CGF Major Shareholders to provide Growth Funding

COOKS GLOBAL FOODS
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS TO PROVIDE
GROWTH FUNDING
JIAJIAYUE GROUP AND COOKS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN KEITH JACKSON AGREE TO PROVIDE UP TO $8.2
MILLION TO FUND GROWTH, WHILE YUNNAN METROPOLITAN CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT GROUP
ALSO CONSIDERS FURTHER INVESTMENT
Cooks Global Foods (NZAX:CGF) today announces its major shareholders Jiajiayue Holding Group Limited (JJY) and
Cooks Executive Chairman Keith Jackson have agreed to provide up to $8.2 million in new funding to accelerate the
growth of the Esquires Coffee store chain and provide working capital.
Meanwhile, as disclosed in December 2016, Cooks’ other major Chinese shareholder the Yunnan Metropolitan
Construction Investment Group (YMCI) is also considering further investment into Cooks. The new funding from JJY and
Keith Jackson is conditional on the successful conclusion of discussions with YMCI.
The transactions are subject to the approval of shareholders at a special meeting, at a date to be confirmed. At the same
time, Cooks remains in discussions regarding the optimal ownership structure of its Esquires Coffee operations in China
and how best to fund its ongoing growth opportunities and improve the profitability of Cooks.
As signalled last year, Cooks is also reviewing its non-core business operations and opportunities to streamline these and
improve cash flow. Cooks expect to complete this review and implement plans arising from the review prior to year end.
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE REACHED THIS AGREEMENT WITH JJY
AND WITH OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH YMCI TO DATE. ESQUIRES COFFEE
IS ENJOYING STRONG GROWTH INTERNATIONALLY THANKS TO THE
SUPPORT OF CUSTOMERS, SHAREHOLDERS, BUSINESS PARTNERS AND
THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEAMS AROUND THE WORLD.
$2 million of the $8.2 million will be used to capitalise existing advances to Cooks. As noted above, following receipt of
necessary approvals, Cooks intends to undertake a Share Purchase Plan offer. Shares in these transactions, including
under the SPP, will be issued at 7.75 cents per share.
THE $8.2 MILLION CAPITAL
RAISING HAS THE
FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:
Jiajiayue Holding Group (JJY) contributing $3.5 million of new capital;
Keith Jackson underwriting a maximum of $4.7 million of new capital to be issued
under a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) for existing shareholders.
NZAX & MEDIA RELEASE
2 FEBRUARY 2017
KEITH
JACKSON
Executive Chairman
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ABOUT COOKS GLOBAL FOODS
Cooks Global Foods operates in world markets and is listed on the NZAX market operated by NZX Limited in New
Zealand under the code CGF. It owns the intellectual property and master franchising rights to Esquires Coffee
Houses worldwide excluding New Zealand and Australia. Cooks currently operates or franchises Esquires Coffee
Houses in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Middle East, Indonesia and China. Related businesses within
the group include New Zealand-based supply companies Progressive Processors and Scarborough Fair.
For more information visit: www.cooksglobalfoods.com
ABOUT JIAJIAYUE HOLDING GROUP LIMITED
Jiajiayue Holding Group Limited is the major shareholder of Jiajiayue Group Limited (Shanghai Stock Exchange:
603708.SH) a listed entity trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the later owns more than 600 supermarkets
in China and employs over 30,000 staff. Jiajiayue Holding Group currently holds a 25% stake in Cooks Global
Foods.
INVESTORSMEDIA
+64 21 702 509+64 21 645 643
Executive Chairman
The Project
KEITH JACKSON RICHARD INDER