16 May 2012 07:00
16 May 2012
Polo Resources Limited("Polo" or "the Company")
Polo increases interest in signet petroleum LTD
Polo Resources, the natural resources exploration investment company with interests in coal, gold, iron ore and oil and gas, announces that, on 15 May 2012, it subscribed (the "Subscription") for a further 2,857,143 new shares ("New Shares") in Signet Petroleum Ltd ("Signet") for a total consideration of US$10 million, by exercising the balance of the option granted to the Company by Signet on 22 August 2011 (the "Call Option").
Polo has been granted a two year warrant over 1,428,572 new shares of Signet at an exercise price of US$3.50 per share (the "Polo Warrant").
The proceeds of the Subscription will be used to fund Signet's exploration activities in Tanzania, Burundi, Namibia and Benin and as general working capital.
Following the issue of the New Shares Signet will have 35,919,522 issued ordinary shares ("Signet Shares"), of which Polo is interested in 7,809,522 Signet Shares representing 21.7 per cent of Signet's issued shares, and 17.9 per cent of Signet's issued shares on a fully diluted basis (excluding the Polo Warrant).
Polo has received the following operational update from Signet:
Tanzania
In May 2012, Signet successfully received a 4 year Production Sharing Contract extension until 28 May 2016 and is currently mobilising Fugro's M/V Coral to commence the acquisition of approximately 110 square kilometres of 3D seismic to gain further clarity in relation to the potential extension of the BG/Ophir Chaza discovery into Signet's Mnazi Bay North block.
Namibia
Signet has completed the acquisition of comprehensive 2D seismic in conjunction with Spectrum ASA. Processing of the data is ongoing and initial interpretation results are expected in July 2012.
Burundi
Signet is advancing its preparations for the acquisition of 2D seismic in Burundi utilising the Tanganyika Explorer which is 50 per cent owned by Signet.
Benin
Signet is progressing with the analysis of all data on Bloc Offshore 3 in preparation for a seismic programme in 2013.
Background information on Signet Petroleum Ltd
Signet was incorporated and registered as a private limited company in the British Virgin Islands on 18 June 2010. Since its incorporation Signet has acquired interests in exploration rights for hydrocarbons in four countries in Africa, namely Tanzania, Burundi, Benin and Namibia. Signet is also actively pursuing oil and gas opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.
By a resolution of shareholders at a general meeting of the Company on 6 October 2011, the Company's shareholders approved the exercise of the Call Option, such exercise to be made at the Directors' discretion.
For further information, please contact:
Polo Resources Limited Ian Burns, Finance Director | + 27 82 404 36 37 |
Investec Neil Elliot, George Price, Chris Sim | +44 (0) 20 7597 5970 |
Liberum Capital Chris Bowman, Tim Graham | +44 (0) 20 3100 2228 |
Blythe Weigh Communications Tim Blythe, Susan McKenzie, Robert Kellner | +44 (0) 207 138 3204
|
Toronto Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Jeffery Barnes, Habeeb Syed
| +1 416 367 6459 |
About the Company
Polo Resources is a natural resources investment company focused on investing in undervalued companies and projects with strong fundamentals and attractive growth prospects. For complete details on Polo Resources: www.poloresources.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
The AIM Market of London Stock Exchange plc does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential values, the future plans and objectives of Polo Resources Limited. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, achievable or recognizable in the near term.
Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Polo Resources Limited assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.