15 July 2013

Westminster Group plc

('Westminster' or the 'Company')

Extension of banking facilities and issue of equity

Westminster (AIM:WSG) is pleased to announce the extension of its banking facilities with its primary bankers, HSBC, to support funding of 'contract bonding' and draw down on its EFF. 

Commenting on the development, Peter Fowler, Chief Executive of Westminster, said:

"Westminster operates internationally providing a wide range of products and services primarily to governments and governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and large 'blue chip' commercial organisations worldwide. Often these projects are large scale complex solutions and the Company is increasingly being asked to bid on multi-million USD size projects. Such projects often have contract bonding requirements, either bid bonds, advance payment bonds or performance bonds. Contract bonding can therefore tie up cash resources during tendering or project delivery.  As the business grows, so does the contract bonding obligation.  This is therefore a good problem to have.  

"HSBC, as an international bank, is familiar with the process and therefore they are a natural funding partner for us in meeting these cash-flow requirements and I am delighted to report they have now provided the Company with an additional $0.3m facility to meet our growing demands.

"Due to more stringent banking requirements, the outcome of the decision on increased facilities was uncertain until final sanction was received and thus, as a precaution, to ensure bonding funding was in place for current project requirements, the Company has used its EFF facility as announced on 18 April 2013. Upon banking sanction the EFF drawdown was no longer considered necessary and therefore curtailed, resulting in a minimal draw down."

Under the terms of the EFF agreement the Company raised gross proceeds of £100,000 by way of the issue of 263,158 shares of 10p each to Darwin Strategic Limited (the "EFF Shares"). The new EFF Shares have been issued at a price of 38p per share, representing a 0.25p per share discount to the 5 day preceding average closing mid market share price, which represents a discount of 0.6%, and rank pari passu in all respects with existing ordinary shares of 10p each in Westminster.

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the 263,158 EFF Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that the admission will become effective and that trading in the new Shares will commence on 19/07/13 ("Admission").

Total Voting Rights

Following Admission, the Company's enlarged issued share capital will comprise of 38,152,395 ordinary shares with voting rights. This figure of 38,152,395 ordinary shares may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FSA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

For further information please see the company's website, www.wg-plc.com, or contact:

Notes:

Westminster Group plc is a leader in the supply of system solutions and products to the security, defence, fire protection and safety markets worldwide.

Westminster's principal activity is the design, supply and ongoing support of advanced technology security solutions, encompassing a wide range of surveillance, detection, tracking and interception technologies and the provision of long term managed services contracts such as the management and running of complete security services and solutions in airports, ports and other such facilities together with the provision of manned services, consultancy and training services. The majority of its customer base, by value, comprises governments and government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and blue chip commercial organisations. For further information please visit www.wg-plc.com or www.wi-ltd.com.