GENERAL: PLU: PRE BREAK ANNOUNCEMENT
18 Jun 2010 5:18 pm
PLU
18/06/2010
GENERAL
REL: 1718 HRS Pulse Utilities New Zealand Limited
GENERAL: PLU: PRE BREAK ANNOUNCEMENT
PRE BREAK ANNOUNCEMENT
Under NZAX Listing Rule 10.2 and clause 3 of the Constitution of Pulse
Utilities New Zealand Limited
18 June 2010
Proposed Transactions
Pulse Utilities New Zealand Limited (Pulse) proposes to:
- issue up to 2,395,000 convertible notes for a face value of $1 per note and
on the terms otherwise specified in this announcement during the 12 month
period commencing on the date that is 10 business days after the date of this
announcement (Note Offer); and
- issue up to 2,000,000 new ordinary shares to qualified investors for a
minimum issue price of $0.50 per share from the date that is 10 business days
after the date of this announcement until 30 September 2010 (Share Offer),
(together referred to as the Transactions).
Use of Pre-Break Announcement Procedure
The Transactions are being effected under the Pre-Break Announcement
procedure permitted by Rule 10.2 of the NZAX Listing Rules and clause 3 of
Pulse's Constitution.
The Pre-Break Announcement procedure is being used because undertaking the
Transactions would not comply with Rule 7.3.5 of the NZAX Listing Rules, in
that, if the Transactions are fully subscribed, the aggregate number of
securities allotted would exceed 25% of the number of Shares on issue prior
to the Transaction occurring.
Rationale for the Transactions
Pulse has a continuing need to raise funds as it establishes Pulse Energy as
a competitive electricity retailer in New Zealand. Pulse Energy presently has
8,318 customers and has been adding approximately 200 customers per week for
the last 5 months.
Establishing the Pulse Energy business and building its revenue base requires
capital expenditure and flexibility with working capital. With new customers
joining Pulse Energy, Pulse seeks to fund the manufacture and install of its
smart meter technology at
their premises as soon as possible. In return, customers sign up to Pulse
Energy for a minimum term of six months from the time that the meter
technology has been installed. Once Pulse smart meters are installed, they
become revenue generating assets of Pulse with a daily charge for the smart
meter levied to customers.
In addition, as new customers join Pulse it has increased working capital
requirements. Pulse must purchase more electricity to supply its customers,
post more security for the purchase of electricity on the electricity market
and fund office resources to service new customers.
Accordingly, until Pulse has built its business to a point where it is cash
flow positive it does need to continue to raise new capital to meet these
working capital requirements.
Pulse has had significant success with raising the required capital to date.
Pulse raised $4.25 million in a private capital raising at the end of last
year, placing approximately 9.5 million shares at $0.50 per share. Pulse has
also today allotted placements of approximately 2 million shares at $0.50 per
share raising a further $1 million. Pulse's $4 million convertible note
programme (as approved by shareholders last year) has also successfully
raised another $1.77 million.
The Pulse Board has determined that Pulse needs a further to $3.5 million to
fully implement its business plan in the next one to two years. The
Transactions are proposed to give Pulse the issuance capacity to reach this
desired level. However, the Pulse Board is also considering undertaking a
rights issue or share purchase plan to all shareholders later this year to
ensure that all shareholders have an opportunity to participate in the growth
of Pulse and supplement the Transactions.
Note Offer
At a special meeting for Pulse held in April last year, shareholders approved
the issuance of up to 4,000,000 convertible notes for $1.00 per convertible
note. The approval remained valid for 12 months and accordingly has now
expired.
Accordingly Pulse proposes under the Note Offer:
- To have capacity to issue up to 2,395,000 notes. This is the balance of the
notes approved for issue by shareholders last year that have not been
allotted.
- To issue the notes on the same terms that shareholders approved last year.
The terms of issue are contained in an appendix to this announcement.
- To issue such notes in the next 12 months.
The Note Offer is therefore effectively an extension of the prior shareholder
approval to issue convertible notes for another 12 months.
Share Offer
As mentioned above, Pulse has made a number of placements over the past 12
months. Under NZAX Listing Rule 7.3.5, the Board of Pulse may issue equity
securities without shareholder approval provided that the number of equity
securities issued is not more than 25% of the equity securities already on
issue in Pulse (and calculated over a rolling twelve month period). Pulse has
made numerous placements, particularly in the last six months, which has
nearly fully utilised this limit.
Pulse intends to seek ratification of all placements made at its AGM which
will be held in September this year. However to ensure that Pulse has the
flexibility to issue shares until that time, it is seeking to authorise the
Share Offer through this announcement. The Share Offer, if authorised through
this announcement, will expire on 30 September 2010 when shareholders have
had an opportunity to consider and vote on ratification of previous
placements.
Accordingly the Share Offer may not be undertaken, it is simply to provide
Pulse with flexibility should new capital be needed so that it can act
quickly to secure such capital.
The terms of the Share Offer if it is undertaken will be:
Issuer Pulse Utilities New Zealand Limited
Security Ordinary Shares (Shares)
Issue Price A minimum of $0.50 per Share
Ranking Equally with all other Shares
Quotation & Transferability The Shares being offered will be quoted on the
NZAX Market and transferable in the same manner as all other Shares of Pulse
Current Status of the Transactions
As noted above, the Share Offer may or may not take place.
The Note Offer is ongoing although at the date of this announcement there is
no agreement with new investors to issue to them convertible notes.
The Transactions are not offers of securities to the public. Under the terms
of the Transactions, a person may only subscribe if they are not a 'member of
the public' under the Securities Act 1978 (Act) and, in particular, they must
be:
- wealthy or experienced 'eligible persons' under the Act;
- relatives or close business associates of Pulse or of a director of Pulse;
- persons whose principal business is the investment of money or who, in the
course of and for the purposes of their business, habitually invest money;
- persons who are each required to pay a minimum subscription price of at
least
$500,000 for the securities before the allotment of those securities; or
- a person who in all the circumstances can properly be regarded as having
been selected otherwise than as a member of the public.
It is not envisaged that any one investor (together with any associates) will
subscribe for more than 20% of the voting securities of Pulse (thereby
triggering the Takeovers Code).
At the time of any allotments under the Transactions, Pulse will make a
market announcement detailing the relevant subscription in accordance with
the Listing Rules.
Effect of Transactions
Assuming the Share Offer is fully undertaken and subscribed for and that the
number of shares on issue does not otherwise increase before such allotment
date, the number of Shares on issue would increase by 7.3%.
A resulting effect on each shareholder from the Share Offer may be a dilution
in their percentage shareholding in Pulse. This dilution occurs immediately
when shares are issued on a non pro-rata basis. However, dilution in
percentage shareholding terms does not reflect the increased prospects of
Pulse following the raising of new capital.
The Note Offer is an offer of securities which may convert into Shares at the
option of the subscriber. While the convertible notes are on issue, Pulse
must pay interest on the convertible notes at a rate of 10% per annum. On
maturity of the convertible notes, the holder may elect to redeem them for
cash at their face value ($1 per note) or convert them to Shares which is
determined by dividing the face value of the convertible notes by the volume
weighted average market price of Shares over the 20 business days preceding
maturity, less a 10% discount.
Accordingly by issuing convertible notes, Pulse is entering an obligation to
pay interest on the notes and either redeem the notes at maturity or issue
shares for them at maturity. If shares are issued at maturity, dilution can
occur on the same basis described above.
Failure of Transaction to Proceed
If the Transactions do not proceed, then Pulse will be bound by the NZAX
Listing Rules, and Pulse will not issue any further equity securities unless
done in accordance with the relevant NZAX Listing Rules.
Pulse would have a continuing need to raise funds to develop its business and
the Board of Pulse will look to other fundraising options and potentially
seek a further shareholder approval for a new method of raising funds or
utilise this pre-break disclosure procedure again, to authorise a new
fundraising.
Although Pulse may place shares under Listing Rule 7.3.5 without shareholder
approval, it would not have sufficient allotment capacity under the terms of
that rule to raise the level of capital sought through the Transactions.
Directors' Interests in the Transaction
The directors hold a relevant interest the following Shares in Pulse as at
the date of this announcement:
Name Shareholding % of total issued shares
DP Biddlecombe 1,312,103 4.79%
J van Wijk 574,406 2.10%
RL Burcher 474,000 1.73%
None of the directors presently intend to subscribe under the Note Offer or
the Share Offer.
Shareholder Right to Call a Shareholders Meeting
As required by NZAX Listing Rule 10.2.2, the Transactions are conditional (in
addition to the expiry of a 10 business day period from the date of this
announcement) upon no special meeting of shareholders being called pursuant
to Section 121 of the Companies Act 1993, within that 10 business day period.
Section 121 requires that the Board of Pulse call a special meeting of
shareholders where, shareholders holding shares together carrying not less
than 5% of the voting rights entitled to be exercised at a meeting of
shareholders, submit a written request for a meeting.
Contact Details
The contact details for delivery and acceptance of a written request under
section 121 of the Companies Act 1993 are:
Pulse:
Pulse Utilities New Zealand Limited
201 Hobson Street
Auckland 1010
Attention: Dene Biddlecombe
NZX Sponsor to Pulse:
Quigg Partners
PO Box 3035
Wellington
Attention: Matt Yates
Directors' Certificate
We the undersigned, being all of the directors of Pulse, hereby certify that
in our opinion, the terms of the Transactions:
- are fair and reasonable to shareholders of Pulse; and
- are in the best interests of shareholders of Pulse
on the following grounds:
- The price of Shares under the Transactions (whether through the Share Offer
or on conversion of any convertible notes offered under the Note Offer) are
aligned with the current market price of Shares.
- The Company has a continuing need for new capital to develop its business
- By Pulse seeking to privately raise funds under the Transactions from
qualified investors, it has avoided significant transaction costs associated
with a public offer under the Securities Act 1978.
- Pulse has undertaken both a Share Purchase Plan and an Entitlement Offer to
shareholders since listing to give shareholders an opportunity to increase
their investment in Pulse. Pulse is also considering a further offer to all
shareholders later this year.
Signed by all directors of Pulse Utilities New Zealand Limited:
Joseph van Wijk
Richard Leslie Burcher
Dene Peter Biddlecombe
End CA:00196287 For:PLU Type:GENERAL Time:2010-06-18:17:18:32 More announcements for PLU
|
|


NZX 15 Index
| |
FREE Email News
Today's Market Numbers
| NZX 50 Index |
3332.21 |
 |
5.50 |
| S&P/ASX 200 |
4282.90 |
 |
0.00 |
| Dow Jones Industrials |
12888.10 |
 |
4.20 |
Stock Quote
Most Commented On
|