Altona Rare Earths Plc (LSE:REE) has started trading on London’s main market after its step up from the Aquis Exchange.
First deals saw the shares climb to 6.25p after the explorer raised £2mln at a price of 5p.
It said this was made up of an oversubscribed placing of £1.68mln and a subscription of £322,700.
Lawyer Simon Charles has also been appointed as an independent non-executive director with immediate effect. A senior partner at City solicitors Marriott Harrison, having previously worked for a number of years in the corporate finance department of broker Numis Securities, he specialises in acquisitions, disposals, directors' duties, equity and debt fundraises and shareholders' rights.
Last week, the company announced that Christian Taylor-Wilkinson will step down as chief executive to hand the role to chief operating officer Cédric Simonet, with Louise Adrian joining the board as chief financial officer with immediate effect.
New CEO Simonet said: “As the supply deficit for critical Magnet Rare Earths continues to deepen worldwide, today's admission to the London Stock Exchange's main market will significantly contribute to unlocking value in Altona's flagship asset, Monte Muambe, and its strategy of becoming a rare earth producer in Africa.”
He said the company is focusing its attention on “short-term deliverables” for Monte Muambe, namely a maiden JORC mineral resource estimate and scoping study, the increase of its holding in the project to 51%, the start of the pre-feasibility study and the application for a mining concession.