AO World said it has raised approximately £40.3mln before expenses from its placing and retail offer.
The retailer sold 86mln shares at 43p each in its placing, raising £37.3mln and representing an 18.1% stake in the company.
In its retail offer, through PrimaryBid, a total of 7.1mln shares at the same price had been issued, representing a 1.5% stake and raising £3.1mln.
Earlier today, AO World PLC (LSE:AO.) said it aimed to raise £40mln via a placing with City investors and a retail offer via PrimaryBid, after reports that its credit insurance had been reduced.
The online white goods retailer is selling its new shares are priced at 43p each, down from a 47p close overnight, 67.8p last Friday and a peak at the start of 2021 of around 390p.
It said proceeds from the fundraising will “strengthen the balance sheet and increase liquidity back to historic levels”.
The retail offer will close at the same time the bookbuild is completed, although AO World said it may close early if oversubscribed, with the minimum subscription £250 per investor.
“In addition to being a sensible piece of financial house-keeping given the short-term macroeconomic uncertainty, this capital raise will give us the necessary foundation from which to go after the significant long-term growth opportunities that we see for AO in the UK,” said chief executive John Roberts.
Broker Peel Hunt said the funding "headed off the prospect of a credit insurance led squeeze on working capital".
Analysts noted that the company's management has set out plans to generate £25mln of savings and operational efficiencies by 2025, targeting medium term UK revenue growth of 10% per year at 5% EBITDA margins.