** Gold exploration and development co's USAU.O shares
drop 13.8% to $11.34
** Co announces direct offering of 914,136 shares of common
stock priced at $10.54/share to raise gross proceeds of ~$9.6
mln urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nPnDJvJwa
** Offer represents a discount of 20% to stock's last close
** Shares on offer represent 15.87% of company's outstanding
shares
** Offer is expected to close on Jan. 29
** USAU shares up 61% this year, as of last close
(Reporting by Lasya Priya M in Bengaluru)
((LasyaPriya.M@thomsonreuters.com;))