26 June
2024
Infrastructure India
plc
("IIP" or
the "Company" and, together with its subsidiaries, the
"Group")
Results of AGM, Board Changes
and Trading & Corporate Update
Infrastructure India plc, an AIM
quoted infrastructure fund investing directly into assets in India,
announces the results of the Company's annual general meeting
("AGM") held today, certain
changes to the board and a trading and corporate update.
A circular, including the notice of
AGM setting out the resolutions put to shareholders is available on
the Company's website at: www.iiplc.com.
Resolutions 1 - 4 and 6 were passed, however resolutions 5 and 7 -
9 were not passed. Further detail of the AGM's voting results is
set out below.
Winding Up of the Group and AIM Admission
The Board is disappointed that
resolutions 8 and 9, which related to the proposed cessation of the
Company as constituted (the "Duration Resolution") and the
cancellation of the admission to trading on AIM of the IIP's
Ordinary Shares (the "Cancellation"), respectively, were not
passed. As a result, the Company shall continue as constituted, its
Ordinary Shares shall remain admitted to trading on AIM and the
City Code on Takeovers and Mergers will continue to
apply.
The Board recommended that
shareholders vote in favour of such resolutions in accordance with
the Company's strategy to pursue an orderly winding up, as all of
its assets, other than IHDC, have been held for sale in the
Company's accounts for the past two years. In addition, as detailed
in the Circular, the Board concluded that the Cancellation was in
the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, as the
winding up strategy limits the utility of the Company remaining
quoted on AIM. During the winding up period, the Company does not
intend to raise any further equity capital and is seeking to
dispose of its assets in an efficient and cost-effective manner,
which is hindered by, inter
alia, the impact of ongoing disclosure requirements on asset
sale negotiations and the costs associated with the Company's
admission to trading on AIM.
Accordingly, the Board continues to
believe that the Company would realise its maximum potential value
by progressing the winding up and the Cancellation together,
however it is considering its options to maximise returns from its
assets and will provide a further update in due course.
Board Changes
The Board is also disappointed that
resolutions 5 and 7, which relate to the re-appointment of Rob
Venerus and Graham Smith, respectively, as directors of the
Company, were not passed. Consequently, each of Mr Venerus and Mr
Smith has today left the Board.
The Board therefore now comprises
Tom Tribone (Chair), Sonny Lulla (Chief Executive Officer) and M.S.
Ramachandran (Independent Non-Executive Director). Mr Smith was
considered to be an independent director of the Company. As such,
the Board composition no longer meets the corporate governance
guidance of the QCA Code.
Proxy Analysis
The Company notes that the
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) proxy analysis recommended
that shareholders vote against resolutions 5 and 7 - 9 at the AGM,
which are the resolutions that were ultimately not passed. The
Company was not given the opportunity to discuss the voting
recommendations with ISS prior to publication of the analysis,
which the Board believes failed to recognise the rationale set out
in the Circular.
Trading and Corporate Update
As at 31 May 2024, the Group had gross cash
resources of approximately US$1.5 million and continues to
carefully manage its cash resources in light of the continuing
costs of remaining a public company following the result of the
AGM.
The Company remains in discussions with third
parties for the sale of both Distribution Logistics Infrastructure
Limited ("DLI") and Indian Energy Limited ("IEL").
As announced on 7 May 2024, the Company agreed
with each of its lenders to extend the maturity date of the
respective loans to 15 July 2024 to accommodate the revised
expected timeline to closing a transaction for the sale of DLI. The
Company's aggregate secured and unsecured debt facilities are
currently approximately US$414m.
As at 30 September 2023, the Company had
net liabilities of £217.4 million (approximately US$275.0 million).
The net liability position was based on preliminary terms with a
third party and the ascribed consideration for the disposal DLI,
which included a significant write-down, and the Group's net
debt.
Given the Company's cash position, its ongoing
costs, and the maturity date of its loans of 15 July 2024, the
Board is seeking to further extend its debt facilities. There can
be no certainty that a further extension will be
granted.
Further announcements will be made in due
course.
AGM
Voting Results
The below table summarises the proxy voting
results of each resolution. Resolutions 1 - 7 were
proposed as ordinary resolutions, and resolutions 8 and 9 were
proposed as special resolutions.
Resolutions
|
Votes for
|
%
|
Votes against
|
%
|
Votes total
|
Votes abstained
|
Ordinary Resolution 1
|
548,188,282
|
95.81%
|
23,958,390
|
4.19%
|
572,146,672
|
12,464
|
Ordinary Resolution 2
|
547,687,755
|
95.72%
|
24,471,381
|
4.28%
|
572,159,136
|
0
|
Ordinary Resolution 3
|
548,163,282
|
95.81%
|
23,995,854
|
4.19%
|
572,159,136
|
0
|
Ordinary Resolution 4
|
548,163,282
|
95.81%
|
23,995,854
|
4.19%
|
572,159,136
|
0
|
Ordinary Resolution 5
|
187,192,185
|
32.72%
|
384,966,951
|
67.28%
|
572,159,136
|
0
|
Ordinary Resolution 6
|
187,192,185
|
88.42%
|
24,505,764
|
11.58%
|
211,697,949
|
360,461,184
|
Ordinary Resolution 7
|
187,192,185
|
32.72%
|
384,966,951
|
67.28%
|
572,159,136
|
0
|
Special Resolution 8
|
187,192,185
|
32.72%
|
384,966,951
|
67.28%
|
572,159,136
|
0
|
Special Resolution 9*
|
187,204,649
|
32.72%
|
384,954,487
|
67.28%
|
572,159,136
|
0
|
*Special Resolution 9 was conditional on the
passing of Resolution 8, and therefore was not put to vote at the
AGM.
Unless
otherwise defined in this announcement, capitalised terms shall
have the same meanings as ascribed to them in the Company's
circular dated 3 June 2024.
The
information contained within this announcement is deemed by the
Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the
Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of
United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended.
- Ends -
Enquiries:
Infrastructure India plc
Sonny Lulla
|
www.iiplc.com
Via Novella
|
|
|
Strand Hanson Limited
Nominated Adviser
James Dance / Richard
Johnson
|
+44 (0) 20 7409 3494
|
Singer Capital Markets
Broker
James Maxwell - Corporate
Finance
James Waterlow - Investment Fund
Sales
|
+44 (0) 20 7496 3000
|
Novella
Financial PR
Tim Robertson / Safia
Colebrook
|
+44 (0) 20 3151 7008
|