[25 January, 2013] - Hong Kong - Li Ning Company Limited
("Li Ning" or the "Group"; HKEx stock code: 2331), one of the leading
sports brand companies in China, announced today that its Board of
Directors (the "Board") proposes to raise approximately
HK$1,847.8million to HK$1,868.6million by way of an Open Offer of
Convertible Securities. The total gross proceeds from the Open Offer
will be used by the Group to fund overall execution of the
Transformation Plan, provide general working capital to the Group and to
optimize its capital structure.
Under the Open Offer, each Convertible Security
in the principal amount of HK$3.50 (convertible into one Share at a
conversion price of HK$3.50each) is offered to qualifying shareholders
for every two existing Shares. The conversion price of HK$3.50represents
a 43.64% discount to the Group's closing share price on the last
trading day. Such Convertible Securities are readily convertible into
common shares of the Group, and will be treated as equity from an
accounting perspective.
Viva China Holdings Ltd (HKEx stock code: 8032),
TPG and GIC, who are the Group's existing shareholders and/or
bondholders, have committed to subscribe to the Convertible Securities
based on their assured entitlements in the Open Offer.In addition,Viva
China and TPG will underwrite 60% and 40%, respectively, of all the
Convertible Securities not taken up by other shareholders.
Mr. Li Ning, Founder and Executive Chairman of
the Group, commented, "We are at a critical point in executing our plans
and transforming our business. The additional capital to be raised
through the Open Offer and continued support from its key stakeholders
will ensure a stable platform while we work to restore the Group to
sustainable growth and profitability in the long-term and step into a
new phase of our development. The key investors' increased commitment
and contribution to the Group's future growth is a boost of confidence
for the Group as it pioneers a new sports marketing-driven and
retail-oriented business model at this very challenging time for the
sporting goods industry."
Over-expansion in China's sporting goods
industry has caused the building up of inventory for channel partners,
which has adversely affected store productivity and profitability and
led to deteriorating financial positions. Over the past two years,
problems in the Group's sales channels have started to gradually impact
the Group's financial position. Furthermore, the Group's debt level may
begin to impact management's ability to make optimal decisions including
investments into the Group's operations.
When the situation deteriorated further in 2012,
management acted quickly by implementing a comprehensive Transformation
Plan in July 2012. As part of the Transformation Plan, the Group has
introduced strong additions to the management team who have in turn put
in place a new vision for the Group and implemented initiatives on all
fronts including marketing, product/merchandising, sales channels, cost
savings and cash flow management, and building the foundation of an
industry-leading platform. The Group also announced a key component of
the Transformation plan - a one-time "Channel Revival Plan" -in December
2012, to accelerate the Group's inventory clearance process and enhance
sales channel profitability.
As previously announced, the costs associated
with the Channel Revival Plan will be mostly non-cash and take on the
form of trade credits. A key part of the Channel Revival Plan is
replenishing channels with new inventories with more rationalized SKUs,
improved pricing strategy, broader and more targeted coverage of key
demographics and a sports marketing strategy highly focused on the
Group's core market, products and sports, which the management believes
will start generating healthy performance in the channels.
The Group has reviewed alternative sources of
funding for the implementation of the Transformation Plan, with a view
to maintain its leadership in the dynamic sporting goodsmarket and
pursue long-term and sustainable growth.The Board considers that the
Open Offer is in the interests of both the Group and its shareholders as
it provides an equitable means for the Group's qualifying shareholders
to participate in the future development of the Group and the
opportunity to maintain their respective shareholding interests.
In light of the Group's financial need and its
desire to optimize its capital structure, the Group has also entered
into a deed of amendment with each of TPG and GIC (the "Investors"), who
are existing convertible bondholders, to amend certain terms of the
original bond subscription agreements and the convertible bonds which
allows the Group greater flexibility to achieve its strategic and
operational goals. Following the execution of the deeds of amendment,
the Investors will make a number of fundamental concessions on their
rights as bondholders under the original bond subscription agreements
and convertible bonds executed in January 2012 (the 2012 CBs), including
waiving financial covenants and restrictions/thresholds on capital
raisings, debt financings and transactions (such as disposals and
acquisitions) to be conducted by the Group.
In exchange for the amendments to the 2012 CBs,
the Group and the Investors have also agreed to change the initial
conversion price for the 2012 CBs from HK$7.74 (or HK$6.53 adjusted for
the Open Offer according to the anti-dilution clause in the 2012 CBs
contract) to HK$4.50 per share, which now represents a 3.64% discount to
the 90-day average trading price and a 28.57% premium over the Open
Offer price.
Mr. Jin-Goon Kim, Executive Vice Chairman of the
Group and Partner of TPG, commented, "Li Ning Company and TPG are
pleased with the development and the progress made to date on the
implementation of the Transformation Plan. TPG is further strengthening
its commitment to the Group by committing to subscribing to the Open
Offer and underwriting a significant portion of the Open Offer to
increase its investment in the Group."
- The Group targets to raise approximately HK$1,847.8 million to HK$1,868.6 million by way of an open offer of convertible securities to qualifying shareholders, at the initial conversion price of HK$3.50 to support the company's business development, including the Transformation Plan,and to optimize its capital structure
- Viva China, TPG and GIC, who are existing shareholders and/or bondholders, have committed to subscribe to such Convertible Securities, demonstrating unified confidence in the Group
- Viva China and TPG will be underwriters of the Open Offer
- The Group has agreed with TPG and GIC, who are existing convertible bondholders, to amend the terms of their existingconvertible bonds so as to allow the Group greater flexibility to achieve its strategic and operational goals of long term sustainable growth
For further information, please contact:
Brunswick Group Limited / LNC@brunswickgroup.com/ Tong Zhao
Tel: +852 3512 5000 /Mobile: +852 9011 8258
Siobhan Xiaohui Zheng / Tel: +852 3512 5000 / Mobile: +852 9131 5202
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