Debt-ridden ScotRail owner FirstGroup yesterday revealed it had raised almost £640 million following a discounted share placing further dragging down the value of stock in the ailing firm.
Shares sunk 3% in early trading and closed the day down 0.88% at 95.25p after news of the fundraising effort.
Some 633 million shares, or 88% of those on offer, were sold to institutional investors at 85p, with the remaining 89 million snapped up for 91p in the market, despite early fears the placing would fall well short.
Nonetheless, the value of the Aberdeen-based transport giant has continued to slide since late last month, when it unveiled a year-end profits collapse of 86%.
First lost 30% of its value in a single day as the firm revealed its three-for-two share issue and markets baulked at plans for a suspension of shareholder dividends.
First has since lost a further third of its remaining value during the course of the last four weeks, with shares remaining at an all-time low ebb, below 100p, for much of June.
Confidence in the group has been dented as it continues to struggle under a £2 billion debt burden, following aggressive expansion into the US school bus market.
In May, First which employs around 120,000 people worldwide, including many hundreds in its north-east heartland said pre-tax earnings had fallen to £37.2m during the 12 months to the end of March, despite a 3% rise in revenues to £6.9bn.
Yesterday’s cash injection is expected to be used to “continue investment in the business” and to reduce the group’s debt pile following its string of acquisitions in America, also including cross-country Greyhound bus services.
Chief executive Tim O’Toole expects to invest around £1.6bn over the next four years as he tries to drive the group back into growth and improved profitability.
Meanwhile, First’s US school bus division is undergoing a restructure, with bosses confident $100m a year can be cut from its cost burden.
The UK Bus business is also undergoing a transformation, as assets are sold off and the company seeks to provide local services “more efficiently”.
However, the firm, which lost out during last year’s West Coast Main Line franchise fiasco, insists it is ready to bid for more rail deals.
Last month it said its UK Rail arm, which includes ScotRail, saw a 7.4% increase in revenues, bringing total income in the division to £2.795bn.
Underlying operating profits fell to £63.2m from £110.5m last year.