Bearing Announces the Appointment of LionOre Mining Founder as Chairman of the Board


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bearing Lithium Corp. ("Bearing" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: BRZ) (OTCQB: BLILF) (FRANKFURT: B6K2) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gil Playford to the Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Playford is a major shareholder owning over 10% of Bearing’s issued and outstanding shares.

Mr. Playford is a seasoned senior mining executive, having spearheaded the sale of LionOre Mining to Norislk Nickel (NILSY-US) in 2007 for C$6.8 billion in cash. Mr. Playford started his professional career with Union Carbide Corp. for 25 years and various senior executive positions including Managing Director in Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. Mr. Playford also was the Chairman and CEO of Union Carbide Canada and Chief Financial Officer of Union Carbide in New York. Mr. Playford became Chairman and CEO of UCAR Carbon, a joint venture with Mitsubishi and took the partnership public as GrafTech International. Mr. Playford then went on to found a nickel and gold mining company with assets in Africa and Australia, LionOre Mining International Ltd., and served as the CEO and subsequently as Chairman. Mr. Playford was instrumental in the sale of LionOre to Norilsk Nickel, a Russian mining conglomerate, in an all-cash offer of C$6.8 billion, having trumped a rival C$6.2 billion offer from Xstrata PLC. Mr. Playford holds an Engineering Degree from McGill University in Montreal and a Masters in Business Administration from York University in Toronto.

Jeremy Poirier, Bearing's president and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are excited to welcome Mr. Gil Playford to the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board. Gil will also be representing Bearing’s interest on the Board of the joint-venture operating company, Minera Salar Blanco (MSB). Gil’s extensive background with multi-national companies will be invaluable as we advance the Maricunga project and Bearing through towards production. Gil’s significant experience in negotiating with the world’s largest mining houses will be crucial as we navigate through the upcoming project financing discussions and other potential transactions."

About Bearing Lithium Corp.

Bearing Lithium Corp. is a lithium-focused mineral exploration and development company. Its primary asset is an 18% interest in the Maricunga Lithium Brine Project in Chile. The Maricunga Project represents one of the highest-grade lithium brine salars globally and the only pre-production project in Chile. Over US$30 million has been invested in the Maricunga Project to date and all expenditures through to the delivery of a Definitive Feasibility Study have been fully-funded by the earn-in joint-venture partner.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Jeremy Poirier"
Jeremy Poirier, President and CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Jeremy Poirier – President and CEO Bearing Lithium – Telephone: 1-604-262-8835

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information” and "forward-looking statements” (collectively "forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements.

The words "expect", "target", "estimate", "may", "will" and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company’s ability to reach a definitive agreement with CODELCO, and the future prospects of the Maricunga Project. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are beyond Bearing’s ability to predict or control and may cause Bearing’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any of its future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, strategic, legal, planning and other risks, the impact of changes in, or to the enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices, potential defects in title to the Maricunga Project that are not known as of the date hereof, the occurrence of unexpected financial obligations, fluctuations in the price of lithium and other commodities, fluctuations in the currency markets, changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments, risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding), risks related to operational matters and geotechnical issues, the success of future exploration and development activities, the occurrence of any labour unrest, the ability to accurately predict decommissioning and reclamation costs, the risk of budget and timing overruns, potential opposition to the Maricunga Project by local communities and the ability to secure construction financing. Such forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect including changes in Maricunga Project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Bearing undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.