Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksR4E.L Regulatory News (R4E)

  • There is currently no data for R4E

Placing

30 Mar 2011 09:39

RNS Number : 9001D
First Artist Corporation PLC
30 March 2011
 

 

 

FIRST ARTIST CORPORATION PLC

 

("First Artist" or the "Company")

 

Placing

Conversion of Unsecured Loan

Related Party Transaction

Issue of Equity

Total Voting Rights

 

First Artist Corporation plc (AIM: FAN) is pleased to announce that it has placed a total of 8,700,000 new ordinary of 2.5 pence each (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 23 pence per share (the "Placing Price") to raise £2 million before expenses (the "Placing"). The Placing is conditional upon admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM.

 

The net proceeds from the Placing, representing new and existing investors from the UK, led by London-based entrepreneur Nigel Wray, will be used to reduce debt and for working capital. This is part of the Company's strategy to de-leverage the Group and enable the Board to continue re-positioning the Group's businesses.

 

Pivot Entertainment LLC ("Pivot") has agreed to capitalize the unsecured loan that it made available to the Group as set out in the announcement of 08 December 2010 ("the Loan"). The Company has taken the decision to convert the debt (consisting of £1,480,323 in principal and interest) into 7,401,615 ordinary shares of the Company ("the Conversion Shares") at a conversion price of 20 pence per share ("the Conversion Price"). The Directors believe that the Conversion Price reflects the early stage investment made by Pivot as well as reducing the indebtedness of the Group.

 

As Pivot is a significant shareholder in the Company, the conversion of the Loan into new ordinary shares by Pivot is a related party transaction under the AIM Rules. The Directors (less Mr. Barbera and Mr. Stoller) consider, having consulted with its Nominated Adviser, Seymour Pierce, that the terms of the Transaction are fair and reasonable insofar as the shareholders are concerned.

 

As previously stated in the announcement made on 8 December 2010, the Company expressed its intention to replace the existing bank facility with a new revolving credit facility. The Company is presently arranging for a new bank facility with Allied Irish Bank (AIB) which based upon recent repayments of certain amounts of debt, will provide the Company with much more favorable interest rates and terms.

 

An announcement will be made at the appropriate time if there is any further change in the financial condition of the Group.

 

Application has been made for the admission ('Admission') of the Placing Shares and Conversion Shares to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. It is expected that Admission will become effective and that dealings will commence on 03 April 2011. Upon issue, the Placing Shares and Conversion Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the Company's existing Ordinary Shares.

 

Following the Placing and the conversion of the Loan, the total number of shares in issue is 65,957,718. There are no shares held in treasury. The total number of voting rights in the Company is therefore 65,957,718.

 

The above figure of 65,957,718 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company, under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

 

Commenting on today's announcement, Jeremy Barbera, Chief Executive of First Artist, said:

 

"During February and March we have successfully raised £4 million in equity, principally to reduce bank debt, and strengthen our balance sheet. We are very grateful to Nigel Wray as well as all our other shareholders for the strong vote of confidence in our ability to re-position First Artist as a leading transatlantic media and entertainment business."

 

Enquiries:

 

First Artist Corporation Plc

Jeremy Barbera/David Stoller/ Shirley Stapleton Tel: +44 20 79930000

 

Seymour Pierce Limited

Stewart Dickson /Tom Sheldon (Corporate Finance) Tel: +44 20 71078000

Katie Ratner (Corporate Broking)

 

Bishopsgate Communications Limited

Duncan McCormick Tel: +44 20 75623350

 

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
IOELIFVTVLIIVIL
Date   Source Headline
13th Oct 20087:30 amRNSAcquisition of SpotCo & Readmission to trading
11th Aug 20087:30 amRNSAcquisition of Spot & Company
11th Aug 20087:30 amRNSSuspension - First Artist Co
8th Aug 200811:30 amRNSDirectorate Change
4th Aug 20081:33 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
29th Jul 20087:00 amRNSTrading Update
21st Jul 20088:00 amRNSChange of Adviser
7th Jul 20087:01 amRNSEarn-out payment
7th Jul 20087:00 amRNSGroup Update
15th May 200810:49 amRNSPotential Disposal
14th Apr 20087:00 amRNSInterim Results
3rd Apr 20087:00 amRNSTrading on PLUS Markets
31st Mar 20087:01 amRNSNotice of Results
3rd Mar 200811:45 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
29th Feb 20087:39 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
26th Feb 20087:00 amRNSTrading Update
22nd Feb 20087:00 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
12th Feb 200811:59 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
7th Feb 20087:01 amRNSDewynters First Earn Out
28th Jan 20087:00 amRNSIFRS Re-statement
18th Jan 200811:44 amRNSAGM Statement
18th Jan 200811:38 amRNSDirectorate Change
5th Dec 20077:00 amRNSNotice of AGM
20th Nov 20078:54 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
19th Nov 200712:25 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
19th Nov 20077:02 amRNSFinal Results
9th Nov 200712:16 pmRNSRudd Guillit joins LA Galaxy
7th Nov 20077:02 amRNSAppointment of PR Adviser
7th Nov 20077:00 amRNSNotice of Results
3rd Oct 20075:14 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
20th Sep 20073:52 pmRNSChange of Address
18th Sep 20073:43 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
18th Sep 20072:54 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
17th Sep 20077:01 amRNSTrading Statement
13th Sep 20077:01 amRNSFinal Earn-Out Payment
11th Sep 20074:08 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
10th Sep 20071:02 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
6th Sep 20077:01 amRNSContract Win
3rd Sep 200712:17 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
30th Aug 200711:36 amRNSResult of EGM
24th Aug 20077:00 amRNSIssue of Equity
21st Aug 200710:02 amRNSRe: AIM Rule 26
6th Aug 20073:38 pmRNSNotice of EGM
1st Aug 200711:09 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
30th Jul 20077:00 amRNSIssue of Equity
7th Jun 20072:20 pmRNSResult of AGM
7th Jun 20077:01 amRNSAGM Statement
30th May 20077:01 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
30th Apr 200711:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
30th Apr 20077:05 amRNSChange of Adviser

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.