First Investments
January 28 2008 - 1:01AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:6151M
Origo Resource Partners Limited
28 January 2008
28 January 2008
Origo Resource Partners completes first deals:
Acquires 37% interest in Inveritas Global Holdings and
20% stake in Roshini International Bio-Energy Corporation
Origo Resource Partners Limited ("ORP" or "the Fund"), the CISX and AIM listed
Sino-Indian private equity natural resource fund, announces the completion of
its first investments since its IPO. In separate transactions, the Fund has
invested US$11 million to acquire an approximate 37% equity interest in SHERQ
Limited, the holding company of InVeritas Global Holdings Limited ("IGH"), and
US$16 million for an approximate 20% equity interest in Roshini International
Bio-Energy Corporation ("RIBEC"). These investments were identified prior to the
Fund's IPO which raised �48.6 million on listing in December 2007.
ORP has also been granted an option to subscribe for an additional US$5 million
worth of shares in RIBEC at the current primary offering price and an option to
invest a further US$5 million in SHERQ Limited at the current pre-money
valuation.
Investment in IGH
IGH aims to become the leading provider of Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and
Quality ("SHERQ") products and services to the mining, metal and power
industries. ORP's investment will help IGH to fund its ambitious expansion plans
in China. The investment in the IGH business will enable the Fund to gain
exposure to the rapidly growing mining and energy services market in India and
China.
ORP and Origo Sino-India Plc ("Origo"), the AIM listed private equity investment
and advisory company which provides consultancy services to ORP, are each
investing US$1 million for an aggregate initial 40% aggregate equity stake in
SHERQ Limited. In addition to this, ORP has entered into the following
agreements:
* A share subscription agreement with SHERQ Limited, under which ORP will
subscribe to an additional US$6.75 million worth of equity at a pre-money
valuation of the company of U$50 million. The share subscription also grants
ORP the option to invest a further US$5 million at the same pre-money
valuation, exercisable at any time before an initial public offering.
* A convertible credit agreement for US$1.15 million, convertible into
stock of SHERQ Limited at a pre-money valuation of US$40 million at any time
before an initial public offering.
* A share purchase agreement, under which ORP will acquire US$2.1 million
worth of stock from certain existing shareholders at a price which values
SHERQ Limited pre-money at US$26 million.
On completion of the current transactions, ORP and Origo will hold approximately
37% and 17% interests in SHERQ Limited respectively.
Roshini International Bio-Energy Corporation ("RIBEC")
ORP is acquiring an equity interest in RIBEC of approximately 20% for a total
consideration of US$16 million. RIBEC is a fast growing, profitable company that
produces non-edible, tree-borne bio energy feedstock and is based in Hyderabad,
India.
ORP has acquired the interest in RIBEC through two separate instruments.
* A share subscription agreement under which ORP will subscribe for US$10
million worth of stock, in a primary offering by RIBEC at a company
pre-money valuation of US$80 million. ORP was joined in the offering by
Professional Offshore Opportunities Fund and Abrax Limited Partnership, each
of which invested US$1 million. This agreement also grants ORP the option to
subscribe for an additional US$5 million worth of stock at the same price,
exercisable at any time before an initial public offering.
* A share purchase agreement under which ORP will acquire a further US$6
million worth of shares from existing shareholders at a price which values
RIBEC at US$55 million.
In addition, as stated in ORP's AIM admission document, it is intended that US$1
million in a convertible note previously extended to RIBEC by Origo be assigned
to ORP at cost.
ENDS
Further information:
Origo Resource Partners Limited +86 1390 124 6417
Chris Rynning
chris@origoplc.com
Nominated Adviser:
Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited +44 (0)20 7131 4000
Azhic Basirov
Broker:
Liberum Capital Limited +44 (0)20 3100 2223
Simon Atkinson
Notes to editors:
Origo Resource Partners Ltd ("ORP"):
*ORP invests in companies with significant assets in the natural resource
sectors of China and India as well as in companies and projects throughout
the world with a link to the natural resource markets of these two markets.
*ORP seeks to invest between US$5 million and US$20 million over the
life-cycle of an investment (capped at 20% of the net asset value of the
company at the time of investment).
*ORP predominantly seeks to acquire substantial minority interests,
typically holding between 10 and 40% of the investee company's equity.
*ORP was admitted to trading on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange (CISX)
and AIM on 14 December, 2007.
*On admission to trading, ORP raised �48.6 million in gross proceeds via a
placing of 48,600,000 shares at �1 per share plus 9,720,000 warrants
exercisable at �1.20.
*Liberum Capital Ltd is ORP's financial adviser and broker, Smith &
Williamson Corporate Finance Ltd is the Company's nominated adviser and
Elysium Fund Management Ltd is its CISX sponsor.
Origo Sino-India Plc ("Origo"):
*Origo is an established private equity investor and strategic consultancy
business, which provides its shareholders with exposure to growth
opportunities and private equity returns in China and India.
*Origo's business model is to generate capital gains from private equity
investment in growth companies from which it also generates fees for
consultancy services related to further fundraisings, M&A and strategic
development.
*Origo is aligned with two major institutions which provide a source of
high quality deal flow. In China, Origo works closely with China Equity, a
leading private equity firm, whose chief executive is on Origo's board. In
India, Origo has entered into a memorandum of understanding with SBI Capital
Markets, one of the longest established companies in the Indian Capital
Markets. A former chairman of State Bank of India is on the board of Origo.
*On its admission to AIM in December 2006 Origo raised �12.8 million gross
of new money via a placing of 25,673,238 Ordinary Shares at 50 pence per
share. Each Ordinary Share carries a Warrant exercisable at 55 pence.
Seymour Pierce Ltd is Origo's nominated adviser and broker.
InVeritas Global Holdings
*IGH aims to become the leader in providing Safety, Health, Environment,
Risk and Quality ("SHERQ") products and services focused on the mining,
metal and power industries.
*A profitable company, IGH has built a "blue chip" client base which
includes customers such as CVRD, Mittal Arcelor, BHP Billiton, Anglo
American, China Power Group. With an existing network of 15 subsidiaries
across 5 continents, IGH seeks to speed up its international roll-out, with
China and India being key-growth markets.
*In China, elements of IGH's protocols and standards for the mining
industry have been adopted as a law, thus providing IGH with preferential
market access to an estimated 91,000 non-coal mines. As the demand for SHERQ
services in China is largely driven by legislative compliance and mandatory
budget allocations, IGH expects recent legislative changes in that market to
represent a significant growth opportunity in the years ahead.
Roshini International Bio-Energy Corporation
*RIBEC is a bio energy company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. RIBEC
manages plantations of non-edible, tree-borne bio energy feedstock with an
estimated 40 million trees and seedlings.
*RIBEC has more than a decade of research and development expertise of
producing non-edible feedstock in dry waste land areas.
*Specifically, RIBEC focuses on growing Pongamia Pinnata, a non-edible and
drought resistant tree which produces oil while recapturing greenhouse gas
emissions and generating income for farmers and rural communities.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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