SINGAPORE - Mainboard-listed entertainment group mm2 Asia is planning to raise up to $35 million from the issue of some 1.8 billion shares via a one-for-two rights issue to strengthen its financial position and grow its business.
At two cents, the rights shares are now priced at a 50 per cent discount to the firm’s share price close at four cents on Friday.
Tycoon Oei Hong Leong, who owns an 8.45 per cent stake in mm2, and “popiah king” Sam Goi, who owns a 6.81 per cent stake, are underwriting the issue and will take up all unsubscribed rights shares.
This is in addition to their respective 118 million and 95 million rights shares entitlements.
mm2 said on Saturday that it expects to receive net proceeds of approximately $34.9 million under the maximum subscription scenario and approximately $27.3 million under the minimum subscription scenario, after deducting estimated expenses of approximately $600,000.
Between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of the money raised will be used to pay down its debt, while the balance will go towards working capital.
The company has outstanding exchangeable bonds amounting to some $85 million.
The company said the fund-raising would enhance its ability to formulate, strategise and execute its business plans to capture the continued recovery of all its business segments, while also strengthening its financial position by augmenting its balance sheet and capital base, and paring down borrowings and gearing.
“While the group has yet to return to pre-pandemic numbers, the results have been encouraging,” it said.
“The road to full recovery and beyond is within sight. The company’s core content creation business grew by 38 per cent to $101.3 million in FY2023, setting a new revenue record and surpassing the previous revenue record for the core business of $99.5 million back in pre-pandemic FY2019.”
Meanwhile, mm2’s concerts business bounced back significantly after the capacity restrictions for public performance venues were progressively lifted from April 2022.
This business recorded a revenue of $29.2 million and gross profit of $7.6 million, compared with a gross loss of approximately $800,000 in financial year 2022.
The cinema business continued to improve with ongoing cost rationalisation and the development of new revenue models.
“The rights issue will also provide the shareholders with an opportunity to participate in the further equity funding of the company,” the statement added.
