** Shares of Lucapa Diamond LOM.AX fall as much as 45% to a record low of A$0.022

** LOM shares mark their worst intraday drop since Nov. 8, 2010

** Co to raise A$2.67 mln ($1.72 mln) through placement of 133.5 mln shares

** New shares to be issued at A$0.02 apiece, a 50% discount to Dec. 2 close when trading was halted pending the announcement

** Funds raised to be utilised for the Merlin Diamond Project and additional working capital

** Stock has fallen ~86% YTD

($1 = 1.5545 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Namrata Verma)

((Namrata.Verma@thomsonreuters.com;))