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2026-11-06
◂ Monitor BNZ ASX (CHESS Depositary Interests) and TSX Venture Exchange (BZ)

Benz Mining Corp.

Discovery Drill Stage · Gold · AU · CA Rating locked: sign in to view v8.1 · bnz-20261031t172754-full
Last 2026-11-06
A$4.1
1D
—
1M
—
YTD
—
1Y
—
Fair value
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Upside
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Mkt cap
A$1.6B
EV
A$1.4B
Cash
A$83.5M
Debt
A$0
1 newer ASX announcement not yet reflected in this valuation

People, delivery and responsibility

Management background checks

Evidence through 2026-10-31

Research assessment

Executive team

Rating locked: sign in to viewTeam rating and score are available to subscribers

The issuer reports relevant exploration, financial and legal experience, with meaningful limits on independently established delivery. A documented witness credibility assessment, contested Century royalty proceedings and disclosed related-party arrangements are relevant governance context; an unresolved allegation is not a proven breach.

Decision-relevant facts

Material summary

Individual involvement and employer context shown separately

Evan Cranston

Executive Chairman

Current
Full background report for Evan Cranston
LegalAlleged · High materiality

Contested Century royalty proceedings

A 2025 Victorian Supreme Court interlocutory judgment records Century parties seeking to set aside royalty deeds and alleging fiduciary breaches by Cranston and others. The decision concerns legal privilege and does not decide the allegations on their merits. Search did not establish a final outcome or his substantive response.

Individual involvement documented · He is named as a defendant; an allegation is not an established breach.

Acquisition of Century mine rehabilitation project · p.12, Attila director and Century Bull interest
LegalDocumented · High materiality

2019 court assessment of witness evidence

In an unrelated property dispute the Western Australian Supreme Court declined to rely on Cranston’s evidence on contested matters without corroboration. The judge also rejected a separate allegation that he deliberately attempted to mislead the court about document paragraph changes.

Individual involvement documented · He gave evidence as a witness; the court’s assessment was specific to this proceeding.

Warrington Management v Kingslane Property Investments [2019] WASC 2 · Reasons discussing Evan Cranston evidence and document changes
GovernanceIssuer Reported · Medium materiality

Disclosed related-party services

Benz reported CAD126,454 for accounting services from Konkera Holdings, a company related to Cranston, in FY2026 versus CAD32,689 in FY2025; the company states the transactions were on market terms.

Individual involvement documented · Relationship and company disclosure documented; no misconduct finding is implied.

2026 annual report · Financial statements note 7, related-party transactions, PDF p.56
Evidence gaps · 4
  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.
  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.
  • The ultimate disposition of the RoyaltyOne/Century allegations and Cranston’s full response were not established by the recorded searches.
  • The annual report lists appointment as 17 September 2020 in its director header and 16 September 2020 in biographical text.

Full background report

Evan Cranston

Executive Chairman

Career chronology

  • From 2020-09-17: Benz Mining Corp. — Executive Chairman. 2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Education and qualifications

Reported legal and commerce education

As reported in 2026 · issuer reported · low materiality

The issuer reports a University of Western Australia commerce degree and law degree and prior legal and corporate experience.

Attribution: Responsibility not applicable. Issuer biography; independent degree confirmation not reviewed.

Relevance: Relevant to board and governance roles.

2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Litigation and enforcement

Contested Century royalty proceedings

2025 · alleged · high materiality

A 2025 Victorian Supreme Court interlocutory judgment records Century parties seeking to set aside royalty deeds and alleging fiduciary breaches by Cranston and others. The decision concerns legal privilege and does not decide the allegations on their merits. Search did not establish a final outcome or his substantive response.

Attribution: Individual involvement documented. He is named as a defendant; an allegation is not an established breach.

Relevance: Material unresolved governance and litigation context.

RoyaltyOne v Century Mine Rehabilitation Project [2025] VSC 152 (Parties, background and orders); Acquisition of Century mine rehabilitation project (p.12, Attila director and Century Bull interest)

2019 court assessment of witness evidence

2019 · documented · high materiality

In an unrelated property dispute the Western Australian Supreme Court declined to rely on Cranston’s evidence on contested matters without corroboration. The judge also rejected a separate allegation that he deliberately attempted to mislead the court about document paragraph changes.

Attribution: Individual involvement documented. He gave evidence as a witness; the court’s assessment was specific to this proceeding.

Relevance: Relevant to assessment of documented testimony, without implying a fraud finding.

Warrington Management v Kingslane Property Investments [2019] WASC 2 (Reasons discussing Evan Cranston evidence and document changes)

Governance and interests

Disclosed related-party services

FY2026 · issuer reported · medium materiality

Benz reported CAD126,454 for accounting services from Konkera Holdings, a company related to Cranston, in FY2026 versus CAD32,689 in FY2025; the company states the transactions were on market terms.

Attribution: Individual involvement documented. Relationship and company disclosure documented; no misconduct finding is implied.

Relevance: Related-party oversight and cost transparency.

2026 annual report (Financial statements note 7, related-party transactions, PDF p.56)

Evidence gaps

  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.

  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

  • The ultimate disposition of the RoyaltyOne/Century allegations and Cranston’s full response were not established by the recorded searches.

  • The annual report lists appointment as 17 September 2020 in its director header and 16 September 2020 in biographical text.

Mark Lynch-Staunton

Chief Executive Officer

Current
Full background report for Mark Lynch-Staunton
Role FitAnalyst Inference · Medium materiality

Issuer-reported feasibility and operating experience

Benz reports prior Barrick Africa and Middle East feasibility work including Bulyanhulu and Reko Diq, and the CEO appointment release credits him with shaping the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton transaction. Personal contributions and prior project dates have not been independently established.

Responsibility not applicable · These are issuer descriptions, not independently verified operational outcomes.

Benz appoints chief executive officer · pp.1–2 appointment and biography
2026 annual report · Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory
Company SuccessIssuer Reported · Medium materiality

Reported exploration activity and annual loss

Benz reported about 200,000 metres drilled at Glenburgh during FY2026 and a CAD40.43 million annual net loss, with exploration costs expensed. Drilling and exploration targets are not evidence of mine production or completed project delivery.

Role overlaps event; causation unproven · CEO tenure overlaps; individual responsibility for totals and financial outcome is not established.

2026 annual report · Operations review and FY2026 statements
Evidence gaps · 2
  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.
  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

Full background report

Mark Lynch-Staunton

Chief Executive Officer

Career chronology

  • From 2024-11-26: Benz Mining Corp. — Chief Executive Officer. 2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Contributions and company outcomes

Reported exploration activity and annual loss

FY2026 · issuer reported · medium materiality

Benz reported about 200,000 metres drilled at Glenburgh during FY2026 and a CAD40.43 million annual net loss, with exploration costs expensed. Drilling and exploration targets are not evidence of mine production or completed project delivery.

Attribution: Role overlaps event; causation unproven. CEO tenure overlaps; individual responsibility for totals and financial outcome is not established.

Relevance: Shows scale and stage of current company delivery.

2026 annual report (Operations review and FY2026 statements)

Suitability for the current role

Issuer-reported feasibility and operating experience

Prior roles and 2024 appointment · analyst inference · medium materiality

Benz reports prior Barrick Africa and Middle East feasibility work including Bulyanhulu and Reko Diq, and the CEO appointment release credits him with shaping the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton transaction. Personal contributions and prior project dates have not been independently established.

Attribution: Responsibility not applicable. These are issuer descriptions, not independently verified operational outcomes.

Relevance: Relevant mining and development experience.

Benz appoints chief executive officer (pp.1–2 appointment and biography); 2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Evidence gaps

  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.

  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

Simon Sharp

Chief Financial Officer

Current
Full background report for Simon Sharp
Role FitAnalyst Inference · Medium materiality

Chief financial officer appointment and reported qualifications

The company announced Sharp’s CFO appointment effective 1 October 2021 and reports accounting qualifications and experience. Membership and qualifications were not independently confirmed.

Responsibility not applicable · Appointment is documented by issuer; details are issuer reported.

Chief financial officer appointment · Appointment and biography
2026 annual report · Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory
Evidence gaps · 2
  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.
  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

Full background report

Simon Sharp

Chief Financial Officer

Career chronology

  • From 2021-10-01: Benz Mining Corp. — Chief Financial Officer. 2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Suitability for the current role

Chief financial officer appointment and reported qualifications

From October 2021 · analyst inference · medium materiality

The company announced Sharp’s CFO appointment effective 1 October 2021 and reports accounting qualifications and experience. Membership and qualifications were not independently confirmed.

Attribution: Responsibility not applicable. Appointment is documented by issuer; details are issuer reported.

Relevance: Relevant financial capacity for the role.

Chief financial officer appointment (Appointment and biography); 2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Evidence gaps

  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.

  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

Oonagh Malone

Company Secretary (Australia)

Current
Full background report for Oonagh Malone
GovernanceIssuer Reported · Medium materiality

African Gold disclosed scheme-related fee

The African Gold scheme booklet proposed a one-off A$100,000 special exertion fee to its secretary Oonagh Malone for scheme work, payable even if the scheme was terminated. The board considered the fees fair and reasonable.

Individual involvement documented · The booklet identifies her as secretary; a disclosed fee is not a finding of misconduct.

African Gold scheme booklet · Section 10.7(a), special exertion payments
2026 annual report · Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory
Evidence gaps · 2
  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.
  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

Full background report

Oonagh Malone

Company Secretary (Australia)

Career chronology

  • Reported in 2026; exact dates unknown: Benz Mining Corp. — Company Secretary (Australia). 2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Governance and interests

African Gold disclosed scheme-related fee

March 2026 · issuer reported · medium materiality

The African Gold scheme booklet proposed a one-off A$100,000 special exertion fee to its secretary Oonagh Malone for scheme work, payable even if the scheme was terminated. The board considered the fees fair and reasonable.

Attribution: Individual involvement documented. The booklet identifies her as secretary; a disclosed fee is not a finding of misconduct.

Relevance: Shows a concurrent role and disclosed transaction-related incentive.

African Gold scheme booklet (Section 10.7(a), special exertion payments); 2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Suitability for the current role

Company secretarial experience

As reported in 2026 · analyst inference · low materiality

Benz reports that Malone provides company secretarial and corporate advisory services. Details of all outside roles and their dates have not been independently reconciled.

Attribution: Responsibility not applicable. Issuer-reported professional background.

Relevance: Relevant to secretarial duties and capacity.

2026 annual report (Printed pp. ix–xi, leadership biographies and corporate directory)

Evidence gaps

  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.

  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

Ben McCormack

Principal consulting geologist (listed August 2026; current engagement unconfirmed)

Current
Full background report for Ben McCormack
Role FitAnalyst Inference · Medium materiality

Dated consulting geologist disclosure

Benz’s August 2026 presentation names Ben McCormack principal consulting geologist and reports high-grade metamorphic geological experience including Tropicana. It does not establish his continuing engagement at the cutoff or his precise contribution at prior projects.

Responsibility not applicable · Company describes his role and experience; his ongoing engagement and individual delivery are unverified.

Evidence gaps · 3
  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.
  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.
  • The August consulting role is dated; continuation at 31 October 2026 is unverified.

Full background report

Ben McCormack

Principal consulting geologist (listed August 2026; current engagement unconfirmed)

Career chronology

  • Reported in 2026; exact dates unknown: Benz Mining Corp. — Principal consulting geologist (listed August 2026; current engagement unconfirmed). Diggers and Dealers investor presentation (p.23 team slide)

Suitability for the current role

Dated consulting geologist disclosure

August 2026 · analyst inference · medium materiality

Benz’s August 2026 presentation names Ben McCormack principal consulting geologist and reports high-grade metamorphic geological experience including Tropicana. It does not establish his continuing engagement at the cutoff or his precise contribution at prior projects.

Attribution: Responsibility not applicable. Company describes his role and experience; his ongoing engagement and individual delivery are unverified.

Relevance: Relevant geological capability subject to continuity.

Diggers and Dealers investor presentation (p.23 team slide)

Evidence gaps

  • The individual and each material prior employer/project were not comprehensively searched across all required topics; topic-specific entries disclose recorded searches.

  • Independent credential and prior-employer role, date, achievement and attribution verification remains incomplete.

  • The August consulting role is dated; continuation at 31 October 2026 is unverified.