Interconnection services provider Megaport is to raise up $60 million to expand its capability to deliver connectivity to a broader customer base.
The ASX-listed company (ASXA:MP1), founded by major shareholder Bevan Slattery, is set to raise $50 million in new equity via a placement to institutions, sophisticated and professional investors, and up to $10 million via a share purchase plan.
The capital raising will see Slattery sell down some of his shareholding but still retain 23% of the company.
As well as expanding its capability to deliver connectivity to a broader customer base outside of the current footprint, including via its new Megaport Cloud Router service, Megaport says it also aims to consolidate its first-mover advantage.
{loadposition peter}The funds will be used to upgrade network capacity, accelerate expansion to new locations and new markets, and fund staffing, marketing and operating costs and general working capital requirements.
Megaport will issue 13,333,334 fully paid ordinary shares under the Placement at an issue price of $3.75 per share, raising approximately $50 million. The issue price represents a 7.4% discount to the closing price of $4.05 per share on 19 March 2018, the last trading day before Megaport announced the placement.
Megaport says it has received very strong interest in the placement from US institutional investors, culminating in commitments from three cornerstone investors who have agreed to subscribe for over $50 million of shares at $3.75 per share.
Megaport’s Chief Executive Officer, Vincent English, said: “We have been very pleased with the level of commitment from some of the most respected sector-focused international institution.
“Given their deep experience, they explicitly understand that our ability to invest in our competitive advantage - developing new innovative services while we continue to grow our ecosystem of service providers - will make connectivity even easier for a broader set of the digital supply chain.
“Enabling our Software Defined Network in more markets that are currently underserved by cloud connectivity is critical to maximising our first-mover advantage.
“This Capital Raising will enable Megaport to support these strategic initiatives and fuel the connectivity services driving tomorrow’s IT architectures.
“To help facilitate the broadening of our international institutional base and to assist with liquidity, concurrent with the placement, our Chairman, founder and major shareholder Mr Bevan Slattery, has agreed to offer 6,666,667 shares to institutions, sophisticated and professional investors via a secondary offering (secondary offering).
English said at the conclusion of placement and secondary offering, Slattery will hold a relevant interest in 23.0% of Megaport.