the latest news! write-off debt!!
HOMEX - Adelaide +++++++++++++++++++++++++ A syndicate of Australian investors intends to acquire the entire stake currently owned by WilTel Communications, PowerTel's largest shareholder, and in addition will finance and underwrite A$16.3 million of new equity for PowerTel and restructure PowerTel's balancesheet. PowerTel and WilTel have reached an in-principle agreement with The Roslyndale Syndicate in relation to the following: * PowerTel will raise A$16.3 million by way of a renounceable rights issue based on the issue of 1.5 new shares for each currently held share at an issue price of 1 cent per new share. The issue will be fully underwritten by The Roslyndale Syndicate. * WilTel will sell to the Roslyndale Syndicate: - All its equity stake in PowerTel (including ordinary shares to be issued upon the conversion of the Converting Preference Shares and accrued dividend rights currently held by WilTel) totalling 520,117,263 shares. Following conversion, rights to the 10% cumulative preference shares dividend shall cease. - All PowerTel debt and accrued interest held by WilTel. The debt of $21.3 million shall then be converted at 2.42 cents per share into 880,165,289 million ordinary shares. Accrued interest will be writtenoff. The effect of the above transactions being executed will be that The Roslyndale Syndicate will hold a 49% stake in PowerTel prior to debt conversion and 62% post conversion assuming that all rights are taken up by PowerTel shareholders. The financing and restructure proposal is conditional on: * Formal documentation being signed with all parties. * PowerTel and WilTel banks' approval. * PowerTel shareholder approval for the acquisition of shares by The Roslyndale Syndicate and for the conversion of A$21.3 million debt. Uponcompletion of formal documentation, PowerTel will forward to shareholders a Notice of an Extraordinary Meeting to be held in early July 2003 together with accompanying explanatory details and an independent expert's report to assist shareholders when voting on the above matters.The Roslyndale Syndicate is a syndicate of leading Australian investors comprising of Geoffrey Cousins, Trevor Kennedy, Sam Gazal and others. In conjunction with the new major shareholding, it is planned that Geoffrey Cousins, Trevor Kennedy, and Sam Gazal will join the PowerTel Board in replacement of the three WilTel nomineedirectors. PowerTel owns and operates Australia's third largest telecommunications network infrastructure dedicated to servicing corporate, government and service provider customers. In 2002, the company doubled its revenue to $102 million and reduced its EBITDA loss to less than $3 million. In the first four months of 2003, PowerTel has achieved$39 million in revenue and $2.9 million in EBITDA while signing more than $16 million in new business contracts. The chairman of PowerTel, Miller Williams, said: "The additional $16.3 million of funding and the impetus provided by The Roslyndale Syndicate as a new major shareholder will ensure that PowerTel will be a secure and growing provider of telecommunications services intothe future." Downtown Utilities, PowerTel's second largest shareholder, supports the refinancing and is confident that it will enable PowerTel to capitalise on its proven business plan and continue to achieve significant growth. Stephen Butler, PowerTel's chief executive officer said: "This strengthening of PowerTel's balance sheet will reassure all existing and prospective customers that the company will remain a significant competitor in the Australian telecommunications industry. Further growth will result from our ability to use our own fibre network to provide voice and data services and from our access to over 600 major CBD office buildings in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. This access will be expanded in 2003 through the deployment of low cost DSLinfrastructure." Mr Geoffrey Cousins on behalf of Roslyndale said: "The Roslyndale Syndicate is pleased to be able to participate in and support PowerTel's successful and proven business plan. We expect to be able to enhance PowerTel's growth opportunities through the experience and expertise of the investors that make up the syndicate." For more information about PowerTel, please visit our website at: www.powertel.com.au Media Contact: Brian Mahoney, FCR, 02-9235-1666 Investor Contact: Stephen Butler, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,02-8264-3888
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