Olam- preferential share offering

Olam has announced that it will be undertaking a non-renounceable, non-transferable preferential offering of 155.6m new shares on the basis of one new share for every ten existing ordinary shares in the capital of Olam held on 8 April 2008 (Books closure date). The preferential offering issue price is S$1.97.

The net proceeds of the offering are expected to be approximately S$302.6m (if fully subscribed). Olam intends to use the proceeds to finance investments, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, discharge, reduce or retire certain bank borrowings and for general working capital and corporate purposes.

In connection with and to demonstrate support for the preferential offering, Kewalram Singapore Limited (KSL) and Sunny George Verghese have jointly and severally irrevocably undertaken to the company not to transfer, dispose of or otherwise reduce any of their respective interests between now and the books closure date and to subscribe and pay in full for such number of new shares representing 100% of their new share entitlements under the preferential offering.

KSL has also irrevocably and unconditionally undertaken to apply by way of excess application for the maximum number of additional new shares that, when aggregated with its current shareholdings and its entitlements under the preferential offering will not exceed such number of share representing not more than 29.99% of t he resultant enlarged issued share capital of Olam.

Sunny George Verghese, Olam's CEO and Managing director who currently owns 5.17% of Olam has also irrevocably and unconditionally undertaken to apply by way of excess application for a maximum number of 18.343m new shares, that when aggregated with his current shareholdings and entitlements under the preferential offering, amounts to 26.395m new shares.

Assuming that only the undertaking shareholders subscribe, the aggregate number of new shares which they will subscribe for will be 110.095m new shares, representing approximately 70.7% of the total number of new shares offered to entitled shareholders

We currently have a HOLD recommendation on Olam with a target price of S$2.88. Our target price and earnings forecasts are currently under review.

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