
22 May 2025
ATOME PLC
("ATOME", "the Company", or "the Group")
Directors and Senior Managers subscribe for approximately £1.2m New Shares by way of bonus application
Issue Price at 50 pence being a 29% premium to current share price
ATOME (AIM: ATOM), the leading developer of international green fertiliser projects, is pleased to announce a direct subscription by directors and certain senior management (the "Subscription") at a price per Ordinary Share of 50 pence (the "Issue Price") being approximately a 29% premium to the middle market price of the shares of the Company as at the close of business on 21 May 2025.
The Subscription
The Subscription has been made by the application of annual bonuses for the two previously un-awarded full years 2023 and 2024 and has been granted by the independent Remuneration Committee of the Company to the relevant executives pursuant to the terms of their contracts of employment/engagement. The relevant persons are responsible for their own tax liability on such awards. Each have agreed not to dispose of any interest in the bonus-related Subscription Shares until expiry of the period of 6 months from the date of subscription or the declaration of final investment decision ("FID") on the Villeta Project and completion of the full financing whichever shall first occur. Peter Levine, the Chairman, has additionally subscribed for a further 727,660 ordinary shares at the premium Issue Price of 50 pence.
This Subscription, with the lock-in period being at a substantial 29% premium to the current share price, demonstrates management's alignment with shareholders, as well as conviction and belief in the business, prospects and demonstrative value of the Company. In awarding the bonuses, the Remuneration Committee has taken into account the significant milestones achieved by the executives successfully placing ATOME at the forefront in its industry targetting FID at Villeta this year.
ATOME may, within the Directors current authorities, at its discretion extend the Subscription at the Issue Price. Any issue of additional new ordinary shares, if it were to occur, would be announced as soon as possible. Any existing shareholder may through their stockbroker contact the Company.
Subscriptions
Directors
|
Number of Subscription Shares |
Shareholding post issue | Percentage holding in the Company post issue |
Peter Levine* |
800,000 (including 727,660 further subscription)
|
14,765,674 |
28.97% |
Olivier Mussat
|
507,698 |
3,157,597 |
6.20% |
Nikita Levine
|
124,000
|
319,030 |
0.63% |
James Spalding
|
375,940 |
918,895 |
1.80% |
Robert Sheffrin
|
30,000 |
163,672 |
0.32% |
Senior Management
Denis Kurochkin
Terje Bakken
Juan Pablo Nogues
|
200,000
281,955
126,316 |
470,540
519,035
230,106 |
0.92%
1.02%
0.45% |
*through himself or related parties but excluding his concert parties
In aggregate, directors have subscribed for a total of 1,837,638 New Ordinary Shares representing 3.79%. of the existing issued share capital. In addition to the directors, other senior management have subscribed for a total of 608,271 Ordinary Shares.
Concert Party interest
The members of the Concert Party, including Peter Levine, the Chairman and original founder of ATOME (as defined in the Admission Document published on 17 December 2021), are currently interested in aggregate in 37.841% of the existing issued share capital, reducing to 37.838% in the enlarged issued share capital on Admission. As the members of the Concert Party therefore currently hold and will continue to hold on Admission more than 30% but less than 50% of the Company's voting share capital for so long as they continue to be treated as acting in concert, any further increases in the Concert Party's interests in Ordinary Shares are subject to the provisions of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code.
Admission
Application will be made for the Subscription Shares amounting to 2,445,909 in aggregate to be admitted to trading on AIM ("Admission") and it is expected that Admission will become effective at 8.00 am on or around 29 May 2025.
Total Voting Rights
Following Admission, the Company's issued and fully paid share capital will consist of 50,961,206 ordinary shares of 0.2 pence each (the "Ordinary Shares"). The Company has no Ordinary Shares in treasury. As such, the total number of voting rights in the Company will be 50,961,206 Ordinary Shares. This number may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
For more information, please visit https://www.atomeplc.com or contact:
ATOME PLC
| +44 (0) 113 337 2210 |
Beaumont Cornish (Nominated Adviser)
| +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Stifel (Joint Broker) Jason Grossman, Ashton Clanfield | +44 (0) 20 7710 7600 |
SP Angel (Joint Broker) | +44 (0) 20 3490 0470 |
FTI Consulting (Communications Adviser) Elizabeth Adams, Ben Brewerton | +44 (0) 20 3727 1000
|
About ATOME
ATOME PLC is an AIM-listed company targeting green fertiliser production with 445-megawatt of projects in Paraguay and a further pipeline of potential projects in Central America. ATOME is in the early stages of developing a significant green power generation and infrastructure business.
ATOME's first project in Villeta, Paraguay, benefits from a 145MW renewable power purchase agreement and 43 hectares of land in a tax-free zone. Front End Engineering Design studies have been completed and Heads of Terms signed with Yara International, the leading international fertiliser company, for offtake of all of Villeta's green fertiliser production. In early 2025, ATOME announced Hy24, the leading clean hydrogen asset manager, as anchor and lead equity investor in the project, and confirmed the signing of the US$465 million fixed-price EPC contract with leading ammonia and fertilizer engineering specialist Casale S.A. The Company is now negotiating the project finance with a view to commencing work in 2025. There is a further 300MW of renewable power reserved for ATOME in Paraguay.
In Costa Rica, The National Ammonia Corporation S.A. was formed in 2022 with local partner Cavendish S.A. based in Costa Rica to develop green fertiliser projects for the region. As well as straddling the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Costa Rica is a democratic Central American country. In agriculture, Costa Rica is the second largest supplier of pineapples in the world and is in the top ten banana growers.
All power for ATOME is from 100% renewable sources and all chosen sites are located close to the power and water sources and export facilities to serve significant domestic and then international demand.
The Company has a green-focused Board which is supported by major shareholders including Peter Levine, Schroders, a leading fund manager, and Baker Hughes, a global technology company operating in the energy and industry sectors.
Other information
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
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