Dubai - MENA Herald: YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP S.p.A., (MTA: YNAP), the world’s leading online luxury fashion retailer, is pleased to announce the execution of a dedicated capital increase of Euro 100 million to be entirely subscribed for by Alabbar Enterprises S.à.r.l. (“Alabbar”), controlled by Mohamed Alabbar.
An entrepreneur widely acknowledged as a key contributor in driving Dubai’s economic growth, Mohamed Alabbar is the founder and owner of Alabbar Enterprises LLC based in Dubai, a company that operates and invests in businesses in the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa across a variety of sectors, including, among others, luxury, fashion, retail and e- commerce.
He is the founder and major shareholder of RSH, the leading Singapore-based pan-Asian marketer, distributor and retailer of over 70 international fashion and lifestyle brands through more than 700 outlets in over 10 countries.
Alabbar is also the founder and chairman of Emaar Properties, parent company of Emaar Malls Group, the leading owner and operator of shopping malls and retail business in Dubai.
As a strategic shareholder, Alabbar will be in a position to provide invaluable insights and support to YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP, which will be key to developing the Group’s rising business in the promising yet complex Middle Eastern luxury e-commerce market.
"I am pleased with the opportunity to invest in and support YOOX NET-A-PORTER, the leader in online luxury retail. With an unrivalled product offering and superior customer experience, I look forward to collaborating with the Management team and Board, as the Group further expands within the region,” commented Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties and Emaar Malls Group.
"I am delighted to welcome Alabbar Enterprises as a strategic investor in the Group. The expertise of Mr. Alabbar and the experience of the team in the luxury retail sector will significantly strengthen and facilitate the further development of YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP," commented Johann Rupert, Chairman of Richemont.
"I sincerely admire Mr. Alabbar for his forward-thinking and relentless drive to innovate, a vision that has led to the creation of the world's biggest mall. His track record in delivering exclusive luxury and retail experiences across the Middle East will provide us with invaluable insights in the fast-growing regional luxury fashion market," commented Federico Marchetti, Chief Executive Officer of YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP.
YNAP has opted to raise Euro 100 million of equity capital, less than the maximum Euro 200 million authorised by the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting on 21 July 2015 in light of the lower than previously envisaged cash requirements. The Board does not plan to utilise its authorisation for the remaining Euro 100 million.
The capital increase will be executed with the exclusion of option rights pursuant to Art. 2441, par. 4, second part, of the Italian Civil Code, through the issuance of 3,571,428 ordinary shares at a price of Euro 28.00 per share - a 5.7% premium compared to YNAP’s closing share price on 18 April 2016 - for a total cash consideration of Euro 100 million (share premium included).
Upon completion, Alabbar will hold a 4.0% stake of YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP outstanding ordinary share capital (2.7% of the total issued share capital) and has committed to a 18-month lock-up period on the entire number of subscribed shares, save for standard agreed exemptions. The new share capital will amount to Euro 1,336,973.13 represented by 133,697,313 shares with no nominal value, of which 88,791,680 ordinary shares and 44,905,633 B Shares.
The Middle East already accounts for a 5% share of global luxury consumption¹ and has been witnessing growing Internet and e-commerce penetration led by increasing public investments in IT, e-services and telecoms infrastructure, alongside a young population. In recent years NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER and THE OUTNET have experienced remarkable growth in the region despite not offering localised customer propositions, which is further testament to the Group’s significant potential in this flourishing market.
YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP will employ the financial resources raised through the capital increase over the 2016-2018 period to:
Seize new growth opportunities through localisation in key high-potential geographies;
Unlock synergies by funding the recently announced investments in the development of a common omni-channel enabled techno-logistics platform across all geographies and storefronts. This platform will support the Group’s future multi-billion Euro business, offering customers and brand partners world-class service and empowering customer-centric innovation;
Retain maximum balance sheet flexibility.
The settlement of the capital increase will take place following the registration of the Group’s Board minutes with the competent companies’ register. The minutes of the Board and the amended By-laws will be made available to the public at the Company’s registered office in Milan, Via Morimondo 17, according to the terms provided by the applicable law provisions, on the Company’s website www.ynap.com (Section Governance).