Kernel completes SPO of 5.4 mln shares at PLN 74

Kernel (WSE: KER PW) announced on Friday it completed its secondary placement of 5.4 mln ordinary shares on March 31 at PLN 74 per share. The offering raised gross proceeds of PLN 399.4 million (USD 140 mln). Yegor Samusenko: We view this placement as positive for the company’s stocks as it raised a new capital at 8x EV/EBITDA 2011 and aims to use it for acquisitions in the 4-5x EV/EBITDA range. Though the market has reacted negatively to the placement (Kernel shares have fallen up to 15% since the announcement), we attribute that to a temporary oversupply caused by a limited investor base that was the result of the company’s need for accelerated capital raising. We expect the stock to bounce back as MHP stock did following its SPO in December.