By Mario Andree
Adhering to Central Bank regulations, debt free Asia Asset Finance Limited (AAFL) is making an initial public offering (IPO) of 170 million shares at Rs. 2.50 each to raise Rs. 425 million. The offer opens November 28 to December 15. The company, which made losses for years before a spectacular turn around, would be listed in the Dirisavi Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange.
With 120 million shares offered initially, the company expects to extend the number of shares by 50 million in case of an oversubscription.
AAFL Chairman Daya Muthukumarana told The Island Financial Review that the IPO was to comply with Central Bank regulations, and being a debt free company, the fund raised would be infused as working capital.
Ninety percent of the funds raised would be allotted in to its core businesses and 10 percent for branch expansion and product development with the company expected to open five new branches before the next financial year.
He said though the company had a tough time during global financial crisis, it had revamped itself and was now growing at 20 percent each year.
The allotment of shares would be under six categories giving the company’s employees and depositors 5 percent and 10 percent of the share issue respectively.
The current share holders of the parent company Asia Capital would be allotted 15 percent, 20 percent to major investors, 40 percent to retail investors and 10 percent would be allotted to unit trusts.
The company had a total asset base of Rs. 1.6 billion as at 31 March 2011, with Rs. 1 billion recorded in 2010, Rs. 948 million in 2009, Rs. 907 million in 2008 and Rs. 653 million in 2007.
The company net profit before taxation for the year ended 31st March was Rs. 79.6 million in 2011, after recording losses of Rs. 84 million in 2010, Rs. 175.5 million in 2009, Rs. 49.8 million in 2008 while the last profit recorded in 2007 with Rs. 13 million.
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