Astra Resources targets Entry Standard upgrade on Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2012

International diversified resources company, Astra Resources Plc (FWB Code: 9AR), will look to upgrade its listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to the Entry Standard in 2012 and, in the future, to the General Standard and/or another major global exchange in 2013/2014.

With revenue growth expected in 2012 and 2013 management has decided, in terms of its Frankfurt Stock Exchange listing status, to improve the listing status of Astra within the next 24 months in order to better reflect the company's growth and assets.

The move to the Entry Standard or an EU law regulated board is a step towards the release of a future global prospectus for an IPO of Astra stock which is likely to be backed by leading investment banks in New York, London, Frankfurt and Asia.

The Entry Standard is similar to the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in London. Astra intends to upgrade from Frankfurt's First Quotation Board (FQB) to the Entry Standard in the next few months and a prospectus will be released later this year in conjunction with the aforementioned IPO.

The Entry Standard is a segment within the Open Market (regulated unofficial market) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the stock exchange of Deutsche Börse AG, and is Astra's next step on the way to General Standard segment (an EU Regulated Market segment) or other major global exchange and is a well- accepted access point to the capital market.

Astra CEO Dr Jaydeep Biswas says this is an important step forward for Astra as we establish ourselves as a truly international diversified resources company.

“Listing on the Entry Standard in 2012 and in future on the General Standard or other major global exchange in 2013/2014 requires a higher level of disclosure, transparency and reporting which will appeal to both our growing base of institutional and retail investors,” Dr Biswas says.

Astra Managing Director Silvana De Cianni says Astra is continually adding to its global portfolio.

“Astra’s move to the Entry Standard and later on to the General Standard segment or other major global exchange will not only make us a more attractive investment opportunity, but also increase our presence on a wider scale,” Ms De Cianni says.

“The inclusion of our shares in exchange trading in the Entry Standard and at a later stage at the General Standard or other major global exchange provides Astra with one of the fastest and most professional ways of accessing the Frankfurt stock market in terms of institutional funds and bonds supporting our global expansion plans.”
 
In addition to an increasing amount of disclosure and transparency for Astra's investors and shareholders resulting from these listing upgrades, Astra's management has engaged Squire Sanders, a leading global law firm (www.squiresanders.com), to assist Astra in completing and filing the future IPO securities prospectus.

Furthermore, Astra confirmed today that management has recently visited London and has interviewed a major global accounting and audit firm, which will be another step towards full audit transparency and a reliably focussed Corporate Governance policy.

Astra Resources’ global portfolio includes gold interest in Southeast Asia, coal mine in Africa, iron ore in India and the Philippines, the production of the high-strength T-Steel technology in Hungary, carbon-efficiency businesses and the provision of mining services housing in Rockhampton, Queensland.

Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/25563/astra-resources-targets-entry-standard-upgrade-on-frankfurt-stock-exchange-in-2012-25563.html