The Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) share price has returned from its trading halt with a bang on Wednesday.
At the time of writing the agribusiness company's shares are up over 10% to $6.77. At one stage they were up as much as 12.5% to $6.89.
Why is the Elders share price rocketing higher?
This morning Elders returned from its trading halt following the completion of the fully underwritten institutional placement and the institutional component of its entitlement offer.
According to the release, the placement and the institutional entitlement offer attracted strong support from both existing and new institutional shareholders, together raising approximately $100 million at an offer price of $5.55 per new share.
The company's CEO and managing director, Mark Allison, was pleased with the outcome.
He said: "We are pleased with the strong support shown by new and existing shareholders for the equity raising and the acquisition of AIRR, which will give us a national wholesale platform of scale. We now look forward to completing the Retail Entitlement Offer for the benefit of Elders' shareholders."
That retail entitlement offer aims to raise approximately $37 million at $5.55 per new share.
Why is Elders raising funds?
Elders has undertaken this equity raising in order to fund the acquisition of Australian Independent Rural Retailers (AIRR).
AIRR is a member-based buying and marketing company for independent rural merchandise and pet and produce stores. It has a national wholesale platform supported by a network of eight warehouses servicing more than 1,500 customers.
Earlier this week Elders revealed that it has entered into a scheme implementation deed with AIRR to acquire 100% of its issued shares by way of a scheme of arrangement for $10.851 per share.
This consideration comprises 50% cash and 50% Elders scrip with a mix and match facility provided to AIRR shareholders. It values AIRR at $157 million on an equity value basis and $187 million on an enterprise value basis.
Why AIRR?
This acquisition will provide Elders with an entry into the wholesale rural services market, which gives it a valuable new growth channel.
Furthermore, the acquisition is forecast to deliver net synergies of $6.6 million to $9.33 million per annum, which will be gradually realised over the next two years. It is also expected to deliver low single digit EPS accretion on an FY 2019 pro forma basis before synergies and low double digit EPS accretion post synergies.
Also rising strongly on the All Ordinaries today is the Austal Limited (ASX: ASB) share price following the release of its guidance update and the Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) share price on the back of no news.
