited
	Highlands Pacific Australia Pty Limited
	Highlands Pacific Indonesia Limited
	Highlands Pacific Resources Limited
	Highlands Frieda Limited
	Ramu Nickel Limited
	Bledisloe Holdings Pty Ltd
	Bledtwo Pty Ltd
	Dyhost Pty Ltd
	Crematorium Chapel Funerals Australasia Pty Ltd
	Australian Pre-Arranged Funeral Plan Pty Ltd
	Metropolitan Funeral Services Pty Ltd
	Australian Funerals Pty Ltd
	South-East Asia & Australasian Services Pty Ltd
	Bled One Pty Ltd
	F Tighe & Co Pty Ltd
	Gregory & Carr Holdings Pty Ltd
	Nationwide Care Services Pty Ltd
	William Lee and Sons Pty Ltd
	Cemetery & Crematorium Management Services Pty Ltd
	Bledisloe Australia Ltd
	Sydney Crematorium Services Pty Ltd
	Gregory Carr Pty Ltd
	Gregory Carr of Sydney Pty Ltd
	Bledisloe New Zealand Limited
	Blenz Limited

Mr. Holzberger has confirmed that there is no further information to be disclosed in accordance with the requirements of Schedule Two (g) of the AIM Rules.

Further information on Tim Wheeler

Timothy George Wheeler, aged 50, has been conditionally issued warrants to subscribe for 1,000,000 ordinary shares of 1p each in the Company exercisable at a price of 20p per share. The warrants will be held by Wheeler and Dunne LLP, a limited liability partnership of which Mr. Wheeler is a partner. The warrants will vest at a rate of 40,000 per month during his initial 25 month contract and will cease to vest if that contract is terminated. The warrants are exercisable until 30 June 2013.

Mr. Wheeler is or has been within the previous five years, a director or partner of the following companies:

Current	Previous
Wheeler and Dunne LLP	Standard Bank Plc
	Standard Bank London Holdings Plc
	SBIC Investments S.A.
	Standard International Holdings S.A.
	Standard Debt Finance Plc
	Standard Bank Asia Limited
	SML Limited
	Standard Bank Group International Limited
	ZAO Standard Bank
	SBIC Finance Limited
	SMT
	Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited
	Banco Standard de Investmentos S.A.
	Standard Merchant Bank (Asia) Limited
	Standard Yatirim Menkul Kiymetler A.S.

Mr. Wheeler has confirmed that there is no further information to be disclosed in accordance with the requirements of Schedule Two (g) of the AIM Rules.

For more information:

Jonathan Beardsworth (CEO)	+ 44 (0) 20 7927 6690
	+ 44 (0) 7747 101 552
Tim Feather / Matthew Johnson	+ 44 (0) 20 7601 6110
Hanson Westhouse Limited
Klara Kaczmarek	+ 44 (0) 20 3159 4395
Pelham PR

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

 

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