Replacement: Proposed Acquisition
Summary by AI BETAClose X
This announcement replaces the announcement with RNS number: 4976M released on 22 December 2025 at 12:00 p.m., with the headline "Proposed Acquisition: Gulf International Minerals". It is noted that the only change that has been made has been to update the time of suspension from trading in the Company's Ordinary Shares from 7:30 a.m. to midday today, in the following sentence, "In accordance with AIM Rule 14, trading in the Company's Ordinary Shares will be suspended from trading on the AIM Market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange Group plc ("LSE") with effect from midday today and will remain so pending publication of an AIM Admission Document (or equivalent, as agreed with the LSE) setting out, inter alia, details of the Proposed Transaction, or confirmation is provided that the Proposed Transaction has been terminated."
All other details of the announcement remain unchanged.
22 December 2025
Vast Resources plc
("Vast" or the "Company")
Proposed Acquisition of Gulf International Minerals Limited,
Reverse Takeover and Suspension from trading on AIM,
Proposed Placing to raise approximately £7.5 million
Deferral of Debt Facility Repayment Dates
Vast Resources plc, the AIM quoted mining company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a conditional share purchase agreement ("SPA") with Bay Square Pacific Ltd ("Bay Square" or the "Seller") and a deed of contribution and guarantee with Bay Square and the shareholders of Bay Square (the "Seller Shareholders") (the "Acquisition Agreements"). Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreements, the Company has conditionally agreed to acquire 100% of the share capital of Gulf International Minerals Limited (the "Acquisition") for all share consideration, to be satisfied by the issue of new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") to the Seller and the Seller Shareholders representing 80% of the issued Ordinary Shares upon Completion of the Acquisition, including the Placing Shares and Bookbuild Offer Shares (both as defined below) (the "Enlarged Ordinary Share Capital on Re-Admission") (the "Proposed Transaction"). The conditions to the SPA and key terms of the Acquisition Agreements are summarised below.
In conjunction with the Proposed Transaction, the Company intends to conduct a placing of new Ordinary Shares, currently expected to raise approximately £7.5 million ("Placing") in the capital of the Company ("Placing Shares"). In addition, the Company intends to launch a retail offering to, inter alios, the Company's existing shareholders through the issue of new Ordinary Shares (the "Bookbuild Offer Shares").
The Proposed Transaction constitutes a reverse takeover transaction pursuant to AIM Rule 14 and, accordingly, will be subject to, inter alia, shareholder approval. In accordance with AIM Rule 14, trading in the Company's Ordinary Shares will be suspended from trading on the AIM Market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange Group plc ("LSE") with effect from midday today and will remain so pending publication of an AIM Admission Document (or equivalent, as agreed with the LSE) setting out, inter alia, details of the Proposed Transaction, or confirmation is provided that the Proposed Transaction has been terminated. The Company intends to publish an AIM Admission Document in early 2026, which will contain a notice of general meeting at which shareholder approval shall be sought for, inter alia, the Proposed Transaction, following publication of which the Company would seek restoration to trading on AIM of its Ordinary Shares ("Re-Admission").
In the event that the Proposed Transaction does not proceed, the Company will seek the lifting of its suspension to trading on AIM.
It is noted that there can be no certainty that the Proposed Transaction, the Placing or the issue of the Bookbuild Offer Shares will be completed or as to the timeframes thereof. The Company will continue to update shareholders in due course as appropriate.
Gulf International Minerals Limited ("Gulf")
Gulf was established on 23 April 2010 as an exploration and development company focused on mining deposits in Tajikistan and is wholly owned by Bay Square. Gulf is party to a joint venture, the Joint Tajik-Canadian LLC, with the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies in Tajikistan (the "Tajikistan Government") in respect of four gold mining operations; Aprelevka, Burgunda, Ikkizelon and Kyzylcheku, together with a central processing plant, located in Northern Tajikistan. The Aprelevka Assets (as defined below) also include two tailings storage facilities; the Kansai Tailings comprising three individual tailings deposits identified as 1a, 2a and 3a, located approximately 2km south west of the Kansai plant; and the Soviet Tailings identified as 1b and 2b ("Aprelevka") (the "Aprelevka Assets"). The Aprelevka Assets currently produce approximately 10,400oz of gold and 80,000oz of silver per annum, from mined ore and tailings and since January 2024, has been managed by Vast under an agreement that includes profit-sharing and future equity rights. Historically, the mine has produced significantly larger quantities of gold. In 2017, gold production amounted to 18,733oz while silver was 52,210oz.
As previously announced, the Company was appointed by Gulf in January 2024 to manage and develop the Aprelevka operation in return for a 10% share of the earnings after interest and tax that Gulf receives from its interest in Aprelevka; a right of first refusal to convert its entitlement into an equity interest of 10% in Gulf at any time from 1 January 2025 to 13 January 2027, and a right to acquire at market price up to a further 20% of the shares of Gulf at any time from 1 January 2025 to 13 January 2027.
Subject to completion of the Acquisition, the Proposed Transaction will supersede these existing arrangements, and Gulf will be wholly owned by Vast.
Resource Information
A Competent Person's Report ("CPR") on the Aprelevka Assets by Caracle Creek International Consulting (Proprietary) Limited ("CCIC") has been commissioned for the purposes of inclusion in an AIM Admission Document, which will be published prior to Re-Admission.
Although no JORC (2012) compliant resource can be stated by CCIC, various historical and NAEN Code (2013) compliant mineral resource estimates ("Historical MREs") provide a significant range of mineral potential for the projects, which are summarised in the table below to demonstrate the exploitation and exploration potential at the various projects.
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Estimated Mineral Inventory Ranges |
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Deposit |
Tonnes (Kt) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Au (oz) |
Ag (oz) |
|
Aprelevka |
200 to 3,120 |
2.7 to 3.0 |
32.0 to 40.9 |
17,000 to 301,000 |
203,000 to 4,100,000 |
|
Burgunda |
150 to 210 |
3.9 to 5.6 |
17.3 to 70.0 |
19,000 to 38,000 |
84,000 to 474,000 |
|
Ikkizelon |
60 to 400 |
9.0 to 11.4 |
18.0 to 23.0 |
16,000 to 148,000 |
32,000 to 299,000 |
|
Kyzylcheku |
460 to 750 |
1.40 to 1.70 |
97.8 to 110.0 |
20,000 to 40,000 |
1,439,000 to 2,645,000 |
|
Kansai Tailings |
690 to 5,860 |
0.40 to 0.60 |
16.3 to 18.0 |
9,000 to 106,000 |
363,000 to 3,395,000 |
|
Soviet Flotation Tailings |
2,720 to 3,360 |
1.1 to 1.4 |
304.4 to 376.0 |
98,000 to 149,000 |
26,618,000 to 40,618,000 |
|
Total |
4,280 to 13,700 |
1.30 to 1.80 |
117.00 to 208.90 |
179,000 to 782,000 |
28,739,000 to 51,531,000 |
It is noted that while the various Historical MREs have provided CCIC with a solid basis to undertake a review for the purposes of authoring the Tajikistan CPR, it is recognised that the limitations on data verification have yet to be resolved in additional workstreams and so the resources reviewed cannot be considered to be reported in alignment with any of the CRIRSCO family of reporting codes. However, it is noted that the above estimated mineral inventory ranges compiled by CCIC are supported by, inter alia, historical estimates compiled by Formin S.A. prepared in 2024 (the "Formin Estimates"). In CCIC's view, the Formin Estimates have been undertaken in alignment with industry best practice and by a suitably experienced person (Mr Vlad Andrei Negru, who has more than 12 years' experience in mineral resource estimation, and is considered a 'Certified Person' by the National Agency for Mineral Resource in Romania).
The above information is extracted from a draft CPR which is subject to finalisation.
Subject to completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is part of the Company's near-term work programme, to complete the technical work necessary to provide JORC-compliant resource estimates as well as to ensure all reporting going forward is consistent with the JORC standard.
Qualified / Competent Person Statement
The resource information in this announcement has been reviewed by Dr Philip John Hancox, a Competent Person who is a member in good standing of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (No. 400224/04) as well as a Member and Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa and the Society of Economic Geologists. Dr Hancox is Senior Geologist and Director of Caracle Creek International Consulting (Proprietary) Limited, South Africa, and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration. A site visit to the properties was undertaken in late June of 2025.
Rationale for the Proposed Transaction
Vast's strategy is to focus on growth, through acquisitions and joint ventures, in high-potential mining assets where there is an opportunity to generate significant value in the short to medium term. The Board believes that a compelling opportunity exists to create value by acquiring and advancing highly prospective mining assets in regions of the wider Eurasian area, including but not limited to the former Soviet Union, where extensive work was undertaken and documented during the Soviet era. In particular, Tajikistan offers substantial geological upside confirmed by large scale deposits that remain largely untapped by modern mining methods. The Company is already active in Tajikistan through its existing management contract over the Aprelevka mines and its interest in Takob and the Directors believe that there is significant long-term economic and strategic upside in acquiring these untapped resources.
The Proposed Transaction is aligned with the Company's strategy to pursue value accretive assets in highly prospective regions, particularly where it can leverage existing in-country relationships and operational expertise. This includes regions such as Tajikistan, where the Company has an established presence, and Romania, which remains an area of active operations and strategic interest. The Board views the Proposed Transaction as a transformative step in expanding the Company's presence in Central Asia and developing its portfolio of assets in proven and geologically promising jurisdictions.
The Directors consider the Acquisition to represent a transformational, value-enhancing transaction for the Company, which is aligned with the Company's growth strategy. The Board believes that there is opportunity to significantly increase production from the Aprelevka Assets. On the basis of this strategy, the Company has entered into the Acquisition Agreements to acquire a 100%direct interest in Gulf conditional, inter alia, upon the Acquisition being approved at the General Meeting as part of the Proposed Transaction.
Related Party Transaction
It is noted that Andrew Prelea and Paul Fletcher are directors of Vast and are 17.08% and 5.00% shareholders in Bay Square, respectively. Accordingly, the Proposed Transaction would constitute a related party transaction under AIM Rule 13.
Finance Update
Further to the announcement of 17 November 2025, Vast confirms that A&T Investments SARL and Mercuria Energy Trading SA ("Mercuria") (together the "Creditors") have agreed to an extension of their respective terms until 30 January 2026. The Company intends to use the revenue from upcoming diamond sales, together with proceeds from the abovementioned Placing, and proceeds from new offtake finance agreements and / or wider funding arrangements, to repay the Creditors in full.
Commenting on the Proposed Transaction, Brian Moritz, independent Non-Executive Chairman of Vast, said:
"Once completed, the Board of directors of Vast expect the Proposed Transaction to have a transformational impact on Vast and is expected to progress the Company towards becoming a mid-tier mining company, delivering strong, diversified revenues and cash flows for our shareholders.
"Through the Proposed Transaction, Vast will gain exposure to immediate production and near-term value opportunities, including tailings reprocessing.
"Vast has, for a long time, had a portfolio of assets which the Board has been keen to operate on a commercial basis. We have been sustained, over the course of many years by debt and equity finance, the latter provided by our shareholders who have shown significant patience whilst we have sought to overcome numerous challenges. We are grateful for their enduring support as we are for the support shown by all our stakeholders and we look forward to finalising the Proposed Transaction and taking our business forward."
Key Terms of the Acquisition Agreements
Mechanism for purchase
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreements, completion of the Proposed Transaction is conditional upon, inter alia:
· the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting (including the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution in respect of the proposed Rule 9 Waiver of the obligations on the Concert Party that would otherwise arise in respect of the Proposed Transaction);
· the LSE having confirmed to Vast (or its nominated adviser) that the application(s) for the Re-Admission have been approved;
· Re-Admission to trading on AIM of the Enlarged Ordinary Share Capital on Re-Admission becoming effective;
· the consent of the Tajikistan Antimonopoly Authority being duly obtained to the Proposed Transaction;
· neither the Aprelevka JV Agreement or the Takob JV Agreement nor any of the mining licences subject to those agreements having been terminated; and
· operation of a material part of the Aprelevka Gold Mine substantially in accordance with the ordinary course of operations during the period of 30 (thirty) calendar days prior to signing of the Acquisition Agreements not being suspended or otherwise rendered impossible of performance (i) for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or (ii) to the extent that completion of the Acquisition would otherwise have taken place during such period, for a period which is reasonably likely to be not less than 30 (thirty) consecutive calendar days, except where such suspension or cessation of operations is capable of remedy and is actually remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Buyer at any time prior to the Longstop Date,
in each case on or before 13 February 2026.
Consideration for the Acquisition
· Under the terms of the Acquisition Agreements, the Seller and the Seller Shareholders will be new Ordinary Shares representing 80% of the Enlarged Ordinary Share Capital (i.e. including the Placing Shares and Bookbuild Offer Shares) on Re-Admission (the "Consideration Shares"). The Consideration Shares will be subject to the Lock-in Arrangements and the Orderly Market Arrangements, with the Seller Shareholders also having entered into a relationship agreement with the Company pursuant to which they will undertake to the Company and Strand Hanson that, for so long as they are collectively interested in Ordinary Shares representing 20% or more of the Company's voting share capital and any of them is individually interested in Ordinary Shares representing 15% or more of the Company's voting share capital, they will not act to unduly influence the Company or its Board and will ensure that transactions entered into with the Company are on a arms' length basis and independently considered by the Company (the "Relationship Agreement").
· The Sale Shares shall be sold to Vast and the Consideration Shares shall be issued with full title guarantee, free of any charges, mortgages, encumbrances or other security interests.
· To the extent that any Placing Shares and Bookbuild Offer Shares are issued for proceeds in excess of the working capital requirements of the Company at Re-Admission (expected to be c. £7.5 million), such excess Placing Shares and Bookbuild Offer Shares shall dilute the holders of existing Ordinary Shares and Consideration Shares pro rata.
· The Proposed Transaction shall supersede and the consideration for the Acquisition (the "Consideration") shall not take account of any existing management option or other rights of refusal, acquisition or subscription rights that Vast has in respect of Gulf's issued and to be issued share capital.
· The Sale Shares in Gulf shall be sold and the Consideration Shares shall be issued with full title guarantee, free of any charges, mortgages, encumbrances or other security interests and the Consideration Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares, including (without limitation) the right to receive all dividends declared, made or paid after completion of the Acquisition.
· The Consideration shall be adjusted following completion of the Acquisition to the extent that any sums have been or are paid out, assets transferred and/or liabilities assumed or incurred by Gulf to any of the Seller, the Seller Shareholders or their respective connected parties, between 30 June 2025 and completion of the Acquisition.
· The Acquisition Agreements provide that each of the Company (on the one hand) and the Seller (on the other hand) shall use all its respective reasonable endeavours to procure that each of the Company and Gulf respectively comply with certain standard pre-completion undertakings in respect of the period between the date of the Acquisition Agreements and completion of the Acquisition, including:
o creating, extending, granting or issuing or agreeing to create, extend or issue any encumbrance over the whole or any part of its business or assets, other than in the ordinary course of business;
o creating or allotting or agreeing to create or allot any share or loan capital or giving or agreeing to give any option in respect of such share or loan capital, other than pursuant to the Share Appreciation Rights ("SARs") granted under the Company's Share Appreciation Rights Scheme (the "SAR Scheme") issued or announced by the Company on or before the date of the Acquisition Agreements; or
o entering into, modifying or terminating or agreeing to enter into, modify or terminate any of its material contracts (as defined in the Acquisition Agreements),
except with the written request or with the prior written consent of the Company or the Seller (as the case may), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Lock-in Arrangements
Lock-in agreements will be entered into by (i) the Company, (ii) Strand Hanson, (iii) Mr. Brian Michael Moritz, Mr. Richard Andrew Prelea, Mr. Paul Edward Fletcher, Mr. Nicholas Philip Hatch, Mr. Nigel Patrick Gordon Wyatt, Mr. Roy Clifford Tucker, Mr. James Andrew Stuart McFarlane, Mr. Vasile Sebastian Albulescu and Mr. Abduljabbar Abdulla Ali Gargash (the "Locked-in Parties") and (iv) the Company's broker(s), pursuant to which each Locked-in Party has, conditional on Re-Admission, undertaken as a separate undertaking to each of the Company, Strand Hanson and Shore Capital that, subject to certain limited exceptions, they will not dispose of, or agree to dispose of, Ordinary Shares held by them or on behalf of them during the period of twelve months following Re-Admission.
Each Locked-in Party will also undertake that for the period of 12 months following the first anniversary of the date of Re-Admission, subject to certain conditions, they will not effect any transfer of Ordinary Shares other than through the Company's broker so as to ensure an orderly market for the issued share capital of the Company.
Orderly Market Arrangements
An orderly market deed will be entered into between (i) the Company, (ii) Strand Hanson, (iii) Mr. Chris G Martinez, Mr. Douglas Ray Craft, Mr. Dennis Reymundo Cruz and Mr. Alexey Manzhosov (the "Non-Rule 7 Parties") and (iv) Shore Capital, pursuant to which each Non-Rule 7 Party will, conditional on Re-Admission, undertake as a separate undertaking to the Company, Strand Hanson and (iv) the Company's broker(s), that, subject to certain limited exceptions, they will not effect any transfer of Ordinary Shares during the Non-Rule 7 Period other than through the Company's broker.
These orderly market undertakings are without prejudice to disposals permitted in limited circumstances, including transfers by personal representatives on death, acceptances of a takeover offer for all of the Ordinary Shares, or transfers required by court order.
Relationship Agreement
On Re-Admission, the Company will enter into a relationship agreement with the Seller Shareholders and Strand Hanson in order to afford Vast certain customary protections.
Further announcements will be made in due course.
**ENDS**
For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.vastplc.com or contact:
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Vast Resources plc Andrew Prelea (CEO) |
+44 (0) 20 7846 0974
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Strand Hanson Limited - Nominated & Financial Adviser James Spinney / James Bellman |
+44 (0) 20 7409 3494
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Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited - Joint Broker Toby Gibbs / James Thomas (Corporate Advisory) |
+44 (0) 20 7408 4050 |
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Axis Capital Markets Limited - Joint Broker |
+44 (0) 20 3206 0320 |
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St Brides Partners Limited Susie Geliher /Charlotte Page / Ana Ribeiro |
vast@stbridespartners.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 |
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by virtue of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
ABOUT VAST RESOURCES
Vast Resources plc is a United Kingdom AIM quoted mining company with mines and projects in Romania, Tajikistan, and Zimbabwe.
In Romania, the Company is focused on the rapid advancement of high-quality projects by recommencing production at previously producing mines.
The Company's Romanian portfolio includes 100% interest in Vast Baita Plai SA which owns 100% of the Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine, located in the Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, an area which hosts Romania's largest polymetallic mines. The mine has a JORC compliant Reserve & Resource Report which underpins the initial mine production life of approximately 3-4 years with an in-situ total mineral resource of 15,695 tonnes copper equivalent with a further 1.8M-3M tonnes exploration target. The Company is now working on confirming an enlarged exploration target of up to 5.8M tonnes.
The Company also owns the Manaila Polymetallic Mine in Romania, which the Company is looking to bring back into production following a period of care and maintenance. The Company has also been granted the Manaila Carlibaba Extended Exploitation Licence that will allow the Company to re-examine the exploitation of the mineral resources within the larger Manaila Carlibaba licence area.
The Company retains a continued presence in Zimbabwe. The Company is re-engaging its future investment strategy in Zimbabwe and has commenced discussions with further mining concessions in-country alongside its wider portfolio.
Vast has an interest in a joint venture company which provides exposure to a near term revenue opportunity from the Takob Mine processing facility in Tajikistan. The Takob Mine opportunity, which is 100% financed, will provide Vast with a 12.25% royalty over all sales of non-ferrous concentrate and any other metals produced.
Also in Tajikistan, Vast has been contracted to develop and manage the Aprelevka gold mines on behalf of its owner Gulf International Minerals Ltd ("Gulf") under which Vast is entitled, inter alia, to 10% of the earnings that Gulf receives from its 49% interest in Aprelevka in joint venture with the government of Tajikistan. Aprelevka holds four active operational mining licences located along the Tien Shan Belt that extends through Central Asia, currently producing approximately 10,400oz of gold and 80,000 oz of silver per annum. It is the intention of the Company to assist in increasing Aprelevka's production from these four mines closer to the historical peak production rates of approximately 27,000oz of gold and 250,000oz of silver per year from the operational mines.
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