Oando Plc may have realised about N62 billion from its Rights Issue, indicating an oversubscription of N8 billion or 14 per cent, a source close to the regulators has exclusively revealed.
The integrated energy firm had issued 4.548 billion shares to existing shareholders at N12 per share to raise N54.6 billion between December 2012 and February 2013.
THISDAY checks showed that the offer had recorded an over subscription of N8 billion, translating to about N62.6 billion total subscription due to high investor demand.
This is coming on the heels of recent bullish run of the company’s share price as investors continue to show confidence for the blue-chip stock. Analysts are betting on post-rights issue valuation that suggests a 60 per cent upside to the Rights Offer price and therefore recommending ‘BUY’ rating.
According to a capital market watcher, the positive response to Oando’s Rights Issue is a very good sign for the market as it is the first true market test since the bourse went cold on the back of the global economic deceleration.
The market expert believed that shareholders have responded to a positive outlook based on strong market fundamentals.
“Oando is entering a new frontier in its integrated energy business model which will see the company increase investments in the upstream segment of the Oil & Gas space.
In addition, the analyst believed “Oando is a low cost route into Nigeria’s attractive energy sector,” he said.
Analysts said Oando Plc had made investment in the high margin upstream division that would transform the business significantly and increase value creation for the shareholders. The acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ entire oil and gas assets in Nigeria put the company on stead to increase its oil production to almost 50,000 barrels of oil per day. It also extends its footprint into the liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as power generation.
An initial $435 million deposit has been made the balance of $1.3 billion will be paid by the proceeds of the recently concluded Rights Issue whilst a syndicate of international banks have lined up to finance the $800 million debt portion of the transaction.
When contacted, the Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, declined to comment on the total amount raised through the rights issue, saying the allotment has to be completed and approved by the regulators before any public communication can be made.
He, however, said: “We thank our shareholders, for the immense support we received during the acceptance period of our Rights Issue exercise. We are truly humbled by the level of participation from them as well as the new investors who acquired Oando Plc’s shares through traded rights on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The fresh capital will be deployed to actualise our corporate strategy for improved earnings through higher margin upstream businesses and increased value creation by reduction in our cost of capital”. According to Mr. Tinubu, Oando looks forward to the successful conclusion of the Rights Issue exercise, which will pave the way for a revitalised company, strongly positioned for diversified growth.
There was last a minute rush for the shares few days to the closure of the offer last month following the attractive price and the confidence investors expressed in the business fundamental and the future outlook of the leading integrated energy company. “The Company has made huge investments over the years that would begin to yield fruits very soon” a shareholder remarks. Also, analysts believe that the prospect of having a stake in the very lucrative upstream sector would increase investors’ appetite for Oando shares in the rights issue.
[ThisDay]
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