TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands. EastCoast Energy Corporation (“EastCoast Energy” or the “Company”) announces that its rights issue which closed 29 December, 2006 was oversubscribed and that gross proceeds of Cdn$21.5 million have been raised for the Company.
The funds will be used primarily to develop the Company’s existing gas assets in Tanzania and to pursue new options for growth. In the first half of 2007, the Company will drill a development well to meet the impending gas sales to the power sector and service one of the existing wells.
Under the terms of the rights issue
- each holder of a Class B Subordinated Voting share (“Class B Share”) was entitled to receive one right for each Class B Share held and seven rights entitled the holder to subscribe for one Class B Share at a price of Cdn$ 6.43.
- each holder of a Class A Common share (“Class A Share”) was entitled to receive one right for each Class A Share held and seven rights entitled the holder to subscribe for one Class B Share at a price of Cdn$ 6.43.
- each holder of rights who exercised all of their rights was entitled to subscribe for additional Class B Shares that had not been subscribed and paid for at 12:00 noon on 29 December 2006 (“Additional Subscription Privilege”)
The subscription price of Cdn$ 6.43 represented a 15% discount to the closing price of the Class B Shares on 7 September 2006.
As at 17:00 hours on 29 December 2006, 3,318,470 Class B Shares had been subscribed for by the rights holders and 3,589,446 Class B Shares had been subscribed for in the Additional Subscription Privilege.
As a result of the rights issue, the Company will issue 3,345,540 Class B Shares including 27,070 Class B Shares under the Additional Subscription Privilege. This will increase the number of Class B Shares in issue to 25,053,128. The number of outstanding Class A Shares remains the same at 1,751,195.
EastCoast Energy Corporation Limited is a TSXV listed company focused on the exploration and production of Tanzanian natural gas and the sale of “Additional Gas” to markets in East Africa. The Company trades on the TSXV under the trading symbols ECE.B and ECE. A. The company is headquartered in Tortola, British Virgin Islands and maintains its operations offices in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Forward Looking Statements
This disclosure contains certain forward-looking
estimates that involve substantial known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, certain of which are beyond EastCoast’s control,
including the impact of general economic conditions in the areas in
which EastCoast operates, civil unrest, industry conditions, changes in
laws and regulations including the adoption of new environmental laws
and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced,
increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel
or management, fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange or
interest rates, stock market volatility and obtaining required approvals
of regulatory authorities. In addition there are risks and
uncertainties associated with oil and gas operations, therefore
EastCoast’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
estimates and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the
events anticipated by the forward-looking estimates will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amounts of
proceeds, that EastCoast will derive therefrom.
For further information please contact:
Peter R. Clutterbuck, CEO
+44 (0) 7768 120727
Nigel A Friend, CFO
+255 (0)22 2138737