Asiacell Goes for “Smallest IPO” Record
Posted on 20 September 2011.
Asiacell has launched what may be the world’s smallest ever public offering, raising about US$ 8,500 through the sale of 10,000,000 shares at IQD 1 each. The subscription period started on September 14 at the Baghdad and Sulaimaniya branches of Al-Shamal Finance and Investment Bank and will continue for up to sixty days.
Obviously this is not the long awaited IPO called for by the conditions of the company’s operating license. That would require the sale of a 25% stake. With share capital of 270 bn, Asiacell would have to be selling 67.5 bn shares.
The current micro-offering is merely a preliminary step to convert the company to joint-stock status. I don’t know why this couldn’t be taken care of as part of the actual IPO. My guess, for whatever it’s worth, is that the existing shareholders might otherwise have to do the entire offering at par (IQD 1).
As I understand it, the Company Law (Article 154), requires new shares to be issued when a company converts to joint stock form but does not allow for these to be sold for more than their IQD 1 par value. Once the conversion has happened, however, Article 55/4 says that new shares “may be offered at a price equal to or greater than their nominal value…and priced in light of the company’s performance.”
If I’m right, two separate offerings would make sense. In the first, you try to set the record for world’s smallest IPO, selling only a tiny number of shares at par. Then you do the real IPO, selling the shares for what they are actually worth.
Obviously this is not the long awaited IPO called for by the conditions of the company’s operating license. That would require the sale of a 25% stake. With share capital of 270 bn, Asiacell would have to be selling 67.5 bn shares.
The current micro-offering is merely a preliminary step to convert the company to joint-stock status. I don’t know why this couldn’t be taken care of as part of the actual IPO. My guess, for whatever it’s worth, is that the existing shareholders might otherwise have to do the entire offering at par (IQD 1).
As I understand it, the Company Law (Article 154), requires new shares to be issued when a company converts to joint stock form but does not allow for these to be sold for more than their IQD 1 par value. Once the conversion has happened, however, Article 55/4 says that new shares “may be offered at a price equal to or greater than their nominal value…and priced in light of the company’s performance.”
If I’m right, two separate offerings would make sense. In the first, you try to set the record for world’s smallest IPO, selling only a tiny number of shares at par. Then you do the real IPO, selling the shares for what they are actually worth.
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