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REG - CleanTech Lithium - Open Offer, Posting of Circular & GM Notice

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RNS Number : 3943U  CleanTech Lithium PLC  23 November 2023

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW
ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

 

 

23(rd) November 2023

 

CleanTech Lithium PLC

("CleanTech Lithium" or "CTL" or the "Company")

Open Offer Details, Posting of Circular and Notice of General Meeting

 

CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration
and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile for
the clean energy transition, is pleased to announce that further to its
announcements of 21 and 22 November 2023 in relation to the Placing, CTL is
today posting a circular to Shareholders, setting out details of the Placing
and the Open Offer and including a notice of General Meeting ("GM") (the
"Circular").

As announced on 22 November 2023, CleanTech Lithium has conditionally raised
£8 million (before expenses) by way of a placing of 36,363,638 New Ordinary
Shares at a price of 22 pence per Placing Share. Approximately £3.1 million
has been raised pursuant to the Firm Placing with the balance being raised
under the Conditional Placing, conditional upon Shareholders approving the
Resolutions at the GM, notice of which is set out at the end of the Circular.

The Placing Shares carry a warrant entitlement of one Warrant for every two
Placing Shares and the grant of the Warrants attaching to the Conditional
Placing Shares is also subject to Shareholder approval of the relevant
Resolution.  A Warrant grants the holder the right to subscribe for one new
Ordinary Share at 33 pence and is exercisable during the period commencing on
the date of grant and ending on 14 December 2026.

Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement shall have the
meaning given to them in the announcement published by the Company on 21
November 2023 in connection with the Fundraising.

Details of the Open Offer

The Company considers it important that Qualifying Shareholders have an
opportunity (where it is practicable for them to do so) to participate in the
Fundraising and accordingly the Company is making the Open Offer to Qualifying
Shareholders. The Company is proposing to raise up to approximately £0.5
million (before expenses) through the issue of up to 2,365,188 Open Offer
Shares. The Open Offer is conditional upon, inter alia, the passing of the
Resolutions at the GM.

The Open Offer Shares are available to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the
Open Offer at the Issue Price of 22 pence per share, being the same price per
share as the Placing. Open Offer Shares carry a warrant entitlement of one
Warrant for every two Open Offer Shares, again on the same terms as the
Placing.

A Warrant grants the holder the right to subscribe for one new Ordinary Share
at 33 pence and is exercisable during the period commencing on the date of
grant and ending on 14 December 2026.

Open Offer Shares applied for pursuant to the Open Offer are payable in full
on acceptance. Any Open Offer Shares not subscribed for by Qualifying
Shareholders will be available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess
Application Facility. Qualifying Shareholders may apply for Open Offer Shares
under the Open Offer at the Issue Price on the following basis:

1 Open Offer Share for every 45 Existing Ordinary Shares held by the Qualifying Shareholder on the Record Date

Entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders will be rounded down to the nearest
whole number of Open Offer Shares. The Entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders
to Warrants will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Warrants.
Fractional entitlements which would otherwise arise will not be issued to the
Qualifying Shareholders but will be made available under the Excess
Application Facility. The Excess Application Facility enables Qualifying
Shareholders to apply for Excess Open Offer Shares in excess of their Open
Offer Entitlement. Not all Shareholders will be Qualifying Shareholders.
Shareholders who are located in, or are citizens of, or have a registered
office in certain overseas jurisdictions will not qualify to participate in
the Open Offer. The attention of Overseas Shareholders is drawn to paragraph 6
of Part III of the Circular.

Valid applications by Qualifying Shareholders will be satisfied in full up to
their Open Offer Entitlements as shown on the Application Form. Applicants can
apply for less or more than their entitlements under the Open Offer but the
Company cannot guarantee that any application for Excess Open Offer Shares
under the Excess Application Facility will be satisfied as this will depend in
part on the extent to which other Qualifying Shareholders apply for less than
or more than their own Open Offer Entitlements. The Company may satisfy valid
applications for Excess Open Offer Shares of applicants in whole or in part
but reserves the right not to satisfy any excess above any Open Offer
Entitlement. Applications made under the Excess Application Facility will be
scaled back pro rata to the number of shares applied for if applications are
received from Qualifying Shareholders for more than the available number of
Excess Open Offer Shares.

Application has been made for the Open Offer Entitlements to be admitted to
CREST. It is expected that such Open Offer Entitlements will be credited to
CREST on 24 November 2023. The Open Offer Entitlements will be enabled for
settlement in CREST until 11.00 a.m. on 13 December 2023. Applications through
the CREST system may only be made by the Qualifying CREST Shareholder
originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of bona fidemarket
claims. The Open Offer Shares must be paid in full on application. The latest
time and date for receipt of completed Application Forms or CREST applications
and payment in respect of the Open Offer is 11.00 a.m. on 13 December 2023.
The Open Offer is not being made to certain Overseas Shareholders, as set out
in paragraph 6 of Part III of the Circular.

Qualifying Shareholders should note that the Open Offer is not a rights issue
and therefore Open Offer Entitlements may not be traded and the Open Offer
Shares which are not applied for by Qualifying Shareholders will not be sold
in the market for the benefit of the Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply
under the Open Offer. The Application Form is not a document of title and
cannot be traded or otherwise transferred.

Further details of the Open Offer and the terms and conditions on which it is
being made, including the procedure for application and payment, are contained
in Part III of the Circular and on the accompanying Application Form.

The Open Offer is conditional on, inter alia, Shareholders approving the
Resolutions at the General Meeting and the Placing becoming or being declared
unconditional in all respects. Accordingly, if these conditions are not
satisfied or waived (where capable of waiver), the Open Offer will not
proceed, and the Open Offer Shares will not be issued, and all monies received
by the Registrars will be returned to the applicants (at the applicant's risk
and without interest) as soon as possible thereafter. Any Open Offer
Entitlements admitted to CREST will thereafter be disabled.

 

Posting of the Circular

The Circular is being posted today and a copy of it as well as (for Qualifying
Non-CREST Shareholders) an Open Offer Application Form will shortly be made
available on the Company's website at https://ctlithium.com/
(https://ctlithium.com/) .

 

Notice of General Meeting

The Company's General Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on 14 December 2023 at
the offices at de Carteret House, 7 Castle Street, St Helier JE2 3BT.

 

The Expected Timetable of Principal Events is set out in Appendix 1 of this
Announcement whilst the Placing and Open Offer Statistics as well as the
Chairman's Letter, as extracted from the Circular, are set out in Appendices 2
and 3 respectively.

 

 

 

 

 **ENDS**

For further information contact:

 CleanTech Lithium PLC
 Aldo Boitano/Gordon Stein                     Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321

                                               Chile office: +562-32239222
                                               Or via Celicourt
 Celicourt Communications                      +44 (0) 20 7770 6424
 Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani  cleantech@celicourt.uk

 Dr. Reuter Investor Relations                 +49 69 1532 5857

 Dr. Eva Reuter

 Harbor Access - North America                 +1 475 477 9401

 Jonathan Paterson/Lisa Micali

 Porter Novelli - Chile                        +569 95348744

 Ernesto Escobar                               Ernesto@publicoporternovelli.cl

 Beaumont Cornish Limited

 (Nominated Adviser)                           +44 (0) 207 628 3396

 Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak

 Fox-Davies Capital Limited                    +44 (0) 20 3884 8450

 (Joint Broker)

 Daniel Fox-Davies                             daniel@fox-davies.com (mailto:daniel@fox-davies.com)

 Canaccord Genuity Limited                     +44 (0) 207 523 4680

 (Joint Broker)

 James Asensio

 George Grainger

 Sam Lucas

CleanTech Lithium PLC

 

Aldo Boitano/Gordon Stein

Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321

Chile office: +562-32239222

 

Or via Celicourt

 

Celicourt Communications

+44 (0) 20 7770 6424

 

Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani

cleantech@celicourt.uk

 

 

Dr. Reuter Investor Relations

Dr. Eva Reuter

 

Harbor Access - North America

Jonathan Paterson/Lisa Micali

 

Porter Novelli - Chile

Ernesto Escobar

 

Beaumont Cornish Limited

(Nominated Adviser)

Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak

 

+49 69 1532 5857

 

 

+1 475 477 9401

 

 

+569 95348744

Ernesto@publicoporternovelli.cl

 

 

+44 (0) 207 628 3396

 

 

Fox-Davies Capital Limited

(Joint Broker)

Daniel Fox-Davies

 

Canaccord Genuity Limited

(Joint Broker)

James Asensio

George Grainger

Sam Lucas

 

+44 (0) 20 3884 8450

 

daniel@fox-davies.com (mailto:daniel@fox-davies.com)

 

+44 (0) 207 523 4680

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes

 

About CleanTech Lithium

CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and
development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile for the
clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is
to produce material quantities of battery grade using sustainable Direct
Lithium Extraction technology, powered by renewable energy, the Company plan
to be the leading supplier of 'green' lithium to the EV and battery
manufacturing market.

CleanTech Lithium has four lithium projects - Laguna Verde, Francisco Basin,
Llamara and Salar de Atacama - located in the lithium triangle, the world's
centre for battery grade lithium production. The two major projects: Laguna
Verde and Francisco Basin are situated within basins controlled by the
Company, which affords significant potential development and operational
advantages. All four projects have direct access to existing infrastructure
and renewable power.

CleanTech Lithium is committed to using renewable power for processing and
reducing the environmental impact of its lithium production by utilising
Direct Lithium Extraction. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative
technology which removes lithium from brine, with higher recoveries and
purities. The method offers short development lead times, low upfront capex,
with no extensive site construction and no evaporation pond development so
there is no water depletion from the aquifer. www.ctlithium.com
(http://www.ctlithium.com/)

 

Important Notice

This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" which include all
statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without
limitation, those regarding the Company's financial position, business
strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, or any
statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "targets",
"believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates",
"would", "could" or similar expressions or negatives thereof. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other important factors beyond the Company's control that could cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to be materially
different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future
business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in
the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this
document. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with
regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which
any such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law or
the AIM Rules.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or
estimate of the future financial performance of the Company or any other
person following the implementation of the Placing or otherwise.

 

The price of shares and the income from them may go down as well as up and
investors may not get back the full amount invested on disposal of the shares.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons who require
advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

 

The distribution of this announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares
in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by
the Company or the Joint Bookrunners that would permit an offering of such
shares or possession or distribution of this announcement or any other
offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction
where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this
announcement comes are required by the Company and the Joint Bookrunners to
inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

 

This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or
in part, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan or
the Republic of South Africa or any jurisdiction into which the publication
or distribution would be unlawful. This announcement is for information
purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the
solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire shares in the capital of the
Company in  Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South
Africa or any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be
unlawful or require preparation of any prospectus or other offer documentation
or would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or
indirectly, in or into the United States of America.  This announcement is
not an offer of securities for sale into the United States.  The securities
referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under
the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold
in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from
registration.  No public offering of securities is being made in the United
States.

 

Fox-Davies Capital Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA in
the United Kingdom and is acting as joint bookrunner exclusively for the
Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and will not be
responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Placing or any other matters referred to in this announcement.

 

Canaccord Genuity Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA in
the United Kingdom and is acting as joint bookrunner exclusively for the
Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and will not be
responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Placing or any other matters referred to in this announcement.

Beaumont Cornish Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United
Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as nominated adviser
to the Company in relation to the Placing and is not acting for any other
persons in relation to the Placing. Beaumont Cornish Limited is acting
exclusively for the Company and for no one else in relation to the
matters described in this announcement and is not advising any other person
and accordingly will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Beaumont Cornish Limited, or
for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any
matter referred to in it.

 

 

 

Appendix 1
 
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
                                                                                 2023
 Announcement of the Fundraising                                                 21 November
 Announcement of Results of the Placing                                          22 November
 First Admission and dealings in the Firm Placing Shares                         27 November
 CREST accounts credited in respect of Firm Placing Shares and attached                                                27 November
 Warrants in uncertificated form
 Record Date for entitlement under the Open Offer                                6.00 p.m. 21 November
 Publication of this document, Proxy Form and, to Qualifying                     23 November

Non-Crest Shareholders, the Application Form
 Ex-entitlement date of the Open Offer                                           23 November
 Open Offer Entitlements and Excess Open Offer Entitlements                      as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. on 24 November

credited to stock accounts in CREST of Qualifying CREST Shareholders
 Latest recommended time and date for requested withdrawal of Open Offer         4:30 p.m. on 7 December
 Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer

Entitlements from CREST
 Latest time and date for depositing Open Offer Entitlements                     3.00 p.m. on 8 December

and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements in CREST
 Latest time and date for splitting of Application Forms under the Open Offer    3.00 p.m. on 11 December
 Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy and CREST voting             10.00 a.m. on 12 December
 instructions
 Latest time and date for receipt of Application Forms and                       11.00 a.m. on 13 December

payment in full under the Open Offer and settlement of relevant CREST
 instructions (as appropriate)
 General Meeting                                                                 10 a.m. on 14 December
 Results of the General Meeting and the Open Offer announced                     14 December
 Second Admission and dealings in the Open Offer Shares and Conditional Placing  8.00 a.m. on 15 December
 Shares expected to commence on AIM
 Where applicable, expected date for CREST accounts to be credited in respect    15 December
 of Conditional Placing Shares, Open Offer Shares and attached Warrants in
 uncertificated form
 Where applicable, expected date for despatch of definitive                      within 14 days of

certificates for Conditional Placing Shares, Open Offer Shares and attached
Second Admission
 Warrants

in certificated form
 Notes:

 1.       Each of the above times and/or dates is subject to change at
 the absolute discretion of the Company, Beaumont Cornish Limited, Canaccord
 Genuity Limited and Fox-Davies Capital Limited. If any of the above times
 and/or dates should change, the revised times and/or dates will be announced
 through the Regulatory News Service.

 2.       All of the above times refer to London time unless otherwise
 stated.

 3.       All events listed in the above timetable following the General
 Meeting are conditional on the passing of the Resolutions at the General
 Meeting

 

Appendix 2

PLACING AND OPEN OFFER STATISTICS
 Issue Price                                                                   22 pence
 Number of Existing Ordinary Shares at the date of this document               106,433,500
 Number of Firm Placing Shares                                                 14,124,466
 Number of Ordinary Shares in issue following First Admission                  120,557,966
 Number of Warrants to be issued following First Admission                     7,062,233
 Number of Conditional Placing Shares**                                        22,239,172
 Total number of Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares(**)        36,363,638
 Open Offer basic entitlement                                                  1 Open Offer Share for every 45 Existing Ordinary Shares held as at the Record
                                                                               Date
 Number of Open Offer Shares (in aggregate)* **                                2,365,188
 Number of Ordinary Shares in issue following Second Admission* **             145,162,326
 Number of Warrants to be issued following Second Admission* **                12,302,180
 Total number of Warrants to be issued pursuant to the Firm Placing, the       19,364,413
 Conditional Placing and the Open Offer* **
 Percentage of Enlarged Share Capital represented by the New Ordinary Shares*  27 per cent
 **
 Gross proceeds of the Firm Placing                                            £3.1 million
 Gross proceeds of the Conditional Placing **                                  £4.9 million
 Gross proceeds of the Open Offer* **                                          £0.5 million
 Estimated gross proceeds of the Placing and Open Offer receivable by the      £8.5 million
 Company* **
 Ordinary Share ISIN                                                           JE00BPCP3Z37
 Basic Open Offer Entitlements ISIN                                            JE00BLFDH876
 Excess Open Offer Entitlements ISIN                                           JE00BLFDH983
 Warrant ISIN                                                                  JE00BLFDJM55
 * Assuming take-up in full of the Open Offer by Qualifying Shareholders

 ** Conditional on the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting

 

Appendix 3

EXTRACT FROM THE COMPANY'S CIRCULAR TO SHAREHOLDERS

 
PART I

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF CLEANTECH LITHIUM PLC

CleanTech Lithium plc

(incorporated in Jersey under the Companies Law with registered no: 139640)

 

 Directors:                                                         Registered Office:

 Steve Kesler (Executive Chairman)                                  de Carteret House

 Aldo Boitano (Chief Executive Officer)                             7 Castle Street

 Gordon Stein (Chief Financial Officer)                             St Helier, Jersey

 Jonathan Morley-Kirk (Senior Independent Non-Executive Director)   JE2 3BT

 Maha Daoudi (Non-Executive Director)

 Tommy McKeith (Non-Executive Director)

 

23 November 2023
Dear Shareholders and, for information purposes only, to the holders of options and warrants over Ordinary Shares,

 

 

Placing of  36,363,638 New Ordinary Shares (and Warrants)

at 22 pence per share

Open Offer of 2,365,188 New Ordinary Shares (and Warrants)

at 22 pence per share

and

Notice of General Meeting
1.           Introduction and summary

 

The Company announced on 22 November 2023 that it has conditionally raised £8
million (before expenses) by way of a placing of 36,363,638 New Ordinary
Shares at a price of 22 pence per Placing Share.

Approximately £3.1 million has been raised pursuant to the Firm Placing with
the balance being raised conditional upon Shareholders approving the
Resolutions at a general meeting, notice of which is set out at the end of
this document, that will inter alia grant to the Directors the authority to
allot the Conditional Placing Shares for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis.

The Placing Shares carry a warrant entitlement of one Warrant for every two
Placing Shares. The grant of the Warrants attaching to the Conditional Placing
Shares is subject to Shareholder approval.  A Warrant grants the holder the
right to subscribe for one new Ordinary Share at 33 pence and is exercisable
during the period commencing on the date of grant and ending on 14 December
2026.

The Board recognises and is grateful for the support that it has received from
Shareholders and is also offering all Qualifying Shareholders the opportunity
to participate in an Open Offer at a price of 22 pence per Ordinary Share,
being the same price per Ordinary Shares as the Placing. The Open Offer Shares
will also carry a warrant entitlement of one Warrant for every two Open Offer
Shares, and these will be granted on the same terms and conditions as the
Warrants granted pursuant to the Placing. The Open Offer is conditional upon
Shareholders approving the Resolutions at the General Meeting.

The Open Offer will raise up to about £0.5 million (assuming full take up of
the Open Offer). The Open Offer is in addition to and separate from the funds
raised pursuant to the Placing. The Open Offer is not being underwritten.

The Issue Price represents a discount of 15 per cent. to the closing middle
market price of 26 pence per Ordinary Share on 20 November 2023, being the
last practicable date prior to the Launch Announcement. The Firm Placing
Shares will represent approximately 12 per cent. of the Company's enlarged
issued ordinary share capital after the issue of the Firm Placing Shares but
prior to the issue of the Conditional Placing Shares and the Open Offer
Shares. The Open Offer Shares and the Conditional Placing Shares together will
represent up to approximately 17 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital
following Second Admission (assuming the Open Offer Shares are taken-up in
full).

The new Ordinary Shares that would be issued upon the exercise in full of the
Warrants would represent a maximum of approximately 11.8 per cent. of the
Company's issued ordinary share capital after the Placing and the Open Offer
assuming full take-up under the Open Offer (and assuming no further issues of
Ordinary Shares prior to the exercise in full of the Warrants).

The total amount that the Company could raise under the Placing and Open Offer
is £8.5million (before expenses), assuming that the Open Offer is fully
subscribed.

Full exercise of the Warrants would raise a further £6 million of proceeds
for the Company.

The Placing, which has been arranged by Canaccord Genuity and Fox-Davies
pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement, has not been underwritten.

The Conditional Placing and the Open Offer are conditional upon Shareholders
approving the Resolutions at the General Meeting that will inter alia grant to
the Directors the authority to allot the Conditional Placing Shares and Open
Offer Shares for cash and grant the attached Warrants, in each case on a
non-pre-emptive basis. The Resolutions are contained in the Notice of General
Meeting at the end of this document. First Admission will become effective at
8.00  a.m. on 27 November 2023. Second Admission of the Conditional Placing
Shares and the Open Offer Shares is expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on 15
December 2023, or such later time and/or dates as the Company, Beaumont
Cornish, Canaccord Genuity and Fox-Davies may agree (being in any event no
later than 8.00 a.m. 29  December 2023).

The purpose of this document is, amongst other things, to provide you with
more information about the background to and reasons for the Placing and Open
Offer, to explain why the Board considers the Fundraising to be in the best
interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and why the Directors
unanimously recommend that, in order to implement the Conditional Placing and
the Open Offer, you vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the
General Meeting, notice of which is set out at the end of this document.

2.           Background to and reasons for the Placing and Open Offer

 

CleanTech Lithium is an exploration and development company, advancing the
next generation of sustainable lithium projects in Chile. The target is to
start producing battery grade lithium from 2026, with near zero carbon
emissions and low environmental impact, offering the electric vehicle market a
green lithium supply solution.

The Company was admitted to trading on AIM in March 2022,
raised £5.6m through its IPO and raised a further £12.3m (before expenses)
in a secondary placing in October 2022 to fund its planned work programme
through 2023.  The Company has previously confirmed that it plans to
dual-list on the ASX and due to delays in the regulatory application process
in 2H 2023, it is now envisaged that this will take place in Q1 / early Q2
2024.

As the Company nears the end of 2023, it requires new funding to maintain
progress on its main work programme activities in Chile and to meet its
ongoing business costs. The Company has made significant progress in 2023 with
the funds raised in late 2022, as highlighted below. Completion of the Laguna
Verde PFS and ongoing production of lithium carbonate from the DLE pilot plant
will allow the Company to begin to engage in strategic discussions with
potential long-term partners.

Further information on the Company's assets, business strategy and progress
achieved since the last equity fundraising is contained in the Company's
announcement of the proposed Fundraising dated 21 November 2023, a copy of
which is available from the Company's website at https://ctlithium.com/
(https://ctlithium.com/) .

3.           Use of Proceeds

 

The gross proceeds receivable by the Company pursuant to Placing will be £8
million, before expenses. The maximum gross proceeds receivable by the Company
pursuant to the Open Offer (assuming take-up in full of the Open Offer by
Qualifying Shareholders) will be approximately £0.5 million, before expenses.

The net proceeds from the Placing will be applied to enhance the development
of the Company's two strategic assets in Chile through:

·            the drilling of 5 wells at Laguna Verde (including 1
reinjection well);

·            completing and running the DLE pilot plant;

·            announcement of key findings from PFS on Laguna
Verde;

·            working capital and general administrative costs for
6 months; and

·            flexibility for additional technical work at Laguna
Verde and additional drilling at Francisco Basin.

In parallel to the above workstreams, the Company will continue to evaluate
its funding needs and options with a view to securing additional capital to
complete its ongoing programme from the second quarter of 2024 onwards.

As described further in the Company's announcement of the proposed Fundraising
dated 21 November 2023, the Company continues to progress its proposed listing
on the ASX, by which point it anticipates securing additional funding to
maintain momentum on its work programmes to allow it to complete a DFS at
Laguna Verde and complete a PFS at Francisco Basin.

It should be noted that the Company is therefore anticipating a further
fundraising being required by no later than the second quarter of 2024.

 

4.           The Fundraising
4.1          The Placing

The Company has conditionally raised £8 million (before expenses) through the
issue of the Placing Shares at the Issue Price, which represents a discount of
15 per cent. to the closing middle market price of 26 pence per Ordinary Share
on 20 November 2023, being the last practicable date prior to the Launch
Announcement.

The Placing Shares carry a warrant entitlement of one Warrant for every two
Placing Shares.  Each Warrant grants the holder the right to subscribe for
one new Ordinary Share at a price of 33p, being 50 per cent. above the Issue
Price and is exercisable from the date of grant and ending on 14 December
2026.

The 14,124,466 Firm Placing Shares have been placed firm  with investors. The
placing of the Firm Placing Shares and the attached Warrants is being made
pursuant to existing authorities to allot shares non-pre-emptively under the
Company's articles of association, which were granted to the Directors at the
Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 31 May 2023. Admission of the
Firm Placing Shares is expected to become effective, at 8.00 a.m. on 27
November 2023.

The Company will require further authorities to allot the Conditional Placing
Shares and the attached Warrants. Accordingly, 22,239,172 Conditional Placing
Shares and 11,119,586 Warrants have been conditionally placed with investors
and the Conditional Placing is conditional upon Shareholders approving the
Resolutions at the General Meeting that will inter aliagrant to the Directors
the authority to allot the Conditional Placing Shares for cash and grant the
attached Warrants on a non-pre-emptive basis.

Together, the Placing Shares will represent approximately 25 per cent. of the
Enlarged Share Capital immediately following Second Admission assuming full
take-up under the Open Offer and will represent approximately 25.5 per cent.
of the Enlarged Share Capital immediately following Second Admission assuming
no take-up under the Open Offer.

The Conditional Placing is conditional upon, inter alia, the Placing Agreement
not having been terminated, the passing of the Resolutions and Second
Admission occurring on or before 8.00 a.m. on 15 December 2023 (or such later
date as Beaumont Cornish, Canaccord Genuity, Fox-Davies and the Company may
agree, being not later than 8.00 a.m. 29  December 2023).

4.2          Related Party Transaction

 

As a part of the Placing and on the same terms as all other placees, Regal
Funds, which is currently interested in more than 10 per cent. of the
Company's issued share capital and therefore a related party under the AIM
Rules, agreed to subscribe for approximately £1,200,000, thereby maintaining
its current interest in the Company on the enlarged basis. As such, Regal
Funds participation is a related party transaction for the purposes of Rule 13
of the AIM Rules.  Accordingly, the Directors of the Company, all
independent, consider, having consulted with Beaumont Cornish, that the terms
of the subscription by Regal Funds are fair and reasonable insofar as the
Company's shareholders are concerned.

4.3          The Placing Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement, Canaccord Genuity and
Fox-Davies, as agents for the Company, have conditionally agreed to use their
respective reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing
Shares. Canaccord Genuity and Fox-Davies have conditionally placed the Placing
Shares with certain institutional and other investors at the Issue Price. The
Placing has not been underwritten. The Firm Placing is conditional upon the
Placing Agreement not having been terminated and First Admission occurring on
or before 8.00 a.m. on 27 November 2023 (or such later date as Beaumont
Cornish, Canaccord Genuity, Fox-Davies and the Company may agree, being not
later than 8.00 a.m. 29  December 2023).  The Conditional Placing is
conditional upon, inter alia, the Placing Agreement not having been
terminated, the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting and Second
Admission occurring on or before 8.00 a.m. on 15 December 2023 (or such later
date as Beaumont Cornish, Canaccord Genuity, Fox-Davies and the Company may
agree, being not later than 8.00 a.m. 29  December 2023).

The Placing Agreement contains customary warranties from the Company in favour
of Beaumont Cornish, Canaccord Genuity and Fox-Davies in relation to, inter
alia, the accuracy of the information in this document and other matters
relating to the Group and its business. In addition, the Company has agreed to
indemnify Beaumont Cornish, Canaccord Genuity and Fox-Davies in relation to
certain defined liabilities that they may incur in respect of the Placing and
Open Offer.

The Placing Agreement also provides for the Company to pay all costs, charges
and expenses of, or incidental to, the Placing and Admissions including all
legal and other professional fees and expenses.

The Placing Shares have not been made available to the public and have not
been offered or sold in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

4.4          Broker Warrants

As consideration for their services in connection with the Placing, the
Company intends to grant Fox-Davies and Canaccord Genuity each with warrants
over an aggregate of up to 2,727,273 Ordinary Shares which is equal to
approximately 7.5 % of the Placing Shares. The Broker Warrants will be
exercisable at a price equal to the Issue Price up until five years from
completion of the Placing. Grant of the Broker Warrants is conditional inter
alia upon the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting.

4.5          Details of the Open Offer

The Company considers it important that Qualifying Shareholders have an
opportunity (where it is practicable for them to do so) to participate in the
Fundraising and accordingly the Company is making the Open Offer to Qualifying
Shareholders. The Company is proposing to raise up to approximately £0.5
million (before expenses) (assuming full take up of the Open Offer) through
the issue of up to 2,365,188 Open Offer Shares. The Open Offer is conditional
upon, inter alia, the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting.

The Open Offer Shares are available to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the
Open Offer at the Issue Price of 22 pence per share, being the same price per
share as the Placing. Open Offer Shares carry a warrant entitlement of one
Warrant for every two Open Offer Shares, again on the same terms as the
Placing.

A Warrant grants the holder the right to subscribe for one new Ordinary Share
at 33 pence and is exercisable during the period commencing on the date of
grant and ending on 14 December 2026.

Open Offer Shares applied for pursuant to the Open Offer are payable in full
on acceptance. Any Open Offer Shares not subscribed for by Qualifying
Shareholders will be available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess
Application Facility. Qualifying Shareholders may apply for Open Offer Shares
under the Open Offer at the Issue Price on the following basis:

1 Open Offer Share for every 45 Existing Ordinary Shares held by the Qualifying Shareholder on the Record Date

Entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders will be rounded down to the nearest
whole number of Open Offer Shares. The Entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders
to Warrants will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Warrants.
Fractional entitlements which would otherwise arise will not be issued to the
Qualifying Shareholders but will be made available under the Excess
Application Facility. The Excess Application Facility enables Qualifying
Shareholders to apply for Excess Open Offer Shares in excess of their Open
Offer Entitlement. Not all Shareholders will be Qualifying Shareholders.
Shareholders who are located in, or are citizens of, or have a registered
office in certain overseas jurisdictions will not qualify to participate in
the Open Offer. The attention of Overseas Shareholders is drawn to paragraph 6
of Part III of this document.

Valid applications by Qualifying Shareholders will be satisfied in full up to
their Open Offer Entitlements as shown on the Application Form. Applicants can
apply for less or more than their entitlements under the Open Offer but the
Company cannot guarantee that any application for Excess Open Offer Shares
under the Excess Application Facility will be satisfied as this will depend in
part on the extent to which other Qualifying Shareholders apply for less than
or more than their own Open Offer Entitlements. The Company may satisfy valid
applications for Excess Open Offer Shares of applicants in whole or in part
but reserves the right not to satisfy any excess above any Open Offer
Entitlement. Applications made under the Excess Application Facility will be
scaled back pro rata to the number of shares applied for if applications are
received from Qualifying Shareholders for more than the available number of
Excess Open Offer Shares.

Application has been made for the Open Offer Entitlements to be admitted to
CREST. It is expected that such Open Offer Entitlements will be credited to
CREST on 24 November 2023. The Open Offer Entitlements will be enabled for
settlement in CREST until 11.00 a.m. on 13 December 2023. Applications through
the CREST system may only be made by the Qualifying CREST Shareholder
originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of bona fidemarket
claims. The Open Offer Shares must be paid in full on application. The latest
time and date for receipt of completed Application Forms or CREST applications
and payment in respect of the Open Offer is 11.00 a.m. on 13 December 2023.
The Open Offer is not being made to certain Overseas Shareholders, as set out
in paragraph 6 of Part III of this document.

Qualifying Shareholders should note that the Open Offer is not a rights issue
and therefore Open Offer Entitlements may not be traded and the Open Offer
Shares which are not applied for by Qualifying Shareholders will not be sold
in the market for the benefit of the Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply
under the Open Offer. The Application Form is not a document of title and
cannot be traded or otherwise transferred.

Further details of the Open Offer and the terms and conditions on which it is
being made, including the procedure for application and payment, are contained
in Part III of this document and on the accompanying Application Form.

The Open Offer is conditional on, inter alia, Shareholders approving the
Resolutions at the General Meeting and the Placing becoming or being declared
unconditional in all respects. Accordingly, if these conditions are not
satisfied or waived (where capable of waiver), the Open Offer will not
proceed, and the Open Offer Shares will not be issued, and all monies received
by the Registrars will be returned to the applicants (at the applicant's risk
and without interest) as soon as possible thereafter. Any Open Offer
Entitlements admitted to CREST will thereafter be disabled.

4.6          The Warrants

The Warrant Instrument was entered into by way of a deed poll by the Company
dated on or around 22 November 2023 under which the Company constituted up to
19,364,413 Warrants to be issued in connection with the Fundraising.

A Warrant grants the holder the right to subscribe for one new Ordinary Share
at 33 pence and is exercisable during the period commencing on the date of
grant and ending on 14 December 2026.

The Warrants shall be freely transferable. Warrants issued in certificated
form are exercised by completing a notice of exercise in the form set out in
the Warrant Instrument and returning it along with the relevant Warrant
certificates and the relevant cheque payment (payable to Computershare
Investor Services). Warrants held in uncertificated form are exercised by
submission of the usual USE/AUSN message and delivery to Computershare
Investor Services CREST details Participant ID 3RA15, Member Account ID CTLWAR
together with remittance in cleared funds of the subscription price in respect
of each Warrant being exercised.

Any Warrants remaining unexercised after the end of the relevant subscription
period shall automatically expire without compensation. Upon exercise of the
Warrants, the underlying Ordinary Shares will be issued within fourteen days.

The Warrant Instrument contains customary provisions for adjustments to the
relevant exercise price in certain circumstances, including if, prior to the
end of the Warrant Expiry Date (as applicable), there shall occur any
reorganisation, recapitalisation, consolidation or subdivision, involving the
Company.

4.7          Settlement and dealings

Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the Firm Placing
Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that First Admission
will become effective at 8.00 a.m. on 27 November 2023.

Subject to the Resolutions being passed at the General Meeting, application
will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the Conditional Placing Shares
and the Open Offer Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected
that Second Admission will become effective at 8.00 a.m. on 15 December 2023.

No application is being made for the Warrants to be admitted to trading on
AIM.

The Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares will, when issued and fully paid,
rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares including
the right to receive dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid
after the date of their issue.

5.                     Directors' participation in the Placing

 

Certain of the Directors have agreed to subscribe on a conditional basis for
              1,329,092 Conditional Placing Shares and 664,546
Warrants.

 

 Director              Conditional Placing Shares  Warrants
 Steve Kesler          368,182                     184,091
 Jonathan Morley Kirk  113,638                     56,819
 Gordon Stein          113,638                     56,819
 Maha Daoudi           279,092                     139,546
 Tommy McKeith         454,546                     227,273

 

 

The Directors do not intend to participate in the Open Offer.  A summary of
their shareholdings as at the date of this Circular, and following Second
Admission are set out in paragraph 2 of Part IV.

 

6.        Effect of the Placing and Open Offer

Upon Second Admission, and assuming full take up of the Open Offer
Entitlements and no exercise of existing options or warrants, the Enlarged
Share Capital is expected to be 145,162,326 Ordinary Shares. On this basis,
the New Ordinary Shares would represent approximately 27 per cent. of the
Company's Enlarged Share Capital.

Following the issue of the New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Placing and the
Open Offer, assuming full take up of the Open Offer Entitlements and no
further exercise of options under the Company's share schemes, a Qualifying
Shareholder who does not take up any of their Open Offer Entitlements nor
participate in the Placing will suffer a dilution of approximately 27 per
cent. to their interests in the Company. Qualifying Shareholders that take up
their Open Offer Entitlements in full, and do not participate in the Placing,
will suffer a dilution of approximately 25 per cent. to their interest in the
Company.

The expenses of the Placing and Open Offer are expected to be approximately
£0.7 million.

 

7.         The General Meeting

The Directors do not currently have authority within the Company's articles of
association to allot all of the Conditional Placing Shares or the Open Offer
Shares or to grant the Warrants relating to the Conditional Placing and Open
Offer or Broker Warrants or allot all of the Ordinary Shares that would be
issued upon the exercise in full of such Warrants and Broker Warrants on a
non-pre-emptive basis. Accordingly, the Board is seeking the approval of
Shareholders at the General Meeting to authorise the Directors to allot
Ordinary Shares and grant Warrants and disapply the pre-emption rights set out
in the Company's articles of association from in connection with the
Conditional Placing, the Open Offer, the Warrants that are to be granted
pursuant to the Conditional Placing and the Open Offer and the grant of the
Broker Warrants.

The following resolutions will be proposed at the General Meeting:

Resolution 1 which is an ordinary resolution to authorise Directors to allot
Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £880,212.55, in relation
to the issue of the Conditional Placing Shares, the Open Offer Shares, the
Warrants relating to the Conditional Placing and the Open Offer and the Broker
Warrants as well as a general authority to allot Ordinary Shares or securities
convertible into Ordinary Shares in respect of approximately one-third of the
Enlarged Share Capital (assuming full take-up of the Open Offer); and

Resolution 2 which is conditional on the passing of Resolution 1, is a special
resolution to authorise the Directors to allot the Conditional Placing Shares,
the Open Offer Shares, the Warrants relating to the Conditional Placing and
the Open Offer and the Broker Warrants and to allot Ordinary Shares or
securities convertible into Ordinary Shares up to 20 per cent. of the Enlarged
Share Capital (assuming full take-up of the Open Offer), in each case on a
non-pre-emptive basis.

Resolution 2 will be proposed as a special resolution. To be passed,
Resolution 2 will require the support of not less than three-quarters of the
total voting rights of Shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote on such
resolutions (in person or by proxy) at the General Meeting. The Conditional
Placing and the Open Offer (including the grant of Warrants in relation
thereto) and the grant of the Broker Warrants are conditional on the passing
of the Resolutions.

The authority and the power described in the Resolutions replaces any previous
authority or power previously conferred on the Directors.

Set out at the end of this document is a notice convening the General Meeting
to be held on 14 December 2023 at 10 a.m. at the offices of the Company, de
Carteret House, 7 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3BT at which the
Resolutions will be proposed.

8.        Action to be taken
8.1          In respect of the General Meeting

A Form of Proxy for use at the General Meeting accompanies this document. The
Form of Proxy should be completed and signed in accordance with the
instructions thereon and returned to the Company's registrars, Computershare
Investor Services (Jersey) Limited, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol
BS99 6AH, as soon as possible, but in any event so as to be received by no
later than 10.00 a.m. on 12 December 2023 (or, if the General Meeting is
adjourned, 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a working day)
before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting).

If you hold your Existing Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form in CREST, you
may vote using the CREST Proxy Voting service in accordance with the
procedures set out in the CREST Manual. Further details are also set out in
the notes accompanying the Notice of General Meeting at the end of this
document. Proxies submitted via CREST must be received by the issuer's agent
(ID 3RA50) by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 12 December 2023 (or, if the General
Meeting is adjourned, 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a
working day) before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting). The Company may
treat as invalid a proxy appointment sent by CREST in the circumstances set
out in Article 34 of the Uncertificated Securities Order.

8.2          In respect of the Open Offer

Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders wishing to apply for Open Offer Shares, or
the Excess Open Offer Shares must complete the enclosed Application Form in
accordance with the instructions set out in paragraph 3 of Part III of this
document and on the accompanying Application Form and return it to
Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol
BS99 6AH, so as to arrive no later than 11.00 a.m. on 13 December 2023.

If you do not wish to apply for any Open Offer Shares under the Open Offer,
you should not complete or return the Application Form. Shareholders are
nevertheless requested to complete and return the Form of Proxy.

If you are a Qualifying CREST Shareholder, no Application Form will be sent to
you. Qualifying CREST Shareholders will have Open Offer Entitlements and
Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements credited to their stock accounts in
CREST. You should refer to the procedure for application set out in paragraph
3 of Part III of this document. The relevant CREST instructions must have
settled in accordance with the instructions in paragraph 3.2 of Part III of
this document by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 13 December 2023.

Qualifying CREST Shareholders who are CREST sponsored members should refer to
their CREST sponsors regarding the action to be taken in connection with this
document and the Open Offer.

9.        Overseas Shareholders

Information for Overseas Shareholders who have registered addresses outside
the United Kingdom or who are citizens or residents of countries other than
the United Kingdom appears in paragraph 6 of Part III of this document, which
sets out the restrictions applicable to such persons. If you are an Overseas
Shareholder, it is important that you pay particular attention to that
paragraph of this document.

10.         Recommendation

The Directors consider the Placing and Open Offer to be in the best interests
of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and accordingly recommend
unanimously that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed
at the General Meeting, as they intend to do in respect of their aggregate
holdings of 10,698,039 Ordinary Shares.

Should the Resolutions at the General Meeting not be passed, the Conditional
Placing and Open Offer will not complete, and the Company would only receive
the net proceeds of the Firm Placing and would need to explore other funding
alternatives to support its working capital requirements.

Yours faithfully

 

 

Steve Kesler

Executive Chairman

 

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