Maran makes open offer to hike stake in SpiceJet
Aiming to acquire a controlling stake in SpiceJet, media magnate Mr Kalanithi Maran, on Monday launched an open offer to acquire an additional 20 per cent stake in the no-frill airline for an estimated Rs 479.29 crore.
The move comes two days after Mr Maran, chairman and MD of Chennai-based Sun TV Network, agreed to acquire 37.73 per cent stake in the company in his individual capacity and through his aviation company KAL Airways, at Rs 57.76 a share — a premium of 3 per cent over Friday’s closing of Rs 56.05.
“The acquirers make this offer to shareholders of the target (SpiceJet) to acquire up to 8,29,80,161 equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each, representing in aggregate 20 per cent of the target company at a price of Rs 57.76 per fully paid-up equity share,” KAL Airways’ offer manager Enam Securities said in public announcement.
The offer, to be launched on August 6, would close on August 25, it said. Last week, Maran and KAL Airways acquired the stake from former SpiceJet promoters American investor Wilbur Ross and his investment companies, and Kansagara family-promoted Royal Holding Services Ltd.
According to the announcement, Mr Maran bought the 37.73 per cent stake at a price of around Rs 47.25 per share, entailing a total payout of about Rs 739 crore.
As on March 31, 2010, the public shareholding in SpiceJet stood at 87.15 per cent including 34.28 per cent held by institutional investors from India and abroad.
SpiceJet shares gained as much as 6 per cent to Rs 59.55 and were trading at 55.30 a share, down 1.34 per cent over the previous close on the BSE.
For a while, SpiceJet had been in the process of raising $75 million (about Rs 350 crore) through placement of shares.
The airline, India’s second largest low-cost carrier, has a market share of about 13 per cent with a fleet size of 20 aircraft — connecting 19 destinations across the country.
It plans to launch international flights, with services to Bangladesh and Nepal by the end of this month.
— Pti
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