POET Technologies Announces $5,000,000 Private Placement
TORONTO, ONTARIO and STORRS, CONNECTICUT--(Marketwired - Jan 30, 2014) - POET Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE:PTK)(OTCQX:POETF) ("POET") or (the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement financing of approximately 7,692,308 Units at a price of C$0.65 per unit for proceeds of up to C$5,000,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant allows the holder to acquire one additional common share of POET for a period of 2 years at an exercise price of C$1.00 per share. The private placement was price protected at $0.50 per unit but in light of the recent run-up in the share price, the subscribers have agreed to the increased subscription price. The private placement is conditional upon acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All of the securities issued pursuant to the private placement will be subject to a hold period which expires four months and one day following closing. No commission is payable with respect to this financing which is scheduled to close on February 12, 2014.
The proceeds will be used to fund the Company's internal and third party development efforts necessary to complete the milestones required to enable the monetization of the POET Technology. The proceeds will also cover general and administrative expenses, and working capital. There are currently 132,676,115 shares issued and outstanding.
The Company also wishes to announce that management of the Company will be recommending that Mr. Richard Patricio be proposed as a nominee to the Board of Directors at the next shareholders meeting in June, 2014, subject to formal Board approval. Mr. Patricio is Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs at Pinetree Capital Ltd., a Toronto-based diversified investment, financial advisory and venture capital firm, where he is responsible for merger and acquisition activity, corporate transactions, compliance, corporate governance and administration. He is currently a director of several US and Canadian-based companies. Mr. Patricio received his law degree from Osgoode Hall, Toronto, was called to the Ontario bar in 2000 and subsequently practiced law at a large Canadian law firm before joining Pinetree.
"We look forward to Mr. Patricio joining the Board with his vast experience" said Mr. Peter Copetti, Executive Director of POET. Mr. Copetti added: "The Board is pleased that Pinetree Capital and other strategic investors have demonstrated their vote of confidence in Management's ability to monetize the Company's POET technology. The $5 million dollar placement strengthens POET's balance sheet and ensures that the Company is well capitalized to enable it to continue implementing its strategy to monetize the POET technology and increase shareholder value.