9 July 2024
KEFI Gold and Copper
plc
("KEFI" or the
"Company")
Modifications
to STI Bonus Plan
KEFI (AIM: KEFI), a gold and copper
exploration and development company focused on the Arabian-Nubian
Shield with a pipeline of projects in the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, announces
that following the results for the year ended 31 December 2023
announcement made on 17 June 2024 detailing, inter alia, cash bonuses to be paid to
the Company's Executive Chairman and Finance Director, on the
achievement of defined and specific milestones in relation to the
Company's Tulu Kapi project, the Directors have received feedback
from certain shareholders that they wish to see the payment of the
bonuses more explicitly aligned to the achievement of shareholder
value.
The Company's Remuneration
Committee, comprising KEFI Non-Executive Directors: Alistair Clark
(Chairman), Mark Tyler and Richard Robinson have considered the
feedback received from shareholders and have agreed to modify the
milestones for the payment of the cash bonuses to the Executive
Chairman and the Finance Director to include a minimum KEFI share
price criteria. Mr Anagnostaras-Adams, Executive Chairman, and Mr
Leach, Finance Director, have agreed to these additional terms to
the Company's Short Term Incentive ("STI") bonus plan.
The other recipient of the Company's
STI bonus plan is KEFI's Chief Operating Officer. The Chief
Operating Officer's cost to the Company is, and in the future is
intended to remain, rechargeable to the Company's operating
subsidiaries. The Company's Remuneration Committee consider
his current remuneration to be at a below normal market level and
his performance should solely be measured by operational
performance and the achievement of specific operational targets, so
no modifications to the milestones for the payment of his cash
bonuses are considered appropriate.
The Remuneration Committee and the
Board appreciate shareholder feedback on these matters and will
continue to consider shareholder representations alongside the
independent market benchmarking undertaken in determining the
appropriate remuneration packages for the Company's
executives.
The milestones for the payment of
the cash bonuses to the Executive Chairman and Finance Director
therefore now include defined minimum share price criteria before
they become payable, in addition to the previously agreed criteria.
The additional criteria have been highlighted below.
Directors
|
STI
1
|
STI
2
|
STI
3
|
Retention
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Executive Chairman
|
400
|
400
|
400
|
185
|
Finance Director
|
400
|
200
|
200
|
100
|
STI Bonus 1: This bonus is awarded
upon the granting of credit approvals by the lenders to the Tulu
Kapi Gold Project. Additionally, STI Bonus 1
will only be paid when the closing mid-price of
the Company's shares is above 1.5p for five consecutive trading
days¹.
STI Bonus 2: Upon project finance
lenders having permitted debt disbursement to commence for Tulu
Kapi and not earlier than 12 months after STI Bonus 1 was
earned. Additionally, STI Bonus 2 will only be paid when the
closing mid-price of the Company's shares is above 2.5p for five
consecutive trading days ¹.
STI Bonus 3: Upon Tulu Kapi having
commenced production and not earlier than 12 months after STI Bonus
2 was earned. Additionally,
STI Bonus 3 will only be
paid when the closing mid-price of the Company's shares is above
3.0p for five consecutive trading days¹.
¹The recipient can elect to take the
STI Bonus in shares or in cash. If in shares, the issue price will
be the VWAP for the month following the achievement of the relevant
Key Milestone. If in cash, the timing of the cash payment will be
subject to cash availability as determined by the Board but in any
event no later than 6 months after the achievement of the relevant
Key Milestone. Other than in the
circumstances of a change of control or cessation of employment,
any shares paid out for the STI Bonus will be subject to a 12 month
lock-in and any cash-paid STI bonus would need to be covered by the
Tulu Kapi project finance package.
Retention Bonus: A Retention Bonus
has been approved by the Board. The disbursement of this bonus will
be at the Board's discretion, with the latest trigger being upon
the grant of final credit approvals by the lenders to the TKGM
project and when sufficient Tulu Kapi development proceeds (either
debt or equity) become available.
This plan supersedes any previously
communicated incentives.
Related Party Transaction
The agreements for the Executive
Chairman and Finance Director relating to the STI cash bonuses and
retention bonus are considered related-party transactions for the
purposes of Rule 13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. The Directors
independent of the STI bonus and retention bonus consider, having
consulted with SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP, the Company's
nominated adviser, that the STI bonus and retention bonus are fair
and reasonable in so far as KEFI's shareholders are
concerned.
Enquiries
KEFI Gold and Copper plc
|
|
Harry Anagnostaras-Adams (Executive
Chairman)
|
+357 99457843
|
John Leach (Finance
Director)
|
+357 99208130
|
|
|
SP
Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Adviser)
|
+44 (0) 20 3470 0470
|
Jeff Keating, Adam Cowl
|
|
|
|
Tavira Financial Limited (Lead Broker)
|
+44 (0) 20 7100 5100
|
Oliver Stansfield, Jonathan
Evans
|
|
|
|
IFC
Advisory Ltd (Financial PR and IR)
|
+44 (0) 20 3934 6630
|
Tim Metcalfe, Florence
Chandler
|
|
|
|
3PPB LLC (Institutional IR)
|
|
Patrick Chidley
|
+1 (917) 991 7701
|
Paul Durham
|
+1-203-940-2538
|