Black Box Limited, a global leader in digital infrastructure solutions, announced it has secured a commitment for Rs 410 crore in funding through a preferential issue. This funding aims to accelerate the company's growth and expansion within the digital infrastructure sector.

The Board of Directors of Black Box Limited approved the issuance of 98,32,123 fully convertible warrants at Rs 417 per warrant, aggregating to Rs 410 crore. Each warrant is convertible into one equity share of the company, with a face value of Rs 2 each, at a premium of Rs 415. The conversion can be executed at the option of the proposed allottee in one or more tranches within 18 months from the date of allotment, in accordance with SEBI ICDR regulations.

The funding round includes Rs 200 crore from existing promoters, Rs 200 crore from a consortium of marquee investors, including foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and Rs 10 crore from key management personnel. This diverse investor base underscores strong confidence in Black Box's business and growth plans.

Following the conversion of warrants into equity, promoter shareholding will slightly decrease from 71.1% to 69.8%. Despite this, Black Box remains a key investment for Essar in the technology space.

In recent years, Black Box has focused on improving margins through several cost rationalization initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity. These efforts have yielded positive outcomes, leading to significant growth in EBITDA and profit after tax (PAT). The company reported an EBITDA of Rs 428 crore for FY24, a 59% increase from FY23, and a PAT of Rs 138 crore for FY24, a 5.8x increase from FY23. Black Box expects to maintain this growth momentum in the current financial year.

The newly raised capital will be allocated across several key areas to fuel further growth:

Expansion of Data Centre Build Capabilities: With the adoption of cloud and AI driving exponential growth in data center capacity over the next 3-5 years, Black Box aims to enhance its presence in this segment. The company plans to invest in the value chain to become a dominant player, offering expanded services to hyperscalers, multi-tenant data center operators, and large enterprise data centers.

Advancement in Network Infrastructure: Black Box will use the funds to expand its solutions portfolio for enterprise customers and data center operators, including hyperscalers. This expansion will focus on connectivity infrastructure and networking to support increasing data traffic and the demand for better user experiences at the edge.

Innovation and Delivery: A portion of the funds will be allocated to innovation and development efforts aimed at pioneering new digital infrastructure solutions. This includes advancements in cloud computing infrastructure, cybersecurity, AI, and IoT.

Go-To-Market Expansion: The investment will support Black Box's strategic expansion and growth initiatives into key industry verticals. This includes key leadership hiring and significantly expanding sales and business development efforts in North America and emerging markets.

Sanjeev Verma, Chief Executive Officer of Black Box Limited, expressed excitement about the funding: “We are thrilled to have secured this capital, which will enable us to embark on an ambitious growth trajectory and enhance our digital infrastructure offerings. This investment will drive innovation in a rapidly evolving market”.

Deepak Bansal, Chief Financial Officer of Black Box Limited, also commented: “We are thankful to our existing investors for their continued confidence and welcome new investors as we embark on the next phase of growth and profitability. The company remains committed to investing in growth areas and maintaining a sharp focus on operational efficiency and return on capital”.

With this significant infusion of capital, Black Box Limited is poised to strengthen its market position and drive forward its mission to deliver cutting-edge technology solutions and world-class consulting services to businesses worldwide.