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.

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


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