This
announcement contains inside information for the purposes of
Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms
part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with
the Company's obligations under Article 17 of
MAR
23rd
January 2025
Wishbone Gold
Plc
("Wishbone" or the
"Company")
Index:
AIM & AQSE: WSBN /
Sector: Natural Resources
Strategic Update, Potential
Reverse Takeover and Suspension of Trading on AIM and
AQSE
Further to the announcement by the
Company on 26th November 2024 in which it said it would
be looking to expand its field of operations, Wishbone announces
that it has signed non-binding Heads of Terms ("HoT") for the
acquisition by Wishbone of Evrensel Global Natural Resources Ltd
("EGNR") its subsidiaries and associated projects ("Potential
Transaction"). This is part of a major restructuring of Wishbone
which may include the disposal of some assets and the closure of
various subsidiaries.
Given the nature of this
restructuring this constitutes a reverse takeover under Rule 14 of
the AIM Rules for Companies and also under the Rules of the
AQSE Growth Market Access Rule Book (AQSE
Rules); accordingly the Company's shares
will be suspended from trading.
Strategic Update
In the light of Market conditions
for small mineral exploration companies raising money on the Market
to support their ongoing operational needs, the Board has come to
the decision that its existing operations in Australia do not, in
their present state, form a financially viable basis for the
Company's listing. Therefore, the Board has determined to undertake
with immediate effect a major restructuring of Wishbone which may
include the disposal of some assets and the closure of various
subsidiaries. Further information will be announced as
required.
Rationale for the Potential Transaction
The combination with EGNR will
provide the Company with the opportunity to expand its operational
activities across a wide range of related sectors harnessing the
deep natural resources sector knowledge and expertise of the EGNR
management team and projects that are already in place. This in
turn should lead to value accretion for the enlarged business and
its shareholders.
EGNR has interests and access to
transactions which span a broad range of mineral exploration and
trading activities primarily in North Africa and southern Africa.
These include trading, investment (to secure future supplies for
customers), financial support for artisanal miners and funding for
mineral resource certification.
The enlarged group will benefit from
EGNR's experienced management team who have global operational
experience and reach, plus in-house specialists who can assist in
arranging funding, project finance or otherwise.
The principal geographic focus of
the expanded group will be in Africa but it will retain Wishbone's
valuable assets in Australia.
As part of the acquisition and
reverse merger process approval of the Company's shareholders in a
general meeting will be required under the AIM Rules and under the
AQSE Rules. As such, a further announcement with full details of
the transaction will be issued at the appropriate time once binding
contracts are entered into and an admission document published and
sent to shareholders with a notice of general meeting.
At
this stage the Potential Transaction is non-binding and subject to
due diligence, funding and other material considerations and there
is no certainty that it will be completed and the timing thereof
cannot be determined.
Heads of Terms
The heads of terms are non-binding
and subject to definitive agreement, due diligence and compliance
with the AIM Rules and the AQSE Rules.
Whilst the terms are yet to be
defined, it is contemplated that ownership of the Company post
transaction will be 70% for the current shareholders of EGNR and
30% the current shareholders of WSBN.
EGNR is a private company registered
in Gibraltar wholly owned by the Chairman of Wishbone, Anthony
Moore. As such were the Potential Transaction to proceed the
Company will need to comply with the requirements of AIM Rule 13
and the AQSE Rules regarding Related Party Transactions. EGNR was
incorporated on 15 July 2024 and has yet to prepare any financial
statements.
Anthony Moore, Chairman of Wishbone,
commented: "The Potential
Transaction will be transformational for the Company and is a
really exciting opportunity. We believe that Evrensel's skills and
expertise in the mining, and, resources fields and additional
revenue flow and will provide the platform for future growth and
opportunity."
In accordance with rule 14 of the
AIM Rules for Companies and the AQSE Rules, the Company's shares
have been suspended from trading on AIM and on AQSE with effect
from today. The Company's ordinary shares will remain suspended
until such time as either an admission document is published, or an
announcement is released confirming that the transaction is not
proceeding.
Shareholders should be aware that there is a risk that
AIM will cancel the admission of Company's securities where these
have been suspended from trading for six months.
For more information on Wishbone,
please visit the Company's website.
www.wishbonegold.com.
END
For further information, please
contact:
Wishbone Gold PLC
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Anthony Moore, Chairman
Richard Poulden, Deputy
Chairman
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Tel: +971 4 584 6284
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Beaumont Cornish Limited
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(Nominated Adviser and AQUIS
Exchange Corporate Adviser)
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Roland Cornish/Rosalind Hill
Abrahams
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Tel: +44 20 7628 3396
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Tavira Financial Limited
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(Broker)
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Chris Kipling
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Tel: +44 20 3833 3742
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Soho Communications Ltd
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(Financial PR)
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George Hudson
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Tel: +44 78 0360 3130
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Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's
Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated
Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company
on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM
Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock
Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be
responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded
to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation
to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any
matter referred to in it.