Applegreen plc is a major petrol forecourt retailer in the Republic of Ireland with a significant and growing presence in the United Kingdom. From an operational base of 64 sites at the end of 2009, the Group has grown to 152 sites as at 31 December 2014, across the Republic of Ireland (96 sites), United Kingdom (54 sites) and in Long Island, United States (2 sites). Applegreen is the number one motorway service area operator by number of sites in the Republic of Ireland.

The "Welcome-Break" deal looks very sensible, so I wonder why W-B wants to sell? Did APGN pay too much, perhaps? - we'll have to wait for the Market's reaction following the next set of accounts.

Whilst motorways aren't going to close for a while, yet, the move to electric is a concern, so that more break-points may be needed ( between Services ), so it's possible these may be what W-B is going to use the money for. If your elec-vehicle needs an hour to charge, that puts you in a cash-extraction position for both the "electric" and the seating/entertainment - they can adjust the charge-rate to maximise profits.
Did APGN not see this possibility?
Digging up the parking-spaces to install electric-points will be very difficult for existing sites. For NEW developments, I see a ride-on tram as a solution; this can also carry the electric to the cars along a very-long parking area.

Of course what EV's need is a standardised "Battery-Pack" - but that opportunity appears to have been missed, as Mfrs chase new tech to maximise mileage.... quite forgetting that 50 miles is NOT enough to get you on holiday.

APGN is too expensive for me, at this time.
I note the stock is suspended, DYOR, hopefully this is just a technical matter and will resume ASAP

i have a fairly modest holding of these in my sipp, where they have done very little
i bought on a good analysis in Quantum Leap and the guy has a good record for picking winners
this deal with WB could prove very good indeed, but only time will tell

Applegreen raises €175m for Welcome Break acquisition
StockMarketWire.com
Petrol forecourt retailer Applegreen returned from suspension and said it had raised €175m (£156m) via a share placement to part fund its acquisition of a controlling stake in UK motorway service operator Welcome Break.

New shares in the company were issued at €6.08 (543 pence) each.

Applegreen in August announced it had agreed to acquire a 55% stake in Welcome Break from NIBC European Infrastructure for €361.8m.

'This acquisition is transformational for our company in the strategically important UK market and we look forward to completion at the end of October,' chief executive Bob Etchingham said.

'Building a wide and high quality investor base in parallel with expanding our business across chosen markets are core objectives and this transaction and associated equity raise significantly advances that strategy.'



At 12:55pm: (LON:APGN) Applegreen Plc share price was +47p at 585p


Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

per #15 :-)

:-))