Non-Brokered Private Placement

May 17, 2010 News Release TSX-V Symbol: BCU

NON-BROKERED PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Vancouver, B.C.: Bell Copper Corporation (“Bell Copper” or the “Company”) (TSX-V Symbol: BCU) announces it will be conducting a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit to raise proceeds of up to $3,000,000.

Each Unit will consist of one common share and one share purchase warrant with each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.50 per share for a period of one year from closing (the “Unit Warrants”). The Unit Warrants are subject to the right of the Company to accelerate the exercise period for the Unit Warrants if the common shares of the Company trade above $1.00 for a period of 10 consecutive trading-days.

The proceeds of the private placement will be used for the current work programs, the La Balsa Feasibility Study, retiring debt and for general working capital purposes.

The Company intends to pay a finder's fee incidental to the financing in accordance with Exchange policies. The private placement and payment of a finder's fee are subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance.

The Company further announces that on May 12, 2010 a total of 10,953,000 warrants exercisable into Bell Copper common shares expired.

About Bell Copper

Bell Copper is a public company with a focus on copper exploration, development and production in North America. The Company has an extensive portfolio of exploration and development projects located in some of North America’s premier copper producing regions including Mexico, the Southwestern US and Northwestern British Columbia.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BELL COPPER CORPORATION

“Michael Werner”

Michael Werner CEO & Director

For further information, contact:

Bell Copper Corporation Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Sarah Stephanson Christine Stewart:

Executive Assistant [email protected] Tel.: (604) 669-1484 Jason Roy:

[email protected] [email protected] www.bellcopper.net Tel.: (514) 939-3989 or (416) 644-2020 www.renmarkfinancial.com

“Neither 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."

Suite 1780 – 400 Burrard St., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6C 3A6 www.bellcopper.net ⏐ Tel: 604.669.1484 ⏐ Fax: 604.669.1464