Firms: K&L Gates (Manuka Resources)  

Deal:  Global law firm K&L Gates has acted for Australian gold and silver production and exploration company Manuka Resources (ASX: MKR) on the company’s successful initial public offer (IPO) and listing on ASX.

Value: Undisclosed.

Area: Capital markets.

Key players: The K&L Gates team that advised Manuka was led by corporate and capital markets partner Russell Lyons, senior associate Joel Farina and lawyer Leon Fung.

Deal significance: The funds raised by Manuka under its heavily oversubscribed IPO will primarily be used to fund infill drilling and exploration programs at both of the company’s highly prospective gold and silver projects in Central Western, NSW, Australia.

The company wholly owns two projects in the mineral-rich Cobar Basin, the 52 million-ounce Wonawinta silver project, which includes an on-site processing facility that began production last month, and the Mt Boppy gold project.

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The projects are located among other tenement packages held by some of Australia’s major mining and exploration companies. Nearby operations include Aurelia Metals’ (ASX: AMI) Peak gold and Hera-Nymagee gold-copper mines, as well as Glencore’s CSA copper mine.

“While the completion of the IPO and ASX listing marks the end of one exciting phase for Manuka, as an ASX-listed entity, it is now well placed, adequately funded, and ready to embark on the next exciting phase of its corporate and operational development,” Manuka’s executive chairman Dennis Karp said.

Mr Lyons added they were pleased to be able to assist Australia’s newest gold producer with its successful IPO and ASX listing. 

“It is not [everyday] that you bring an operational goldmine to the market in the midst of a global pandemic. We congratulate Manuka and very much look forward to being part of their future growth and success,” he said.

The general public offer component of the IPO was managed by leading Australian stockbroker Bell Potter Securities.