Sydney - Wednesday - April 2: (RWE Aust Business News) - Destra Corp's (ASX:DES) November 2007 acquisition of a 10 per cent stake in Beyond International (ASX:BYI) was financed by Opes Prime under an equity finance facility. The facility was structured as a securities lending arrangement so that the shares acquired by destra were lent by destra to Opes Prime on terms where title to the shares passed to Opes Prime. Destra understands that the Beyond shares were pledged to ANZ to secure borrowings by Opes Prime. As at 31st March 2008, the amount owed by destra to Opes Prime was $7.3m. On 27th March 2008 Opes Prime appointed administrators and ANZ appointed receivers which amounted to an event of default on the part of Opes Prime under the terms of the facility. On 31st March 2008, destra notified Opes Prime of the default. The consequence of the event of default is that the obligation of Opes Prime to re-deliver the Beyond shares to destra is replaced by the obligation to pay an amount calculated by reference to the value of the Beyond shares. This amount is netted off against destra's obligation to repay the amount owed and it is expected that Opes Prime will owe destra approximately $100,000. Accordingly, destra no longer has any interest in the Beyond shares held by Opes Prime and has no obligation to make further payments to Opes Prime. Destra will crystalise a loss on its investment in Beyond of approximately $900,000. That loss will have no further cash flow impact. Destra advises that destra shares held directly and indirectly by two directors of destra are now held by ANZ as a result of the appointment of a receiver to Opes Prime. These are 10,591,631 destra shares previously held by CEO Domenic Carosa and associates. Mr Carosa still holds a relevant interest in 1,825,224 shares in destra. The 10,962,104 destra shares previously held by associates of non executive director Paul Choiselat are now held by ANZ. Associates of Mr Choiselat still hold a relevant interest in 248,825 shares in destra.
DES Price at posting:
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