24th Mar 2009 14:16
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NEWS RELEASE 09-08 March 24, 2009 www.first-quantum.com |
FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS ANNOUNCES TERMS OF CDN$300.6 MILLION EQUITY OFFERING
Not For Distribution To U.S. Newswire Services Or For Dissemination In The United States.
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company", TSX Symbol "FM", LSE Symbol "FQM") announced today that it has entered into an underwriting agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Morgan Stanley and RBC Capital Markets and including BMO Capital Markets, Scotia Capital Inc., and UBS Securities Canada Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters") to sell 8,125,000 common shares of First Quantum at a price of Cdn$37.00 per common share to raise gross proceeds of Cdn$300,625,000 (the "Offering") pursuant to a short form prospectus filed with the regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, and on a private placement basis in the United States pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and internationally pursuant to available exemptions. The Company has granted the Underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase an additional 1,218,750 common shares of First Quantum, exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, up to 30 days from the closing of the Offering (the "Over-Allotment Option"). If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the total gross proceeds to First Quantum will be Cdn$345,718,750.
The net proceeds from the Offering are expected to be used to continue with its committed capital projects, to further strengthen its capital position and for general corporate purposes.
The Offering is scheduled to close on or about April 6, 2009 and is subject to certain customary conditions and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. A copy of the preliminary prospectus may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 (tel: 866-718-1649) (email: [email protected]) or from RBC Capital Markets, Attention: Distribution Centre, 277 Front St. W., 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2X4 (tel: 416-842-5349) (email: [email protected]). A copy may also be obtained by visiting SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com/.
This news release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities described above have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereof.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors 12g3-2b-82-4461
of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Listed in Standard and Poor's
G. Clive Newall
President
For further information visit our web site at www.first-quantum.com
North American contact: Sharon Loung
8th Floor, 543 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 1X8
Tel: (604) 688-6577 Fax: (604) 688-3818 Toll Free: 1 (888) 688-6577 E-Mail: [email protected]
United Kingdom contact: Clive Newall, President
1st Floor, Mill House, Mill Bay Lane, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1TQ United Kingdom
Tel: +44 140 327 3484 Fax: +44 140 327 3494 E-Mail: [email protected]
Or
Simon Hockridge
Hogarth Partnership Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7357 9477
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements include comments regarding the completion and terms of the proposed Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the ability to settle the terms of the Offering and to satisfy conditions of the Offering; the failure to receive regulatory approvals with respect to the Offering; changes in the prices of gold and/or copper; and changes in Canadian, U.S. and United Kingdom securities markets. In addition, specific reference is made to "Caution With Respect to Forward-Looking Statements and Information" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 6, 2009. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. While the Company may elect to update the forward-looking statements at any time, the Company does not undertake to update them at any particular time or in response to any particular event. Investors and others should not assume that any forward-looking statement in this press release represent management's estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.
Related Shares:
FQM.L