Ascent Resources plc
("Ascent" or the "Company")
Results of Open Offer and General Meeting
Ascent Resources plc, the AIM listed European oil and gas exploration and production company, is pleased to report the results of the Open Offer that was announced on 12 April 2013, and the approval of all resolutions put to shareholders at the General Meeting of the Company held today.
Highlights:
· £5.5 million raised pursuant to Subscription and Open Offer following Shareholder approval at General Meeting.
· Applications received for 125,477,880 Offer Shares and 394,414 Offer Loan Notes, representing a take-up rate of 40.9 per cent.
· Following completion of the Open Offer, Henderson Global Investors Limited and Henderson Alternative Investment Advisor Limited (together, "Henderson") will be interested in 151,601,970 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each ("Ordinary Shares"), representing 13.2 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital, and hold approximately £4.5 million of Convertible Loan Notes, which, if fully converted, would mean Henderson would hold approximately 51.2 per cent. of the total voting rights of Ascent.
· John Kenny, Scott Richardson Brown and Graham Cooper step down from Board, Clive Carver is now Chairman of the Company
Results of General Meeting and Open Offer
At the General Meeting of the Company held today, all resolutions put to shareholders were duly passed. A breakdown of the proxies lodged prior to the General Meeting in respect of resolutions 1 and 3 is summarised below:
Resolution |
For |
Against |
Resolution 1 |
99.89% |
0.11% |
Resolution 3 |
99.89% |
0.11% |
Resolution 2, as required by the Takeover Code was conducted by way of a poll of Independent Shareholders. The results of the poll are summarised below:
|
For |
Against |
Resolution 2 |
99.95% |
0.05% |
In relation to the Open Offer announced on 12 April 2013, the Company has received valid acceptances in respect of 125,477,880 Offer Shares and 394,414 Offer Loan Notes from Qualifying Shareholders, representing a take-up rate of 40.9 per cent. Therefore, pursuant to the Open Offer, 125,477,880 New Ordinary Shares will be issued to those Qualifying Shareholders who opted for Offer Shares.
Following issue of the New Ordinary Shares, Henderson will, in aggregate hold 151,601,970 Ordinary Shares representing 13.2 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital. Pursuant to its underwriting commitment, Henderson now holds approximately £4.5 million of Convertible Loan Notes, which, if fully converted, would mean Henderson would hold 1,047,241,366 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 51.2 per cent. of the total voting rights of Ascent.
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the New Ordinary Shares, which rank pari passu with the Company's Exsisting Ordinary Shares, to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will become effective and that dealings will commence in the New Ordinary Shares at 8:00 a.m. on 7 May 2013.
Total Voting Rights
Following the issue of New Ordinary Shares, the Company will have 1,150,987,602 Ordinary Shares in issue. There are no shares held in treasury. The total voting rights in the Company is therefore 1,150,987,602 and Shareholders may use this figure as the denominator by which they are required to notify their interest in, or change to their interest in, the Company under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
General
Capitalised terms in this announcement, unless the context requires otherwise, shall have the same definition as in the circular to shareholders on 12 April 2013.
For further information please contact:
Enquiries:
Ascent Resources plc
Clive Carver (Chairman)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7251 4905
finnCap (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Matt Goode / Charlotte Stranner |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Press Enquiries - Cardew Group
Anthony Cardew/Alexandra Stoneham |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 0777
