Benton Resources Corp. ("Benton" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:BTC) is pleased
to announce that it has set new record and meeting dates for its AGM at which it
will ask shareholders to approve its previously announced spin-out transaction.
The AGM is now scheduled to take place on May 23, 2012 for shareholders of
record on April 18, 2012.


Based on recent communications with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange")
and barring any unforeseen issues in respect of the transaction, management is
confident that the necessary regulatory approvals for the spin-out transaction
will be obtained in time to mail out the necessary materials in advance of the
May 23rd meeting date, in compliance with securities regulations. 


Stephen Stares, President and CEO of Benton, stated: "We are now confident that
we will shortly be obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to move ahead
with our planned spin-out transaction, and be able to request shareholder
approval for this transaction on May 23rd. We appreciate the patience of our
shareholders in respect of this transaction, which we believe will provide value
to shareholders, but which has proven complex and time consuming to implement.
We look forward to receiving regulatory approval, and will update the market as
the transaction progresses".


Details of the Spin-Out Transaction

Pursuant to a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") and subject to the
requisite shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals, Benton intends to
spin-off all of its assets, other than its approximate 57,866,754 million shares
of Coro Mining Corp. ("Coro") (TSX:COP), sufficient working capital to maintain
operations and such other assets as may be required to maintain operations or
are required by the TSX Venture Exchange to a new company ("Newco" for the
purposes of this release) (to be named Benton Resources Inc. upon completion of
the transaction). Newco will hold all of the exploration assets, remaining cash
and equity positions other than Coro and the Goodchild Project. On the effective
date of the Arrangement (the "Effective Date"), shareholders of Benton will
receive one new common share of Benton and one new common share of Newco for
each share of Benton that they held prior to the Effective Date (as yet to be
determined). Following the Effective Date, both the common shares of Benton and
Newco are expected on trade on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"), subject to
Benton complying with the continued listing requirements of the TSX-V and Newco
meeting the original listing requirements of the TSX-V, receiving approval of
the TSX-V and meeting all conditions of listing imposed by the TSX-V. There is
no assurance as to if and when the common shares of Newco will be listed for
trading on the TSX-V. The Arrangement must be approved by no less than 66 2/3%
of Benton's shareholders. The completion of the Arrangement is subject to, among
other things: shareholder and court approval and other necessary regulatory
approvals, including TSX-V acceptance of the Arrangement and conditional listing
approval of the Newco common shares on the TSX-V, and receipt by Benton of an
advance tax ruling from the Canada Revenue Agency confirming that the
Arrangement can be finalized on a tax neutral basis for Benton and its
shareholders. There is no assurance that the TSX-V will provide conditional
listing approval for the common shares of Newco or that the Canada Revenue
Agency will provide a favourable advance tax ruling.


About Benton

Benton is a Canadian based junior with multiple joint ventures and a diversified
property portfolio in Gold, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements. The
Company currently has approximately $7.65 million in cash, owns approximately
57.86 million shares in Coro Mining Corp. (TSX:COP), holds approximately 348,000
shares of Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE:SWC), holds 782,500 shares in Marathon
Gold Corp. (TSX:MOZ), holds 1.6 million shares in Puget Ventures (TSX
VENTURE:PVS), holds 8.47 million shares of Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. (TSX
VENTURE:MMV), and holds 815,000 shares of Bell Copper Corporation (TSX
VENTURE:BCU), holds 1.67 million shares of Trillium North Minerals (TSX
VENTURE:TNM), holds 1.55 million shares of Golden Dory Resources (TSX
VENTURE:GDR) and holds 3 million shares of Parkside Resources (currently
private). Benton is currently in the process of spinning out the majority of its
assets by a plan of arrangement into a new listed company in order to separate
its 41.9% investment in Coro Mining from its cash, equities and exploration
assets. Benton shareholders will receive one share in this new company for each
share of Benton held pursuant to regulatory approval.


On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Corp.,

Stephen Stares, President 

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements
relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of
future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements
that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives,
assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical
fact and may be "forward-looking statements." 


Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties
which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to
failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms;
risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory
risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance
of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and
liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or
the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks
and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology,
grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent
uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected
costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the
possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be
consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and
other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to
the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the
Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements.
Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking
statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and
the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect
new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially
from the Company's expectations or projections.