Wilmar to invest in Fortune Gas Investment

Fortune Oil said that it finalised Shareholders Agreement and fulfiled all conditions precedent for Wilmar International to invest US$36 m in Fortune Gas Investment Holdings.

Following completion, Wilmar will hold 15% of the enlarged share capital of Fortune Gas, a Hong Kong registered company holding all of the Company's gas operations, including the gas distribution and coal seam gas business.

Completion will take place by Nov 5 upon payment of the subscription amount and the allotment of shares in Fortune Gas. On completion, Fortune Oil will own 85% of Fortune Gas, it said.

The funds raised will be invested in the growing gas distribution and coal seam gas business of Fortune Gas and will provide the funding required to continue the development of this business.

These funds are in addition to the GBP9.85 m raised by Fortune Oil through a placement of shares with Creation Investments Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kerry Holdings Limited announced on Jul 4, the company said.

Fortune Oil announced on Sep 1, that the Company had also signed a conditional Subscription Agreement with Star Medal, another wholly owned subsidiary of Kerry Holdings for an investment of US$36 million for a 15% interest in Fortune Gas.

The Company and Kerry Holdings have mutually agreed for Kerry Holdings to continue to support the growth of Fortune Gas through Fortune Oil, and have rescinded the Sep 1 '08 agreement. Kerry Holdings continues to hold 4.74% of Fortune Oil's fully diluted share capital through Creation Investments, it said.

Revenues from the gas business continue to grow in line with expectations, with no apparent impact from the slow-down in China's GDP growth rate.

The Board of Fortune Oil does not expect the demand for gas from customers to be affected by the current changes in the global economy and the demand for natural gas as a clean fuel continues to exceed supply.

The Company will provide a detailed update of its operating performance in the Interim Management Statement, due to be released on Nov 10.