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METAL STORM LIMITED
ACN 064 270 006
Page 1 of 3
Metal Storm secures $US35M equity and debt placement
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA – 22 October 2009: Metal Storm Limited (ASX trading code: MST, OTC trading
code MTSXY).
Australian weapons developer Metal Storm Limited is pleased to announce that it has
secured an equity and debt placement of up to $US35 million from international investment
company Assure Fast Holdings Limited BVI (AFHL). The negotiations were completed in
Hong Kong with AFHL and its bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Metal Storm CEO, Dr Lee Finniear, said the Company signed a subscription agreement for
the issue of a total of 1,000,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares and 100,000,000 Options for
$US17.5 million with AFHL on 19 October 2009.
“The equity issue will be in two tranches. The first tranche of 110,000,000 shares for
$US1.925 million will be subscribed on 3 November 2009 upon receipt of those funds,” he
said.
“The second tranche of 890,000,000 shares and 100,000,000 Options for $US15.575 million
is subject to shareholder approval.”
Subject to certain adjustments in certain circumstances, each Option entitles AFHL to
subscribe for one share at an exercise price of A$0.06 per Option at any time within three
years after its issue. They are transferable, but will not be quoted on ASX.
Dr Finniear said that, in addition and subject to agreement of final terms, AFHL intends to
lend a further $US17.5 million to the Company. The terms of this loan are yet to be
finalised, and a further announcement in relation to it will be made in due course.
The loan will be subject to the issue of both tranches of equity, and will also require
noteholder approval.
AFHL has advised the balance of the equity subscription moneys and the loan moneys
(totalling $US33.075 million) will be deposited into a joint bank account and will not be
released to Metal Storm until the necessary shareholder and noteholder approvals are
obtained. The Company will convene these meetings as soon as practicable.
Metal Storm Chairman Terry O’Dwyer welcomed AFHL as a major shareholder and said that
he was delighted that the Chairman of AFHL, Mr. Robert Rivero, was enthusiastic about the
technology and committed to the production and successful sale of Metal Storm’s weapon
systems.
“Mr Rivero has offered great support to the Company in the capital injection and further
intends to assist the Company to market into the Asia Pacific region where AFHL knows the
market well,” he said.
Mr O’Dwyer thanked Metal Storm shareholders for their support of a Share Purchase Plan
(SPP) earlier this year, which raised more than A$2.6 million for the Company.
“Without the SPP the Company could not have finalized negotiations for the capital
injection,” he said.
“The Company operating cash burn is expected to remain within the current expenditure
levels, plus fund essential qualification and business development requirements.”
Mr Rivero said AFHL’s investment in Metal Storm would be very positive for both companies.
“As a principal investor, fund manager and capital market participant, AFHL is satisfied with
the progress and direction of Metal Storm, and it intends to be a long-term passive
investor,” he said.
“A patient capital approach has been a good strategy for my companies, and we intend to
apply that to Metal Storm.”
Mr Rivero said he looked forward to assisting the development of marketing and sales,
particularly in those markets where he had strong contacts and relationships including
Europe, Vietnam, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
“This will be a positive extension of the relationships that Metal Storm already has in the
USA, which we see as being even more important and achievable.,” he said.
ENDS
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