South African grocer Pick n Pay says its Boxer IPO could raise $450 mln
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 (Reuters) -South African grocery retailer Pick n Pay PIKJ.J said on Thursday that proceeds from listing its discount grocery chain Boxer could total 8 billion rand ($450 million), according to its preliminary estimate.
Chief Executive Sean Summers is tasked with reviving through a turnaround and two-step recapitalisation plan a retail business that has been losing market share to bigger rivals Shoprite SHPJ.J and others for more than a decade.
A deterioration in the performance of the group's core Pick n Pay supermarket business resulted in a substantial trading loss in the Pick n Pay division of 1.5 billion rand in its financial year that ended Feb. 25, and an overall loss at group level of 3.2 billion rand.
At the same time its net debt escalated.
In order to lower its debt and strengthen the underlying performance of its Pick n Pay Supermarkets business, the group recently raised 4 billion rand through a rights issue and will now begin the process of listing Boxer towards the end of 2024, subject to shareholder and final board approval.
Details of the number of shares in issue, price and target amount will be shared closer to the time, but "for illustrative purposes only, the share issue will generate 8 billion rand in proceeds," the retailer said in a statement.
"The Boxer IPO (initial public offering) will also ensure that Boxer is accorded a market value that appropriately reflects its growth trajectory and return on invested capital, thereby unlocking shareholder value embedded in the Group," Pick n Pay said.
($1 = 17.7700 rand)
Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Susan Fenton
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
