Nautilus Responds to Announcement of Unsolicited Take-Over Bid

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/08/13 -- Nautilus Minerals Inc. (TSX: NUS)(OTCQX: NUSMF)(AIM: NUS) (the "Company" or "Nautilus") has become aware through a news release dated January 7, 2013 that Michael Bailey, an individual, and an entity controlled by him, intend to make an unsolicited offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Nautilus.

Nautilus has not had any contact with Mr. Bailey or any entity controlled by him with respect to this unsolicited offer and has no prior knowledge thereof. Nautilus is therefore unable to make any determinations regarding the offer or its validity.

The Board of Directors of Nautilus will consider the unsolicited offer if and when it is formally made. Nautilus advises its shareholders not to take any action in respect of such offer, if and when made, until shareholders have received further communication from the Board of Directors of Nautilus.

For more information please refer to www.nautilusminerals.com.

About Nautilus Minerals Inc.

Nautilus is the first company to explore the ocean floor for polymetallic seafloor massive sulphide deposits. Nautilus was granted the first mining lease for such deposits at the prospect known as Solwara 1, in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea, where it is aiming to produce copper, gold and silver. The company has also been granted its environmental permit for this site.

Nautilus also holds more than 500,000 km2 of highly prospective exploration acreage in the western Pacific; in PNG, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga, as well as in international waters in the eastern Pacific.

A Canadian registered company, Nautilus is listed on the TSX:NUS and AIM:NUS stock exchanges and OTCQX:NUSMF. Its corporate office is in Brisbane, Australia. Its major shareholders include Metalloinvest, the largest iron ore producer in Europe and the CIS, which has a 21% holding, global mining group Anglo American, which holds an 11.1% interest and MB Holdings, an Oman based group with interests in mining, oil & gas, which holds a 16.9% interest.

Neither the TSX, London Stock Exchange, nor the OTCQX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Contacts:

Nautilus Minerals Inc. (Toronto)

Investor Relations

+1 (416) 551 1100
investor@nautilusminerals.com
www.nautilusminerals.com


Numis Securities Limited

Nominated adviser: Alastair Stratton/Stuart Skinner

Corporate broking: James Black

+ 44(0) 20 7260 1000


Dahlman Rose & Co., LLC

Christopher R. Weekes

1301 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

Direct: +1 212 372 5766