CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – Feb. 19, 2015) – Blackbird Energy Inc. (TSX VENTURE:BBI) (“Blackbird” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce that Mr. Jeff Swainson has been appointed to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Prior to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Swainson held the position of Controller with Blackbird.
Mr. Swainson is a Chartered Accountant with over seven years of broad finance experience in audit, financial reporting, tax, budgeting and forecasting, cash management, internal controls, and strategic analysis. Mr. Swainson began his career with BDO Canada LLP where he conducted audits of publicly traded companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Subsequent to receiving his CA designation, Mr. Swainson held positions of increasing responsibility with Chevron Canada Resources and Sonde Resources Corp. Mr. Swainson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Honours degree, with Distinction, from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta.
Garth Braun, Blackbird’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer stated “Mr. Swainson has exceeded the expectations of upper management since joining Blackbird as Controller in 2014, and his subsequent promotion to the position of Chief Financial Officer illustrates Blackbird’s ability to attract and develop some of the premier talent in the industry. In order for Blackbird to execute on its strategic initiatives and maintain its growth trajectory, Blackbird’s finance function and internal controls framework must be scalable and functioning at a level beyond that of a typical TSX Venture company. Mr. Swainson’s appointment provides for this scalability. Mr. Swainson will be counted on as a core member of Blackbird’s executive team, and his strategic mindset, strong technical skills, top-tier business acumen and passion for the business will be instrumental in Blackbird’s continued success.”
In order to allow for the planned appointment of Mr. Swainson, Mr. Ron Schmitz has resigned as Blackbird’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Schmitz will continue to serve on Blackbird’s Board of Directors. Mr. Braun emphasized “Mr. Schmitz has been instrumental in the growth of Blackbird from its infancy to the company it has become today. We thank Mr. Schmitz for his many contributions as Chief Financial Officer, and we look forward to his continued contributions as a Director and a member of Blackbird’s Audit Committee.”
In connection with Mr. Swainson’s appointment, and pursuant to the terms of the Company’s stock option plan, Mr. Swainson has been granted 700,000 stock options exercisable at a price of $0.465 until February 18, 2020. This stock option grant is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.
About Blackbird
Blackbird Energy Inc. is an emerging oil and gas exploration company focused on the liquids-rich Montney fairway. For more information please view Blackbird’s Corporate Presentation at www.blackbirdenergyinc.com.
[expand title=”Advisories & Contact”]On behalf of the board of BLACKBIRD ENERGY INC.
Garth Braun, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”). Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. Such statements include, but are not limited to, management’s beliefs as to the Company’s ability to attract and develop premier talent and the future contributions of executives and board members. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: (1) a downturn in general economic and business conditions in North America and internationally, (2) the inherent uncertainties and speculative nature associated with oil and gas exploration, development and production including drilling risks, (3) the price of and demand for oil and gas and their effect on the economics of oil and gas exploration, (4) any number of events or causes which may delay or cease exploration and development of the Company’s property interests, such as environmental liabilities, weather, mechanical failures, safety concerns and labour problems, (5) the risk that the Company does not execute its business plan, (6) inability to retain key employees, (7) inability to finance operations and growth, and (8) other factors beyond the Company’s control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not exhaustive. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are dependent on other factors, and the Company’s course of action would depend on its assessment of the future considering all information then available. All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.
THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. 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 PRESS RELEASE.
Blackbird Energy Inc.
Garth Braun
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(587) 538-0383
gbraun@blackbirdenergyinc.com
Blackbird Energy Inc.
Joshua Mann
Vice President, Business Development
(403) 390-2144
josh@blackbirdenergyinc.com
Brisco Capital Partners Corp.
Scott Koyich
(403) 619-2200
skoyich@briscocapital.com
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