For
immediate release
2 December
2024
NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO
DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON
TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF
THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE
MADE, .
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014 (MAR) AS IT FORMS PART
OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT
2018.
Condor Gold
plc
("Condor" or "the
Company")
Further Statement Re Possible
Offer
The Board of Condor is pleased to
note the announcement made earlier today by Metals Exploration plc
clarifying the terms of a possible offer, which is set out in full
below, and confirms that it continues to be in discussions with
that company as announced earlier.
It is also noted that in relation to
the "irrevocable undertaking" as referred to below, Galloway
Limited has informed the Board of Condor that this was provided in
contemplation of a recommended offer from that party and that until
and unless that is the case, they reserve all their rights in
relation thereto.
The full text of the announcement
referred to above is as follows:
"Metals Exploration plc (AIM: MTL)
("Metals Exploration", "MTL" or the "Company") is pleased to
confirm, further to its announcement earlier today, details of an
irrevocable undertaking received and the proposed consideration in
respect of its Possible Offer. Pursuant to the Possible Offer,
each Condor shareholder would be entitled to fixed consideration
comprising of 4.0526 new ordinary shares of £0.0001 each in the
capital of the Company ("MTL Share") and 9.9p in cash for each
Condor Share held (the "Fixed Consideration").
Based on the closing middle-market
price per MTL Share on 29 November 2024 (being the
last Business Day prior to this announcement), the Fixed
Consideration values Condor's existing issued ordinary share
capital at approximately £67.5 million, representing approximately
33.0p per Condor Share.
In addition, pursuant to the terms
of the Possible Offer, each Condor Shareholder would be entitled to
receive one Contingent Value Right (the "CVR") (the "CVR
Consideration"), which would entitle them to their pro
rata share of US$18.00 per ounce (to be paid in pounds
sterling at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment) of
additional contained gold JORC Mineral Resource discovered in
excess of Condor's base case Mineral Resource Estimate at the
Condor Group's La India, Rio Luna and Estrella
projects (the "Gold Projects") (subject to a cap
of 1.6Moz), over the five-year period following
the earlier of (i) the first date upon which a suitable
drilling rig to carry out certain agreed work commitments has been
mobilised to the La India Project (as agreed with an independent
CVR representative); and (ii) six months following the proposed
scheme of arrangement's effective date (or equivalent) (the
"CVR Commencement Date"). Payments due under the CVR would be
settled by way of the issue of either new MTL Shares or loan notes
issued by MTL with a maturity of six months and one day after their
date of issue (the "Loan Notes"), or a combination thereof, at
MTL's sole election, following the third and fifth anniversary of
the CVR Commencement Date.
Accordingly, the maximum potential
CVR Consideration payable pursuant to the Possible Offer, would
amount to US$28.8 million (approximately £22.6 million at the
prevailing exchange rate), representing 11.1p per Condor Share (the
"Maximum CVR Consideration"). Accordingly, the Fixed Consideration
and the Maximum CVR Consideration (at the prevailing exchange
rate), in aggregate, would amount to approximately £90.1 million,
representing approximately 44.1p per Condor
Share.
The CVRs are complex instruments and
a number of factors will determine the amount, if any, that would
ultimately be paid to Condor shareholders by way of the Contingent
Value Rights if the Possible Offer is made on the terms set out
herein.
There can be no certainty that any
firm offer will ultimately be made. This announcement does not
amount to a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the
Code, nor does it impose any obligations on the Company to make an
offer.
Irrevocable Undertaking
Metals Exploration has received an
irrevocable undertaking from Galloway Limited ("Galloway") to vote
(or procure the vote) in favour of, or accept (or procure the
acceptance of) (as applicable), the proposed acquisition by or on
behalf of the Company of all the issued and to be issued shares in
Condor, whether implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement or a
contractual offer (whether on the terms of the Possible Offer or
including any revision or variation in the terms of any such
acquisition which may be made by or on behalf of the Company from
time to time) (the "Acquisition"), provided that the Company has
announced the Acquisition under Rule 2.7 of the Code by 5:00 p.m.
on 4 December 2024 (or such later time and/or date as the Company
and Condor may agree) (the "Irrevocable Undertaking"). In addition,
the Irrevocable Undertaking provides that Galloway shall vote
against any resolution to approve any transaction or other
corporate action which is proposed in competition with, or which
might reasonably be expected to otherwise frustrate, impede or
delay, the Possible Offer.
Galloway is beneficially owned by Mr
Jim Mellon, Non-Executive Chair of Condor. The Irrevocable
Undertaking is in respect of Galloway's entire existing holding of
50,512,597 Condor Shares (representing approximately 24.7% of
Condor's existing issued ordinary share capital), together with any
Condor Shares that would be issued upon the exercise of the 892,857
warrants over Condor Shares which are currently also held by
Galloway (representing approximately a further 0.4% of Condor's
existing issued ordinary share capital). Further details regarding
the irrevocable undertaking are set out in Appendix 1 to this
announcement."
Enquiries:
Condor Gold plc
|
|
Mark Child, CEO
|
Tel: +44 (0)
207 493 2784
|
|
|
Beaumont Cornish Limited
Nominated Adviser
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 628 3396
|
Roland Cornish / James
Biddle
|
|
|
|
SP
Angel Corporate Finance LLP
|
Tel: +44 (0) 203 470 0470
|
Ewan Leggat
|
|
|
|
H&P Advisory Limited
|
Tel: +44 207 907 8500
|
Andrew Chubb, Franck Nganou, Ilya
Demichev
|
|
|
|
Cassiopeia (Investor Relations)
|
Tel: +44 7949690338
|
Stefania Barbaglio
|
|
|
|
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange
nor the London Stock Exchange, nor any other securities regulatory
authority, has approved or disapproved of the contents of this
announcement.
Important information
This announcement which is made
without the consent of MTL is not intended to, and does not,
constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or
solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe
for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities or the
solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction whether
pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.
The distribution of this
announcement in jurisdictions outside the UK may be restricted by
law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement
comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such
restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may
constitute a violation of the securities law of any such
jurisdiction.
Beaumont Cornish ("BCL"), which is
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), is acting as
financial adviser exclusively for Condor and for no one else in
connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and
will not be responsible to anyone other than Condor for providing
the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither
BCL, nor any of its affiliates, owes or accepts any duty, liability
or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether
in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who
is not a client of BCL in connection with this announcement, any
statement contained herein or otherwise.
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP ("SP
Angel"), which is regulated by the FCA, is
acting as adviser exclusively for Condor and for no one else in
connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and
will not be responsible to anyone other than Condor for providing
the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the matters referred to in this announcement.
Neither SP Angel,
nor any of its affiliates, owes or accepts any duty, liability or
responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in
contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is
not a client of SP Angel
in connection with this announcement, any
statement contained herein or otherwise.
H&P Advisory Limited
("H&P"), which is regulated by the FCA, is
acting as adviser exclusively for Condor and for no one else in
connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and
will not be responsible to anyone other than Condor for providing
the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither
H&P, nor any of its affiliates, owes or accepts any duty,
liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect,
whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any
person who is not a client of H&P in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein or
otherwise.
Rule 26.1
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the
Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available (subject
to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted
jurisdictions) on the Condor website (www.Condorgold.com) by no
later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following this
announcement. The content of the website referred to in this
announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of
this announcement.
Rule 2.9
For the purposes of Rule 2.9 of the
Code, the Company confirms that as at the date of this
announcement, the total number of voting rights in the Company is
204,442,778 ordinary shares. The International Securities
Identification Number (ISIN) for the Ordinary Shares is
GB00B8225591.
Rule 2.11
In accordance with Rule 2.11 of the
Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement will be sent to; (i) the
Company's shareholders; and (ii) the Panel, in addition to being
made readily available by the Company to its employees.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any
person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of
relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities
exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in
respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is
likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position
Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if
later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange
offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must
contain details of the person's interests and short positions in,
and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of:
(i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror.
An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a)
applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on
the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer
period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which
any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant
persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company
or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for
making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing
Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any
person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any
class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any
securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the
person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or
of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must
contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's
interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of each of: (i) the offeree company and (ii)
any securities exchange offeror, save to the extent that these
details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing
Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by
no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the business day following
the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together
pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or
informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities
of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will
be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule
8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must
also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror, and Dealing
Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any
offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see
Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror
companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position
Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in
the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of
relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and
when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the
Takeover Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0) 20 7638 0129
if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an
Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
MAR
The information contained within
this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU)
No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The person responsible
for releasing this statement on behalf of the Company is Mark
Child.
ENDS