To: Big Shorty who wrote (6704 ) 2/21/2002 12:33:42 AM From: Al Collard Respond to of 11802 NVE-v ...in the news:NovaWest sees 1.24 million shares acquired by O'Brien Wed 20 Feb 2002 Mr. Patrick O'Brien reports ACQUISITION OF SHARES OF NOVAWEST RESOURCES INC. Further to disclosure requirements of applicable securities laws, Patrick Daniel O'Brien, of Surrey, B.C., reports that on Feb. 20, 2002, he acquired beneficial ownership of 1.24 million common shares of NovaWest Resources, representing 4.1 per cent of the deemed issued and outstanding common shares, under a private placement of units of NovaWest. This acquisition, together with the net disposition of beneficial ownership of a total of 77,250 common shares since Jan. 18, 2002 (further to the acquisition of 625,000 common shares and the disposition of 702,250 common shares), represents the net acquisition since Jan. 18, 2002, of 3.9 per cent of the deemed issued and outstanding common shares as at Feb. 20, 2002. As at Feb. 20, 2002, Mr. O'Brien beneficially owned 7,046,817 common shares, representing 23.4 per cent of the deemed issued and outstanding common shares. Mr. O'Brien participated in the private placement in order to provide NovaWest with required financing and to acquire securities of NovaWest for investment purposes. Depending on economic and financial conditions, Mr. O'Brien has made and may otherwise make further purchases of common shares (through market or private transactions or exercises of outstanding stock options and warrants) from time to time and has disposed of and may dispose of common shares from time to time, all for investment purposes. A copy of the related early warning report filed with applicable securities commissions and further information may be obtained by contacting Mr. O'Brien at: telephone: (604)683-8990, fax: (604)574-5139 or E-mail: novawest@novawest.com.