OceanaGold Announces A$40 million Offering
OceanaGold Announces Launch of A$40 million Offering of Convertible Notes
Melbourne, Australia – OceanaGold Limited announced today that it has launched an offering of A$40 million in unsecured convertible notes (the "Notes") due in December 2012. In addition, the Lead Manager, Barclays Capital, has an option to increase the issue size by an additional A$10 million, subject to shareholder approval, if required. The offering of the Notes is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.
The seven-year Notes are expected to carry a coupon of between 5.75% and 6.25% per annum with a premium payable upon redemption. The issuer has the right to redeem all outstanding Notes at their accreted principal amount on or after January 2009 if the parity of the Notes exceeds for a specified period of time 130% or more of their accreted principal amount. Also investors have the right to redeem all outstanding Notes at their accreted principal amount on their fifth anniversary. The effective conversion price is expected to be between 31% and 36% to the OceanaGold closing share price on the Australian Stock Exchange at the time of pricing.
The Notes are expected to price today and closing is expected on or about December 22, 2005.
OceanaGold is offering the Convertible Notes to European institutional investors and intends to apply for listing of the Convertible Notes on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
Proceeds from the offering will be used to fund project development on the South Island of New Zealand.
Barclays Capital is Sole Bookrunner and Stabilisation Manager.
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