Merger Between GGG And Auzex Resources
30 August 2011 - 8:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMGGG
GGG Resources plc
(the "Company" or "GGG")
ALL SHARE MERGER BETWEEN GGG RESOURCES PLC
AND AUZEX RESOURCES LIMITED
The Directors of GGG Resources Plc ("GGG") (ASX: GGB; AIM: GGG) are
pleased to announce the signing of a binding Heads of Agreement with Auzex
Resources Limited ("AZX" or "Auzex") (ASX: AZX) to combine the Bullabulling
Gold Project into a new single corporate entity to be named Bullabulling Gold
Limited ("BBG") through an all share merger which will be Australian domiciled
and listed on ASX and AIM.
Highlights:
- Creation of an advanced exploration / pre-development
gold-focussed company, Bullabulling Gold Ltd., which owns 100% of the
Bullabulling Gold project, located 65km south-west of Kalgoorlie, Western
Australia.
- Merger with Auzex and GGG shareholders owning 50% each of BBG
adjusted for the Auzex securities already owned by GGG prior to its conversion
to BBG and relative cash holdings of both companies.
- New independent Board to be formed.
- Unified management team with sole focus on the development of
Bullabulling based in Western Australia.
- Listed on the ASX and AIM providing global access to capital
markets.
- AZX to demerge its non-Bullabulling assets.
- Outcome enables project to be accelerated through feasibility.
- GGG takeover offer for AZX to lapse on 5 September and GGG will
not accept any of the shares tendered so far.
Transaction Mechanics:
- Implementation of Two Schemes:
- GGG will create an Australian registered company called
Bullabulling Gold Limited Pty ("BBG") and go through a UK Scheme of
arrangement to cancel each ordinary share, warrant and option in GGG for the
issuance of an equivalent number of shares, warrants and options in BBG.
Initially the share capital and the Board of Directors of BBG will be exactly
the same to that of GGG. BBG will seek admission to the Australian Stock
Exchange ("ASX") as its primary listing with a secondary listing on the AIM
market in London; and
- All scrip merger of AZX and BBG through an Australian Scheme of
arrangement. BBG will acquire the whole share capital and outstanding options
of AZX, except for the AZX securities already owned by BBG.
- Should there be a difference in the cash (net of liabilities)
between BBG and AZX at the Record Date, BBG will subscribe to a placement of
shares in AZX at a 10% discount to the five days VWAP.
- Following the implementation of the Australian Scheme, the Board
of Directors of BBG will change so that it consists of two non-executive
directors nominated by GGG and two non-executive directors nominated by AZX.
BBG will appoint three new independent directors including the Chairman and
Managing Director.
- AZX will spin out its non-Bullabulling assets and its
shareholding in GGG into a separate vehicle ("AZX2") prior to the Record Date.
Immediately upon execution of the Heads of Agreement, GGG and AZX
will form a management company ("OpCo"), to be owned by GGG and AZX in equal
shares. This entity will immediately assume management of Bullabulling Gold
Project to deliver upon the agreed development strategy. The Board of OpCo
will initially comprise 3 directors from each GGG and AZX with Nigel Clark and
Chris Baker acting as co-Chairman until a new Chairman is appointed. The OpCo
will immediately commence a search for a Non-Executive Chairman, Managing
Director and a third non-executive director who will subsequently become
directors of BBG.
GGG and AZX have agreed to each lend OpCo half of three months
budget for the Bullabulling Joint Venture ($6.5 million) within 5 days of
completion of a capital raising by AZX and will keep OpCo funded for at least
two months of budget rolling forward.
Peter Ruxton, Chairman of GGG Resources, said:
"We are delighted to announce that we are consolidating our highly
attractive Bullabulling gold project into a single corporate entity. This is
clearly the most desirable outcome for both GGG and AZX shareholders in terms
of creating value. Asset consolidation was something that we recognised was
needed from the beginning. With an accelerated development plan in motion,
coupled with the recent and upcoming JORC update, we feel this is the right
time to recommend this deal to our shareholders.
"To facilitate its full independence, Bullabulling Gold Limited
will operate with a new independent board led by a senior management team
operating out of Western Australia with help and assistance from a number of
existing GGG and AZX directors during the transition phase.
"And while we are in a high gold price environment, we are pleased
that BBG will be finding out just how significant the gold deposit could
potentially be, as well as fast-tracking the mine through feasibility studies.
Consolidation of the asset will enable this process to be accelerated."
Chris Baker, Chairman of Auzex Resources Limited, commented:
"This transaction delivers an outstanding outcome for all parties,
it has been complex to structure and negotiate due to requirements of both
parties ensuring the interests of all shareholders was recognised and that
they benefited equally from the outcome."
This merger will provide the opportunity to unlock significant
value for both parties and ensure the fast-track development of the
Bullabulling Gold project at a critical time in its development."
Transaction Details:
GGG and AZX have entered into a Binding Heads of Agreements ("HOA")
to give effect to the proposed transaction which involves two Schemes of
Arrangements.
UK Scheme:
In the first step GGG will create an Australian-registered company
- Bullabulling Gold Limited Pty ("BBG") - and will seek shareholder approval
for a UK Scheme of Arrangement under Part 26 of the UK Companies Act 2006 to
cancel all the issued ordinary shares, warrants and share options in GGG for
the issuance of an equivalent number of shares, warrants and options in BBG.
Initially the share capital and the Board of Directors of BBG will
be exactly the same to that of GGG. BBG will then seek for its shares to be
re-admitted for trading on the ASX and AIM markets.
GGG may elect to propose a demerger of some of its assets and
excess cash to a new company. This spin out would be transacted as part of the
UK Scheme.
Auzex Spin Out:
In the meantime AZX will spin out its non-Bullabulling assets and
its shareholding in GGG into a separate vehicle ("AZX2"), leaving AZX with 50%
ownership of Bullabulling and cash. This will be done prior to the Australian
Scheme.
Australian Scheme:
Australian-registered BBG will then go through an Australian Scheme
of Arrangement under part 5.1 of the Australian Corporations Act under which
all of the fully paid ordinary shares of AZX are transferred or cancelled for
new shares in BBG that will result in AZX shareholders holding 50% of all BBG
shares, subject to any adjustment for shares already held by BBG.
Any difference in cash will be adjusted by private placement of the
company with larger cash into the company with lesser cash at a 10% discount
to the 5 days VWAP of that party.
The merger ratio will be calculated according to the formula stated
below. Using the current capital structure, former GGG shareholders will own
54% of the shares in BBG.
Existing AZX options are to be exchanged for equivalent options in
BBG on equivalent terms or converted into shares in AZX prior to the
Australian Scheme taking effect.
Transaction Conditions:
The transaction is subject to a number of other conditions
including:
- receipt of the required regulatory and court approvals;
- no prescribed occurrences (except for a capital raising by Auzex
to fund ongoing development expenditure of Bullabulling prior to
completion);
- approvals by GGG and Auzex Shareholders;
- the listing of BBG on ASX and AIM; and
- Auzex demerger of non-Bullabulling asset.
The HOA also contains customary deal protection mechanisms,
including no shop and no talk provisions, matching and notification rights in
the event of a competing proposal and a mutual break fee payable by Auzex or
GGG in specified circumstances of $750,000 with management control reverting
to the other party.
Timetable and next steps:
Auzex and GGG will finalise a formal merger implementation
agreement reflecting the terms of the HOA within 21 days. Other key steps
include:
- GGG shareholders will receive a Scheme Document that will contain
full details of the proposed Scheme (being the transfer of GGG
Shareholders shares in GGG to BGL).
- GGG will immediately begin the process of listing BGL on the ASX
and AIM.
- Auzex shareholders will receive a Scheme Document that will
contain full details of the proposed Scheme (being the transfer of AZX
Shareholders shares in AZX to BGL).
Advisors:
GGG's Nominated Advisor is Westhouse Securities Limited and GGG's
legal advisers are Cobbetts LLP (UK) and Steinepreis Paganin (Australia).
Contacts:
Dr. Jeffrey Malaihollo David McArthur
MD, GGG Resources plc (UK) GGG Resources plc (Australia)
Tel: + 44 1992 531820 Tel: +61 8 9423 3200
Website: www.gggresources.com
Westhouse Securities Limited Collins Stewart Europe Limited (Broker)
(UK Nominated Adviser)
John Prior / Adam Miller
Tom Price / Martin Davison
Tel: + 44 20 7523 8350
Tel: + 44 20 7601 6100
Neil Boom David Brook
MD, Gresham PR Ltd (UK). Professional Public Relations (Australia
media)
Tel: + 44 7866 805 108
T: +61 8 9388 0944/ +61 433 112 936
E: david.brook@ppr.com.au
The Australian Scheme Ratio is calculated as follows:
Ratio = R = AZX Share Scheme Consideration / the number of AZX Shares held by
AZX Scheme Shareholders on the Record Date
AZX Share Scheme Consideration = A (being the total number of BBG Shares on
issue immediately after the Implementation Date) x C
Where:
A = B / (1-C)
B = the total number of BBG Shares on issue immediately prior to the Implementation Date
C = (0.5 x ((D-E)/D)), being an adjustment to allow for any AZX Shares held by GGG on the Record Date
D = the total number of AZX Shares on issue on the Record Date
E = the total number of AZX Shares held by GGG on the Record Date
As a worked example:
Assuming on the Record Date there are on issue 95.1 million AZX Shares (of
which GGG holds 8 million AZX Shares, ie 8.4%), and immediately prior to the
Implementation Date there are 165.7 million BBG Shares on issue:
A = 305.7 million
B = 165.7 million
C = 0.46
D = 95.1 million
E = 8 million
AZX Share Scheme Consideration = 140 million
R = 1.47
In this example, AZX Scheme Shareholders will be issued with 1.47 BBG Shares
for every 1 AZX Share they hold on the Record Date.
Former GGG shareholders will hold 54.2% of BBG shares.
END
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