Company Update

Blenheim Natural Resources Plc / EPIC: BNR / Market: AIM

13 March 2018

Blenheim Natural Resources Plc

("Blenheim" or the "Company")

Update, Board Restructure and proposed Change of Name to Two Shields Investments Plc

Blenheim Natural Resources Plc, the AIM-quoted investing company, is pleased to announce an update on its technology metal portfolio in Cameroon and Mali, a restructuring within its Board and proposed name change to Two Shields Investments Plc. 

Highlights:

·     Cobalt Blue Holdings ('CBH') has been granted an additional cobalt licence in Cameroon

·     Xantus Inc to commence auger drilling programme to test lithium bearing pegmatites in Mali imminently

·     Chairman Chris Ells to step down from Board and replaced by Charlie Wood who assumes the role of Executive Chairman

·     Resource and technology focussed Sandy Barblett appointed Non-Executive Director

·     Proposed name change to Two Shields Investments Plc to reflect portfolio developments which provide exposure to technology metals in the West African Shield and international cyber fraud and crypto technology company BrandShield

Update on Technology Metal Portfolio

CBH, which is currently developing a portfolio of cobalt assets across West Africa, has advised the Company that it has been granted an additional cobalt exploration licence in Cameroon. The N'Golia licence which covers 460km², is valid for an initial period of three years after which CBH is able to renew the licence a further three times.  This brings the number of licences controlled by CBH to four.  The grant is subject to final due diligence.

The N'Goila area is highly prospective for cobalt and associated minerals. The licence is, like CBH's existing licences, contiguous to the Nkamouna and Mada nickel cobalt deposits in the Haut-Nyong division, where previous studies indicated a total 59.8 million tonnes (Mt) grading an average of 0.24% cobalt, 0.68% nickel and 1.37% manganese.

In Mali, auger drilling to test for previously identified lithium pegmatites is expected to commence imminently. This will allow testing of un-weathered material below the previous samples taken that yielded positive lithium indicators.  As soon as the Board is informed by Xantus that the exploration programme has commenced, the Company will announce further information to the market.

Board Restructuring

After three years at the helm, Chris Ells decided earlier this year that he would be stepping down as Blenheim Chairman and leave the Company to pursue his many other business interests. Chris has therefore resigned effective from 12 March 2018.  Non-Executive Director Charlie Wood is assuming the role of Executive Chairman and Sandy Barblett, who has both extensive technology and natural resource experience, has today been appointed as Non-Executive Director. 

The Company would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Chris for his dedicated leadership and commitment to Blenheim over the past three years as Chairman.  He leaves the Blenheim Board with the Company having acquired a promising mix of investments during his tenure as Chairman.  Blenheim is now ready to be launched into the next stage of development by new Executive Chairman Charlie Wood and his team. 

In this regard, the Blenheim Board would like to welcome Sandy Barblett as the Company looks to support its investee companies in their development.  Sandy Barblett has over 20 years' experience working with private and public listed international companies.  Through his directorships of various natural resource focussed companies, including Capital Metals Limited and ASX-listed Monteray Mining Group, he has gained considerable sector knowledge.  Additionally, he has previously held leadership roles within the technology sector, most notably with former FTSE 250 company Pace Plc.  Sandy's knowledge and network within both the technology and natural resources sector, as well as his experience of working in West Africa, is highly complementary to Blenheim's current investment portfolio.

Name Change

With the Board restructuring and the expected near-term development across its investment portfolio, the Company decided that it was an appropriate time to change its name to Two Shields Investments Plc.  An application has been made to the Registrar of Companies, and a further notification will be made once the name change is effective.  The Company's TIDM will change to TWOS, which will be notified upon completion.

Charlie Wood, incoming Executive Chairman of Blenheim said, "Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank Chris for all his hard work as Chairman; Chris has been integral in identifying and completing the Company's acquisitions and building the current investment portfolio of 6 strategic projects all with exciting potential.  I would also like to welcome Sandy Barblett to the Board of Directors and I am confident he will be an excellent addition to the team and I look forward to working with him.

"This is a transformational time for the Company as our investments continue to mature and develop.  The grant of an additional cobalt licence to CBH in a highly prospective area for cobalt is a further positive development, as is the imminent commencement of further drill activity in Mali to test for the lithium prospectivity.  As our Company focus and strategy evolves, the Board believes that Two Shields Investments plc more accurately reflects the current portfolio, which features BrandShield,  an artificial intelligence ("AI") powered online brand protection and cyber intelligence company that revolutionises the way organisations fight scams of different types including fraud and exposure to technology metal exploration in the West Africa Shield geological formation.   These are exciting times with activity occurring across the portfolio, and we look forward to the rest of the year and updating our shareholders throughout."

Director's information:

Full name: Alexander ("Sandy") John Barblett

Age: 50

Current Directorships:

Arwon Capital (UK) Limited

Ironbridge Capital Partners LLP (Partner)

Previous directorships (last 5 years):

Capital Metals Limited

Monterey Mining Group Limited

Solo Oil plc

Save for the information disclosed above, there are no further disclosures to be made in accordance with Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Mr Barblett.

**Ends**

For further information please visit www.blenheimnaturalresources.com or contact:

Notes to Editors:

Blenheim Natural Resources Plc is an investing company, quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, with a strategy focused on identifying and investing in opportunities in mineral exploration and mining, as well as technology associated with the natural resources sector.  The Company has an experienced Board of Directors with a proven pedigree in the acquisition, development & sale of projects and creating value for shareholders.  The investment mandate covers unquoted and quoted businesses, as well as direct project investment.

The Company currently has investments in a number of companies which provide exposure to commodities which are relevant to the rapidly growing technology metal sector, including lithium, cobalt and nickel, as well as strategic positions in a geoscience consultancy and BrandShield, a leading international company in the online brand protection, anti-counterfeiting and anti-fraud sector, which has developed the one of the most comprehensive systems using AI powered cyber intelligence systems and is developing its proprietary blockchain-based platform for anti-fraud purposes.