Metals Exploration PLC
06 July 2006
Metals Exploration Plc
('Metals Ex' or 'the Company')
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer
6th July 2006
Metals Exploration Plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Paul
Bingham Beardsworth, aged 50, as a director and Chief Executive Officer.
Jonathan will join the Company from Standard Bank Plc where he is currently the
head of the London office of Standard Bank's Mining and Metals group, with
responsibility also for the Group's Moscow and Shanghai offices.
For the last 12 years Jonathan has been engaged exclusively in providing
corporate finance, strategic advisory, and project finance advisory services to
the mining and metals sector. He joined Warrior International, the mining
corporate finance boutique, in 1994 and moved to Standard Bank when Warrior was
acquired by Standard Bank in 1997. He has been responsible for building
Standard Bank's mining business in Europe and in China and was appointed to his
current position earlier this year.
Jonathan has participated in and led a variety of M&A transactions in the mining
industry around the world. Last year one of his deals won the Development
Funding Award at the Mining Journal's Outstanding Achievements Awards for the
investment by China Metallurgical Construction (Group) Corporation ('MCC') into
the Ramu nickel project in Papua New Guinea, a deal which remains the largest
offshore mining investment contemplated by China to date.
The Board is confident that Jonathan's experience and track record of mining and
corporate finance in developing economies will make a major contribution to the
continued successful development of the Company's strategy. It is anticipated
that Jonathan will assume his new responsibilities in September.
Jonathan Beardsworth commented, 'I am excited at the prospect of joining Metals
Ex as CEO. I have been most impressed with the quality of assets they have
acquired, worked up, and added value to in the short time since they listed on
AIM two years ago. I look forward to making my own contribution to the future
development of this exciting company.'
Steven Smith, Chairman said, 'I am delighted to welcome Jonathan to the Board of
Metals Ex. The fact that we can attract an individual of his quality is
testament to the huge strides that the Company has made to establish itself as a
credible exploration company with quality assets. I look forward to working
with Jonathan to realise Metals Ex's goals.'
There are no other requirements of AIM Rule Schedule 2(g) that fall to be
disclosed.
Enquiries:
Steven Smith Chairman + 44 (0) 7797 721 858
Gary Powell Executive Director (technical) + 63 (02) 894 4173
Jonathan Anderson Investor Relations + 44 (0) 7950 410 680 or + 63 (0) 917 560 6654
Philip Haydn-Slater/Paul Dudley WH Ireland Limited + 44 (0) 20 7220 1666
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange