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STOR-AGE PROPERTY REIT LIMITED - Related Party Transaction Development of Bryanston Self Storage Property in terms of CPC Structure

Release Date: 04/07/2017 15:40
Code(s): SSS     PDF:  
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Related Party Transaction – Development of Bryanston Self Storage Property in terms of CPC Structure

Stor-Age Property REIT Limited
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
Registration number 2015/168454/06
Share Code: SSS ISIN ZAE000208963
(Approved as a REIT by the JSE)
(“Stor-Age” or “the Company”)

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION – DEVELOPMENT OF BRYANSTON SELF STORAGE
PROPERTY IN TERMS OF CPC STRUCTURE


1.   INTRODUCTION

     The board of directors of Stor-Age (“the Board”) is pleased to advise shareholders that the
     Company has entered into a transaction as fully described in paragraph 2 below (“the
     Agreements”) for the development and subsequent acquisition of a new self storage property in
     Bryanston, Johannesburg (“the Transaction”).

     The Transaction structure aligns with the Company’s stated “measured approach” to the risk
     profile of new developments, which focuses on opportunity while limiting downside risk for the
     Company’s distributions growth profile over the medium term.

     The Transaction is classified as a related party transaction in terms of the JSE Listings
     Requirements (“Listings Requirements”), with an associate entity of Stor-Age executive directors
     GM Lucas, SC Lucas and SJ Horton - Stor-Age Property Holdings Proprietary Limited (“SPH”) -
     as set out in more detail in paragraph 10 below, Related Parties. The Transaction has been
     approved by the Company’s independent non-executive directors, supported by an independent
     property valuation by a third party professional valuer and a fairness opinion by an independent
     third party professional expert.

2.   THE AGREEMENTS

     The Company has entered into a Sale Agreement and a Development and Sale Agreement (“the
     Agreements”), dated 4 July 2017 (“Signature Date”), with SPH in terms of which:

     a)    Stor-Age will initially sell to SPH the property, namely Portion 11 of Erf 4668 Bryanston
           measuring 5 127 square metres (“the Property”), (“the Sale”);
     b)    SPH will develop the Phase I buildings and all related parking and other facilities and
           amenities on the Property (“the Development”) and then sell the Property to Stor-Age; and
     c)    SPH will guarantee in favour of Stor-Age the rental of R160 per square metre for a period
           of 36 months commencing on the date on which the first tenant becomes liable for the
           payment of rental (“the Rental Guarantee”).

3.   DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION STRUCTURE

     The Agreements to develop and acquire the Property form part of a development and acquisition
     structure, known as a Certificate of Practical Completion Structure (“CPC”). The CPC Structure
     is rooted in US Self Storage REIT ‘Certificate of Occupancy’ deals, of which there is significant
     favourable precedent.

     The CPC Structure is:
     • a non-dilutionary development structure for Stor-Age;
     • subject to strict independent and regulatory controls; and
     • not intended to detract from the long-term goal of developing all new properties within
       Stor-Age.
                                                                                                   
     Further information in respect of the CPC Structure has been made available as part of the
     Bryanston CPC Presentation, which is available at http://investor-relations.stor-
     age.co.za/Results-Presentations.

4.   RATIONALE FOR THE TRANSACTION

     The listing of Stor-Age on the JSE in November 2015 was promoted by three equal joint venture
     partners, namely SPH, Growthpoint Limited and Faircape Proprietary Limited (collectively “the
     Promoters”). Given the income paying structure of a JSE REIT, at the time of the listing a decision
     was made to bring certain recently-opened properties into Stor-Age only when they approached
     a mature level of occupancy. The Promoters continue to own these properties equally as part of
     the portfolio managed by Stor-Age (the “Managed Portfolio”). Stor-Age has a pre-emptive right
     of acquisition over all properties in the Managed Portfolio and earns property and operating
     management fees for managing them.

     On listing, the Board took a strategic decision to discontinue the growth of the Managed Portfolio
     and focus on the growth of the listed portfolio. Consequently, the Company has been working on
     developing a structure by which it can continue growing its property portfolio, but without diluting
     distributions growth.

     Prior to finalising the CPC Structure, which for the reasons below is deemed optimal at this point
     in Stor-Age’s development, Stor-Age had acquired the Property with a view to its future
     development. Accordingly, the Property will now first be sold to SPH at cost in order to implement
     the Transaction.

     The rationale for the CPC Structure and Transaction is set out below:

     •     New self storage developments are 100% speculative:
           - there is no pre-tenanting of space prior to opening;
           - lease-up periods are lengthy and can range from 3-5 years; and
           - the economic cost of lease-up is significant relative to the total formation-cost of the
             asset;
     •     There is a significant opportunity in the South African market to develop high profile
           properties in prime locations, however the development of these properties within the
           existing REIT structure would currently be dilutionary and impact the Company’s
           distribution growth profile;
     •     There is total pricing transparency, in that the purchase price and timing are confirmed
           upfront;
     •     The development and lease-up risk profiles are significantly diminished for Stor-Age, with:
           - all development cost savings flowing to Stor-Age; and
           - potential cost-overruns being for the account of SPH;
     •     The Transaction is underpinned by commercial substance through both parties being
           motivated to deliver and an alignment of interests;
     •     The CPC structure allows Stor-Age to:
           - expand immediately in line with its five-year growth strategy while focusing on further
             initiatives to continue strengthening the balance sheet in order to support future
             expansion; and
           - extend its position as the market leader in the sector in key target locations where
             acquisition opportunities are not available; and
     •     The underlying structure of the CPC deal has significant recent international precedent.

5.   PURCHASE CONSIDERATION

     In aggregate, the total purchase consideration in respect of the Transaction is R99 306 387
     (excluding VAT), made up as follows:

     5.1     Payable by SPH to Stor-Age –

             An amount of R17 400 000, in respect of the Sale (the “Sale Price”), payable in cash
             against transfer of the Property into SPH’s name;

     5.2     Payable by Stor-Age to SPH –
                                                                                                       
             An amount of R81 906 387, in respect of the Development (“Development Price”), being
             the sum of the various amounts set out in the Development Budget (as detailed below),
             which is payable as follows:

             a) R12 200 000 by way of a refundable deposit (“the Deposit”) payable by Stor-Age to
                SPH within 5 business days after demand therefor by SPH. SPH will be entitled to
                utilise the Deposit as part of the security for development funding and/or towards
                settlement of the Sale Price;

             b) R54 949 267 in cash on the date of the practical completion of Phase 1 (“Effective
                Date”) against the issue by the architect of a Certificate of Practical Completion
                (“CPC”) of Phase I (the “CPC Portion”).

                 Included within the amount of the CPC Portion is the maximum (capped) developer’s
                 margin payable to SPH of R4 392 943 (the “Developer’s Margin”). This equates to
                 c.7% of the total budgeted development cost for Phase 1 of the Development, pre
                 Developer’s Margin, of R62 756 325 (“Development Budget”) agreed to by Stor-Age
                 and SPH.

                 The Developer’s Margin may be settled either in cash or by the issue of as many Stor-
                 Age ordinary shares as are equal in value thereto, based on the 30-day volume
                 weighted average price as at the Effective Date.

             c) R14 757 120 as the Rental Guarantee, in cash on the date from which rental becomes
                payable by a tenant of the Property for the first time.

             The cash required for the Development Price may be raised by Stor-Age, in whole or in
             part, by way of a vendor placement of as many Stor-Age ordinary shares as may be
             required to discharge this obligation.

     In consideration for its right to utilise the Deposit, SPH shall pay Stor-Age a raising fee equal to
     R274 660 (excluding VAT), plus interest, calculated at a rate of prime less 0.5% per annum,
     capitalised monthly for the period from date of receipt of the Deposit until the Effective Date.

     Within 90 days (or such later date as agreed between the parties) of the Signature Date, SPH
     shall procure that the architect furnishes both it and Stor-Age with a certificate certifying the total
     construction cost of Phase 1 of the Development, which amount will be included in the final
     account.

     In the event that the cost of the Development, pre Developer’s Margin:
     • is less than the Development Budget, the Development Price shall be reduced by an
       amount equal to the difference between the two amounts, such that Stor-Age benefits
       from all cost savings; or
     • exceeds the Development Budget, the Development Price shall not be increased (SPH
       being liable for any cost overruns).

6.   INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PROPERTY

     The development forms part of Stor-Age’s five-year strategy to develop and own self storage
     properties in prime, high visibility locations in key suburbs in target cities across South Africa.

     The Property is well-located to serve the residential areas of Bryanston, Riverclub, Morningside,
     Duxberry and Petervale, with the broader catchment areas characterised by dense living spaces.
     The Property is further supported by an established retail and business corridor along Main Road.
                                                                                                          
     Property specifics:

     •   Location:                     Corner of Main and Vlok Roads, Bryanston
     •   Area:                         5 127 square metres
     •   Valuation: (note 1)           R18 million

     Note 1 - An independent external valuation has been obtained from Mills Fitchet Magnus Penny
     & Wolf (trading as Magnus Penny Associates CC) in respect of the Property (“Independent
     Valuation”), which valuation was undertaken by Mr MRB Gibbons, a Professional Valuer,
     registered without restriction in terms of the Property Valuers Profession Act, No. 47 of 2000. The
     value attributed thereto as at 1 April 2017 has been derived from the direct comparable sales
     method. The current aggregate weighted average rental per square metre of the Property is Rnil.

7.   VALUE OF NET ASSETS AND PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PROPERTY

     The current value of the net assets that are the subject of the Transaction is R18 million in terms
     of the Independent Valuation. The current profits attributable to the net assets that are the subject
     thereof are Rnil.

8.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     The Transaction is conditional, inter alia, upon the fulfilment (or waiver, where applicable) of the
     following conditions precedent:

     •    SPH obtaining, within 21 days after the Signature Date, a loan from a financial institution in an
          amount of not less that R50 000 000 against security of a first mortgage bond over the Property;
     •    Stor-Age furnishing SPH, within 21 days after the Signature Date, with one or more irrevocable
          and unconditional bank guarantees in terms of which the Development Price is secured;
     •    Within 30 days of the Signature Date, the Development and Sale Agreement becoming
          unconditional; and
     •    All regulatory requirements being complied with and all relevant board approvals being obtained
          by both Stor-Age and SPH.

9.   EFFECTIVE DATE

     The effective date of the Transaction will be the date of the practical completion of Phase 1.

10.  RELATED PARTIES

     In terms of paragraph 10.1(b) of the Listings Requirements, the Transaction involves related
     parties as Messrs. GM Lucas, SC Lucas and SJ Horton are directors of both Stor-Age and SPH,
     and have an aggregate effective beneficial interest in SPH of 73.33% with the result that SPH is
     an associate of related parties (the “Related Party”).

11.  CATEGORISATION AND INDEPENDENT EXPERT OPINION

     The Transaction constitutes a small Related Party transaction in terms of the Listings
     Requirements. Accordingly, an independent expert opinion (“Opinion”) has been obtained, which
     declares the Transaction to be fair as far as the shareholders of the Company (excluding the
     Related Party and its associates) are concerned. A copy of the Opinion has been provided to and
     approved by the JSE Limited, which Opinion will be open for inspection for 28 days from the date
     hereof at the registered office of the Company and the Johannesburg office of its Sponsor,
     Questco Proprietary Limited.


Cape Town
4 July 2017


Registered office of the Company: 216 Main Road, Claremont, Cape Town.

Johannesburg office of Questco Proprietary Limited: First Floor, Yellowwood House, Ballywoods Office
Park, 33 Ballyclare Drive, Bryanston.

                                                                                                            
Sponsor and Corporate Advisor
Questco Proprietary Limited




                                

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