Longhorn to raise Sh530mn through Rights Issue after CMA approval - Capital Business
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The listed publisher will issue 126 million newly created shares at Sh4.20 , at a ratio of 0.86 shares for every share held/FILE

Kenya

Longhorn to raise Sh530mn through Rights Issue after CMA approval

Longhorn Group Chairman F.T. Nyammo & Group MD Simon Ngigi during the release of the Company’s half-year results/FILE

Longhorn Group Chairman F.T. Nyammo & Group MD Simon Ngigi during the release of the Company’s half-year results/FILE


NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 6- Longhorn Publishers Limited has received formal approval from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to raise Sh530 million through a Rights Issue.

The listed publisher will issue 126 million newly created shares at Sh4.20 , at a ratio of 0.86 shares for every share held.

The approval paves way for the cash call to enable the company enhance its drive to diversify into the regional African markets, create a new range of products as well as enhance its digital offering.

“The company continues to grow its footprint in various African markets through our subsidiary offices. We are looking into making inroads in Central, West and the South African markets,” Longhorn’s Group Chairman Francis Thombe Nyammo noted.

In order to finance this ambitious product and regional diversification, Longhorn proposed the creation of over 600 Million new shares, a move that was approved by shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting on the of December 21, 2015.

It is 126 million of these new shares that the company will offer in the cash call, with the balance reserved for future expansion.

According to Longhorn Publishers Group Managing Director Simon Ngigi, up to 10 percent of the funds raised will be used to build on Longhorn’s digital offering with a distinct move towards growing the number of titles on offer while developing proprietary e-learning platforms.

“We are working to enhance our product portfolio, especially bearing in mind the roll out of the government’s digital agenda for schools. We already have digital content that has been approved for use in schools, and we want to build this even further using some of the funds raised,” he said.

Longhorn intends to use up to Sh80 million in regional expansion, while another Sh100 million will go towards product diversification, with another Sh100 million earmarked to retire current debt obligations.

The Publisher has appointed Equity Investment Bank as the lead Transaction Advisor, while Mboya, Wangong’u and Waiyaki and Deloitte are the appointed Legal Advisor and Reporting Accountant respectively. The BSD Group are the Marketing and Public Relations Advisor, while Sidian Bank (Formerly K-rep Bank) is the receiving bank.

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