Ventura Fund Management Ltd. to Launch Ventura Opportunities Fund with Focus on Direct Involvement to Release Value in Unappreciated Mining Opportunities

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (ots/PRNewswire) -

Private Investment Fund Based in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, will
Combine Disciplines of Focused Mining Investment with Strategies to
Actively Participate at Executive Level within Select Portfolio
Companies to provide Positive Value Catalysts

** Not for Dissemination in United States and/or Canada **

Ventura Fund Management Ltd. ("Ventura" or the "Company") announced
its official launch today. Ventura's inaugural private investment
fund, the Ventura Opportunities Fund (the "Fund") expects to be
committed to investments in resource companies, listed and unlisted,
by way of focused commodity, country and investment criterion. The
Fund will remain exclusive after formation with a ceiling total
investment of US$150 Million.

Ventura's experienced and respected founders and principals (the
"Principals") are John K. Barker, Simon J. Lawrence and Kevin J. van
Niekerk.

In differentiating its investment approach, the Company intends to
deploy, where possible, its Principals and/or designated
representatives sourced by the Principals into key executive
management and/or board positions within portfolio companies. Ventura
firmly believes that this will be a key criterion in assisting and
facilitating a release of hidden value. The Fund expects to benefit
from unique positive value catalysts developed through its
Principals' proven track record, further enhanced by their
substantial Brokerage, Investment Banking and Operational contacts.
The ultimate aim of the Fund is to profit from the reputations and
multi-cycle experiences of its Principals, continuing their records
of consistently delivering real value to shareholders.

Following an unprecedented period of investment into the sector, the
Principals believe that the market for resource focused stocks is
forming a bottom. Significant market turbulence continues to restrict
Treasury and financing options for many mining and junior resource
companies and the Principals believe that favorable select
opportunities exist for investors to re-enter undervalued assets
through the Fund; ones that offer potential for significant value
release in a reasonable period of time.

Speaking on behalf of the Principals, John Barker commented "We are
grateful for the strong interest that knowledgeable key investors and
professionals have already shown in our philosophy and vision.
Ventura's Principals have many years of success in operations,
marketing, analysis, broking and corporate strategy. Such skill sets
provide understanding of how to transform, in a realistic time frame,
underperforming situations and unlock hidden value for stakeholders.
We are confident that Ventura will emerge as a leading private
investment fund in our chosen space. Our commitment to a select
portfolio of companies, combined with our experienced investor base
and far reaching professional alliances, provides the foundation for
a successful future for the Fund."

On Behalf of Ventura Fund Management Ltd.:

John K. Barker, Simon J. Lawrence and Kevin J. van Niekerk.

About the Principals:

Mr. Barker graduated in 1985 with a B.Sc. (Minerals Estate
Management) from Sheffield City University and spent his first five
years working in operations and strategic planning within South
African mining companies. Mr. Barker then returned to the United
Kingdom where, after 15 years as a Mining Analyst, (latterly as
Managing Director within Royal Bank of Canada Dominion Securities),
Mr. Barker returned back into industry. Subsequently, over the last 8
years, Mr. Barker has held various corporate related roles as an
Executive, Director and Corporate Advisor within both listed and
unlisted organizations. As a leading Mining Analyst, not only did Mr.
Barker assess the corporate, operational, and exploration merits of
many major and junior mining and resource entities worldwide, but he
also developed regular contact with the world's leading mining
investors. Over his career, Mr. Barker has had a successful record of
associating himself with companies and assets that he has actively
helped manage, market, evolve and release value within - names such
as IvanPlats, Samax, Guinor Gold and DiaMet. In more recent roles,
Mr. Barker has been intimately involved in the successful
exploration, development, management and value enhancement of PGM,
gold, coal and diamond assets. His experience spans companies listed
in Toronto, Australia, Johannesburg, London and Oslo and Mr. Barker
has actively participated in equity and debt financings in excess of
US$600 Million.

Mr. Lawrence graduated in 1986 with a B.Eng. (Mining Engineering)
from the Camborne School of Mines, United Kingdom. Mr. Lawrence began
his career working in operations in South Africa returningto England
in 1991 to obtain his MBA (International Finance). Thereafter, Mr.
Lawrence joined HSBC James Capel and then ABN AMRO as a Mining
Analyst. In this capacity, Mr. Lawrence visited and evaluated
numerous mine projects around the world. In 2000, Mr. Lawrence moved
to Canada and, since that time, has been involved with the marketing,
structuring, financing, management and development of private and
publicly listed exploration and resource companies. More recently, as
President & Chief Executive Officer of Gold Eagle Mines Ltd., Mr.
Lawrence guided that company through the discovery of a major
multi-million ounce gold deposit in the famous gold camp of Red Lake,
Ontario, Canada. With his combined expertise in operations, marketing
and corporate strategy, Mr. Lawrence led Gold Eagle Mines Ltd. to
commencement of shaft sinking, strategically positioning the company
to the pointwhere it was acquired by Goldcorp Inc. for Cdn$1.5
Billion in late 2008.

Mr. van Niekerk: In early 2005, after more than 20 years of diverse
business and operational experience in the mining, film, television
and media industries, Mr. van Niekerk resigned his post as President
& Chief Executive Officer of junior explorer, African Gold Group Ltd.
and joined emerging African mine builder, Equinox Minerals Ltd.,
pursuing involvement in a mine development opportunity of
significance: the Lumwana Copper project in Zambia. At Equinox, in
his capacity as VP of Investor Relations & Corporate Development, Mr.
van Niekerk was instrumental in raising the profile and liquidity of
Equinox in North America and Europe. Through his diverse
international network of mining, broker, investor and media contacts,
Mr. van Niekerk developed and implemented marketing and corporate
strategies that actively contributed to Equinox securing equity
financings totaling over US$420 Million. With enhanced financial
capacity established, Equinox built Lumwana becoming one of the
world's top 20 copper producers. Equinox's market capitalization
increased from US$70 Million in late 2004 to US$7.3 Billion in 2010
with the emergence of an all cash takeover by Barrick Gold
Corporation concluding a remarkable story of value generation. Mr.
van Niekerk holds a DipCSM in Minerals Technologies from the Camborne
School of Mines, United Kingdom and began his career in operations in
1984 with Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines at Mufulira, Zambia.

About the Ventura Opportunities Fund:

The Ventura Opportunities Fund, the inaugural private investment fund
launched by Ventura, is a 5-year closed ended private fund positioned
to invest in both active and passive opportunities. Where possible,
equity investments will be linked to instilled disciplines and
strategies for Executive and Board of Directors to execute. The Fund
will remain exclusive after formation with minimum and maximum
investment hurdles and a ceiling total investment of US$150 Million.
Ventura's vision will be global in focus and applied under a strict
set of commodity, country and investment criterion. Ventura plans to
charge a management fee of 2% per annum (0.5% per quarter) and a
performance fee of 20% of net asset value appreciation, without
hurdle.

Important legal information: This publication is meant for qualified
investors and for information purposes only, and does not constitute
a request to make an offer unless explicitly mentioned otherwise, a
recommendation to buy or sell investment instruments or to carry out
any other transactions. This publication is not the result of a
financial analysis. Ventura Fund Management Ltd. ("Ventura") does not
assume any liability for the content of this publication and, in
particular, is not liable for loss or damage of any kind, including
direct, indirect or consequential damage, which may arise as a result
of the information contained in this publication and/or as a
consequence of the inherent risks associated with financial markets.
An investor should be aware that past price performance does not
provide an indication of future performance for investments, and the
value of investments may increase but may also decrease. Furthermore,
investments in foreign currencies are subject to foreign exchange
fluctuations. Ventura cannot consider the personal investment goals,
financial situation and requirements of individual investors and
therefore recommends that you consult with your financial and/or tax
consultant with regard to any possible effects - including
tax-related consequences - prior to investing in any of the products
mentioned in this publication. In particular, the financial
instruments discussed in this document may be unsuitable for an
investor on the basis of his investment objective, time horizon, risk
tolerance, financial situation or other personal circumstances
Information contained in this publication may have been used by
Ventura or its organs or employees prior to its publication. The
publication and its content shall not be made available to persons
with U.S. nationality or persons living in the U.S. The publication
and its content shall not be made available to persons with Canadian
nationality or persons living in Canada. Additional rules in the
Ventura Opportunities Fund Private Placement Memorandum must be
consulted before making any investments decision.

For further information:

Contact: [email protected]

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