The information contained
within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations
(EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of
the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ('MAR'). Upon the
publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information
Service ('RIS'), this inside information is now considered to be in
the public domain.
Public Policy Holding
Company, Inc.
("PPHC" or the
"Group")
Supplemental Credit
Facility
$13m facility will fund an
immediately accretive acquisition and continue PPHC's growth
strategy
Public Policy Holding Company (AIM:
PPHC), the US-based government relations and public affairs group
providing clients with a fully integrated and comprehensive range
of services, has entered into a supplemental $13m credit facility
with Bank of America, N.A. (the "Supplemental Credit
Facility").
Key
Terms:
· $13m
Senior Secured Supplemental Credit Facility, of which $6m has been
drawn as of 30 April 2024
· The
remainder is available to the Group within six months, enabling it
to continue to facilitate M&A activity where the pipeline of
opportunities is strong
· The
interest rate payable is the Secured Overnight Financing Rate
(SOFR) plus 260 basis points
· The
Supplemental Credit Facility will mature on April 30,
2028
Prior to today's announcement, PPHC
carried a credit facility of $17m, announced on 1 March 2023, and
which is also provided by Bank of America, N.A (the "Initial Credit
Facility"). This Initial Credit Facility consisted of a $14m Term
Loan and a $3m Line of Credit. It matures on 31 January 2026 and
has approximately $10m outstanding as of 30 April 2024.
The Group intends to maintain a
prudent leverage ratio as it executes on a dual-track strategy of
organic growth and earnings accretive M&A.
The Board of PPHC recognises the
importance of its ability to utilise, depending on market
conditions, both the equity and debt markets to fund its growth
strategy. Maintaining flexibility facilitates the Group's wider
capital allocation policy, which includes the payment of dividends,
in a de-risked manner.
Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, commented:
"This supplemental facility will fund an immediately earnings
accretive acquisition and provides additional capital for
deployment as suitable opportunities present themselves. The global
strategic communications markets in which we operate remain highly
fragmented, and the pipeline of opportunities in the US, UK and
Europe remains healthy. The Group's strong cash generation has
already enabled us to pay down the existing facility whilst
maintaining a high dividend payout and investing in organic
growth."
For further information
contact:
Public Policy Holding Company, Inc.
Stewart Hall, CEO
Roel Smits, CFO
Thomas Gensemer, Chief Strategy
Officer
|
+1 (202) 688 0020
enquiries@pphcompany.com
|
Stifel (Nominated Adviser & Broker)
Fred Walsh, Tom Marsh (Investment
Banking)
George Moore-Gwyn, Josh Rodgers
(Capital Solutions Group)
|
+44 (0) 20 7710 7600
|
Buchanan Communications (Media Enquiries)
Chris Lane, Toto Berger
|
+44 (0) 20 7466 5000
pphc@buchanan.uk.com
|
About PPHC
Incorporated in 2014, PPHC is a
US-based government relations and public affairs group providing
clients with a fully integrated and comprehensive range of services
including government and public relations, research, and digital
advocacy campaigns. Engaged by approximately 1200 clients,
including companies, trade associations and non-governmental
organisations, the Group is active in all major sectors of
the U.S. economy, including healthcare and
pharmaceuticals, financial services, energy, technology, telecoms
and transportation. PPHC's services support clients to enhance and
defend their reputations, advance policy goals, manage regulatory
risk, and engage with US federal and state-level policy makers,
stakeholders, media, and the public.
PPHC operates a holding company
structure and currently has nine operating entities comprising
Crossroads Strategies, Forbes Tate Partners, Seven Letter, O'Neill
& Associates, Alpine Group Partners, KP Public Affairs,
MultiState Associates, and Concordant. Operating in the strategic
communications market, the Group has a strong track record of
organic and acquisitive growth, the latter focused on enhancing its
capabilities and to establish new verticals, either within new
geographies or new related offerings.
For more information, see
www.pphcompany.com.