The Andromeda Metals Ltd (ASX: ADN) share price is losing territory today after coming out of a trading halt. This comes after the mineral exploration company announced an update to its capital raising efforts.
During late afternoon trade, Andromeda shares are down a sizeable 15.56% to 15.2 cents.
Let's take a closer look at what the company announced to the ASX market.
Capital raising completed
Investors have been punishing the Andromeda share price in fear of an impending shareholder dilution.
According to its release, Andromeda successfully raised $30 million (before costs) by a way of placement. The company received strong support from new and existing shareholders, with the introduction of high-quality domestic and offshore institutions.
The offer will see roughly 200 million new ordinary shares, at a price of 15 cents each, allocated to participating investors. This represents a 16.7% discount on the issued capital prior to when the company announced the placement (18 cents).
Andromeda will use the proceeds from the capital raise to fund a number of initiatives. This includes the bulk of the money going towards the Great White Project pre-construction and long lead items such as plant equipment purchases. In addition, the remaining amount will be allocated to Detailed Feasibility Studies (DFS), product development and marketing, research and exploration activities, and general working capital requirements.
Complementing the placement, Andromeda will also launch a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) to retail investors. The offer will see the company hoping to raise a further $15 million, with 100 million new shares created. The terms of the SPP will be the same conditions as the placement.
Settlement is expected to occur on Tuesday 6 July 2021, with the new shares available for trading the day after.
Andromeda's managing director, James Marsh, commented:
The Company thanks our existing shareholders for their ongoing support and welcomes the new institutional investors to the register. The support led to demand in excess of the funds sought by the Company. Andromeda has not had to raise funds for the past two years and the equity funding, on the back of the MSI binding offtake agreement, provides the Company with the financial support it needs to complete the Great White DFS later this year, leading into construction and mining next year.
About the Andromeda share price
Adding to today woes, Andromeda shares have fallen around 45% year-to-date, but have risen 200% over the past year. The company's share price reached a record high of 45 cents in March, before being sold off.
Andromeda presides a market capitalisation of roughly $329 million, with more than 2.1 billion shares outstanding.
