Mr Burne advised that his resignation is due to his decision to reduce his business commitments including public company directorships.

Mr MacLachlan has over 27 years of investment banking experience in Europe, south east Asia and Australia. From 1993 until 1997 he was employed by Barrick Gold Corporation as executive vice president of Asia and more recently, he was a director of Ambrian Partners Limited, a UK-based investment bank specializing in the natural resources sector.