Thoresen Thai Agencies raises THB 3,964 million through a rights offering
Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Company Limited ("TTA") today announced that it has successfully raised THB 3,964 million to fund its business expansion plans through a rights offering (“RO”), the company reports. The company’s paid-up share capital will increase from THB 708,004,413 to THB 991,206,164, following the allocation of 283,201,751 newly issued ordinary shares to existing shareholders. The newly issued shares will begin trading shortly.
Existing shareholders were given the opportunity to subscribe to two newly issued shares at a price of THB 14.00 per share for every five existing shares they owned and were allowed to subscribe for excess rights of up to 50% of their owned shares. The RO was oversubscribed by nearly 8%.
Shareholders who participated in the RO will also receive warrants at a ratio of one warrant to two newly subscribed shares. Each warrant has a 30-month term and is exercisable into one newly issued share at a price of THB 17.00. Assuming full conversion of the warrants, an additional sum of THB 2,407 million is expected to be raised over the next 30 months. The newly issued warrants will trade under the symbol TTA W-3 beginning on 21 March 2013.
TTA Executive Vice Chairman and shareholder Mr. Chalermchai Mahagitsiri stated, “We are extremely pleased that our shareholders have come out to support the plan put forward by management and the Board. The rationale to solidify and grow the company’s asset base is strong indeed, and now that the rights issue has been completed successfully, we will put our focus towards identifying and purchasing assets for our dry bulk shipping and offshore services businesses.”
Dry bulk shipping vessels, both new and second-hand, are becoming advantageously priced, as the business remains at or near the bottom of its industry cycle. The purchase of assets today will allow TTA to invest counter-cyclically, in anticipation of an up-turn in the next 18 months.
The purchase of new-build tender drilling rigs will also be explored, since Mermaid’s two active tender drilling rigs are approaching the end of their useful lives.
“We have already begun to explore opportunities to purchase targeted assets in the new-build and second hand market,” added M.L. Chandchutha Chandratat, TTA’s President & CEO. “Our banking partners have shown interest and expressed positive feedback regarding our fleet renewal plans as well as our business model. With their continued support, we expect to be able to execute well-priced purchases on advantageous terms that will help build long term, sustainable value through a lower-cost asset base than many of our competitors.”
About TTA
Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Company Limited ("TTA") is a strategic investment holding company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (TTA:TB). Its investment strategy is to grow through a balanced and diversified business portfolio of transport, energy, and infrastructure assets, both domestically and internationally. TTA’s evolution away from a pure dry bulk shipping operator began in 1995 with an investment in Mermaid Maritime Public Company Limited, which has since been listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange (MMT:SP). Since then, TTA has acquired interests in fertiliser and logistics (Baconco Co., Ltd.) coal-related businesses (SKI Energy Resources Inc, Merton Group (Cyprus) Limited, and Unique Mining Services Public Company Limited), petroleum tankers (Petrolift, Inc), and a port in Southern Vietnam (Baria