BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000--Biogan International, Inc. (OTCBB:BIGM) announces that Steven Y. Chi, former President of the Morrison Knudsen Corporation Mining Group, has accepted an appointment to Biogan''s Board of Directors.
Mr. Chi brings to the board more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry with expertise in the analysis, development and marketing of international mining projects. He has been involved in business development projects in China, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru and Thailand. At Morrison Knudsen, Mr. Chi was responsible for both international and domestic business development as well as management of the day-to-day operations of the Mining Group. He has experience in business administration, marketing, engineering, operations and project management. Mr. Chi currently serves a Chairman of the board of directors of Mibrag B.V., a multinational joint venture involving Morrison Knudsen Company, NRG Energy, Inc., and Powergen.
Biogan also announces that Kuang Yihuai, Chairman of Hechi Industrial Co., Ltd., a Chinese mining company organized under the laws of the People''s Republic of China, has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Mr. Yihuai brings to the company more than 20 years of experience in mining and smelting. He has served in management positions for several mining companies and has experience in business administration, marketing, coordination and project development. He has won numerous awards as a mining executive in China. Since his appointment as Chairman of Hechi in 1988, Mr. Kuang Yihuai has guided Hechi in becoming one of the largest mining companies in the Hechi Prefecture of southeastern China. In 1998, Mr. Kuang assisted in the privatization of Hechi from its former status as a state-owned company. He maintains professional contacts with many Chinese business partners and governmental agencies and has developed business relationships with American, Canadian and Australian partners.
Also joining the Biogan Board of Directors is Kuang Zhong, who currently serves as a director of Hechi and as the Chairman of Guighou Louxia Coal Mine Co., Ltd., a Chinese mining company. Mr. Zhong obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Center-South Technology University of China in 1995. He is a smelting professional with training in non-ferrous metals smelting and experience in business management and financing activities. Previously, Mr. Zhong served as a director of Fengshan Gold Mine located in the Guangxi Autonomous Region of southeastern China. He is currently serving as the Director of Project Development of Guanghe Metals Co., Ltd., the company''s joint venture entity in China, and is responsible for project development and project funding.
Biogan also announces the appointment of Pierre O''Dowd to its Board of Directors. Mr. O''Dowd is President of Noveder, Inc., a Canadian mining firm. He is a geologist with more than 20 years of training in corporate management, mining, exploration and production. Mr. O''Dowd has recently been involved in corporate management responsibilities including financing and regulatory compliance. Previously, he served as Vice President of Exploration for Noveder, Special Advisor of Acquisitions for Mazarin Mining, Senior Research Geologist for Noranda Mining and Exploration and Regional Geologist for Breakwater Resources. Mr. O''Dowd''s principal area of expertise is base and precious metal exploration and development in North and South America. Mr. O''Dowd also serves as a director of Guanghe Metals Co., Ltd., Biogan''s joint venture entity in China.
Also joining the Biogan Board of Directors is Gerald L. Sneddon, former Executive Vice President and Director of Project Development for Morrison Knudsen Gold Company. Mr. Sneddon possesses more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry and is currently serving as Consulting Mining Engineer, Executive Vice President of Operations and as a director for Francisco Gold Corporation. Mr. Sneddon has worked extensively in China and has experience in development, operations, engineering, exploration and mine maintenance. In addition, he is experienced in the operation of processing plants and facilities for precious metals, copper, lead, zinc, phosphate, iron ore and coal projects.
Following the execution of an Asset Purchase Agreement with Hechi in August 2000, Biogan became an integrated base metal refining company engaged in the mining, refining and trading of base metal products in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southeastern China. Biogan''s business is primarily comprised of a copper refinery, a lead-antimony refinery, a base metal trading company, three mills and two small base metal mining operations.
This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to future events or future financial performance that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements can usually, but not always, be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "intends," or the negative of such terms or comparable terms. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties of the industries in which the company operates and/or proposes to operate, including without limitation, uncertainties of mineral recovery, foreign operation and exchange uncertainties, impact and success of joint venture projects, availability of raw materials, industry partnerships, foreign government laws and regulations, market acceptance of products, the impact of competitive products, general market conditions and other risks. These forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
CONTACT: Biogan International, Inc.
Ronald J. Tolman, Vice President
Tel: 208/376-8500 |
