John Keells to raise $75 mln thro’ debentures to Canadian firm

John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) will be raising the equivalent of US$75 million of foreign direct investment by way of a private placement of Sri Lankan Rupee-denominated unlisted convertible debentures to certain controlled affiliates of Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

The proceeds from the issue will be used to support the company's investment and financing obligations, particularly in terms of managing the foreign currency linked funding requirements in investments such the West Container Terminal in the Port of Colombo and will significantly strengthen the financial position of the group during these volatile times, JKH said in a media release on Tuesday.

The transaction amounts to a value of Rs.27.06 billion. The debentures will be issued at a price of Rs.130 each, resulting in the issue of 208,125,000 debentures to Fairfax with a maturity period of three years. The debentures will accrue interest at a nominal interest rate of 3 per cent per annum. Fairfax can convert each debenture to one new ordinary share of JKH after 18 months from the date of issue until maturity.

The maximum post-conversion dilution as a result of the issue amounts to 13.06 per cent if all debentures are converted into new ordinary shares of JKH.

The recent steep depreciation of the rupee together with the significant increase in rupee interest rates has resulted in an increase of the funding commitments of the group. The transaction will enable the group to support this investment pipeline and match its foreign currency linked project costs whilst reducing the need to fund some of its requirements through the local banking sector given the stresses on capital and interest rates. Furthermore, the inflow of foreign exchange through this transaction will augment Sri Lanka’s foreign currency liquidity position and boost investor confidence in the country, particularly given the profile of the investor, the company said.

“By making this investment, Fairfax reaffirms its confidence in the prospects of the John Keells Group and Sri Lanka. We have made substantial investments over the years in a number of businesses in Sri Lanka. Our largest investment is in JKH where we have the highest confidence in the management, the transparent governance practices of the group and the growth prospects of the businesses,” said Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. “I believe that Sri Lanka will continue to be resilient and overcome the current challenges, as it has done on numerous occasions, and the country will soon regain its tremendous potential. I am encouraged by the preliminary steps being taken to stabilise the economy towards a more sustainable path of growth. Fairfax will look for more opportunities to invest in Sri Lanka and play a part in its economic transformation.”

“We are pleased by the confidence placed in us by Fairfax with this substantial investment. A commitment like this by a leading global institution is a vote of confidence in the John Keells Group and the prospects of our businesses,” said Krishan Balendra, Chairman and CEO of JKH. “It is also an endorsement of the long-term economic prospects of Sri Lanka. We thank Fairfax for their confidence in making an investment of this scale in Sri Lanka at a challenging time like this.”