Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) today, July 31, said its shareholders have approved the issuance of fully convertible warrants to a promoter group entity on a preferential basis, providing a key boost to the company’s proposed capital infusion plan.
The move has paved the way for a Rs 3,143.5 crore fund infusion into the company and an increase in promoter shareholding to 23.79 per cent.
The approval came at the company’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on July 31, where the resolution received the requisite support from shareholders.
“The approval secured for all the resolutions, marks a firm step forward for the Company in strengthening its financial foundation to pursue value-accretive opportunities and build a robust trajectory for the future,” Zee said in a statement.
Under the preferential issue, Zee will issue 24,94,85,563 warrants to promoter group entity at Rs 126 per warrant. The promoters will invest Rs 3143.5 crore in the company through the issue, eventually elevating the total promoter shareholding to 23.79 per cent, giving the promoters a larger stake in the firm.
“The company garnered unequivocal support from its shareholders, reinforcing their confidence in the Company’s strategic growth aspirations and its ability to generate higher value going forward,” it said.
The approval will further enable Zee to accelerate its growth plans and enhance long-term value creation, in an increasingly competitive and evolving entertainment landscape, the company further stated.
With access to higher growth capital, the company will invest in amplifying its new strategic growth avenues and enhance the capabilities within its existing business segments.
The company will also implement the ‘Truly Yours’ Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) by granting 3,74,22,835 stock options to eligible employees of ‘Z’ and its subsidiary companies, having face value of Re 1 each, in one or more tranches.
“The approval of the key resolutions further reinforces the shareholders’ confidence in the Company’s long-term potential, ensuring leadership continuity with enhanced promoter skin in the game. The trust reposed by the shareholders serves as a firm testament to the Board and management team’s ability to ensure higher value-generation in the future. It also enables the Human Capital to participate meaningfully in the Company’s growth journey, as true co-owners,” it said.
The ESOP framework aligns the growth ambitions of the company’s talent with the long-term shareholder aspirations to ensure sustained value-creation for all stakeholders, the firm added.
He further said, “I would also like to thank the shareholders for recognizing the immense contributions of ‘Z’s Human Capital and approving the Employee Stock Option Plan, that will only spur higher innovation and accountability to drive the Company forward.”
“The Board firmly believes that robust growth capital coupled with enhanced promoter alignment, will serve as key enablers in ensuring long-term profitability in a dynamic business environment. With the approval of the key resolutions, the Company is on a furthermore solid footing to execute its future growth plans effectively,” Gopalan added.
In its previous meetings, the Board of Directors had reviewed the company’s growth plans for the future. During the meetings, the Board also deliberated upon the strategic alternatives to be undertaken in order to enhance the company’s financial foundation, by enabling access to greater growth capital and ensuring long-term leadership continuity, Zee said in the statement.
Post a thorough and careful evaluation of all points, the Board had approved the enhancement of promoter shareholding and additional fund infusion to strengthen the company’s capabilities to compete effectively in a rapidly evolving landscape, it said.
“The whole-hearted support received from the shareholders on the above-mentioned decisions of the Board, enables the Company to take the necessary steps forward to achieve its strategic growth ambitions,” the company added.
(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)
