NioCorp Announces New Additions to Board of Directors and Advisory Board
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov 14, 2014) - NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:NB)(OTCQX:NIOBF)(FRANKFURT:BR3) is pleased to announce the following changes to the Board or Directors, and the Advisory Board. Following an internal review designed to augment the existing core of Directors, NioCorp is pleased to announce the additions of Mr. Joe Cecil, and Mr. Tony Fulton to the Company's Board of Directors. In addition, the Company has also added Mr. Lavon Heidemann to the Advisory Board.
Joe D. Cecil - Mr. Cecil served as Vice President and Comptroller of Unocal Corporation from December, 1997 until 2005. Mr. Cecil also served as its Principal Accounting Officer. During 1997, Mr. Cecil was Comptroller, International Operations of Unocal Corp. He was Comptroller of the 76 Products Company from 1995 until the sale of the West Coast refining, marketing and transportation assets in March 1997. Mr. Cecil also served on the Board of Directors for Molycorp.
Tony Fulton - Mr. Fulton is a former Nebraska senator, having recently reached his term limit precluding a third-term re-election. Mr. Fulton earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska and did graduate work at Kansas Newman University in Wichita, Kansas and Mount St. Mary's University in Emmittsburg, Maryland. He is a Professional Engineer Emeritus with background in the energy and manufacturing sectors - a famous project he designed was the energy recovery system at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the time the world's tallest building. For the past 18 months, he has served on NioCorp's Advisory Board, providing extensive support, assistance and guidance both locally in Elk Creek, and in the Nebraska capital of Lincoln. Mr. Fulton, a business owner and life-long Nebraskan from near the Elk Creek area, resides with his family in Lincoln.
Both Mr. Cecil and Mr. Fulton have been included in the Company's Information Circular and Ballot for the upcoming Annual General Meeting to be held on December 15th, 2014 in Vancouver, B.C.
In addition, the Company has appointed Lavon Heidemann to our Advisory Board. Lavon spent numerous years in the Nebraskan political field, in both elected and appointed positions. A lifelong resident of the Elk Creek area, Mr. Heidemann operated the drill rigs for Molycorp during the original development stages of the project back in the 1970's and 1980's and is a highly regarded member of the local community.
"We are very pleased with the addition of Joe Cecil and Tony Fulton to our Board of Directors. Joe brings some of the highest accounting ethics, principles and qualifications possible to our company and Tony brings great state and local connections as well as technical expertise" stated Mark Smith, CEO of NioCorp. "The addition of Lavon to our Advisory Board provides another great locally known person who understands the project and its' positive impacts to the State of Nebraska. All of these changes coincide perfectly with the rapid advancement of our technical programs and the overall project."
About the Company: NioCorp are developing the only primary niobium deposit known to be under development in the U.S., and the highest grade undeveloped niobium deposit in North America, located near Elk Creek, Nebraska. The Company has filed an NI43-101 compliant resource report, available on SEDAR, reporting an Indicated resource of 28.2 Million Tonnes grading 0.63% Nb2O5, containing 177 Million Kg's of Nb2O5, and an Inferred resource of 132.8 Million Tonnes grading 0.55% Nb2O5, containing 733.7 Million Kg's of Nb2O5, (at a 0.3% Nb2O5 cutoff grade). Niobium is mainly used in the form of Ferro-Niobium to produce HSLA (High Strength, Low Alloy) steel, to produce lighter, stronger steel for use in automotive, structural and pipeline industries. The U.S. imports 100% of its niobium needs.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Peter Dickie
Director, President and Corporate Secretary
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon NioCorp's reasonable expectations and business plan at the date hereof, which are subject to change depending on economic, political and competitive circumstances and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause a change in such assumptions and the actual outcomes and estimates to be materially different from those estimated or anticipated future results, achievements or position expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause NioCorp's plans or prospects to change include changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining or development activities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business. NioCorp disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.