5 Jan 2017 11:50
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, OR REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.
fastjet Plc("fastjet", the "Company" or the "Group")
5 January 2017
Result of Placing
fastjet, the low-cost African airline, is pleased to announce that, following the announcement earlier today regarding the launch of a proposed placing (the "Placing"), it has successfully placed 143,449,794 new ordinary shares (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 16.3 pence per share (the "Issue Price") raising gross proceeds of US$28.8 million. Completion of the Placing is conditional, inter alia, on the approval of shareholders in a general meeting of the Company, expected to be on 23 January 2017 and admission of the Placing Shares to trading on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange plc ("Admission").
The Placing was conducted by way of an accelerated book-building process. Liberum Capital Limited ("Liberum") acted as sole bookrunner on the Placing.
The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 2 per cent to the closing price of 16.625 pence per Ordinary Share on 4 January 2017, being the last business day prior to the announcement of the Placing.
Nico Bezuidenhout, Interim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has agreed to subscribe for 124,522 new ordinary shares at the Issue Price as part of the Placing. Following the Placing Mr Bezuidenhout's holding of 124,522 new ordinary shares will represent 0.04 per cent. of the enlarged issued share capital.
As announced earlier today, the Company has entered into the Solenta Agreement, in respect of which the Company expects to issue Solenta 95,633,199 new ordinary shares (the "Consideration Shares") on Admission, subject to completion of the Placing.
Application will be made for the Placing Shares and Consideration Shares, in aggregate 239,082,993 ordinary shares, to be admitted to trading on AIM, which is expected to occur at 8.00am on or around 24 January 2017.
Each of M&G Investment Management Ltd and JO Hambro Capital Management Limited, by virtue of both entities holding more than 10 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of the Company, are considered a related party of the Company and their participation in the Placing is considered as a 'related party transaction' under the AIM Rules for Companies. The Directors consider, having consulted with the Company's Nominated Adviser, that the terms of the Placing are fair and reasonable in so far as its Shareholders are concerned.
This announcement contains inside information which is disclosed in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms are as defined in the announcement made earlier today.
ENDS
For more information, contact:
fastjet Plc | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3651 6307 |
Nico Bezuidenhout, Interim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
Lisa Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer | |
UK media - Citigate Dewe Rogerson | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7638 9571 |
Toby Moore | |
Eleni Menikou | |
Nick Hayns | |
For investor enquiries please contact: |
Liberum Capital Limited - Nominated Adviser and Broker | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2222 |
Clayton Bush | |
Christopher Britton Jill Li | |
NOTES TO EDITORS
About fastjet Plc
fastjet Plc is the holding company of the low cost airline fastjet which commenced flights under the fastjet brand in Tanzania in November 2012. By adhering to international standards of safety, quality, security and reliability; fastjet has brought a new flying experience to the African market at unprecedented low prices. Utilising a fleet of modern jet aircraft, fastjet has a long term strategy to implement the low-cost carrier model across Africa to become the continent's first low-cost, pan-Africa airline.
The results of the second quarter 2016 customer satisfaction surveys showed that an average of 73% of customers were likely to recommend fastjet to a friend. In developing its strong brand and identity, fastjet has won and been nominated for a number of awards, including Africa's Leading Low-Cost Airline 2016 at the 23rd World Travel Awards, winning three Transform awards for the rebrand and launch of fastjet, the award for "Brand Strategy of the Year" at 2014's Drum Marketing Awards in London, and the Transport Innovator Award at the 8th Transport Africa Awards 2015 in Johannesburg.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation.
fastjet Plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM Market.
For more information see www.fastjet.com