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M-CELL - ACQUISITION OF A FURTHER 5,2% INTEREST IN MTN

Release Date: 02/07/1998 08:05
Code(s): MCE
Wrap Text
M-CELL LIMITED
(REGISTRATION NUMBER 94/09584/06)
("M-CELL")

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE ACQUISITION BY M-CELL OF A FURTHER 5,2% EFFECTIVE INTEREST IN MOBILE TELEPHONE NETWORKS HOLDINGS (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED ("MTN") ("THE ACQUISITION") 1. INTRODUCTION
FURTHER TO THE JOINT CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT DATED 29 MAY 1998 PUBLISHED BY M-CELL, NEW AFRICA INVESTMENTS LIMITED AND OMNI MEDIA CORPORATION LIMITED, M-CELL SHAREHOLDERS ARE ADVISED THAT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED IN TERMS OF WHICH M-CELL, TRANSNET LIMITED ("TRANSNET") AND NATIONAL AFRICAN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED ("NAFTEL")("THE PURCHASERS") HAVE ACQUIRED THE ENTIRE INTEREST OF SBC INTERNATIONAL, INC ("SBC") IN MTN ("THE AGREEMENT"). IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE PURCHASERS TO DISPOSE OF A PORTION OF THE INTEREST ACQUIRED IN MTN TO SELECTED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT GROUPS ("BEE GROUPS") ON SIMILAR TERMS ON WHICH SBC DISPOSED OF ITS INTEREST IN MTN TO THE PURCHASERS ("THE DISPOSAL TO BEE GROUPS"). SHAREHOLDERS OF M-CELL ARE REFERRED TO THE JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THIS REGARD PUBLISHED BY M-CELL, TRANSNET AND NAFTEL ON 25 MAY 1998. 2. RATIONALE FOR THE ACQUISITION
M-CELL'S PRIMARY INVESTMENT IS A 29,5% INTEREST IN MTN. MTN HAS ENJOYED EXCEPTIONAL GROWTH IN THE FOUR YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE WITH THE TOTAL ACTIVE SUBSCRIBER BASE NOW EXCEEDING SOME 750 000. HAVING ESTABLISHED ITS NETWORK IN SOUTH AFRICA AND HAVING ACHIEVED A CRITICAL MASS OF SUBSCRIBERS, MTN IS BOTH PROFITABLE AND CASH GENERATIVE. THE ACQUISITION PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR M-CELL TO INCREASE ITS EXPOSURE TO ITS CORE ASSET, MTN. 3. SALIENT TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION
IN TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT AND AFTER THE DISPOSAL TO BEE GROUPS, M-CELL WILL ACQUIRE A FURTHER EFFECTIVE INTEREST OF 5,2% IN MTN. FOLLOWING THE
ACQUISITION, M-CELL'S INTEREST IN MTN WILL INCREASE FROM 29,5% TO 34,7%. THE NET PURCHASE PRICE OF THE ACQUISITION IS APPROXIMATELY R590 MILLION WHICH IS PAYABLE IN CASH ON 31 AUGUST 1998, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ACQUISITION. IT IS M-CELL'S INTENTION TO FUND THE ACQUISITION BY MEANS OF A RIGHTS OFFER TO ITS SHAREHOLDERS. 4. FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF THE ACQUISITION
HAD THE ACQUISITION BEEN EFFECTIVE FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 1998, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY MATERIAL EFFECT ON THE EARNINGS PER SHARE OR NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE OF M-CELL. 5. DOCUMENTATION
ANY DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO BE CIRCULATED IN REGARD TO THE ACQUISITION AND THE FUNDING THEREOF WILL BE MAILED TO M-CELL SHAREHOLDERS IN DUE COURSE. SANDTON 2 JULY 1998 MERCHANT BANKS AMB AFRICAN MERCHANT BANK LIMITED (REGISTRATION NUMBER 96/16470/06) REGISTERED BANK SCMB STANDARD CORPORATE AND MERCHANT BANK
(A DIVISION OF THE STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED) (REGISTRATION NUMBER 62/00738/06) ATTORNEYS WWB WEBBER WENTZEL BOWENS

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