TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - Forbes & Manhattan Coal Corp. (TSX:FMC)(JSE:FMC) announced today that Ryan Bennett, a senior partner of Resource Capital Funds, FMC's largest shareholder, has stepped down from the Forbes & Manhattan Coal board of directors and will be replaced by his colleague Thomas Quinn Roussel.

Stephan Theron, President and CEO of Forbes Coal commented, "On behalf of Forbes Coal and all its shareholders, the board wishes to thank Mr. Bennett for his service to the Company and its shareholders."

Quinn Roussel has been appointed to the board of directors in Mr. Bennett's place. Mr. Roussel is a Principal of Resource Capital Funds, a mining-focused private equity firm based out of Denver, Colorado. Mr. Roussel has also worked as an engineer in both the mining and the oil & gas industries and currently serves on the board of an Australian resource company, Finders Resources.

Mr. Theron commented, "Quinn's experience in the resource sector as an engineer in the coal space and most recently in the finance side of the business provides valuable perspective to our board. We look forward to working with him."

About Forbes Coal

Forbes Coal is a growing coal producer in southern Africa. It holds a majority interest in two operating mines through its 100% interest in Forbes Coal (Pty) Ltd., a South African company ("Forbes Coal Dundee") which has a 70% interest in Zinoju Coal (Pty) Ltd. ("Zinoju"). Zinoju holds a 100% interest in the Magdalena bituminous mine and the Aviemore anthracite mine in South Africa (collectively, "the Forbes Coal Dundee Properties"). The mines have a substantial resource base and each mine has a projected life span in excess of 20 years. Forbes Coal is in the process of increasing production at both mines using existing infrastructure and capacity. The company has in-place transportation infrastructure allowing its coal to reach both export corridors and the growing domestic coal market. Forbes Coal has a strong balance sheet and an experienced coal-focused management team.

Please refer to the company's NI 43-101 compliant technical report on the Forbes Coal Dundee Properties dated March 1, 2011 entitled "Technical Report on Slater Coal and Subsidiaries, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa", available on the SEDAR profile of the Company at www.sedar.com. Additional information is available at www.forbescoal.com.

Cautionary Notes:

Johan Odendaal, B.Sc. (Geol.), B.Sc. (Hons) (Min. Econ.), M.Sc. (Min. Eng.), a director of Minxcon and an independent Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this release.

The ability of Forbes Coal to increase production amounts has not been the subject of a feasibility study and there is no certainty that the proposed expansion will be economically feasible.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the appointment or resignation of directors of Forbes Coal and statements made with respect to prospects for the business of Forbes Coal. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Forbes Coal to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, foreign operations, political and social uncertainties; a history of operating losses; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of the proposed transaction; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of mineral products; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; and, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or required financing or in the completion of activities. Although Forbes Coal has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.