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Quantum Helium #QHE – £5 Million Institutional Placing Positions Quantum for Next Phase of Growth
Quantum Helium Limited (AIM: QHE) is pleased to announce it has today raised £5 million (before expenses) by way of a conditional placing of 16,666,666,667 new ordinary shares (the “Placing Shares”) at a price of 0.03 pence per share (the “Placing Price”) (the “Placing”).
The Placing was arranged by OAK Securities and was undertaken with a number of institutional investors who approached the Company, reflecting growing interest in Quantum’s asset base and the strategic importance of domestic US helium supply.
Highlights
- £5 million institutional placing
- Cornerstoned by institutional investors following inbound demand
- Validates the strength of Quantum’s helium portfolio and US strategic positioning
- Funding supports the next phase of development at Sagebrush and Coyote Wash
- Multiple near-term catalysts, including results from the Company’s extended production test at Sagebrush
- Strengthened balance sheet and cash resources positions the Company well for next phase of growth
Background to the Placing
The Company has received increasing inbound interest from institutional investors in recent months, driven by the scale and quality of its helium portfolio and the growing strategic importance of helium as a critical commodity.
Helium plays an essential role in a wide range of high-value industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, AI infrastructure, medical imaging and advanced manufacturing, with demand continuing to increase.
At the same time, global helium supply remains constrained, with recent geopolitical developments, including disruptions in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of secure and domestic supply chains. This backdrop has resulted in increased investor focus on US-based helium development opportunities.
Quantum believes it is well positioned within this environment, with a portfolio of helium assets located in a proven US helium fairway and a clear pathway towards development and production.
Use of Funds
Proceeds from the Placing will be used to:
- Advance development planning and engineering at the Sagebrush Project
- Progress permitting, planning and progressing to drill-ready targets at Coyote Wash (100% owned)
- Fund well planning, long-lead items and infrastructure design at the Company’s Sagebrush and Coyote Wash projects
- Support ongoing technical work, including seismic interpretation and subsurface modelling
- Provide additional working capital and financial flexibility
The Company’s extended production test at the Sagebrush-1 well which remains the key near-term operational milestone is being funded from existing cash resources.
Current Operations
As announced on 16 April 2026, the extended production test at the Sagebrush-1 well is progressing well, with operations advancing in line with expectations.
The next phase of operations will focus on the perforation and testing of the first of two zones in the Leadville Formation. The Lower Leadville will be tested first, followed by a test of the upper Leadville where the DST was previously run. Perforations are scheduled to start this coming week.
The testing programme is designed to evaluate flow characteristics and confirm historical helium concentrations, including the previously reported 2.76% helium, and represents a critical step towards converting resources into reserves and advancing towards commercial development.
The Company expects a number of significant operational updates in the coming weeks as testing progresses through this key phase.
Carl Dumbrell, Chairman of Quantum Helium, said: “This is a very strong outcome for the Company and we are pleased to have secured the support of a number of high-quality institutional investors who recognised the strength of our asset base and the opportunity we are developing.
The Placing reflects increasing awareness of the strategic importance of helium, particularly in the United States, where there is a growing need for secure and domestic supply. Recent global events have further highlighted supply constraints, and we believe Quantum is well positioned to play a role in addressing this.
Importantly, this funding places the Company in the strongest financial position it has ever been in and allows us to accelerate our development plans while maintaining momentum across our operations.
We look forward to delivering on the significant milestones ahead and continuing to build value for shareholders.”
Quantum Chief Executive, Howard McLaughlin, added: “As outlined in our recent operational update, the extended production test program at Sagebrush-1 is progressing well and represents a major step towards unlocking the commercial potential of this project.
We are particularly excited about the upcoming perforation of the Lower Leadville Formation, which is expected to provide critical data on helium concentrations and flow rates. This will build on the historic results and further strengthen our understanding of the reservoir.
With this successful placing, we are now fully funded to execute our broader work programme across both Sagebrush and Coyote Wash. We have a number of important and exciting milestones ahead and remain confident in the outcome of the extended production test.
Our focus is firmly on progressing our projects towards commercialisation and establishing Quantum as a leading helium developer in the United States.
Additional Information
Quantum Helium has appointed OAK Securities (a trading name of Merlin Partners LLP), to act as the Company’s exclusive bookrunner and placement agent in connection with the Placing. Subject to and conditional on Admission, OAK Securities will be paid an annual broker retainer of £50,000 payable in cash, a one-off corporate advisory fee of £15,000 payable in cash, a cash commission in an amount equal to six per cent (6.0%) of the gross proceeds raised pursuant to the Placing. The Company will also issue OAK Securities warrants (the “Broker Warrants“) to subscribe for 6.0% of the number of Placing Shares placed in the Placing, with such Broker Warrants being exercisable at a price per share equal to the Issue Price for 3 years from the date of the closing of the Placing.
The Placing Shares, when issued and fully paid, will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Common Shares in issue and therefore will rank equally for all dividends or other distributions declared, made or paid after the issue of the new Placing Shares.
Admission to AIM and Total Voting Rights
The Placing is conditional, inter alia, upon the Placing Shares being admitted to trading on AIM. Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the Placing Shares, which will rank pari passu with the Company’s existing issued ordinary shares, to be admitted to trading on AIM and dealings are expected to commence at 8:00 a.m. on or around 23 April 2026.
Following the issue of the Placing Shares, the Company’s total voting rights will comprise 49,985,396,722 Ordinary Shares of no par value, and the Company does not hold any shares in treasury. The above figure may therefore be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the Companies’ Articles.
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 (‘MAR’) which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon publication via Regulatory Information Service (‘RIS’), this information is now in the public domain
Enquiries:
| Quantum Helium Limited
Carl Dumbrell Chairman
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NOMAD and Joint Broker
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Stuart Gledhill / Richard Hail / Adam Cowl +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 |
| Brand Communications
Alan Green Tel: +44 (0) 7976 431608 |
Joint Broker
CMC Markets UK Plc Douglas Crippen +44 (0) 020 3003 8632 Joint Broker OAK Securities Jerry Keen / Robert Bell Tel: +44 (0) 203 973 3678
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Updates on the Company’s activities are regularly posted on its website: www.quantum-helium.com
Notes to editors
Quantum (AIM: QHE) is a helium and hydrocarbon exploration, development, and production company with projects in the US and Australia. Quantum’s strategic objectives remain consistent: to identify opportunities which will provide operating cash flow and have development upside, in conjunction with progressing exploration. The Company has several projects in the US, in addition to royalty interests in Australia.
ECR Minerals #ECR – OAK Securities initiates coverage with BUY rating
OAK Securities initiates coverage of ECR Minerals with BUY rating and 0.58p price target. “ECR raised £1.5 million in early January and £0.75 million in October 2025, and it is now preparing to generate revenue from its Ralgan operation, putting the company in a strong financial position. We initiate coverage with a BUY rating and a price target of 0.58p per share.” Full note here
Blencowe Resources #BRES – Oak Securities initiates coverage
Blencowe Resources Plc (LSE: BRES) announces that Oak Securities has published an initiation research note, which is now publicly available on the Company’s website.
The note reviews Blencowe’s Orom-Cross Graphite Project in Uganda and reflects recent operational and corporate milestones, including the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”), which outlines a staged development strategy.
The research also references the Company’s expanding resource footprint following recent drilling at the newly identified Iyan and Beehive deposits. At Beehive, recently announced deep holes have intersected thick, continuous graphite mineralisation to depths of around 100 metres, with all holes ending in graphite. Assay results from a further c.180 shallow and step-out holes across these new deposits remain pending and are expected to be incorporated into an updated JORC Resource in due course.
The DFS defines an initial 15-year mine life based on a relatively small portion of the licence area, with scope for substantial life extension as additional resources are incorporated. The study also highlights Orom-Cross’ low projected operating costs, staged capital intensity and exposure to higher-value downstream graphite products.
Blencowe continues to progress funding discussions with a range of strategic, institutional and development finance groups as it advances Orom-Cross toward construction and production.
A copy of the Oak Securities research note is available at:
Investors and stakeholders can also register to receive Company updates, including regulatory announcements and media releases, via Blencowe’s mailing list at:
**ENDS**
For further information please contact:
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Blencowe Resources Plc |
www.blencoweresourcesplc.com
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Sam Quinn (Director) |
Tel: +44 (0)1624 681 250
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Sasha Sethi (Investor Relations) |
Tel: +44 (0) 7891 677 441 sasha.sethi@blencoweresourcesplc.com |
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Tavira Financial (Joint Broker)
Jonathan Evans |
Tel: +44 (0)20 3192 1733 |
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Oak Securities (Joint Broker)
Calvin Man /Mungo Sheehan / Jerry Keen |
Tel: +44 (0)20 3973 3678 |
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ECR Minerals #ECR – Placing to raise £1.5 million and Appointment of Joint Broker
Institutional support positions ECR for next stage of growth
ECR Minerals plc (LON: ECR), the gold exploration and development company focused on Australia, announces that it has conditionally raised £1.5 million (before expenses) by way of a placing with institutional and other investors (the “Fundraising”) for a total of 576,923,068 new ordinary shares of 0.001 pence each in the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) at a price of 0.26 pence per new Ordinary Share (the “Issue Price”).
The Fundraising marks an important milestone for ECR, providing the Company with the capital strength to accelerate its production and exploration strategy across Queensland and Victoria. With initial gold production at Raglan expected this month and development underway at Blue Mountain, the Board considers that ECR is now positioned to transition into a multi-project gold producer and explorer.
The Directors intend that the majority of the net proceeds of the Fundraising will be used to advance ECR’s projects in Queensland and Victoria, specifically:
- Finalising preparations to bring the Blue Mountain gold project in Queensland, Australia (the “Blue Mountain Project”) into production to generate revenue for the Company, including securing all necessary equipment for production (noting that ECR expects some sharing of resources, and therefore economies of operation, between its Blue Mountain Project and the Raglan alluvial gold project in Queensland (the “Raglan Project”)
- Targeted exploration at the Lolworth Project, North Queensland, Australia (the “Lolworth Project”) where last year’s maiden drilling campaign produced notable shallow intercepts of gold and silver. At a 900 km2 project area, the Lolworth Project is considered by the Board to represent a potentially significant multi-metal opportunity for ECR
- Developing the Company’s partnership with the Geological Survey of Queensland and James Cook University to further investigate the critical minerals potential at the Lolworth Project
- Advancing ECR’s projects in Victoria, primarily at the Bailieston Project area (the “Bailieston Project”), where previous drilling has indicated the presence of gold at shallow depth and potentially high grade antimony
The Directors also intend to apply the net proceeds of the Fundraising towards ECR’s corporate and working capital purposes. Following completion of the Fundraising, and taking account of its forthcoming production plans at the Raglan and Blue Mountain Projects, the Board believes that ECR should be funded for all currently planned activities until very significantly beyond the end of 2026.
In the medium to longer term, the Directors believe that the cashflow potential from gold production from the Raglan Project, once that project is fully operational, has the potential to cover all of the Company’s overheads and bringing Blue Mountain into production has the potential to support ECR’s currently contemplated future exploration and development operations.
Details of the Fundraising
The Company has conditionally raised £1.5 million (before expenses) through the Fundraising for a total of 576,923,068 new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price. The new Ordinary Shares will be issued on a non-pre-emptive basis pursuant to the authorities granted to the Board at the Company’s annual general meeting held on 23 April 2025.
The new Ordinary Shares, when issued and fully paid, will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue and therefore will rank equally for all dividends or other distributions declared, made or paid after the issue of the new Ordinary Shares.
The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 22 per cent. to the closing middle market price of 0.335 pence per Ordinary Share on 7 January 2026, being the latest business day prior to the announcement of the Fundraising.
OAK Securities (“OAK Securities”) acted as the Company’s broker in connection with the Fundraising.
Joint Broker Appointment and Broker Warrants
The Company is also pleased to announce that OAK Securities has been appointed as a Joint Broker to the Company with immediate effect. OAK Securities has agreed that its fees for the first year of its appointment as Joint Broker will be payable by the Company in 23,076,923 new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price, which are to be issued upon Admission (as defined below).
In connection with the Fundraising, the Company will issue, on completion of the Fundraise, 42,307,692 warrants to OAK Securities (the “Broker Warrants”). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one new Ordinary Share exercisable at the Issue Price. OAK Securities has agreed that the Broker Warrants will not be exercised for at least six months. Thereafter the Broker Warrants are exercisable at any time until the third year anniversary of Admission. The Broker Warrants will not be tradeable, transferable nor CREST-enabled.
Admission and Total Voting Rights
An application will be made to London Stock Exchange plc (“London Stock Exchange”) for the 599,999,991 new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (“Admission”) and it is currently anticipated that Admission will become effective, and that dealings in the new Ordinary Shares will commence on AIM, at 8.00 a.m. on or around 15 January 2026. Completion of the Fundraising is conditional on Admission.
Upon Admission, the Company’s issued ordinary share capital will consist of 3,290,888,016 Ordinary Shares with one voting right each. The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury. Therefore, from Admission the total number of Ordinary Shares and voting rights in the Company will be 3,290,888,016. With effect from Admission, this figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
Nick Tulloch, ECR’s Chairman, commented: “Today’s £1.5 million Fundraising is a major step forward for ECR and we are delighted by the backing received from institutional investors. This support reflects confidence in both our strategy and our progress as we establish ECR as a multi-site gold company.
“Our immediate focus is on near-term production. At the Raglan Project, with an operating team now secured, the Board expects initial gold this month. The Blue Mountain Project, which represents a significantly larger opportunity, continues to validate its commercial potential following last year’s drilling and wash-plant work, and we are advancing our preparations for development.
“At the same time, we remain committed to unlocking the considerable exploration upside across our broader portfolio – including at the Lolworth Project, which we consider has significant multi-metal potential, and our Victorian projects where our work to date indicates shallow gold and high-grade antimony mineralisation offering further opportunities.
“With this Fundraising, our strong project pipeline and A$76 million of tax losses available to offset future production profits, we consider that ECR is now well-capitalised and positioned to develop into a significant mining and exploration company in 2026 and beyond.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
| ECR Minerals Plc | Tel: +44 (0) 20 8080 8176 |
| Nick Tulloch, Chairman
Andrew Scott, Director |
info@ecrminerals.com |
| Website: www.ecrminerals.com | |
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| Allenby Capital Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 3328 5656 |
| Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Alex Brearley / Nick Naylor / Vivek Bhardwaj (Corporate Finance) Kelly Gardiner (Sales and Corporate Broking) |
info@allenbycapital.com
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| OAK Securities | Tel: +44 (0) 203 973 3678 |
| Joint Broker | |
| Jerry Keen / Robert Bell | |
| Axis Capital Markets Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 203 026 0320 |
| Joint Broker | |
| Lewis Jones | |
| SI Capital Ltd | Tel: +44 (0) 1483 413500 |
| Joint Broker | |
| Nick Emerson | |
| Brand Communications | Tel: +44 (0) 7976 431608 |
| Public & Investor Relations | |
| Alan Green |
ABOUT ECR MINERALS PLC
ECR Minerals is a mineral exploration and development company operating through three wholly owned Australian subsidiaries ECR Minerals (Australia) Pty Ltd (“ECR Australia”), ECR Minerals (Queensland) Pty Ltd (“ECR Queensland”) and Raglan Resources Pty Ltd (“Raglan Resources”).
ECR Australia owns the Bailieston and Creswick gold projects in central Victoria, Australia as well as the Tambo gold project in eastern Victoria.
Raglan Resources has a mining lease at the Raglan alluvial gold project in central Queensland, Australia and ECR Queensland has two approved exploration permits over the nearby Blue Mountain alluvial gold project. ECR is currently working to bring both projects into production. ECR Queensland also has three approved exploration permits covering 946 km2 over a relatively unexplored area in Lolworth Range in northern Queensland. Furthermore, it has also submitted a licence application at Kondaparinga which is approximately 120km2 in area and located within the Hodgkinson Gold Province, 80km NW of Mareeba, North Queensland.
Following the sale of the Avoca, Moormbool and Timor gold projects in Victoria, Australia to Fosterville South Exploration Ltd (TSX-V: FSX) and the subsequent spin-out of the Avoca and Timor projects to Leviathan Gold Ltd (TSX-V: LVX), ECR Australia has the right to receive up to A$2 million in payments subject to future resource estimation or production from these projects.
ECR Australia also has approximately A$76 million of unutilised tax losses incurred during previous operations.