Uranium explorer Bannerman Resources has unveiled a $37.5 million capital raising plan with commitments already received for up to $30 million.
Uranium explorer Bannerman Resources has unveiled a $37.5 million capital raising plan with commitments already received for up to $30 million.
The raising will take place in two components, a $30 million share placement and a share purchase plan to raise up to $7.5 million.
The placement will consist of the issue of 30 million shares at $1 each, a discount to Bannerman's last traded price at 10:51 AEST of $1.135, down 0.5 cents.
Bannerman said the placement was made to clients of Argonaut Securities and Haywood Securities, and to Hong Kong-listed Regent Pacific Group, which subscribed to $10 million worth of shares, representing a stake of 5.3 per cent.
Regent, a diversified mining company, also holds interests in Kalahari Minerals and Polo Resources.
Details of the share purchase plan will be released shortly.
Funds raised will be used to complete the feasibility study over the Etango uranium project in Namibia and for working capital.
The announcement is below:
Bannerman Resources Limited (ASX:BMN; TSX:BAN; NSX:BAN) (Bannerman), an Australian-based uranium exploration and mine development company, is pleased to announce that it has received commitments for a capital raising of A$30 million (C$26 million) (before costs) by the issue of 30 million ordinary shares at an issue price of A$1.00 per share.
The issue price represents a 9% discount to the 5 day VWAP prior to the trading halt on the ASX for the placement on 27 May 2009.
The placement utilises the authority granted by shareholders at the general meeting held on 16 April 2009 to raise up to A$30 million by the issue of new securities.
Bannerman CEO Len Jubber said: "The strength of support from institutional and sophisticated investors for the placement in Australia and Canada was very encouraging, highlighting not only the quality of the Etango uranium project in Namibia but also their confidence in the long-term fundamentals for the uranium mining industry."
Details of the Placement
The placement in Australia was made to clients of Argonaut Securities Pty Limited and to Regent Pacific Group Limited (Regent Pacific). Regent Pacific provided strong support for the issue, subscribing A$10 million, which will result in a holding of approximately 5.3% of the post-placement issued capital.
Regent Pacific is a Hong Kong listed, diversified mining company with interests in copper, zinc and gold, together with various interests in thermal coal assets in Asia, principally China.
In addition, Regent Pacific holds several interests in listed companies with uranium exposure, including an approximate 3.6% holding in Kalahari Minerals plc and an approximate 4.7% interest in Polo Resources Limited.
The Canadian component of the placement has been underwritten by Haywood Securities Inc. (Haywood) and offered to Haywood's clients pursuant to a private placement.
The underwriting agreement will be subject to usual terms and conditions including termination provisions in respect of any material adverse change affecting the Company or the value of its securities. There is no "market out" clause.
Both the Australian and Canadian components of the placement were heavily over-subscribed.
The subscription by Regent Pacific is scheduled to take place on 4 June 2009, with quotation of those shares on ASX anticipated to occur on or about 5 June 2009.
Settlement of the Australian placement of A$10 million is scheduled to take place on 5 June 2009, with quotation of those shares on ASX anticipated to occur on or about 8 June 2009.
Subject to approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange, closing of the Canadian component of the placement is scheduled to occur on or about 8 June 2009 with quotation on or about 10 June 2009.
Share Purchase Plan
Bannerman will also implement a share purchase plan (SPP) to provide eligible qualifying shareholders with the opportunity to subscribe for up to A$15,000 worth of new Bannerman shares at the same price as the placement, to raise a maximum of A$7.5 million.
Qualifying eligible shareholders who are on the register as at 5:00pm Perth time (5.00am Toronto time) on 28 May 2009 will be entitled to participate in the SPP.
Further details of the SPP will be announced shortly.
Use of funds and operational update
Assuming full subscription under the SPP, Bannerman will raise total proceeds from the placements and SPP of A$37.5 million before fees and costs.
Bannerman plans to use the net proceeds from the financing to complete the feasibility study of the Etango uranium project in Namibia, and for resource definition and exploration drilling, other exploration costs and working capital and general corporate purposes.
Bannerman recently announced the renewal of Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) 3345, on which the Etango Project is located, for a further two years.
Within EPL 3345, exploration activity is currently focusing on the Oshiveli and Onkelo regions to the immediate north of Anomaly A, where Bannerman recently announced (refer release dated 20 May 2009) the confirmation of broad higher grade mineralised zones close to or directly from surface including 43 metres at 514 ppm U3O8 from 148 metres downhole, 77 metres at 314 ppm U3O8 from 19 metres downhole, and 22 metres at 332 ppm U3O8 from 15 metres downhole.
The results further extends the known Etango mineralisation at Oshiveli along strike to the north and hold out the prospect for further resource upgrades prior to the end of the year.
Bannerman is also progressing well with its activities to build sound relationships with the local Namibian community, develop its Namibian workforce and support Namibian businesses. A range of initiatives are already in place.
Mr Jubber said, "Namibian locals are represented at many levels of management within our Namibian operations and skills development programs are progressing well. We have implemented a mentoring program and a number of educational scholarships. We actively engage with and support the use and development of local Namibian businesses and have facilitated the establishment of a number of locally owned and operated businesses which are consistent with our development objectives."
RCF Convertible Note - Standby Tranche
Bannerman further advises that as a result of the above placement, it will not utilise the undrawn A$10 million Standby Tranche under the Convertible Note Facility Agreement with Resource Capital Fund IV L.P. (RCF).
Under the terms of the Convertible Note Facility Agreement, Bannerman will pay RCF a break fee as a result of not drawing on the Standby Tranche, which is expected to be satisfied partly in cash and partly by the issue of shares.
Commenting on the successful outcome of the placement, Mr Jubber said, "The placement was completed on pricing terms substantially more favourable than those under the Standby Facility and hence that facility will not be drawn. The placement also introduces a number of new institutional investors to the Company."
