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 THAT
JURISDICTION.
THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT
FALLING 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 AND THERE CAN
BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE, EVEN IF ANY
PRE-CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED OR WAIVED.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS
INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET
ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO.596/2014 AS AMENDED AND TRANSPOSED INTO UK
LAW IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018
("UK MAR").
UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE THIS INSIDE
INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC
DOMAIN.
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Hummingbird Resources plc / Ticker:
HUM / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining
04 December
2024
Hummingbird Resources
plc
("Hummingbird", the "Group" or the
"Company")
Extension of PUSU Deadline under Rule 2.6(c) of
the Code
On 6 November 2024, the Board of Hummingbird
(the "Board") announced that it had received a proposal from Nioko
Resources Corporation ("Nioko") and CIG SA ("CIG") for a
debt-to-equity conversion by CIG, whereby the principal amount
outstanding under the New CIG Loan would be converted into new
ordinary shares in the capital of the Company to be issued to CIG's
subsidiary, Nioko, at a conversion price of 2.6777 pence per
Ordinary Share (the "Debt-to-Equity Conversion"), and possible cash
offer for the entire issued ordinary share capital of the Company
that it does not hold at a price of 2.6777 pence per Ordinary share
(the "Offer Price").
Nioko and CIG are required, by no later than
5.00 p.m. (London time) on 4 December 2024 (the "PUSU Deadline"),
to either announce a firm intention to make an offer ("Possible
Offer") for Hummingbird in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or
announce that they do not intend to make an offer for Hummingbird,
in which case the announcement would be treated as a statement to
which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.
Nioko and CIG have confirmed that the due
diligence exercise referenced in Hummingbird's announcement on 6
November 2024 is progressing and discussions between Hummingbird,
CIG and Nioko remain ongoing.
In accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code, the
Board has requested, and the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the
"Panel") has consented to, an extension to the deadline by which
Nioko and CIG are required either to announce a firm intention to
make an offer for Hummingbird in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Code or to announce that they does not intend to make an offer,
until 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 3 January 2025 (the "Revised PUSU
Deadline"). The Revised PUSU Deadline may only be extended with the
agreement of Hummingbird and the Panel in accordance with Rule
2.6(c) of the Code.
In accordance with Rule 2.5(a) of the Code,
Nioko reserves the right to make an offer for the Company at a
lower value than the Offer Price: (i) with the agreement or
recommendation of the Board of the Company; or (ii) if a third
party announces a firm intention to make an offer for the Company
which, at that date, is of a value less than the value of the Offer
Price. If the Company declares, makes or pays any further dividend
or distribution or other return of value or payment to its
shareholders, Nioko reserves the right to make an equivalent
reduction to the Offer Price. Nioko reserves the right to vary the
form and / or mix of the consideration it would offer. Nioko
further reserves the right to waive any of the pre-conditions to
the Possible Offer referred to above or to subject the Possible
Offer to additional conditions or pre-conditions.
This statement is being made by Hummingbird
with the approval of Nioko and CIG. While discussions are ongoing,
there is no certainty that a firm offer will be made, even if any
pre-conditions are satisfied or waived. A further announcement will
be made as and when appropriate. Shareholders of Hummingbird
Resources are strongly advised not to take any action at this
time.
Capitalised terms in this announcement, unless
otherwise defined, have the same meaning given to them in the
announcement issued by the Company on 6 November 2024.
**ENDS**
Notes to Editors:
Hummingbird
Resources plc (AIM: HUM) is a leading multi-asset,
multi-jurisdiction gold producing company, member of the World Gold
Council and founding member of Single Mine Origin
(www.singlemineorigin.com).
The Company currently has two core gold projects, the operational
Yanfolila Gold Mine in Mali, and the Kouroussa Gold Mine in Guinea,
which will more than double current gold production once at
commercial production. Furthermore, the Company has a controlling
interest in the Dugbe Gold Project in Liberia that is being
developed by joint venture partners, Pasofino Gold Limited. The
final feasibility results on Dugbe showcase 2.76Moz in Reserves and
strong economics such as a 3.5-year capex payback period once in
production, and a 14-year life of mine at a low AISC profile. Our
vision is to continue to grow our asset base, producing profitable
ounces, while central to all we do being our Environmental, Social
& Governance ("ESG") policies and practices.
For further information, please
visit Hummingbirdresources.co.uk or
contact:
Geoff Eyre, Interim
CEO
Thomas Hill,
FD
Edward Montgomery,
CD
|
Hummingbird Resources
plc
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409
6660
|
Callum
Stewart
Varun
Talwar
|
Stifel Nicolaus Europe
Joint Financial
Adviser
|
Tel: +44
(0) 20 7710 7600
|
James
Spinney
James Dance
Ritchie
Balmer
David
Asquith
|
Strand Hanson
Limited
Nominated Adviser
& Joint Financial Adviser
|
Tel: +44
(0) 20 7409 3494
|
James
Asensio
Charlie Hammond
|
Canaccord Genuity
Limited
Broker
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523
8000
|
Bobby Morse
Oonagh
Reidy
George Pope
|
Buchanan (PR Adviser
to Hummingbird Resources plc)
Financial
PR/IR
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20
7466 5000
Email: HUM@buchanan.uk.com
|
Jos Simson
Gareth
Tredway
|
Tavistock (PR
Adviser to Nioko Resources Corporation)
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920
3150
|
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
Stifel Nicolaus Europe ("Stifel"), which is
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the
United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Hummingbird and for no
one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement
and will not be responsible to anyone other than Hummingbird for
providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing
advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement.
Neither Stifel, 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 Stifel in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein or
otherwise.
Strand Hanson Limited ("Strand Hanson"), which
is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in
the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Hummingbird and for
no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Hummingbird for providing the protections afforded to its clients
or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in
this announcement. Neither Strand Hanson, 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 Strand Hanson in connection with this announcement, any
statement contained herein or otherwise.
Canaccord Genuity Limited ("Canaccord"), which
is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in
the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Hummingbird and for
no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Hummingbird for providing the protections afforded to its clients
or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in
this announcement. Neither Canaccord, 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
Canaccord in connection with this announcement, any statement
contained herein or otherwise.
Publication on
website
Pursuant to Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of
this Announcement and other documents in connection with the
Possible Offer will, subject to certain restrictions, be available
for inspection by Hummingbird on its website at
https://www.Hummingbird.co.uk/investors/possible-offer/ no later
than 12 noon (London time) on the day following this Announcement.
The contents of the websites referred to in this Announcement are
not incorporated into, and do not form part of, this
Announcement.
Disclosure
requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who
is interested in 1% 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(s). 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% 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.