Templar’s key alliance

A NEW float with a powerful alliance with a giant mining company has attracted strong investor support.

Templar Resources Ltd has hit the market running with several high-profile mineral projects.

The company’s float is underpinned by a key strategic alliance with gold giant Placer Dome Asia Pacific Limited covering resource projects across South East Asia and Australia — including some world-class targets in the Philippines — plus a suite of gold and diamond projects in WA.

Perth-based Templar, led by former senior CRA geologist Ian Finch, is seeking to raise $3.7 million to launch itself as resource company pursuing a new style of exploration and development through a balanced portfolio of Australian and overseas prospects.

The company lodged a prospectus at the end of July for the issue of 17,500,000 shares at 20c each with a 1-for-1 option entitlement pitched at 1c each. Oversubscriptions of a further 5 million shares at 20¢ and 5 million options at 1¢ may be accepted to raise a further $1.050 million.

The unique exploration alliance with Placer, signed in March, forms the centrepiece of the new offer. In essence, this exclusive alliance gives Templar first right of refusal over Placer’s entire suite of exploration properties throughout the South East Asian region including Australia — a potentially vast group of highly prospective exploration assets.

It also delivers exclusive access to Placer’s technologies worldwide, giving Templar the support and backing of one of the world’s largest gold producers.

Placer can claw back its interest in these projects, or any of Templar’s other gold exploration projects in Australia, to 70 per cent if further exploration proves them to be of a size and quality which would interest the gold giant.

Templar managing director Ian Finch said the alliance increased Placer’s exploration presence throughout South East Asia and Australia, while giving Templar access to unique exploration opportunities.

Templar has already identified a number of high-value prospects for gold, nickel and diamonds in the Philippines and Australia and will assess other targets throughout the South East Asian region.

It has has targeted the Isabella nickel-laterite project in the Philippines on the island of Luzon, which falls outside of the Placer alliance. A pre-feasibility study is planned to commence immediately after listing on this project, regarded as having the potential to host a world-class resource.