RE: Part 16 Apr 2026 16:54
Most importantly, the proposed remuneration structure was weighted towards share-based payments, rather than wholly in cash. And, furthermore, the proposed remuneration was less than members of the current board have paid themselves in the past.
That is not excess. That is alignment with shareholders.
On credibility and track record
The Board has selectively presented public information in an effort to undermine the requisition, but the facts tell a different story. Capital has been raised at premiums across multiple transactions, share price performance has improved following refinancing events, and in several instances valuations have remained above initial entry levels.
Contrary to what the Board has asserted, ECR Minerals plc has seen share price gains in the period since Nick Tulloch and I joined that company. From a business that had severe financial issues, ECR now has a strong balance sheet and several promising projects. Likewise, Mendell Helium plc, where Nick is CEO and I have supported on investor relations. Even a cursory glance at the share price would show that it has doubled in two years – not the negative performance falsely claimed in the circular.
The simple facts are that the proposed directors have professional qualifications, several decades of public market experience each and a track record of creating value, eradicating waste and repositioning companies strategically.
This is not theory; it is execution. By contrast, the current Board offers shareholders a long-term record of value erosion.
On Ian Bagnall
The commentary directed at Ian Bagnall is both inappropriate and revealing. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 35 years of experience, a proven operator and business leader, and an individual who has delivered successful outcomes in multiple businesses. Furthermore, with a life sciences degree, he combines sector knowledge with business acumen.
The attempt to diminish his credentials reflects poorly on the Board, not on him.
On sector expertise
The Board attempts to shelter behind life sciences credentials, but this is not fundamentally a scientific problem. It is a public markets problem. The Company already has capable technical staff; what it lacks is capital markets credibility, strategic clarity, investor engagement, and effective governance.
Those are Board-level failures.
On independence
The Board’s argument regarding independence is weak. In small-cap markets, directors are often introduced through shareholder networks, and independence is measured by conduct, not acquaintance. And surely it is better that the Company’s new board has an established and long standing track record of working together? To suggest that it would be better if we had no such association, which is the implication in the circular, is ludicrous.
The more important question is this: how independent can a Board truly be if it has presided over long-term value destruction withou