Why did this ASX mining share rocket 40% on open today?

The Okapi Resources share price entered a trading halt on Thursday pending the release of a capital raising announcement.

Bernd Struben

Author bio Bernd Struben earned his BA in economics from the University of Michigan in 1991, with post-graduate studies in environmental economics at the University of Connecticut. Over the years he’s written about and analysed the tourism industry in the Caribbean; Europe’s commercial real estate markets; and, since moving to Australia in 2010, global and Aussie share markets. Bernd studies geopolitical and macroeconomic trends, alongside sector and company specific data, to gauge what he believes could be tomorrow's best investments. In his free time, you might find Bernd at the beach with his family or working on his next science fiction novel. Areas of expertise Australian and global share markets Macroeconomic and geopolitical trends Real estate Education Economics, University of Michigan Favorite investment quote "The four most dangerous words in investing are: 'This time it's different." — Sir John Templeton

Published February 20, 2023 4:40 pm AEDT

ASX mining share Okapi Resources Ltd (ASX: OKR) set the bar high on Monday.

Shares in the tiny ASX mining stock were up more than 41% in early trading today before some profit taking took place, giving back a lot of those gains.

At market close, the Okapi Resources share price closed up 5.88%, trading for 18 cents per share.

Vanadium Resources share price person riding rocket indicating share price increase — Image source: Getty Images

What's piquing investor interest in the ASX mining share?

The Okapi Resources share price entered a trading halt on Thursday pending the release of a capital raising announcement.

The ASX mining share released that capital raise announcement before market open this morning. And investors appeared enthusiastic with the outcome.

Okapi said it has received binding commitments to raise $5.1 million (before costs) through a placement of approximately 34.2 million shares at an issue price of 15 cents per share. That's 25% below the current share price, mind you.

Okapi will use the funds to complete its investment in uranium enrichment technology company, Ubaryon Pty Ltd. The miner also plans to advance its Tallahassee, Maybell and Athabasca uranium projects.

The $5.1 million placement will take place in two tranches.

The directors' participation of $129,000 worth of shares in tranche two of the placement is subject to shareholder approval. That approval will be sought at a general meeting in early April.

Commenting on the capital raise that sent the ASX mining share soaring today, Okapi's managing director Andrew Ferrier said:

We are delighted to have new institutional and sophisticated investors participating in this placement… We are also very pleased to see the strong support from existing shareholders.

Most importantly, this raising provides Okapi sufficient funding to complete the Ubaryon investment. We are very excited to acquire an interest in Ubaryon's Enrichment Technology, and it has the potential to add significant value to Okapi and its shareholders.

Okapi share price snapshot

The ASX mining share slid lower during the second half of 2022.

However, as you can see in the chart below, the Okapi share price is up 20% so far in 2023.

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