3 Jul 2014 18:05
July 3, 2014
Atlas Mara Co-Nvest Limited further strengthens capital position with successful raising of approximately $300 million from its Private Placement and securing of a commitment agreement for a debt facility of up to $200 million
Highlights:
· Atlas Mara has received subscriptions for approximately $300 million via its Private Placement from existing shareholders and new qualified investors.
· The Company has a commitment agreement with respect to a debt facility of up to $200 million, subject to certain customary conditions.
· On readmission and following closing of its Private Placement, Atlas Mara will have access to capital (cash-on-hand and debt) of approximately $700 million to execute its strategy to become sub-Saharan Africa's premier financial services institution.
· Atlas Mara's previously announced acquisitions of ADC African Development Corporation, ABC Holdings Limited and the commercial arm of the Development Bank of Rwanda remain on-track with the launch of the public exchange offer for all shares of ADC African Development Corporation AG being announced separately today.
· The Company is grateful to its shareholders who have shown their commitment by reinvesting through the Private Placement and demonstrating their belief in Atlas Mara's strategic vision.
As announced on May 13, 2014, Atlas Mara Co-Nvest Limited ("Atlas Mara" or "the Company") commenced a private placement of new Ordinary Shares at an issue price of $11 per share (the ''Private Placement''). As of July 1, 2014, the Company received subscriptions for approximately $300 million pursuant to which approximately 27,275,000 new ordinary shares may be issued.
Settlement of the Private Placement, which is subject to certain conditions, is expected to occur simultaneously with the readmission of Atlas Mara's ordinary shares and warrants to trading on the London Stock Exchange following the completion of Atlas Mara's acquisitions of ADC African Development Corporation AG ("ADC") and ABC Holdings Limited (together, the "Transactions"). The final number of shares to be issued is dependent upon the acceptance level achieved in the public exchange offer for all of the shares of ADC, which the Company separately announced today. The Transactions are expected to close around July 31, 2014, subject to regulatory approvals, with readmission taking place shortly thereafter.
Additionally, the Company has also recently entered into a commitment agreement that provides for a debt facility of up to $200 million to support future growth, subject to certain customary conditions. The terms and conditions of the facility are to be agreed upon at the time the Company requests borrowing under the facility.
As a result of the above initiatives and including its $325 million IPO in December 2013, upon readmission of Atlas Mara's shares to trading, the Company will have raised equity capital and obtained access to debt facilities totaling approximately $825 million and, pro forma for the transactions described herein, have cash-on-hand and debt financing totaling approximately $700 million, which will be used to implement the Company's strategy of building the premier financial services institution in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Contact details
StockWell Communications, +44 (0)20 7240 2486
Anthony Silverman
Robert Morgan
Sard Verbinnen & Co, +1 (212) 687 8080
David Reno
Margaret Popper
About Atlas-Mara
Atlas Mara was formed by Bob Diamond, Founder of Atlas Merchant Capital LLC and Ashish J Thakkar, Founder of Mara Group Holdings Limited, and listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2013.
The stated strategy of the Company is that following an acquisition, it will operate the acquired business and implement a strategy with a view to generating value for its shareholders through operational improvements as well as potentially through additional complementary acquisitions.
The Directors believe that there are significant gaps in the financial services sector in Africa today at a critical period of growth, including the need for capital created by European financial institutions retreating to their home territories due to the sovereign debt crisis and the Basel III regulatory framework. This situation presents opportunities for Atlas Mara to create a financial institution that provides leadership, liquidity, access to investors, product innovation, and technology to support economic growth and strengthen financial systems in Africa.
For more information, visit the Company's website at www.Atlasmara.com.
Important Notices / Disclaimer
This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, nor any solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of any securities.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements which are based on the Atlas Mara's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and the actual events or consequences may differ materially from those contained in or expressed by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by applicable law, Atlas Mara undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.