Mwana Africa Plc Statement re High Court Petition
09/12/2014 4:31pm
UK Regulatory
TIDMMWA
9 December 2014
Mwana Africa PLC
("Mwana" or the "Company")
High Court Petition
Mwana today announces that the Board received notice on the evening of 8
December 2014 from China International Mining Group Corporation ("CIMGC"), a
substantial shareholder in Mwana, and Mr Yat Hoi Ning, a Non-Executive Director
and associate of CIMGC, (together the "Petitioners") that the Petitioners'
lawyers had filed a petition at the High Court of Justice, Companies Court in
London, on the same day against the Company and two of its Non-Executive
Directors, Mr Stuart Morris and Mr Johan Botha. The petition refers to the
recent passing of Resolution 3 at the Company's Annual General Meeting held on
10 September 2014, which related to the re-appointment of Mr Stuart Morris as a
director of the Company, and alleges that the resolution was not validly
passed.
As previously announced on 10 September, the votes of CIMGC and associates were
not counted in the poll in respect of Resolution 3 and were deemed inadmissible
because the votes, as cast, infringed the Relationship Agreement entered into
with the Company on 2 April 2012. The Company remains firmly of the view that
Resolution 3 was validly passed, and has taken legal advice which supports this
position.
The Company is disappointed to have received the petition and that an amicable
solution to CIMGC and Mr Ning's concerns could not have been reached through
more customary channels. The Company remains committed to attempting to work
with the Petitioners to achieve a mutually acceptable resolution to their
complaints but will defend its position vigorously in court proceedings if
required.
An initial directions hearing has been scheduled at the Companies Court for 11:
30am on 7 January 2015. Further announcements with regard to this matter will
be made in due course, as appropriate.
For further information please visit www.mwanaafrica.com or contact:
Mwana Africa PLC Tel: +44 (0) 20 7654 5580
Kalaa Mpinga, CEO Tel: +44 (0) 20 7654 5580
Caroline Mathonsi, Investor Relations
Nominated Adviser and Broker Tel: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900
Peel Hunt LLP
Matthew Armitt / Ross Allister
Public Relations Tel: +27 (0) 11 880 3924
Russell and Associates
Jim Jones/Leigh King
END