Issue of Equity, Board Changes & Change of Adviser

RNS Number : 2186J

AIM Investments PLC

28 June 2011

 



28 June 2011

AIM Investments Plc

("AIMI" or the "Company")

Issue of Equity

Board Changes

Appointment of Nominated Adviser

AIM Investments Plc is pleased to announce it has raised £721,578 from the subscription at 1.25p per share of 57,726,266 new ordinary shares of 0.1p in the capital of the Company (the "Placing Shares") and issue of 57,726,266 fully transferable warrants. The warrants are exercisable at 1.5p per share at any time before 30 June 2014.

These funds will be used to further execute the Company's investing policy.

The Placing Shares represent approximately 22.8 per cent. of the enlarged issued share capital and will rank pari passu with the existing ordinary shares.  Application has been made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and dealings are expected to commence at 8.00am on 4 July 2011.  Following the issue of all of the Placing Shares, the total number of shares in issue will be 252,725,666 ordinary shares of 0.1p each. 

A number of board changes have also been made to prepare the Company for a growing involvement in emerging and frontier markets. Non-Executive Chairman, Sir Bernard Zissman, has resigned from the Board with effect from today. Having steered the Company through an extremely challenging development period, Sir Bernard is pleased to be handing over to Mark Pajak, who will take up the role of Chairman. The Board will also be welcoming new Non-Executive Director, Balbir Bindra, head of the Asia Banking and Finance Group at international law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel Hong Kong.  Further details on Mr. Bindra are set out below. It is also announced that Andrew Fletcher will be stepping down as Chief Financial Officer following completion of the Company's 2010/2011 year-end accounts. The Board would like to thank Andrew and Sir Bernard for their valuable and determined efforts to secure the Company's future as an emerging market investment company. 

In addition, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Stewart & Company Plc as nominated adviser and broker with immediate effect.

Mark Pajak provided the following statement;

"We are very pleased to report the successful closing of this placement and our new relationship with Daniel Stewart. These are significant steps, which will enable the Company to further implement its strategy and execute a number of the exciting opportunities which are currently under review, to allocate investments in small and medium sized companies in our target markets. We look forward to announcing successful participation in a number of transactions in due course.

Similarly, we are delighted to be announcing Balbir Bindra's appointment to the Board. Mr. Bindra brings with him considerable experience in our target markets, which will help enhance our profile in these areas.

In the coming weeks, we will complete an ongoing review of the day-to-day management and administration of the Company. This will ensure that all aspects of our operations and overheads are managed in a manner which best supports the underlying investment strategy of the Company moving forward. We look forward to announcing the outcome of this review in the coming weeks, together with our full-year results announcement."

For further information please contact:

AIM Investments Plc	Mark Pajak	07771 842527
Daniel Stewart & Company (Nominated Adviser and Broker)	Antony Legge / James Thomas	020 7776 6550

www.aiminvestmentsplc.com

Balbir Bindra, aged 47

Mr. Bindra is a Partner and Head of Asia Banking & Finance at international law firm, Gide Loyrette Nouel, in Hong Kong. He has extensive experience in international finance law and has represented corporates, banks, securities houses, hedge funds, private equity groups and other financial institutions with interests in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. He has been involved in banking, corporate, securities, project and structured finance transactions throughout the world. He is a member of the English and Hong Kong Law Societies. Mr. Bindra holds a LL.B with First Class Honours from the University of Southampton and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School. Mr. Bindra is named as a leading individual in Asia Pacific Legal 500 2008/9, Chambers Legal Directory 2009 for Structured Finance and Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Structured Finance Lawyers 2009-10.

Mr. Bindra subscribed for 1,600,000 new ordinary shares in the recent placing which equates to 0.6% of the total issued share capital of the Company. Mr. Bindra has the current and past directorships or partner roles in the companies or partnerships set out below.

Balbir Bindra's directorships (current and held within the previous five years) are as follows:

Current Directorships / Partnerships

Partner - Gide Loyrette Nouel, Hong Kong (February 2009 to present)

Past Directorships / Partnerships

Partner - Sidney Austin LLP (January 2000 to December 2009)

There is no other information in relation to Mr. Bindra required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 17 and Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

 

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