Results of Upsized Placing

RNS Number : 5275X

Shanta Gold Limited

06 May 2016

 

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISSEMINATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.  ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS.

FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE ANY NEW ORDINARY SHARES OF SHANTA GOLD LIMITED IN ANY JURISIDICTION IN WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

6 May 2016                                                                                                                                              

Shanta Gold Limited

("Shanta" or the "Company")

Results of Placing

Upsized Placing to raise US$10.5 million (£7.2 million)

Shanta Gold Limited (AIM: SHG), the East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the oversubscribed bookbuild for the conditional placing (the "Placing") announced earlier today.

Highlights

·     A total of 111,442,800 new ordinary shares (the "Placing Shares") have been conditionally placed by Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt") at a price of 6.5 pence per share (the "Placing Price") with certain existing and new institutional and other investors to raise gross proceeds of approximately US$10.5 million (£7.2 million);

·     Successful completion of the Placing provides Shanta with a significant degree of financial flexibility as it reaches peak capital expenditure at the New Luika Gold Mine ("NLGM") during 2016; and,

·     Funds from the Placing will assist the Company to execute the Base Case Mine Plan ("BCMP"), undertake the underground development of NLGM and to progress satellite deposit exploration.

 Toby Bradbury, Chief Executive Officer of Shanta, commented:

"I am pleased to announce the successful completion of the upsized equity fundraising announced earlier this morning. There was significant demand and the placement was well received by both existing and new institutional investors and we are grateful for their support. The proceeds significantly strengthen the Company's financial position as we continue the development of the future underground operation at our flagship New Luika Gold Mine.''

For more information please contact:

Enquiries:

Shanta Gold Limited
Toby Bradbury (CEO) Mark Rosslee (CFO) Eric Zurrin	[phone]
Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Broker
Peel Hunt LLP
Matthew Armitt / Ross Allister / Chris Burrows (Corporate) Sohail Akbar (ECM Syndicate)	+ 44 (0)20 7418 8900 + 44 (0)20 7418 8642
Financial Public Relations
Tavistock
Emily Fenton / Jos Simson	[phone]

About Shanta Gold Limited

Shanta is an East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer. It currently has defined ore resources on the New Luika and Singida projects in Tanzania and holds exploration licences over a number of additional properties in the country. Shanta's flagship New Luika Gold Mine commenced production in 2012 and produced 81,873 ounces in 2015. The Company has been admitted to trading on London's AIM. For further information please visit: www.Shantagold.com.

The Placing

The Company has received firm commitments from investors to raise gross proceeds of approximately US$10.5 million (£7.2 million) through the Placing of 111,442,800 Placing Shares at a price of 6.5 pence per share. The Placing Price represents a discount of approximately 13.3 per cent. to the closing mid-market price per share on 5 May 2016, the latest practicable date prior to the date of this announcement.

Following Admission, the Placing Shares will represent approximately 19.2 per cent. of the Company's Enlarged Share Capital of 580,220,283 Ordinary Shares.

The Placing is conditional, among other things, on the passing of a written resolution of the convertible loan note holders to amend the terms of the convertible loan notes (the "Written Resolution") as further detailed below and on admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM. Shareholder approval for the Placing is not required under Shanta's articles of association.

Subject to the passing of the Written Resolution, application will be made to London Stock Exchange plc ("LSE") for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM, the market owned and operated by the LSE ("AIM"), ("Admission"). It is currently expected that Admission will take place at 8.00 am on 13 May 2016 (or such later date as may be agreed between the Company and Peel Hunt, provided that such date is no later than the Long Stop Date).

The Placing Shares will be, when issued, credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after their date of issue.

As a result of the Placing and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Notes, an adjustment is required to be made to the conversion price. With effect from the passing of the Written Resolution, the conversion price will be adjusted from 27.95 pence to 27.23 pence.

Unless otherwise defined, capitalised terms used in this announcement have the same meaning as set out in the Placing announcement issued by the Company earlier today.

Related Party Transaction

Odey Asset Management LLP ("Odey") currently has a shareholding of 109,458,591 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 23.3 per cent. of the Company's existing share capital. Accordingly, Odey is therefore considered a related party of the Company and Odey's participation for 26,746,272 Placing Shares under the Placing is considered a related party transaction under the AIM Rules. The directors consider, having consulted with Peel Hunt, the Company's nominated adviser, that the terms of Odey's participation in the Placing is fair and reasonable insofar as the shareholders of the Company are concerned.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, a prospectus relating to Shanta Gold Limited (the "Company"), nor does it constitute or contain any invitation or offer to any person, or any public offer, to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares in the

Company or advise persons to do so in any jurisdiction, nor shall it, or any part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment with the Company.

The content of this announcement has not been approved by an authorised person within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA").

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States.

This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of local securities laws or regulations (a "Prohibited Jurisdiction"). This announcement and the information contained herein are not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in a Prohibited Jurisdiction unless permitted pursuant to an exemption under the relevant local law or regulation in any such jurisdiction. This announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company.

Peel Hunt is acting solely as nominated adviser and broker exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) as its client in relation to the contents of this announcement nor will it be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Peel Hunt by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, Peel Hunt accepts no responsibility whatsoever, and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this announcement including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on behalf of it, the Company or any other person, in connection with the Company and the contents of this announcement respect, whether as to the past or the future. Peel Hunt accordingly disclaims all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above), which it might otherwise have in respect of the contents of this announcement or any such statement.

 

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