Stock Exchange Anouncement

[chilledbear 16]

We are f----d.

 

 

27 January 2015

Rangers International Football Club plc

 

("Rangers" or the "Company")

 

£10m Credit Facility and associated transfer of 26% of Rangers Retail Limited

 

The Board of Rangers announces that Rangers Football Club Limited ("the Club") has entered in to agreements with independent.co.uk/news/business/news/sports-direct-stops-20000-staff-taking-other-work-by-using-zero-hour-contracts-9661746.html Retail Limited and associated companies ("SD"), to provide a long term on-going credit facility of up to £10m (the "Facility").

 

The Company's financial condition has been perilous for a number of months exacerbated by lower than expected match attendances. The Directors have implemented a cost cutting program with which they have made significant progress. There is however an immediate need for a substantial injection of capital, and the Directors have considered a number of options. The terms negotiated with SD (which are reversible in respect of the Facility) represent the optimum combination of quantum and duration of funding, allowing the Company time to arrange permanent capital which can be used for strengthening the playing squad.

 

The Facility is structured in two separate interest free tranches. GBP 5million will be available immediately for working capital purposes and for the repayment of the credit facilities with MASH Holdings Limited which was entered into on 27 October 2014. All rights and security associated with the MASH facility will be cancelled.

 

The Club will transfer 26% of the share capital in Rangers Retail Limited ("RRL") to SD for the duration of the Facility (the "Transfer"), which will be transferred back, at no cost, upon repayment of all outstanding sums owed by Rangers and its subsidiaries to SD. There is no specified repayment period for the first tranche of the Facility.

 

The Facility is to be secured by (1) a floating charge over the Club's assets and (2) fixed charges over Murray Park, Edmiston House, Albion Car Park, and the Club's registered trademarks. None of the security that is being given to SD covers Ibrox Stadium, which is specifically excluded and remains in the full ownership of the Club, free from any security. SD will also have the right to nominate two directors to the board of Rangers for the duration of the Facility, any such nomination will be subject to regulatory consent pursuant to the AIM Rules and other regulatory bodies. If the entire sum drawn down is repaid, the Facility will be deemed to be terminated, all security will be released, the 26% of RRL will revert to the Company and all rights of SD to nominate Directors to the Board of the Company will cease.

 

The second tranche of GBP5 million, which repayable 5 years after drawdown, will be used, if required, for working capital purposes and is subject to due diligence by SD prior to drawn down.

 

The Company has also agreed that from the 2017/8 season, for the duration of the Facility, any future shirt sponsorship proceeds will be for the benefit of RRL.

 

RRL will declare a dividend of a total of GBP 1,610,000 prior to the Transfer. The Club will use the proceeds of its share of this dividend, inter alia, to repay sums owing to SD in respect of the cessation of onerous leases on unprofitable stores entered into by a previous Rangers management team.

 

RRL is a joint venture between the Club and SD whose business is selling merchandise both on-line and in stores. In the period ending 27 April 2014, RRL made a profit before tax of GBP 1,172,893.

 

SD is a Related Party under the AIM Rules and accordingly the Facility is a Related Party Transaction pursuant to AIM Rule 13. The Independent Directors, consider, having consulted with WH Ireland its nominated adviser, that the terms of the Facility are fair and reasonable insofar as shareholders of the Company are concerned.

 

The Directors would like to thank all the Rangers Stakeholders who showed an interest in helping the Company.

 

Commenting on the Facility, David Somers said: " The Board has sought for some time to establish a long term funding solution for the Company in order to create a platform of stability to build for the future. This Facility begins this process and we very much hope that it will be augmented with further permanent capital in due course. In addition, the executive team have made strides in addressing the cost base of the Company in order to improve our financial condition and working capital profile. We very much hope that we can now move away from having to seek short term funding solutions and can focus our efforts towards investing in the first team playing squad, a return to profitability and to re-establishing Rangers in the top league in Scottish Football and in due course, to European competition. The Board now calls upon all shareholders to rally together to achieve this goal."

[blueflag 386]

Time to kill the retail then...

[chilledbear 16]

STV

 

£5m of Ashley loan for immediate working capital and to repay £3m loans already provided by another Ashley company.

 

Rangers also transfer 26% of its shares in Rangers Retail Ltd for duration of loan.

 

Sports Direct will benefit from majority of future shirt sponsorship deals from 2017/18 until loan is repaid.

 

Sports Direct must carry out due diligence before Rangers can draw down the other £5m part of the loan.

 

Rangers make a big deal in the announcement that Ashley has no security over Ibrox. But he holds a floating charge over all club assets.

[Steve1872 4]

Alasdair Lamont ‏@BBCAlLamont 1m1 minute agoCambuslang, Scotland

'The Facility is to be secured by (1) a floating charge over the Club's assets ...

and (2) fixed charges over Murray Park, Edmiston House, Albion Car Park, and the Club's registered trademarks.'

[pmu 0]

The 20+thousand screaming their wee hearts out on sunday will give this shower the confidence that we will continue to follow like sheep as long as we have the chance to renew our old rivalries. Starting with this weekend there should be zero attendances until this lot gtf or at least show some sign that they give a shit.. i cant believe that fans are still buying ANYTHING from the store...

[Oleg_Mcnoleg 50]

Never saw that coming. A complete surprise that these pricks are determined to do fatso's bidding. Shortly before the game with Sporting Leprechaun, they'll be hoping that everyone's focussed on that rather than this rort. Pricks,

[Steve1872 4]

I assume sports direct will be allowed two new board members

[Darthter 542]

I ain't financial guru....but holy $hit, that's a great deal - for SD/Ashley!!!!!

 

Floating charge over all assets

Fixed charge over everything except Ibrox

Additional 25% stake in retail

2 more board members

All for effectively £2m.....since the 2nd £5m is not 100% guaranteed.

Edited January 27, 2015 by Darthter

[Frankie 8,562]

Welcome to Sports Direct Rangers...

[MoodyBlue 0]

Total boycott.