21 Mar 2012 08:34
Nyota Minerals Limited ("Nyota or the "Company")
Appointment and Retirement of Directors
Nyota Minerals Limited (ASX/AIM: NYO), the gold exploration and development company in East Africa, announces the appointment of Mr Neil Maclachlan as Non Executive Chairman and the retirement from the Board of Miss Melissa Sturgess.
Welcoming Mr Maclachlan, Chief Executive Richard Chase said, "These changes were foreshadowed at the Company's AGM last November when we advised that the Board would be strengthened and transformed as Nyota moves from being an exploration company to a development and production company.
We are very pleased to have been able to attract a Chairman of the calibre of Neil. As the Company moves towards construction and financing of its Tulu Kapi mine in Ethiopia, Neil's corporate and resources expertise will be valuable to the Board, management team, and shareholders.
Melissa has been a key driving force in establishing Nyota's position in Ethiopia. She was responsible for acquiring the Tulu Kapi gold project for GBP1.6m two years ago, she has overseen the raising of significant equity capital and the growth of the resource to 1.67 million ounces of gold at 2.9 g/t and she has developed strong relationships with key stakeholder groups in Ethiopia. We are pleased to be able to retain her expertise and knowledge on a consultancy basis."
The retirement of Miss Sturgess and appointment of Mr Maclachlan are effective immediately. Mr. Neil Maclachlan (aged 69) has extensive experience in both the City and the mining industry and has been appointed to further the development of the Company. With three decades of investment banking experience, Mr. Maclachlan has held senior positions, including with HSBC Investment Banking at Wardley Australia and James Capel & Co Ltd. His banking experience spans Asia, Australia, and Europe. Additionally, Neil was the Executive Vice President, Asia, for Barrick Gold Corporation and a director of Golden Prospect Plc. Most recently, he was a director of Extract Resources Ltd and Kalahari Minerals Plc ("Kalahari"), where he was part of the team that successfully negotiated and concluded the sale of Kalahari to Taurus Minerals, an indirect subsidiary of China Guandong Nuclear Power Corporation, in February 2012.
In addition to his role as Non executive Chairman, Mr Maclachlan will join Nyota's remuneration and audit committees.
As part of Mr Maclachlan's incentive package to join Nyota he will be granted 2,500,000 unlisted performance rights which vest in three equal tranches; on 31 March 2012, 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014 ("Performance Rights"). The Performance Rights will have a zero exercise price and an expiry date of 30 June 2015. Each Performance Right represents a right to one ordinary fully paid share in the Company and will be issued at no cost. Mr Maclachlan holds an interest in 2,170,000 ordinary shares in Nyota representing 0.34% of the issued share capital of the Company.
In line with the Company's stated intentions, it is expected that a further non-executive director will be appointed before the end of the second quarter.
Mr Maclachlan's current directorships, and those held within the past five years, are included within the Appendix below.
To view the ASX Appendix 3X, initial director interest report for Mr Maclachlan, Appendix 3Y, final director interest report for Melissa Sturgess and Appendix 3B, new issue announcement please click on the following web link:
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/7623Z_-2012-3-21.pdf
For further information please contact:
Richard Chase (CEO)
Nyota Minerals Limited
+44 (0) 20 7400 5740
info@nyotaminerals.com
NOMAD
Jen Boorer/ Richard Morrison
Ambrian Partners Limited
+44 (0)20 7634 4709
BROKER
Guy Wilkes
Ocean Equities Limited
+44 (0) 20 7786 4370
BROKER
Rory Scott
Mirabaud Securities LLP
+44 (0)20 7878 3360
FINANCIAL PR
Jos Simson / Paul Youens
Tavistock Communications
+44 (0) 20 7920 3150
Or visit: http://www.nyotaminerals.com
Appendix
Mr Maclachlan holds and has held within the past five years the following directorships:
Current Directorships:
·; Kalahari Minerals Plc
·; Oklo Resources Limited
·; Eurogold Limited
·; Markham Associates
·; Markham Associates Pty Limited
Past Directorships:
·; Extract Resources Limited
·; Brinkley Mining Plc
·; Samson Oil & Gas Limited
·; London Natural Resources Limited
·; Pacific Ore (UK) Limited
·; Ambrian Partners Limited
·; Cambridge Mineral Resources Plc
·; Kiska Metals Corporation (formerly Geoinformatics Exploration Inc.)
Save as set out above, there is no further information in relation to the appointment of Neil Thacker Maclachlan which is required to be disclosed pursuant to Schedule 2 paragraph (g) and Rule 17 of the AIM Rules.
Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.