Fundraising to raise a minimum of US$35 million

RNS Number : 7907A

Shanta Gold Limited

04 April 2012

 



THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

Neither this Announcement nor any part of it constitutes an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy, subscribe or acquire any new ordinary shares or any securities in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or any jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (as amended), under the securities legislation of any state of the United States or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa.

Shanta Gold Limited

 ("Shanta Gold" or the "Company")

4 April 2012

Fundraising to raise a minimum of US$35 million by way of an underwritten

convertible loan note placing and concurrent equity placing

Highlights

·      Shanta Gold to raise a minimum of US$35 million (approximately £22 million), consisting of US$25 million (approximately £16 million) by way of a convertible loan note placing (the "Notes Placing") of 5-year convertible loan notes (the "Notes") and a minimum of US$10 million (approximately £6 million) by way of an equity placing (the "Equity Placing") of new ordinary shares ("Placing Shares") (the Notes Placing and Equity Placing being together, the "Placing")

·      The Notes are underwritten by Liberum Capital Limited ("Liberum Capital") with a coupon of 8.5% per annum at a conversion price of 29.53 pence per share, representing a 25% conversion premium to closing mid-market price on 3 April 2012 of 23.63p (the "Reference Share Price")

·      The Notes are expected to be issued at a conversion price of 29.53-32.00 pence per share (the "Conversion Price"), representing a conversion premium of approximately 25-35% to the Reference Share Price, and carry a coupon of 8.5% subject to an accelerated bookbuild process to be conducted by Liberum Capital

·      The net proceeds from the Placing are intended to be used primarily to fund the Company's working capital requirements to bring the New Luika Gold Mine in Tanzania into production by Q3 2012

Gareth Taylor, CEO of Shanta Gold, said: "This financing announced today will allow Shanta Gold to complete the construction of the New Luika Gold Mine, Shanta Gold's first producing mine, and commence first gold production by mid-Q3 of this year.  The transaction structure allows the Company to address its short term working capital requirements with certainty while at the same time minimise dilution for existing shareholders.  Upon completion of the New Luika plant, the Company will be able to quickly enter into and ramp up production as a result of the ability to feed existing high-grade ore, which has been stockpiled since ore mining commenced in November 2011.  The updated resource statement to be announced during Q2 is expected to justify an increase in the project's processing capacity with limited additional capital expenditure.  The Directors believe New Luika's near-term production will provide Shanta Gold with robust cash flows to reinvest in advancing the Company's promising pipeline of development and exploration projects."

Shanta Gold announces that it intends to raise US$25 million by way of a Notes Placing of 5-year Notes to institutional and other investors.  The Notes are expected to carry a coupon of 8.5% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears and will be convertible into fully paid ordinary shares of the Company (the "Convertible Shares"). The conversion price is expected to be set at 29.53-32.00 pence per share (the "Conversion Price"), representing a conversion premium of approximately 25-35% to the Reference Share Price. The Notes will be issued at 100% of their principal amount and, unless previously converted, redeemed or purchased and cancelled, will be redeemed at 100% of their principal amount on maturity.  The Company will have the right to redeem all outstanding Notes at par together with accrued interest from 3 years after the closing date at any time as long as the share price exceeds 150% of the Conversion Price for more than 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days, or if 15% or less of the Notes remain outstanding.  The final terms of the Notes are expected to be announced tomorrow and closing is expected on or about 13 April 2012.

Concurrent to the Notes Placing, Shanta Gold announces that it intends to raise a minimum of US$10 million by way of the Equity Placing of Placing Shares to institutional and other investors. 

Use of Proceeds

The combined net proceeds from the Notes Placing and the Equity Placing are intended to be used primarily to fund the Company's working capital requirements to bring the New Luika Gold Mine in Tanzania into production by Q3 2012.  The Company's working capital requirements have increased as a result of the extended period of mining without revenues from gold production as well as the stockpiling of important chemicals to avoid possible disruptions once gold production commences.

The specific uses of the combined US$35 million proceeds include $25 million for working capital purposes at the New Luika Gold Mine and US$10 million for general corporate purposes, including exploration work, debt repayment and fees. 

The Notes Placing

Shanta Gold announces that it intends to raise US$25 million by way of a placing of the Notes to institutional and other investors. 

The Notes Placing is being conducted by way of an accelerated bookbuilding process by Liberum Capital acting as Sole Bookrunner.  Details of the final terms of the Notes will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the bookbuilding process.

The books for the Notes Placing will open with immediate effect.  The books are expected to close no later than 12 p.m. (London) tomorrow.  The timing of the closing of the books and the making of allocations may be accelerated or delayed at Liberum Capital's sole discretion. The Appendix to this Announcement contains the detailed terms and conditions of the Notes Placing.

Qualifying investors who choose to participate in the Notes Placing by making an oral and legally binding offer to acquire Notes, will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, including the Appendix, and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and to be making the representations, warranties, undertakings and acknowledgements contained in the Appendix to this Announcement. Offers to acquire Notes will not be accepted from more than 50 qualifying investors.

The Notes will be issued as unsecured obligations of the Issuer, which will rank pari passu, without any preference or priority among themselves, with all existing and future, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer.  The Notes Placing is being made on a non pre-emptive basis to enable the Company to further develop its institutional shareholder base as an essential part of the Company's further development.

The Notes Placing is conditional upon a placing agreement made between the Company, the executive directors of the Company and Liberum Capital (the "Placing Agreement") becoming unconditional and not being terminated prior to the issue date of the Notes (the "Issue Date").  Pursuant to the Placing Agreement, Liberum Capital has agreed to underwrite the Notes Placing at a conversion price of 29.53 pence per share, representing a 25% conversion premium to the Reference Share Price, and a coupon of 8.5% per annum and has conditionally agreed to use its reasonable endeavours, as agent for the Company, to place the Notes on more favourable terms with certain institutional and other investors.  The Notes Placing is not conditional on shareholder approval.

Your attention is drawn to the detailed terms and conditions of the Notes Placing described in the Appendix to this announcement (which forms part of this announcement) (together, the "Announcement").

The Equity Placing

Shanta Gold announces that it intends to raise a minimum of US$10 million by way of an Equity Placing of Placing Shares to institutional and other investors.

The Equity Placing is being conducted, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, by way of an accelerated bookbuilding process by Liberum Capital acting as Sole Bookrunner.  Details of the number of Placing Shares and gross proceeds will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the bookbuilding process.

The books for the Equity Placing will open with immediate effect.  The books are expected to close no later than 3 p.m. (London) today.  The timing of the closing of the books and the making of allocations may be accelerated or delayed at Liberum Capital's sole discretion. The Appendix to this Announcement contains the detailed terms and conditions of the Equity Placing. The Equity Placing is not being underwritten by Liberum Capital or any other person.

Qualifying investors who choose to participate in the Equity Placing by making an oral and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares, will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, including the Appendix, and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and to be making the representations, warranties, undertakings and acknowledgements contained in the Appendix to this Announcement.

The Placing Shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu with the existing issued ordinary shares in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares"), including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid on or in respect of such shares after the date of their issue.  The Equity Placing is being made on a non pre-emptive basis to enable the Company to further develop its institutional shareholder base as an essential part of the Company's further development.

The Equity Placing is conditional upon admission of the Placing Shares becoming effective in accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies published by the London Stock Exchange plc and upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not being terminated prior to Admission in accordance with its terms.  Pursuant to the Placing Agreement, Liberum Capital has conditionally agreed to use its reasonable endeavours, as agent for the Company, to place the Placing Shares with certain institutional and other investors.  The Equity Placing is not conditional on shareholder approval.

Your attention is drawn to the detailed terms and conditions of the Equity Placing described in the Appendix to this Announcement.

Liberum Capital is acting as Sole Bookrunner in connection with the Placing.

Enquiries:

Shanta Gold	Tel: [phone]
Walton Imrie / Gareth Taylor
Nominated Adviser and Broker
Liberum Capital Limited	Tel: + 44 (0)20 3100 2000
Michael Rawlinson / Clayton Bush / Christopher Kololian
Public Relations
Tavistock Communications	[phone]
Emily Fenton / Ed Portman

About Shanta Gold

Shanta Gold is a Tanzania focussed gold explorer and mine developer. It currently has defined ore resources on the New Luika, Singida and Mgusu projects and holds exploration licences over a number of additional properties. The New Luika Gold Mine is currently under construction and is expecting first production in Q32012. The Company is admitted to trading on AIM. 

For further information visit the Company's website: www.shantagold.com.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement nor, unless previously published by means of a recognised information service, should any such content be relied upon in reaching a decision as to whether or not to compare, continue to hold, or dispose of, securities in the Company.

This Announcement is for information only and does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or the United States or any jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), under the securities legislation of any state of the United States or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. The securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of U.S., Australian, Canadian, Japanese or South African securities laws, as applicable. No public offer of Shanta Gold's securities is being or will be made in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or elsewhere. No action has been taken by Shanta Gold or Liberum Capital that would permit an offering of the securities referred to herein or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such securities in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by Shanta Gold and Liberum Capital to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of Shanta Gold. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Liberum Capital or by any of its affiliates or agents as to or in relation to the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement, or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is hereby expressly disclaimed.

Liberum Capital, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority ("FSA"), is acting for Shanta Gold in connection with the Placing and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than Shanta Gold for providing the protections afforded to clients of Liberum Capital or for providing advice in relation to the Placing.

This Announcement is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa or any jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful.

Certain statements in this Announcement are forward-looking statements which are based on Shanta Gold's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by applicable law, Shanta Gold undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The information contained in this Announcement is subject to change without notice and neither Shanta Gold nor Liberum Capital assumes any responsibility or obligation to update publicly or review any of the forward-looking statements contained herein.

Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which Ordinary Shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of Shanta Gold for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of Shanta Gold.

APPENDIX A: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDIX (TOGETHER, "THIS ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE RESTRICTED AND ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PLACING FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THIS APPENDIX ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF THE EU PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (WHICH MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE MEASURE IN ANY MEMBER STATE) (THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE") ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"); AND (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE "ORDER"); (II) ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) ("HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC") OF THE ORDER; OR (III) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS IN (A) AND (B) TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS APPENDIX DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.

EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, FINANCIAL, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A PURCHASE OF PLACING SHARES AND/OR NOTES.

Persons who are invited to and who choose to participate in the Placing by making an oral or written offer to subscribe for Placing Shares and/or Notes, including any individuals, funds or others on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Placing Shares and/or Notes is given (the "Placees"), will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements contained in this Appendix. In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges that:

(a)        it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares and/or Notes that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;

(b)        if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, any Placing Shares and/or Notes acquired by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of securities to the public other than an offer or resale in a member state of the European Economic Area ("EEA") which has implemented the Prospectus Directive to Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Liberum Capital has been given to each such proposed offer or resale; and

(c)        it is outside the United States and is subscribing for the Placing Shares and/or Notes in an "offshore transaction" (within the meaning of Regulation S under the US Securities Act).

This Announcement does not constitute an offer or invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities or investment advice in any jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. No public offer of securities of the Company is being made in the United Kingdom, United States or elsewhere.

In particular, the Placing Shares and/or Notes referred to in this Announcement have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any State or other jurisdiction of the United States, and the Company has not been registered as an investment company under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. None of this document, the Placing Shares, the Notes, nor any document related to this document or the Placing Shares and/or Notes, have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any State securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful. The Placing Shares and Notes are being offered and sold outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the US Securities Act.

The relevant clearances have not been, and nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada; no prospectus has been lodged with and/or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; and the Placing Shares have not been, and nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Appendix or the Announcement of which it forms part should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.

Details of the Placing Agreement, the Placing Shares and the Notes

Liberum Capital has entered into a placing agreement (the "Placing Agreement") with the Company and the Executive Directors of the Company under which it has, as sole agent of the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out therein, agreed to use reasonable endeavours to procure Placees to take up the Placing Shares and/or Notes and, in the case of the Notes, to underwrite the Notes Placing at a conversion price of 29.53 pence per share and a coupon of 8.5% per annum. In addition to commissions to be paid to Liberum Capital in connection with the Placing, the Company has agreed to grant a warrant to Liberum Capital (or to such person(s) as Liberum Capital shall direct) conditional on completion of the Notes Placing, over 2,650,501 Ordinary Shares, exercisable at any time within three years of grant with an exercise price of 17.72 pence per share.

Application for listing and admission to trading

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange plc (the "London Stock Exchange") for admission to trading of the Placing Shares on AIM ("AIM") (the "Admission"). It is expected that the Admission of the Placing Shares will become effective and that dealings on AIM in the Placing Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. (London time) on or around 11 April 2012.

Application will be made to the Channel Islands Stock Exchange, LBG (the "CISX") for the Notes to be admitted to the Official List of the CISX (the "Notes Admission"). It is expected that the Notes Admission will become effective as soon as practicable after the Issue Date.

Bookbuild

Liberum Capital will today commence the Bookbuild to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing.

Liberum Capital and the Company shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as they may, in their sole discretion, determine.

Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing

1.         Liberum Capital is arranging the Placing as bookrunner.

2.         Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by Liberum Capital. Liberum Capital and its affiliates are entitled to enter bids in the Bookbuild as principal.

3.         In relation to the Equity Placing, the Bookbuild will establish a single price (in Pounds Sterling) payable to Liberum Capital by all Placees for the Placing Shares whose bids are successful (the "Placing Price"). The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be determined, following consultation, between Liberum Capital and the Company following completion of the Bookbuild. The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced on a Regulatory Information Service following the completion of the Bookbuild (the "Equity Placing Results Announcement").

4.         In relation to the Notes Placing, the Bookbuild will establish the coupon and the conversion price to be included in the Note Instrument provided that the coupon shall not be higher than 8.5% per annum and the conversion price shall not be lower than 29.53 pence per share.

5.         To bid in the Bookbuild, prospective Placees should communicate their bid by telephone to their usual sales contact at Liberum Capital. Each bid should state (i) the number and/or value of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to acquire at either the Placing Price which is ultimately established by the Company and Liberum Capital or at prices up to a price limit specified in its bid and/or (ii) the nominal value of Notes which the prospective Placee wishes to acquire at a coupon of 8.5% per annum and a conversion price of 29.53 pence per share and/or at lower coupon and higher conversion prices, if applicable. Bids may be scaled down by Liberum Capital on the basis referred to in paragraph 8 below.

6.         The Bookbuild in relation to the Placing Shares is expected to close no later than 3.00 p.m. (London time) on 4 April 2012 and the Bookbuild in relation to the Notes is expect to close no later than 12.00 p.m. (London time) on 5 April 2012 but both may be closed earlier or later at the discretion of Liberum Capital. Liberum Capital may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the Bookbuild has closed.

7.         Each prospective Placee's allocation will be confirmed to the Placee orally by Liberum Capital following the close of the Placing, and a placing confirmation will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. Liberum Capital's oral confirmation to such Placee will constitute an irrevocable legally binding commitment upon such person (who will at that point become a Placee) in favour of Liberum Capital and the Company, under which the Placee agrees to acquire the number of Placing Shares and/or Notes allocated to it on the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation.

8.         Subject to paragraphs 5 and 6 above, Liberum Capital may choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined at their discretion (in consultation with the Company) and may scale down any bids for this purpose on such basis as they may determine. The acceptance of bids shall be at Liberum Capital's absolute discretion, provided that the maximum number of Placees that may be allocated Notes shall not exceed 50. Liberum Capital may also, notwithstanding paragraphs 5 and 6 above, subject to the prior consent of the Company, (i) allocate Placing Shares and/or Notes after the time of any initial allocation to any person submitting a bid after that time and (ii) allocate Placing Shares and/or Notes after the Bookbuild has closed to any person submitting a bid after that time. The Company reserves the right to reduce or seek to increase the amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing and, in the case of the Notes Placing, following the close of the Bookbuild, if required, to increase the coupon to 8.5% and reduce the conversion price to 29.53 pence per share. Liberum Capital will not accept bids for Notes from more than 50 prospective Placees.

9.         A bid in the Bookbuild will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Announcement and will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and, except with Liberum Capital's consent, will not be capable of variation or revocation after the time at which it is submitted. Each Placee will also have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to Liberum Capital, to pay it (or as it may direct) in cleared funds (i) in relation to the Placing Shares, an amount equal to the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares or the value of the Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to acquire and/or (ii) in relation to the Notes, an amount equal to the nominal value of the Notes such Placee has agreed to acquire by no later than 12.00 p.m. on 12 April 2012. Each Placee's obligations under this paragraph will be owed to the Company and to Liberum Capital.

10.       Except as required by law or regulation, no press release or other announcement will be made by Liberum Capital or the Company using the name of any Placee (or its agent) in its capacity as Placee (or agent), other than with such Placee's prior written consent.

11.       Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares and/or all Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under "Registration and Settlement".

12.       All obligations under the Bookbuild and Equity Placing will be subject to fulfilment or (where applicable) waiver of the conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Equity Placing" and to the Equity Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under "Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement".

13.       All obligations under the Bookbuild and Notes Placing will be subject to fulfilment or (where applicable) waiver of the conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Notes Placing" and to the Notes Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under "Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement".

14.       By participating in the Bookbuild, each Placee will agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.

15.       To the fullest extent permissible by law, neither Liberum Capital nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, neither Liberum Capital nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of Liberum Capital's conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as Liberum Capital, its affiliates and the Company may agree.

Conditions of the Placing

Conditions of the Equity Placing

In relation to the Equity Placing, Liberum Capital's obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on, inter alia:

(a)        the agreement between Liberum Capital and the Company of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued, as established in the Bookbuild process; and

(b)        in relation to the obligations relating to the Placing Shares:

(i)          Admission occurring not later than 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 11 April 2012 or such other date as may be agreed between the Company and Liberum Capital, not being later than 30 April 2012; and

(iii)        each of the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement being true, accurate and not misleading on and as at the date of the Placing Agreement and remaining true and accurate and not misleading at all times during the period up to Admission, as though they had been given and made on such dates by reference to the circumstances at the relevant time.

Conditions of the Notes Placing

In relation to the Notes Placing, Liberum Capital's obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on, inter alia:

(a)        the Notes being issued not later than 12.00 p.m. on the Notes Issue Date or such other date as may be agreed between the Company and Liberum Capital, not being later than 30 April 2012; and

(b)        each of the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement being true, accurate and not misleading on and as at the date of the Placing Agreement and remaining true and accurate and not misleading at all times during the period up to the Notes Issue Date, as though they had been given and made on such dates by reference to the circumstances at the relevant time.

If: (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing Shares and/or Notes, including those described above, are not fulfilled or (where applicable) waived by Liberum Capital by the respective time or date where specified (or such later time or date as the Company and Liberum Capital may agree); (ii) any of such conditions becomes incapable of being fulfilled; or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing in relation to the Placing Shares and the Notes will lapse and the Placee's rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares and/or the Notes shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee against either the Company or Liberum Capital in respect thereof.

Liberum Capital may, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive compliance with the whole or any part of any of the obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement save that the condition relating to Admission taking place and the Company's allotment and issue of the Placing Shares may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.

The Equity Placing and the Notes Placing are not inter-conditional on one another.

Neither Liberum Capital nor the Company shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision it may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of Liberum Capital and the Company.

Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement

Liberum Capital may, at any time on or before Admission of the Placing Shares, terminate the Placing Agreement by giving notice to the Company in certain circumstances, including, inter alia, a breach of the warranties given to Liberum Capital in the Placing Agreement; the failure of the Company or the Executive Directors to comply with obligations under the Placing Agreement; or the occurrence of a force majeure event which, in the opinion of Liberum Capital acting in good faith, is likely to prejudice the success of the Placing. Following Admission of the Placing Shares, the Placing Agreement shall not be capable of rescission of termination to the extent that it relates to the placing or the issue of the Placing Shares.

Notwithstanding Admission of the Placing Shares, Liberum retains their right under the Placing Agreement to terminate the placing of the Notes in accordance with the terms thereof. Any such termination after completion of the placing of the Placing Shares will not, for the avoidance of doubt, affect the completed placing of the Placing Shares.

If any of the obligations of Liberum Capital with respect to the Placing are terminated in the manner contemplated above, the rights and obligations of each Placee shall cease and terminate at such time and no claim can be made by any Placee in respect thereof. The rights and obligations of the Placees shall terminate only in the circumstances described in these terms and conditions and will not be subject to termination by the Placee or any prospective Placee at any time or in any circumstances.

By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by Liberum Capital of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Liberum Capital and that they need not make any reference to Placees and that they shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise.

No Prospectus

No offering document or prospectus has been or will be published or submitted to be approved by the FSA or the Guernsey Financial Services Commission in relation to the Placing and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement. Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the Company or Liberum Capital or any other person and neither Liberum Capital nor the Company nor any other person will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placees may have obtained or received. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. The Company is not making any undertaking or warranty to any Placee regarding the legality of an investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Notes by such Placee under any legal, investment or similar laws or regulations. Each Placee should not consider any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax, financial or business advice. Each Placee should consult its own lawyer, tax advisor, financial advisor and business advisor for legal, tax, financial and business advice regarding an investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Notes. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.

Registration and Settlement

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00B0CG) following Admission will take place on a delivery versus payment basis within the CREST system.

Settlement of transactions in the Notes following the issue date of the Notes will take place within the CREST system.

Liberum Capital and the Company reserve the right to require settlement for and delivery of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes to Placees by such other means that they deem necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable (including within the CREST system) or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction.

Each Placee allocated Placing Shares and/or the Notes in the Placing will be sent a placing confirmation in accordance with the standing arrangements in place with Liberum Capital stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price, the nominal value of the Notes, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to Liberum Capital and settlement instructions. Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions that it has in place with Liberum Capital.

It is expected that settlement of Placing Shares will be on 11 April 2012 on a T+3 basis in accordance with the instructions set out in the trade confirmation and settlement of the Notes will be on 13 April 2012 on a T+4 basis in accordance with the instructions set out in the placing confirmation.

Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points above LIBOR as determined by Liberum Capital.

Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, Liberum Capital may sell any or all of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Liberum Capital's account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares and/or the Notes on such Placee's behalf.

If Placing Shares and/or the Notes are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the trade confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation.

Representations, Warranties and Further Terms

By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) for the benefit of the Company and Liberum Capital:

1.         represents and warrants that it has read and understood this Announcement, including the Appendix, in its entirety and that its subscription of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes is subject to and based upon only the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgments, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein;

2.         acknowledges that no offering or admission document or prospectus has been prepared or published in connection with the Placing and represents and warrants that it has not received a prospectus or other offering or admission document in connection therewith;

3.         acknowledges that neither Liberum Capital, the Company nor any of their respective affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided it, and will not provide it, with any information or material regarding the Placing Shares and/or the Notes or the Company other than this Announcement; nor has it requested Liberum Capital, the Company, any of their affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such information or material;

4.         acknowledges that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and that neither Liberum Capital, their affiliates or any person acting on behalf of them has or shall have any liability for any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or any information previously published by or on behalf of the Company and will not be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or otherwise. Each Placee further represents, warrants and agrees that the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which such Placee has relied in committing itself to acquire the Placing Shares and/or the Notes is contained in this Announcement and any information: (i) previously published by the Company by notification to a Regulatory Information Service or (ii) contained in annual audited accounts published by the Company, such information being all that such Placee deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes and that it has neither received nor relied on any other information given or representations, warranties or statements (whether express or implied) made by Liberum Capital or the Company and neither Liberum Capital nor the Company will be liable for any Placee's decision to accept an invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that person. Each Placee further acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing;

5.         acknowledges that neither Liberum Capital, its affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of it has or shall have any liability for any publicly available or filed information or any information, representation, warranty or statement relating to the Company or its business contained therein or otherwise, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that person;

6.         represents and warrants that it is, and at the time the Placing Shares and/or the Notes are acquired will be, acquiring the Placing Shares and/or the Notes in an "offshore transaction" in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act;

7.         represents and warrants that (a) it is not, and at the time the Placing Shares and/or the Notes are acquired will not be, a resident of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa, and (b) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Notes, will not look to Liberum Capital for all or part of any such loss it may suffer, is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Notes, is able to sustain a complete loss of the investment in the Placing Shares and has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Notes;

8.         acknowledges that the Placing Shares and/or the Notes have not been and will not be registered or qualified for offer and sale nor will a prospectus be cleared in respect of any of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes under the securities laws or legislation of the United States (or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States), Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, within those jurisdictions and agrees not to reoffer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Placing Shares and/or the Notes except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

9.         unless otherwise specifically agreed with Liberum Capital, represents and warrants that it is, or at the time the Placing Shares and/or the Notes are acquired that it will be, the beneficial owner of such Placing Shares and/or the Notes;

10.       represents and warrants that the issue to it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will not give rise to liability under any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary receipts and clearance services) and that the Placing Shares and/or the Notes are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer Placing Shares and/or the Notes into a clearance system;

11.       represents and warrants that it has complied with its obligations in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2003 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 (the "Regulations")and, if making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third party as required by the Regulations;

12.       if a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the EU Prospectus Directive, represents and warrants that the Placing Shares and/or the Notes purchased by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a Member State of the EEA which has implemented the Prospectus Directive other than Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Liberum Capital has been given to the offer or resale;

13.       represents and warrants that it has not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of a period of six months from Admission, will not offer or sell any Placing Shares and/or the Notes to persons in the United Kingdom, except to Qualified Investors or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in contravention of section 85(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA");

14.       represents and warrants that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares and/or the Notes to persons in the EEA prior to Admission except to Qualified Investors or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted in and which will not result in the requirement to publish a prospectus in any member state of the EEA within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive;

15.       represents and warrants that it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares and/or the Notes in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person;

16.       represents and warrants that it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Placing Shares and/or the Notes in, from or otherwise involving, the United Kingdom;

17.       represents and warrants that if it resides in a member state of the EEA it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive;

18.       represents and warrants that if it resides in the United Kingdom it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive and a person (a) who has professional experience in matters relating to investments and is an "Investment Professional" falling within article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Order, or (b) who falls within article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.) of the Order;

19.       represents and warrants that it and any person acting on its behalf is entitled to acquire the Placing Shares and/or the Notes under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions and that it has all necessary capacity and has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to commit to this participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms and conditions set out or referred to in this Announcement) and will honour such obligations;

20.       where it is subscribing for Placing Shares and/or the Notes for one or more managed accounts, represents and warrants that it is authorised in writing by each managed account: (a) to subscribe for the Placing Shares and/or the Notes for each managed account; (b) to make on its behalf the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements in this Appendix and the Announcement of which it forms part; and (c) to receive on its behalf any investment letter and/or Placing Allocation Letter relating to the Placing in the form provided by Liberum Capital;

21.       undertakes that it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment for the Placing Shares and/or the Notes allocated to it in accordance with this Appendix on the due time and date set out herein and it has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to give its commitment so to subscribe, failing which the relevant Placing Shares and/or the Notes may be placed with other Placees or sold as Liberum Capital may in their sole discretion determine and without liability to such Placee, who will remain liable for any amount by which the net proceeds of such sale falls short of the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares and/or the Notes allocated to it and may be required to bear any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes (together with any interest or penalties due pursuant to the terms and conditions set out or referred to in this Announcement) which may arise upon the placing or sale of such Placee's Placing Shares and/or the Notes on its behalf;

22.       acknowledges that neither Liberum Capital, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on behalf of it, is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing and that participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of Liberum Capital and that Liberum Capital does not have any duty or responsibility to it for providing the protections afforded to their clients or customers or for providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties, acknowledgements, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any of their rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination right;

23.       undertakes that the person whom it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes will be (i) itself or (ii) its nominee, as the case may be. Neither Liberum Capital nor the Company will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or any similar tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to participate in the Placing and it agrees to indemnify the Company and Liberum Capital on an after tax basis in respect of the same on the basis that the Placing Shares and/or the Notes will be allotted to the CREST account of Liberum Capital or its affiliate or agent who will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions;

24.       acknowledges that any agreements entered into by it pursuant to these terms and conditions, and all non-contractual or other obligations arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and it submits (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any person on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract (including any dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of such contract or relating to any non contractual or other obligation arising out of or in connection with such contract), except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares and/or the Notes (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by either the Company or Liberum Capital in any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock exchange;

25.       agrees that the Company, Liberum Capital and their respective affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings which are given to Liberum Capital and the Company and are irrevocable, and with respect to any of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements deemed to have been made by a purchaser of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, it has sole investment discretion with respect to each such account and it has full power and authority to make the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgments, undertakings and agreements on behalf of each such account;

26.       agrees to indemnify on an after tax basis and hold the Company, Liberum Capital and their respective affiliates harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings in this Appendix and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after completion of the Placing;

27.       represents and warrants that it has neither received nor relied on any confidential price sensitive information concerning the Company in accepting this invitation to participate in the Placing;

27.        acknowledges that time shall be of the essence as regards the obligations pursuant to this Appendix to the Announcement;

28.       if it is a pension fund or investment company, its purchase of Placing Shares and/or the Notes is in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and

29.       represents and warrants that it is an institution or an addressee which: (a) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and expertise in assessing credit, market and all other relevant risks as to be capable of evaluating, and has evaluated independently, the merits, risks and suitability of its investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Notes; and (b) it and any accounts for which it is acting are each able to bear the economic risk of such investment, and are each able to sustain all or a substantial portion of any investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Notes and the Placee will not look to Liberum Capital for all or any part of any such loss or losses it may suffer.

In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable outside the UK by them or any other person on the subscription by them of any Placing Shares and/or the Notes or the agreement by them to subscribe for any Placing Shares and/or the Notes.

Each Placee, and any person acting on behalf of the Placee, acknowledges and agrees that Liberum Capital does not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement.

Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges and agrees that Liberum Capital or any of its affiliates may, at its absolute discretion, agree to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares and/or the Notes.

When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with Liberum Capital, any money held in an account with Liberum Capital on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FSA made under the FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence, this money will not be segregated from Liberum Capital's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by Liberum Capital in the course of its own business and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of Liberum Capital.

If the Company or Liberum Capital or their respective affiliates request any information about a Placee's agreement to subscribe for Placing Shares and/or the Notes and/or any evidence supporting the representations and warranties given above, such Placee shall (and it undertakes to) promptly disclose such information or evidences (as applicable to them). All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment. Liberum Capital shall notify the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.

 

END

 

 

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