The unit of Atlas Mara selling 24.9% of its Botswana subsidiary

ABC Holdings, financial services provider working in Africa, and a unit of BVI-registered Atlas Mara Limited, announced that it is selling 24.9% of its Botswana subsidiary, BancABC Botswana, to raise US$34 million.

According to BancABC Botswana, which is wholly owned by ABC Holdings, the funds raised from selling 180 million shares will be used for upgrading, developing and enhancing IT infrastructure and banking platforms across its operations in Africa.

The share sale is to close on November 23. The bank said that it is not a public trade, the shares were offered to private institutional investors and firm commitments were received for 148.6 million offered shares, which make 82.3% of the offer. However, Managing Director of BancABC Botswana noted that members of the public also have an opportunity to participate in the offer through the brokers.

BVI holding announces financial results for Q1 of fiscal 2016 and receives acquisition offer

BVI holding company Global-Tech Advanced Innovations Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2016. For the quarter period ended June 30, 2015, company’s net sales were US$15.3mln, as compared to US$24.6mln for the same period of fiscal 2015. Net loss announced by the company was US$1.0mln, or US$0.34 per share, as compared to net loss of US$0.3mln, or US$0.10 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. The sales decreased primarily due to falling sales in commodity CCMs, by words of company’s President and Chief Executive Officer John C.K. Sham. However, he stated that average unit pricing improved “as a result of a more favorable product mix and our efforts to control production costs, leading to increases in profit margins.”

Also, Global-Tech announced the receipt of “Going Private” offer on August 3, 2015, from company’s President and CEO and some of his affiliated entities - an unsolicited preliminary non-binding proposal letter, proposing to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of the company not already beneficially owned by them, for US$8.75 per share. It is planned to form an acquisition company for implementing the offer, which will be financed with cash and debt. Following the proposal, the Board formed a special committee of independent directors to consider the offer.

China’s advertising group receives “going private” proposal from BVI companies

Charm Communications Inc., a leading advertising agency group in China with particular focus on TV and internet, announced that it has received a preliminary non-binding proposal letter from Mr. He Dang, the chairman of company’s board of directors, Merry Circle Trading Limited, a British Virgin Islands-registered company controlled by Mr. Dang, another BVI company, Honour Idea Limited, owned by Mr. Dang, and  CMC Capital Partners HK Limited.

According to the proposal letter, dated September 30, 2013, the companies are to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Charm Communications, which are not currently owned by the above named BVI companies, in what should be a “going private” transaction, at a price of US$4.70 per ADS of the Chinese company, or US$2.35 in cash per Class A ordinary share of the company, and US$2.35 in cash per Class B ordinary share of the Company.

The company’s board of directors has formed a special committee of independent directors to consider the preliminary proposal. The committee intends to retain advisors to assist in the evaluation of the proposal.

LJ International entered into agreement with Flora Bloom Holdings and its BVI subsidiary

British Virgin Islands-registered company LJ International Inc., which is a leading coloured gemstone and diamond jeweller having both retail and wholesale businesses, entered into an agreement and plan of merger with Flora Bloom Holdings, a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability, and Flora Fragrance Holdings Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated in the BVI, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flora Bloom Holdings.

Pursuant to this agreement, Flora Bloom Holdings will acquire LJ International for US$2.00 per ordinary share of the BVI company.

Immediately following the merger transaction, the Cayman Islands company will be owned by a consortium of investors led by Mr. Yu Chuan Yih, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. LJ International’s Board of Directors approved the Merger Agreement and the Transaction and resolved to recommend that the company’s shareholders vote to approve the Merger Agreement and the Transaction.

If completed, the Transaction will result in LJ International becoming a privately-held company, and its shares would be delisted on the NASDAQ Global Market.

China Technology Announces Proposed Offering of US$20 Million Convertible Notes of Its Subsidiary

China Technology announces proposed offering of US$20 mln of its BVI subsidiary.

BVI-registered China Technology Development Group Corporation (CTDC), providing solar energy products and solutions in the Chinese market, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary China Green Holdings Ltd. (BVI) entered into a memorandum of understanding with CMTF Asset Management Limited – a joint venture held by China Merchants Securities Investment Limited and Taifook Fund Managers Limited. By the terms of the document, CGHL intends to offer approximately an aggregate principal amount of US$20 mln convertible notes due 2013, in a private offering to CMTF Asset Management Limited and its affiliated sophisticated investors, with interest rate equal to HK Prime Rate per annum.

In certain circumstances, the notes will be convertible into the ordinary shares of CGHL, representing 15% of its share capital and voting right, or the common shares of CTDC with a conversion price at US$3.01 per share. CGHL expects to use net proceeds from the offering of the notes for expansion of its manufacturing operations, the solar power plant project, and as working capital.