Chaarat Gold Holdings completed block trade of shares

Exploration and development company Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited, domiciled in the British Virgin Islands and listed on AIM market, announced the successful completion of a block trade of 11,671,832 ordinary shares of US$0.01 each on 21 October 2016. The traded shares represent 3.3% of the issued share capital of the BVI company, and the trade was completed at a price of 8.5 pence per share to place the entire shareholding of First State Investment Management (UK) Limited. More than 50 per cent of the shares were taken by new shareholders.

Having purchased 587,647 ordinary shares, Labro Investments Limited held 113,764,572 ordinary shares of US$0.01 each, representing 32.3% of the issued share capital of Chaarat Gold Holdings. BVI company's chairman Martin Andersson has indirect beneficial interest in the majority of the Labro shares.

Following the purchase of 1,150,000 ordinary shares, non-executive director of Chaarat, Martin Wiwen-Nilsson, held 8,476,010 ordinary shares, representing 2.4% of the issued share capital of the company. Following the purchase of 2,550,000 ordinary shares, Sarastro Group Limited held 16,021,166 shares making 4.6% of the issued share capital of the company.

11,712,996 ordinary shares may be acquired by the concert party consisting of Labro, Martin Wiwen-Nilsson, Dominik Dolenec, Abingdon Trust, Willem De Geer and Sarastro, within 6 months from 1 October 2016.

Origin Agritech signed agreement to sell its seed production and distribution business

BVI-registered crop seed biotechnological company Origin Agritech Ltd. entered into a definitive agreement for sale of its China-based commercial corn seed production and distribution business to Beijing Shihui Agricultural Development Co, Ltd., an internet enterprise providing agricultural products and technology services to farmers, suppliers and agriculture-related enterprises in China. The business is sold for approximately USD$60 million as part of company management's plan to develop Origin as a global seed germplasm and biotech trait leader. It is considered that the sale of Origin's commercial seed business would strengthen its balance sheet and enable it to focus on biotechnology trait and seed germplasm research.

The transaction is expected to be closed in the first quarter of 2017, and is subject to customary closing conditions and shareholder approval. According to the agreement, the buyer of BVI company's business will enter into separate license agreements, to pay a royalty stream for the present and future product portfolio, and a technology access fee for the research and development.

By words of Origin CEO Bill Niebur, through this transaction and the development of North American non-GM business, the company is setting the stage for compelling growth opportunities.

BVI company investing in Cadillac Ventures Inc., private placement announced

Cadillac Ventures Inc. has announced a proposed investment of US$900,000 through a non-brokered private placement, from three independent investors to acquire 18 million units at US$0.05 each, with each unit consisting of one common share and one warrant exercisable at US$0.05 to acquire one common share for a period of 24 months. After the issuance of the units the company will have a total of 52,669,881 common shares.

One of the new investors is British Virgin Islands-incorporated Best Path Developments Limited which will hold 7,571,364 common shares making 14.375%. If the unit warrants were exercised it could control 25.1% of Cadillac. The BVI company is controlled by Mr. Youliang Wang who is to be appointed as Chairman of Cadillac and a member of its Board of Directors. The other two purchasers acquire 9.9% of Cadillac, so the exercised warrants will be over 10%.

The private placement is planned to close on October 3, 2016. A four month hold period will apply to the issued securities. The proceeds from the private placement will be used for general working capital.